Berlin Winter Camp

As soon as I got back home to Berlin at 9 pm on Saturday, I met my two guests for the week, Roberto from Madrid and Dirk from Gent. We spent the evening chatting at "Cafe Mirell", and since then the two guys are enjoying their time with 500 more Couchsurfers and members of Hospitality Club, whilst I am at home most of the time with a sour throat and a bad cold. Sigh.
Berlin Winter Camp is a wonderful meeting with (mostly) young people from all over the world, having fun in Berlin and especially at HomeBaseLounge close to Potsdamer Platz. Sometimes they are so tired from all the events, walks, visits and activities, they fall asleep on the spot. And then up again until the early hours of the morning.
I only hope for a slightly better health to make it into the new year with my friends.

Merry Xmas!

Have a wonderful time with family and friends!

Short update

I'm back home in Stuttgart with neither time nor means to upload pics, and continue my virtual diary. So this is just a short notice to give a few details. More when I'm back in Berlin next weekend.
Wednesday evening, 17th, Hartmut, Kurt and I met for a Xmas dinner in Xberg in a vegetarian restaurant on Mehringdamm. The place was cosy, and the food delicious. And the gifts we gave each other just great. It's nice to have collegues like these two. Pity Kurt will leave on retirement soon.
Friday, 19th, Kurt met Emil and me to take us to Berlin main station early in the afternoon. The trip was lovely, 1st class (cheaper than 2nd, incredible), we had a compartment for ourselves and a waiter to bring coffee and some chocolates for free. Outside, a bright winter sun shone on a cold, quiet country side. Definitely my way of travelling!
Volker and Alex met us at Stuttgart station and took us home. Emil and I moved up underneath the roof into my tiny room, since Alex's room (where my cat and I had stayed all these months when in Stuttgart) was taken by two cute cats already: Theo and Julchen.
Seemed like Anna had found a nice new home for the sweeties, but then, after a lot of visits and calls, after all it was not the perfect place for them. Anna was not too angry, actually. she loves them, especially the girl, and still hopes I will take them. So sad I can't have them in Berlin.
Saturday, 20th, we had planned to do some heavy Xmas shopping together. But no chance: Anna wasn't feeling well, a small, but nasty winter cold, so we cancelled the trip downtown to Stuttgart center and its Xmas market. I wasn't overly sorry about that and enjoyed my time at home.
On Sunday, 21st, though, whilst Anna and Volker were off to a birthday lunch, I strolled around the city and went back home loaden with parcels. The rest of the day, I spent with wrapping up gifts. Alex took a huge box to the post office the next day. Hopefully, it will arrive at my sister's in time.
Monday, 22st, was a very special day: I went to the bank and paid the huge amount of 13 136,49 Euro. And now I'm the proud owner of the house we're living in since 20 years. No more mortgage to be paid at all! Alex and I had a glass of champagne to celebrate it. (Anna and Volker were off working. We'll have some more ´celebrations soon.)
Later, I met Tina in a small cafe in the Wittwer bookshop. She doesn't believe in giving present for Xmas (poor her), but she was delighted when she saw the Tapies book I had chosen for her a few months ago at the Instituto Cervantes exhibition in Berlin. Some more chatting and strolling around the center, and I was off to get back home. Shops and streets were way too crowded for me this year!
I had meant to meet Heike and Bettina, but a week seems too short, especially when everybody is busy. So e-mails, phone calls, and Xmas cards and letters will have to do. So many friends all over the world waiting for a greeting.
And today it's Tuesday, 23rd, and still so much to do and buy before Xmas eve tomorrow. We're invited to have kässpätzle with Roland, my former husband and the kids' father and his friend Sabine, on 25th (old family tradition now). Ulli, his brother, will be there, too. So we'll have the same precedure as last year and invite them all for brunch on 26th. And in the evening, Helen and Felix will arrive by car from Düsseldorf to stay for a week. I'm glad I'll spend some time with them, since I'll leave for Berlin again on Saturday already.
There's a huge event, starting Dec 28th and going through to Jan 2nd, called Berlin Winter Camp which I would hate to miss. More than 500 members of Couchsurfing and Hospitality Club will meet, enjoy the city and each others company, and party together. I promised to host a few.
I'm looking forward to these days, but might love being on my own again in my flat with Emil, and be happy when returning back to work and new tasks in 2009. :)

December weekend at home

After these days which saw me buzzing about with newly found energy, I felt like relaxing a bit this afternoon in my livingroom, before going to Crellestraße Xmas events and more.
The magical lamp - not to be rubbed, but to be looked at from very close every morning for 30 minutes - works indeed! Either it's just the right medication, or a super good placebo. More energy, more fun!

