Kappelmann family in Baden Baden

Aunt Anne and Uncle Oli live in a beautiful old house in the wine region Baden Baden. We take the two family dogs Micky and Moca and walk through the grapes, tasting Sauvignon and Merlot berries straight from the vines. They are full of big seeds, with thick skins, not very nice!

Anne cooks two extra large pizzas for us, and we celebrate the family reunion.

clockwise: Mum, Aunt Anne, Oma Gisela, Jonas, Lenni, Niklas, Uncle Olli, Opa Pico and Micky

The best lunchtime ever

When I went to Kindergarten Canisiushaus in Karlsruhe in 2013, I became good friends with Julia Hetterich. Her family is moving apartment this week, but they manage to meet us at lunchtime, at the playground behind Oma Gisela and Opa Pico's house. We are having soooo much fun digging in the sand and irrigating the water from the water pump! I wish Julia would live closer to us.

So much fun!

I wish Julia would live closer to us!

clockwise: Mum, Michael, Jurana, Jan, Julia, ne and Jonas

Opa Pico, Oma Gisela and Micky

In Karlsruhe, we are staying with Oma Gisela, Opa Pico and Yorkshire Micky in the city centre. At night, the city light shine into their apartment.

I love playing with dog Micky!

Androids in Bruchsal Castle

This entry is for Mrs Z from school: Did you know that the wird android comes from Greek, meaning "human like". In Bruchsal Castle, they had an automated puppet called "android".

Good to know.

German and English = international.

Beautiful clock in the exhibition.

Me reading in the Karlsruhe tram that takes us to and from Bruchsal.

Torsten and the Schremmers in Bruchsal

Mum's cousin Torsten has got a new wife and a new baby. After our day paragliding, we visit them again in Bruchsal, just a tram ride away from Karlsruhe. They take us to the Bruchsal castle and into a museum for mechanical musical instruments. We see the very first programmed music machines, with punchcard discs that are even older than vinyl discs!

This is the ceremonial room in Bruchsal Castle

A punchcard musical disc made of metal

Me spinning in an old fashioned carousel in the exhibition.

clockwise: me, Anne, baby Ella, Torsten and Jonas at Bruchsal Castle

For Isaac: The king who lived in Bruchsal Castle.

Dredging lake and BBQ

Back in the olden days when Mum was a student, she lived in shared accommodation with other students. On Saturday we visit her old uni friend Tom Schlink. A few years ago Tom had moved to a little village near a dredging lake where we spend most of the hot afternoon: An artificial lake left from the days that river pebble was excavated for use in construction. These days, some of these dredging lakes are "civilised" with a kiosk, running water, toilet blocks and change rooms, and most importantly, some level grass along the edge to spread a towel and play.

After the cool down we walk back to Tom's place for a big BBQ. Lidia, another uni friend joins in, as well as her partner Ralf.

Tom's garden is a treat: a wild overgrown farmer's garden that still hosts tomatoes, eggplants, grapes, apples, pears and peaches somewhere, you just have to find them. We went on a long treasure hunt in the garden.

clockwise: Ralf, Lidia, Tom, Jonas, Mum, me

Heidelberg from above

What a start to our holidays in Germany! Mum's cousin Torsten had initially invited us for lunch, but as the weather turned out to be good for paragliding, he rang a few of his friends and organised a paragliding day for us on Königsstuhl in Heidelberg. As I am still a child, I need a special child harness with seat to attach to a tandem pilot's harness. The harness has got an extra thick cushion, to protect the spine from a crash landing. It looks quite funny to wear this harness when walking around. But up in the air, you sit in it comfortably.

My tandem pilot Markus is semi-professional. He does 20 tandem flights per week on average and has got a terrific feeling for the winds, their shifts, or where to find upwinds.

Can you believe that I did not one but TWO paragliding flights with him? The second time, Markus managed to find beautiful upwinds on the opposite side of the river Neckar, so we could stay in the air for 50 minutes!

From above, I looked at the old Heidelberg Castle, dating back to the 12th century. It has got a prominent tower that burst when lightning struck the stored gun powder, and it also houses wine barrels the size of our living room at home.

Getting ready for the very first flight

Testing the harness.

This is the sitting position.

Markus and I are ready for takeoff, looking at Jonas and Frank, Mum taking photos

My short legs already dangle in the air, Markus is still running.

This is the moment - takeoff!

Gaining momentum.

In the air.

Us flying above beautiful Heidelberg.

Another Heidelberg from above one.