How tiredness can mess with my brain

After an emotionally good start to my life in Bavaria, I woke up on Tuesday morning feeling really grumpy. I had gone to bed at 23:00, feeling really tired but somehow couldn’t go to sleep for hours. The bed isn’t the most comfortable. In fact, the mattress which is made up of three cushions like pieces is way too soft, the pillow to big and firm. And with the earplugs in, and my eye mask on, I became paranoid about not being able to hear anyone breaking in. I must have eventually drifted off, only to wake up at 5am... I nodded off for a little longer and when I woke up, I saw my friend’s friend’s message saying that she was cancelling meeting me. Needless to say that this didn’t cheer me up...I was thus in a ‘F*ck all of this’-why am I doing this – mood.

The logical side of my brain was still working though, so I set about doing my ‘task’ for the day, which meant signing up for health insurance. And just chatting to the nice man, who was also able to find my social security number in the system, cheered me up. I then decided to go a little bike ride. Despite pollen everywhere, my hayfever wasn’t too bad and I really enjoyed the ride and the beautiful landscape, with the alps in the not so far distance. Everything was quiet and peaceful with only few other cyclists around.

For the rest of the afternoon, I am trying to resist the urge to nap, as that would most definitely mess with tonight’s sleep. And I better not be grumpy on my first day at work. First impressions and that...

How I missed German bureaucracy!

I spent Monday morning sorting my admin. Starting with getting registered. Contrary to the UK, the German state expects you to tell them where you live. All within one week of moving. You of course need to proof of your new address which can be either a tenancy agreement or at least confirmation from the house owner that you indeed live where you claim to live. My landlord had written a handwritten note to that effect. And admittedly, the note could have really been written by anyone. Fortunately, the guy who was dealing with me was very nice. His colleague on the other hand clearly thought I was up to no good. My landlord has the same name as his father. Who passed away years ago. I got the impression she was feeling very smug in thinking she had caught me out, when telling me that the gentleman had already passed away. Well, do your research properly, missy!

Anyway, it was all sorted in the end. I also applied for my police check. He wasn’t able to tell me, whether the German police would really bother to check with the English police that I had been a good girl... I doubt it, given that I only paid €13 for it. I was then sent upstairs, in order to officially declare that I no longer wanted to belong to the institution that is the Roman Catholic Church. Which cost me €31!!! The civil servant offered some explanation of why this is done the way it is. All very informative. This decision has nothing to do with my faith by the way, and all to do with me not wanting to pay church taxes. Whenever I explain this to a non-German, they think I am joking. I don’t actually know whether any other country levies a church tax.

I then went to investigate my mobile phone and internet options. I could only find an o2 and Vodafone shop. As Vodafone only offered internet for a fixed term, the decision was easy. Until it turned out that o2 were happy to let me have a contract for my phone and a contract for the internet – but refused to let me pay for my phone in monthly instalments. As I couldn’t be bothered to research other options, I agreed to pay for the phone upfront. I then cycled back home (btw, I am really enjoying the cycling so far! It’s all flat here, and there are super wide cycle lanes everywhere!) and went to set up my phone and internet. Feeling very smug about my efficiency.

I then tried to sign up for health insurance which I thought I could do online. I of course hadn’t checked the online form properly and had overlooked that it needed a signature... And I of course don’t have a printer. So, I shall visit the branch here in Rosenheim and hopefully get that sorted.

After I went for a quick shop, I ran into Maria, who lives downstairs. The house was lived in by my landlord’s parents. And Maria is one of two carers who looked after his mother for the last five years. His Dad passed away quite some time ago. His mother passed away in April, but he’s still employing the two carers to look after the house. Maria is from Hungary and comes over for a few weeks at a time. She clearly likes to chat and has been very sweet to me, so when she offered me a coffee, I decided to spend some time with her. 

Now, I am not very good with old/elderly people. But I needn’t have worried, as she was able to keep up the conversation all by herself. I spent more than an hour on the terrace with her, and – amongst others – was shown a lot of her photos on her tablet (yes, she has a tablet and contrary to me, knows how to use it). This also included photos of the deceased which to be honest, I could have done without ever seeing... I left feeling slightly depressed about getting old.