An evening out in Schöneberg

Seàn had asked me to have a look at a flat with him - he is pondering to buy one. I agreed happily, I love looking for flats, and enjoy all the ideas of furnishing, painting, new neighbourhoods. Especially if I don't have to move myself.
Since the flat was situated close to Odeon cinema, showing the new Woody Allen "Vicky Cristina Barcelona", and Seàn loves movies, and had been living in Barcelona for a few years, we decided to go to the movies afterwards. And in between have a burger at Cooper's.
The flat was so-so, and the burgers, as well. But I loved the movie. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz - a movie can't be bad starring these two spanish actors! I love and admire them since I first saw them 15 years ago in "Jamon, jamon".
Plus it was great to have enough energy to do all this after a long day of work, and still feel well enough to play with Emil around midnight.
He's doing wonderful, the vet told me. His heart is beating just fine, thanks to the new medication. And my patience and persistance with my sweet tomcat.

Twinkle, twinkle

Today a huge package arrived containing the energy light. One hour later, it was unwrapped, unpacked and installed, and I was sitting in front of it soaking up the light beams. Thirty minutes later, a hot spur of long missed energy took over.
I took my purse, put on my thick wintercoat and woollen cap, and was off to IKEA to get some decorations. Another two hours and a long walk through the dark evening (no problem with me, I had energy galore) later, I was back home and the decorations were fixed already.
And I still had enough energy left to do some food shopping, washing, and cleaning, before taking Emil to the vets. Wow! What a success after one session of light intake! I'm supposed to take nine more to feel fine for a month. Why had I only thought about this remedy now? I might have gained so much more all these winters!

Santa girls in town

In between sniffing and sneezing, I went out and about to buy some of those daylight bulbs my doctor had advised me to get. No chance at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden, "Saturn" just don't sell them.
I found this nice Santa girl though, and had to take a pic. Pity I don't like spareribs too much. Vegetables and fruits for me, please, and to ban the winter blues, some chocolate, too.

Waiting for Xmas in Schöneberg

No Xmas tree at Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz, but all the shops and many windows and balconies are decorated nicely.
I passed the Starbucks' on my way from the doctors back home (shitty winter cold and slight winter depression, as always - a very longlasting Novemver blues), and was surprised by the drawing some kids had been allowed to do on the windows. What a lovely idea!
And then on to my laptop and ordering an energylight. When in need of sun, either travel to sunny coasts or use Philips' magic machine!

Xmas market at Berlin town hall

Berlin center is one huge Xmas market, like every year. They're all slightly different, the one in front of Berlin town hall tends to be like in 19th century.
You can stroll around the booths, admire the huge Xmas trees, go for rides on the fun fairs and ice rinks, and enjoy winter life in general. Make sure you're dressed up warm enough, or else you'll catch a cold. And the hot spicy mulled wine won't help either, just make you tipsy!

Meeting Nikolaus

Here's a cute little kid meeting Nikolaus for the first time in life. Big eyes, open mouth, wondering what this strange whitebearded old man in red coat and hood might want.
Do you still remember your childhood fears and joys waiting for Santa to come, talk to you, and if you're lucky grant you some gifts? I certainly do. Oh dear, I used to be so anxious...

December in Berlin

Xmas markets, funfairs, decorated shopping malls - Berlin is taken over by Xmas. I had a look around some of the places in Berlin center: Potsdamer Platz, Sonycenter, Alexanderplatz.
This is part of the funfair at Alexa, the huge shopping mall.

