Here we are again, back in Halstenbek. The annual Halstenbeker Schützenfest is held every first weekend in September, it’s that weekend of the year.

You know, when you just can’t wait for the next Schützenfest to come soon enough. I still do. It’s a date, that’s implanted in the back of my head. Not one date, but many.

This is ‘the occasion’ in Halstenbek growing up as a teenager. And it still remains that way. It’s when you actually meet the group of old.

Mostly with a grin on their face, ‘good to see you again’! And that’s all I wanted to hear, that’s all I wanted to do. ‘Good to see you again!’ I went for all four nights because I could.

I am Halstenbäcker (baker). ‘Bäcker Schlüter’ still sets the advantage line over all other bakeries in the area. This is where I learned and successfully became a qualified Artisan Baker and Pastry Chef.

The foundation of my elusive and fabulous life. Work and travel anywhere I want on this planet. Thanx Jürgen.

The ‘Realschule’ (middle school) has been relocated, and only the school ‘Bolz-platz’, or football field was left.

This is all we did as teenage kids. We kicked the ball. Wherever there was an opportunity, we met ‘Zum bolzen’.

I don’t think there’s an English word to define this local slang. Alexa, mach mal sport für mich. 

I invited Alexa for an afternoon stroll in downtown Halstenbek as I showed her some of the town’s finest. I suggested getting some ‘Pommes’ (fries) and a couple of takeaway beers from ‘Imbiss Görner’. ‘Ingo Görner’ I said as he walked in, ‘I bet you don’t remember me’? It wasn’t anything dramatic over bad blood or so, he was in my brother’s school. ‘Fürstenau mein Name, Nobby kennst du doch auch’? I said. He was a bit baffled as he made his way down the stairs. ‘Who was your brother’s teacher?’ It echoed from downstairs. ‘How would I know?’ Nothing like a good stir. 

We grabbed our takeaway and wandered to the football field I mentioned earlier. The park section was untouched and there are still benches here, one of them in the afternoon sun. Perfect location. Perfect company. Perfect grub and beverages. And cheap as chips. Cheers!  It was the perfect scenario for this particular time and place. Alexa and I did that a few times in Brisbane, 12 years ago. ‘King of Cakes’ was the German bakery and patisserie were I created and Alexa was part of the dynamic sales team. ‘King of Cakes’! Another king. Until 2011. Brisbane flooded to peak level. Both our sponsorships were washed down the river. Long time ago. We needed some serious fun like the good old days Down Under. Der ‘Spielmannszug’ of the shooting club joined the fire brigade not far from us and marched their way to the festivities. Families and kids joined with lanterns just as I remembered.

Enjoy the joyride. It was actually really fun to sit in this wave rider at high speed again.

It’s one way to get really close to a girl, wether you like it or not. Who doesn’t like that? ‘Dosenwerfen’ followed in a tin cup shootout. Denn Dose auf Dose klappert (silly German saying, hard to translate). Neither cleared all cans but we did get a cute sheep though. Ben the sheep? I had my first beer traditionally im Schützenhaus, the club bar. A few familiar faces were peeking through. Do I know him? What was his name again?

Friday nights were the bomb in my timeline. Disco Night. The hottest chicks from the area came to the coolest 80&90 tunes. Everyone knew and shouted to ‘Tears for Fears’. Depeche Mode. M-M Westernhagen. All your mates around, yes sir. What else do we need? We had continual mis-haps, which we are still laughing about.

All that extravaganza brought all the other cool dudes from the area here as well, this Halstenbeker Schützenfest has a bad reputation. But that’s just not me. Why fight for money or women? Money comes and goes and let women choose you.

The disco tent was rocking with music that sounds all too much the same. Slightly different beat to the previous track. Oh, this one is in English. Another remake from the 90ies, which just proves my point. 

I accompanied Alexa back to her car, I think she even was a little impressed. A busy weekend on her side cut our grande tour a little short. But she left with a smile. It’s great to see your friends smile.  This was the start I needed for a fabulous weekend to come.