Walter

"Guten tag Walter!"

The guest list for #BlogCon25 has just taken on an international flavour. It is a privilege to introduce Walter, our longstanding German correspondent. His excellent blog A Few Good Times in My Life is now in its thitreeenth year. As you can see, Walter was a great sport when it came to his (light) grilling... 

* Your brief bio says you're a middle aged man who spends a lot of my time listening to music, watching soccer, reading books and other stuff. Therefore, my first batch of questions to you (and as I'm British I'm way too polite to ask your age) goes something like this:

- How much is a lot? And which band/artist takes up most of your bandwidth?

To be honest, I should update my short bio as it is already twelve years old and no longer reflects my age of 65. I spend several hours a day listening to music. Musically, I grew up in the 80s and can listen to The Clash, Echo and the Bunnymen and REM anytime without turning my back on new and good music like Sean Johnston's latest sampler.

- Who do you watch? Bayern? Dortmund? Leverkusen? So, I suppose what I'm really saying is, where in Germany do you live? Or is that not reflected in who you support? 

I live in southern Germany near Stuttgart and I can't help but support VfB Stuttgart since I first accompanied my father to the stadium over 50 years ago. 

- Favourite author/favourite book? Do you read German and English novels? Or translations? Or both?

John Irving and William Boyd as well as many novels that have a historical connection. Currently Lavie Thidhar about Israel over the last 40 years. Mostly in German, but books about music mostly in the original as they are not published in translation. 

- Define other stuff? 

By other stuff I mean going to the cinema and concerts, as far as they are available in my area. (Nine questions in one there, we're off to a good start! - JM.)

* Was your road into blogging via us Brits (you obviously write in English) or were you already writing in your mother tongue? 

Yes, you Brits inspired me to start my blog. Especially The Vinyl Villain, Swiss Adam and Across The Kitchen Table. I never intended to write a blog in my mother tongue. It was also important to me that I could improve my English a little. (Your English is superb btw - JM.)

* What do the Germans really think of the Brits? They must despair. 

As far as I can tell, I haven't heard anything negative. What is really exasperating is that nobody understood Brexit and that the national propaganda of Nigel Farage was the cause of it. But the European shift to the right is not bypassing Germany either.

* Will you be seeking out real ale hostelries in Bristol ("Of course!" came the emphatic reply before I could finish the question - JM) or bierkellers? In other words, do you like warm English ale or would you prefer cool European lagers?

I prefer chilled lager, but can agree with a Guinness as well!

* What are your memories of the Wall? (I told Walter he really didn't have to answer this question; I've been to Checkpoint Charlie a couple of times now and am always moved greatly. But to his credit he went for it - JM)

I grew up with the Wall, didn't know the socialist part of it and didn't concern myself with it until we went on a school trip to Berlin and I realised which regime was in charge there. I was depressed when we were in East Berlin and had to see how people lived there. 

* Since you started blogging, how many 'real life' bloggers have you met? I understand you've already met Charity Chic (the man, the myth, the legend) - how did that come about? 

Besides CC I was lucky enough to meet Swiss Adam, Jim from The Vinyl Villain, Drew from Across the kitchen table, Dirk from Sexy Loser and Brian from Liner Track Lives. It all started in December 2016 when Dirk had the idea of a blogging gathering. Together with Jim he made it possible to meet in Glasgow. 

* The time machine question - Where and when are you going? (You can't go back to 1966 and nobble Geoff Hurst.)

They think it's all over...

Ha, no I won't go back to Wembley. That chapter is closed. I would go to Manchester and FAC 51 Haçienda because I hadn't the chance to part of the scene. Another journey will lead me to Berlin after WWI to see what was possible if you had the money. 

* On a scale of Eins to Zehn, how excited are you about #BlogCon25?

To be honest Zehn just because the first blogging gathering was a highlight. (Let's hope #BC25 is every bit as enjoyable - JM.) 

* 

Danke Walter! Really looking forward to buying you a pint of Guinness in Bristol...