mark my words

My back has been rather bad lately. Not sure whether it's progress or deterioration: nowadays, walking is painfree, but sitting isn't. When it used to be the other way round.

It was so bad, that I even skipped the back exercise class this week. Which I know is potentially counterproductive but I really didn't think I'd be able to follow the class. I really, really hope that this is teaching me the valuable lesson to exercise regularly whenever my back isn't in such a bad state.

Sam Allardyce and me

After just 67 days, Big Sam's dream of being the England footy manager came to an end. Due to the things he said at a meeting with a fake company which turned out to be the press. One does wonder what kind of advisers this man has, that this even happened.

Here's the lesson that I am taking away from this: don't bitch about people. It's best only to say things about people, you'd be happy for said people to hear directly from you. Yesterday I came across a live stream about Why we do things to impress others, which I figure was part of Sam's intentions. While there surely is an element of trying to put oneself on a pedestal, based on my own experience, it also has to do with simply wanting to be liked. Which of course we also assume will be beneficial to us.

Moreover, talking shit about people results in wasting my precious time dwelling on negativity. Nothing good can possibly come from this.

*ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*

Last night I was babysitting a friend's 4 year old toddler. Such a cutie! I resisted his requests to watch cartoons. When you get asked every 10 minutes to switch on the telly, 90 minutes can seem like a long time... Fortunately he is still at an age where he doesn't know how to operate the remote himself.

We did jigsaws, read books and played with his train tracks. But the most fun was had by shouting at each other. Quite an unusual game I'd say, but it made him giggle uncontrollably - and made me worry that the neighbours might think, I am trying to kill him...

the tall blokes

My first basketball games. And Rosenheim lost against Cotbus, who had only just gotten promoted... The atmosphere was fun though, not least as I got a free ticket (and a chocolate cupcake).

can you spot the one lucky bloke who gets to mingle with the cheerleaders?!

the diet ALWAYS starts tomorrow

Christmas goodies have arrived in our supermarkets and I for once don't believe that gingerbread & co should only be consumed in winter. They are yummy throughout the year, right?!

and while I was at it, I also got lots of chocolate....

listen and learn

Or maybe: Learn and listen.
Or: Learn to listen.

My current job is proving that it's a widespread myth that women like to talk. In as much as that men clearly also like to talk. A good exercise for me of course to hone my listening skills. And realize that one of the things that gives me most pleasure is to be listened to and valued for what I have to say.

Third Monday of getting up at 6:15am and it is getting a little easier each time. Nonetheless I am delighted that next Monday is a bank holiday! Also, being out of the house for 14 hours is simply not something I could and would want to do on a daily basis.

the nude model

Thursday I was making my way to Munich for the second part of the How to start your own business seminar. I was just about to buy my train ticket, when I got approached by a guy, asking me whether I'd like to share his Bavaria train ticket with him. I've done this once before, and was then stuck with a weird old lady... But in true Karma style, this turned out differently.

I had a lovely chat and the train journey went by in no time. It's those kind of encounters I truly treasure. And as superficial as this is, I do enjoy looking at a pretty face ;-)

no doubt about it

Yesterday at the Turkish supermarket:
The lady at the checkout comments on my 'outfit': pink rain coat, pink cotton shopper, pink nails.
She asks whether my earrings are also pink. Which they aren't.
Why not, she asks.
Well, that would have been overkill, of course. You've got to strike the balance right!
I laugh and say: well, it sure brightens up your mood instantly, don't you think.
To which she agreed.

Also, on the way there, I ran into the guy I taught English at the kids' home. He seems well, has started his apprenticeship and moved back home. After 7 or 8 years. He said things are going all right. Which is great.
I also ran into my neighbour.
Does that mean I am a proper local now?

social exhaustion

What a week it has been. Full of social interactions, some short, some long, with new people and friends. It doesn't come as a surprise anymore that as much as I enjoy them and need them in my life, they also draw energy to a certain extent. 

Tired but happy, I will go to bed tonight and am looking forward to a lie in tomorrow (which generally means waking up before 8am anyway).

Life is good.

just my kind

The new Volkshochschule (adult education) Semester has started and as per usual, full of motivation, I had signed up to a blackroll class. I had bought the blackroll months ago, and - despite a DVD with instructions - have yet to use it. I figured that a class might be a good starting point which would increase the likelihood of me using it regularly at least a tiny bit. The class was due to start yesterday and Monday afternoon I got a call, that the call was cancelled due to lack of attendees. Back to the drawing board.

