adventitious, fluky and fortuitous post Nr.2

Did I mention that at work instead of clapping people knock? Yep, they knock on the table or on the arms of the chairs (which are also wooden). Right in the beginning when I started and introduced myself I was somewhat thrown aback by all these people around me who started to knock... but soon I realised that it's just something completely normal here. hmmm - apparently this is also practiced in Switzerland.

In other news, I picked up my 'German course' results yesterday and I got a '1'. Now to the former USSR person this would be dreadful, but actually it's the best mark here, so I'm pleased.

And even though there was only occasional wet snow in Berlin these photos from my Dad do prove that it's not global warming everywhere. They were taken from his last week's trip to a mining town of Prokopevsk in the 'Kuzbass' (Kuznezk Basin). On the day of his visit there was a буран (snow-storm), so there is also a lot of snow in the air.