Gesellen

Something to add about the gig last night: There was this mob if strangely dressed chaps there last night, Germans by the sound of them. You may have seen some around. They dress in black bell-bottom pants, white shirts, double breasted black waistcoats and black floppy hats. You could mistake them for Amish missionaries - without the beards.

So who are these strange young men? The beer drinking is a clue. They're young German carpenters, travelling the world getting experience before they settle down and become master craftsmen. It's part of an old German tradition, and a lovely one. They're called Gesellen and their whole travelling bit is a last vestige of European craft guild culture and where we get the word journeyman from. Be nice to them when you see them. Next time I do, I'll buy them a beer, maybe they'll help replace some of the weatherboards on my house. They were drinking heroic amounts of beer last night and maintained impeccable manners and a happy countenance. You can read a little more about them here: http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,416564,00.html