I have had a birthday and it was a good one. Global warming hugged me tight and I enjoyed the afternoon in a beer garden. Outside. On my actual birthday. And I wasn't even wearing a hat or gloves.
My housemate Mirjam asked me as we were clinging glasses in the middle of London Fields (on my birthday! And we were sitting! And there was no snow!) what I would do with the year.
I guess I will mostly make plans. I need a plan now. At least one. If not more. Enough of the bumming around in gift shops and call centres. I want to go somewhere and do something. But not like I have been going places and doing things for the last six years. I want it to mean something.
I think that is a good start.
Also, I want to get counselling. Have already started contacting people there, actually. Why now? Why not in my closeted baby gay palm-cutting runaway days?
Cause I have now discovered that I am an actual nutcase who needs some help. Or maybe I just need someone to talk to. Someone who doesn't judge, doesn't tell anyone else I know, doesn't pitty, doesn't lie about what they think about it all.
The last 18 months have been so emotionally draining, I can hardly explain. I am mentally in a place that is completely foreign to me and I feel lost and it exhausts me. I have discovered sides of me that scare me and that I don't want. I want someone to take them and crumple them up and burn them. Or at least fold them up neatly and tuck them away somewhere they won't ever be found. I will probably need to do that myself, but maybe a counsellor can tell me how to.
And I want to do something that is not dishes and laundry, which is basically all I have been doing since May. I would like to learn something. Favourite on my list of things I could do is take sewing classes. I really WANT to do that. But apparently the cheapest beginners' sewing courses you get for 400 quid. Which I don't have. Alternatively of course I could waste 65 quid on a cushion making workshop, but I was shown how to make cushions in second grade when I was 7 and I think I still remember. So meh.
Most of my possible new hobbies cost a lot of money, tho. Will have to rethink. Any suggestions?
Thursday 17 November 2011
Friday 16 September 2011
The List of Cuppa Places
I don't go to coffee places as much as I used to when living in Ireland or Germany, where it was a very regular thing, but still, not all I drink is booze and I do have my little cuppa favourites in London. Here's my Top 5 (cause I don't have enough for a Top 10, really...):
1 Bertie and Boo's, Balham High Rd.
Its design is so cute it makes you want to vomit. But then again, Bertie and Boo's target audience clearly are young mums with their babies and toddlers. So it's your own fault if you squash into one of the old school desks and eat a delicious sandwich or have a cup of really good, yet not overprized Chai Latte. It has already won all kinds of awards, but sadly, it's in Balham, of all places. But if you ever end up in that neck of the woods, B. and B.'s is worth a visit for sure.
2 Mess Cafe, Hackney Central
Mmmmmm, lovely Mess. It is a Hackney institution with its breakfasts and burgers and smoothies and it has sorted out my hangovers a lot in the past and will certainly continue to do so in the future. At the same time it is not exactly a "cosy coffee place" where I'd meet a friend for a cuppa and a chat. But on a sunday morning/afternoon it is unbeatable.
2 The Empire Cafe, Hackney Empire
This Cafe is in my house, which certainly is a big plus. It also serves lovely looking (haven't actually eaten there yet) food for not too much money and if I was working in Hackney (and didn't live in the same house) I'd probably spend a lot of my lunch breaks there. In my current situation I only very occasionally pop in for a cuppa, cause it's nice and smart and never too full and makes me feel like I don't have holes in my shoes for a moment.
4 Parioli, Lower Clapton Rd
This is not the cheaptest place, selling Italian delicatessen and proper nice food. But it's the perfect place for a nice cuppa while reading a book when it's cold outside or raining. Or to meet a friend for a coffee and a chat. And if you are looking for nice cheese, salami or mortadella, grissini and other Italian things to take home, go there. Or if you want ice cream. Which is what I mostly want. Lovelyniceamazingyummy Italian ice cream. (Do you remember me complaining about the nearest ice cream place being an hour away? All I had to do was cross the street. Oh how I laughed.)
5 Hurwundeki, Cambridge Heath Station
This is a funny place. It's quiet and calming inside, all dark wood and traditional coffee place style and smell. In the rather big outside bit you will find all kinds of random antique toys, and buses thundering past. It's probably where I go most of all the cafes, cause it is a bit special, innit. Also I hear their cakes are amazing.
1 Bertie and Boo's, Balham High Rd.
Its design is so cute it makes you want to vomit. But then again, Bertie and Boo's target audience clearly are young mums with their babies and toddlers. So it's your own fault if you squash into one of the old school desks and eat a delicious sandwich or have a cup of really good, yet not overprized Chai Latte. It has already won all kinds of awards, but sadly, it's in Balham, of all places. But if you ever end up in that neck of the woods, B. and B.'s is worth a visit for sure.
2 Mess Cafe, Hackney Central
Mmmmmm, lovely Mess. It is a Hackney institution with its breakfasts and burgers and smoothies and it has sorted out my hangovers a lot in the past and will certainly continue to do so in the future. At the same time it is not exactly a "cosy coffee place" where I'd meet a friend for a cuppa and a chat. But on a sunday morning/afternoon it is unbeatable.
2 The Empire Cafe, Hackney Empire
This Cafe is in my house, which certainly is a big plus. It also serves lovely looking (haven't actually eaten there yet) food for not too much money and if I was working in Hackney (and didn't live in the same house) I'd probably spend a lot of my lunch breaks there. In my current situation I only very occasionally pop in for a cuppa, cause it's nice and smart and never too full and makes me feel like I don't have holes in my shoes for a moment.
4 Parioli, Lower Clapton Rd
This is not the cheaptest place, selling Italian delicatessen and proper nice food. But it's the perfect place for a nice cuppa while reading a book when it's cold outside or raining. Or to meet a friend for a coffee and a chat. And if you are looking for nice cheese, salami or mortadella, grissini and other Italian things to take home, go there. Or if you want ice cream. Which is what I mostly want. Lovelyniceamazingyummy Italian ice cream. (Do you remember me complaining about the nearest ice cream place being an hour away? All I had to do was cross the street. Oh how I laughed.)
5 Hurwundeki, Cambridge Heath Station
This is a funny place. It's quiet and calming inside, all dark wood and traditional coffee place style and smell. In the rather big outside bit you will find all kinds of random antique toys, and buses thundering past. It's probably where I go most of all the cafes, cause it is a bit special, innit. Also I hear their cakes are amazing.
Thursday 15 September 2011
The List of Boozers
So here we go! (Eventually...)
You all know me and you know I love me a nice pint. Sometimes I love them a bit too much, but you know. That's why I moved here in the first place. London's lovely Pubs. Some lovelier than others. I will take you on a crawl through my favourite bars and pubs in no particular order.
1 Biddles Bros on Lower Clapton Rd
It is small and quirky and they often have live music, which you wish they hadn't, cause it's always too loud for even basic conversations. But they also have the acest pub dog in the history of pub dogs and a brilliant toilet, which is about the same size as the rest of the pub and mostly contains one lonely, but very pretty sink. Staff are nice and prices are alright and most importantly: It is just across the road.
2 The Anchor and Hope
You know how sometimes you just love a place, cause you had a nice time there once or something happened there a while ago and you just feel nice and warm whenever you go back? That's
one of them places. Nothing special happened, really. Just a nice winter afternoon and a couple of pints and Ros and me deciding that we want to move to Berlin at some point. We've had bigger moments in other boozers, but they've been overshadowed by different stuff over the time or turned out to not be that important afterall. But the Anchor and Hope with it's lovely view over the River Lea and the Hackney Marshes just is possibly the most peaceful place in London and the perfect place for a warm-me-up pint on a cold winter's walk.
3 The Chesham Arms
Looks a bit weird from the outside with it's England flags all over the place, but the Chesham is rather far from being a nationalistic hole. It's run by the loveliest Greek family, who happen to have a heart for flowers and the royal family. And football. Best thing about the Chesham: Its pretty, hidden beer garden, definitely the best place to go on a summer evening in Hackney!
4 The Boot on Cromer Street
I love the Boot for its Irishness and its randomness. It is full of pigeon breeders and has trophies, artefacts and comics, books, sports gear and all kinds of photos all over the walls. Gabby and I love the place, which is close to King's Cross, but hidden enough to be usually rather empty. The boot has everything a good pub needs: good beer, a pool table, an old Irish bar man with twinkly eyes, and a history. Charles Dickens used to drink here. He also wrote about it: 'This Boot was a lone house of public entertainment, situated in the fields at the back of the Foundling Hospital; a very solitary spot at that period, and quite deserted after dark. The tavern stood at some distance from any high road, and was approachable only by a dark and narrow lane; so that Hugh was much surprised to find several people drinking there, and great merriment going on'.
5 The Tram and Social, Tooting Broadway
The Tram and Social is a cool boozer in Tooting Broadway. There is sofas and random pictures and things, two stories to sit and a brilliant bar with nice staff. The setting is great, because this place actually used to be a tram station. the Tram's only problem is that it is pretty much the only cool bar in the whole of Tooting. So it is always packed, at least on weekends. But come during the day or during the week and you'll have a good time and lots of room for relaxedness!
6 The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
This pub has everything: Random stuff hanging from the ceiling, a pool table and a big outside bit, treehouse style. The treehouse was built singlehandedly by one guy, who usually climbs around on it, too. I once met a dickhead in the Faltering Fallback who said he'd been in the Harry Potter Films as well as in Lord of the Rings. Nevertheless, it's mostly on the list for its treehouse.
7 The Strongroom, Shoreditch
I probably wouldn't have put this one on this list hadn't I been there 2 weeks ago and found them serving Rothaus beer on tap! But such good taste should be rewarded and so this nice Shoreditch boozer shall be mentioned!
8 The Glasshouse Stores, Brewer Street
This is where I usually go when ending up in Soho. This is mostly because of it being a Sam Smith's pub, which means it is C H E A P. I like the variation of different customers, too, tho. There's the old locals as well as the odd tourist, the bunch of central London office workers and the occasional gay (for example me).
9 Old Bull and Bush, Hampstead Heath
Just another one of those places that is only on the list, because I spent a nice time there. It's right next to Hampstead Heath and the perfect place to be after a long walk through the park or a swi in the ponds. At least in the summer - big outside bit!
10 Pub on the Park, London Fields
I like going there when it is not the weekend best. Because being the Umbrella of London Fields, it is always very crowded - or becomes so whenever it starts raining (which is all the time). The bar staff are very friendly and it is very close to my house. Double pluses.
More London Lists to follow soon!
You all know me and you know I love me a nice pint. Sometimes I love them a bit too much, but you know. That's why I moved here in the first place. London's lovely Pubs. Some lovelier than others. I will take you on a crawl through my favourite bars and pubs in no particular order.
1 Biddles Bros on Lower Clapton Rd
It is small and quirky and they often have live music, which you wish they hadn't, cause it's always too loud for even basic conversations. But they also have the acest pub dog in the history of pub dogs and a brilliant toilet, which is about the same size as the rest of the pub and mostly contains one lonely, but very pretty sink. Staff are nice and prices are alright and most importantly: It is just across the road.
2 The Anchor and Hope
You know how sometimes you just love a place, cause you had a nice time there once or something happened there a while ago and you just feel nice and warm whenever you go back? That's
one of them places. Nothing special happened, really. Just a nice winter afternoon and a couple of pints and Ros and me deciding that we want to move to Berlin at some point. We've had bigger moments in other boozers, but they've been overshadowed by different stuff over the time or turned out to not be that important afterall. But the Anchor and Hope with it's lovely view over the River Lea and the Hackney Marshes just is possibly the most peaceful place in London and the perfect place for a warm-me-up pint on a cold winter's walk.
3 The Chesham Arms
Looks a bit weird from the outside with it's England flags all over the place, but the Chesham is rather far from being a nationalistic hole. It's run by the loveliest Greek family, who happen to have a heart for flowers and the royal family. And football. Best thing about the Chesham: Its pretty, hidden beer garden, definitely the best place to go on a summer evening in Hackney!
