Believe it or not, last week I found this mushroom growing between the window ledge and tile in our bathroom. I told you it was humid!
Friday, November 26, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
"Ich hab noch einen Koffer in Berlin"
No, actually, we went "carry-on", but I think I know where Marlene Dietrich was coming from. We just returned from a wonderful trip to Berlin.
Fantastic transit system, perfect sense of enclosure and scale on the street, unparalleled cheap eats -- Berlin may have it all... especially now that it has Max!
We saw three concerts over our five days, including Max's first 'sinfoniekonzert' with Hanns Eisler, where he's studying music performance. Those folks are tight! In the same building a few nights before, we saw a contemporary German opera. Here's Max doing an impersonation of the female lead in front of the opera billboard. She was lethal.
We also saw a Spanish band in the Kunsthaus Tacheles -- a department store, turned squat, turned art & bar space. Max & Nicholas climb the stairs:
We spent most of our time walking -- in markets, through neighbourhoods, around bookstores, in churches, along canals...
Berlin is pretty chilly in November. Here is Nicholas bundled up for our walk to Hauptbahnhof -- the largest transfer station in Europe and the only place to buy groceries on a Sunday.
Berlin has wonderful crows. They look like they're wearing little grey waistcoats.
To stave off the cold, we ate our share of doner kebabs, but also made a German feast at Max's place.
We found some sharp scissors in the Turkish Market and put them to use later that evening.
Discovering Ritter Sport's flagship store was a high point for Nicholas. These souvenirs won't last long.
Tausend Dank, Max!
Fantastic transit system, perfect sense of enclosure and scale on the street, unparalleled cheap eats -- Berlin may have it all... especially now that it has Max!
We saw three concerts over our five days, including Max's first 'sinfoniekonzert' with Hanns Eisler, where he's studying music performance. Those folks are tight! In the same building a few nights before, we saw a contemporary German opera. Here's Max doing an impersonation of the female lead in front of the opera billboard. She was lethal.
We also saw a Spanish band in the Kunsthaus Tacheles -- a department store, turned squat, turned art & bar space. Max & Nicholas climb the stairs:
We spent most of our time walking -- in markets, through neighbourhoods, around bookstores, in churches, along canals...
Berlin is pretty chilly in November. Here is Nicholas bundled up for our walk to Hauptbahnhof -- the largest transfer station in Europe and the only place to buy groceries on a Sunday.
Berlin has wonderful crows. They look like they're wearing little grey waistcoats.
To stave off the cold, we ate our share of doner kebabs, but also made a German feast at Max's place.
We found some sharp scissors in the Turkish Market and put them to use later that evening.
Discovering Ritter Sport's flagship store was a high point for Nicholas. These souvenirs won't last long.
Tausend Dank, Max!
Monday, November 15, 2010
a cloud by any other name
Legend would have us believe that Inuit people have umpteen words for snow*. I don't want to get carried away with generalisations about people and weather, but curiously, the Brits identify more than one kind of cloud.
From the BBC Weather website:
*In fact, Inuit people have the same number of root words for snow as English speakers. Wiki speaks here.
From the BBC Weather website:
*In fact, Inuit people have the same number of root words for snow as English speakers. Wiki speaks here.
Friday, November 12, 2010
skateboard graveyard
Last week I was took the Golden Jubilee Bridge across the Thames from Waterloo Station -- a change from my usual route over adjacent Waterloo Bridge.
One of the Bridge's supports has been creatively repurposed...
... as the place where skateboards are laid to rest.
One of the Bridge's supports has been creatively repurposed...
... as the place where skateboards are laid to rest.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
the flat out tour, part one
The map is currently used much more than the guitar. I forecast a dramatic reversal of this inverse correlation starting in January.
While it is not appropriate for 'kitchen parties', we manage to make magic in our mini kitchen.
Magical Mr. Morris oversees production.
The fridge does hold more than beer, but any photo affixed to it reaches belly button height at max.
Our shower is scalding hot, which is a relief with the heat off again.
This pipe used to drip on Nicholas' head when it rained. Our solution is basic, but effective.
While it is not appropriate for 'kitchen parties', we manage to make magic in our mini kitchen.
Magical Mr. Morris oversees production.
The fridge does hold more than beer, but any photo affixed to it reaches belly button height at max.
Our shower is scalding hot, which is a relief with the heat off again.
This pipe used to drip on Nicholas' head when it rained. Our solution is basic, but effective.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
halloween weekend
Halloween or not, the English like to dress up. We had two such opportunities last weekend -- one more 'Halloween-y' than the other.
On Saturday night we saw the Hagen Quartet at Wigmore Hall. It was a wonderfully intimate venue to see these exceptional performers. (Thank you for spoiling us, Max!)
Here are some details of the ceiling. Unfortunately we didn't capture any details of the audience, which was quite dolled up. Going out is an occasion here. People bring out their best. Judging from the heavy scent of moth balls emanating from the gent seated beside Nicholas, their 'best' is often securely tucked away.
After we doffed our formal attire, we donned our Halloween gear. We attended a Halloween ball as 'dead languages'. Nicholas was Latin. I was Gothic. Unfortunately we were more impressed by the outfits at Wigmore Hall. The Halloween party saw WAY too many 'sexy devils' for our liking -- twelve at last count. Now that IS scary!
Our building is filled with families with young children who were excited to 'trick-or-treat'. It seemed unfair that parents asked everyone to offer only healthy treats. Still, we made mandarin oranges pretty exciting with permanent marker. No?
On Saturday night we saw the Hagen Quartet at Wigmore Hall. It was a wonderfully intimate venue to see these exceptional performers. (Thank you for spoiling us, Max!)
Here are some details of the ceiling. Unfortunately we didn't capture any details of the audience, which was quite dolled up. Going out is an occasion here. People bring out their best. Judging from the heavy scent of moth balls emanating from the gent seated beside Nicholas, their 'best' is often securely tucked away.
After we doffed our formal attire, we donned our Halloween gear. We attended a Halloween ball as 'dead languages'. Nicholas was Latin. I was Gothic. Unfortunately we were more impressed by the outfits at Wigmore Hall. The Halloween party saw WAY too many 'sexy devils' for our liking -- twelve at last count. Now that IS scary!
Our building is filled with families with young children who were excited to 'trick-or-treat'. It seemed unfair that parents asked everyone to offer only healthy treats. Still, we made mandarin oranges pretty exciting with permanent marker. No?
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