And the evening ended with chatting online to my friends, which was very nice :-)

Part 2 of my 'home coming' weekend

Sunday morning, I lazed around in bed, got up, had my shower, read for a bit, just to have another nap... S then came to pick me up for my first flat viewing. Very peaceful, residential, rural area. Great flat, with the option for me to take over all the furniture for €2,000. Plus a massive room in the cellar for storage and a garage for my future car (whenever I finally work out what to get).

Then S and I sat in the sun, and chatted. And got sunburned... Had ice cream from the petrol station (it will be tough getting used to everything else being closed on a Sunday. I will to plan what I want to eat on Sundays now!!!).

I then went back to my place to read, decided to have a nap instead - when S messaged to invite me to have dinner with her and some friends at the Greek restaurant which turned out to be just round the corner from my new office. Greek restaurants are the only place where I ALWAYS order the same. Maybe it’s a childhood thing, but the Gyros is simply the best! Dinner came to €11 – I’ll be saving so much money on restaurants!!!

And that concluded my first weekend in Rosenheim. I do hope that by the time I start work, I’ll feel less tired. Given that the last couple of months have been crazy busy (in the best way possible), my body is just catching up on sleep, I suppose. Oh, and S also gave me her late grandmother’s bike (not sure her Mum was that happy, but her Grandpa gave his blessing and showed me how to use it – and yes, I know how to ride a bike, otherwise, this would probably be madness. Not sure whether he thought, I was going to teach myself...). And yes, I also cannot believe how lucky I am!

Hello from Germany

I still have to catch up on a lot of stuff from the previous weeks, but I'll start with Saturday - the day of the big move!

A took me to the airport and of course I cried. I am a girl after all! But again I felt strangely calm leaving my place and I think it might be, because I know I will be back. Well, not to that particular flat, but back to London. At the airport, I of course picked the slowest check in queue. I didn’t mind though as I was three hours early for the flight. When it was finally my turn, I was told that I had two kg to many (across the two suitcases I had paid for). I was so tempted to just pay the £65... but after the check in staff’s encouragement, I went away and managed to squeeze another two kg from one of the suitcases into my hand luggage with the promise I wouldn’t have to queue again. So, off I went – but of course the couple I pushed in front of weren’t best pleased. Well, what can I say: same thing had happened to me, so I didn’t feel bad.

All checked in, I headed to Giraffe for food. And started chatting on whatsapp throughout the wait, which reinforced my thought that while I might be alone here in Germany, I won’t ever feel lonely, with my friends all around the world being there for a chat.

I then slept through most of the flight and was greeted by S at Munich airport. I still cannot believe my luck and will be forever grateful that she came back all the way from Frankfurt to pick me up AND carry my heavy suitcases up two floors to my new (temporary) home. As well as stopping at the supermarket for a quick shop of the essentials – remember, shops are closed on Sundays!

Now that I’ve moved it feels strangely ‘normal’ – as if it was all meant to be. I’m not sure my brain has fully processed that this will be ‘home’ for the foreseeable future though.

The flat looks exactly like in the photos and I already feel at home here. Not for good, I shall add. The prospect of living in a bigger place with sufficient space for my clothes, my sewing machine and of course all my lovely friends who will come to visit, is one of the things I’ve been looking forward to.

After unpacking, I then met S and her friend F for dinner and chats at an Italian place. When I got home at around midnight, I was ready for bed. Well, I first read the two leaving cards I had gotten from friends which of course made me cry. But mixed in with the sadness of missing them being around me, they were really tears of joy of having such incredible people in my life!

Unfortunately, there are no blinds in the place, but as luck has it, I packed one of those airline eye-sleeping masks, which are really essential unless you want to get up super early. To my surprise, there’s more noise from the street, than there was in my old place in London! And I couldn't find my earplugs...

there will always be more cloud pictures!

More to follow...

such a dummy

Since booking the removal company, I've been worrying about all the things that could go wrong: With restricted parking in my area and our concierge not necessarily being the most helpful, I thought they might have to park miles away.
I worried that I had way more stuff then what I booked the van for.
I worried that they wouldn't show up at all.

I did not consider that I'd forget to ask them to take the content of a couple of my kitchen drawers... Or that they would forget to empty the bottom drawer in my bedroom.