4 The Boot on Cromer Street
I love the Boot for its Irishness and its randomness. It is full of pigeon breeders and has trophies, artefacts and comics, books, sports gear and all kinds of photos all over the walls. Gabby and I love the place, which is close to King's Cross, but hidden enough to be usually rather empty. The boot has everything a good pub needs: good beer, a pool table, an old Irish bar man with twinkly eyes, and a history. Charles Dickens used to drink here. He also wrote about it: 'This Boot was a lone house of public entertainment, situated in the fields at the back of the Foundling Hospital; a very solitary spot at that period, and quite deserted after dark. The tavern stood at some distance from any high road, and was approachable only by a dark and narrow lane; so that Hugh was much surprised to find several people drinking there, and great merriment going on'.
5 The Tram and Social, Tooting Broadway
The Tram and Social is a cool boozer in Tooting Broadway. There is sofas and random pictures and things, two stories to sit and a brilliant bar with nice staff. The setting is great, because this place actually used to be a tram station. the Tram's only problem is that it is pretty much the only cool bar in the whole of Tooting. So it is always packed, at least on weekends. But come during the day or during the week and you'll have a good time and lots of room for relaxedness!
6 The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
This pub has everything: Random stuff hanging from the ceiling, a pool table and a big outside bit, treehouse style. The treehouse was built singlehandedly by one guy, who usually climbs around on it, too. I once met a dickhead in the Faltering Fallback who said he'd been in the Harry Potter Films as well as in Lord of the Rings. Nevertheless, it's mostly on the list for its treehouse.
7 The Strongroom, Shoreditch
I probably wouldn't have put this one on this list hadn't I been there 2 weeks ago and found them serving Rothaus beer on tap! But such good taste should be rewarded and so this nice Shoreditch boozer shall be mentioned!
8 The Glasshouse Stores, Brewer Street
This is where I usually go when ending up in Soho. This is mostly because of it being a Sam Smith's pub, which means it is C H E A P. I like the variation of different customers, too, tho. There's the old locals as well as the odd tourist, the bunch of central London office workers and the occasional gay (for example me).
9 Old Bull and Bush, Hampstead Heath
Just another one of those places that is only on the list, because I spent a nice time there. It's right next to Hampstead Heath and the perfect place to be after a long walk through the park or a swi in the ponds. At least in the summer - big outside bit!
10 Pub on the Park, London Fields
I like going there when it is not the weekend best. Because being the Umbrella of London Fields, it is always very crowded - or becomes so whenever it starts raining (which is all the time). The bar staff are very friendly and it is very close to my house. Double pluses.
More London Lists to follow soon!
Tuesday 6 September 2011
A life without pugs
And I was so good in July. Sigh.
The problem with this blog is, at times when nothing happens I am too bored to write about the nothingness. And at times when things happen, they usually happen all at once and leave no time for writing about them.
Like in August, some silly kids burnt half of London down, rioted in front of my house and made me afraid of leaving the house in the middle of the day for the first time in my life. Also, I had half a dozen job interviews, actually got a couple of jobs and have been working my first shifts. Plus I went to Brighton, Bristol and Manchester. Ros' sister Lins came to london and Loriot died and I lost a phone and bought a new one.
All in all a brilliant month, despite the Loriot thing. But, y'know. He was very old and he had lots of pugs* in his life, so I think it's ok.
September I decided to start off a little differently. Cause it has been a year this month that I moved over (2.9. it was...). Champagne! Music! Fireworks!
And I know it a little now, this London and I have some ideas of what I like and what not so much. So this month is the month of lists. Cause I love lists.
Let's go.
*pug as in the dog. Quote: "A life without pugs is possible, but senseless." Loriot.
The problem with this blog is, at times when nothing happens I am too bored to write about the nothingness. And at times when things happen, they usually happen all at once and leave no time for writing about them.
Like in August, some silly kids burnt half of London down, rioted in front of my house and made me afraid of leaving the house in the middle of the day for the first time in my life. Also, I had half a dozen job interviews, actually got a couple of jobs and have been working my first shifts. Plus I went to Brighton, Bristol and Manchester. Ros' sister Lins came to london and Loriot died and I lost a phone and bought a new one.
All in all a brilliant month, despite the Loriot thing. But, y'know. He was very old and he had lots of pugs* in his life, so I think it's ok.
September I decided to start off a little differently. Cause it has been a year this month that I moved over (2.9. it was...). Champagne! Music! Fireworks!
And I know it a little now, this London and I have some ideas of what I like and what not so much. So this month is the month of lists. Cause I love lists.
Let's go.
*pug as in the dog. Quote: "A life without pugs is possible, but senseless." Loriot.
Friday 29 July 2011
Distance
I didn't spend much time in London lately and for the first time, I think, it felt nice to get out of the dirty big city for a while. It is hectic and noisy and rough. In the last week I spent less than 24 hours there and only yesterday I started missing it a little bit, when I attended the traditional wine feast on a parking lot in Konstanz and wished so badly for some hipsters to ride by on bicycles without breaks.
It is nice to breathe some fresh air for a while. I think it makes me very drowsy, though, I didn't sleep like this in months. Or maybe I still have to catch up on sleep from our weekend with M&J who spoilt us for a couple of days in their lovely new home in Sussex, where we spent a lovely time, including tarragon chicken and Amy tribute drinking.
I feel very calm inside these days.
It is nice to breathe some fresh air for a while. I think it makes me very drowsy, though, I didn't sleep like this in months. Or maybe I still have to catch up on sleep from our weekend with M&J who spoilt us for a couple of days in their lovely new home in Sussex, where we spent a lovely time, including tarragon chicken and Amy tribute drinking.
I feel very calm inside these days.
Friday 22 July 2011
Bohemians
It's all about the weddings this year. So it's obvious that the first film I saw in cinemas this year had to be a comedy about weddings, too: Bridesmaids. I thought it would be a half amusing, half silly, cliche packed chick flick. But I found it actually quite the funny film. So yeah, my cinema hunger is back and I will most definitely go and see Harry Potter when I am back in London.
This week turned out to be the busiest in a while. On Tuesday my friend Tony played a gig in Islington, so I went to watch him and have a catch up. It was very nice, cause I hadn't seen him since I left Galway. Also, the band he was with was very much to my liking. I kind of feared it would be one of his weird psychodelic electro projects. So that was a nice evening. Tony sounded very happy and very Irish. I never even noticed his accent before. It's about time I pay the green island a little visit, I think...
But obviously that is not possible before I have a job. Job situation is looking up slightly, tho! After sending out loads of applications and CVs and hardly even hearing back from anyone for months, people now start contacting me! That alone is a nice change, because even if nothing comes of it for now, I know that my efforts are not totally in vain.
6 agents called me withing the last two days and chatted my depression away. Yay!
But first Germanland, of course. I am looking forward to it very much now. I will cook for my folks and then tell them stories of my bohemian life style over a bottle of red wine.
There's why I love my parents: While I go depressed and insane over being unemployed for two months, they respond in a much healthier way; as my mother said: "Our daughter is a bohemian. We can't read the bohemians our whole life and then complain when we've got one ourselves."
I love you, nio-parents.
And now I am off to M&J's in Sussex somewhere for a weekend of country walks and sleepless nights! Hurray!
This week turned out to be the busiest in a while. On Tuesday my friend Tony played a gig in Islington, so I went to watch him and have a catch up. It was very nice, cause I hadn't seen him since I left Galway. Also, the band he was with was very much to my liking. I kind of feared it would be one of his weird psychodelic electro projects. So that was a nice evening. Tony sounded very happy and very Irish. I never even noticed his accent before. It's about time I pay the green island a little visit, I think...
But obviously that is not possible before I have a job. Job situation is looking up slightly, tho! After sending out loads of applications and CVs and hardly even hearing back from anyone for months, people now start contacting me! That alone is a nice change, because even if nothing comes of it for now, I know that my efforts are not totally in vain.
6 agents called me withing the last two days and chatted my depression away. Yay!
But first Germanland, of course. I am looking forward to it very much now. I will cook for my folks and then tell them stories of my bohemian life style over a bottle of red wine.
There's why I love my parents: While I go depressed and insane over being unemployed for two months, they respond in a much healthier way; as my mother said: "Our daughter is a bohemian. We can't read the bohemians our whole life and then complain when we've got one ourselves."
I love you, nio-parents.
And now I am off to M&J's in Sussex somewhere for a weekend of country walks and sleepless nights! Hurray!
Tuesday 19 July 2011
Puppy Puke
Imagine this: a gay mens'* nice little flat in posh Islington, looking out onto pretty New River Walk. Massive flat screen TV, big balcony, A fridge full of food and a freezer full of vodka and ice. For a couple of days Ros and me took some time off from being boozing Hackney lesbians and became Islington pet mummies. Our babies for the weekend were Napoleon, a 1 year old English bulldog, and a 7 months old beautiful, spoiled little tomcat named Balthazar. We even left the vodka untouched as if it was just for decorative purposes.
Breakfasts were lush and eaten in bed and the rain outside made the film afternoons on the massive couch just seem all the cosier. White wine was enjoyed - in moderation - on the balcony. We walked the dog and played with the cat and wiped up the dog's vomit and fed the cat like real responsible people. It was a proper little mini holiday!
Next week I will take another one. I booked a flight to Germany last night. I am going for a week to see my parents and some friends and my triplet uncles who are turning 165 or something (Judith, help?) and are having a party which I am looking forward to very much.
I hope I will catch a couple of days of Proper Summer, too. I want 35 degrees in the shade and lots of mosquito bites, please. And a BBQ or a campfire and everything has to smell of sunlotion and burning rubber.
Arrange that for me, please.
* Only emphasizing this to let you know about the niceness of the flat. They have a throne and massive pictures of gorgeous women in bikinis all over the walls.
Breakfasts were lush and eaten in bed and the rain outside made the film afternoons on the massive couch just seem all the cosier. White wine was enjoyed - in moderation - on the balcony. We walked the dog and played with the cat and wiped up the dog's vomit and fed the cat like real responsible people. It was a proper little mini holiday!
Next week I will take another one. I booked a flight to Germany last night. I am going for a week to see my parents and some friends and my triplet uncles who are turning 165 or something (Judith, help?) and are having a party which I am looking forward to very much.
I hope I will catch a couple of days of Proper Summer, too. I want 35 degrees in the shade and lots of mosquito bites, please. And a BBQ or a campfire and everything has to smell of sunlotion and burning rubber.
Arrange that for me, please.
* Only emphasizing this to let you know about the niceness of the flat. They have a throne and massive pictures of gorgeous women in bikinis all over the walls.
Friday 15 July 2011
Phew
Ok, I am feeling a little better. Spent yesterday bumming around on the internet and doing nothing to improve the job situation or the friends situation or the talk-to-parents situation. Or the health insurance situation. I just watched silly reality TV programs about lesbians making tits of themselves and drank lots of water.
And today I will leave the house.
Ros and me are going to spend the weekend dog, cat and house sitting in Islington. Which is about 30 minutes from here. But it's a house looking out onto the canal, apparently and rather posh. So that will be a nice little holiday!
On Saturday I want a fun night out. I want to go to a pub and mingle with people I know and people I've never met before and feel like an actual human being.
And just knowing that next week can only be better than this one, that my low point is over, already cheers me up.
Breakfast now.
And today I will leave the house.
Ros and me are going to spend the weekend dog, cat and house sitting in Islington. Which is about 30 minutes from here. But it's a house looking out onto the canal, apparently and rather posh. So that will be a nice little holiday!
On Saturday I want a fun night out. I want to go to a pub and mingle with people I know and people I've never met before and feel like an actual human being.
And just knowing that next week can only be better than this one, that my low point is over, already cheers me up.
Breakfast now.
