Feierabend

Gov.ie Health Both the Irish and British Governments are committed to maintaining the current healthcare arrangements under the Common Travel Area. Under the Common Travel Area, Irish citizens and British citizens who live in, work in, or visit the other State have the right to access healthcare there. Other cooperation arrangements on a North South basis will also continue on the island of Ireland. The Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the UK provides a new framework for the continuation of access to healthcare for persons resident in Ireland who are working, visiting or residing in the UK, including Northern Ireland. The scope of these arrangements includes planned treatment and necessary healthcare.    

Any of the homemade clotted cream recipes I've looked at start with heavy cream ... wonder if they'd work starting with Schlagsahne.

I was complimenting a waiter in an Italian restaurant in Berlin for the panna cotta, and bemoaned the lack of thicker double cream here as is desirable for proper scones wirh jam and cream etc. He came back a few minutes later having chatted to the chef, who told him that in the UK they add gelatine to the cream to make it thick. Aarrgh! Nööö!   Here when I need a thicker cream, I fold in some Schmand after having whipped the Schlagsahne. Even though it's not higher fat, it has a stiffer consistency and works well. I do that for scones, Victoria Sponge filling and Pavlova. No complaints from the consumers!

The countries/regions listed below are designated as currently presenting an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2. In brackets, you will find the date from which the region was classified as a risk area. Persons entering by plane must – irrespective of whether or not they spent time in a risk area – present a negative test result or proof of vaccination or proof of recovery to their carrier prior to departure. Persons who have spent time in one of the risks areas listed below within the 10 days prior to entering the Federal Republic of Germany, must follow specific regulations. • Registration required: Travellers who spent time in a risk area are obliged to fill out the digital registration on entry at https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de and carry the confirmation with them when entering the country. The confirmation will be checked by the carrier and may also be checked by the Federal Police within the framework of its responsibilities as a border control agency. • Obligation to furnish proof: Travellers who spent time in a high-incidence area or area of variants of concern must, as a rule, already carry with them a negative test result on entry and, if demanded by the carrier, present this proof for the purpose of carriage. Travellers who spent time in a high-incidence area may also present proof of vaccination or proof of recovery. Without such proof, carriage is not possible. If entering Germany following a stay in a basic risk area, travellers must be in possession of a negative test result or proof of vaccination or proof of recovery within 48 hours of entry. The proof must be uploaded via the travel portal at https://einreiseanmeldung.de. • Obligation to quarantine: Travellers who have spent time in a risk area, must make their way directly to their home – or other place of accommodation at the destination – upon arrival and remain isolated there for a period of ten days (home quarantine). Persons who have spent time in an area of variants of concern prior to entry, must quarantine for 14 days. • Ending quarantine: Quarantine at home may be ended prematurely or does not have to be started if proof of recovery, proof of vaccination or a negative test result is submitted via the Federal Republic of Germany entry portal https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de. Quarantine can be ended in each case from the time the negative test result has been submitted. If you have spent time in a high incidence area prior to entry, the relevant test may not be conducted earlier than five days after entry. Following a stay in an area of variants of concern, the duration of quarantine may not be shortened.

