Driving Miss Daisy

For the very first time in all of my driving life, today, I was  breathalysed.  Tested, first thing this morning, in front of all my colleagues.  But, don't panic, I passed with a perfect score of 0.0.  Phew!! The first time again, in all of my life that I wanted to score zero in a test. And then, all of my highly amused colleagues were tested too...

Luckily enough everybody passed, anything above 0.0 would have been a fail, so that meant that we could all go on our driving trip today.

And at last too, I found a co-conspirator in the form of our convoy lead driver, a very nice German lady, Olga! And boy did Olga give the boys a run for their money.

I won't bore you with the ins and outs of a three hour new vehicle evaluation but it was all very hi-tech involving an on-board iPad and tasks that had to be completed over the course of the test drive.  But myself and my co-driver got that bit out of the way quickly (we cheated) and spent the rest of our trip evaluating the country side around Berlin.

We drove through some very lovely areas, through quaint little villages,over several canals (or maybe the same one several times) and railway crossings, through some sunny wooded areas, which were akin to a trip through Cruagh Wood or the Phoenix Park.  I will definitely come back to this city again.

There was also some Autobahn driving.

No speed limited are imposed on certain sections of the Autobahn and this was where Olga really put the boys through their paces. But fortunately we didn't loose anybody.  Well, except me! But that was when we were going through one of the lovely wooded areas and we came upon a red flag wielding tree feller, who had to be obeyed. Everybody else got by him, but me being the last vehicle, got stopped and lost sight and radio contact with the rest of the convoy.  But I didn't panic, no instead I put into practice my advanced driving skills (foot to the floor and hold on tight) and managed to catch the other cars, regain radio contact with Olga, and most importantly, made it back to base in time for lunch.

I have been overloaded with information today, most of which I won't remember, but I did find out one very important piece of information, I found out what a 'comfort break' is... And it involves cake!!

Back at the hotel now to make myself beautiful for this evenings event.  Apparently we are going to get a glimpse into the future....I hope I can stay awake long enough to see it...

Guten Nacht!

I'm back on the coach!  And guess what, it's a Mercedes one, and it's bring driven by, wait for it....a woman!! So there is another female in this city!!

It's raining! Does it follow me everywhere? It's quite warm tho' about 25 deg so that makes up for the rain.

I have been separated from my group and I am surrounded by Germans (obviously!).  I was trying to have a conversation with the person sitting beside me on the bus but my very limited German vocabulary is causing me to get blank looks and heads held quizzically to one side...So i've stopped trying to speak German as it seems that I sound  more like the Swedish chef from the Muppets than a German... Oh well at least I tried.  I'm not sure how long I'll be on this coach for, I really should have paid more attention at German classes...

The city looks nice....oh well, off to work...

I'm back on the coach again after a very long day.

And  what a day! I'm very tired, and fed up looking at cars.  Although I did get to drive some very sporty little numbers, and some of the sporty numbers big brothers. But driving through the very busy streets of Berlin at rush hour with a bunch  of boy racers was  a bit nerve wrecking! Nothing like a challenge to wake you up. I think I lived up to the challenge, until I had to park one of the larger cars, then I just lived up to being blond!

It's been an interesting day, but I feel a bit like I am being inducted into a cult!! And if i see one more three pointed star...

So after all that training, learning, driving and inducting, we were treated to dinner on a boat on the river.  The river Spray. It was amazing. I have decided that from now on whatever city in Europe I visit I am going to take a boat trip around that city.  It was lovely to watch the banks glide by with people waving to us as they sipped their drinks from the numerous waterside bars, or sitting by their boats, drinking coffee.  We spent over three hours on the boat this evening and I finally got to see all the city's sights at night with all the lights from the buildings, old and new, glistening and reflecting in the water. We even passed Angela Merkels house, but alas, she wasn't in.  She probably wouldn't have wanted to entertain us Irish anyway.  We also went through a lock on the river and had to wait while the boat was slowly raised up and up and up until we reached the water level on the other side of the gate.  Oh the excitement of it all, i don't know what I will have to write about tomorrow to follow that!! I wish too,that I had done more research so that I knew what exactly I was looking at.  I will just have to come back when I am not working...

I'm still not quite sure what I ate but it was all very tasty.

