Klapperkiste

Snow arrives back early morning when it was forecast to rain and only turn white in the evening. But I prefer snow to rain for the dog walks, so set off to Ottobeuren stopping off first at the old-fashioned agricultural supplies shop. I can’t think of anything comparable in the UK. A national chain that supplies farmers with everything they need: bulk fertilizers, seeds, feed. But all the small things one needs in a rural area: horse blanket, pet food, wellies, bicycle and wheelbarrow inner tubes, fly spray  … but also human food in a very limited scope. And of course being Bavaria, Beer.

I was only after chicken feed for our girls and was faced with the decision on whether to try their new line of organic grain or the type we normally use. But 62% more expensive! This is where the organic movement I had been on about yesterday and in principle support, meets its problems.

I know it would be the right thing to do but it has to be justifiable and affordable. Perhaps one’s baseline is too low and certainly when one is prepared to pay more for bottled water than milk, then there is something wrong.

So loaded up with the normal sacks of feed and added a small sack of locally grown potatoes. Before checking out took the opportunity of blipping the storks decorating the beer cases.

The Storchenbräu or Stork Brewery is a local smallish 200-year-old private brewer with a pretty good reputation. It is based in a town set in the wetland around the river Mindel and with a tradition of having storks. Thus they are a supporter of storks and bird wildlife, donating 10 cents per case sold to the German bird conservation society. Being a private brewery, their results and output are difficult to come by.

The brewery is also well known for its gag of sponsoring people’s private little Italian “Ape” 3-wheeled vehicles known as “Klapperkisten” (rattlebox) or jalopies, old bangers etc. Klapper is also the clattering noise made by storks. Here a very short video of a whole swarm of these Apesvisiting our parish’s supermarket.

In the same town as Storchenbräu, Pfaffenhausen, is a car manufacturer, Ruf GmbH, who work closely with Porsche and I think build the fastest street legal Porsches in the world. They aren’t a tuner but an official manufacturer with German/EU as well as USA independent certification. Around 650bhp, 350km/h maximum speed, 0-100km/h in 2.5 seconds in a machine probably not weighing much more than the 3bhp Ape and its 45 km/h maximum.   
 
Snowed all day, Therese got a frosty reception in Munich today and a quip that the best solution of solving the Brexit problem would be to Remain, brought applause amongst the entire audience of heads of states and defence bosses. Merkel and Macron didn't bother to attend and the visit didn't even make a mention in the national main night TV news. Just the speeches of the US security head and Russian Foreign Minister and their continuing return to the Cold War. The Team GB success was given good and praised coverage while the German teams performance concentrated on all the potential medals they didn't win - German Angst.

Saw a documentary today titled "Seven biggest mistakes of the EU" which was enlightening but sadly not in English. It not only puts the the Brexit lies of Boris & Co in a sober light but explains the USA role in wanting a united Europe.