Santa Claus in town

Another day of strolling around Berlin center, looking for Xmas gifts, and taking walks in the crisp air. Not much sun, alas. But lots of fun, all the same.
Have a look at Santa Claus at Kadewe, the famous department store. Bit early, though, he should come December 6th only. Maybe this is Father Xmas??? Knecht Ruprecht? Father Frost? Looks like Father Frost to me, coming to cosy Berlin indoor winterwonderwoods from icy Siberia.
By the way, green decorations on Xmas trees are quite the fashion this year. I prefer red and gold, I'm sticking to our family traditions.

Xmas tree at ver.di - 2nd

And this is what the huge decorated tree looks like seen from the ver.di entrance hall. Not bad either. Outside there's snow, which you can't see in this pic. That's why I had to tell you. Nice, white, soft flakes tumbling down all day. But it's too warm for them to stay in Berlin center. And no chance to build snowmen or -women either. Just slippery enough to fall and hurt your shoulder. Better not. Knock on wood...

Xmas tree at ver.di

When I arrived at the office this morning, stomping my way from Ostbahnhof station to the river through the rain, I was greeted by a Xmas tree. Decorated in red and gold, red being the ver.di colour, and gold adding some festive touch.
Only when leaving the office just before 5:30 pm was I thinking of taking a pic. The tree does add some warmth and feeling, doesn't it?

Fight aids!

Aids is far from being cured. Around the globe, millions of people are suffering from this desease.
25 years ago, hardly anybody in Germany had heard about it. Now you find the symbolic red ribbon even in Berlin S-train on your way home from work.

Xmas feelings

Three Xmas markets I went to today: the julbasar at the swedish church in Wilmersdorf, the cosy market at Winterfeldtplatz (less so than a few years ago, alas), and the huge one at Potsdamer Platz. The shops in Berlin center were open all afternoon as well (they will be all four sundays before Xmas), so just perfect to look around for some gifts and cards to send to family and friends.
I took the pic in the cafeteria at the swedish Victoria church. It was very early still, but the old lady was playing traditonal Xmas songs all the same for whoever might listen. The young guy didn't seem very interested though, concentrating on his laptop instead. And all this in a quiet corner in the middle of the cheerful hustle and bustle.

Happy? I am!

Strolling along Bergmanstraße in Kreuzberg a few days ago, I took this pic of a hairdressers'. I saw it again today, and was reminded to go and have something nice done to my hair. To be even happier! :)

Women...

Jana, Daphne (both friends from CS) and I had a girls night out on Wednesday. We went to the Cinelady event in Sonycenter at Potsdamer Platz to watch a preview of "The Women" with Meg Ryan, Annette Bening and others, a remake of the famous 30s George Cukor movie. Both are starring women only. The story is only slightly different, but the new version is not as sharp as the old one. Well, yeah, George Cukor and the 30s! How could you beat that?!
Anyway, the three of us met after work, and were offered prosecco as soon as we got to Sonycenter. For free. And chocolate. For free. And I won the big prize, two more tickets for any show at the Imax cinema. Ta-daaaa!
I had to go all the way to the front to be given the prize, and went back being cheered by everybody, and handing over the tickets right on the spot to my friends. Imax does 3-d-movies only, and I simply can't bring my left eye to work properly. But so what, Jana and Daphne will have another great night at the movies!
We enjoyed this movie night a lot, laughing aloud with the female crowd. If you have a chance to watch it (official start in Germany is Dec 11th), do so. Preferably the original version. And take a (woman) friend. You certainly won't regret it!

More Xmas cookies

The Berlin shops and bakeries are overflowing with Xmas sweets, candies, cookies and cakes. Mouthwatering - see for yourself the new shop of "Lindner" at Potsdamer Platz. Hmmmm, delicious. Pity it's too rich for me.

Nice advice

Well, we should... Problem is, I hardly ever have dessert...

Snow! :)

Snow all over Germany, and now in Berlin center as well. Busses don't run or are late, it takes a lot longer than normally to get to work and back, it's cold outside, and I'm wrapped up in several layers of woollen clothing. But it's so nice!
Here are the views I enjoy when working - the first pic was taken when I finally arrived in my office shortly before 10 am, the other just before I left, at 5 pm. Sooooooooo lovely!

