To keep on surprising my dear readers, I am writing down some further notes from the recent days.
Christmas Markets first: thanks for your sympathy, but I can report that I dared to eat some sausage at another stall and this one was indeed better. Not very good though, but acceptable. Bravely, I continued to have mulled wine and apple strudel, both good. However, the latter was served with custard instead of vanilla ice cream which forces me to mark down its test results
Remarkably, a bigger part of the Christmas Markets is in German hands - people say, about half of it. Unfortunately, it is still controlled by the British and their strict curfew, meaning no alcohol outside the fences around Albert Square and they close at nine sharp.
Further, I can tell that the PhD comics guy is funny even in reality, this was some kind of Christmas lecture yesterday. A bit of a disappointment was that there was a moral to his talk, but not the moral itself: procrastination is different from laziness and it is OK.
I wonder if I witnessed the creation of a new comic and I can exclusively announce that he wrote down the words "thesis envy" and the sentence "The grass is always greener on the other side of defense." By the way, they did have free food, i.e. wine and mince pies.
In other news, the result of the congestion charge referendum is quite clear: 80% voted no. As I already told, it is not unusual to me as a left-ish Bavarian to be with a vast minority.
That means, I have to take the bus to the airport for some more years, because they don't know what will happen to the tram line there that was part of the plan. I am making this way later today in the usual way and wish everybody something like a Merry Christmas in case I will not be able to keep up the current speed of blogging.
Tuesday 16 December 2008
Saturday 6 December 2008
St. Nicholas Day
Now that it is St. Nicholas Day, Christmas is not far, even if you try to be objective. Thus, I dared to visit the Christmas Markets in Manchester today. Brought up with that in Germany, I was curious as to what expect from this copy that even comes in several parts: the German, the European and the World Christmas Markets.
Well, what should I say? Christmas Markets with everything that belongs there, I just did not find the Glühwein tent where they play awful Apres-Ski music. Otherwise, roasted almonds taste the same, chocolate coated fruits, too - sold at the "Bavarian Sweets" stall, where I was immediately asked if I was from Germany. Maybe I was targeting the typical things too eagerly and that tipped me and my experience off.
The big flop, however, was the "Bratwurst". I could have guessed it, the Britons are famous for not knowing how to do neither sausages nor rolls. Therefore, enjoyment of the fat and meatless former in a dry and fluffy latter was rather limited. Don't know if I will try again where they explicitly advertise "German Bratwurst".
However, I do have to return - my dear Christmas Market veterans have certainly noticed: I forgot the Glühwein. Not forgotten, rather not eager enough to queue, because if there is alcohol, hordes of Britons are not far. At least, they sell "Nürnberger Christkindles Glühwein", the famous one from Aldi. They also sell mugs - I have to add one of those to my collection.
As the pictures show you: decoration is there, too. As well as an ice rink and a ramp with artificial snow that you can glide down in a tyre. After all, everything is just the way I don't miss from Germany. Glühwein, Glögg rather, can just as well be sourced from IKEA.
Well, what should I say? Christmas Markets with everything that belongs there, I just did not find the Glühwein tent where they play awful Apres-Ski music. Otherwise, roasted almonds taste the same, chocolate coated fruits, too - sold at the "Bavarian Sweets" stall, where I was immediately asked if I was from Germany. Maybe I was targeting the typical things too eagerly and that tipped me and my experience off.
The big flop, however, was the "Bratwurst". I could have guessed it, the Britons are famous for not knowing how to do neither sausages nor rolls. Therefore, enjoyment of the fat and meatless former in a dry and fluffy latter was rather limited. Don't know if I will try again where they explicitly advertise "German Bratwurst".However, I do have to return - my dear Christmas Market veterans have certainly noticed: I forgot the Glühwein. Not forgotten, rather not eager enough to queue, because if there is alcohol, hordes of Britons are not far. At least, they sell "Nürnberger Christkindles Glühwein", the famous one from Aldi. They also sell mugs - I have to add one of those to my collection.
As the pictures show you: decoration is there, too. As well as an ice rink and a ramp with artificial snow that you can glide down in a tyre. After all, everything is just the way I don't miss from Germany. Glühwein, Glögg rather, can just as well be sourced from IKEA.
Wednesday 3 December 2008
C elections
EU ist great! Although the Britons sometimes fight against this institution, I have now made use of my right to vote for the first time here.
As you don't have to register your residence in England and they have successfully refused the introduction of national ID cards, there are several parallel institutions. Thus, we got a letter sometime ago, asking us who is living in the house and their nationalities. Since then, I was in the electoral register that curiously has two versions here: an original and an edited one. The former is used in elections and as you can verify people's address with it, my credit rating has increased with a certain probability. The edited register is sold off to marketers, luckily you can elect to be removed with a tick in the right column.
Lately, a letter arrived and I can vote on the "Transport Innovation Fund Proposals".
In a nutshell, they want to introduce a congestion charge like in London, which is cheaper on the one hand, but the world's biggest on the other hand. It is about 200 sq. km (80 sq. miles for friends of imperial measurements), inside there is another small zone that comes at an extra price. Figuring out what medium-sized city known to my dear readers that corresponds to is left as an exercise.
If somebody intends to drive to see me (I will live in the inner ring), I can calm you down. The charge applies inbound only between 7am and 9.30am (Don't you dare to arrive at that time!) and outbound only between 4pm and 6.30pm (You don't want to leave that soon, do you?). Then, you only pay if you actually cross a ring, there are numerous exceptions and it will be in force 2013 the earliest and only if more than 80% of the innovations are in place.
