Budleigh Salterton

...such a perfect day....

Blackberry and Apple Pudding

1lb. cooking apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1 pint water
1 lb. blackberries, washed
6 oz. sugar
8-12 slices white bread, crusts removed

(serves 8)

Simmer the fruit in the water until just tender. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Cool. Cut a circle of bread to fit the base of a 2 lb. pudding basin, cut wedge shaped slices of bread and line the sides of the basin. Fill one third of the basin with the fruit mixture, cover with a circle of bread then add more fruit and another circle of bread. Fill the basin until almost full then add a final circus of bread.

Cover with a plate which fits the top of the basin and place a weight on top. Leave in the refrigerator for 24-28 hours.

Turn out carefully. Serve with whipped cream. Serves 8. Any left-over fruit mixture can be strained and the juice poured over the pudding when ready to be served.

mmmh.... yummy!

film festival

There was an animated-film-festival in Exeter for the last week, called "animatedexeter". It was a nice mix of exhibitions (see the pictures), workshops and movies. Did you know that Wallace & Grommit is from the South West of the UK?

I applied to them when I got to Exeter, but unfortunately they already had enough staff in the office. Though on Friday they asked me to give some support for a workshop. That was a great opportunity for me to get in touch with some other guys (nothing against Julia and Klaus!) and get an idea how to create an animated film. They didn't really need my help but therefore thanked me again and again. After the workshop I got introduced to different people, who are involved in the music festival, which starts here in Exeter on the 5th of March. It's mainly organized by the same organisation as the film festival. So keep finger crossed that they'll have some work for me... ;-) When I got home, I checked my emails and got a message from the festival office, which invited me to the "end of film festival party" yesterday. So I took the opportunity and went to the party (more a sit in than a party, but who cares). I talked to some people (of course I had to give an introduction concerning copyright protection... ;-)) and had fun. I'm thinking about to buy this software for making animated films (it's really funny!). It's called istop-movie and is really simple.

Cranky & Bonga or Julia & Klaus

Just to give you an idea what my flat mates are like...:-)

Bridge over troubled water

It's said, that Paul Simon of Simon and Garfunkel was inspired by this bridge in Bighleih, when he composed the song "Bridge over troubled water"...!

Bighleih’s Castle

On Sunday we went to the Bigleih’s Castle, which is in Bigleih (what a surprise ;-). It’s about a half hour away from Exeter. Julia and Klaus are thinking about to celebrate there their wedding day after the celebration in the Exeter Cathedral. While they were talking to the owner, I took the chance to take some pictures without an annoyed Julia or a pissed of Klaus (unfortunately they don’t share my passion of taking pictures… ;-)

It was a nice day. Springtime!!! J

Sculptures of Exeter

Sculptures at Exeter University

You hardly find any (modern) art in the streets of Exeter (except from the historical buildings, of course). Therefore you can see a lot of art at the Campus of the Exeter University. Although it’s not so amazing I don’t want to deprive you of these pictures…

   The English people are quite polite. They like to go out in fancy dresses. At the weekend you can see a lot of nurseries and other mainly quite short dresses. Seeing the girls, you might think the summer is already there, but believe me, it’s not. The English people also have a lot of rules concerning behaviour. If you drink alcohol on the street, in the worst case you have to pay 500 Pounds. Up to a certain time in the evening you aren’t allowed to carry a bottle of alcohol in your hand as well; you have to hide it. Anyhow, the people also drink a lot of alcohol and run drunkenly through the streets. If you through a cigarette on the street, you have to pay 75 Pounds.

This murder mystery is also quite common in the UK. It’s a role-play game and you have to figure out who the murder was. It might be quite funny. Julia wanted to play this last weekend, but all her friends cancelled the appointment. That was very sad, we had created a great funny murder mystery story. On the other hand I’m not sure if it’s mine. Afterwards I heard that there are quite a lot murder mystery hotels in the UK…. Probably we’ll do it another time.