Over the last week, I've really started to enjoy chucking stuff away. So, there's always a solution.

less is more

What I learned today:
If you have less stuff cluttering your place, your place appears much more spacious.

In other news: I walked into the door frame (literally - it is not a euphemism for having been hit). So, for once, I will know where the big bruise on my upper arm comes from when it appears tomorrow.

filthy

I pledge to keep my next flat tidier and cleaner than this one. Bloody hell, I clearly haven't hovered in some corners of this place in forever. Or simply ever...

Dear Ruth and Becca

If you are reading this, then you will have either managed to find my blog - in which case: Congratulations!! or I will have simply given you the link.
Either way: don't judge! ;-)

Oh, Bradley

Saw The Elephant Man at the Royal Haymarket Theatre tonight. I haven't seen the film nor knew too much about the story. It's touching and sad and Bradley is amazing. It's still on until August, but I am not sure whether tickets are still available. I booked the day the tickets went on sale back in December - that's the probably the furthest I ever planned ahead. And it was so worthwhile.

Walking back to Green Park, I was taking in all the impressive buildings around Piccadilly Circus. F*ck, I will miss London

wasteful

I honestly want to bin half my stuff. Well, maybe not quiet half. But a lot. So, why did I keep it in the first place? I feel really wasteful though to just throw stuff away, so I am packing most up for the charity shop and also brought a bag full of hotel toiletries, a number of notepads and various goody bag items (including tea and alcohol) to the office.

Still so much to sort through... Arghhhhhhh

Painful

Less than a week to go now and I am starting to feel rather overwhelmed by it all. This morning, A packed at least 10 bags of clothes/shoes/books and other stuff into her car to be taken to the charity shop. And that's just a mini fraction of my stuff. And I don't even have furniture!

I'm beginning to think that changing jobs (after seven years in the same place) and moving city and country at the same time, might not have been such a great idea after all. It doesn't help that I am feeling quite emotional about it, and at several times during the day, I just want to burst into tears. I hope I get a grip on myself quickly as my new employer might not be keen on a crying wreck...

And yes, I am also excited about it all. And I am grateful and I feel it's a good thing that I feel sad about leaving as it means that I have really enjoyed my life here, especially in the last couple of years. But I guess, at the back of my mind, I am still asking myself whether I made the right decision.

I'll find out soon.

And another bruise - at the back of my thigh - which I can't explain

No boredom

Discount on Burda patterns. And I went a little crazy...

I have been changed for good

...it well may be

that we will never meet again

in this lifetime

so let me say before we part

so much of me

is made of what I learned from you

you'll be with me

like a hand-print on my heart

and now whatever way our stories end

I know you have re-written mine

by being my friend...

More than a year ago, I posted other parts of the lyrics of the For Good song from Wicked. And I have to admit that I cannot remember a) how I came across the song nor b) who I had in mind when writing it.

I used the theatre voucher I got for one of my work projects to finally go and see Wicked at the Apollo theatre in London (previously an Art deco cinema) yesterday. I did like a number of their songs, absolutely loved their costumes and overall enjoyed the show. But I have to say it didn't quite stand up to all the positive comments I had heard. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind either.

And yes, as you may imagine, a number of the songs made me cry. Standard really. And the above lyrics seem especially poignant, of course.

There's always more

...food, of course.

Comptoir Libanais in Soho

To be honest the mezze platter for two would have been sufficient. And we would have then still had space for dessert. But the Sojok Man'ousha and the Fattet Moussaka were delicious even when I was pretty full already. Greedy - moi??? Never!

Exit strategy

Strategy retreat in Bristol and networking on a boat. What a beautiful day it was in Bristol on Monday! Too bad I spent most of it indoors.

Nice to catch up and say goodbye and to enjoy the warm summer evening outside, with some Somerset cider. Work CAN be fun! :-)

It's started

Less than two weeks to go now. I'm still not counting the days though but the goodbyes are starting.

Afternoon tea at Kingsway Hall - thanks C!

Bacon naan at Dishoom near King's Cross - such a cool place!!!

Cocktails and views

Square Pear and views that make the Shard look small from City Social in Tower 42 on the 24th floor

#manners

Is it just me, or is it a bit rude and most of all unnecessary to slag off films in my DVD collection when visiting my place?