  The countries/regions listed below are designated as currently presenting an increased risk of infection with SARS-CoV-2. In brackets, you will find the date from which the region was classified as a risk area. Persons entering by plane must – irrespective of whether or not they spent time in a risk area – present a negative test result or proof of vaccination or proof of recovery to their carrier prior to departure. Persons who have spent time in one of the risks areas listed below within the 10 days prior to entering the Federal Republic of Germany, must follow specific regulations. • Registration required: Travellers who spent time in a risk area are obliged to fill out the digital registration on entry at https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de and carry the confirmation with them when entering the country. The confirmation will be checked by the carrier and may also be checked by the Federal Police within the framework of its responsibilities as a border control agency. • Obligation to furnish proof: Travellers who spent time in a high-incidence area or area of variants of concern must, as a rule, already carry with them a negative test result on entry and, if demanded by the carrier, present this proof for the purpose of carriage. Travellers who spent time in a high-incidence area may also present proof of vaccination or proof of recovery. Without such proof, carriage is not possible. If entering Germany following a stay in a basic risk area, travellers must be in possession of a negative test result or proof of vaccination or proof of recovery within 48 hours of entry. The proof must be uploaded via the travel portal at https://einreiseanmeldung.de. • Obligation to quarantine: Travellers who have spent time in a risk area, must make their way directly to their home – or other place of accommodation at the destination – upon arrival and remain isolated there for a period of ten days (home quarantine). Persons who have spent time in an area of variants of concern prior to entry, must quarantine for 14 days. • Ending quarantine: Quarantine at home may be ended prematurely or does not have to be started if proof of recovery, proof of vaccination or a negative test result is submitted via the Federal Republic of Germany entry portal https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de. Quarantine can be ended in each case from the time the negative test result has been submitted. If you have spent time in a high incidence area prior to entry, the relevant test may not be conducted earlier than five days after entry. Following a stay in an area of variants of concern, the duration of quarantine may not be shortened.

For B: See the RKI update of new regulations,  valid from today. (Look at the pdf of 5th July.) https://www.rki.de/DE/Content/InfAZ/N/Neuartiges_Coronavirus/Transport/Archiv_Risikogebiete/EN-Tab.html

Berlin really isn't a huge place and getting around on public transport is generally very easy. Day card for trains, buses and trams. If you stay somewhere vaguely near the centre you'll probably spend about 15 mins getting to the sights you want. Even getting to a more outlying lake or a quick trip to Potsdam is under an hour, depending. Personally I'd avoid any area described as hip but then I'm ancient. I'd go for an area near a U- or S-Bahn, by the river or overlooking a park for peace,  and then take a quick bus or train ride to liveliness. No shortage of nice places to sit out and eat; just turn the corner off any main shopping/tourist drag you're on and there'll nearly always be a quiet square or green space with cafes to sit outside. The Öffi transport app is very easy to use and you can easily check out times and distances from places you might want to visit.

  Who are the eejits who say that?  Just saw your reply: but which Actual News?

Perhaps an organisation like this could be a first source of advice, or point you to more specific help? http://www.prohealthcourse.eu/03357e99160ec5905/03357e992a122c005.html (Site also in Turkish.)

I hope you manage to find a solution to improve your quality of life.  Given the massive Turkish community in Berlin, maybe they have organisations you could plug into for advice?

Not related to reading/ work glasses but I thought In case people don't know: if your general vision problems are beyond a certain level of severity (6 diopters vision, 4 diopters astigmatism) your Krankenkasse should pay a portion towards the glasses lenses or the contact lenses (not the specs frames). To get this, you have to go to an Augenartz who provides a declaration of your prescription, which you can then take to your own optician. I forget the exact amount, but it's well worth having. My optician said you only need the Augenartz confirmation one time. (I think this is a fairly recent reintroduction of this benefit and have found that even German friends don't know about it. )

Only thing I've seen today is in the Guardian online news: (Germany is still an amber country)  Ministers have said the isolation requirement for British travellers who are fully inoculated when they return from amber countries will be dropped – probably from the start of August.   I looked on the Gov UK site and there's nothing new there.

I think the pro players get accustomed to the yelling, spittle and bared teeth very early on. When my twin boys were about  6 they were keen to have a go at footy and we took them to a local kids club to hopefully have fun and be taught the basics. After a couple of weeks was the first match. Suddenly the sidelines were occupied by raving parents, screeching at the kiddies. One of mine, probably a bit dazed by the noise, picked up the ball and ran the wrong way up the pitch towards the enemy goal ... Not a smile in sight! Shame he never had the chance to learn rugby! Didn't subject them to that again. 

  The English crowd  were even booing and whistling through the German national anthem. Pathetic.

And again. They don't understand the F word! Noted the number - is there a scam line one can report it or is it not worth the effort?