The innovations sound reasonable, compared to these slightly suspicious charging rules. More buses, better buses, single ticketing (Yes, this counts as an innovation here!) and extension of the sparse tram network that will have more than three endpoints then. Extreme-GMPTE-ing would still not be particularly exciting.
Anyways, I'll cast my vote and send it, perhaps it works. After all, my last vote in an election made the ruling party in Bavaria lose their absolute majority. I had to keep voting for ten years though, but if I'm lucky, my opinion will be heard faster in here.
As you don't have to register your residence in England and they have successfully refused the introduction of national ID cards, there are several parallel institutions. Thus, we got a letter sometime ago, asking us who is living in the house and their nationalities. Since then, I was in the electoral register that curiously has two versions here: an original and an edited one. The former is used in elections and as you can verify people's address with it, my credit rating has increased with a certain probability. The edited register is sold off to marketers, luckily you can elect to be removed with a tick in the right column.
Lately, a letter arrived and I can vote on the "Transport Innovation Fund Proposals".
In a nutshell, they want to introduce a congestion charge like in London, which is cheaper on the one hand, but the world's biggest on the other hand. It is about 200 sq. km (80 sq. miles for friends of imperial measurements), inside there is another small zone that comes at an extra price. Figuring out what medium-sized city known to my dear readers that corresponds to is left as an exercise.
If somebody intends to drive to see me (I will live in the inner ring), I can calm you down. The charge applies inbound only between 7am and 9.30am (Don't you dare to arrive at that time!) and outbound only between 4pm and 6.30pm (You don't want to leave that soon, do you?). Then, you only pay if you actually cross a ring, there are numerous exceptions and it will be in force 2013 the earliest and only if more than 80% of the innovations are in place.
The innovations sound reasonable, compared to these slightly suspicious charging rules. More buses, better buses, single ticketing (Yes, this counts as an innovation here!) and extension of the sparse tram network that will have more than three endpoints then. Extreme-GMPTE-ing would still not be particularly exciting.
Anyways, I'll cast my vote and send it, perhaps it works. After all, my last vote in an election made the ruling party in Bavaria lose their absolute majority. I had to keep voting for ten years though, but if I'm lucky, my opinion will be heard faster in here.
Friday 19 September 2008
Two months, again
Two months have passed again, though I did promise to write more frequently. I apologise and refrain from giving a similar promise for now. Of course, this is not meant to say that I would not write again, or that there was nothing to write. Neither am I lacking encouragements from my dear readers. Au contraire, I will keep on writing and hope that I will be worth reading.
Again, for now I limit myself to posting some pictures, as usual, they do not stay uncommented. I have some more pictures from abroad as I visited another country of the United Kingdom, namely Wales. Also, I have added more pins to my Map.
Let me begin with Llandudno, Wales. A pretty seaside resort, including the obligatory pier as this is still Britain. Special to mention about Llandudno is not only its name, but also the hill right next to the sea that gives you nice views on the bay and that you can descend from in Britains longest cable way.
Then I went to York that does not have skyscrapers, but a minister that is the biggest in some category – I think it was something to do with a church of a particular faith north of the Alps. Also, there is a wall, around town, however, and without graffiti.
Manchester Pride Parade was another event, not on Christopher Street Day, but in the middle of "summer" (in fact, it did not rain that day). Nice to see, a bit like a German carnival parade, but without candy and in pink.
Continuing with some pictures from Buxton, a small town at the edge of the Peak District. Notable here is the nicely renovated Opera House - something you wouldn't expect in such a spa town and even less in that baroque style - art historians may stone me now for I certainly got the epoch wrong, but it is nicely ornamented inside with angels and freskos.
Finally, the highlight up to now: Lake District. By far the most beautiful region in England, somehow like a small Switzerland, meaning mountains and lakes. A lot of green and very romantic, which has attracted some writers. I drove a car for the first time here which was less nerve-racking at the end than I had expected. As we all know, they drive on the wrong side of the road in England – luckily, everybody does it, thus this is the least problem. What makes it interesting are the narrow roads that are partly crowded even Thursdays and the solid stone walls right at the edge of the road that they build instead of fences. Still, I and the car survived unbruised and I brought many pretty pictures and the goal to return there.
This, however, will be a topic for one of the next times. As I said, I do not promise to, but perhaps I will manage to blog a bit timelier.
As a small postscriptum, I can announce that I have a well-rehearsed guided tour of Manchester now, thanks to my visitors that patiently helped me test it. Further testers for future refinements are always welcome.
Again, for now I limit myself to posting some pictures, as usual, they do not stay uncommented. I have some more pictures from abroad as I visited another country of the United Kingdom, namely Wales. Also, I have added more pins to my Map.
Let me begin with Llandudno, Wales. A pretty seaside resort, including the obligatory pier as this is still Britain. Special to mention about Llandudno is not only its name, but also the hill right next to the sea that gives you nice views on the bay and that you can descend from in Britains longest cable way.
 |
| Llandudno |
Then I went to York that does not have skyscrapers, but a minister that is the biggest in some category – I think it was something to do with a church of a particular faith north of the Alps. Also, there is a wall, around town, however, and without graffiti.
 |
| York |
Manchester Pride Parade was another event, not on Christopher Street Day, but in the middle of "summer" (in fact, it did not rain that day). Nice to see, a bit like a German carnival parade, but without candy and in pink.
 |
| Machester Pride Parade |
Continuing with some pictures from Buxton, a small town at the edge of the Peak District. Notable here is the nicely renovated Opera House - something you wouldn't expect in such a spa town and even less in that baroque style - art historians may stone me now for I certainly got the epoch wrong, but it is nicely ornamented inside with angels and freskos.
 |
| Buxton |
Finally, the highlight up to now: Lake District. By far the most beautiful region in England, somehow like a small Switzerland, meaning mountains and lakes. A lot of green and very romantic, which has attracted some writers. I drove a car for the first time here which was less nerve-racking at the end than I had expected. As we all know, they drive on the wrong side of the road in England – luckily, everybody does it, thus this is the least problem. What makes it interesting are the narrow roads that are partly crowded even Thursdays and the solid stone walls right at the edge of the road that they build instead of fences. Still, I and the car survived unbruised and I brought many pretty pictures and the goal to return there.
 |
| Lake District |
This, however, will be a topic for one of the next times. As I said, I do not promise to, but perhaps I will manage to blog a bit timelier.