Fortunately, I found another class focusing on back exercises. Also useful. The class takes place Wednesdays from 9:30-10:30. Not least due to the timing, I anticipated a room full of pensioners. And I wasn't wrong. Well, not quite a full room but 6 other people. And a lovely instructor. The class was really good and I wouldn't say it was too easy for me at all. No surprise there given how unfit I am...

Making friends with the ladies will be a tough task though as they have been going to this class for years. I ran into one of them when I arrived and she seemed taken aback that I even said Good morning to her. I then also committed the crime of taking 'her' mat (not on purpose, of course, I simply settled on one of the mats in the room). She came up to me and suggested I move. No explanation either. The only man in the class seems to be the most fun, too. Maybe, I'll befriend him.

the end of Brangelina

Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from Brad Pitt today. The TV news ended with the 'silver lining': two beautiful people are single again.
Aha

German bureaucracy

Having my own business has been my dream for a while. Only that I cannot work out what I'd like that business to be. I figured it'd make sense to find out what I'd need to do to set up a business and I therefore I attended a 2 hour seminar about business start ups. And what can I say: how on earth so many people go through with it, is a mystery to me!!! Just listening to all the bureaucratic crap bored me terribly.
Part 2 follows next week.

Where did you see yourself in the last five years?

I love museum shops. Occasionally it might happen that I spent more time in the shop than the museum... When I visited the Haus der Kunst in Munich last weekend, I came across a cool 5 year diary that you can easily (and more cheaply) do yourself:
At the top of every page you enter the date of the day. Every page has space for five short entries. So, you write something every day and when the year is over, you start again. Of course I can kind of do this with my blog, too, as I write most days, but there is something about having five years condensed on one small A5 page. Maybe a project to start on 1 January 2017.

morning madness

Once again life has proven that things can change in an instant. Last week, I went from no jobs to two jobs. So, on Monday I found myself on a 7:29 train to Munich. Luckily I got one of the very rare parking spaces at the station. It's crazy but at 7:00 most spaces are already taken! I stayed in Munich over night, and had a note left on my car when I returned Tuesday night. A stranger asking me to not block two parking spaces next time. I share his pain, as there are a lot of idiots who park so selfishly that space is wasted. But my guess is that he left the note on Tuesday morning, when the car that was parked in front of mine on Monday wasn't there anymore. And I agree that it then would have looked as if I was one of the idiots...

Anyhow, this dire parking lot situation made me take drastic measures. I took an even earlier train on Wednesday. Honestly, why do so many people start work so early???
Again, I luckily got a parking space only to arrive at the platform to see that the train had a 5 minute delay. As it happens, the S Bahn was also delayed, which meant mine was waiting for me, when I got into Munich East late. On the way back though, it took me 2.5 bloody hours to get home. So, I decided to only go into the office once and not twice a week. Can you imagine wasting 5 hours a day on commuting?

I will say that the Alps in the distance did cheer me up a little

RIP Anna Swabey

Anna Swabey sadly lost her fight against cancer today, just a day before she was due to get married. She set up a blog to write about her journey and set up a fundraising campaign.

Isn't it weird that we all know that we are going to die and that life can cruelly be cut very short even, and still we waste so much time on unimportant things. News like this remind us how precious our life is and nonetheless are forgotten shortly after. Is it a coping mechanism of sorts? How would we live our lives if we were conscious every single minute of every single day of its finite nature?

more quotes

I have 29 blog entry drafts. Some of them date back to more than two years ago. Mostly, I can't remember why I started a draft but never finished or published it. The other day, I wanted to cite the below Shakespeare quote, but of course I couldn't remember how exactly it went, nor did I remember it was by Shakespeare. So, here you go:

Nothing is either good or bad but thinking makes it so.
William Shakespeare

If it is important to you, you will find a way. If not, you’ll find an excuse.
Unknown

Accept your past without regret, handle your present with confidence, and face your future without fear.
Unknown

PS: I am pretty sure that I will have forgotten the exact wording of the Shakespeare quote by tomorrow the latest...

you've got to do what you've got to do

I just signed up for the NLP Practitioner course which starts in November. It's run by the same trainer who did the NLP course I attended in June and who I really liked. I've been mulling this over for weeks now, as I worried about not being able to complete the course, which finished next May. And then I realized that it's not about potentially losing money but about needing the feeling that I can pack up and move anywhere, at any time. And while €2,000 is a significant investment, it's also a financial loss I could bear if necessary.
So, it's back to 'school' from November :-)

YUM

The weather is way too hot for my liking... but at least it means that one basically HAS TO eat ice-cream! Flavours of the day: matcha green tea and lemon-mint. Absolutely delicious!