I've got to eat

I've never been on a diet. Not properly anyway. I lack the determination to follow it through and I like food too much, and am not keen on depriving myself of the little pleasures in the here and now. When I moved out for university, I remember thinking that one of the greatest advantages was to only ever eat what I fancied (there were pretty strict rules about eating whatever my mum cooked at home as well as pretty strict rules of stuff my mum would just not buy). I also remember a very brief period where I made myself eat cottage cheese and crispbread in order to lose weight. And no, it didn't work, nor did it last.

My brother has been telling me about his no carbs diet: meat and veg. Veg not even necessary. Not sure I like the sound of that, especially as I absolutely love bread and pasta. I am considering making a start by cutting down on sugar (once I finished the box of chocolates).

Half the stuff on the Grain Store menu means nothing to me, but the food always tastes delicious!
Changed from my usual Pad Thai to this pork dish at Banana Tree which was also really yummy!

Duck, pork belly, aubergine, carrot and apple cake at Ottolenghi

THAT staircase

P and J are in the UK and it was lovely (I use that word a lot, don't I?) to see them for dinner at the Grain Store. They were staying at the Renaissance hotel and got an upgrade to one of the suites. Which was simply amazing. I was especially taken by the massive bathroom with its free standing bathtub and the chaise longue - every bathroom should have one! 

Only hotel guests are allowed up the impressive staircase. Giggling and taking pictures, the security guard clearly thought we couldn't possibly be guests...

The bathroom is approximately as big as my whole flat...

The staircase that features in the Spice Girl's Wannabe video

Home. The other home

The new European Central Bank, Oosten bar/restaurant at the Main and flying home again

Heidelberg

I seem to be getting an expert in packing as much stuff into as little time as possible... On my recent trip to Germany, I managed to squeeze in a visit at my friend's in Heidelberg, my sister's wedding party in Ulm, and hanging with my brother in Frankfurt.

I've been to Heidelberg a few times and it's worrying me slightly, that I have no idea why I went the last time I did. I remember going up to the castle and staying with a friend I had met in Hamburg. But I have no recollection when that was and also why I went. I somehow feel that I did other stuff during that trip, visiting other people, but I just cannot work it out. Given that I have a great memory for all sorts of other, useless crap, I cannot work out what is happening here.

Anyway, it was super hot and very lovely and I laughed a lot. Further proof (not that I needed any) that you will always have a connection with some people, even after not seeing each other in years.

Neckarwiese, University library and a mini Haxe at the University canteen

The obligatory Schnitzel and the castles

perspective

To all the people who think I have a lot of shoes:

My brother's ever growing awesome sneaker collection. Which always makes me dream of a walk-in-wardrobe. I have a feeling that I am getting closer to fulfilling that dream!

SURPRISE!

A lovely surprise was waiting for me on my return to the office:

With the sweetest note. Thanks so much to lovely AP - one of the many wonderful people I met through my job. 

Life is good.

She does, he does, they do

After getting married in Salisbury in April, my sister and her husband now celebrated with friends and family in Germany. A ceremony planned exactly how they wanted it. It was freakishly hot during the day and the heavy rain set in about 5 minutes after the band stopped playing - it all worked out well.

With a professional photographer present, I decided to not bother taking any photos with my lousy phone camera.

So, after my short trip to Germany, where I also caught up with a school friend and my brother, I'm back in London for the final countdown. Blog updates may be delayed for a little while.

J&J

Thanks, Time Out, for a couple of free tickets to a preview of the new movie Spy. Not a movie I would have otherwise watched, but I thought it was hilarious! I LOVED Jason Statham! It's just a bit of a mystery to me how Miranda Hart got a role in the movie.

PS: The other J is of course Jude Law.

tweet

Maybe I need to join twitter after all. So I can get automatic updates from various celebrities' twitter accounts. Recently discovered Anna Kendrick's account.

Weekend brunch at Camden Roundhouse

So much food. Too much food. Remember to book early as they tend to get fully booked. Also worth coming for 11:00 when the brunch starts and stay until 15:00 and keep eating.

unlimited sweets on the left and my baked egg with merguez sausage on the right;
boozy bottomless options are available