Well, it's a little late now, but I'm going to tell all about Easter. -And some things about my life in general. I will even try to keep it all comparatively short, (Though I'm not making any promises.) Now, first of all, let's start with excuses! The reason that I haven't written for so long was a dire lack of internet. But then we finally got internet here, at home, and got it all working, and this was about a week or two ago. The reason I haven't written in that past week or two, is that the season here in the theater is getting more and more busy. (Have I told everyone that the year started off, in September, as slow as could be? I was working only about 13 to 15 hours a week.) So there was little time to write to everyone, and many many things to get done.

These things include, (-Hmmm... Does it seem strange that I write about all the problems, and delays that I have? It shouldn't though; Because those are the most interesting things in my life.) There's the Dance performance which comes in June. Hmmm Yes. It's a smaller production, but the idea of it is, that it's OUR piece; The dancer's. We're invited to dance what we want, how we want to. It's up to us to choreograph the evening. -This is the idea at least. But because all the pieces of all those who want to make up dances adds up to no more than one hour, our Ballet Director is creating a piece as well. And, the thing is, that I've decided that Now is the right opportunity for me to try my hand at choreography. It's something I've often thought about, but always found myself feeling... that I didn't have an idea; I could make up lots of steps, but could find no meaning. I could find no Theme to choreograph from. It was only a couple of years ago that I finally felt that I had an idea, that I'd like to have a dance express. -But then there was no opportunity to create the dance. -until now.

So, on the sixth of June, will be my 17 minute long premiere of my very first dance piece. It's for three dancers, and is stylistically... a mix of classic and neoclassic. (So far. I don't know what might change between now and June. And the choreography isn't finished yet.) So, That is the biggest thing that is taking up my time.

There is also the pieces by other dancers, which I will be dancing in. So there's rehearsals for them. And then I decided to fix all the little problems on my computer, and get that working just in the ways that I wanted it to. So, over the last few days, I've saved all my data, and then wiped everything from the computer, and put the programs on one by one. That takes some time, you can believe me.

There was also Easter, a week ago. I had an entire five, (FIVE!!!) days free, and went to Detmold to spend it all with Pamela and her family. It was mostly eating, sleeping, eating, reading, eating, helping the father with his new computer, and the vidio editing programs therein, eating, going for a walk, (between rain showers,) and eating more. On the Sunday, we went to a village with a hill, and a centuries old tradition of celebrating this day with a huge wheel made of hay, as tall as a man, half that as wide, which they light on fire, and send rolling down the hill. I haven't a clue what that means, or represents, but it looked impressive:

Just as dusk settles over the old, oaken wooded hills, the village gathers on and about the barren field, which it will soon be time to plant. There is a large bonfire, but then, anyone can make a bonfire. They're known the world over. What's special is the Wheels of Hay. There's a loose iron form, which holds them together, and adds stability to them. Not too much though. Because it would be one thing to see a flaming ball go rolling off down the hill. But quite another, more effective thing, to have it leave a trail of loose burning hay behind it. There were six of them, let off at five minute intervals, (perhaps.) And then there was one big one, twice the size of the others, which was saved for the last. And just for good measure, they sprinkled the outside of each wheel with gasoline. This wasn't for the nice "Whoofing" effect when it was first lit though; It was just to make sure that it was burning well on all sides, before they let it off, to roll down the hill.

So, that's most of my Easter. The only other things to add, was that it was a nice Family feeling. The Grandmother was there with us, (which is usually not the case; She tends to stay with her other child, in Berlin.) Besides that, I got the web-cam working there, and talked over the internet to my Mother and Sister. (With live video streaming. Oooh. Aaaah.) And now, in theory, I could do that at any time, because I've got internet at home! (I'm still enjoying that fact.) It's just a matter of deciding when would be a good time. ("Hint Hint", to anyone who reads this, and also has a webcam.)

What else? Well, the weekend that's just gone now, Pamela was going to Southern Germany for a... fair, (Wrong word?) A meeting of a great number of Outdoor Lighting Designers. -Which is something pertinent to her work. So, I didn't know what to do with my weekend, and decided to go and visit a friend of mine in Hamburg. (I hadn't seen her for half a year, at least.) And it was very lovely, to talk all evening, and then walk through the parks, and the city the next day.

Now, this has gone on long enough, I know, but I feel like mentioning a couple more things. First of all, I'm staying in Lüneburg for another year. (Not because I think it's the best place in the world for me, but because it's not at all bad, and because I haven't gotten organised and looked for other places to work.) So, I have six weeks in the Summer, and not too many plans: Pamela will have two weeks of vacation, So we start August with a trip to France. We're wildly looking forward to that. What to do with July though? It costs about 1000 Euros, (1300 or so Can. Dollars,) to fly home, So I'm not doing that this year. Especially as it would take me too far from Pamela for me to feel happy about.

If anyone around Europe has a good suggestion, I'd be glad to know.

So, I think that's all. Of course, having internet at my beck and call means that I'm actually adding stuff to my website again. (www.slym.de.vu) So people are invited to waste time there.

I wish every one well, and a nice spring, and pleasant... everything.

With heart,

Matthew.