One month until Xmas

Xmas markets open up in every corner of Berlin today, and attract thousands of visitors. When at ver.di working, I can't join them, of course.
I went to the market close to Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche yesterday to have a look. Booths were getting ready to open up today, but some started selling right then.
The Xmas tree is from Berlin this year. They had been quite a mishap over the last years, check here. But for now everybody likes it. They'd better, the tree was 10 000 Euro!

Two cats looking for a new home

Theo(bald) and Julchen are feeling quite at home with Anna, Alex and Volker. They're playing and purring and loving it in general. Theo had problems at the vet this week, fleeing the vaccination, running around the room, climbing shelves and walls, leaving bottles and glasses shattered on his way. Poor tomcat, he's still afraid.
But otherwise, Anna reckons they will be fine with a new family, now they're accustomed to staying inside with caring people.
Feel like giving those cuties a home? If you're in Stuttgart or close by, check here for more information!

Pikkojoulu in Kreuzberg

Today, I went to the finnish Xmas market organized by the finnish congregation in Berlin. I had been there last year, and loved it so much, I had to go again.
I feasted on traditional finnish Xmas dishes, and bought all my favourites plus a bit more, as you can see on the picture. Xmas shopping can be fun when you stroll around leisurely, sipping glögi, munching Xmas pulla, and giving salmiakki chocolate a try!
I can hardly wait until December 1st to open up the first windows on the finnish advent calendar. ;)
P.S. Pikkojoulu means little Xmas, all those small celebrations, parties and festivities people delight in before Xmasday. Read more about finnish Xmas here.

No woman good enough to be a leader of the EU?

250 million women in the EU. Not a single one good enough?
During the coming 12 months, four politicians will be appointed as leaders of the European Union. For fifty years now, the picture of European political leadership has remained the same. It is time for a change. International top posts should always go to the most competent candidate. There are 250 million women in Europe; it should not be too hard to find qualified candidates among all these.
If you wish to see at least one female appointed as leader of the European Union, sign here: femalesinfront.eu
I did! Anna had told me about it. Spread the word, too!

It's Xmas soon

Xmas markets are opening up in Berlin this weekend, shops are decorating their windows with Xmas garlands, Xmas presents, and Xmas goodies in general.
I love this bakery in Xberg, their cakes are delicious. Now all we miss is snow - according to the weather forecast it's bound to come tomorrow with fast dropping temperatures and winterstorms blowing the dull grey clouds away.
P. S. It did, but hardly any in Schöneberg, alas!

Finally: Barcelino in Schöneberg

Since almost a year I had been looking for a shop in Berlin selling my favourite award winning spanish wine. I had found it by chance at Lidl (shame on me!) in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, and loved it. But in Berlin so far I had to make do with all sorts of tempranillos, but no Barcelino. Not even at Lidl.
And today I found it! They got it since some days! I went home with six bottles, proud like mad. I'm having a glass right now. Hmm, oh so good! And the 2005 is even better than the 2004 and won a gold (!) medal in - Berlin! Check here!

Yes we Cem

He insists that he is not the German Barack Obama. But, in 1994, he became the first ethnic Turk to be elected to the German parliament. In 2004, he won a seat in the European Parliament. And this week he was elected co-leader of the German Green Party. He is Cem Özdemir. More information here.

Brunch with the Stach's

Finally Bert and I managed to meet longer than only passing each other by in the ver.di restaurant, and all members of the lovely Stach family accompanied him. We had considered a brunch to be a good way of combining chatting and eating, and chose the buffet at "Ming Dinasty", the best chinese restaurant in Berlin. Well, it had to be, since just across from the chinese embassy, and lots of chinese dining there on traditional chinese dishes, chicken feet included.
The food was plenty and delicious, a piano player adding to the delight, the talks as well - as always with these friends. Jana is working at home, head of prospering "Netzmacherei", whilst Bert is travelling around Germany, working on several ver.di projects, f.e. successful newcomer.
Small Mika has grown a lot and walks and talks like an 18 months old does. Lars was ever the same, and Erik is almost grown up now with his ten years. He showed us his skills at folding napkins, and was curious to know about the cats, Gustav, Emil, and the two newcomers at Anna's, Theo and Julchen.
I enjoyed my time with them a lot! When they left for Kiel in the afternoon, I went straight back home to rest. These November colds are way too ugly for me. Then again, the amount of food I had might have added to my sleepiness...