When things go according to plan...not

When I moved to Rosenheim, I joined a number of meet ups. Unfortunately, other than the start up group and one meditation group (which turned out to be a bit too weird for my taste), they are all in Munich. And spending 23EUR on a train ticket, plus the time to get there plus going there after work, meant that I never attended any of them.

That was meant to change this weekend: there is an international girls group - women who are either from abroad living in Munich or Germans who lived abroad and are now back. Meet up was at the Eisbachwelle in the English Garden, where the cool dude surf, and the less cool people watch them. Planned was a walk along the river and then coffee.

After an extensive internal debate, I felt rather virtuous for deciding to walk to the station instead of taking the car (partly, cause I wasn't sure whether I could get a parking slot at the station at that time of day...). Lucky for me, I arrived 15 minutes before the train was due which meant I was one of the first people to find out that there were no trains because of an emergency something or other (rumour had it that it was because a person on the track). Thus, I was one of the first people on the replacement bus and got a seat. Replacing a whole train with ONE bus is of course a bit tricky. The bus was absolutely packed with lots of people standing, no air con on a very hot day. And the majority of passengers didn't even get on the bus. 

The bus then took forever to get to Grafing, along some winding roads. Another 15 minute wait for the S Bahn and another 10 minutes on the bus. And of course I didn't make it in time. In a way I was glad I was half an hour late rather than having missed the group by just 5 minutes. 

After watching the surfer dudes, I went to the Haus der Kunst - one of the art museums I hadn't yet been to. 12EUR entry and - unless I missed something - not very much to see. They had a Michael Buthe exhibition on, which had some interesting pieces as well as the installation in the large entrance hall. But compared to the amount of stuff that is on display at the Tate in London for example, this was a joke. And the Tate is free to go into, too.

I was done in less than an hour and decided to go into town, searching for a pair of really cool shoes I had spotted on the H&M website. But of course, none of the branches I went to, had them in store... So, I bought a different pair. And some underwear. Having spent the 23EUR on the train ticket, it seemed to make sense to make the trip to the city worthwhile and spend even more money.

Here comes the amazing revelation of the day: I am pretty sure that something like this would have pissed me off quite badly in a 'previous life'. While I wasn't best pleased about how the day turned out, I felt rather untouched by it all. It reminds me of one of the first lessons I heard from the wonderful Buddhist nun at the meditation class in London: about how when your car breaks down, getting upset about it, won't change the fact that it broke down.

the surfer dudes - they even have a sofa!

I loved the monitor people!

more, always more

The other day, while I was at the department store to buy a zip, I saw some beautiful pale pink woolly fabric on sale for 4.99€. I returned home and searched the web for a suitable coat pattern. I actually have a coat pattern I haven't yet used, and incidentally the coat on the picture is made of a similar fabric, but somehow I wasn't feeling it. I shortlisted four patterns and returned to the store the next day to see whether they had the patterns. And they did. All four of them. I stared at all of them and one by one reduced them down - to the one, I had already kind of singled out during my internet search...

Then I spotted another baby blue woolly fabric, also for just 4.99€. Things were getting complicated. I went back and forth between the two fabrics, touching them, holding the pattern envelope next to them, occasionally getting distracted by other fabric and FINALLY decided to go with the pale blue one for the simple reason that it is not as thick and therefore will be easier to sew with.

And while I was at it, I also got this blue stretch fabric for a dress. I usually always buy at least 2 metres of everything and always end up with scrap - never enough to make anything else with it though. For once, I wanted to be more economical and just got 1.60m. To realize at home that I would have needed more for the wrap dress I had in mind... Anyway, thanks to the numerous patterns I possess, I have already picked an alternative pattern.

And in case you are wondering: of course I haven't even started on the coat that I bought fabric for about three weeks ago...

envy is ugly

Envy is a very ugly feeling. I occasionally let the envy monster in but I'd like to think that I don't act on it, that I am self-aware and notice the feeling and not let it rule my behaviour. Amongst friends, envy is an absolute no go for me and I don't accept excuses. Yes, envy is human and it happens but I don't want friends who act on it. No matter what the circumstances.

As timing is everything, I came home to find this article in my inbox: 

Why discomfort is good for you

"...Conversely we hate discomfort, especially the kind that challenges our own preferences, assumptions, and beliefs. When it shows up, we often attack or avoid..."

"...

-  Do you avoid being around people who do not think like you?

