The overexcited Friseur

Saturday morning and a message on my mobile. I don't get many of these and after The Elf's translation I realised that it wasn't serious but just that 2 months ago I made an appointment with the Friseur and was already 40 minutes late for it. There is one thing in Deutschland that you don't do and that is be late. People are rarely late here but do seem very understanding of the fact that this particular English hausfrau is never late but is often forgetful. With Elf in tow we trotted on down to lovely Simone. It took three hairdressers to discern what I wanted, which actually was just a trim and perhaps a little more red. Three hours later I emerged with ginger hair like my childhood, black wimpers (don't you just love that word for eyelash?) brown eyebrows and a big cue at the door. The Elf also had haircut along the way but luckily managed to avoid the wimper bit. It is now Monday and I am beginning to feel doubtful and slightly regretting my Saturday morning of fun. Time to go back on a German course and learn how to emphatically say `No`.

Not an Art work.

The Story of Berlin. Took a tour down here into the depths of a bunker, never used and hopefully never will be.

......has finished.

Berlin has become arty in the extreme for a couple of months so I have spent the last few weekends trailing the streets looking for it in the hope of becoming inspired in this on the edge city. It is true that anything goes here and that in itself is inspiring. Some of what I saw would not be let anywhere near the London art scene let alone inside a gallery and for that I think Berlin has a future. I like the fact artists are allowed the freedom to make mistakes. The highlight for me however was not an artwork but a venue stuck in time. The Ballroom is perhaps the perfect 40th party venue so watch this space....because it will need at least 200 people to fill it.

The endless party drink

Have just returned from Yorkshire and the 3rd, 40th birthday party of the season, hungover and with cough, wondering how I will get through the next five this year, mine included. I am almost inspired enough to hire a huge, gorgeous Berlin ballroom, buy some heels, and invite everyone I have ever known to mine. Strange what a party and flow of friends can do. I am suddenly looking forward to hitting 40 because at that age one is surely grown-up? The party was on a building site in what was Kitty's house. The house is being transformed from a small, yorkshire one bedroom into a london penthouse it seems and I spent most of the evening in what was labelled the Chillout, Bird's nest room....
Back now in the lovely Berlin flat where the weather outside is doing weird things. One minute hail storms, the next humid and able to sit on the balcony. As a result haven't done much yet today and it's almost time to fetch the Elf. Did get offered a job though which I almost immediately turned down. Not sure working in a bar is where I'm at just now!? My one and only experience of this was 12 years ago in what was the old Royal Court in Sloane Square. The bar only held about 6 bottles but still I managed to cause chaos. My favourite moment was removing a cork with my teeth because I coudn't get the corkscrew to work. That funny guy from Only Fool's and Horses was not impressed as I preceded to collapse into fits of hysterics behind the bar covering myself and everything else in red wine. So my first Berlin job offer has been declined and I contemplate the next months of job searching. That is after the next round of visitors! Will be free by July, but no offers of bar work please...