It's Xmas time...

Xmas is coming closer, with only 26 days to go. Today,the traditional norwegian Xmas tree was set up at Brandenburger Tor.
Shops were open in Berlin this afternoon, and most of the 60 (!) Xmas markets are waiting, so I took the chance to do some Xmas shopping after almost two weeks of staying at home with a cold and a sick cat.
I enjoyed walking around, admiring the beautiful booths, and even had some mulled wine - well, not actually wine: aronia and elderberry juice. Nice and hot, just right with the weather outside. Winter pleasures.

Swedish Xmas market

It's a tradition with me in Berlin: When the swedish community are holding their Xmas bazaar, I'm there to have a look around, buy some small Xmas gifts, and enjoy swedish food.
Today, Doris and Seàn joined me. We all needed cheering up: Doris because she had to give away one of her two cute tomcats (they didn't get on well together since months, what a pity), and Seàn and me because of our colds that seem to stay forever.
We only made it for just over an hour, but savoured every minute of it. And the pittypanna and pepperkakor we had.

At the vet's

We had an appointment at the vet's again today, Emil and I. My sweet tomcat seemed a lot better lately, eating and drinking more, and the daily infusions helped as well.
I was right, the vet told me: Emil had put on weight, and his kidneys are doing the best they can. Hopefully, with the treatment I will have to go on giving him, we can help his body. He might make it some more months, or even years. Let's hope for the best!

Finnish Xmas

My friend and collegue Doris and I met in front of this small house close to Marheinekeplatz in Kreuzberg for our first Xmas market this year. The finnish community had invited us to their traditional Xmas bazaar. Since I had loved to walk around their nicely decorated rooms all these last years, having some finnish Xmas delicacies and glöggi (mulled wine), and buying one of the nicely done Xmas presents and wreaths, we had to go again this Saturday.
They offered no Xmas dinner like before, alas, but delicious peasoup and flame salmon. And of course I had to buy sinappi, Fazer Mariannen chocolate, Fazer rye whole grain bread rolls, like every year, and - how lucky I was! - the Fazer karelian pies they had for the first time. Ah, those memories of Finland the food and drinks brought back to me!
Doris liked it that much, she went back again on Sunday with a friend of hers, whilst I was staying at home trying to get rid of my cold. Didn't work. Sigh.

November pleasures

November is supposed to be a month of moarning, sorrows, rain and grey sky. Instead, except for a few showers now and then, sun is shining, and last week at work was great. Lots of hours spent on new websites, and successfully so.
Otherwise, I spent most of my time at home, reading and taking care of Emil who still needs infusions every evening because of his bad kidneys. But he seems a lot better.
This afternoon I walked around Berlin center, passing the chestnut guy at Berlin main station close to the river. His roasted chestnuts smelled so good, I had to take some. Hmmm, delicious! Autumm treats...

Snow!

It's hardly November, and only a few days since sunny warm autumn days seemed to go on for ever. But look at this: Snow in front of my window at work! Nice!
Even though now we know for sure it will be winter soon.