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…than I appear to be. All the world’s strength and power rests inside me.
I started a post on my blog on balamadana - all about the five mindfulness trainings….
Here is the first post: http://blog.balamadana.com/2008/05/i-am-more.html
Hello,
You find the article from the telegraph now online on my website.
Article on “Business the German Way“.
Refering to post below: Volker in the news.
Have a great week!
Volker Ballueder
The ones who met me and had a philosophical night with me know my most favourite book by John Fowles, The Magus.
Not only do you find the story of the prince and the magician and the islands in there, but you also find thoughts on love, psychology, delusion and disturbance in there. A fascinating book.
Last night I watched the DVD, the movie from the 60s. It has been a while since I read the book and keep saying I need to re-read it, but watching the DVD brought back the memories of this great story.
That book just totally blew me away and I would suggest anyone to read it. It is confusing and you will only understand part of it, but at the end, one of the greatest books ever.
Synopsis:
A man trapped in a millionare’s deadly game of political and sexual betrayal.
Filled with shocks and chilling surprises, The Magus is a masterwork of contemporary literature. In it, a young Englishman, Nicholas Urfe, accepts a teaching position on a Greek island where his friendship with the owner of the islands most magnificent estate leads him into a nightmare. As reality and fantasy are deliberately confused by staged deaths, erotic encounters, and terrifying violence, Urfe becomes a desperate man fighting for his sanity and his life. A work rich with symbols, conundrums and labyrinthine twists of event, The Magus is as thought-provoking as it is entertaining, a work that ranks with the best novels of modern times.
I know, it has been a while since the last update.
What has happened?
I try to keep it short: We were pushed to exchange contracts last week. So when this has not happened by Thursday I really got pushy. Working in sales helped me to push the solicitor and estate agent, getting stressed to exchange last week.
Then I got a call from the vendor, luckily we gave her our phone number. She was worried we would pull out and explained the hold up. She confirmed we can move and complete in 3 weeks time and she re-assured us that everything is fine.
We now canceled the flat we lived in, ordered the removal van, ordered furniture and … hopefully exchange contracts on Tuesday.
Now I know why buying a house is so stressful!
I keep you posted.
Volker
Yes, I finally did what I have not done for sooooooo many years.
We went to a Safari Park in Kent. Port Lympne.
Last time I have done that was when I was probably about 10 years old. It was a beautiful day and my wife and I really enjoyed it. Only drawback - I think it is so mean to lock up animals these days. Not that it was different when I was ten but then I only saw the interesting side of things. Now I see the erratic behaviour, the sadness in the eyes of the monkeys.
So I am feeling in between liking the idea of animal parks and hating them. Living in London and being able to go to one, enjoy a day out and watchings some animals I have not seen for a while, or will never see in the wild, is great. Knowing the circumstances they live in, I might prefer not to see them at all.
Any thoughts?
This weekend I am mentioned in the Telegraph Newspaper.
Our PR Agency got me to write a bit about Germany and what the differences in daily working life are between Britain and Germany. So the supplement of yesterday’s paper mentions me. What I did not know, they have comments from a CEO of what I would say is a competition of some sort….
Nice to be compared to a CEO ,-)
That boosts my ego.
Just wanted to quickly sum up our Chartered Management Institute Trip to Chapel Down, a vineyard in Kent.
Unfortunately the weather was not too great, but we managed to get there in one piece, had a peak around the vineyard and the production site and then went to the most important part: the tasting.
We tasted a few wines:
- Brut NV - a sparkling wine that is made similar to the one in the Champagne and it is really nice. My wife of course got herself a bottle.
- Bacchus 2006 - a nice “table wine”, a white one from a German grape.
- English Rose 2007 - a very lovely rose wine which even I liked a lot. I can picture myself sitting on our new patio, sunny Sunday, slurping some English Rose
- Rondo Pinot Noir - very oaky and similar to a Burgundy. Not 100% my taste but nice.
With lunch our table tried another White, the Bacchus Reserve 2006 which was stronger in taste but not necessarily much nicer.