Jana's fleamarket

My first days at work after the stupid cold I suffered from for weeks now, were fine - working all day, getting home, some chats with friends on the web, and then off to sleep to make it for work next day. Nothing much, I'm afraid.
Two exceptions, though: Sean was sent to hospital, and I took the train and the bus in the pitch dark evening all the way down to Wannsee, to bring him a book to read and some fruit to eat and some chatting to forget about his pains. And I had to take Emil to the vet, again. They found he's better, but still not fine, so more tablets and another visit in two weeks' time. This tomcat costs me a fortune!
But now the weekend has started, and I can spend all those 48 hours according to my every whim. I'll have to take it slow, and not overdo it, so there's no chance I'll go to all the shops and jazz events I had hoped for.
But I managed to attend Jana's private fleamarket, and spent some three hours chatting, sipping coffee, checking and putting on dresses, skirts, sweaters, shoes, and sifting through all the goodies she's selling. She's desperate, without a job since months now, and needs the money.
I got lovely crazy shoes, long black wide skirts, and some nicknack, bought on Jana's travels and brought all the way from India. Duh, I'm lucky!

Helau and Alaaf! :)

Carneval season started today in Rhenania, and my collegue Doris and I had to join the party at Gaffelhaus, Berlin. After work, we went straight to Gendarmenmarkt, got into the party that had started at 11:11 sharp, changed into our somewhat minimalistic disguises (my Düsseldorf tee did the trick for me), and headed for the fun and the beer. Kölsch, but still.
Five hours later we staggered home - and we had meant to stay for an hour or two, at the most. Hope my headache won't be too bad at work tomorrow. ;)

Still on strike

Since more than a year now, Berlin community workers are fighting for higher wages. There were strikes and demonstrations, and today was one at Potsdamer Platz, close to the winterworld. I passed it on my way to work at ver.di headquarters. Hopefully, they'll reach their goal soon!
P.S. They did! Town council and union agreed on new working conditions and a pay rize on November 12th.

The night the holocaust started

70 years ago, in 1938, german nazis set fire to synagogues, homes and shops of their neighbours. They were jews, so the nazi government had decided they had to be ripped of everything and sent to the concentration camps. Many germans stood watching and even started looting. And the churches were closed to the refugees.
Today, the catholic and protestant congregation in Berlin held a commemorate march from the townhall past the Berlin dome and St. Hedwig cathedral to the synagogue at Oranienburger Str. to show they were ashamed, and urged to prevent racism and pogroms.
Though I am no christian, I joined the march to show I care.

A good meal and a good book

Yestrday, I bought two books by Obama, and started reading his memoirs "Dreams from my father" as soon as I got back from the bookshop. It's wonderfully written, and a great story. What a life, and it lead him to be president of the US!
Now I'm always carrying the book with me, and read whenever I find a free minute. Even at Tim's Canadian Deli, Winterfeldtplatz, where I had ordered the buffaloe burger. Hmmm, yummy!

Yes we can!

If you have a vision and a goal, you can summ up the strength and courage needed to work and get there.
That's more or less what the writings on the wall in this book and art shop close to Kleistpark say.
And that's what millions of Americans showed us during this last election. What a historical moment! Let's hope they will continue their fight and win, step by step.

Change has come to America!

Barack Obama is elected the first african-american president of the United States! What a historical moment! Congratulations!
Here's his speech on video in Chicago shortly after his election. Or read it here.
This is what I missed in Berlin whilst sleeping at home instead of celebrating. And this beautiful song by Daddy Hemingway.

