What was to be done?
I got the idea to get our record collection from our booth in the old forge in Augsfeld.
Our contemporary songs would definitely delight the French girls. Nevertheless, every.
As if by a miracle, all the girls were immediately asked to join in the dance.
As soon as an English song has been played, all the girls sit down again.
So we decided to hang up “je taim” all evening until midnight.
All the French girls danced with us and we developed very pleasant feelings.
Siegbert, our daredevil, was ready to bring the records to Augsfeld as soon as we paid his fuel.
We pooled money for a tank load and Siegbert set off.
After about two hours he was successfully back from his important mission.
I immediately put on an English record.
The number of girls had meanwhile increased to around 15.
However, we couldn't really motivate them all to dance with us.
But then I put on "je'taim".
From Bamberg we drove via Bayreuth and Hof to the Hirschberg border crossing.
Our bus had to stop.
Several GDR people's police officers came to us on the bus to take our personal details.
Back then, like most trainees, I had long hair.
The VOPO looked at the picture on my ID card and asked me: "female or male"?
I blushed with shame and of course said "manly"!
After a while we went on to Berlin via the transit highway.
Halfway there (Bitterfeld) we visited an "Intershop" and a "Mitropa Restaurant of the GDR"
We could pay with our DM.
The prices were very cheap.
However, the food was poor for us West Germans.
I ordered duck with red cabbage and dumplings.
The cutlery was made of cheap aluminum. The plastic plate. The food overcooked and unsightly.
But cigarettes were very cheap in the shop.
I bought a whole rod for my stay in Berlin.
When we arrived in Berlin, we plunged into pleasure full of curiosity.
In addition to enjoying the Berlin way, we young people competed in smoking.
Of course, I didn't enjoy tobacco at all.
But because the glow sticks were so cheap, I smoked one after the other.
We also played poker for the first time in Berlin.
We played poker all night until it got light.
The corner bars in Berlin were open until...
Powerful Glory
The steam really fogged our little kitchen.
Because the bath water was too hot at first, my grandma added cold water from the tap
The faucet and the pouring were the only water point in the house. More water drinkers and taps could be found in the stable and in the yard
When bathing, the temperature was often regulated by pouring hot or cold water
At the end of the bathing process, washing your hair was always a special procedure
The shampoo came out of a small plastic pillow. One tip of the pillow was cut off with scissors and then when the foam was pressed, it spilled not only onto my hair, but mostly onto my face.
Most of all, I was always afraid for my eyes. Every time I shouted: give me a wash
Often we were allowed to eat a piece of warm, freshly baked cake before going to bed.
Patience is the key to paradise Where there is faithfulness there is hope. Repairing and doing without the house If you fear God you will not fear man As long as you live you learn