New Petrol Station

The "V-Markt" supermarket in Erkheim has undergone a large refurbishment largely to its exterior and to the filling station which is directly attached to it but which is now 24/7 fully automatic and no more cashiers during the normal opening hours.

So thought as I had to tank up today, would let you enjoy the new colours. Sadly the large Claas 650 tractor blocked most of the viewfinder but that's what life is like around here - sorry but he took ages filling the 330 litre tank..... oh dear sorry..... 73 UK gallons, 88 US gallons.

Looking a bit puzzled at the new card reading machines, the Claas driver made some remark:  a young guy in Claas Workshop uniform and his name tag prominent. "Oh" I said "you are from the Claas dealer down the road?" "Yes". "Oh then give Max my regards". Silence and a questioning look followed. I was confused as I knew Max worked there and he was even more confused as he definitely knew Max didn't work there. Luckily he did know a few other people I know so while smiling when we parted, I think he's still thinking the Brits are totally crazy.

Later I managed to get hold of Max and learnt he works in a different location - the dealership has 11 locations in the area. Max laughed and I hope he gets to tell his colleague.

I could have then visited the New Holland (EVG) dealership just 50 metres away but with the dogs getting impatient in the boot, quickly visited the GP to pick up a prescription I had requested online. Perhaps a visit for Alzheimer/Dementia screening would have been better. Then the dog walk over sticky grass paths. The light morning drizzle on the clumps of earth left by tractors turning on the path to plough the now maize free fields, stuck to the boots like glue.

While we were out, Angie went to Memmingen to pick up some things only available in Aldi and then to Altenstadt (Schw. not Obb.) to buy 6 Sussex girls, 1 Easter Egger, 1 unknown white and 4 German Sperbers. All about 21 weeks old and just starting to lay.... if you are confused at this point .....eggs. They are chickens. One of Angie's commuter acquaintances who works in a kindergarten in Munich says the parents are desperate to get at "real" free range eggs. This week she picked up 30 eggs (Eggs in Germany packaged in metric "dozens") at a good price and would literally take all we can give her. I think it's time to get the latest Claas tractor price list.

The German Sperbers are so named as they have a similar breast colouring to sparrow hawks (German word Sperber). They look like Plymouth Rocks(USA) from which they originate but mixed with Italian Leghorns (EU), Spanish Minorcas (EU), north German Bergische Schlotterkamm (EU) and finally .....roll the drums......Scots Grey (EU).

Luckily the Sussex (EN) girls now have a majority in the hen house and I may give them an extra fenced area to protect them from the oversexed bantam Japanese cocks. However as anyone who has been involved in animal welfare and the subject of endangered species will know, keeping a flock of hens happy without a cock is a recipe for failure. So either we agree a limited visiting rota for the bantams or I look around for a good patriotic Orpington cock - The Conservative MP for Orpington is a Mr Johnson, not Boris though and he was pro-Europe until earlier this year -I suspect he now politely claps at party meetings and grinds his teeth.

Would be rather fun to have Boris the Cock and see him chasing the Japs all over the 1.6 hectares sorry ... 3.95369 acres. Orpingtons are rather heavy and rarely manage a short flight - Jap bantams are excellent flyers and would give Boris plenty of run around and help reduce the waistline. And before anyone accuses me of nationalistic racialism - our Japanese bantams are known as "Chabos" in Germany but commonly in the UK scene affectionately as "Japs"  and not in the same tone as Frogs, Krauts, Polacks, Cheeseheads, Eyeties, Jocks, Micks, Taffs, Square heads....just to name a few EU types.