Election day today

Even Homer votes for Obama. At least he gives his very best to do so.
And I'm not allowed to go out and celebrate with the Democrats abroad Berlin nor "Americans in Berlin & Brandenburg for Obama" at awesome 40seconds, including a huge buffet. :(
Well, if you have to stay at home to cure your cold, you have to stay at home. At least since I'm not working either, I will be able to watch CNN all night till the wee hours of the morning. With crossed fingers!

Winterwonderland reopened

Autumn passes fast in Berlin: At Potsdamer Platz Austrian winterwonderland with a huge toboggan run and lots of decorated wooden booths selling xmas presents, hot glühwein, hot food, and hot chocolate - ;) - was officially annouced open by Berlin Regierender Bürgermeister Wowereit yesterday. Austrian musicians and austrian wintermen Krampus helped him.
I passed it on my way to shopping healthy food to fight my cold - oranges, lemons, bananas and such. There are shops and markets a bit closer by, true, but the weather was lovely and walking in the fresh air is said to help with colds. Hope it works.

November traditions

The old pagan holidays of remembering the dead and taking care of their souls resp graves have survived in many places around the world, though in different customs. With globalisation, these traditions change.
Instead of walking through the neighbourhood with lanterns, singing and collecting sweets and fruit like we used to do in Rhenania when I was a kid, it's pumpkins and horror costumes all over Germany now. US companies like Coca-Cola brought Halloween to Europe.
All Saints Day is a time to celebrate in Mexico, as well, when people decorate their flats with these cute little skeletons. I found them in the mexican shop in Eisenacher Straße. (Is there anything you won't find in Berlin?)

Getting better

The weather is (sunshine in my livingroom), and Emil too. The new betablocker worked. He's running around the flat happily, crawling underneath lockers, jumping up and down couches and tables, relaxing on the window sill, looking down into the courtyard.
My flu is still going strong, though, I had to see the doctor. Now I'll be staying at home some more, living on hot tea, lemon, and home made chicken broth. No halloween parties for me tonight, neither in Waltrop with Hartmut, my collegue, celebrating his 50th anniversary, nor at Nah-Bar with CS-friends. Sigh.
Yeah well, autumn viruses, they always get me!

Goodbye, Tempelhof!

Berlin's first and most famous airport, Tempelhof International Airport, closes down. All day long, historic planes were coming and going. The very last flight will leave shortly before midnight tonight. On tv they show pictures of the airport through the years, almost a century, and of the party going on inside the building now, for VIPs only.
Outside, Berliners are crowding and demonstrating. At the main entrance, the noise of whistles and drums shows the protesters' fury and anger. They don't want the airport to be closed. Across the road, artists are celebrating, everybody is invited to join. At the eastern end of the airfield, more celebrations in Neukölln. Close by, near the fence surrounding the airfield, demonstraters are happy the airport in the middle of the city is closed now; they want the former military area to be transformed into a park, bigger than Central Park in New York.
I was feeling a bit better this afternoon, after staying in bed for two days (and nights), so I decided to have a last look. Since it was pouring down with rain, I took the bus to Tempelhof airport, and said goodbye, too. Not demonstrating, I'm fine without an airport close by. I cross my fingers they will not sell the ground and build more skyscrapers or posh buildings for the rich, but give the space to the people of Berlin.

Finally!

Emil is eating again! He had suffered for four days and refused to eat one small morsel and drink one little drop. He had a hard time, and I did, too.
As you can see, from all the delicacies I had offered him today (fresh meat, yogurt, titbits..), he slurped down the Kitekat cat meal. Well, he took a bite or two. But still.
Time to exhale!

Poor sicko!

Emil is sick again. His digitalis tablets seem to make him worse. Now he's quietly resting on the couch, not eating nor drinking, trying to get the poison out of his system. We'll have to go and see the vet tomorrow. I'm worrying.

New guests in Stuttgart

Yesterday, new guests arrived at Pfarrhausstraße: Louis (the black and white one) and his little sister (Emma? Sophiechen? Finchen?). They're small, wild cats, and Anna will try to get them accostumed to life with a human family. She had been asked by Katzenhilfe Stuttgart, and agreed, but was worried about how to tell the boys, Alex and Volker. Both were happy to have new kittens around, so no problem.
They're cute, those cats, hein!
P.S. Two days later, they were renamed Julchen and Theo.