As a small postscriptum, I can announce that I have a well-rehearsed guided tour of Manchester now, thanks to my visitors that patiently helped me test it. Further testers for future refinements are always welcome.
Monday 7 July 2008
Long time, no blog
I have really not given any notice for a long time, once again I was either to lazy or to busy to write something. Therefore, I am just dumping many pictures and some text, apologise to my dear patient readers and promise to blog more and timelier in the future.
The most important first: I have moved, to a cute house with a garden and three other Computer Science PhDs. All your holiday postcards go to 3 Hadfield Close, Manchester M14 5LY, United Kingdom from now on, please. Alternatively you can use the university address to the right. Guests are always welcome to distract me and I have even more space for you now.
Otherwise, everything is as usual. I have travelled a bit around England and have visited Liverpool among other things. This is most interesting this year because they are the European Capital of Culture, that is they have done right what Karlsruhe did wrong in their application.
The first time Liverpool was an afternoon with the common sights that you have to have seen there, of course, I took pictures. They include both cathedrals (finished ~1900 and ~1970), Albert Dock and the Cavern Quarter where the Beatles had their first gig.
The second time a couple of weeks later I walked the Queensway Tunnel under the Mersey together with some other 10,000 people. It was closed to motor traffic for that occasion and we went back on a vintage bus and the ferry. Then the same tour as on my first time as the people I went with had not yet seen it.
Then I went to Blackpool, a - actually the most famous - seaside resort north of Liverpool. It has seen better days, it's all a bit dodgy and tacky, but one has to have seen it once.
For something completely different I went to Amsterdam, which is quite nice and has the better weather. On the way back I went to Liverpool for a third time, but only saw the airport this time.
Then there were little things like the Two Cities Boat Race between the universities of Salford and Manchester (the latter won 6-1).
So please take a look at the pictures, accept my apologies and my promise to write more in this place in the future.
The most important first: I have moved, to a cute house with a garden and three other Computer Science PhDs. All your holiday postcards go to 3 Hadfield Close, Manchester M14 5LY, United Kingdom from now on, please. Alternatively you can use the university address to the right. Guests are always welcome to distract me and I have even more space for you now.
Otherwise, everything is as usual. I have travelled a bit around England and have visited Liverpool among other things. This is most interesting this year because they are the European Capital of Culture, that is they have done right what Karlsruhe did wrong in their application.The first time Liverpool was an afternoon with the common sights that you have to have seen there, of course, I took pictures. They include both cathedrals (finished ~1900 and ~1970), Albert Dock and the Cavern Quarter where the Beatles had their first gig.The second time a couple of weeks later I walked the Queensway Tunnel under the Mersey together with some other 10,000 people. It was closed to motor traffic for that occasion and we went back on a vintage bus and the ferry. Then the same tour as on my first time as the people I went with had not yet seen it.Then I went to Blackpool, a - actually the most famous - seaside resort north of Liverpool. It has seen better days, it's all a bit dodgy and tacky, but one has to have seen it once.
For something completely different I went to Amsterdam, which is quite nice and has the better weather. On the way back I went to Liverpool for a third time, but only saw the airport this time.Then there were little things like the Two Cities Boat Race between the universities of Salford and Manchester (the latter won 6-1).So please take a look at the pictures, accept my apologies and my promise to write more in this place in the future.
Friday 18 April 2008
Travelling Abroad
Last weekend I managed to visit a neighbouring foreign country. Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland to be precise. On a first glance there are no big differences: they still drive on the wrong side, bank notes look almost similar (but it says Bank of Scotland on them) and the weather is not better either.
First contact with locals happened on the high street when we were looking into the travel guide to find a place for lunch. No minute later a woman offered her help with a clearly Scottish accent that was, however, still comprehensible. Her pick was the underground food court of a shopping mall where they only had sandwiches and fast food. Thus the next insight: the Scottish don't care much about food, either.
Talking about Scottish food would not be complete without Haggis. Its description (from another local) sounds little delicous: take a sheep, give the meat away, mix the rest with oatmeal, onions and spices, stuff it into the sheep's stomach and cook it. As sides you get "neeps and tatties", i.e. turnips and mashed potatoes. On the plate it looks much more delicous than that and tastes like sausages which is quite agreeable. By the way, more than agreeable is Scottish whisky (note the missing e, that would be Irish whiskey then).
Apart from eating and drinking, Edinburgh ist a really nice city. The main sight is the castle on a hill in the middle which, for some reason, had free entry (£8-£11 normally) that very weekend with the unavoidable long queues in the usual British discipline. The rest of Old Town is rather compact, hilly and with bridges over lower streets. There is a New Town (new as in 200 years) which is laid out a bit more regularly and "American". Overall, really pretty and looking around it is no miracle that Joanne K. Rowling lives here and invented Harry Potter and Hogwarts.
Another recommendation for evening entertainment in Edinburgh: a Ghost Tour. They come in different varieties of seriousness, i.e. with scaring and walks through dungeons below the city. Our tour was more a leisurely walkabout with a competent guide who knew a lot of appropriate stories and told them well.
