Champions League Soccer

Sports posts are rare on the K-landnews, not for want of expertise but because we are unable to muster the enthusiasm. Other than writing about quiditch, nothing is as delightful as writing about the fans.

The small local post office attached to a stationary shop is a hub of information exchange.
So, one day, a K-landnews person was at the post office and found himself chatting with the postmaster on a slow morning.

How do you like Germany so far? 

We enjoy it, it is so much quieter than where we come from in the US, a very different lifestyle.

I noticed you fixed up the house, that must have been expensive.

Yes, it was. I did much of the work other than the roof, so that saved us a lot of money, but still.

The yard was a mess, wasn't it? I heard, someone had complained about neglect to the town, before you were here, some neighbor.

Oh, none of the  neighbors complained to us.

That's probably because you did so much work as soon as you arrived.

Ah, well.

Do you have any problems with the community center or the flood lights?

No, not really, the community center is not that close. Every once in a while, we hear some music when they let out, but no, and the floodlights don't bother us either.

They should be out by 9 PM, but sometimes a match goes into overtime.

Don't worry, hey, if we get some extra light at the far end of the backyard, I might do some night time gardening.

I'm glad you see it that way. You know, I am on the town council, and there are a couple of folks down the street who take matters very seriously.

Really, how so?

Yes, there is this one older guy. When the players get a soccer ball over the net into his yard, he goes and retrieves the ball. Then he makes the umpire sign a paper with the date and time of the incident, and after a match he takes the paper to town hall and complains.

Wow, I can see ways to do that differently. If I ever found a ball on my property, I might take it to the players, have each one autograph the ball and then keep it  -- who knows, twenty years down the road, I might have a signature of someone famous to sell on eBay.

So, be nice to your neighbors - they know where you live.