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Walls moving closer
Bummer. I was meant to meet my friend Vanessa today and it didn't work out, because she ended up being too busy with uni stuff. See how I used the word "friend" here? In the English way. I met Vanessa once and we had a really good chat for a coupe of hours at an exhibition opening. Quite a few facebook chats since, but that's about it. We clicked immediately, tho, which is always a nice feeling, isn't it. When it's all nice and effortless. So yeah, was really looking forward to seeing her again today, even if I was just allowed to drink tea or coke. It's still nice to get out of the house and I don't do often at the moment. Spend my days writing online applications and doing housework and my evenings watching films or How I Met Your Mother, cause it's the only bloody thing I have on my hard drive. Meh. It's only day 4 of my No Booze Month and it is raining, but the urge to sit in a beer garden has hardly ever been so complete. Just cause there's people there, you know. And fresh air. Maybe I will go for another walk in a minute. Walks are good and healthy and productive, but also they make me cry. And last time a homeless guy threw himself off a bench in a park in a very dramatic fashion and then lay there like dead and I was just about to call for help when he started laughing madly and told me he was just kidding. So now I am scared. Walks in London are not quite the same as walks around the lake or the Irish countryside.
So anyway, maybe I will meet Vanessa next week instead. I hope so. She wants me to be part of one of her very interesting photography projects. And that would be good, cause it would be something fun and different and new and naughty.
So anyway, maybe I will meet Vanessa next week instead. I hope so. She wants me to be part of one of her very interesting photography projects. And that would be good, cause it would be something fun and different and new and naughty.
Tuesday 12 July 2011
Dicks
I went a long walk last night after leaving the internet cafe. That's something I hadn't done in a long time. It's been wayt too long, actually.
It made me remember that no matter how shit I feel right now, there is one thing I am good at: Getting back up from the floor. At least when I am down there on the bottom I know where to go: up. When I am somewhere in the middle I get confused and distracted and quite frequently take wrong turns. And I haven't been on top of everything in a long time, so...
Anyway. After my walk I met Marcel. We talked a lot about penises and I drank lots of tap water with lemon and lime, which was somewhat comforting. Cause, oh, I am not drinking for a month, which is weird, because I do tend to soak my sorrows in lager and turn them into a driniking game. Not this time. Have to say, sometimes all it takes to cheer me up actually is a detailed conversation about dicks. Thank God for gay men.
It made me remember that no matter how shit I feel right now, there is one thing I am good at: Getting back up from the floor. At least when I am down there on the bottom I know where to go: up. When I am somewhere in the middle I get confused and distracted and quite frequently take wrong turns. And I haven't been on top of everything in a long time, so...
Anyway. After my walk I met Marcel. We talked a lot about penises and I drank lots of tap water with lemon and lime, which was somewhat comforting. Cause, oh, I am not drinking for a month, which is weird, because I do tend to soak my sorrows in lager and turn them into a driniking game. Not this time. Have to say, sometimes all it takes to cheer me up actually is a detailed conversation about dicks. Thank God for gay men.
Monday 11 July 2011
Somewhere in a dark corner
So yes, Lisa and also my friend Friederike have left, which is sad. But the good thing about London is that every week another one of your friends is here on holidays. Last week it was my friend Rebecca, next week my friend Tony is coming over from Ireland. Also on the upside: My friend Ulrike has just moved over here from Doha and Gabby will stay here FOR GOOD, once she's back from her holidays in Italy next week.
And of course the usual: London is still ace bla bla bla. Who am I kidding, sometimes the most acest best city in the world is not enough. My optimism re job search has been hit on the head with a hammer a few times now. And in a way I was still running around a little confused, cause everything is so different here, so that now it feels like I was fouled out of the game before anyone even explained the rules to me. All my fault, though, I know.
Nonetheless I could do with an ego boost. Or some lemon ice cream. Of course the next proper ice cream parlour is about an hour away and hopelessly overpriced.
Also today I signed on the dole, which is something that makes me cry (like literally, actually, in an internet cafe, cause I still don't have fucking internet at home) cause it's something we just don't do in my family, but I have no choice, innit. I'm broke. Don't tell my parents, please please.
My mum hasn't called me in almost two months, anyway, tho. Plus I am bleeding out of all the wrong places and am not health insured. I am definitely on the way down. And yes, I am quite aware that I sound pathetic and am drowning in self pity right now. But sometimes you have to say things as they are and I am. I am not mostly happy anymore.
BUT - and that is good news - I am not just going to run away this time. Watch me. I'll stick this one out.
And of course the usual: London is still ace bla bla bla. Who am I kidding, sometimes the most acest best city in the world is not enough. My optimism re job search has been hit on the head with a hammer a few times now. And in a way I was still running around a little confused, cause everything is so different here, so that now it feels like I was fouled out of the game before anyone even explained the rules to me. All my fault, though, I know.
Nonetheless I could do with an ego boost. Or some lemon ice cream. Of course the next proper ice cream parlour is about an hour away and hopelessly overpriced.
Also today I signed on the dole, which is something that makes me cry (like literally, actually, in an internet cafe, cause I still don't have fucking internet at home) cause it's something we just don't do in my family, but I have no choice, innit. I'm broke. Don't tell my parents, please please.
My mum hasn't called me in almost two months, anyway, tho. Plus I am bleeding out of all the wrong places and am not health insured. I am definitely on the way down. And yes, I am quite aware that I sound pathetic and am drowning in self pity right now. But sometimes you have to say things as they are and I am. I am not mostly happy anymore.
BUT - and that is good news - I am not just going to run away this time. Watch me. I'll stick this one out.
Tuesday 5 July 2011
HARRRARRRR Hello!
OK, enough. New start. I won't even try to sum up the last month-or-so and will just restart this blog where I am right now: Sweating like a pig in Ros' room in Hackney where I am using her internet to look for jobs and... well, revive my little Ponderland.
Summer has eventually arrived in the UK. It crawled up and jumped at us from behind an ice cream van and burnt all those lovely pale freckled faces.
Umm... and now...
Let me try to sum up what happened since my last blog entry.
- I went to my cousins wedding, which was lovely, mainly because she seemed very happy and I saw most of my relatives having a good time. And I danced with my mum to some pop song I can't ven remember now. It doesn't happen often, but it's nice, cause it always makes me feel very close to her.
- I went to Rough Beats in lovely Yorkshire with about every single person I know in England. It was fun for a while, but then I downed a few litres of Jägermeister and spent the rest of the weekend with my head sticking out of our tent's entrance so the vomit would be washed away by the inevitable rain and not ruin Ros' expensive designer clothes and quality camping gear.
- I went to visit Lisa in Laurel Close for the last time E V E R. You know my old flat and first little home here in London in Tooting. Bit weird, but not very sad. Not about the flat. Lisa has left me, though. She's travelled on to India, where she's probably having a blast right now and won't have to complain about not being able to sleep because of it being soooo coooold anymore. I miss her.
- I went to the seaside with Ros and her housemates Jo and Rob and Florian and we built a sandcastle and swam in the ocean and I killed a little boy with my frisbee skills.
- I went on a bike ride with Mathilde and I realised I am very much out of shape since I stopped pushing wheelchairs.
- I made a video for UKuncut with Ros and a few other friends, which is a bit outdated now, but you can watch it here, if you want to see my face: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucQ48ScFH1E
- Got pissed lots.
And now: On to newer things and better things and bigger things, like finding work and stuff.
Oh yeah, have moved into a new flat, too, and fallen in love with a BOY!!! But more about that tomorrow.
Summer has eventually arrived in the UK. It crawled up and jumped at us from behind an ice cream van and burnt all those lovely pale freckled faces.
Umm... and now...
Let me try to sum up what happened since my last blog entry.
- I went to my cousins wedding, which was lovely, mainly because she seemed very happy and I saw most of my relatives having a good time. And I danced with my mum to some pop song I can't ven remember now. It doesn't happen often, but it's nice, cause it always makes me feel very close to her.
- I went to Rough Beats in lovely Yorkshire with about every single person I know in England. It was fun for a while, but then I downed a few litres of Jägermeister and spent the rest of the weekend with my head sticking out of our tent's entrance so the vomit would be washed away by the inevitable rain and not ruin Ros' expensive designer clothes and quality camping gear.
- I went to visit Lisa in Laurel Close for the last time E V E R. You know my old flat and first little home here in London in Tooting. Bit weird, but not very sad. Not about the flat. Lisa has left me, though. She's travelled on to India, where she's probably having a blast right now and won't have to complain about not being able to sleep because of it being soooo coooold anymore. I miss her.
- I went to the seaside with Ros and her housemates Jo and Rob and Florian and we built a sandcastle and swam in the ocean and I killed a little boy with my frisbee skills.
- I went on a bike ride with Mathilde and I realised I am very much out of shape since I stopped pushing wheelchairs.
- I made a video for UKuncut with Ros and a few other friends, which is a bit outdated now, but you can watch it here, if you want to see my face: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucQ48ScFH1E
- Got pissed lots.
And now: On to newer things and better things and bigger things, like finding work and stuff.
Oh yeah, have moved into a new flat, too, and fallen in love with a BOY!!! But more about that tomorrow.
Wednesday 18 May 2011
Stalled
Turns out, my friend Markus, who I thought was in Canada, lives in Cologne at the moment! He studies film and he's brilliant at it. Was very happy to see him so unexpectedly and watch his newest creation "Stalled", which was also ace. Other news: lost at pool, ate amazing burger, watched lots of films. Dad 3 loads of laundry. (My grandmother forced lots of Camembert on me, so I took it to Cologne. When I unpacked my backpack the whole thing stank like hell. So did my clothes.)
Tuesday 17 May 2011
Dirt Crowds Noise
THE FAMILY
Cologne!
Is where I am.
I am using my current homelessness and unemployment for a tour through the home country. It started on Friday at the edge of the black forest, where I met my dad, who took me to a wine tasting in a pretty little town close to the French border. The place made me sick, that's how pretty it was. And so quiet that it made me nervous. It's weird. Countryside is stunning, people come from all over the world to see it, the wines are excellent, the food is the kind I grew up with and the people are supposed to be... well... my people. And they were lovely and welcoming and gave me a VIP ticket which let me eat and drink for free all day. But walking around the vineyards, sucking at my bottle of white wine I just realised how wrong I feel there at the moment. It's where I grew up, where all my best childhood memories are, where I am supposed to feel at home, but I just don't. 2 days and I miss London like mad. Dirt and crowds and noise, how are you over there?
It was a good trip in some ways, tho. I had a proper 1 on 1 catch up with my dad, which is something that never happens. And it felt good to realise how much I actually miss my folks. Cause it's the good kind of missing. The kind where you just know that they are there somewhere and will be when you need them.
Plus my dad is one of the funniest people I know and he knows how to make me laugh when I am all melancholy from too much white wine and too much nature.
Then we travelled on to my grandmother. There was no time for lonely walks then. They all hadn't seen me in 2 years and were all over me. My granny's sister put lots of expensive jewelery all over my wrists and fingers while my grandmother was already busy mending the holes in my jeans and shoving lots of food into my mouth at the same time.
They say I am too thin, not dressed properly, my hair looks like a boy's and scruffy on top of that, I should wear more pearls, but be careful not to lose them, cause they were very expensive and maybe it's best to wait until they have died and I stop behaving like a teenager, plus they won't let me take them to England anyway, cause they'll get stolen there and they'll give them to my dad to look after them for me until I am a proper lady.
My favourite thing was when my grandmother suggested for me to move back in with my parents cause then I wouldn't have to pay rent and I'd surely find a cleaning job in Konstanz, too. Danke, Oma!
She also gave me a necklace she got given for her 90th birthday 6 weeks ago. I think she is convinced she won't see me ever again anyway, but if you ask me she'll live to be 100, at least. She's as fit as a fiddle.
Well, and now I am in Cologne. Hurray! They have dirt and crowds and noise here!
I am sleeping on my friend Julie's sofa and I can't wait to meet her later, when she's finished work. She's a lovely squeaky always there if you need her gives good advise kind of friend who lived with me in Ireland and always made me lovely smoothies and I miss her lots!
Then in a couple of days I will travel on to Bochum to meet more amazing people, play some pool with my friend Mel, hang out with Gabby (for the first time in Germany!!) and restock my currywurst sauce supplies.
And then my cousin's wedding, which I am looking forward to very much. I love weddings now. I LOVE WEDDINGS.
The First Wedding
That was the royal wedding, as you know. I watched it (well at least the service and the kiss) with Loreena MacKennit on her living room sofa. In the middle of it all I had to cook a soup, so I missed lots, but nevermind.
