Not Another One?

Another Blog. I don't think Brenda from Bristol is a fan.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1381536228570146

Sorry, there is another one. But only one country today, all Deutschland and a rather predictable day: 6 hours mainly on motorways and with some splendid traffic jams. When my satnav application said delay of 25 minutes I decided to take the scenic route round that particular jam. Not particularly scenic and not very jamless. Around the hinterland of Bremen.

More thoughtfully, it occurred to me to day that my impression of Dusseldorf, Essen, Dortmund, Duisberg centred on sooty chimneys and billowing smoke. And some of the towns evoke WW2 stories about daring raids, bombing and armament factories and their products. Couldn't really be further from the truth. The striking thing is all the forests, generally of mature hardwood trees. They are in defined woods but the trees around all the main roads are majestic

Yes of course I shouldn't have done this while driving. Sue me. The other big difference to the UK is that in Germany there are high fences - maybe 10M high and canted towards the cars/lorries - which will reflect a lot of the noise and I fancy a good chunk of the pollution. We have them in the UK, but I have only seen this in the posh bits of Surrey when probably senior members of the DfT or Cabinet members (you can guess which party) reside. No, not him, he 'lives in' Kent no doubt in one of the many properties we have bought him (see press such as Mail, Express). He does not live or visit the constituency that he 'represents' . I am told by a local that he still has trouble remembering where his constituency is despite having apparently bought a house there for his girlfriend .https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/may/23/nigel-farage-clacton-home-bought-girlfriend-property

Enough. I finally fought through the many traffic jams to get to my destination town for today, Molln. Don't nag me about umlauts. Umlauts are for those more pedantic than even me. Molln is an interesting place on the shores of a see or two (as these Germans call them) though I reckon they are inlets of the real sea.

The centre has a certain reminiscent feel of Brentford

To be fair, the bits that are finished have nice wooden planters. Restaurants are not Michelin-listed but this one took my fancy

Savoy eat your heart out. SHady area on the edge of the main street - heaven, though I don't know what animal kindly provided the schnitzel.

My hotel is shabby chic. Well not chic excatly, but lovely grounds , pleasing building and a very steep staircase which has the excellent ability to crack my head very painfully whenever I descend.

You can tell it's overrun with clients. I was delighted to see I have a massive balcony.

Turned out that I am sharing ot with a neighbour, who has a 3 year old daughter. But she has gone quiet for now.

Tomorrow is more of a challenge. 1 1/2 drive to Puttgarden. In Germany. A ferry 45 mins to Rodbyhaven in Denmark. I can't do those o's with a line through them either. Then a drive including that famous bridge to Sweden. The drive is supposed to last 5 to 6 hours. Sounds like 10 hours once I've stopped somewhere. Maybe Brenda will have respite and be happy tomorrow.

Oh, really must mention this. I have just finished the book I started about 3 days ago. It is by a friend of mine, Edwin Addis and his pal Ian David Pass. Well, he wasn't originally called \ian, he started out as Alfie Gregg (no relation I magine to Greggs). It is a real stream of consciousness story. Full of laughs and a few tears and is 100% true. Get it. It is cheap at £10 on Amazon and for those of us who would rather eat a rat than use Amazon other retailers are available, including no doubt from local boy esaddis@gmail.com. He might even sign it and give you a discount. I doubt you will regret it, but you will if you miss it.

Oh, it is called The Real Alfie ISBN9798285300960