Coming from Germany I tried the Downland Velvet 2005 which contains Dornfelder grapes….not my taste at all. It shows, see older post, how much I move away from German, even wine wise.
That sums the trip up well. Had a snooze on the way back in the bus and had a nice Cabernet Sauvignon at night - nothing beats a CabSav 
Have a good day,
Volker
Another week. I almost feel back in my old job with our weekly report.
This week I was up in our HQ in York for two days and had 3 extreme busy days in the office. Even better my Saturday will be spent going to a vineyard in Kent. So do not expect any blurb later today
Just wanted to say, being on Facebook and all, you see all these status messages about what people are up to. Some of my friends were at the Next08 in Hamburg. I was at the Next07 in Berlin last year and really enjoyed it. Good conference, good blurb in the industry. Now, being away from the German Online Market a bit, it seems so distant.
That brings me to what I wanted to write about. Last night a girl from Latvia (?) asked me whether I like driving fast, referring to the Autobahn. And, I did not have anything to say about it. I look at the German market and feel very distant.
I think I slowly but surely break my ties with the country I was born in. No question that I am German and surely it comes out in a lot of things I am doing, attitude wise, however, I am not sure if I ever want to go back there. Every time I am back I enjoy being there but living there, I really do not know.
With us buying a house in London, being in London, flying out of London, settling here, there is no need to do that either, is there? My home will be Germany, because that is where I was born. But my chosen home is England, Scotland really, but I cannot see myself living anywhere else but the UK at the moment.
Then again, I saw CSI New York last night and the pictures from New Zealand and……
Have a good weekend, Volker Ballueder
Wow, I went to the gym this morning. Maybe not the best idea after a Saturday night out, but I found a new toy:
This machine works you like a stepper, cross trainer and climber at the same time. I could only spent 10 minutes on it, it was too exhaustive. Wow, I need to go back asap.
Have a good Sunday, I will be in agony.
Yours
Volker
If you follow the link you find my essay on Personal Development - Island Theory.
I wrote about it in my blog before.
- 6th of March about Islands
- 22nd of March about Islands
- 27th of March, the story of the Prince and the Magician
Please leave comments and feedback, I am looking forward to a great discussion.
Volker Ballueder
There are a few thoughts in my head:
- we might be having our wee house in 2 weeks. how exciting!
- balamadana.com is going slowly, both Marcelo and I feel “clouded”, e.g. have too many things in our mind. Both hope to relax over the weekend.
- I was asked why I let people look into my life by writing a blog. I asked “why not” - not sure why, but I think I am a person that likes to share my life with others. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing here is that important to anyone but me. But I know people like to read it, so I carry on.
- I should write more about personal development. Thinking about that and currently I am not sure what to write. Again, am clouded.
- So this weekend is for relaxation. I tell you how it goes. We celebrate my and my friend’s birthday today. Hope the weather is going to be nice.
Speak later, Volker
It is not only a rumour but the Brits talk a lot about the weather. Why?
I have lived in the UK for 7 years and being strong connected to Scotland and have lived there, I preferred the weather to London. What might seem odd at first, the problem is that Scotland’s East Coast, e.g. Aberdeen, is not as wet as the west coast, e.g. Glasgow. Therefore, we usually had around 15-20 degrees in the summer, rather nice if you ask me.
London is different. The weather was horrible for the last few weeks. Rain, cold, warm, snow - “April’s Weather”. However, for the last 3 days it is boiling hot. 22 degrees, coming up to 24 degrees. And, of course we are complaining. It is all global warming, the office is too sticky and we are sweating in the heat. Just imaging the tube at this temperature, being in there with millions of others.
But, don’t worry. The weather will change again and then people will moan again about it being too cold, too unpleasant and that they cannot wait for the real summer…..the moaning cycle is like the weather, just more predictable
Volker Ballueder
If you think I am speaking about the new house, then you have to think again. We had a black wall in our current, rented flat. This is due to our lovely candles we assume. Sooth it is and we tried washing it off yesterday but realised it will never look nice again.