I thought the dress was pretty and some of the hats ridiculous. I thought the tree's in the church instead of flowers were a lovely idea. That was mainly my thoughts. And then I finished work and went to an amazing street party in Hackney. Ros and our friend Aidan welcomed me by throwing me into the air and bringing me other surprises and then I drank lots of cider and peed against a house wall. A girl I didn't know held a scarf in front of me. There were people in wedding dresses and Sam waved a little flag. That is all I remember of it.
I was mostly celebrating The End of Shad. For me. It was the end for me, not for Shad, obviously. Bye bye, thanks for my 60 quid!
Oh and bye bye Tooting! I'll come visit, promise, one day...
The Second Wedding
The second wedding was that of P and T, friends of Ros', who I had met at various occasions. The two of them are in an amazing band together, Royal Treatment Plant, who y'all should totally check out and like a lot.
And theirs was the first proper wedding I've been to since I was 6. The ceremony took place in the Royal Festival Hall, which is a great venue for that sort of thing. With a view over London and all.
The reception then took place in West London, so we all got put on two old routemasters and carried through London, being given our own little sightseeing tour.
Now I don't have any weddings to compare this one to, but I thought it was an excellent party. Great food (paella!), great music (whicdh I told the DJane over and over...) and a free bar all night!
The speeches weren't boring and also Ros crashed into a table, which is always fun.*
Unfortunately that perfect evening ended a bit annoying at 5am somewhere in Essex, cause Ros and I both fell asleep on the night bus. Ah well...
So yes, I am totally in the mood for love and trumpets and soppy stories and more wedding cake. 4 days till wedding No 3! Can't wait! Nervous, yet, Ju?
* Her version of the story goes that she was just about to lean on the table when it collapsed spontaneously a second before she even touched it. Also possible, of course.
Cologne!
Is where I am.
I am using my current homelessness and unemployment for a tour through the home country. It started on Friday at the edge of the black forest, where I met my dad, who took me to a wine tasting in a pretty little town close to the French border. The place made me sick, that's how pretty it was. And so quiet that it made me nervous. It's weird. Countryside is stunning, people come from all over the world to see it, the wines are excellent, the food is the kind I grew up with and the people are supposed to be... well... my people. And they were lovely and welcoming and gave me a VIP ticket which let me eat and drink for free all day. But walking around the vineyards, sucking at my bottle of white wine I just realised how wrong I feel there at the moment. It's where I grew up, where all my best childhood memories are, where I am supposed to feel at home, but I just don't. 2 days and I miss London like mad. Dirt and crowds and noise, how are you over there?
It was a good trip in some ways, tho. I had a proper 1 on 1 catch up with my dad, which is something that never happens. And it felt good to realise how much I actually miss my folks. Cause it's the good kind of missing. The kind where you just know that they are there somewhere and will be when you need them.
Plus my dad is one of the funniest people I know and he knows how to make me laugh when I am all melancholy from too much white wine and too much nature.
Then we travelled on to my grandmother. There was no time for lonely walks then. They all hadn't seen me in 2 years and were all over me. My granny's sister put lots of expensive jewelery all over my wrists and fingers while my grandmother was already busy mending the holes in my jeans and shoving lots of food into my mouth at the same time.
They say I am too thin, not dressed properly, my hair looks like a boy's and scruffy on top of that, I should wear more pearls, but be careful not to lose them, cause they were very expensive and maybe it's best to wait until they have died and I stop behaving like a teenager, plus they won't let me take them to England anyway, cause they'll get stolen there and they'll give them to my dad to look after them for me until I am a proper lady.
My favourite thing was when my grandmother suggested for me to move back in with my parents cause then I wouldn't have to pay rent and I'd surely find a cleaning job in Konstanz, too. Danke, Oma!
She also gave me a necklace she got given for her 90th birthday 6 weeks ago. I think she is convinced she won't see me ever again anyway, but if you ask me she'll live to be 100, at least. She's as fit as a fiddle.
Well, and now I am in Cologne. Hurray! They have dirt and crowds and noise here!
I am sleeping on my friend Julie's sofa and I can't wait to meet her later, when she's finished work. She's a lovely squeaky always there if you need her gives good advise kind of friend who lived with me in Ireland and always made me lovely smoothies and I miss her lots!
Then in a couple of days I will travel on to Bochum to meet more amazing people, play some pool with my friend Mel, hang out with Gabby (for the first time in Germany!!) and restock my currywurst sauce supplies.
And then my cousin's wedding, which I am looking forward to very much. I love weddings now. I LOVE WEDDINGS.
The First Wedding
That was the royal wedding, as you know. I watched it (well at least the service and the kiss) with Loreena MacKennit on her living room sofa. In the middle of it all I had to cook a soup, so I missed lots, but nevermind.
I thought the dress was pretty and some of the hats ridiculous. I thought the tree's in the church instead of flowers were a lovely idea. That was mainly my thoughts. And then I finished work and went to an amazing street party in Hackney. Ros and our friend Aidan welcomed me by throwing me into the air and bringing me other surprises and then I drank lots of cider and peed against a house wall. A girl I didn't know held a scarf in front of me. There were people in wedding dresses and Sam waved a little flag. That is all I remember of it.
I was mostly celebrating The End of Shad. For me. It was the end for me, not for Shad, obviously. Bye bye, thanks for my 60 quid!
Oh and bye bye Tooting! I'll come visit, promise, one day...
The Second Wedding
The second wedding was that of P and T, friends of Ros', who I had met at various occasions. The two of them are in an amazing band together, Royal Treatment Plant, who y'all should totally check out and like a lot.
And theirs was the first proper wedding I've been to since I was 6. The ceremony took place in the Royal Festival Hall, which is a great venue for that sort of thing. With a view over London and all.
The reception then took place in West London, so we all got put on two old routemasters and carried through London, being given our own little sightseeing tour.
Now I don't have any weddings to compare this one to, but I thought it was an excellent party. Great food (paella!), great music (whicdh I told the DJane over and over...) and a free bar all night!
The speeches weren't boring and also Ros crashed into a table, which is always fun.*
Unfortunately that perfect evening ended a bit annoying at 5am somewhere in Essex, cause Ros and I both fell asleep on the night bus. Ah well...
So yes, I am totally in the mood for love and trumpets and soppy stories and more wedding cake. 4 days till wedding No 3! Can't wait! Nervous, yet, Ju?
* Her version of the story goes that she was just about to lean on the table when it collapsed spontaneously a second before she even touched it. Also possible, of course.
Thursday 28 April 2011
Royal Wedding Eve
So. Town is full of old American women who have William's teeth tattooed on their boobies. I really wish I could go to town tomorrow and see THE DRESS with my own two shortsighted eyes and wave a little flag and scream and then faint. Who wouldn't?
Alas, I will watch the ceremony with Loreena McKennit in her living room while eating currant buns and drinking tea.
So yeah, last shift with the shadsters tomorrow. On the weekend I will move all my 3 posessions into Ros' room and start looking for jobs. Cross your fingers, everyone!
I know this is short, but I don't really have anything else to say about Royal Wedding Eve (which is tonight). It is as exciting as Christmas, but as far as I know I won't get any presents, so meh.
PS: I won a game of pool against Ros last night, which is even more exciting than Christmas!
Alas, I will watch the ceremony with Loreena McKennit in her living room while eating currant buns and drinking tea.
So yeah, last shift with the shadsters tomorrow. On the weekend I will move all my 3 posessions into Ros' room and start looking for jobs. Cross your fingers, everyone!
I know this is short, but I don't really have anything else to say about Royal Wedding Eve (which is tonight). It is as exciting as Christmas, but as far as I know I won't get any presents, so meh.
PS: I won a game of pool against Ros last night, which is even more exciting than Christmas!
Thursday 21 April 2011
I dos.
My last shift with SHAD is on the royal wedding day. Which is a bit unfortunate. Because, little as I am interested in any royalties, this wedding promises to be quite the excitement. Loreena McKennit says people will sale cake on the streets.
I just heard on the radio that this wedding will cost £20m. Twenty million pounds. That is ridiculous and fascinating and it makes me think that people here will have to sell a lot of cake to afford it.
So yeah, the prince's is the first wedding I am excited about. Then there's more exciting ones, tho, which I am actually invited to.
I have only been to a traditional wedding once, when I was six and throwing flowers and I was wearing little white socks and pretty shoes. Horrible day. Then I was to a wedding where everyone wore black and it took place in a cinema. And then as an unborn Nio I was at my parents' wedding, which was small and I (= my mum) wasn't even wearing a wedding dress, but a grey skirt and blazer and the only guests were archaeologists coming to throw flowers and rice in their lunch break. My glorious parents.
Anyway, as you can see, I am a wedding newbie. But I won't be anymore when the summer is over. Just wait.
I just heard on the radio that this wedding will cost £20m. Twenty million pounds. That is ridiculous and fascinating and it makes me think that people here will have to sell a lot of cake to afford it.
So yeah, the prince's is the first wedding I am excited about. Then there's more exciting ones, tho, which I am actually invited to.
I have only been to a traditional wedding once, when I was six and throwing flowers and I was wearing little white socks and pretty shoes. Horrible day. Then I was to a wedding where everyone wore black and it took place in a cinema. And then as an unborn Nio I was at my parents' wedding, which was small and I (= my mum) wasn't even wearing a wedding dress, but a grey skirt and blazer and the only guests were archaeologists coming to throw flowers and rice in their lunch break. My glorious parents.
Anyway, as you can see, I am a wedding newbie. But I won't be anymore when the summer is over. Just wait.
Tuesday 19 April 2011
Sprimmer*
So Mothervisit is over and it was good. I got to be a tourist and pose in front of tube and street signs. Until my mum's camera's batteries died and she got grumpy cause my "dad should have told her she has to bring the charger" cause how's she supposed to know. Seriously. Batteries haven't been around for that long afterall and my mum's not so good with new technologies.
She went to lots of art galleries and we did a lot of walking through Soho and Camden and a lot of drinking, too. She bought me a towel and underwear and we had asian food every night. Cause it's the only food you get in Tooting and cos Green Papaya is the loveliest and Ros and I had to take her there. So all in all it was a lovely, if a little exhausting week.
My mum is also good to walk around with, cos she notices things. Like... You have a street, a normal street, houses, fences, bins and the odd tree... and for some reason you look at it and know you are in Britain and not in Germany. You don't know why you know, something you can't put your finger on. Here's one reason why:
They PAINT things here. With oil paint. They paint their fences black with oil paint, while we leave it the grey metal. Sometimes they paint the fences grey, but they still paint them. Same for window frames and... I don't know, pub fronts. And doors. We just leave them wooden or plastic or whatever. They paint them brown or white (or any other colour, they have lovely coloured doors here). They must spend shit loads of money on oil paint in this country. But it's good, cause a grey painted fence is prettier than a grey fence.
And now it is SPRING! The sun is scorching the skies and petals rain from the trees. Young girls and old men sit around and write poetry. Woodpidgeons fall in love and all that. Ladybugs... etc. And I get drunken in beer gardens and parks. It is a proper relief, cause it is cheaper and also you need less food.
And cheap is good, cause I have no money. I lost my wallet again. (Feel free to comment on how big a twat I am, but in my defence I want to say that my mobile phone is one year old this month and that's quite amazing and I am proud.)
Also, my job ends in 10 days. I can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! But also I am a little nervous and am getting the oooh-something-ends blues. And all of a sudden I get all sentimental while watering Loreena MacKennit's orchids and sitting around St-Martins-in-the-Fields at 10 on a Sunday morning, all tired and bored and hungover...
ANYWAY I am mostly excited. May will be nice, I think. There's two weddings, a trip to Germany which starts with a wine tasting with my dad and some of his clients, a trip to see my grandmother, who just turned 90!, a couple of days in Cologne with my friend Julie, who I can't wait to see and then a few days in Bochum, and then my cousin's wedding, which will be a proper family reunion, I think.
I am not the biggest family reunion fan. You usually get nice food, but it's exhausting cause you have to pretend to be a nice, hard studying/working straight girl and wear a skirt or something with flowers on. In the past my cousin Ju and me had the best times together, cause we just have to look at each other and crack up about something some auntie just said. And usually after lunch we just fucked off and spent the rest of the day locked in in a toilet cubicle or somewhere. But this time she's the bride and might not be up for it. sigh.
