Slippery Ice

"Watch out for slippery ice", the Frau cries in German.

"Is there another kind?", I ask, wondering if what I had long feared would come to pass, finally has. She has lost it. The only time I'm going to see the Frau from now on is at regular visiting hours. So what is the process exactly in Germany is to get someone committed for psychological treatment for obvious statement disorder?, I wonder.

I feel the brake pedal shuddering under my right foot, a classic sign of a hard working ABS. Or is it that the brakes are really made of plastic? The Opel shudders and slithers to a stop, just a few centimetres from the parked car in front.

Phew, thank Bosch. That was close, I think.

With the sudden start to winter, the roads have become slippery. Very slippery. Especially when Glatteis, literally 'slippery ice', more commonly known as 'black ice' in English, is present. And we still have the summer tyres on. Rather than the non-compulsory, but usually thought of as a very good idea by those in the know, softer compound winter tyres. An accident means no insurance cover. 

"Maybe it would have been a good idea to put those winter tyres on dear", the Frau states, treading awfully close to a committal process once again. 

We arrange to have the winter tyres put on the following week.

"And how can ice be black anyway?", she asks.

On week day afternoons and evenings I make slow progress on the business plan. Too slow. Much slower than originally planned. Having my German whipped into shape is sucking up an inordinate amount of time. It is now just before Christmas and I have added only a few additional pages to the business plan. To say I am getting a little concerned would be looked upon in some quarters as a slight understatement. I had intended to have enough of the plan complete by year end to make a decision on its viability, an objective looking increasingly unlikely. Another part of the progress problem is that Tony, my friend and business partner, is living in Sydney and still working full time at another job. BizAnywhere as we plan to call our company is a part-time undertaking for him at the moment as well.

Not helping matters are our frequent weekend trips away. Including one trip made on the spur of the moment to Prague, a city we have heard so much about. Once in Prague, we spend the weekend exploring the city by foot. We are both impressed with how beautiful and colourful the city is. An architects delight. The golden autumn leaves just add to the appeal. Who would want to see a Prague spring?, I think. Surely autumn is nicer. 
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