Thus: do go there and even the journey from Manchester to Edinburgh leads through beautiful landscapes that are certainly worth a visit by themselves. Anyways, my pictures, finally.
First contact with locals happened on the high street when we were looking into the travel guide to find a place for lunch. No minute later a woman offered her help with a clearly Scottish accent that was, however, still comprehensible. Her pick was the underground food court of a shopping mall where they only had sandwiches and fast food. Thus the next insight: the Scottish don't care much about food, either.
Talking about Scottish food would not be complete without Haggis. Its description (from another local) sounds little delicous: take a sheep, give the meat away, mix the rest with oatmeal, onions and spices, stuff it into the sheep's stomach and cook it. As sides you get "neeps and tatties", i.e. turnips and mashed potatoes. On the plate it looks much more delicous than that and tastes like sausages which is quite agreeable. By the way, more than agreeable is Scottish whisky (note the missing e, that would be Irish whiskey then).
Apart from eating and drinking, Edinburgh ist a really nice city. The main sight is the castle on a hill in the middle which, for some reason, had free entry (£8-£11 normally) that very weekend with the unavoidable long queues in the usual British discipline. The rest of Old Town is rather compact, hilly and with bridges over lower streets. There is a New Town (new as in 200 years) which is laid out a bit more regularly and "American". Overall, really pretty and looking around it is no miracle that Joanne K. Rowling lives here and invented Harry Potter and Hogwarts.
Another recommendation for evening entertainment in Edinburgh: a Ghost Tour. They come in different varieties of seriousness, i.e. with scaring and walks through dungeons below the city. Our tour was more a leisurely walkabout with a competent guide who knew a lot of appropriate stories and told them well.
Thus: do go there and even the journey from Manchester to Edinburgh leads through beautiful landscapes that are certainly worth a visit by themselves. Anyways, my pictures, finally.
Sunday 6 April 2008
From citizen to tourist
I should have visitors more often (yes, that is an invitation). Then I can show off my secret skills as a tourist guide and get to see new things in Manchester myself as I did this weekend.
Thus, for reference two afternoon walking tours. The first in the city with a visit to Chetham's Library and a sit a Marx' and Engel's favourite place where it smells nicely from those old books on the shelves. Then on to the next library, the John Rylands Library, that was only built in 1900 but is still gothic, looks like a church and is really worth seeing inside. As a contrast a real church, the Manchester Cathedral, and the glass block of Beetham Tower that hosts the Hilton Hotel. From their Bar Cloud 23 on that very level you get nice views of the city and can return the menu they hand you even without ordering anything. To finish, a walk along the canals in Castlefield. And as I forgot to take my camera, my next visitors are lucky enough to get this tour again. I can only offer pictures from a mobile phone, though.
It was Salford Quays for the next afternoon, a former harbour area with now intensive developments. The Imperial War Museum North is there, where they show pictures and stuff from the World Wars as expected, but at least the manage to convey the message that war is not desirable at all. The windy viewing platform on top of the building that was designed by Daniel Liebeskind gives you a view over the harbour area with a lot of construction sites. Seeing the Manchester United stadium still does not make up for this to be a particularly breathtaking view. At least, it is all free as the libraries the other day were, too. They only put up boxes and write the suggested donation on it. Further there is the Lowry, a gallery and a theatre, a shopping mall and many an opportunity to walk along waterfront esplanades which can be quite pleasing if the English weather happens to be. I had my camera with me and can show you pictures.
On Sunday at noon finally a short visit to the Victoria Baths (open 1906-1993) that are currently being renovated and have an open day with guided tours every month. It looks really nice with a lot of ornaments giving it quite some distinctive style. Remarkably, there are three pools: a gents' first class, a gents' second class and a womens' pool. Fresh water was put into the first pool, as soon as you could not see the ground any more, it was filtered and pumped into the next pool. Of course, the dimensions are British: all three are 25 yards long and of different width and depth which is measured in feet. I remembered to bring my camera and took some pictures.
Thus, for reference two afternoon walking tours. The first in the city with a visit to Chetham's Library and a sit a Marx' and Engel's favourite place where it smells nicely from those old books on the shelves. Then on to the next library, the John Rylands Library, that was only built in 1900 but is still gothic, looks like a church and is really worth seeing inside. As a contrast a real church, the Manchester Cathedral, and the glass block of Beetham Tower that hosts the Hilton Hotel. From their Bar Cloud 23 on that very level you get nice views of the city and can return the menu they hand you even without ordering anything. To finish, a walk along the canals in Castlefield. And as I forgot to take my camera, my next visitors are lucky enough to get this tour again. I can only offer pictures from a mobile phone, though.
It was Salford Quays for the next afternoon, a former harbour area with now intensive developments. The Imperial War Museum North is there, where they show pictures and stuff from the World Wars as expected, but at least the manage to convey the message that war is not desirable at all. The windy viewing platform on top of the building that was designed by Daniel Liebeskind gives you a view over the harbour area with a lot of construction sites. Seeing the Manchester United stadium still does not make up for this to be a particularly breathtaking view. At least, it is all free as the libraries the other day were, too. They only put up boxes and write the suggested donation on it. Further there is the Lowry, a gallery and a theatre, a shopping mall and many an opportunity to walk along waterfront esplanades which can be quite pleasing if the English weather happens to be. I had my camera with me and can show you pictures.
On Sunday at noon finally a short visit to the Victoria Baths (open 1906-1993) that are currently being renovated and have an open day with guided tours every month. It looks really nice with a lot of ornaments giving it quite some distinctive style. Remarkably, there are three pools: a gents' first class, a gents' second class and a womens' pool. Fresh water was put into the first pool, as soon as you could not see the ground any more, it was filtered and pumped into the next pool. Of course, the dimensions are British: all three are 25 yards long and of different width and depth which is measured in feet. I remembered to bring my camera and took some pictures.
