Zipping in my speedy car from one group to the next, I nearly choked on my banana: the news came through of the sad demise of Paul the Octopus.

Some insiders may know that my relationship to these animals has been tricky. For many years I had an octopus-phobia. Really. I mean, how on earth could that happen? It was so bad that I could not even stay in a room with a picture of one - in a magazine for instance - let alone be anywhere near a real octopus.

Well, living in Morsum means I don't get close and personal with Octopi all that often, so I just lived with this quirk. But then my daughter turned into a marine biologist, and the symbol of Aquatica was - you guessed - an octopus.

So I decided to fight my phobia, starting with a cuddly octopus toy from Ikea. How brave I was to push that around Ikea in a shopping trolley. Then it sat around the biggest room in our house, with me giving it a wide berth. In the meantime, I kpt hearing what marvellous and wonderful creatures they are.

And then Baby Johann - after his Mom had checked with Omi - arrived for a breakfast date wearing an outfit with an octopus embroidered on the front. What could I say?

So now I don't exactly love them, but they no longer give me the screaming heebie-jeebies. And when I heard that Paul had died, I was really sad.

Find out more on: http://www.octopus.com/

A history of the world...

... in a hundred objects.

Many of you are already tuning in to wonderful BBC Radio 4, and in that cas you will know about the series "A History of the World in 100 Objects". It's a magnificent row of 15-minute talks describing 100 objects which can be found in the glorious British Museum. Members of Staff there chose objects which they considered vital steps in World History. You can still download the podcasts, but why not visit the British Museum Site and find out even more:

http://www.britishmuseum.org/

The picture on the left shows one of the objects, a plate commemorating the Russian Revolution.

Writing this has ben unusually tiresom, as the letter "e" keeps getting stuck on my laptop. I think this is a consequence of eating toast too close. Or too clos.

Hav a good wk:)

When the autumn leaves fall...

Good morning all from beautiful autumnal Morsum.

Isn't that word "autumn" wonderful? Of course, our US cousins call this "The fall". Last week when I was in beautiful Maryland, people often said to me, "I love your accent!" "You're the one with the accent," I thought privately. But on that I'm not quite right. In many cases - and autumn is one - it's the US word which is the original, it's the Brits who changed - in the case of "autumn" during the 18th century when all things French became very fashionable.

Try this quiz to find out how bilingual you are:)

www.funtrivia.com/playquiz/quiz113979dOe8bO.html

Hi from the US!!!

Really quickly from the US, to say... this Sunday Diane and I are off to New York City to see The Lion King on Broadway and I am So EXCITED!!!!!
Back home next week and more English for you then.
Love from all of us in Columbia Maryland.