Hill climbing

Angie took off in the morning to meet up with her middle sister Sigi & hubby Gerhard who are staying for the weekend in their caravan not far from here. When I wrote the other day they were going away on holiday, I though it was at least Greece where the elder sister has been and returns tonight.

Being the weekend her half-brother Peter who lives in Sepp's house will have time to look after him as he has little time during the week. In fact, Sepp's future now lies in his hands and the girls can do nothing more than give moral support. Both Angie & Peter had been appointed by Sepp as having decision making powers (joint agreement not needed) over his medical treatment while in medical/operational care. i.e. they had the power to switch off " life supporting" machines if no prospect of recovery. However now that he is to be allowed out, the "Power of Care" document Sepp signed gives sole responsibility to Peter. So he will have to make the decisions as to how he gets fit and make the provisions for his father's care at home or in a home. Sadly Sepp comes from an age where males were the only valuable children and the ones who should make important decisions regardless of their standpoint, competence or interest.

While Angie had a great relaxing time doing lots of walking in the fantastic weather and even took a dip in the lake alongside the campsite. Luna enjoyed it too and was pooped by evening.

I messed around with a bit of everything and nothing proper. Pumping out the horse stable cellars in preparation for winter and getting the bees to drink the liquid sugar solution I brewed for them. Although I added a dash of honey to both syrups, the bees in both hives didn't seem to smell it and after 12 hours not a single bee had made the climb up to the containers. So eventually built a ladder for one hive, dunking a long green branch of a mint plant in the liquid and then dangling it down from the entrance hole. The other set up is an open large plastic box full of hay into which the liquid was poured (bees drown very easily). So shook some of the liquid all around the outside of the plastic box which also dripped on the frames. Within minutes, the bees were getting high on the brew.

Shortly before sunset, did the horse field de-mucking. Normally Luna is there to accompany one but as she was "on holiday", Eddie the Irish-European House Cat. As always he kept me amused and again as usual, I ended up with several bloody scratches as we played hide and seek amongst the tree trunks.

This weather is almost unbelievable. My very much younger Cousin Katrin who got Bliped in Julywhen here with her partner Kimo and father for a family visit with my children, is staying for a few days in the Alps and having the time of her life. We had planned for them to stay here for a few nights starting tomorrow but with all the "heckmeck" stress with Sepp we talked this evening and cancelled it. They have extended their holiday flat for a few more nights as they are so thoroughly enjoying the late summer weather in the Alps which must be spectacular with the autumn colours.

Kaiserwetter, they call it in Bavaria: Emperor Weather. Bavaria got rid of it's royal family having any say in it's running 100 years ago on 7th November when they realised what they and the entire European monarchies had inflicted on their folk. They weren't beheaded, locked up nor houses and castles possesed, simply their powers taken away. There is nowadays still a loyal following and generally good PR for the various Princes & Dukes who kick around but that's it. Not a lesson learnt in the UK. I often wonder what the Queen is thinking each Rememberance Day at the Cenotaph knowing her family were probably the biggest self-interest causes of the Great War and sent millions to their deaths.

Tomorrow is Bavarian State elections for which I am now entitled to vote. It has no direct consequence on the national government of Mrs Merkel but the likely poor performance of the ruling CSU Bavarian Conservative party is likely to lead to questions about where her CDU Conservative party is heading and if she is the right person to lead them. Most expect the Greens to do very well and will end up in a coalition with the CSU.

I have been getting to grips with the seemingly complicated election papers - we decided as we might not be home on Sunday to vote that we would do a postal vote. Angie popped over to the parish council on Friday and got all the papers. The Bavarian voting system is even more democratic then the German national system and even that makes the form of democracy practiced in the UK look even more than an ass - as in donkey of course.

Angie home late and happy, Luna simply slept!