We are still in the minus for the most part around this place, though because of the temperature fluctuating between +1ºc and -1ºc the snow has a chance to melt ever so slightly on a daily basis. Of course it then turns into super slick ice which the local councils do nothing about. Below is a shot of Treptower Park when the ice wasn’t about and life was actually enjoyable, it looks cold because it was, -16ºc that day.

In saying that, yes, I have slipped/fallen over, I have seen other people slip/fall over (pretty much on a daily basis) and I think the general consensus is that people are totally sick of the ice (as am I). But lets not forget the ice cold puddle of water you might be lucky enough to land in on the way down, like being cold isn’t enough, you’ve gotta be wet too. I guess the worst was the other day when I slipped over directly in front of my office building. Embarrassing!! It just makes getting around so much more difficult……

On top of that, for the first time in the last year I have become very ill. I think it is just the flu but boy is it a bad one. I had Wednesday and Thursday off but went in today because I had some meetings that I couldn’t miss. Unfortunately, once I had started to make my way to work, I realised I was quite a lot sicker than I had anticipated. Sinusitis, congestion, headache, fever and nausea. Oh yeah, I’ve got a real good one this time!! So I stayed at work for half the day, got through all my e-mail and had a couple of meetings and am now back home again lying down feeling terrible.

I hate being sick!

On top of this is the fact that the Transmediale festival is on at the moment and other than being completely ill, I think I am relatively run down and probably wouldn’t have made it anyway. So unfortunately I have missed out on seeing Mount Sims, although I have seen him before, and tonight I will miss out on Fourtet. I think there are certain signs to tell when you’re depressed, one of those is the feeling of reclusion which I have quite hardcore. I just can’t be bothered seeing anyone nor do I care about anyone or anything. The only thing I’m good for at the moment is working and because I’m stuck in bed it leaves far too much time to think about stuff. And let me tell you, I am seriously unhappy with a lot of stuff.

My life here is just so much more of a pain in the arse than living in the States or Australia. It’s really difficult to put into words as well because it is such a culmination of so many little things. For example, I’ve been here for 4 years now but still do not have a dishwasher and I am god damn sick to death of handwashing dishes…..it is literally causing issues at home…..I hate it. Why don’t I just get one you say, well, the cost plays no role in determining whether we can have one or not, it is the stupid kitchen. Firstly, most rental apartments in Berlin don’t come with a built in kitchen as is typically found in other parts of the western world, no, just a sink and oven if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky guess who’s buying a kitchen for an apartment they don’t own? You got it.

Luckily (or so I thought at the time), our kitchen area had both a sink and stove. Well, after experiencing just how crap the oven is and how low and back-breaking the sink is I think I would’ve preferred it completely without. There are logistical issues too. The sink doesn’t match any of the rest of the kitchen (that I had to install and pay for myself) and takes up an awkward amount of room. This in turn means that there is not enough room for a freaking dishwasher. I won’t go into the other specifics of this place, but there is more than just that shitting me…… I mean, I could bring up the fact that Berlin is full of dodgy property managers, trying to rip us off with the heating bill, paying for a building cleaner who doesn’t do his job (I mean our garbage bin wasn’t emptied for 2 weeks because no one had cleared the snow from around the bin and it was impossible to move), I could go on. Well hell, I could go on about the fact that in Berlin I need to visit 3 freaking supermarkets if I want to get my grocery shopping done. What the hell happened to a supermarket that has it all with an excellent selection? I mean, I shouldn’t be too negative because they do exist but are usually a little further out (read – VERY inconveniently located), and require a car to get to them.

Anyway, let’s get back too the kitchen issue because it seems I am left with the following two options:

a.) I can either move to another apartment that has the things that I want (if I can find one) that will hopefully also have a good property manager (although I’ve heard on the grapevine that they’re all dodgy here!).

or

b.) I can remove the only kitchen items that were provided with this apartment and replace it with matching gear to the other stuff I’ve already installed (i.e. cupboards, bench, shelves), which essentially means I have built-in and completely paid for a kitchen.

