Summer! Summer! Summer!

Have we been blessed or what?!  Seriously here in usually grey, cloudy, rainy UK it has been a scorcher of a season!  It's so warm I can barely be to be outdoors in the middle of the day when it feels hottest to me.  It's been no different in Bonn Germany where I was visiting friends for the second time this year.  I love holidaying in Europe and Germany is one of my favourite places to be believe it or not.  Bonn in particular.  Not just because it's where my childhood friend resides with her German husband and daughter but because it really is a beautiful town/city.  I like to think it's one made for me. Now, I could have gone to the beach somewhere I suppose like many others or to some other exotic location but I love my European holidays.  Sitting in the cool 'bier' gardens (not actually drinking beer but tall glasses of gorgeous fruit drinks) under the sun umbrellas and as it got too hot going in to the safety of the welcoming icy cool air con.  Just wonderful.  I spent a longer time in Bonn this time so it wasn't rushed as usual.  Spending time with my friend is always a joy as we enjoy the same things.  Round the corner from where she lives is a cute garden/ nursery type shop we pass by to get the tram so you can imagine my delight when in the window I spotted these coll plus size mini garden statues for sale!  How wonderful!  If I could have carried one (too heavy for the plane journey and too costly at customs) I would have!  What a cool idea.  And you know what?!  They were selling like hot cakes!  There were but a few left by then end of my holiday on my way to the tram to catch my plane back to England. Loved it!

    

You know I have to say I love the German's attitude towards the fat person. Though I don't have to look into their faces to know they are curious about how someone like me gets that big I love that they respect me enough as a human being to never smirk, laugh, rudely comment in my face!  I have been coming to Bonn for years and I have never once been fat shamed.  It makes me comfortable to go about my business and enjoy myself when I want to without fear of being ridiculed.  If they do it at least it's so I never know.  I honestly prefer that.  In England when I wear my Keep Calm I'm Fat & Friendly shirt. The reactions to the message on my T Shirt are strange.  It either gives license to shame me, or they attack me for admitting I'm big or they are downright angered that I appear proud to be fat (disgusting is what they actually think).  In Germany the reaction was interest, laughter - in a nice way, pat of on the back and even positive discussion.  People genuinely wanted a fat person's view on obesity.  I don't back away from intelligent debate.  But I won't argue with the ignorant. 

Sorry, I didn't get to the Ulla Popken shop again this time.  It was way too hot, like a sauna and I wasn't feeling like I was feeling my best, enough to interview etc.  But I will return to Bonn God willing and will blog this amazing story of Ulla Popken.  One of the plus size fashion pioneers of all time!  In my opinion.  It's a great story and I'm sure my blog readers will want to see pictures of One of Ulla's first stores in Germany.  Coincidently, I think Bonn was Bach resided and there is a lovely museum type house to visit etc.   Interesting place and all for future blog posts.

Asides short walks along Bonn's beautiful Rheine River, absolutely breathtaking, I was in Bonn to do a lot of writing to concentrate on my various writing projects.  I am pleased to say some have reached completion and others are close to.  Also, ideas for other books flood my mind.  But with this blog, my university work to begin again in September finding time will be difficult so the time in Bonn was well spent.  I'm so excited about the blog.  Just when I think I can't keep up I'm reinspired by others in the plus size community to touch on issues facing the plus size int his world.  I can't help myself.  I have so much to say. So bear with me.  I have loads of ideas which I hope will inspire you.

One of my biggest treats from my trip to Bonn was cherries!  I ate huge amounts!  Dark, red, juicy fat, sweet sweet cherries.  My friend bought them everyday for us to eat as snacks with our spritzers!  It was a treat because I was able to eat my fill without feeling guilty that they had cost so much!  My eyes water at the price you pay in England for a palm full of cherries!  But in Germany they were so cheap.  Yum! Yum! Yum! 

Sadly, the summer so far has been a little sad too for me.  A dear friend from my adolescent years in Africa passed away after a short illness.  We knew he was seriously ill but there always seemed it was not imminent and for me the hard part was that I should have been in better touch so that I could have at least said some sort of goodbye.  Really sad.  Plus the global news has really been rocky these past few weeks/months.  The plane tragedies, the wars, the battles.  All very sad.  So whilst I have been enjoying my summer I do not forget those who are suffering from loss of loved ones or who are living in war conditions or having to fight wars.  

I do not forget the poor and the needy and all this is a reminder to me that I can, need to and will do more.  I encourage anyone, if anyone, who reads my blog to remember also and do what they can.  Money is tight for us all but if you can spare it give it.  If you have something in your house to give away donate it to whichever cause is on your heart and if you have nothing at all then if you pray then pray.  I will try to pray and do something.  I may reach out in a future post regarding my cause/charity etc.  

So folks that's summer so far.  Posts will come more frequently now so look out for these and let me have your comments.

Stay beautiful   bigYoutifuls!

RayRay xx

PS-If you want a Keep Calm, I'm Fat & Friendly tee shirt they are on sale for £20 up to 4xl and come in White Tee/Black Print, Black Tee/White Print, Royal Blue/White Print and Navy Tee/Silver Print.  Email me at riaserve@hotmail.co.uk to order.