Days Like This

Brilliant blue skies!

My Berlin holiday of no responsibilities is drawing to a close, and so I am leaf crunching and worry free in this beautiful Autumn. Next week I'll get to meet even more people, students mostly, pick modules, meet tutors, buy books. It's exciting. I can't wait to get back into the rhythm of studies.

The days are blending into a long mishmash of sleeps, sunlight and cycle rides. I can't really remember what I have done in any sort of coherent chronology so will settle for a collection of tales...

My sewing machine exploded. That was dramatic. I don't mean bits of flying metal, but it did give an ominous dull bang and then filled my room with smoke and the smell of burning rubber. That same day, my key snapped in half inside my bicycle lock thus stranding it in Kreuzberg. Bicycles are brilliantly clever and efficient, but the moment you lock its wheel to the frame it is nothing but a jumble of irritatingly heavy and awkward bits of metal. I had to carry it from Kreuzberg to Neukölln which isn't fun, but the lovely bike man broke it open for free.

Last weekend I bit the bullet and forked out a whopping €28 for Bonobo, Fink, Lou Rhodes and Cinematic Orchestra only to be brutally disappointed. I thought a lineup like that couldn't fail to be incredible. How wrong I was. I realise now that expensive nights demand expectation, and more often than not the best things in life are the Kostenlos accidentally discovered treasures. Take for example, last night. After making friends with the flat downstairs, I ended up in a basement party with the most incredible jazz trumpeting feet stomping soul singing live band, the place packed with all sorts of beautiful interesting people, dirt cheap drinks, incredible visuals. I made a million friends spoke loads of German and have maybe found myself a new housemate. And it cost me €2. I didn't even have to pay for drinks after making friends with the people behind the bar. (Unfortunately the police spoilt the fun around 4am.)

Bonobo, however, lacked his orchestra and served a dish of mediocre banality. Fink's line up consisted of ONE song. Lou Rhodes frequently depended on the hissing shushers in the crowd, and sang songs deploring all the death in the world which was embarrassing at best. By the time Cinematic Orchestra rocked up I was too hot, tired, and pissed off to stay any longer.

What else. The lovely Anna Donne visited, and I had an awesome weekend with her and the Sedgwick Jell family (parents inc.!). Highlights included the discovery of the epic Spielwiese, a cafe dedicated to boardgames. What more can I say. I also hosted a housewarming Kaffee and Kuchen, and filled this tiny WG with all sorts of brilliant people. It was crowded and chaotic but full of coffee and delicious cake. Oh, and I invested in a teapot so now I really do have everything.

I'm really looking forward to a parcel of forgotten essentials that is on its way from England.

Postcards and letters are in the pipeline. Apologies for being so typically Nikki disorganised.

I miss you all, love you more, and can't wait to show you this city!

N xx