Sunday 30 March 2008
Peak District II
As the last weekend was so nice, once again Peak District. This time with the PhD mentors (yes, they have such a thing here), i.e. PhDs in their third year who traditionally organise such a trip around Easter.
Thus, same train as last weekend but for getting on one hour and getting off two stations earlier. The goal was Kinder Scout, the highest mountain with already mentioned 636m and at least not a misleading name. But it can do the wind and rain and uncomfortable thing not less than a grown-up. Luckily it only got uncomfortable after our lunch break short before the peak which didn't give us unclouded, but still really nice views.
Of couse, I have a side note, this time about the pubs in Edale. The first of it has actually two doors, one for the “Hikers Bar” and one for the “Locals Bar”. Some questions arise: What is the difference between them? What happens if you enter the wrong one? Are third persons like bikers not welcome?
We found a possible explanation for the segregation on our way back: you wouldn't want to have a group of hikers that has walked across muddy grass in typical English weather everywhere in your pub. The one we visited did not want us in carpeted areas. Fair Enough you say, while there are supposed to be even pubs with a “Muddy Shoes Welcome” sign.
For everybody who made it down here, as usual, the pictures.
Thus, same train as last weekend but for getting on one hour and getting off two stations earlier. The goal was Kinder Scout, the highest mountain with already mentioned 636m and at least not a misleading name. But it can do the wind and rain and uncomfortable thing not less than a grown-up. Luckily it only got uncomfortable after our lunch break short before the peak which didn't give us unclouded, but still really nice views.
Of couse, I have a side note, this time about the pubs in Edale. The first of it has actually two doors, one for the “Hikers Bar” and one for the “Locals Bar”. Some questions arise: What is the difference between them? What happens if you enter the wrong one? Are third persons like bikers not welcome?
We found a possible explanation for the segregation on our way back: you wouldn't want to have a group of hikers that has walked across muddy grass in typical English weather everywhere in your pub. The one we visited did not want us in carpeted areas. Fair Enough you say, while there are supposed to be even pubs with a “Muddy Shoes Welcome” sign.
For everybody who made it down here, as usual, the pictures.
Monday 24 March 2008
Peak District
I've had enough of big cities for now, thus into nature for today: a one-hour train ride to Hathersage in the Peak District. As a Central European guy you would picture mighty mountains, but disappointingly the highest “mountain” there is a mere 636m (yes, metric metres, no other absurd unit), we made it to a bit more than 400m. But still quite nice and the wind is no less than on “real” mountains.
Interesting thing happening on the way: it seems to be typically German to bring boiled eggs to a picnic. I did it only be chance, but the other three Germans had the same idea. And then, only one in four eggs was coloured, so it is independent of Easter. Then, we all had thought about how to bring salt up there. We ended up sharing salt from a small container that had contained (analog!) films in earlier times.
This time again at the end: the pictures.
Interesting thing happening on the way: it seems to be typically German to bring boiled eggs to a picnic. I did it only be chance, but the other three Germans had the same idea. And then, only one in four eggs was coloured, so it is independent of Easter. Then, we all had thought about how to bring salt up there. We ended up sharing salt from a small container that had contained (analog!) films in earlier times.This time again at the end: the pictures.
Friday 21 March 2008
London for Beginners
Change of place for today, I'd have a couple of notes from London to offer where I spent Wednesday and Thursday. Going there and back on the bus (which is the cheapest short-notice way) should have lasted four hours each – actually the latter took a bit longer, but both were overall not quite worth a notice. However, I again felt that England is some centimetres (or inches or whatever the most useful unit would be) too short for me.
The hostel provided for nothing unexpected but a changed address combined with an unchanged map. However, we were only told this by Mr Reception (according to his sign next too the doorbell) who kept every hint of a hostel, e.g. stickers, maybe as a souvenir.
As I have only been to London once and in times immemorial, i.e. one and a half decades ago, and because of the limited time, I contended myself with the beginner's tour and mainly took pictures of important places. Camden Markets, Piccadilly Circus, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St James's Park, Covent Garden, Tower Bridge and Harrod's are the keywords here.
Of course, I cannot suppress some comments about people that mainly concerns tourists here, because you rarely meet normal people in London. Interestingly, the French are the biggest group here, followed by Germans and Italians. Only at the Tower, they are second to the Germans – I have no idea what to conclude of that.
The omnipresence of tourists from Europe makes walking in crowds different from what I have gotten used to: they step to the right. I trained myself with effort to get rid of that instinct and suddenly there I constantly bump into people. I even believe that Londoners have let themselves adopt that behaviour and got pushed to the right side.
Finally just one comment as a comparison of London and Manchester. Upon returning the latter feels small, shabby and provincial. And this is not only the architecture, but even as much people's dressing habits. The girls there dress a bit classier and their taste allows for something else than miniskirts – but still the average height of the skirt seam is much higher than in Germany.
Enough talking, let the pictures speak.
The hostel provided for nothing unexpected but a changed address combined with an unchanged map. However, we were only told this by Mr Reception (according to his sign next too the doorbell) who kept every hint of a hostel, e.g. stickers, maybe as a souvenir.As I have only been to London once and in times immemorial, i.e. one and a half decades ago, and because of the limited time, I contended myself with the beginner's tour and mainly took pictures of important places. Camden Markets, Piccadilly Circus, Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, St James's Park, Covent Garden, Tower Bridge and Harrod's are the keywords here.
