No More Waffles!

The recent attacks on unarmed visitors of the German Oktoberfest by members of the 'Bakers for the Nation" movement have revived discussions on the legality of waffles in the country. While support for waffle control had been continuously dropping during the eighties and nineties, recurring incidents of illegal production, purchase and use, however, have turned public opinion towards a more restricted access to the batter based cakes. Latest opinion polls conducted by leading institues like Forsa and infratest dimap are showing a clear majority of Germans favouring a complete ban on waffles for private purposes.

With general elections on the doorsteep on 27 September both major parties, the Christian Democrats (CDU) as well as well as the Social Democratic Party (SPD) have included this issue on their agenda. While chancellor Merkel (CDU) has already presented a proposal of an eligibility card issued and monitored by the Bakers Guild her opponent Mr Steinmeier (SPD) as well as the Green Party have called for a complete ban of waffles as well as whipped cream to prevent unauthorised access and illegal proliferation.


Looking at the mass turnout of supporters at yesterdays demonstration in Berlin where about 300,000 people went to the streets shouting slogans like Waffeln Weg! ('Away with the waffles') and Waffeln Töten! ('Waffles Kill') the new administration will have to act quickly if it doesn't want to risk further unrest. Whether the new law will only include waffles or as the Social Democrats envision also accompanying products like whipped cream - the current plan is to restrict cream with a fat content of at least 30% or more - remains unclear.

An important point politicians should consider when passing the new law during the next legislature is that once the waffle is gone, troublemaker and terrorists alike will surely turn to wafers ...

Moving to Belgium soon ...
Memonji

10 Ideas To Spice Up A Boring Business Trip

1) ... Requesting the check-in agent to assign you a window seat on the bus to the aircraft

2) ... Trying to bypass security control with the explanation that you're a vegetarian

3) ... Insisting to be frisked by a security officer from the opposite sex stating you are homosexual

Flight Travel - Did You Know That .. ?

1) ... it's impossible to buy a chewing gum in the transit area of Munich airport without having to confirm your nationality

2) ... there are seat belt extensions for very voluminous passengers?

3) ... you can be one of the passengers to receive their meal when ordering a so called "special meal" (more on that in the next post)?

Facelift

While talking about Mr Berlusconi, just thought I should follow his example and give this space a little makeover.


New layout, new colours, new gadgets.

While layout and colours are obvious, a quick intro to the new gadets:

- Picture Post
(don't think here's any explanation needed - however if you know what or where it depicts, shout it out at ...

- Your Voice - a place were you can share your comments/notes/other stuff ...

- Quick Updates - the latest "adhoc" news via Twitter (all credit to MuSaMoosa for being one of the pioneers of new technology)

Will be back with more ...
Memonji

Let's Be Realistic, G8!

Whether changing the venue of the G8 meeting from Sardinia to earthquake-ridden L'Aquila was a rather cheap or actually an ingenious move of Mr "Sunshine" Berlusconi will probably be discussed in the various press offices of the attending governments.

Rather than blowing their own trumpet at having achieved a consensus (which is far from being ambitious) and starting to point fingers at the developing nations for not being ready to commit emmission cuts at the expense of their progress, the G8 (and especially the representatives of their countries' media) should focus on a realistic as well as sustainable solution.

Since four of the top five developing nations are ex-colonies isn't it more than understandable that those countries are not ready to slow down the growth of their economies and markets (again)? This time not due to economical, but environmental reasons as well as issues that the developed nations have actually caused.

G5 Leaders Press Conference

"Why should we pay the price for this?" is a question that is frequently asked in the G5 countries. It's much easier for a society of considerable wealth to sacrifice "a piece of the cake" for a greater good. In countries where a large percentage of the population is heavily dependent on the strong growth of the national economy to enjoy even a small portion of prosperity this is much harder to sell.

Climate change, however, is a global phenomenon which transcends national borders, economies and societies and hence requires a global approach and finally consensus - a fact every country has to acknowledge.

What the governments of the developing nations need now is an incentive to join the industrialised countries in the fight against climate change - most likely not so much to get convinced themselves, but rather to set-off the adverse effects on their economies as well as to be able to "market" the merits of this endeavour to their voters. Let's not forget - any government that doesn't do anything against a predictable economical slow-down is not very likely to be re-elected.

Latest at the UN climate summit in Denmark in December we'll know how successful our leaders have been....

