Today is Nadine’s birthday – at 2:55 this morning she turned 47. We are going to have some family around for the day and will celebrate in a small circle. Anybody else who wants to visit can do so on Sunday 31 between 2 and 7 p.m. We will be at home then and have some cake for you ready…

If you decide to bring a gift, which you don’t have to, non-perishable organic food items would be best. We definitely need no books, crockery, candles, gadgets or other ‘nice things’. Remember; Nadine decided to simplyfy her life, not to complicate it…

47 is not enough – not by far. So let me use one of my all-time favourite musicians, who died way too early himself, to bring my wishes: “Happy birthday darling dear, I hope there’s many more to come”!

Reading books isn’t an option for Nadine to entertain herself right now. Her eyesight is a bit troubled at the moment, so staring at her Kindle or into a book is too demanding. But being still keen on stories, she has switched to listening to audio books on her iPhone.

Concentrating for a long time on complex plots is also a heavy task. That’s why she’s mostly choosing children’s novels. She prefers stories her grandma Erika read to her when she was a little child. The reason might not only be that a known plot is way more easy to follow. I guess she’s also able to relive some comfort experienced during her childhood that way. Well, let her have that fun – there is no need to read the Ulysses day in day out…

She also loves listening to songs that tell stories. Here is one of her favourites:

walking erect
with my bald head
my voice is clear
within a second
I view a tunnel

I’m selecting
my favorite therapy
yet on my way
I feel cold sweat

I am sitting up high
on the outmost twig
it’s a long way
I’ve got to go