Anyway. Also in May I need to find a new job and flat. Am considering moving into Marcel's skanky flat, cause his heroi n housemate was just thrown out. The flat is urgh, but it's only a 5 minutes walk from Brick Lane, which is rather brilliant and about 20 minutes from Ros' house and everyone else I know. Will think about it. It's not exactely a place I'd invite my mum to. And she's been to all my volunteer's flats and liked them.
Today: games, sandwiches and sunshine in London fields with the Meganican.
*Spring plus summer
She went to lots of art galleries and we did a lot of walking through Soho and Camden and a lot of drinking, too. She bought me a towel and underwear and we had asian food every night. Cause it's the only food you get in Tooting and cos Green Papaya is the loveliest and Ros and I had to take her there. So all in all it was a lovely, if a little exhausting week.
My mum is also good to walk around with, cos she notices things. Like... You have a street, a normal street, houses, fences, bins and the odd tree... and for some reason you look at it and know you are in Britain and not in Germany. You don't know why you know, something you can't put your finger on. Here's one reason why:
They PAINT things here. With oil paint. They paint their fences black with oil paint, while we leave it the grey metal. Sometimes they paint the fences grey, but they still paint them. Same for window frames and... I don't know, pub fronts. And doors. We just leave them wooden or plastic or whatever. They paint them brown or white (or any other colour, they have lovely coloured doors here). They must spend shit loads of money on oil paint in this country. But it's good, cause a grey painted fence is prettier than a grey fence.
And now it is SPRING! The sun is scorching the skies and petals rain from the trees. Young girls and old men sit around and write poetry. Woodpidgeons fall in love and all that. Ladybugs... etc. And I get drunken in beer gardens and parks. It is a proper relief, cause it is cheaper and also you need less food.
And cheap is good, cause I have no money. I lost my wallet again. (Feel free to comment on how big a twat I am, but in my defence I want to say that my mobile phone is one year old this month and that's quite amazing and I am proud.)
Also, my job ends in 10 days. I can't wait, can't wait, can't wait! But also I am a little nervous and am getting the oooh-something-ends blues. And all of a sudden I get all sentimental while watering Loreena MacKennit's orchids and sitting around St-Martins-in-the-Fields at 10 on a Sunday morning, all tired and bored and hungover...
ANYWAY I am mostly excited. May will be nice, I think. There's two weddings, a trip to Germany which starts with a wine tasting with my dad and some of his clients, a trip to see my grandmother, who just turned 90!, a couple of days in Cologne with my friend Julie, who I can't wait to see and then a few days in Bochum, and then my cousin's wedding, which will be a proper family reunion, I think.
I am not the biggest family reunion fan. You usually get nice food, but it's exhausting cause you have to pretend to be a nice, hard studying/working straight girl and wear a skirt or something with flowers on. In the past my cousin Ju and me had the best times together, cause we just have to look at each other and crack up about something some auntie just said. And usually after lunch we just fucked off and spent the rest of the day locked in in a toilet cubicle or somewhere. But this time she's the bride and might not be up for it. sigh.
Anyway. Also in May I need to find a new job and flat. Am considering moving into Marcel's skanky flat, cause his heroi n housemate was just thrown out. The flat is urgh, but it's only a 5 minutes walk from Brick Lane, which is rather brilliant and about 20 minutes from Ros' house and everyone else I know. Will think about it. It's not exactely a place I'd invite my mum to. And she's been to all my volunteer's flats and liked them.
Today: games, sandwiches and sunshine in London fields with the Meganican.
*Spring plus summer
Sunday 27 March 2011
I'M NOT DEAD!!!
Surprisingly.
I did my best, had Schnapps for breakfast and didn't sleep for days, but I am still here, still going and now I will blog about it, no excuses anymore. I was just lazy.
Today I was thinking how funny my life is. Funny, cause it has so many extremes.
I was watching a middle aged man pull a fake guitar out of "Mr Tumble's Spotty Bag" on today's Cebeebies with little Em wiping her snotty nose on my jumper - awww- and babbling incomprehensibly away (we don't always watch TV, by the way. Today we also played with "Baby", read two books about Spot the Dog and solved a biiiiig jigsaw puzzle. 4 times.).
And while Mr Tumbles was still pretending to be a pop star and teaching us how to sign "pop star" in sign language I was thinking about Marcell, who I am a bit worried about since I saw his new flat.
It's not so much the flat I am worried about (even though it is a rather shabby former council flat with nothing in the kitchen but a pot, 2 plates and 1 spoon (and since Marcell moved in: Tiramisu), it's more the BADdrugs using flatmate, a lovely and extremely good looking French guy, who I met in the hallway, him being unable to talk to me, cause "the police found him on Upper Street this morning and brought him home and he's still a bit spaced out". Ehem. Will try to meet Marcell more often, he seemed a bit lonely to me all alone there in Whitechapel.
Then there's work. Hmmm... I mean "normal work" not "little Em work". I have exactely 5 more weeks with Loreena McKennit. I will use the time to copy lots of her recipes and write a new handbook for the new volunteer, whoever that will be.
At the moment my mum is over for a visit, but I shall tell you about that another time. It is nice, tho. I get to be tourist again and she brought me lots of German things.
Not that I needed many. My Germanlandlongings are rather small at the moment after our brilliant week there in the beginning of March.
We stumbled through the streets of Konstanz as Yin and Yang should do on a Thursday morning and drank lots of fig flavoured vodka with Emma who was dressed as a mole. Lovely times!
Lots of lovely parties lately, the last Outpost party in the dog food factury for example. M&J moved to the countryside somewhere... booo... they'll be back, tho.
And they had a nice little goodbye-do, which I couldn't fully enjoy, cause I had to go to work twice in the middle of it, but I was terrible enough and luckily I am young and can survive on 30 minutes of sleep in 3 days.
Then last weekend we all tried to get into Unskinny Bop, but again that didn't work out, cause of lesboverflow. Ended up at a night called Queen Bee's, which I enjoyed a lawt, cause it was full of crazy hair cuts, lovely people and weird music it took some time to get used to, but was ok, cause there were drugses.
Oh and it is getting warmer and warmer. Sitting-at-the-canal-or-in-the-park-with-cans-warm, actually. Which I do, a lot. Spent a crazy drunken day at the canal with Gabby, who is practically living here now and only goes to Germany for 2 days a week. She is a nightmare for the environment, but she is ace and I am happy that I'll see more of her from now on.
And then there was an afternoon in the park with Eva, Ade, Ros and Megan. We had polish bread and cheese and hangovers.
I know, I know... a whole month and it is difficult to summarise now. But I will write again, soon. Promise, cause things are happening!
So long...
I did my best, had Schnapps for breakfast and didn't sleep for days, but I am still here, still going and now I will blog about it, no excuses anymore. I was just lazy.
Today I was thinking how funny my life is. Funny, cause it has so many extremes.
I was watching a middle aged man pull a fake guitar out of "Mr Tumble's Spotty Bag" on today's Cebeebies with little Em wiping her snotty nose on my jumper - awww- and babbling incomprehensibly away (we don't always watch TV, by the way. Today we also played with "Baby", read two books about Spot the Dog and solved a biiiiig jigsaw puzzle. 4 times.).
And while Mr Tumbles was still pretending to be a pop star and teaching us how to sign "pop star" in sign language I was thinking about Marcell, who I am a bit worried about since I saw his new flat.
It's not so much the flat I am worried about (even though it is a rather shabby former council flat with nothing in the kitchen but a pot, 2 plates and 1 spoon (and since Marcell moved in: Tiramisu), it's more the BADdrugs using flatmate, a lovely and extremely good looking French guy, who I met in the hallway, him being unable to talk to me, cause "the police found him on Upper Street this morning and brought him home and he's still a bit spaced out". Ehem. Will try to meet Marcell more often, he seemed a bit lonely to me all alone there in Whitechapel.
Then there's work. Hmmm... I mean "normal work" not "little Em work". I have exactely 5 more weeks with Loreena McKennit. I will use the time to copy lots of her recipes and write a new handbook for the new volunteer, whoever that will be.
At the moment my mum is over for a visit, but I shall tell you about that another time. It is nice, tho. I get to be tourist again and she brought me lots of German things.
Not that I needed many. My Germanlandlongings are rather small at the moment after our brilliant week there in the beginning of March.
We stumbled through the streets of Konstanz as Yin and Yang should do on a Thursday morning and drank lots of fig flavoured vodka with Emma who was dressed as a mole. Lovely times!
Lots of lovely parties lately, the last Outpost party in the dog food factury for example. M&J moved to the countryside somewhere... booo... they'll be back, tho.
And they had a nice little goodbye-do, which I couldn't fully enjoy, cause I had to go to work twice in the middle of it, but I was terrible enough and luckily I am young and can survive on 30 minutes of sleep in 3 days.
Then last weekend we all tried to get into Unskinny Bop, but again that didn't work out, cause of lesboverflow. Ended up at a night called Queen Bee's, which I enjoyed a lawt, cause it was full of crazy hair cuts, lovely people and weird music it took some time to get used to, but was ok, cause there were drugses.
Oh and it is getting warmer and warmer. Sitting-at-the-canal-or-in-the-park-with-cans-warm, actually. Which I do, a lot. Spent a crazy drunken day at the canal with Gabby, who is practically living here now and only goes to Germany for 2 days a week. She is a nightmare for the environment, but she is ace and I am happy that I'll see more of her from now on.
And then there was an afternoon in the park with Eva, Ade, Ros and Megan. We had polish bread and cheese and hangovers.
I know, I know... a whole month and it is difficult to summarise now. But I will write again, soon. Promise, cause things are happening!
So long...
Sunday 27 February 2011
1, 2, 3 Holidays!
Oh there was so much going on lately, I don't even know where to begin.
Biggest, bestest news maybe are that we are leaving for Germany in less than 24 hours. And I am incredibly happy and excited, cause I do miss it, I do and it's been ages. We will go for walks at my lake, go on a boat, drink lots of schnaps for breakfast and dance with the witches. And I can't wait to see some of your German faces, you lovely German people, who I miss. (AND YOU BETTER REALLY COME, CON, OR I WILL CRY AND BABY JESUS WILL CRY AND KUNIBERT WILL CRY AND I WILL EAT THE Boots' Blueberry Nougat Bar I BOUGHT FOR YOU MYSELF!!)
So my next blog entry will probably describe how Ros and I managed to lose all our important possessions (=2 crappy mobile phones, 2 sets of keys and 2 wallets) while getting drunk in the medieval streets of Konstanz being dressed up as chess boards or something. Don't miss it.
The most amazing fact about us going to Germany tomorrow is, that I actually managed to sort identification papers out that will let me fly to Zurich and travel to Germany tomorrow. I think I already described how ridiculously complicated it is to get a new ID card when you're not actually living in Germany. Anyway. I also told you that when I went to the embassy a few weeks ago they asked me to come back within a week before my flight goes. So I did. On Thursday. Then I was told that as my flight was going into Zurich (which I had told them last time I went there already, by the way) they couldn't promise that the Swiss boarder people would actually let me into Switzerland with the letter they could give me stating that I am a German citizen and allowed to travel to Germany. They might let me in, I was told, but they might just as well turn me around and send me right back to London.
Great, I said, and what happens then when I am back in London and still don't have papers, will they let me back in or will I end up living in the airport like Tom Hanks in Terminal? They said they didn't know.
So I went for the slightly less risky option of applying for a provisional passport, which is valid for a year and a 60 quid bargain. Miraculously they actually managed to get it ready for me in time to pick it up on Friday just before they close down for the weekend and I am now the proud owner of a pretty, green little passport, which I love and won't ever, ever lose.
Apart from embassy troubles, the first 4 days of my holidays were nice and relaxed. Thursday felt a bit like summer and so Megan, Ade (her new girlfriend) and me had a beer picnic in London Fields and even though Friday the weather wasn't quite as nice I had another beer picnic on Friday with Gabby in St James' Park.
