Sunday the 11th of January, 2026

English Warmups -  Simply translate into English then scroll down for suggested solutions.  Have fun.

Gregor ist drinnen. 

Er hält sich warm. 

Vor dem Kamin. 

Er trinkt heiße Schokolade. 

Gregor, wo ist  deine Frau?  

Sie ist draußen.  

Auf der Straße.  

Sie räumt den Schnee.  

Gregor, warum räumst du nicht den Schnee?  

Gleichberechtigung.  

Was Männer können, können Frauen besser.  

Gregor ist ein sehr netter Mann.  

Er denkt immer  an andere. 

Gregor ist einer von Millionen.  

Ein Vorbild für uns alle.

Gregor is inside. Keeping warm.  In front of the fire. Drinking hot chocolate. Gregor, where is  your wife?  She's outside.  In the road.  Clearing the snow.  Gregor, why aren't you clearing the snow?  Equality.  What men can do, women can do better,  Gregor's a very nice man.  Always thinking  of others. Gregor is one in a million.  An example to us all.

Next edition of The Baxters - Wednesday the 14th of January, 2026

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Valentine's Day  Champagne,  Flowers and Cards!

February the 14^th is Valentine's Day. People send flowers, go out for candle-light meals, drink Champaign by the bucket, and are generally nice. A wonderful day. But, the best part of all is the British tradition of Valentine's cards. Great excitement and fun.

Valentine's cards are anonymous. No one knows who they're from. They simply flutter in with the post. And, the fun's in the guessing who sent them. Love should then follow. But, usually it doesn't. Mostly a story of dreams.

And, St. Valentine's cards are romantically arty. Most have pictures of red hearts and roses. And, all of them beg, “Be my Valentine.” Romantically silly. But, the two Valentine's cards I received said exactly the opposite.

On the front of the first card was a horrible picture. Rats, slugs, cockroaches, and snakes. All very revolting. And, when I opened the card, the message was simple and straight to the point. “Just thinking of you,” were the words that were written.

The second card wasn't much different. On the front of the card were the heart lifting sensational words, “If I had 100 pounds for every time I thought of you . . .” I opened the card and read on. Instead of, “I would be the richest woman on earth,” were the shattering words, “I would think of you more often.” “If I had a hundred pounds for every time I thought of you, I would think of you more often.”

This was a long time ago. The only two Valentine's cards I ever received. I sent many, but my love was never returned. So, who was St. Valentine? I did some research. St. Valentine was stoned to death for what he invented. St. Valentine invented marriage! In those days, a very good reason for stoning someone to death. But, why did they make him a saint? An unanswered question.

February the 14^th is Valentine's Day. People send flowers. They go out for candle-light dinners. And, that's it for another 12 months.

The story of love is no easy road. It had a hard stony end for poor Valentine.

St. Valentine's Day. Champagne. Flowers and Cards. Secrets. High hopes and deep disappointments.

See you next year. Please, please, be my Valentine!

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