Late last night our friend Johanna messaged to say her Dad was taking his boat through the city and did we want to join.
Johanna’s father Ohli is a really interesting guy. He’s has a room in his house he calls his pensioners paradise. It’s where he tinkers with all the things he collects. Old clocks and old steam engines for example. He has a horse and he has a boat. He’s living the retired life I hope I can.
His boat, the Bonn Eins, used to be an ferry in the former DDR. He found it in a neighbours garden and brought it back to working order. Today he’s taking it from it’s normal dock in Potsdam for a tour through the city. We joined him on the water near Deutsche Oper.
Most of the ride was bliss, it was the perfect conditions for a boat trip. The only stress came when all three adults where required to do some work at the locks. Uhli yelling instructions at me in German (especially difficult because my boat German is particularly poor) and Leo yelling at me for some attention. Not nice.
I think it all the new sensations where at times a little overwhelming for Leo, but mostly he took it in his stride as normal.
While I remember, he seems to have realised his thumb is a perfectly good replacement for the dummy. The only issue is that he hasn't adjusted to life with two spiky teeth. He made himself quite upset by chewing on his own thumb today. Silly little thing.
We left Uhli and Johanna near to Warschauer Strasse and I headed straight to German. Leo again slept for a good chunk of the lesson, while Karoline and I spoke about boats.
By the time we were home both of us were on our knees. It was long day out of the house. Early bath and bed for everyone.