Talking about Megan, it was her birthday a little while ago and last weekend she put on a brilliant birthday party. Ros and I only wanted to pop in for an hour, as we were incredibly tired from a long, long night at the Outpost, but of course we ended up being the last people leaving the Treehouse in Finsbury Park at about 1 pm the next afternoon. Too much beer pong. Too much weed. Too many nice people and too much dirty chicken in the early morning hours.
In general I got way too little sleep lately. Lisa and I hardly ever see each other anymore, even though we still share a flat, but since her sister moved to London she's always at her house in Walthamstow and I am at Ros' place a lot. So whenever we happen to both be home for a
night we end up drinking and talking into the early morning hours. Sometimes we go for a game of pool at the Trafalgar Arms, which is a slightly dodgy pub down the road, but mostly we wrap ourselfs in blankets and stay in the kitchen and drink beer out of cans or wine out of tea cups. Oh the glamorous life of Shad volunteers...
Yesterday, for the first time, I went on a UK Uncut protest with Ros and Dom. They've been to a few, but I was always working. Now, holidays and I could come along. It was fun, we turned a bank into a launderette: http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/372
Lots of lovely people doing important work here. Reminded me that I should go protesting more often again, especially as I only just learned that Germany got rid of tuition fees in general, which was something I did lots of protesting for during the last few years and it shows that sometimes you do get heard, you just mustn't give up. So well done everyone from Bildungsstreik in Germany! We got what we wanted and didn't break a single window!
Shocking, tho, how little I know about what's going on in Germany at the moment. I occasionally have a look at certain German news homepages, but not often enough and I only have a vague idea about the Guttenberg scandal and everything else that's happening at home. Maybe I should get some information in tonight or there might be horrible surprises when we get to Konstanz tomorrow morning and the place is not only burned down but the whole of Germany a completely different world... you never know.
Biggest, bestest news maybe are that we are leaving for Germany in less than 24 hours. And I am incredibly happy and excited, cause I do miss it, I do and it's been ages. We will go for walks at my lake, go on a boat, drink lots of schnaps for breakfast and dance with the witches. And I can't wait to see some of your German faces, you lovely German people, who I miss. (AND YOU BETTER REALLY COME, CON, OR I WILL CRY AND BABY JESUS WILL CRY AND KUNIBERT WILL CRY AND I WILL EAT THE Boots' Blueberry Nougat Bar I BOUGHT FOR YOU MYSELF!!)
So my next blog entry will probably describe how Ros and I managed to lose all our important possessions (=2 crappy mobile phones, 2 sets of keys and 2 wallets) while getting drunk in the medieval streets of Konstanz being dressed up as chess boards or something. Don't miss it.
The most amazing fact about us going to Germany tomorrow is, that I actually managed to sort identification papers out that will let me fly to Zurich and travel to Germany tomorrow. I think I already described how ridiculously complicated it is to get a new ID card when you're not actually living in Germany. Anyway. I also told you that when I went to the embassy a few weeks ago they asked me to come back within a week before my flight goes. So I did. On Thursday. Then I was told that as my flight was going into Zurich (which I had told them last time I went there already, by the way) they couldn't promise that the Swiss boarder people would actually let me into Switzerland with the letter they could give me stating that I am a German citizen and allowed to travel to Germany. They might let me in, I was told, but they might just as well turn me around and send me right back to London.
Great, I said, and what happens then when I am back in London and still don't have papers, will they let me back in or will I end up living in the airport like Tom Hanks in Terminal? They said they didn't know.
So I went for the slightly less risky option of applying for a provisional passport, which is valid for a year and a 60 quid bargain. Miraculously they actually managed to get it ready for me in time to pick it up on Friday just before they close down for the weekend and I am now the proud owner of a pretty, green little passport, which I love and won't ever, ever lose.
Apart from embassy troubles, the first 4 days of my holidays were nice and relaxed. Thursday felt a bit like summer and so Megan, Ade (her new girlfriend) and me had a beer picnic in London Fields and even though Friday the weather wasn't quite as nice I had another beer picnic on Friday with Gabby in St James' Park.
Talking about Megan, it was her birthday a little while ago and last weekend she put on a brilliant birthday party. Ros and I only wanted to pop in for an hour, as we were incredibly tired from a long, long night at the Outpost, but of course we ended up being the last people leaving the Treehouse in Finsbury Park at about 1 pm the next afternoon. Too much beer pong. Too much weed. Too many nice people and too much dirty chicken in the early morning hours.
In general I got way too little sleep lately. Lisa and I hardly ever see each other anymore, even though we still share a flat, but since her sister moved to London she's always at her house in Walthamstow and I am at Ros' place a lot. So whenever we happen to both be home for a
night we end up drinking and talking into the early morning hours. Sometimes we go for a game of pool at the Trafalgar Arms, which is a slightly dodgy pub down the road, but mostly we wrap ourselfs in blankets and stay in the kitchen and drink beer out of cans or wine out of tea cups. Oh the glamorous life of Shad volunteers...
Yesterday, for the first time, I went on a UK Uncut protest with Ros and Dom. They've been to a few, but I was always working. Now, holidays and I could come along. It was fun, we turned a bank into a launderette: http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/actions/372
Lots of lovely people doing important work here. Reminded me that I should go protesting more often again, especially as I only just learned that Germany got rid of tuition fees in general, which was something I did lots of protesting for during the last few years and it shows that sometimes you do get heard, you just mustn't give up. So well done everyone from Bildungsstreik in Germany! We got what we wanted and didn't break a single window!
Shocking, tho, how little I know about what's going on in Germany at the moment. I occasionally have a look at certain German news homepages, but not often enough and I only have a vague idea about the Guttenberg scandal and everything else that's happening at home. Maybe I should get some information in tonight or there might be horrible surprises when we get to Konstanz tomorrow morning and the place is not only burned down but the whole of Germany a completely different world... you never know.
Sunday 13 February 2011
Everything
The little explore in Chalk Farm turned out to be quite brilliant. I took Ros to the Museum of Everything, not really knowing what to expect. It turned out to be an amazing mixture of circus-funfair-taxidermy-littlepeople-everything and definitelty worth a visit. Unfortunately it will close on Monday, for good, so either you guys rush there today or you'll miss out on the weird amazing everything.
On friday I had my 3 months review meeting (after 5 months...) with V., which went very well. Loreena MacKennit wrote me an embarrassingly positive review, the thought of which makes me blush. I also told V. (and Loreena MacKennit) that I will stay with them until April, but then it will be time for something different. Something that, like, pays minimum wage, for example.
Then, seeing as the next trip to Germany is less than three weeks away, I went to Belgrave Square, where all the embassies are, one next to the other and they all have their little flag waving above their entrance door. Apart from the German embassy, which has it's little flag waving randomly from some other country's wall. Cause while Spain and Finland are content with a nice pretty old house looking out on the Square, Germany needs a massive ugly new building around the corner from it. Show offs. Anyway, was told to come back within a week before the flight. Ordnung muss sein.
So yeah, only 15 days till Germany and carnival now! I am actually very excited. Can't wait for German food! I will eat it all, watch me. Have been living off beer and dry bread rolls for months now. It is time for currywurst-kaesspaetzle-schupfnudel goodness! NJAM
On friday I had my 3 months review meeting (after 5 months...) with V., which went very well. Loreena MacKennit wrote me an embarrassingly positive review, the thought of which makes me blush. I also told V. (and Loreena MacKennit) that I will stay with them until April, but then it will be time for something different. Something that, like, pays minimum wage, for example.
Then, seeing as the next trip to Germany is less than three weeks away, I went to Belgrave Square, where all the embassies are, one next to the other and they all have their little flag waving above their entrance door. Apart from the German embassy, which has it's little flag waving randomly from some other country's wall. Cause while Spain and Finland are content with a nice pretty old house looking out on the Square, Germany needs a massive ugly new building around the corner from it. Show offs. Anyway, was told to come back within a week before the flight. Ordnung muss sein.
So yeah, only 15 days till Germany and carnival now! I am actually very excited. Can't wait for German food! I will eat it all, watch me. Have been living off beer and dry bread rolls for months now. It is time for currywurst-kaesspaetzle-schupfnudel goodness! NJAM
Thursday 10 February 2011
Orion
I begin sitting here not knowing what to write about, because things start seeming less and less exciting, which is a shame. There are still moments when I look out of the bus window and am instantly in awe because of how amazing this city is and because I live here! - But it's been almost six months now.
Don't get me wrong, tho, I still love it, am enjoying myself massively and discover new things every day.
Two days ago when walking home from work, I saw the stars!
I can't remember the last time I did, but I feel like it was in August somewhere in southern Germany or Switzerland. I guess if I'd look up more often at night time, I could see stars in London from time to time, but I don't, cause there is so much to look at in the streets.
But yesterday it was one of those deep sea blue skies as well, not black. My favourite kind of sky and the stars were yellow and big, not white. I saw orion.
I saw my second man pissing in the street as well. But I was a bit grumpy that night and wasn't as happy about him as I had been about the first. See how things change?
Seeing as I have to be a bit careful with money right now I haven't been out much. Apart from... there's a pie shop in Hackney that turns into a gay bar selling beer and cocktails in jam jars on friday nights. Brilliant place.
Othe rthan that I had some nice evenings in various friends' homes and one in my own flat in Tooting with Lisa, her sister who just moved to London and Leonard. Was definitely time for a catch up, hadn't seen any of them in a month. Not even Lisa, and we live together.
Ros took me on a surprise date the other week, tho. Made me stand in a queue for two hours in the cold. All worth it, though! We went to the John Soane Museum at Holborn. He was a famous architect and crazy collector with a sarcophagus in his living room and incredible artwork and other interesting and beautiful things all over the house. And every first Tuesday in the month the whole thing is just lit by candles and the atmosphere is incredible! Definitely worth a visit.
So yeah, there's still lots to discover. And now I am off to Chalk Farm for my next expedition!
Don't get me wrong, tho, I still love it, am enjoying myself massively and discover new things every day.
Two days ago when walking home from work, I saw the stars!
I can't remember the last time I did, but I feel like it was in August somewhere in southern Germany or Switzerland. I guess if I'd look up more often at night time, I could see stars in London from time to time, but I don't, cause there is so much to look at in the streets.
But yesterday it was one of those deep sea blue skies as well, not black. My favourite kind of sky and the stars were yellow and big, not white. I saw orion.
I saw my second man pissing in the street as well. But I was a bit grumpy that night and wasn't as happy about him as I had been about the first. See how things change?
Seeing as I have to be a bit careful with money right now I haven't been out much. Apart from... there's a pie shop in Hackney that turns into a gay bar selling beer and cocktails in jam jars on friday nights. Brilliant place.
Othe rthan that I had some nice evenings in various friends' homes and one in my own flat in Tooting with Lisa, her sister who just moved to London and Leonard. Was definitely time for a catch up, hadn't seen any of them in a month. Not even Lisa, and we live together.
Ros took me on a surprise date the other week, tho. Made me stand in a queue for two hours in the cold. All worth it, though! We went to the John Soane Museum at Holborn. He was a famous architect and crazy collector with a sarcophagus in his living room and incredible artwork and other interesting and beautiful things all over the house. And every first Tuesday in the month the whole thing is just lit by candles and the atmosphere is incredible! Definitely worth a visit.
So yeah, there's still lots to discover. And now I am off to Chalk Farm for my next expedition!
Tuesday 1 February 2011
Juggling
So I read this book by Pete McCarthy about his Ireland holidays. It's, you know, one of those trying-a-bit-too-hard-sometimes funny travel reports, that make fun of Germans and Americans all the time, but do often contain nice anecdotes and insider tips for where to go or what to do on your holidays. (Bit like this blog here...)
There's lots of them about Ireland and I like to read them, because I like going "oh, I've been there" and "yes, exactly, that is exactly what people there say all the time" and "shit, I forgot about that"! Fun, innit. Anyway, in one bit of his book McCarthy meets a guy who shows him around Inishmore and lends him his bike for a day. AND I KNOW THAT MAN! He runs an organic farm on the island and one of the girls (German one - of course) who worked for him and lived in his house in 2008 always used to come around our house in Galway unannounced and eat all our food, because on their farm they only were allowed to eat what they had grown themselves and unfortunately they didn't grow chocolate, oranges, beer or fish fingers. At least in return she let us visit them on Inishmore sometimes and I once spent a brilliant day there with my mum.
