As a result of actually being involved into a european consolidation project I had to travel to Turkey last week.

Last time I was there was back in 1992 and for a duration of 3 weeks. Doing a roundtrip there I had the chance to get quit a good impression about the country itself and the people living there.  What I’ve found there back in 1992 was a very interesting country and a lot of rather friendly people living there. Nontheless many things were different and a lot of them remained strange to me though.

Now this time I’ve headed to Istanbul only and therefore I’m for sure not able to give you an overall feedback of todays situation there. But once again I met very very friendly people there and enjoy my short and sweet diving in there very much.

The general appearance is still the same, but people appeared much more "western" alike today to me. Since years the Turkey is keen and willing to join the EU and the majority of people there really seems to be willing and happy to do.

I had quit a few really enjoyable conversations besides work, even scratching this and a few others similar topics and really enjoyed the ideas and argument I got to hear. Sure, I’ve mostly dealed with people my age and also mainly with folks working in my area of expertise or generally within the IT business. But for my feeling really the general background has changed there.

And therefore thinking about their wish to join the EU I have to say .. why not?

Sure there might be still things not fitting in very well or other things (in our eyes) which still needs to get improved! But I rather like to deal and talk with friendly people again and again, trying to improve or adjust things, than to bounce and maybe turn them grumpy instead.

After recently slowing down here with blogging, today I would not like missing the chance to wish all my friends, their families, my followers and also any other reader here a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2010.

May this New Year bless you All with peace, happiness, success and good health.

Merry Christmas,

Michael

I’m aware about I haven’t posted here for a while …. feeling guilty of course. But it was mainly caused by preparing for a longer trip and a few weeks being away. Now this trip has already taken place and I’m right on my way back, sitting at Changi Airport, Singapore actually.

At the end that is why I call todays posting "waiting"! Waiting, is plainly what I do actually.

But friendly people over here at Singapore have turned nearly all the town and the Airport in some huge Wifi – Zone where you have internet access nearly everywhere (ok, it needs a carrier contract though).

But back to the trip. It was for sure a fabulous trip to do and I very much enjoyed my time off. Most of the time I had company by oversea friends travelling with us. And to be honest that was what I’ve enjoyed most.

It is a great thing to do such a long and exciting trip. Seeing things other people might never get to see in their life. But the companie of friends and sharing this experience with them is some real priceless experience for sure.

It is really not like I could see or speak them all day long. Virtual perhaps, but personally nearly never. Now seeing, touching and interacting with them day by day was like a dream for me. Sadly even the most beautiful time in life is meant to end some day.

Nontheless, thanks to all my friends making it possible to travel with me. You taking time was a priceless pleasure and gift of life for me.

Thank you!

Michael

Today we had a gorgeous autumn day with an all over sunny day. Quickly commited yesterday wit a friend, I headed out of the house early and drove to his house and together we headed off to the perhaps last longer push bike trip together this year.

Although sun is still strong and warming, authumn wind does already feel cold and I was quit happy about I had thought to put on my wind breaker. The landscape scenery actually is most beautiful and colored, while the color green is already on it’s way back. Now making room for yellow, red and brown.

Along the countryside roads nearly every farm and shop does offer fruits, new wine and home made onion pies to buy. And seeing all cars and folks on the road it nearly looks like everyone is keep to get his or her piece of it.

In some way it was a little bit surprising seeing so much people out on the road, as for it was election weekend here in Germany and I really doubt all others had already voted like me. Not I personally would be a very political person at all. But I see it as an "obligation" to vote for every responsible adult. But enough of this!

… as more interesting I think is, that on one of the perhaps last really friendly "summer" days this year I decided against the motorbike prefering the pushbike about. And even now feeling a bit tired about I still think about it as the right decision.

Next few weekends will now be filled with work around the house on on the property getting everything in shape for the winter season and especially ready before we will head off into our vacation. This time I feel about it as very much over due and I’m really looking forward to this time off. The and hopefully having a short and sweet 2nd summer this year.

This morning all the radio news were full of a roo (Kangaroo) seen independently by several different persons here during the last few weeks. Obviously it must have recently escaped out of some animal park or similar.

Now yesterday evening a lady driving a car must have been scared by it sitting on a bridge across the Autobahn watching interested the traffic below. For sure seeing incoming traffic on the "wrong" lane and curious German traffic signs must have appeared strange to the poor little roo …. But was this really enough reason for her calling police though?

Anyway! The lady obviously feeling irritated by the foreign stranger did call police and in the follow several police men did try to hunt down the fugitive. Thanks god … I say … the little fellow was clever enough to escape and thinking about how much fun it is seeing them hipping around … I’m now nearly tempted to ……………………

Now wondering about how many of them it would need to get something ready like a survivable population here in Germany?!