I recently wrote a piece in German for my German blog "Alles auf Deutsch" on the subject of interesting quotes and sayings, advice and jokes which appear on fridge magnets, beermats, diaries and greetings cards - in German.
[Wikipedia]
I thought it would be fun to write something similar in English featuring gems from my collection that are in English.
So, here goes with my "Baker's Dozen" (13).
Advice on life and marriage
This wise poem by Wilferd A Peterson was read at our wedding in Maulbronn Abbey, Germany.
It was a bi-lingual service and the poem was read by my brother Simon.
I had read the same piece at his wedding to Marilyn in 2006.
As an interesting footnote, Hermann Hesse, later the author of "Steppenwolf", the novel (not the rock group!), was a pupil at the boarding school here.
This is very witty, and possibly true.
Look at me and Rita!
I love this one! Scrabble makes you feel a lot younger than you actually are!
Beermats, etc
One of my favourite quotes of all time ..... and oh, so true!
That's why I love "The Simpsons". Creator Matt Groening and his fellow scriptwriters "hit the nail on the head" so often.
[Pinterest]
This essential tool for beer drinkers, a bottle opener, is also an attractive fridge magnet.
In our house it is stuck to the door of the beer fridge.
Of course ..... where else?
Diaries, greetings and postcards
This heartfelt message was posted on the Whitelock family app on New Year's Eve.
Very early, but why not?
.jpg)
This was the message on the cover of a recipe book which I gave my wife Rita for Christmas.
This is a travel diary I gave myself for Christmas this year. I hope to use it often.
My "bucket list" for 2026 consists mainly of places I want to travel to. These include Budapest (Hungary); Canada; Cuba; Galicia (Spain); possibly New Zealand; Peru; and Poland.
Plus a few places I've been to but Rita has not, eg Barcelona (Spain); Cardiff (Wales); Dublin (Ireland); Paris (France); and Prague (Czech Republic).
I've just added Greenland. I want to visit before it becomes the 51st state of the USA!
Fridge magnets
I am European. The day in 2016 when the British electorate voted for Brexit was one of the worst days of my life.
And now we've all seen what a disaster that turned out to be under the Tories.
At least UK prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has taken us closer to the European Union since he came to power.
Let's hope we rejoin at some point.
A hot dog from time to time is a good thing. Not healthy, but comfort food, especially with a tasty sauce like HP or barbecued tomato.
I had a vegan sausage hot dog today, for a change. It was very tasty, but the consistency was odd.
Freshly ground coffee is a must. After my two early morning cups of English Breakfast tea, it's coffee time at Villa Indiana.
We grind our own beans, espresso, and perk them in our rather splendid "De Longhi" cafetera.
Here are two fridge magnets in Spanish that I like. From the local China shop, I think.
"The best grandparents in the world".
I like being a grandad: I have eight grandkids: four English grandsons; and three grand-daughters and a grandson on the German side of the family. The oldest, Anton, is 20; the youngest, Buckley, is two.
I don't hate everyone! Just a couple of people who owe me a lot of money. B*****ds!
Both Brits, a Scouser and a Yorkshireman.
I have a plan to get my money back!
This Spanish iman took my fancy also.
"Indulge a whim, you deserve it!"
Although chocolate spread and an apple are hardly whims, as far as I'm concerned!
Links
“FRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER”
"Signs of the Times" - Deutsche Version
© Pablo de Ronda
Pictures:
All photos by Paul Whitelock, except the German flag (Wikipedia) and Homer Simpson (Pinterest).
Thanks:
Paul Whitelock, Wikipedia
Tags:
51st state of the USA, advice, "Alles auf Deutsch", author of "Steppenwolf", "Baker's Dozen", barbecued tomato, Barcelona, beer drinker, beer fridge, beermat, bi-lingual service, bottle opener, Brexit, brother Simon, "bucket list" for 2026, Budapest, cafetera, Canada, Cardiff, China shop, coffee time, collection, comfort food, Cuba, "De Longhi", diaries, Dublin, English Breakfast tea, espresso, European, European Union, freshly ground coffee, fridge magnet, “FRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER”, Galicia, German flag, Germany, Greenland, greetings card, Hermann Hesse, Homer Simpson, hot dog, HP, iman, joke, Matt Groening, New Zealand, Paris, Paul Whitelock, Peru, Pinterest, Poland, Prague, quotes, sayings, Scouser, Scrabble, "Signs of the Times" - Deutsche Version, Sir Keir Starmer, "The best grandparents in the world", "The Simpsons", travel diary, UK prime minister, vegan, Villa Indiana, wedding in Maulbronn Abbey, whim, Wikipedia, Wilferd A Peterson, Yorkshireman,