Yes, reading about someone I have met in a novel was pretty much the most exciting thing that happened since my last entry. Apart from maybe that night last Friday when I went out for a beer and then couldn't sleep all night, because some bad bad banker with mad eyes had shoved a tea spoon full of badness up my nose. Apart from that I was just working, watched a street artist in Trafalgar Square juggle knives and, later the same day, Loreena MacKennit juggle sprouts (literally) in her kitchen. Sometimes she really surprises me.
Apart from that work is rather boring at the moment. BUT - It is February! That means Gabby will be back in London in a couple of days, I only have to get through 3 more weeks before my holidays, football is back to look forward to on the weekends and I can count the days until carnival!
Football, by the way. Lautern is being boring in Germany and anyway, the whole Bundesliga seems so far away. And here I am in the motherland of football and all that and don't even care, cause I don't have a team. I want a Premier League team to support please. Just no idea, which one!? How do people chose a football team when they don't get raised to support one special one by one of their parents?
I know, since I lost my wallet my problems get more and more serious every day.
There's lots of them about Ireland and I like to read them, because I like going "oh, I've been there" and "yes, exactly, that is exactly what people there say all the time" and "shit, I forgot about that"! Fun, innit. Anyway, in one bit of his book McCarthy meets a guy who shows him around Inishmore and lends him his bike for a day. AND I KNOW THAT MAN! He runs an organic farm on the island and one of the girls (German one - of course) who worked for him and lived in his house in 2008 always used to come around our house in Galway unannounced and eat all our food, because on their farm they only were allowed to eat what they had grown themselves and unfortunately they didn't grow chocolate, oranges, beer or fish fingers. At least in return she let us visit them on Inishmore sometimes and I once spent a brilliant day there with my mum.
Yes, reading about someone I have met in a novel was pretty much the most exciting thing that happened since my last entry. Apart from maybe that night last Friday when I went out for a beer and then couldn't sleep all night, because some bad bad banker with mad eyes had shoved a tea spoon full of badness up my nose. Apart from that I was just working, watched a street artist in Trafalgar Square juggle knives and, later the same day, Loreena MacKennit juggle sprouts (literally) in her kitchen. Sometimes she really surprises me.
Apart from that work is rather boring at the moment. BUT - It is February! That means Gabby will be back in London in a couple of days, I only have to get through 3 more weeks before my holidays, football is back to look forward to on the weekends and I can count the days until carnival!
Football, by the way. Lautern is being boring in Germany and anyway, the whole Bundesliga seems so far away. And here I am in the motherland of football and all that and don't even care, cause I don't have a team. I want a Premier League team to support please. Just no idea, which one!? How do people chose a football team when they don't get raised to support one special one by one of their parents?
I know, since I lost my wallet my problems get more and more serious every day.
Thursday 27 January 2011
Furries, Ties and Safety Goggles
All the ingredients for a good weekend!
On Saturday, once again, Ros and I set out to go for a walk in the park. Yeah right... hehe... This time at least we made it as far as London Bridge and went for a stroll over Borough Market and around the Tate Modern. Richmond Park will have to wait for another day... but we enjoyed a little bit of culture and tourists anyway.
Afterwards, of course, we felt like beer and stopped at random pubs, one of which offered a pint of Beck's for 2.50! Oooooh! I apologize at this point to everyone German: don't defriend me... you get quite desperate in this Country of Expensive Beer and I ended up drinking a different sort of beer anyway...
That was because all the Beck's in the world had been drunk by a bunch of furries, who held a convention in one of the bars we stumbled into. It took us a second to realise that we were surrounded by gay men with bushy green tails. Some had paws. Some had massive, brightly colourful wolf costumes. Some simply had a paper tag with a drawing of their alter ego around their necks. Some turned out to not be gay at all, even.
We were welcomed warmly into their furry family and learned a lot that day. There was a Cambridge lecturer wearing a massive black horse head, but it wasn't him who lectured us about this new world. It was a wolf-cat and a boxer (dog). How fascinating!
We left in awe after three pints, cause there was stuff we had to do.
We had to go shirt and tie shopping, cause we meant to shane* up for a fancy dress party that night. Worked quite well, we ended up looking ace! And very Shane. Luckily we were wearing safety goggles with our suits to safe us from the ridicule of all the lesbians who walk the streets of London every night just to roll their eyes at baby dykes trying to look like Shane McCutcheon or whatever her last name is.
Gives the word "safety goggles" a whole new meaning.
Anyway, we had cocktails and more beer, cheap chicken noodles and more beer and then went to dance with other masqueraded people in a sauna and then drink more at Nic's place and be a bit terrible and then I think it was 1pm on Sunday and we finally fell asleep while putting our shoes on to go to the pub.
It is Thursday now and after a little lie in today I feel like I have recovered from the weekend, eventually.
Yesterday Ros and I booked our flights to Germanland, for the end of February/beginning of March. I can't wait! Especially because it's Fasnacht and that is one of the times when I like Konstanz best. I am looking forward to seeing my folks, too and hopefully a lot of my friends. My poor brother will write his Abitur (his A levels...) the week after and will probably sit around in his carnival costume all week and study maths and chemistry. I wish I was a bit more use as an older sister, but I am rubbish at both those subjects and he says he doesn't need help with English. Ah well, I'll be drunk anyway...
* Random The L Word reference no one ungay is supposed to understand.
On Saturday, once again, Ros and I set out to go for a walk in the park. Yeah right... hehe... This time at least we made it as far as London Bridge and went for a stroll over Borough Market and around the Tate Modern. Richmond Park will have to wait for another day... but we enjoyed a little bit of culture and tourists anyway.
Afterwards, of course, we felt like beer and stopped at random pubs, one of which offered a pint of Beck's for 2.50! Oooooh! I apologize at this point to everyone German: don't defriend me... you get quite desperate in this Country of Expensive Beer and I ended up drinking a different sort of beer anyway...
That was because all the Beck's in the world had been drunk by a bunch of furries, who held a convention in one of the bars we stumbled into. It took us a second to realise that we were surrounded by gay men with bushy green tails. Some had paws. Some had massive, brightly colourful wolf costumes. Some simply had a paper tag with a drawing of their alter ego around their necks. Some turned out to not be gay at all, even.
We were welcomed warmly into their furry family and learned a lot that day. There was a Cambridge lecturer wearing a massive black horse head, but it wasn't him who lectured us about this new world. It was a wolf-cat and a boxer (dog). How fascinating!
We left in awe after three pints, cause there was stuff we had to do.
We had to go shirt and tie shopping, cause we meant to shane* up for a fancy dress party that night. Worked quite well, we ended up looking ace! And very Shane. Luckily we were wearing safety goggles with our suits to safe us from the ridicule of all the lesbians who walk the streets of London every night just to roll their eyes at baby dykes trying to look like Shane McCutcheon or whatever her last name is.
Gives the word "safety goggles" a whole new meaning.
Anyway, we had cocktails and more beer, cheap chicken noodles and more beer and then went to dance with other masqueraded people in a sauna and then drink more at Nic's place and be a bit terrible and then I think it was 1pm on Sunday and we finally fell asleep while putting our shoes on to go to the pub.
It is Thursday now and after a little lie in today I feel like I have recovered from the weekend, eventually.
Yesterday Ros and I booked our flights to Germanland, for the end of February/beginning of March. I can't wait! Especially because it's Fasnacht and that is one of the times when I like Konstanz best. I am looking forward to seeing my folks, too and hopefully a lot of my friends. My poor brother will write his Abitur (his A levels...) the week after and will probably sit around in his carnival costume all week and study maths and chemistry. I wish I was a bit more use as an older sister, but I am rubbish at both those subjects and he says he doesn't need help with English. Ah well, I'll be drunk anyway...
* Random The L Word reference no one ungay is supposed to understand.
Wednesday 19 January 2011
Royal Doll Houses
One of the good things about London is that all (well most of the) museums are free! So even if you have NOMONEYATALL cause your wallet got stolen, there's still things to do on your day off.
When I came to London first I had NOMONEYATALL as well, and also I thought I had 3 days to see as much stuff as possible, cause who knows if I'll ever come back to London! That was in August 2009 and in those 3 days back then I managed to pay a visit to the Tate Modern, the British Museum, the Museum of London, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Natural History and the V&A. Quite impressive, seeing as I had no money for buses or tubes and walked from one museum to the next on my own two blistered feet...
So yesterday I decided to add another London Museum to that list and walked to Bethnal Green where the Museum of Childhood is to be found. Megan, the American, came with me to make it a bit more fun.
The Museum of Childhood is full of children and art students. The exhibits are mostly toys, contemporary ones as well as medieval ones. It doesn't sound very exciting and it probably really isn't, but there's some treasures to be found, that might well light up your day. Like "Dusty", a "Fashion Action Doll" a la Barbie from the 70s, which was displayed in her softball costume. "Dusty the Softball Champion! - the favourite of every little lesbian!
And then all the toys you played with yourself when you were little and have long forgotten about!
I personally enjoyed the massive doll houses that used to belong to princesses and other spoilt little brats. They're about as big as my bedroom when I was a child, but very, very beautiful.
It reminded me of all the old doll houses my mum still has standing around in the basement that we've been meaning to clean, fix and decorate for years. We have boxes full of gift wrap which we were going to use as wallpaper and old cloths which were going to be carpets. Maybe one day, ey... When finished we could probably sell them for a tenner on a flea market, so it's well worth giving it a try!
Anyway, the toys were followed by beers, first a couple of pints with Megan in a scruffy old men pub on Bethnal Green Rd, which apparently is now one of Megan's favourites, cause "if it didn't look like an old English pub it could be American!", and then a couple of more pints with Eva in the Oak. Was really nice catching up with both of them, but now I have a headache.
When I came to London first I had NOMONEYATALL as well, and also I thought I had 3 days to see as much stuff as possible, cause who knows if I'll ever come back to London! That was in August 2009 and in those 3 days back then I managed to pay a visit to the Tate Modern, the British Museum, the Museum of London, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery, the Museum of Natural History and the V&A. Quite impressive, seeing as I had no money for buses or tubes and walked from one museum to the next on my own two blistered feet...
So yesterday I decided to add another London Museum to that list and walked to Bethnal Green where the Museum of Childhood is to be found. Megan, the American, came with me to make it a bit more fun.
The Museum of Childhood is full of children and art students. The exhibits are mostly toys, contemporary ones as well as medieval ones. It doesn't sound very exciting and it probably really isn't, but there's some treasures to be found, that might well light up your day. Like "Dusty", a "Fashion Action Doll" a la Barbie from the 70s, which was displayed in her softball costume. "Dusty the Softball Champion! - the favourite of every little lesbian!
And then all the toys you played with yourself when you were little and have long forgotten about!
I personally enjoyed the massive doll houses that used to belong to princesses and other spoilt little brats. They're about as big as my bedroom when I was a child, but very, very beautiful.
It reminded me of all the old doll houses my mum still has standing around in the basement that we've been meaning to clean, fix and decorate for years. We have boxes full of gift wrap which we were going to use as wallpaper and old cloths which were going to be carpets. Maybe one day, ey... When finished we could probably sell them for a tenner on a flea market, so it's well worth giving it a try!
Anyway, the toys were followed by beers, first a couple of pints with Megan in a scruffy old men pub on Bethnal Green Rd, which apparently is now one of Megan's favourites, cause "if it didn't look like an old English pub it could be American!", and then a couple of more pints with Eva in the Oak. Was really nice catching up with both of them, but now I have a headache.
Thursday 13 January 2011
Random
Met the American on Monday. You know, I mentioned her once... the Treehouse girl from Finsbury Park! We've been meeting up for coffees and pints a few times, which is nice. She has crazy stories to tell, cause she's been around quite a bit, despite her young age, and also she knows everything about fake IDs (could do with one now, thinking about it), softball and fast food restaurants. Has introduced me to the wonders of Nando's and Chipotle, like a proper Oklahoman girl! I love clichees.