So at 3.45 we made a wild dash to Homebase and got some cans of paint, a brush etc. and now my wife is painting the living room. I am useless when it comes to painting and support with food, wine and refreshments….and ironing.
However, update on the house is that we should get a contract through this week. Means hopefully tomorrow. Today is bank holiday.
I keep you posted, no doubt!
Congratulations to Boris Johnson who won the mayoral elections in London. Needless to say that I support him.
Sorry, Ken, you have done a great job but 8 years are enough and it is time for a change.
Not sure but my Turkish friend said that Boris’ grandparents are from Turkey. It shows once again how multicultural London is.
Boris, lots of luck. I liked your winner’s speech! Let’s get things moving in London and get the city where it belongs - to one of the top cities to live in.
I have not always supported London that much but I spoke to a South-African yesterday and she said that you get this dip in London when you do not like the city. Usually happens after a year and a half. That seems to be the breaking point. From there you either leave it or love it. Clearly I love it.
Roll on 2012 and let us show the world what a great host we can be for the Olympic Games.
Free Tibet, too.
I would like to draw your attention to last week.
It helps to look back: Monday was just another Monday with a good conversation at work, driving things forward in the right direction. Also, I managed to get something important done on my private side of things.
Tuesday. It was a long day at Internetworld, a few drinks at night. Was it a good day? A slow day but work wise very valuable. I had a long conversation with a friend I bumped into who I haven’t seen for about 3 years. Coincidence? I do not think so! We stay in touch X.
Wednesday was my first interview and another seminar talk on SEO and Blogging for WebCertain. My colleague and I really impressed a few people there. And, interesting enough the seminar theatre was packed and about 40% said they have a multilingual website and another 40% said they will soon. That means there are so many people out there realising that the internet gives you a global reach. All you need to do is to get out there and be found! Ok, enough advertisement, just join us at our Summit.
Thursday, last day of Internetworld, was very slow going. I am surprised that CMP organises 2 big shows in the same half of the year. Why not have one, TFM&A in spring and the other, Internetworld, in autumn. Hey, there is some competition out there but I believe there is a market for it too! Not my decision, I moved away from exhibitions. Met up with my old manager though and realised that things have changed….
The rest of Thursday I spent driving my wife to a party and back - what a boring bloke but a loving husband I am
Friday was a long day in the office. Catching up on the show, having one phone conference after another. It was good. Spoke to someone I consider a good friend in Detmold with whom I believe the relationship just started. Spoke to a friend I helped a little to find and settle in Munich too! Good Luck Marco!
The night I spent with some nurses drinking beer ,-) That was fun!
Was that all?
You might have noticed I forgot my birthday. Yes, in all that week I had to fit in a birthday I almost forgot myself. And, the biggest memory of my birthday, besides that my wife got me a nice present and work did too, is that I spoke to a good friend and mentor who’s life is, although much more progressed, in parallel. You see the entry below.
What a week. Time for a long weekend. Enjoy and get some rest ,-)
Oh, it is Saturday today. Marcelo posted the first entry on balamadana. And I go and get pampered now - off for a nice sports massage.
I spoke to a good friend yesterday, someone I have not spoken to for quite some time.
He is also a Buddhist and when we spoke about job and career and money, salary, family, karma and so on, there was this parallel world. We are both very career orientated, do not mind working long hours, always like to earn a lot of money but also are very keen on our family.
However, nothing of it seems to be the big issue in our life. Not that we are super rich, or work 9 to 5 - no, we are both at this stage of life where we are, what I would call, content.
Our jobs are great. The money related to the job is good and does not let us think we should go somewhere else to earn more. Our family is supportive and we do not mind working long hours if we can combine it with our family. A holistic view of both of our lives is the contentment in what we do and issues we had before, e.g. better job, better money, more time, are not issues anymore.
I wonder if that has to do with Buddhism as well? I need to speak to Marcelo on balamadana about it!
ballueder
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