‘Good! You deserve a longer break.’
An uplifting remark to my e-message of ‘Changed Plans’.
Unplanned holidays
Starting from Bibabuze …
Having to stay in Düsseldorf
For yet 12 more days …
Yet not at all feeling stranded,
Rather, envisaging a long earned holiday.
Today I went (alone) down to Bibabuze,
The bookstore which held my exhibition for Madeleine.
There I enjoyed Bertram’s 43 art pieces
And finally got to see again a loving friend Lize.
Hans, the co-manager told me of a certain Martin,
A Fair Trader on Nordstraße (North Street),
Whom my Filipino FT partners have vaguely mentioned,
And who I though was stationed in Essen.
At Martin’s El Martin I surprised Martin,
And was myself surprised as I turned,
To see dear old Doro right behind me.
Her doorbell near Bibabuze I had tried and tried and tried …
Dear Old Doro suggested an ice at old Da Forno*
My favourite ice cream café I had looonged to re-go.
To yum yum choco ice suddenly came live music!
Typical, typical FM ventures, typical …
* Established in 1915, oldest Eisdiele in Germany
Three years not home
A mountain of mail awaits me
Dust blanket on piano et al
And taps choked with chalk*
(*From hard water in Düsseldorf)
Till the last minute I was fully occupied –
Dealing with online banking,
And paperwork, letters private and not,
Cooking meals for ourselves and our last visitor,
Doing the last laundry of used bed linen and such …
We packed 63 + 6 + 8 kilos, for ourselves and for others,
Checked all taps and switches and fridge doors;
Stephen refused to give up his last snack & cup of tea,
And I refused to see my home stay messy …
At 8 pm we were whisked off to the airport,
With backpacks and boxes and suitcases,
By a helpful taxi-driver from Ghana,
Only to find a closed boarding gate!
I had misread the schedule!
Had also misread the time!
(To save energy or whatsoever,
Stephen had taken out the clock battery!)
No other seats from Düssledorf to HK
Till July 24th, except for astronomical fines.
So we are now richer by 12 long days –
Holidays at long last!
Sorry, Fair-and-Healthy fans,
You’ll have to wait for your goodies.
We’ll be back in Sai Kung on 25th July,
And Tai Po Farmers’ Market July 29th
FM & S from Düsseldorf :) :)