Well I didn't find a female partner in crime, but, much to my delight, I did discover that because this is such a male orientated trip, the ladies toilets are completely empty, so no queuing in there for me! You should see the line outside the gents...

Back to my search tomorrow, i won't give up, but now it's bed time for me, and another long day to look forward to...

Guten Tag!

Hello (or should that be Guten Tag) from Berlin!

I've never been here before, so, what awaits I wonder?

From what I've seen so far everything is very neat and tidy organized. Is neat and tidyness typically German? Well my hoards of German readers can let me know if that's the case.

Unfortunately I'm not here for a holiday, no, I have been sent on a training course by my very lovely employers.  So for the next couple of days I will be treated to the Mercedes experience.  Not sure exactly what that is, but when I find Out I'll let you know.

 

I did receive an itinary for e trip before i left, but it was a bit vague, very full days and evenings but thrown in every so often are comfort breaks...dying to see what they are.  Hope I'm not treated to uncomfort while I'm waiting!! It's so full, in fact, that I don't think I am going to get to see any of the sights of Berlin.  It's a shame really, to come all this way and probably only see cars. They will be very nice no doubt, all Mercedes cars are, but I would much rather see the city.

I'm writing this on the coach from the airport.  It's lovely and sunny and warm, so that's a good start.  I was treated to breakfast on the plane, and when I get to the hotel I will be having lunch before I have to do any work,  so apart from the fact that I was up at five this morning, it's shaping up to be a very nice day. Well that is until we start 'work'.  I hope I can stay awake.

I forgot to mention that I'm in a group of twelve, all men except for me. Now before you get too excited, remember they are car salesmen, with a limited subject pool.  only one subject they can converse about...

So spent my time at the airport with an all male group, now i've just registered for the conference with a very large group and not a female in sight. I'm now standing waiting to check in to my hotel room in a very nice lobby with a fountain and a pool in it (which is very inviting as i am so hot) and at last I can see another female.  Hurrah!!

Unfortunately, she is the receptionist checking us in!!

Lunch was very nice...at my all male table, with cars for conversation..

So my mission for today is to find another English speaking female that I can gossip about all these men with!!!

Have to run for the bus to the conference centre....watch this space!!

Only in America...

I know I have at least one American reader (Hi Kara!) so I thought I would wish you 'Happy Independence Day'!

I know we have our own celebration day, St Patricks Day, but we do like to celebrate yours too. You know us Irish, always looking for an excuse to party. So on 4th July we do American stuff, like eating hot dogs, watch baseball, and say "have a nice day" to everybody we meet. Not wanting to be left out of the celebrations, I did my bit for the American cause today by having my lunch in McDonald's! Well, not really McDonald's, but the McCafe part of it. (I know, I know, but I had no where else to go today, and they do really nice coffee...!)

While I was having my lunch, ignoring the lovely cakes that were staring at me out of the fridge, I had a read of the paper (very kindly supplied by McD's). Today the paper included an American section, and that section included an article about a couple of very interesting (!) laws still in force in different states in the US.

I nearly choked on my very healthy brie and rocket sandwich while reading...

For example did you know that:

In Vermont women can't wear false teeth without their husband's written permission! (I'm speechless....well I suppose I would be without teeth....And what on earth would you do if you were single....)

In Chicago it's illegal to fish in your pyjamas! (Why?? Do the fish prefer a nightdress?)

In Florida its illegal for a single or divorced woman to parachute on a Sunday...(I suppose the married women have to get their turn...)

In Alabama its illegal to have an ice-cream cone in your back pocket at any time...(Jeez...As if!! I always keep mine in my front pocket).

In Utah a husband is responsible for every criminal act committed by his wife while she is in his presence...(Seriously?? So let me get this straight. In Utah, you could murder your husband, and as you would be in his presence while you were doing it, he would be responsible....! PS, Sorry ladies, I've already checked, Aer Lingus doesn't fly to Utah!)

In Oklahoma females are forbidden from doing their own hair without being licensed by the State...(Glad I don't live there, I'd have been locked up long ago)

In Alaska it's illegal to push a Moose out of a moving airplane. (So...it's OK if the plane is not moving....right?)

And the Oscar goes to.......Arkansas! Where, apparently, a man can legally beat his wife, as long as it's not more than once a month!

Of course in Ireland we don't have any dumb laws like that, well, except maybe, the one about the Leprechaun and the dinner.....