- Are you slow to let go beliefs or ideas that no longer serve you?

- Do you struggle to say "I don't know"?

- Do you have a hard time admitting when you are wrong?

- Are you easily angered by criticism, even when it's helpful?

- Do you see anyone who disagrees with your worldview as wrong, bad, or evil?

..."

To me that is a key message in coaching: being conscious of all of the above, and leaving your comfort zone. That doesn't necessarily mean that you need to abandon your beliefs and adopt somebody else's. But how about we take a moment to consider whether there is another way to see things that might help you to progress. 

Two years in the making

Well, not quite. But I bought this fabric two years ago in Hong Kong. Together with a pile of other fabric, that I also still haven't used. When I buy fabric, I more often than not, don't know what exactly I will use it for. Which then leads to it sitting around, as I can't decide what pattern to use.

I finally settled on this Burda 7178, the sleeveless version with a collar. I really like the V-neck at the back as well as how the collar lies at the back. I am not so convinced with the collar at the front though. But it might grow on me. I am already working on a second version in a tartan fabric without the collar.

The pattern's smallest size was a 12, which fits nicely on my hips but is too big at the top. I had to resew the zip in order to make it tighter, as there was some ugly gaping at the back. I also adjusted the darts to that effect. For now, I make my adjustment on the basis of trial and error really. This is something I'd really like to improve on.

again and again

I am still amazed how things manifest in my life. The 'good' as well as the 'bad'.

One of the things that annoys me most in others, is when people refuse to take responsibility. It appears 'easier' to blame others. When it really isn't - cause you cannot change others, but you can change yourself. I wonder to what extent this is something that I still do myself and whether that is why it annoys me so much in others.

empathy - or pathetic?

Despite being a massive Ricky Gervais fan, I had never watched The Office. Not entirely sure why/ But I have finally caught up with the cult series. And of course, I absolutely loved it!
I savoured all the DVD extras, too. The second series includes a video commentary, which also shows the final scene being shot, and the actors and crew watching the footy together etc. They were all no-names at the time and probably nobody predicted the series to become so famous. And it brought tears to my eyes. It was as if I could feel the excitement and fun and pride of having being part of the project.  No worries: not in the sense, that I imagined having been part of it!

I noticed this quite a lot recently, when watching films or reading books and I get so emotional. Maybe it's just hormones?!

good news and bad news

I finally had my car checked.
It cost me 250EUR.
And I need to take it back to get the back brakes checked.
And that might cost me another 316EUR.
And I will need to be a bit quicker and get it sorted before the MOT in November... Which incidentally, I of course also need to remember to organize.
Bloody car...

Back in (Banksy) style

The end of my nail polish abstinence has come:

I bought those and quite a few other decals years ago and somehow hardly ever used them. It's really easy: you cut the individual design, put it in water for 15-20 seconds, then put the plastic onto your dried nail, and fix with top coat. Cute, no?

Bambi on a plate

1) Proud to have driven the 23 km to Aschbach - thanks to googlemaps without getting lost
2) Savoured amazing food at the Aschbacher Hof.
3) Enjoyed the panoramic view with the mountains at the horizon.
4) Made a spontaneous decision. At least I think I did.

such a laugh

Lunch with my neighbours on Friday, dinner on Saturday. Lucky to have met such lovely people.
Also, they helped me get rid of my sofabed. I had gotten the sofabed for free from a friend of a friend when I moved here last year. Some weeks ago, I noticed mould on it. Which is rather unfortunate and I also can't quite work out how it got there. As I can't remove the cover, and also as it looked tatty to start with, I researched how to get rid of it. My neighbour agreed to drive it to the dump in his trailer. While we got it outside, he then had the idea of leaving outside, at the curb to the main road passing the house. I added a note to say that it was for the taking but highly doubted anyone would want it. But - lo and behold - it found a new home. Money saved and somebody else is happy about the freebie.

The mould is starting to cause me concern though. I also found some on my suitcase, which is in the corner of my bedroom. And on one pair of shoes in my show cabinet int the hallway. I've started to vigorously air my flat, hoping that it will help. I wonder whether having the heating on during autumn/winter prevented the mould from growing until now. Despite the hot weather, it never gets warm in my flat, but of course I don't have the heating on either. Those are the kind of issues I hate to deal with...

in the sky

I was walking across the mini Oktoberfest with a friend the other day. She suggested getting on the Ferris wheel. While we were queuing, she spotted the Star Flyer though - so we moved over there. And this is where my brain works in mysterious ways: the warning includes a note that people with spinal problems are advised not to go on the ride. I am scared of heights. I've been on a similar thing in London and was terrified.