Of course, I cannot suppress some comments about people that mainly concerns tourists here, because you rarely meet normal people in London. Interestingly, the French are the biggest group here, followed by Germans and Italians. Only at the Tower, they are second to the Germans – I have no idea what to conclude of that.
The omnipresence of tourists from Europe makes walking in crowds different from what I have gotten used to: they step to the right. I trained myself with effort to get rid of that instinct and suddenly there I constantly bump into people. I even believe that Londoners have let themselves adopt that behaviour and got pushed to the right side.Finally just one comment as a comparison of London and Manchester. Upon returning the latter feels small, shabby and provincial. And this is not only the architecture, but even as much people's dressing habits. The girls there dress a bit classier and their taste allows for something else than miniskirts – but still the average height of the skirt seam is much higher than in Germany.
Enough talking, let the pictures speak.
Sunday 9 March 2008
Memorials and Architecture
Today, by popular request, some pictures from Manchester. Featuring: the Alan Turing Memorial, the postbox that survived the IRA bomb, and some buildings in Manchester.
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| Memorials and Architecture |
Monday 3 March 2008
Unified
The English are said to be quite quirky. A good example provide their units of measurement which are totally absurd. I have researched this because for a continental European guy like me that has been taught the metric system it is strange to say the least. The English themselves are not really helpful in regard of knowing their own units.
Let's begin with basic nutrition: this is measured in pints. You order a beer of that size in the pub and I buy my milk in bottles of two pints. Milk comes in other manifolds and beer as half a pint, too. A pint is 568ml and as I recently bought a 570ml bottle of ketchup, this seems to be some kind of basic nutrition as well.
The next bigger size, e. g. the prize at a pub quiz, is the gallon. To make it easy, this is eight pints, i. e. 4.55ml. Those of you proficient in American units will have noticed the difference: an American gallon is only 3.8l. This could mean either that the Americans can bear less alcohol or are greedier when it comes to prizes.
On cooking utensils you can find even more units. There is the cup – not A, B, C etc. – which is half a pint. Then there are the ounces being 1/20 pint when liquid and 1/16 pound as a weight.
A pound itself is currently 1.30 € or 453g. Body weight is measured in yet another unit, the stone. I think this comes from the fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood" where the hunter replaces the girl and her grandmother in the wolf's stomach by their equivalent in stones. A stone is consequently 14 pounds (18.31 € or 6.53kg).
At last some legths: the mile is as long as in the USA, namely 1.6km or 1760 yards. The latter is the same as three feet which are 12 inches in turn. You can find all these units on the road: distances and speeds use miles, everything shorter is signposted in yards and heigths of bridges for instance are given in feet and inch, sometimes additionally in metres.
To sum it up: there are at least three units for everything, the factors between each two are always different. Let me repeat the numbers from the text above: 2, 3, 8, 12, 14, 16, 20, 1760. If you convert it to metric units, you get something odd and the Americans have their own units for some parts.
A positive thought at the end: if you have to live with this weirdness, you either develop a really good visual judgement or a good memory and fast mental arithmetic.
Let's begin with basic nutrition: this is measured in pints. You order a beer of that size in the pub and I buy my milk in bottles of two pints. Milk comes in other manifolds and beer as half a pint, too. A pint is 568ml and as I recently bought a 570ml bottle of ketchup, this seems to be some kind of basic nutrition as well.
The next bigger size, e. g. the prize at a pub quiz, is the gallon. To make it easy, this is eight pints, i. e. 4.55ml. Those of you proficient in American units will have noticed the difference: an American gallon is only 3.8l. This could mean either that the Americans can bear less alcohol or are greedier when it comes to prizes.
On cooking utensils you can find even more units. There is the cup – not A, B, C etc. – which is half a pint. Then there are the ounces being 1/20 pint when liquid and 1/16 pound as a weight.
A pound itself is currently 1.30 € or 453g. Body weight is measured in yet another unit, the stone. I think this comes from the fairytale "Little Red Riding Hood" where the hunter replaces the girl and her grandmother in the wolf's stomach by their equivalent in stones. A stone is consequently 14 pounds (18.31 € or 6.53kg).
At last some legths: the mile is as long as in the USA, namely 1.6km or 1760 yards. The latter is the same as three feet which are 12 inches in turn. You can find all these units on the road: distances and speeds use miles, everything shorter is signposted in yards and heigths of bridges for instance are given in feet and inch, sometimes additionally in metres.
To sum it up: there are at least three units for everything, the factors between each two are always different. Let me repeat the numbers from the text above: 2, 3, 8, 12, 14, 16, 20, 1760. If you convert it to metric units, you get something odd and the Americans have their own units for some parts.
A positive thought at the end: if you have to live with this weirdness, you either develop a really good visual judgement or a good memory and fast mental arithmetic.
Saturday 1 March 2008
Diplom-Informatiker
What a great feeling! Today I was addressed with my academic degree for the first time. However, it was only the University of Karlsruhe, and who should know but them? Actually, I think I had felt slightly disappointed if they hadn't used my degree in addressing me.
And by the way, they sent me the AlumniKaTH, their alumni magazine, which is not even glossy and of limited informational and entertainment value. But if anyone wants to go to the Hannover Messe (an industrial expo in Germany) as a guest of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), I'd have a free ticket to give away.
And by the way, they sent me the AlumniKaTH, their alumni magazine, which is not even glossy and of limited informational and entertainment value. But if anyone wants to go to the Hannover Messe (an industrial expo in Germany) as a guest of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), I'd have a free ticket to give away.
Wednesday 27 February 2008
Survived!
Now I have to show a sign of life from me. I don't know if the news have made it to you, but here in England it's quite a topic (BBC): there was an earthquake yesterday night, even with a 5.3 on the Richter scale and I survived without mental or physical damages (which is certainly the good news).