Apart from that not much has happened, but I thought I'd give you an update anyhow.
I saw the laundrette man yesterday. I walked past his shop and he waved coyly. He won't be part of this blog anymore, you see, just before christmas Loreena MacKennit bought a washing machine. It is very sad and I miss him dearly, but not enough to pay 4 quid and wash my own laundry at his, just for a rant about the weather and 20 minutes of Coronation street on the tiny telly behind his counter.
Someone else I - hopefully - won't have to write about anymore this year is Denva. He seems to have given up on stalking me, so there's good news!
Today I am off work and I have lots of plans that involve banks, police stations and Chinese noodles. So I better get going. *loads gun and puts on mask* Toodles!
Apart from that not much has happened, but I thought I'd give you an update anyhow.
I saw the laundrette man yesterday. I walked past his shop and he waved coyly. He won't be part of this blog anymore, you see, just before christmas Loreena MacKennit bought a washing machine. It is very sad and I miss him dearly, but not enough to pay 4 quid and wash my own laundry at his, just for a rant about the weather and 20 minutes of Coronation street on the tiny telly behind his counter.
Someone else I - hopefully - won't have to write about anymore this year is Denva. He seems to have given up on stalking me, so there's good news!
Today I am off work and I have lots of plans that involve banks, police stations and Chinese noodles. So I better get going. *loads gun and puts on mask* Toodles!
Sunday 9 January 2011
The Tale of the Catwalker (or the dangerousness of London)
I don't think I ever told you about the man with the dogs and the cat. I met him one sunny morning in early September, when I was sitting on Ros' window sill, pissed off my face. He walked his four dogs and a cat and we had a little chat, which I don't remember a thing about. All I know is that after the chat I told my cousin I would stay in London for good.
Ros saw him the other day, walking his dogs, but no cat, down Goulton Rd. That is most wonderful!
Because it means he is real and I didn't just imagine him in my drunken state. And I was very, very drunken that morning, cause I'd been sitting there on the window sill the whole bloody night, drinking one can of Red Stripe after the other, only leaving it to go to the off license to buy more beer.
I think it just took about 10 litres of booze for me to get up the courage to make a decision like that. And now I am here, a little proud that I went through with it when I had sobered up. And very happy.
I sometimes wish I could remember what the Catwalker said to me that morning, but secretly I'm glad I don't, cause it was probably something really boring and meaningless. Anyway, I blame the Catwalker for now being here and also for always having to stay here. Forever. Cause...
I got my wallet stolen on Thursday. It had all the important things in it. ID card, bank cards (3), 100 euro I stupidly carried around all the time for no reason. Student ID, bahncard, insurance cards.
I went on the homepage of the German embassy in London and now listen to this: It's not possible to get a new ID card there. I have to fly to Germany to get a new one. In order to fly to Germany I obviously need an ID card, tho. Or a passport, if I don't have one. So I have to get a fucking passport from the embassy, fly to Germany, apply for a new ID card and then pick it up three weeks later. Or I could wait until 2013, of course, cause THEN it will be possible to get ID cards in embassies all over the world. Am still considering the options. Maybe I'll just apply for the British citizenship.
Am also thinking about using the occasion to get my name changed.
So right now I am utterly broke and without identity in dangerous, dangerous London. Luckily I have a Ros, who feeds me until I have access to my money again. Unfortunately, though, Ros got her bag stolen on Friday. It is a truly dangerous city, this.
We all were in an old man pub in Dalston to see The Dim play, which was fun. A man in a stripy jumper made us all waltz around with him and an old woman invited me into her toilet cubicle for a line of cocaine. And then the bag was gone and two friends of Ros' got beaten up by three teenage girls in Ugg boots and that, obviously, wasn't fun anymore.
To get over the shocks of one stolen wallet and two stolen bags and lots of bruises and other injuries, Ros and me decided to have a quiet Saturday and so left the house in the afternoon to go for a walk in Hampstead Heath. First, tho, we decided to pop over to Hammersmith, where Zuzana had her leaving party, cause she'll go travelling for a while. Has a one way ticket to Argentina booked and who knows when I will see her again, so that was quite important to me, to say goodbye to her.
The house that party took place in was M.E.N.T.A.L. Never seen anything like it in my life. the owners were on holidays in Kenya. They missed a good party!
The walk in fridge was full of boozes and so was the morgue like freezer. The magic kitchen, where you touch a wall and a door opens was full of lovely food and the 5 bathrooms (one of which had walls that were one single mirror) full of vomiting people!
Ros and I didn't stay too long, cause Ros' friend Bree, who is an amazing cook, had invited us for dinner to her house, which was just up the road. So we went there, ate lovely food and drank lovely wine and got all silly in the heads and ended up hiding under the bed and in wardrobes and smearing dog poo all over the house.
When the house was all brown and smelly, we decided to leave. But instead of going back to Hackney we got some beers at the off license and went back to the mental house where Zuzana and her friends were still partying. Then things get blurry. Something about tumbleweed and lions. Passed out on the floor at around 6 am this morning.
Long story short: London is still fun and amazing! Thank you, Mr Catwalker.
Ros saw him the other day, walking his dogs, but no cat, down Goulton Rd. That is most wonderful!
Because it means he is real and I didn't just imagine him in my drunken state. And I was very, very drunken that morning, cause I'd been sitting there on the window sill the whole bloody night, drinking one can of Red Stripe after the other, only leaving it to go to the off license to buy more beer.
I think it just took about 10 litres of booze for me to get up the courage to make a decision like that. And now I am here, a little proud that I went through with it when I had sobered up. And very happy.
I sometimes wish I could remember what the Catwalker said to me that morning, but secretly I'm glad I don't, cause it was probably something really boring and meaningless. Anyway, I blame the Catwalker for now being here and also for always having to stay here. Forever. Cause...
I got my wallet stolen on Thursday. It had all the important things in it. ID card, bank cards (3), 100 euro I stupidly carried around all the time for no reason. Student ID, bahncard, insurance cards.
I went on the homepage of the German embassy in London and now listen to this: It's not possible to get a new ID card there. I have to fly to Germany to get a new one. In order to fly to Germany I obviously need an ID card, tho. Or a passport, if I don't have one. So I have to get a fucking passport from the embassy, fly to Germany, apply for a new ID card and then pick it up three weeks later. Or I could wait until 2013, of course, cause THEN it will be possible to get ID cards in embassies all over the world. Am still considering the options. Maybe I'll just apply for the British citizenship.
Am also thinking about using the occasion to get my name changed.
So right now I am utterly broke and without identity in dangerous, dangerous London. Luckily I have a Ros, who feeds me until I have access to my money again. Unfortunately, though, Ros got her bag stolen on Friday. It is a truly dangerous city, this.
We all were in an old man pub in Dalston to see The Dim play, which was fun. A man in a stripy jumper made us all waltz around with him and an old woman invited me into her toilet cubicle for a line of cocaine. And then the bag was gone and two friends of Ros' got beaten up by three teenage girls in Ugg boots and that, obviously, wasn't fun anymore.
To get over the shocks of one stolen wallet and two stolen bags and lots of bruises and other injuries, Ros and me decided to have a quiet Saturday and so left the house in the afternoon to go for a walk in Hampstead Heath. First, tho, we decided to pop over to Hammersmith, where Zuzana had her leaving party, cause she'll go travelling for a while. Has a one way ticket to Argentina booked and who knows when I will see her again, so that was quite important to me, to say goodbye to her.
The house that party took place in was M.E.N.T.A.L. Never seen anything like it in my life. the owners were on holidays in Kenya. They missed a good party!
The walk in fridge was full of boozes and so was the morgue like freezer. The magic kitchen, where you touch a wall and a door opens was full of lovely food and the 5 bathrooms (one of which had walls that were one single mirror) full of vomiting people!
Ros and I didn't stay too long, cause Ros' friend Bree, who is an amazing cook, had invited us for dinner to her house, which was just up the road. So we went there, ate lovely food and drank lovely wine and got all silly in the heads and ended up hiding under the bed and in wardrobes and smearing dog poo all over the house.
When the house was all brown and smelly, we decided to leave. But instead of going back to Hackney we got some beers at the off license and went back to the mental house where Zuzana and her friends were still partying. Then things get blurry. Something about tumbleweed and lions. Passed out on the floor at around 6 am this morning.
Long story short: London is still fun and amazing! Thank you, Mr Catwalker.
Wednesday 5 January 2011
Eleven
HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone! 5 days into 2011, already... They were boozey and sneezey days.
New Years I spent in bed, with a cold and a headache and feeling so miserable that all my attempts to drink any kind of alcohol failed miserably. Just before midnight I got my achy bones out of bed, though, and climbed up to the roof with 5 drunken people to watch some fireworks. Beautiful! I could hear Dick van Dyke whisper into my ear... "On the roof tops of London... Coooo, what a sight..."...
Twenty minutes later I was asleep - not quite as rock and roll as the other volunteers, who went partying in Shoreditch and didn't get to bed until 6 in the morning!
Also I spent the last four days in pain. My teeth hurt. I NEVER have tooth ache. I didn't even know what that felt like until... well... 2011. And now, look at this, I live in England. Where everything healthcare is free, apart from dentists - of course. It is very unfair, cause I also went to a free dentist in Germany only a month ago and then nothing was wrong with me at all, but I will stop complaining now.
It is a new year and that means: make new plans. I shall start thinking about what I want to do next, what kind of jobs to look for and for when. I told Loreena MacKennit I'd stay with her until April, but after that, I don't know. That means that half my Shad time is over already. That was quick! I am getting excited. I really hope I will find a proper little boring job with a desk in an office where no one expects me to work any weekends at all. 9-5. That sort of thing.
And then maybe I'll also find a little, cheap room somewhere. Somewhere less far away from the Pembury Tavern than Tooting Broadway. I'm sure I'll find something affordable. I don't need much space, cause all I have in this country is three books, a toothbrush and a monkey-frog named Jacques Chirac. And he's only tiny. Also I am used to mice and slugs in the kitchen, open fires in the bathroom, no heating at all and regular bomb scares. The places I have lived in during the past 5 years, I can tell you...
I am looking forward to it all. Taking the next little steps on my how-to-be-British ladder. Drink more tea. Find a football club to support. Drop Ts. Register with a dentist. You name it.
New Years I spent in bed, with a cold and a headache and feeling so miserable that all my attempts to drink any kind of alcohol failed miserably. Just before midnight I got my achy bones out of bed, though, and climbed up to the roof with 5 drunken people to watch some fireworks. Beautiful! I could hear Dick van Dyke whisper into my ear... "On the roof tops of London... Coooo, what a sight..."...
Twenty minutes later I was asleep - not quite as rock and roll as the other volunteers, who went partying in Shoreditch and didn't get to bed until 6 in the morning!
Also I spent the last four days in pain. My teeth hurt. I NEVER have tooth ache. I didn't even know what that felt like until... well... 2011. And now, look at this, I live in England. Where everything healthcare is free, apart from dentists - of course. It is very unfair, cause I also went to a free dentist in Germany only a month ago and then nothing was wrong with me at all, but I will stop complaining now.
It is a new year and that means: make new plans. I shall start thinking about what I want to do next, what kind of jobs to look for and for when. I told Loreena MacKennit I'd stay with her until April, but after that, I don't know. That means that half my Shad time is over already. That was quick! I am getting excited. I really hope I will find a proper little boring job with a desk in an office where no one expects me to work any weekends at all. 9-5. That sort of thing.
And then maybe I'll also find a little, cheap room somewhere. Somewhere less far away from the Pembury Tavern than Tooting Broadway. I'm sure I'll find something affordable. I don't need much space, cause all I have in this country is three books, a toothbrush and a monkey-frog named Jacques Chirac. And he's only tiny. Also I am used to mice and slugs in the kitchen, open fires in the bathroom, no heating at all and regular bomb scares. The places I have lived in during the past 5 years, I can tell you...
I am looking forward to it all. Taking the next little steps on my how-to-be-British ladder. Drink more tea. Find a football club to support. Drop Ts. Register with a dentist. You name it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)