And somehow, I still find myself getting a ticket and queuing with sweaty palms.
BUT it actually turned out to be very pleasant! It didn't aggravate my back and seeing the mountains go past on the horizon was a pretty sight.

I suppose that is the key also: that I subconsciously remember that doing things I feel hesitant or even scared about, pay off.

the good old to do list

I'm very organized. I like to plan. I like to take action.
And still there are times when I procrastinate. I can't really explain it. But sometimes, just making a simple phone call becomes a challenge.

For more than six months I've been meaning to get my car serviced. I added it to my to do list in my phone, together with some other things. All of which I did. Except for that one. The other day, I wrote myself a to do list for the day. Top of the list: to make an appointment. And it finally worked! With difficulties and including a couple of follow up calls, but a date is now in the diary! WIN!!!!!!!!

adjustments

I did this top a few years ago, weirdly I seem to have never posted it on my blog. The cleavage was quite low for my liking, so I adapted the pattern. And as I didn't have enough fabric, I also had to adapt the collar bit slightly. It's quite unusual for me to adapt patterns, primarily as I lack the skills and also because I am lucky enough that sewing something according to the pattern usually fits me reasonably well.

It needs a bit of ironing... And I clearly didn't measure the collar bit very well as the knot is meant to be in the middle. But as it happens, I quite like it a bit asymmetrical. I thought a bit of color would look nice, and went to buy a burgundy read zip (not visible in the photos, it's on the side), and burgundy bias binding. Or so I thought. Instead of bias binding, I got seam tape. Which I've never used before.

I used it on the armholes. Only to decide that I didn't like the splash of color after all. I have the association that it looks as if a bra strap is visible. As I hate undoing seams very much, I simply sewed it to the inside instead. I'm a true professional... Lastly, I also didn't bother with the facings - anything that gets me to the finished garment quicker ;-)

New Look 6808

And in comparison, the first version I did:

seriously???

Just saw this job advert:

Für eine gut situierte Familie in Rosenheim suchen wir eine weibliche Haushaltshilfe aus Thailand.Anforderungen sind: Kenntnisse in der thailändische Küche, Anwendung von Thai-Massagen und guten bis sehr guten Deutschkenntnisse.Höflichkeit, Empathie und sympatisches Aussehen sollen Ihre Stärke sein.

In English:
For a well off family in Rosenheim, we are looking for a female help from Thailand.
Requirements: knowledge of the Thai cuisine, Thai massages and good/very good German knowledge.
Politeness, empathy and a nice look should be your strength.

WTF????

before and after

I binned my old fake-leather jacket when I left London last year, as it was falling apart. And for the past year, I've been looking for a replacement. Spontaneously I bought this one. Again, no real leather, and for just 25EUR, we'll see how long until it looks tatty...

Ignore the fact that I am wearing a mis-matching T Shirt and Short - my at home look. At least, the picture on the left, made me finally clean my mirror.
Before and after:

you've got to laugh...

I will admit that I dread my weekly German tuition sessions. I struggle to remain patient and most of all, I find it so frustrating to see so little progress. And I clearly lack the optimism or vision to even imagine that one day, they'll be able to manage basic communication.
As per usual, this might well be a matter of me having too high expectations. And despite everything, I do see progress and he has learned a few words since we started. I should focus on that really.

Anyhow, when I arrived today, his wife and daughter were in town. Which in a way makes it easier. He seems set on impressing me. Or rather on telling me that he will impress me next week. It is yet to happen. Despite my frustrations, I have to say, there were some funny moments today (I'll have you know that I only laughed on the inside and not out loud!). His reading is overall ok-ish. But there are some words, where he comes out with the weirdest words, which - to my eye - have no relation to the actual words. One example:
Chapter on health, and going to the doctor: Ich gebe Ihnen eine Spritze.
And what he said: Ich habe einen Spast.

just chillin'

great cake, cute guy behind the counter and a lovely, quirky interior

and on I go

Don't be fooled: the sewing has continued. Here's my first ever jacket - Simplicity 1467. As always, lots of things that didn't turn out the way I wanted (or the way it was meant to) but all in all, a good effort, I'd say. With hindsight, I think I should have lined it, as the fabric doesn't feel that great on my skin. On the other hand, various bits, such as the collar are already very bulky as it is, and, so that might have been tricky. The fabric also frays like crazy. I think it's finally time to get the overlocker out!!

my mirror in urgent need of a good clean...