It was quite an interesting experience to first see the water in the bottle next to my bed move. Then I didn't think it was special because it always does this when somebody lets a door fall shut anywhere in the house. But when my bed started shaking I slightly doubted it.
This morning I learned that it really was an earthquake. Seems like nothing too bad happened, apart from some knocked-down chimneys. After all, the city looked the same as it did yesterday.
That gives me the opportunity to present a before-and-after-picture of Alan Road (just one picture, because after the earthquake it still looks the same as before). And who knows me and my pictures from Australia can tell that it is only genuine with a sunset.
Alan Road before and after
It was quite an interesting experience to first see the water in the bottle next to my bed move. Then I didn't think it was special because it always does this when somebody lets a door fall shut anywhere in the house. But when my bed started shaking I slightly doubted it.
This morning I learned that it really was an earthquake. Seems like nothing too bad happened, apart from some knocked-down chimneys. After all, the city looked the same as it did yesterday.
That gives me the opportunity to present a before-and-after-picture of Alan Road (just one picture, because after the earthquake it still looks the same as before). And who knows me and my pictures from Australia can tell that it is only genuine with a sunset.
Alan Road before and afterTuesday 26 February 2008
Politeness 101: On the bus
English people are said to always be polite. I can confirm this with several observations. Let's begin with the first episode of a long series. “Politeness 101: On the bus”
It starts with the signs. They don't unpersonally say “Dienstfahrt” or commandingly “Don't Enter” like German Rail does – no, it is “Sorry – Not In Service”. Watch the order: first the apology, then a friendly “Not In Service”. And if the display at the side of the bus is too small for two lines, they alternate “Sorry” and “Not In Service”. This much of politeness needs to be, even if the bus seems to go to “000 Sorry” every couple of seconds.
Bus drivers are not only generally, but even almost without exception, friendly. My impression from Germany is that it's the other way round there. Here, they have different bus companies and they don't accept each other's tickets. As it happens, I entered a bus with the wrong ticket. The bus driver pointed this out to me (His sentence started with “Sorry”, of course) and I silently chuntering (I still can't deny my heritage) searched my wallet for coins and put the exact demanded fare (70p) on his till. But instead of taking the money with the same silent chunter (thinkig “Stupid foreigner/tourist/...”), he looked into his rear mirror and told me to take the bus that was just pulling up behind us, because my ticket was valid there. Thus, totally baffled, I took my saved money back and changed to the other bus.
But the politeness exists on the other side as well. Here, buses have only one door and thus you have to pass the driver on your way out. The English like to queue anyways, so why waste space for a second door? And guess what an English person does when they finally reache the door and can get off. They thank the bus driver! And they all do it, including the spoilt youth and drunk students. They even interrupt their conversation, even if it is on the phone, for that. So I took to turning my head to the right (left-side driving!) and calling – depending on my predecessors in the line, you want a little variation at least – a short “Thanks”, “Thank you”, “Ta” or “Cheers”. Often you get a “See you”, “Bye” or “Alright” back and find yourself happy and content on the street, all because of this short conversation with a bus driver you regard as a human being.
This enthusiasm is, of course, quickly brought down to a normal level quite often because you find yourself in the rain, but on average, going by bus is much more fun here.
It starts with the signs. They don't unpersonally say “Dienstfahrt” or commandingly “Don't Enter” like German Rail does – no, it is “Sorry – Not In Service”. Watch the order: first the apology, then a friendly “Not In Service”. And if the display at the side of the bus is too small for two lines, they alternate “Sorry” and “Not In Service”. This much of politeness needs to be, even if the bus seems to go to “000 Sorry” every couple of seconds.
Bus drivers are not only generally, but even almost without exception, friendly. My impression from Germany is that it's the other way round there. Here, they have different bus companies and they don't accept each other's tickets. As it happens, I entered a bus with the wrong ticket. The bus driver pointed this out to me (His sentence started with “Sorry”, of course) and I silently chuntering (I still can't deny my heritage) searched my wallet for coins and put the exact demanded fare (70p) on his till. But instead of taking the money with the same silent chunter (thinkig “Stupid foreigner/tourist/...”), he looked into his rear mirror and told me to take the bus that was just pulling up behind us, because my ticket was valid there. Thus, totally baffled, I took my saved money back and changed to the other bus.
But the politeness exists on the other side as well. Here, buses have only one door and thus you have to pass the driver on your way out. The English like to queue anyways, so why waste space for a second door? And guess what an English person does when they finally reache the door and can get off. They thank the bus driver! And they all do it, including the spoilt youth and drunk students. They even interrupt their conversation, even if it is on the phone, for that. So I took to turning my head to the right (left-side driving!) and calling – depending on my predecessors in the line, you want a little variation at least – a short “Thanks”, “Thank you”, “Ta” or “Cheers”. Often you get a “See you”, “Bye” or “Alright” back and find yourself happy and content on the street, all because of this short conversation with a bus driver you regard as a human being.
This enthusiasm is, of course, quickly brought down to a normal level quite often because you find yourself in the rain, but on average, going by bus is much more fun here.
Sunday 10 February 2008
Piled Higher and Deeper
I know that this is no real excuse for not having written anything yet, but I was as busy as I was lazy. So I'm starting to tell you something about doing a PhD in the UK as far I have found out yet. This is really different from the German way, but compare it yourself.
The first thing about it is being a student. As such you have to pay quite high tuition fees (Home Fee for UK/EU currently £3.320 = 4.468 €, four times as much for everybody else) or you need a scholarship for that. I actually have another one for me, my food and my rent. There are no obligations in teaching for me, though it is appreciated if you sign up for "demonstrator duties" that are, however, separately paid.
