Bill Bryson, eat your heart out!

[Killearn Kitties]

Some time ago there was a thread on Cats and the English language, which developed into a discussion on Germany.

Cats and the English language

In my post on the thread, I said that my school did exchange trips with a school in Kassel in Germany. I didn’t realise at the time that Kirsten lived very close to Kassel and I said to her that I would try to find my journal from the trip and tell her where I had been. I couldn’t remember whether we had visited Hann. Muenden, where Kirsten lives, or not. My recollections were a bit hazy.

Last week I found my trip diary and discovered that I had been in Hann. Muenden twice. The first time my diary records, “We went up a tower, then shopped. Really lovely little village. The shops were beautiful and I bought quite a lot.� Excuse me????? What was the tower for? How high was it? What could you see from it? How about a description of this lovely little village? What did you buy in these beautiful shops? I can however tell you that 13 June 1974 was “warm but dull� in that corner of Germany.

The entry for the second time I was there is slightly better, but still doesn’t give much detail. “We got on a wee ship to take us along the Wesser from 9.00 – 1.00. Got on a bus in Karlhafen for a trip through the Reinhardswald and to a fairy tale castle thing. Then the bus dropped us off at the school.� Leaving aside the appalling grammar, it doesn’t exactly make you feel as if you are there, does it?

Strangely, both these days meticulously record what time I got up and what time all of our transport was. Of what interest is that to anybody?

I was never going to make a living as a travel writer, was I?

[lizbud]

I don't think I be much good at writing one either.

[King Spartacus]

Hey - you did a million times better than what I've ever done going travelling! I only take pictures... have them developed, thrown in a drawer until I get that "creative feeling"... about 5 years later... and them I can't remember where they're taken, who's in it, or why in the world did we go to the place I can't remember what is!!! Pictures of a million rivers, a million fields, a million beaches... could be anywhere!

So, even thought it might not be Micheal Palin - well done you!!!

Which reminds me... must write on the back of threave Castle pictures... otherwise in 5 years time, I'll probably think Buckingham Palace looks a bit odd... especially right by the river!!!

Sylvie, KS' mom

PS: I always seem to remember to do Spartacus' album though... but he's my little gem!