Topping-out speech

Topping-out ceremony for the round timber machine hall on Sande Sunday, September 21, 2008 [by Michael Stoklas]

Ladies, gentlemen and professors, lift your hats, caps and prick up your ears today. A house (not for human inhabitants) has been built here, made of local wood, round and without sharp edges. This house should protect many a sheet of metal and steel from the rapid passing of the years It is built on heavy feet, made by Philipp, let's welcome him too! The trees were once reforested by young colonial masters, but they have long since rusted away. The wood came from the Ditsl forest on the cycle path and was sawn long and short. Then everything was first spread out downstairs, nicely prepared in carpenter's style, until the strong Antonio was on hand to help erect the logs - that was amazing! Then soon - oh shock, it turns out that the whole thing is shaking like grandma's garden shed! As an old carpenter, I thought we'd tie it to the pear tree. But it was too old and too far away, so I threw this idea into the dirt. And just kept building upwards, and lo and behold: the wind, the old gust - just held still, so I screwed a few more corners, I don't think I have to hide anymore. My first house stands there, bursting with strength, straining towards the sky against wind and gravity. Who would have thought that the trees you cut down would be put up again somewhere else! Thanks also to Master Christian for some thoughts and glances into the filing cabinet! You have to do that too, with such horizontal things. Oh yes, and thanks also to the angel with the protection, who has probably saved us from many a fall into the dirt. The little tree on my side with the ribbon blowing in the wind. Contrary to all tradition, it should live right next to this house. The first tree that is still alive, and yet hovers right at the top. It's a yew, it's given this house to live in. Now let's raise our glasses and say thank you again. To all those who have contributed so that this house can now reach for the sky. First and foremost, we would like to mention the builder, who is that actually? The DITSL? Professor Hensel or Frankenhausen? Who actually knows out here? I would say Heiko is our man, because he is the one who is most concerned. When everything is finished, he can take a big, fast step. Now he can finally walk again and no longer stumble through the workshop. Thanks to him, and all the workshop flies, we are now getting a shed. This wish only came in spring and the Christ Child heard it early on. So that today we are already standing at the edge of the roof and seeing this glass in the sky. Last of all, let's swing the glass again and then lower it to the ground forever. (I hope I haven't forgotten someone, let me know, I'll go out to dinner with him!) The shards shall bring happiness to the house in all good times and bad!

Ladies, gentlemen and professors, lift your hats, caps and prick up your ears today. A house (not for human inhabitants) has been built here, made of local wood, round and without sharp edges. This house should protect many a sheet of metal and steel from the rapid passing of the years It is built on heavy feet, made by Philipp, let's welcome him too! The trees were once reforested by young colonial masters, but they have long since rusted away. The wood came from the Ditsl forest on the cycle path and was sawn long and short. Then everything was first spread out downstairs, nicely prepared in carpenter's style, until the strong Antonio was on hand to help erect the logs - that was amazing! Then soon - oh shock, it turns out that the whole thing is shaking like grandma's garden shed! As an old carpenter, I thought we'd tie it to the pear tree. But it was too old and too far away, so I threw this idea into the dirt. And just kept building upwards, and lo and behold: the wind, the old gust - just held still, so I screwed a few more corners, I don't think I have to hide anymore. My first house stands there, bursting with strength, straining towards the sky against wind and gravity. Who would have thought that the trees you cut down would be put up again somewhere else! Thanks also to Master Christian for some thoughts and glances into the filing cabinet! You have to do that too, with such horizontal things. Oh yes, and thanks also to the angel with the protection, who has probably saved us from many a fall into the dirt. The little tree on my side with the ribbon blowing in the wind. Contrary to all tradition, it should live right next to this house. The first tree that is still alive, and yet hovers right at the top. It's a yew, it's given this house to live in. Now let's raise our glasses and say thank you again. To all those who have contributed so that this house can now reach for the sky. First and foremost, we would like to mention the builder, who is that actually? The DITSL? Professor Hensel or Frankenhausen? Who actually knows out here? I would say Heiko is our man, because he is the one who is most concerned. When everything is finished, he can take a big, fast step. Now he can finally walk again and no longer stumble through the workshop. Thanks to him, and all the workshop flies, we are now getting a shed. This wish only came in spring and the Christ Child heard it early on. So that today we are already standing at the edge of the roof and can see this glass in the sky. Last of all, let's swing the glass once more and then lower it to the ground forever. (I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, let me know, I'll take them out to dinner!) The shards shall bring happiness to the house in all good times and bad!

Topping-out ceremony for the round timber machine hall at Sande
Sunday, September 21, 2008 [by Michael Stoklas ]

Ladies, gentlemen and professors,

lift up your hats, caps and prick up your ears today.

A house (not for human inhabitants) has been built here,

made of local wood, round and without sharp edges.

This house shall protect some sheet metal and steel

from the rapid passing of the years

It is built on heavy feet,

Philipp made them, we want to welcome him too!

The trees were once reforested

by young colonial masters, but they have long since rusted away.

The wood comes from the Ditsl forest on the cycle path,

and was sawn long and short.

Then everything was spread out underneath,

nicely prepared in carpenter's style.

Until the strong Antonio was on the spot,

and helped to straighten the logs - that was amazing!

Then soon - oh shock, it turns out,

the whole thing is shaking like grandma's garden shed!

As an old carpenter, I thought to myself,

we'll tie it to the pear tree.

But it was too old and too far away,

so I threw this idea into the dirt.

And just kept building upwards,

and lo and behold: the wind, the old gust - simply held still,

so I screwed a few more corners,

I don't think I have to hide anymore.

My first house stands there, bursting with strength,

that tightens it to the sky against wind and gravity.

Who would have thought that the trees you cut down

would be put up again somewhere else!

Thanks also to Master Christian

for some thoughts and glances in the filing cabinet!

You still have to do that too,

with such horizontal things.

Oh yes, and thanks also to the angel with the protection,

he has probably saved us from many a fall into the dirt.

The little tree that stands here at my side,

on which the ribbon blows in the wind.

Shall, against all tradition,

live right next to this house.

The first topping-out tree that is still alive,

and still hovers right at the top.

It's a yew, it's given this house to live in.

Now let's raise our glasses,

and thank you once again.

To all those who contributed,

that this house can now reach for the sky.

First and foremost the builder,

who is that actually - so on the bell?

The DITSL? Professor Hensel or Frankenhausen?

Who actually knows out here?

I would say Heiko is our man,

because THAT is what concerns him most.

He can, when everything is ready,

with a big, fast stride.

Now he can finally walk again,

and no longer stumble through the workshop.

Thank him, and all the workshop flies,

that we are now getting a shed.

This wish only came true in spring,

The Christ Child heard it early.

So that today we are already standing at the edge of the roof ,

and see this glass in the sky.

Last of all, let's swirl the glass again,

and then lower it to the ground forever.

(I hope I haven't forgotten anyone, let me know, I'll take them out to dinner!) The shards shall bring happiness to the house in all good times and bad!