A Round Cradle Day.

"Wiegenfest" (Cradle Fest) a somewhat upmarket or old fashioned name for Birthday/Geburtstag for Gerhard, Angie's sister Siglinde's husband. It was a "round" one too and thus especially worth celebrating.

And so it was that we set off early afternoon in blazing heat with the dogs for the 170km drive to Geisenfeld near Ingolstadt where they live. Gerhard is a very active member of the towns football club or better said, of their clubs restaurant/bar and so the do was held at the sports club where there was ample room both inside and out. In fact, at midday, a large thunderstorm had passed over but by the time we arrived and for the rest of the day and night it remained hot and dry.


Geisenfeld is in the heart of the Hallertau (or Hollerdau or Holledau) area, the largest joined up hop growing area in the world (2,400km²) and it produces 34% of the worlds hopsMaybe in 10 years or so I can take the grandchildren to visit the nearby Hop Museum!


As is traditional with such German events, it starts with a round of coffee and cake, most people having brought along a homemade cake. Men are excused from having to drink coffee if they insist! The cakes were wonderful and luckily, as is also tradition, when one goes home the leftovers are divided up amongst the guests, so in the course of the next 24 hours, I got to try most of them.

Then lots of chatting and drinking while the two sons Stefan and Toby set to work on the meat grills while the girls lay out all the salads, again everybody bringing along a homemade one. Once the food has been consumed, the drinking can resume.

It was a difficult day for the dogs especially Flash. Not just the heat but also being in the car for the long journey and then with so many people about, Flash had problems keeping everyone checked as required with his Obsessive Control Disorder! Somehow they both survived.

In the Blip, I have shown as many dirndl and lederhosen wearers as possible. They were in the minority today but probably on his elder sons wedding in August, we will see 90% of guests in the "traditional" gear.

I do think the award has to go to Gerhard's wife Siglinde and younger son's girlfriend Azra. But for the fact that it was Gerhard's special day, I would not have published a collage but given them the sole rights for today's Blip.

However, I must chastise the ladies as they are trying to confuse us men with the bows on their aprons. Perhaps there is a hidden message?

Etiquette says that the bow on the left means one is single; on the right one is married/not available; in the centre a virgin; at the back, widowed.  NOW I MUST WARN ALL POTENTIAL OKTOBERFEST VISITORS THAT REGARDLESS OF ALL THE ABOVE, WAITRESSES WILL USUALLY HAVE THEIRS AT THE BACK BUT THAT DOES NOT MAKE THEM AUTOMATICALLY AVAILABLE!

Well eventually, sometime after midnight we set off home, luckily Angie volunteering to drive the 90+ minute journey.

A lovely day and our thanks to Gerhard and the family for the invite, great company, food and drink.