A quick turkish snack

This week doesn't seem better than last: bad energy level, bad weather, bad health for me (not enough strength to fight my cold) and my dear tomcat (heart problems, and his digitalis medication doesn't help at all). Shit!
I only seem to find a teeny bit of time to have a hot snack at the newly opened restaurant at Hauptstraße, close to Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz, round the corner from my place. The food is great, I like their lahmacun best, 1,30 Euro only, and just delicious! But the pide I had at the cafe was great, too, albeit too rich for me. And the tea was hot and lovely and sweet! You would hardly notice this was a snack I had in Berlin, not Istanbul!

Sunday at home

Emil is snoring, whilst I relax after a day at home. No sun outside, so no walks, but I was feeling fine enough to stay indoors and do some work that had been neglected since so long.
I started with mending and sewing, went on to sorting papers and photos, and finally rearranged my books.
So many I haven't read yet! And I bought "Revolutions" by nobel prize winning author Le Clézio only last week!
Ah well, more cozy autumn and winter evenings to come, to cuddle up on my couch like Emil did all day today, sipping on hot tea, some soft music playing (jazz? most likely), and candles adding to the picture of comfortable laziness in general.
Like that I should easily make it through weeks of work and exercising!

An apple a day

is said to keep the doctor away. And browsing the web helps my health, too, as I learned from researches on older people using the internet. Well, besides social contacts, exercises, and eating healthy food (here you are again back to the apples).
My cold is not better, but not worse either, so I'm up to some walks in the autumn sun, which will improve my mood a lot, take a hot bath to improve my wellness, and cook and eat a nice autumn dish.
Feed a cold, starve a fever! Another old saying, that is so right!

What a week!

It's been ups and downs all through these days: A cold was slowly taking over, reducing my energylevel to something around nil.
All I mananged to do was go to work and do my very best (which wasn't actually much), take Emil by taxi to the vet almost every evening (problems after his surgery, he wouldn't eat nor drink, so lived on expensive infusions and medication - but it helped and now he's fine again), run around dark Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz to make it in time before the shops close to buy food, vitamines and some medicine for the two sickos, do a teeny weeny bit of shoulder exercise at home, and that's about it.
Yesterday I was feeling too bad to go to work, and spent the day at home. In bed. Emil loved it, of course. Hopefully relaxing this weekend will help me to get going again. And I had so hoped on enjoying a few exhibitions and - last, but not least, sigh - cleaning the flat!

Autumn dish

Sunday lunch was brussels sprouts (my all time favourite), purple potatoes ("Blue congo"), and Teltow turnips, all bought fresh on the markets. Unfortunately, I fried some tofu patty to go with it. Yuk. Never again. I hate tofu.
But the autumn veggies were lovely, and the apples I had for dessert as well!

Autumn celebrations

A week filled with work and sorrow (my dear tomcat Emil had a surgery - nothing special normally, but dangerous for his heart), and a weekend of sun and joy.
Emil is jumping around again as ever, less one tooth. Having it extracted was more expensive than all my travelling this year.
Kürbisfest in Schöneberg around Apostel-Paulus-Kirche attracted families and friends. I strolled along the booths with Sean from Couchsurfing, we enjoyed a concert with merry organ music in the church, and talks and walks around it. We bought apples (old varieties from my favourite apple shop), potatoes (violet), long forgotten turnips from Teltow, fresh walnuts, even a beautiful and warm winter hat in reds and browns and blacks matching my new beautiful and warm winter jacket - but no pumpkins!
Later, I went back alone to the pumpkin festival in the mild evening. Sunday will be lovely, too. Ahhhh, those golden October days!

Tàpies in Berlin

Instituto Cervantes opened a new exhibition of posters by catalan artist Tàpies with speeches, wine and tapas. I told my friends from Couchsurfing about it, and fourteen of us met to enjoy the opening together. Tàpies is a wonderful artist, I admire his works, his humour, and his political actions.
We had a great time, and might meet more often at the spanish cultural center. For exhibitions and movies, maybe next Monday already.