Until then we should wish them all the best.

Also wishing ...
Memonji

From Pee to Dee

More than two years of silence have passed - only to return with a joyful announcement:


THE ILLUSTROUS SEXTETT,
comprising of
THE TWO BLESSED TRIUMVERATES, namely

Roland Numrich, Harald Sossna & Reinhard Ulbrich
as well as
The Ösack, The Late Bishop & Et Memonji

take immense pleasure in announcing the unique occasion of their disciple

OTZE P.

acquiring the honours of calling himself “D” on 1st July 2009 in Hannover, Germany

From now on he will be referred to as

OTZE D.

Please join us in congratulating the new “D” as well as wishing him all the best for his future.

Reception & Tuba Dates will be announced shortly.

With best compliments from his Bhattacharjee, relatives and friends.

Germany vs. Poland

Just read a very well written article about the cultural relationship between Germany and Poland, which I would like to share with you.


As it is in German - and I would like to be consistent throughtout Memonji's World- I will not post it here, but rather link to it.

Do widzenia (Polish lessons finally kicking-off in July!!!) says
Memonji

Chocolate Fans

Some of my readers might know that I am a big connaisseur of - especially dark - chocolate. During the "good old Zwackelmann days" we used to host "chocolate tasting sessions" at home - a tradition I have continued in India (importing the some of the most exclusive chocs from Europe) and recently revived here in Wroclaw.

For those who share my weakness for this sweet temptation I have decided to write regular reviews of some of my favourite chocolates. Although, as mentioned above, my preference lies clearly on the darker side, I will also feature some of the very delicious milk chocolates from time to time.

During my last visit to Germany I have accidentally come across a very nice little Chocolaterie, whose owner is not only very friendly, but also extremely knowledgable. Since this place has recently been opened and I was very pleased with the service, I would like to recommend it to those of you living in and around the Rhineland:

Chocolaterie "Desir Noir"
Luminaden
Wiesdorfer Platz 16
51373 Leverkusen
Germany
Phone: +49 1577 254 38 43

It was the owner of this little shop who recommended the chocolate I would like to write about today: Michel' Cluitzel's "Hacienda Mangaro"


With a 65% cocoa percentage it's not too dark, so it might be worth trying even if you're a "milky" (if you're sure you don't wanna try, there's a milk version with only 50% as well). Michel Cluizel's chocolate is manufatured in the south of the Normandy in France and from previous tastings I was somehow (don't ask me why ...) not a big fan of his chocolate and thus was initially quite reluctant to buy it. However going by the recommendation of the owner has eventually paid off: the cocoa beans used in this "single-plantation" chocolate from Madagascar have been grown on a plantation which was formerly a mango tree forest, so the beans inherited a "fruity" flavour from the earth. I think one needs to develop a taste for this special citric something, which actually gives this chocolate a very exotic and distinct flavour, but once you have acquired it, the Mangaro is an amazing experience to your tastebuds :-)

A perfect chocolate for a warm summer evening ...recommends
Memonji

Viva Wroclaw!

Hurray - after the World Cup 2006 in Germany, more good news: Poland and Ukraine will be hosting the Euro Cup 2012!!!

Not sure whether I'll still be around, but with Wroclaw being one of the hosting cities, it would be a good reason to come and visit again ...

After Switzerland & Austria next year and South Africa in 2010 let's meet again in Poland two years later to cheer all of our teams ...


proposes
Memonji

A Room with a View

The last few weeks have been filled with administrative and organizational errands: bank accounts, registrations, phone numbers, and last but not least house-hunting.


After strolling through endless soviet-style housing blocks (see above), as well as luxurious lofts on the market square, I have decided to rent a nice 55sqm apartment in the very heart of the town. Overlooking a small park, a theater and the opera (see bottom of this post), it is just a two minute walk from the historic market square with a lot of other facilities like the phiharmony, cinemas, bars, cafes, clubs and shopping malls within easy reach.

The flat is semi-furnished, which means, that my landlord provided sofa, bed, desk and a bookshelf, furnished the kitchen and added some gadgets like washing machine, microwave and refridgerator. So yesterday and today I went on a big shopping trip of basic necesseties (kitchen, bedroom and living room utensils such as cutlery, pillows, curtains, etc.).

