Wrap Up Warm

A notable day today in Germany as the last deep coal mine closes this evening, ending the 200-year-old history of this very historic resource.

Together with steel, it was the "product" that created the EU we on continental Europe enjoy today. The signing of the Schuman Plan in April 1951 started the 6-nation (France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Italy and Germany) Steel and Coal Union (ECSC), the visionaries back then realising that these two products had been the fuel and bricks & mortar of two world wars and by tying the countries together economically, peace stood a better chance. This was done at a time when the British PM, a certain Winston Churchill, was very keen on European Integration and had even in the darkest years of 1943, suggested the need for a Council of Europe - a true visionary and of course he got his way with the signing of the Treaty of London and the formation of that institute.

Just as in the UK and no doubt throughout the world, the deep coal mining community is a very special one, with very tight communities and people of a special type. We often and rightly talk about the great service and sacrifice of our armed forces but forget the very real danger the miners face day in, day out and was yet again witnessed last night in the nearby Czech Republic when 13 miners died in an explosion. Our current prosperity has been built on the shoulders of this community and helps to explain the feelings of the UK miners in the bitter strikes of the Thatcher era.

As a mark of respect, the German President, all the local politicians from the Ruhr area, the many sports and especially football clubs founded on these communities were joined by President Juncker to honour the moment as the last lump of coal was brought up.

This morning did the walk with Luna around the standard Schickling route near Ottobeuren which includes a short stretch through the "estate" buildings and the close by collection of three houses. I guess about 10 people live in this isolated spot and like many parts of Bavaria, it is being supported by the state's scheme to bring superfast internet connection to the most rural areas, even before the nearby larger villages and towns. Some may remember a Blip I posted many months ago where we had been told work would start this autumn on our house being connected. Hasn't happened yet!

In the Blip, the hamlet's new telephone and internet exchange which was installed earlier in the year. During the summer someone had put lots of small dandelion seed transfers on the box (some can just be seen at the bottom) and planted small trees either side of it, fenced off to stop dogs peeing on them!. Today the warm winter bobble hat has been added and should help to keep the Netflix films running at full speed if the weather turns cold over the holiday season.  Luna (all dogs) are asked to go on a lead through the estate. If you look at the Satelite View on the Geotag, you will see how small the hamlet is - half the roofs are garages!

After the wet, rainy, windy walk we dropped into town and picked up a few things in the supermarket notably the Mr Kipling's Mincemeat ingredients which were made in the evening. The "pie" part will follow at an appropriate time. I also wanted a bottle of Marsala as I fancy some Zabaglione type dish. Had made another Lemon Curd Sponge Cake yesterday but it really is too sweet to enjoy properly. I have discovered sprinkling it with sherry helps a bit with a dollop of whipped cream.

If I am honest, one has to question the British love of Mince Pies, Plum Pudding, Christmas Pudding, Sticky Treacle Pudding, Lemon Curd Cake etc. - One comes to the conclusion that most of the mystic surrounding many of them are alcohol related as the other contents have little or no nutritional or culinary tastebud value. 

But maybe after 30 years, I have lost something just as I don't remember quite why Churchill didn't get the UK to join the ECSC, even if I wasn't around at the time.

(PS - We won't be having a white Christmas and it looks like it will stay the same warm way until at least mid-January)