Young person’s celebration event

Well its now 9.25pm and I have just arrived home after what I can only describe as a fantastic evening. Thanks to all who turned up and participated. We had over 120 people present at the event and the band were great – thanks to them for giving their time at such short notice, and I think the young people really enjoyed their music. The street dance group showed us all how to strut our stuff and performed well in front of the crowd.

It was good to see a few Worthing borough councillors and I think they were pleasantly surprised at the variety and number of young people recieving acknowledgement for their achievements during the past year. There were well over 70 young people who got a mention and probably double that number who were unable to attend on the night, and will recieve their certificates at their respective clubs in the next few weeks.

I had the opportunity to meet a couple of prospective youth councillors who were there and I hope they take the advise and get all their friends to vote for them next week.

Our last day….

Well we had a lie in this morning – very welcome I can assure you, and we were to spend our last day with our hosts on the mountain. The weather during our stay had been very cold and almost snowy – obviously heavy snow on the Kandel – so we decided that we wanted to take the opportunity to experience the snow first hand.

The Kandel and the snow!

 So off up the mountain to try our hand at sledging and ski walking. Simon and Charlotte had never done this before but our hosts were experts and took us under their wings and off Simon and Charlotte went, Simon completed a 4KM walk with Udo and Charlotte did about an hour then joined the rest of us sledging on the nursery slopes!

Sledging

The visability was very poor only seeing approx 20 metres ahead but we all enjoyed the expereince and although cold and wet were very happy when it was time to eat. We were joined by the deputy Mayor who hosted us on behalf of the town and we enjoyed a truely monsterous Black Forest Gateau.

Traditional Black Forest Gateau... MMmmmm

Well it was then time to get back to town, change out of oiur wet clothes and travel to the airport for our flight back to Britain…. We arrived back on time and suitably exhausted and ready for our own beds.

This has been a wonderful few days for everyone and very productive for both partners as the plans develop for the summer and autumn.

Watch this space!

Another day …

The Modern Organ in Waldkirch

Today we began with  guided tour of the organ museum by Michael, chair of the twinning association in Waldkirch. To see the organs dating back 200 years gives a truely clear picture of the cultural differences of our two towns. Waldkirch people are all, young and old alike , really proud of their heritage and are ensuring the old traditions are not lost within modern day technology. The modern organ – built to commemorate this historic milestone – didn’t fail to impress everyone with modern jazz renditions proving the skills of the organ builders.

Next we went to the children’s parade in the town where we witnessed hundreds of biaze’s (jesters to you and me in the town colours of blue and yellow) skipping along, young and old alike with bands keeping them in time. It appeared that the whole town turned out to cheer, support and enjoy the spectacle. The Kandelhexan (local witches) also took aprt and tormented the crowds of parents and children with their playful ruffling of hair,

The Children's Parade

pinching of hats, covering you in straw or just high jumping with the aid of their broomsticks, getting everyone into the spirit which is Fasnet!

Once this was over the streets were once again turned over to the market stalls, beer tents and sausage sellers all preparing for another night of revellry by the drinkers.

I had an opportunity to speak to Silke about the street work she does, and although there is some work done during Fasnet this is minimal as she is only one worker (part time .75%) for the whole town of 11,000 residents. She has no powers to search or challenge young people and says this is pointless once they have become under the influence in any case. Prior to fasnet she does an awarness campaign with posters etc and these can be seen around the town. She also talks to bar and shop owners in the town asking that they are more vigilent when selling alcohol and to check ID (this is passports in Germany rather than anything else) However most young people are a little wise to this and either buy their alcohol in the weeks prior to fasnet or bring it into the town from the outlying areas where their ID is not necessarily checked as rigorously.

Traditional musicians of Elzach

We also talked about about possible partnership work with the police but his is proving difficult as the authorities are very punative by nature.

In the town hall in Elzach prior to the parade

Later that evening we were invited by the Mayor of Elzach to watch their parade from the town hall as his guests -Thankfully that meant we avoided the ‘playful’ antics of the Schuttig (local men dressed in red felt suits with headdresses of straw, snail shells and red pompoms and masks) who smack you with blown up pig or goat bladders hung from sticks – very wet, very slimy and VERY smelly!

An Elzach Schuttig

Afterwards we moved with the party to the house of a very old family of Elzach who have a view over the Place of Bears where the lighted torches used by the participants during the parade are burnt by the devil. There were in the region of 2,000 Schuttig – quite a sight to see.

We were made very welcome in the town and everyone wanted to talk to us, making it hard for us to leave until after midnight! Simon was very popular as Youth Mayor and even entertained the party by playing the piano with music he just happened to have in his pocket – wow! Charlotte was comfortable talking to lots of different people throughout the evening, something I have witnessed develop as the days progressed.

Well another day over and yet another busy day tomorrow! Time for bed!