Water from above

Cold and miserable start to the day and it only got worse with constant rain which started just two minutes after Flash and I had got back to the car after a walk in Ottobeuren's Bannwald.

In the Blip, Flash at the "Kneipp Tretanlage" where the waterfall and a long stream meet to flow through what is no more than a knee high basin of water with a handrail - off with shoes and socks up, roll up the trousers and do a bit of water treading to get the circulation working. One of the recommended treatments from Ottobeuren's most famous son "Sebastian Kneipp" (1821-1897) a priest and alternative medicine practitioner best known for his thought on hydrotherapy, although he actually believed in five essential rules for health.

We had gone to Ottobeuren to buy a water tap for the dishwasher which is playing up. Back home exchanged it, seemed to have worked for a while and then same basic problem reappeared. Think the automatic water shut off mechanism is faulty, not allowing any fresh water to the machine. Will work on it but suspect it may be a job for a professional.

Earl afternoon friend Kathi popped by to drop off some horse bits and also gave me a badly needed haircut - as published a few weeks ago my UK passport expires at midnight on 22nd June and I must get the forms off in the next few weeks but of course need a photo too.

Germans look with amazement at how easy it is to send in a passport application in the UK. Simply getting a chiropodist to sign off the papers is good enough for a country which, according to the UK press, is totally neurotic about border controls and yet doesn't even have an ID system. I actually have a problem getting anyone to sign my application, as they can't believe it is official but some kind of hoax.

Rest of the day was rained off and this looks like it will be the case right through the extended Whitsun weekend.