Honoured Kraut

Some may have seen an earlier post when I got the invitation to attend a reception in the Residenz Palace (Palace of Rulers of Bavaria) right in the centre of Munich & a former regular stomping area for Nogbad & myself exactly 30 years ago. 

Was a very pleasant and above all friendly affair, the joy of the few hundred participants at having received German (Bavarian) citizenship in the last 18 months was very apparent.

The Interior & Integration Minister, Dr Herrmann did, however, bring bad news with his opening statement that the Bavarian President Dr Söder who was due to make the main address had been called away. Felt a bit sorry for Dr Herrmann at the audience response to this, however, he got a big roar when mentioning that the number of UK applications had shot up in the last few years due to Brexit. 2014 & 2015 there had been under 100 applications per year, 2017 was 1, 000 and 2018 over 1,300!

After the speech, the singing of Bavarian Anthem .... then the German, a bit of Alp Horn music, snacks were served while everyone queued up to shake hands with the Minister and get an official photo. I didn't - just a few hours before, LeaveEU had posted their Angela Merkel "Kraut" poster image and I was too ashamed to get on the podium. Possibly Dr Herrmann was grateful I didn't go up, the poor bloke had to shake all the hands himself and not as normally share the task with Dr Söder.

Here the official short video of the event.

We all know the Brits have always bandied about their hate slogans against Johnny Foreigner for centuries - I suspect the English language is the only one with so many nicknames for foreigners, including Scots, Irish & Welsh - and as such one can ignore them. However, such actions will yet again start the kindergarten playground taunts of German connected children and these will include the four children of Boris Johnson & two children of Nigel Farage born to them and their German (ex) wives.

Events in the UK make me simply even more proud to be a Kraut & especially a Bavarian Kraut.