Shiny Red Apples

I like taking pictures on special events but am sure not to overdue it as I also like to participate in the moment in a lively fashion :-) Spending the time behind a 2inch LCD screen is, for me, not enjoyable :D

Here are a few pictures I took this holiday season with close family members who are visiting from Australia.

One of the craziest things to do is to take a holiday in the summer season (43degrees) to a country having its winter season (in the minus degrees). My sister and nephew did just that, and is great to see my nephew enjoy his first experiences with snow.

I don’t think anyone celebrating Christmas in the winter season can imagine celebrating Christmas having over 40 degrees in a summer season :-) But for New Years it’s a different story :D

Not only did my nephew experience his first snow, but also got to cut down his first christmas tree, and had to drag it all the way home on his sleigh :)

EHC Solingen vs Herner EG. Solingen lost 3:4. That was our first live ice hockey game we have been to. It wasn’t the first league, but was great to be able to get up real close!

1. FC Köln vs Bayern München. A friendly soccer match that led to 0:1 with a good first half and poor second half.

Although that picture was taken early before the game, the stadium did get occupied with 50,000 spectators. The stadium in Köln (RheinEnergie Stadion) will be a host for the FIFA World Cup games next year.

I hope everyone had a great holiday festive season the past 2 months - I have had a great one and am fortunate enough to have been able to celebrate with close family members who are visiting during this time (arriving from Australia to Germany :-)).

I haven’t had a time off period like this one since 3 years, and took advantage of the break away from the keyboard to relax myself.

This had the disadvantage of myself not being able to address project related issues in a timely fashion, and will only be able to do so again from next month onwards. The team has however being working great during this time, and look forward in getting back into full action and dealing with the daily stress of leading the project :)

I’m looking forward to what the new year brings, especially as the time gets closer to present the promised project features announced in 2004.

Here’s to a great year 2005!