Very tiring (and expensive!), but it's also nice to just shop until you drop and furnish an apartment more or less from scratch ;-)

In addition to that I have located a unsecured wireless network at home, which I am happily using until I get my own dedicated internet connection :-))

All this brings me to the pleasure to invite you to my new home. Please feel free to come over and visit anytime - just ensure you let me know in advance (whether that is three months or just a day notice doesn't really make a difference).

Welcome to Poland ... at
Memonji's

Quick ...

Some of you might remember my business plans for 2010. Unfortunately, while taking a long Sunday's walk through the old part of Wroclaw, I realised that someone must have had the same idea and has started something similar here in Poland ...


I know this will send shock and horror to my friend "Willmes", but it just confirms that you better get your act together if you have a good idea.

Re-arranging the timelines to move to China...
Memonji

Perspective

Just a quick one - I have just seen this cool personality gadget on Tina's blog and thought it would be interesting to do the same thing for me.

So, if you do know me personally, I'd appreciate if you took five minutes and completed this little exercise ;-)

Waiting for the results ...
Memonji

First Days

Learn the language!

These three words have become my credo after being in Wroclaw for two days. In the office everyone and outside the office quite a few number of people still do speak English and - having been a German city for more than two hundred years until the end of WWII - some (still) even speak German. However, as I am still convinced that knowing the local language is the key in understanding a country, it's people and culture I have registered myself in a Polish language course at the office.

Ok, rewind ....

I arrived in Wroclaw on Monday evening and went straight to the office in order to pick up the keys for my temporary apartment. To my surprise the center was almost abandoned with the girl at the reception appearing to be the only person left working. When I inquired where everyone was, she told me that everyone leaves at around 5PM. "We start at 9 and leave at 5 - that's what we're getting paid for" was her simple explanation. So far - so good. Different from what I have been used to in the past, but sounds nice, doesn't it ? :-)

The apartment is just a few minutes walk from the office, directly at the market square, which isthe city center. Fully furnished and equipped with most of the kitchen gadgets one would need.



Tuesday was full of administrative stuff, HR forms to fill out, mandatory medical examination, opening bank accounts, etc. In the evening (yes, it actually did start at 5PM!!!), I got some groceries and started to cook my first meal after - what? - two and a half years? Spaghetti with fresh tomatoes, basil and garlic .. mmhhh ... yummmy ...

Today some more admin work - I still haven't gotten a Polish number, but hope to get this done by tomorrow or day after. Additionally, I have started my house hunt. A colleague, who's changing flats has showed me the one he's vacating, but I don't think it is really something I would be looking for. Too small and areawise not my type. Let's see, on the one hand it's just my second day, but you know about the early birds ...

I will contact some brokers tomorrow and hope to see more more places by this weekend. Can't wait to get myself a place ...

Currently I don't have internet access at the apartment I call home right now, so I am writing the posts at home in the evening, but publish them on the following day at the office.

I will circulate my new office and cell phone numbers shortly. Emails remain unchanged.

More soon... promises
Memonji

Metamorphosis

After quite a few dosas, kulfis, operational performance reviews, weekend trips to Bombay, baseline mappings, lazy Sunday's at the Leela's, escalation management and various other pastimes, fresh lime soda (sweet AND salty) becomes Zywiec beer, Tata Indica evolves to Skoda and Masala Tea miraculously changes to Zubrowka vodka.

Hopping from one emerging market to another, Memonji is moving to Poland - to be exact Wrocław (pronounced "vrotz-whaff"), where HP (no, NOT Hindustan Petroleum!!!) has another Global Business Center.


Am looking forward to be back in Europe, closer to the other half of my family, and of course closer to all my European friends. Adding on to this is the fact that quite a few of my international friends from Bangalore are also moving to Europe during this year, so 2007 promises to get quite fun-filled ;-)

I will be in Poland from mid March onwards, so once I have gotten myself fully set up, you're more than welcome to visit.

Anxious to move is ...
Memonji

Big Fat Indian Wedding

Ladies and Gentlemen,

first of all, my apologies for not having posted much during the last six/seven weeks. I hope going forward I will be able to resume my more regular posting activity.

Just came back from a friend's - typical Indian - wedding and thought, since it was a very traditional and colourful, it wouldn't be a bad idea to share his and his wife's picture with you.



Both of them are working have been working in the same department with me (that's also where both of them met...) and Amit (the groom) has now taken over my position.

More details on my future will follow shortly, so

"STAY TUNED" recommends
Memonji