The PhD program is quite tightly organised, at least the regulations are. I have exactly three years, i.e. until 31st December 2011. At the end of the first year I have to submit a transmission report – if this is nothing sensible, I'm getting an MPhil and may leave.
On the other hand, there is a lot of great help. I have a supervisor and a co-supervisor I talk to about my topic, an advisor I talk to about more general things and then there a student mentors. I had to attend a two-day workshop "Introduction to Reseatch (Speed PhD)" where we were told about all the formalities and what else there is to watch out for.
Being in a research postgraduate, I have no courses except a two-hour seminar on "Academic Writing". Partly helpful and entertaining: you get told stuff in anecdotes, e.g. how paper writing works. Who is first author, who is author at all, how to find a matching conference or journal, how to write a review. Thus it is not jumping in cold water when you actually have to do something like this.
The end is interesting as well. You write your thesis which is assessed by two people who are not your supervisors. One of them is at the faculty, the other is external, e.g. from another university. They are only reading the thesis and you have to defend it in an oral exam called "viva" in front of only the two of them.
It seems like there are no traditions except for a glass of champagne after the viva. No graduate hats or getting pulled around campus on a cart – this is where the Germans are better organised. If all of this is much better or worse, I'll still have to find out. Anyways, you have a lot of freedom and apart from the mentioned obligations I'm free to do what and how I like it.
Overall, it is not at all PhD-Comics-like, without annoyances and quite interesting. I like it, but I do have a place here to let you know about any frustration.
Next time I will certainly tell you some things about strange English people.
The first thing about it is being a student. As such you have to pay quite high tuition fees (Home Fee for UK/EU currently £3.320 = 4.468 €, four times as much for everybody else) or you need a scholarship for that. I actually have another one for me, my food and my rent. There are no obligations in teaching for me, though it is appreciated if you sign up for "demonstrator duties" that are, however, separately paid.
The PhD program is quite tightly organised, at least the regulations are. I have exactly three years, i.e. until 31st December 2011. At the end of the first year I have to submit a transmission report – if this is nothing sensible, I'm getting an MPhil and may leave.
On the other hand, there is a lot of great help. I have a supervisor and a co-supervisor I talk to about my topic, an advisor I talk to about more general things and then there a student mentors. I had to attend a two-day workshop "Introduction to Reseatch (Speed PhD)" where we were told about all the formalities and what else there is to watch out for.
Being in a research postgraduate, I have no courses except a two-hour seminar on "Academic Writing". Partly helpful and entertaining: you get told stuff in anecdotes, e.g. how paper writing works. Who is first author, who is author at all, how to find a matching conference or journal, how to write a review. Thus it is not jumping in cold water when you actually have to do something like this.
The end is interesting as well. You write your thesis which is assessed by two people who are not your supervisors. One of them is at the faculty, the other is external, e.g. from another university. They are only reading the thesis and you have to defend it in an oral exam called "viva" in front of only the two of them.
It seems like there are no traditions except for a glass of champagne after the viva. No graduate hats or getting pulled around campus on a cart – this is where the Germans are better organised. If all of this is much better or worse, I'll still have to find out. Anyways, you have a lot of freedom and apart from the mentioned obligations I'm free to do what and how I like it.
Overall, it is not at all PhD-Comics-like, without annoyances and quite interesting. I like it, but I do have a place here to let you know about any frustration.
Next time I will certainly tell you some things about strange English people.
Thursday 31 January 2008
Welcome to the island
Once again an English-speaking island where they drive on the left side of the road. This could become something like my goal for life: to visit all those islands. [Bonus-question for computer scientists: Find the shortest path linking them.] I think this is quite a rewarding goal as there are locations such as Ireland, New Zealand and Fidschi among them.
But first I have a rather mid-term goal that already has a pretty title and on achieving it I will be getting a pretty title. The first one is "Integrating Theory Reasoning into Instance-based Theorem Proving", the second is PhD if anyone among my dear readers would want to know.
However, more exciting for my audience are certainly the basic facts. I live in a nice house in Withington together with five other students, I have a desk in the ugliest building on campus and they really care heart-warmingly for their PhD students there.
Of course, there are all those absurd things to tell and that's why it is always worth having a look at this very spot. Should I carry my camera with me when it is not raining, I will certainly provide some pictures. I don't want to force it, but the last couple of days have been rather dry and I could even spot some patches of blue sky. Thus, there is hope, but still I can see why you can only get ugly and apparently age-old postcards: you need a few decades until you have collected photos of the sights before a blue sky.
At the end, of course, the usual invitation: if you happen to be nearby (and this includes all of England, after all I'm not in Australia anymore), you are welcome to drop in any time and I can accommodate at least one air-bed in my room.
But first I have a rather mid-term goal that already has a pretty title and on achieving it I will be getting a pretty title. The first one is "Integrating Theory Reasoning into Instance-based Theorem Proving", the second is PhD if anyone among my dear readers would want to know.
However, more exciting for my audience are certainly the basic facts. I live in a nice house in Withington together with five other students, I have a desk in the ugliest building on campus and they really care heart-warmingly for their PhD students there.
Of course, there are all those absurd things to tell and that's why it is always worth having a look at this very spot. Should I carry my camera with me when it is not raining, I will certainly provide some pictures. I don't want to force it, but the last couple of days have been rather dry and I could even spot some patches of blue sky. Thus, there is hope, but still I can see why you can only get ugly and apparently age-old postcards: you need a few decades until you have collected photos of the sights before a blue sky.
At the end, of course, the usual invitation: if you happen to be nearby (and this includes all of England, after all I'm not in Australia anymore), you are welcome to drop in any time and I can accommodate at least one air-bed in my room.
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