Exmouth

Exmouth is just a half hour away from Exeter. There the river Exe flows in the sea. Unfortunately the rain was very strong.

Dartmoor and Dartmouth

I hope you enjoy these pictures :-)

Snow-Disaster

There is not so much snow, as you might think. Though they aren't able to handle the situation. Some streets are closed, so Julia couldn't get at work today, which she really appreciated. The most problem is, that the snow is melting during the day and freeze in the evening. So you have to be really careful, that you don't slip. I've heard, that's the first snow after 18 years. I took this picture out of Dave's window, when I helped him with his tax documents.





I really look forward to the springtime. ;-)

Exeter 09

15th January 09

I arrived in Exeter at 1.37 am. Julia & Klaus came to the train station and we drove at home. Just arrived Julia gave me some instructions concerning the house (how to lock the door, the shower, etc.). Afterwards we went to bed. I was really exhausted.

16th January 09

when I woke up, Julia and Klaus had already left the house. I started the day with walking through the streets of Exeter. It's very beautiful. I went in a book shop and bought a book about Intellectual Property Rights.

17th January 09

I went to the Job Centre in Exeter. They told me, I have to call a number for a previous

phone-interview with the Job Centre. They would g

ive me an appointment then. So I wen

t back at home and called this number. The phone-interview lasted about 90 minutes and was really exhausting for me, although the lady was really patient and polite. Afterwards I went for a jog along the Exe, which is the river and the reason for the name of the City (I suppose).

When

Klaus came home, we went to the Fish&Chips shop, not far away, and bought a dish. It won'

t be my favorite dish, but it was quite ok.

18th January 09

On Saturday I discovered the streets of

Exeter aga

in. Julia and Klaus joined me. I ate a cornish paste, for which this area of the UK is famous.In the evening we went to the Northcott Theatre. I should start to work there, but unfortunately, they canceled the job due to the finance crisis... ;-(

19th January 09

Julia and me started the day with a badminton-match with some other guys in the Exeter University. Afterwards we had a huge

breakfast and started the photo-session. Klaus and Julia asked me to take some pictures of them for the Wedding-Invitations. It was quite funny.

20th January 09

On Monday Julia doesn't have to work. So we met each other in the City. Before I went to the Phoenix, which is a gallery but a café as well. They have WiFi, so I'm not so dependent of Julia, when I want to go on the Internet.

21st January 09

I joined Julia when she drove to Bovey Tracey. There is the gallery, for

which she works, called Guild Hall. It's craft. I went through the streets and had nice small-talks with some Bovey-Tracey-people. Then I drove back to Exeter with the bus.

22nd January 09

I mainly applied to law firms. Though I didn't succeed.

23rd January 09

I had my appointment with the Jo Centre. Afterwards I went to the University and looked for the law library. I saw a huge rainbow. Julia told me, you can wish sth. when you see a rainbow. Which is nice, because in Exeter there are often rainbows. :-)

24th January 09

I really succeed in the the law library with studying the English law system. :-) In the evening, we went to Tiger Bills and had some nice thailand-food.

25th January 09

We went to the Cathedral and I got to know Tom Honey, who is the Canon of the Cathedral and will exercise the wedding of Julia and Klaus in September 09. He's very funny. In the evening we saw Miss Marple, which is one of the favourite films of Klaus.

26th January 09

I went to the Boston Tea Party (Café), where I can also use WiFi. Afterwards I helped Dave, a friend of Klaus, with his tax-documents.

27th January 09

I lost my dental filling. :-(

28th January 09

nothing happened, which would be worth to mention it.

29th January 09

the same

30th January 09

I went to the dentist in the Heavitree Hospital. I had to wait for about two hours, but the dentist was really nice and gave me a new dental filling.

31st January 09

Really not my day! Though we watched a really good movie in the Odeon-Cinema, called

"Slumdog Millionaire". That's an indian movie, which is except from the finish, not Bollywood.

1st February 09

Nothing happened.

2nd & 3rd February 09

Nothing happened.

4th February 09

I discovered really nice shops!!!