I'm better....

I've got to buy my ticket back home.



Something positive found on Wasting

Christmas party dress

I'm helping our social committee with the Christmas party which is on the 3rd (a little too early for my taste). The theme: black and white ball. I need a little black dress for the event, one that is not too dressy nor too cold. I found the following two dresses, the first from Urban Outfitters and the other from Asos (my favourite online shop),there are dresses a plenty there. I'm off to search some more!

Sometimes you just feel like this.....

I felt like I wanted to hide last Friday and although my weekend was a good one, today is gray and I've got the Monday blues.

Ich liebe Berlin

With my visa renewal deadline fast approaching and the fear of almost a year without a passport I urgently booked a flight a few weeks ago to Berlin, a city I always wanted to go to. I asked along my coworker and friend Rose who gladly accepted. Last Friday we went off (much to the envy of my boss) to the Berlin wall, or what was left of it. I am German you know, but until this past weekend I've always been a bit timid to admit it.

We started our trip off right with a party flight Friday night which distracted poor Rose who has a great fear of flying. There was a group of 25 men on a 'stag do' who talked with us and we sat next to a nice musician, Lucio, who helped us catch a train and directed us to our hostel in it's perfect location, in Pfefferberg, in Mitte, right in the centre of the city. Lucio also recommended a place to have a drink and so after a bite we made our way to Scotch and Sofa, a local with retro 70s furniture, a DJ and good strong drinks.

Saturday morning we woke up and tried to find a certain vegan restaurant recommended by our co-worker Magnus. On our way there we happened upon a street fair which we explored. When we finally got to the resto, it was closed and because we were so hungry decided on Suicide Sue next door whose menu we couldn’t read, but whose waitress told us (in English) was all about bread. We got to choose from a variety of spreads to put on our long hearty slice (see photo).


The rest of the day was spent touring the Spree by boat (see photo below), exploring Berlin's wide boulavards, walking all the way to the Jewish museum to find it was closed and then went to a gallery around the corner, The Berlinische with modern art concentrating on the East and West divide and the development of the city of Berlin.


Later we ate proper German food, potatoes, sour cream, meat (well Rose ate the meat).We carried on drinking till late in the night chatting with locals at bars around Mitte, like Weinerei, a wine bar on Veteranenstrasse where one pays a euro for a glass and then leaves money in a jar on the way out depending on how much one drinks (though they do try and regulate). We liked the feel of the place and the big floral lampshades. Two other bars we went to projected movies on the wall which I find adds to the whole socialising, drinking experience.

Sunday we weren’t exactly energetic, but we survived with a huge breakfast buffet; crepes, salmon, cheese, yogurt and all. After stuffing our faces we went to a vintage/junk market near part of the wall still standing. We each bought a hat and then went and watched artists graffiti the wall.


We attempted to walk to the modern museum, the Hamburgerbahnhof that everyone said we must go to, but with darkness approaching and closing time evident we decided on the Jewish museum because it stayed open late. This time it wasn’t closed and we spent a good two hours on the main exhibit which was just so full of information. The museum’s physical structure is a modern architect’s delight and Rose repeated a few times how much she loved the building. We were a bit tired from our activities the day before so after dinner, after the museum, we decided to call it a night.

Monday morning, our last day, we woke and realised that the modern museum, Hamburger Bahnhof was closed on Mondays! The closure of places (or tables full in the case of restaurants) occurred a few times during the trip, but there was always something else near by. We just resolved to return again to Berlin to see more another time and and so headed to the West to the Kathe Kollwitz museum, a small gallery devoted to the works by Berlin’s most famous female artist of the 20th century. Her black and white etchings echoed social revolts and experiences of the time, war time struggle and motherly love. I’m glad Rose suggested it.

Later we walked to the largest deparment store, KaDeWe and explored its sixth floor food market which was massive, larger than Harrods'.


Although rents are meant to be cheap in Berlin and their economy is suffering, we found the shopping and drinks/food on par or if not more expensive than London, but I guess we also weren’t too particular about finding the cheapest option. Larger than London, but with half of London's population, the city has a great feel and the people are generally friendly.

Also see below, 'a quick update' for more Berlin information.

Guy Fawkes day

Unfortunately I missed all of the celebrations of Halloween back home, but luckily I had Guy Fawkes day (the British equivalent to Fourth of July) to celebrate last Saturday. It's all about the fireworks, and they shot off with some great music!
'Great balls of fire'



And the spa day was great...Nuria and I at tea after being highly relaxed.

Last week was action packed (and v stressful).

We had our pub quiz at work which I helped organise. My team, We thought it was a roller disco, came in 2nd by half a point. Below is a photo of my team, with the winning trophy that we pretended we won. We were robbed of the title by the CEO's team. In the movie picture round we confused a photo of Tom Cruise with Top Gun when it was Born on the 4th of July. And I chose incorrectly Howard's End vs the Remains of the day, same difference I think!


Thursday I met up with Stephanie at the Tate Modern. The fabulous thing about her banking job are the perks including regular nights at galleries or museums with free food and booze. We got there at the perfect time, stuffed our faces before it got crowded and power networked or in Steph's case, tried to 'pull' guys (just kidding Steph). The exhibit is worth a visit, Pop Life with Jeff Koons, Keith Haring (my favourite), Andy Warhol, a whole host of 80s memorabilia and a lot of porn, the decade was decadent and raunchy.



Two days later I made my way to the other Tate, the Tate Britain. Leaves fell around me and the rain blew, it was a perfect day for the museum. I got there early enough so it wasn't too crowded and I could be at peace with all of the British artists and their less modern art.
The winds have turned and I am looking for a new flat or a new way of life.
I leave you with a funny photo of Stephen and Steve at the quiz, 'Please let us win,
please, oh the suspense!'

This is one cool kid! CUTE!!!!!!!!!



Found here on the Carousel website.