The benefits of both options should be obvious, decent oven and stove-top and a dishwasher. Either way it will involve more cash that I’m not particularly flush with at the minute, and if building into my current apartment, will go entirely against my principles.

Anyway, that is my whine for the minute, just had a call from a friend who’s flying to Dubai tomorrow, and as much as I don’t love that place I’d still love to get the hell out of here for some sunshine. No skiing or snowboarding this season, no fucking way!

So, last weekend was our party for the year, this time the theme was the end of the season. Went down without a hitch and was a lot of fun, so thanks to all who came!

After the weekend, which was pretty exhausting, we went to see Morrissey at Tempodrom on Monday night with a friend from Sydney. Really nice concert and the venue itself, Tempodrom, is a pretty cool. Hadn’t been there before so sure I’ll go there again.

Claude VonStroke was playing at Watergate last Saturday and I really wanted to go but just couldn’t be arsed. I’ve seen him a few times this year already so I guess I’m cool with missing him this time around.

So, with the end of school approaching it made me think of my upcoming exam and something sounded odd. Hmmm I thought, 17th of July, what the hell is going on on the 17th of July. I mean, you have to see it from my perpective, since I’ve been doing German and Ina’s been studying we really don’t get up to a lot due to time and monetary restrictions. So I took a look in iCal (my calendar) and what do I find? Well, I’m not even in Germany on that date……I’m in bloody Holland because it’s Extrema. So great, for the month of July I’m doing jack but on the few days that I am I am double booked. This causes real problems because I can’t change the date of the exam (they are held once mid-monthly) basically because I can’t do it this month (not allowed until the Orientierungskurs is finished) and certainly don’t want to do it in August since it’s just so far between having finished school. Bugger!! Trying to change my flight to a later time but I have the feeling it’s going to cost me…….so much for my cheap flights

Anyway, to change the topic, looks like later on this year will see a bit of family influx in the E.U. Received news from Casimira that she’s moving to Scotland sometime this month (perhaps even as I’m writing this) and that Chris is moving to Ireland/England. So that’ll be funny if either ever pop over here, which I have of course welcomed them both to do.

On another note, and if my olds are reading, it is the most god awful summer we’ve had so far. Today had a high of 16ºc which is comparatively warm considering the last couple of weeks and a low of 7ºc but the temperature doesn’t say it all, it’s raining, grey and generally miserable. Oh yes, gotta love having days so similar to winter that you can hardly realise that we have supposedly changed seasons. Still, I have hope for August……

Anyway, check this out and listen carefully, which do you prefer?

Well, just last week we were thinking that winter was coming to an end and although it is officially spring now we’ve recently had some pretty bad snowstorms. Kinda cool to have in winter but this late in the year is just taking the piss really.

Apart from that things are just chugging along really. Bit worried about my grandmother of late as she’s had a spill and broken her wrist. Essentially means that her times of living alone in her house are over, so she’s stuck in a nursing home now (which I’m sure she’s thrilled about) and most likely giving the staff hell. It’s a real pain being all the way over here otherwise I’d visit. Hopefully an unexpected forced visit is quite some time off yet.

Slowly crunching through the Deutsch course, it’s really difficult now and my motivation over the past months has trickled away to a point where I really have to push myself now. I really prefer working to studying really, just go in, do your job and piss off home and forget all about whatever the day brought. Doing this German course brings it all back, nothing is ever over, you get home and there’s just more shit to do (concerning studies that is). And on that note, I’ve pretty much decided to do my masters in the next few years, not really sure when or where. Still unsure whether I’ll do an MBA or a Masters In Science majoring in Business. A bit more research to do and I’m sure I’ll find something. I just want to secure myself for the future and my earning potential really, not looking forward to another couple of years hitting the books at all!! I guess we can just wait and see.

Haven’t worked on any tunes lately, just feel so devoid of ideas…..I sit in front of Logic and just start making stupid sounds instead of working in the direction I should be. Maybe it’s winter…..I just don’t know, can let you know in summer though

Lost my keys at Goldengate last weekend and thought for sure they were gone for good, but contacted the club and someone had found them and handed them in. How lucky, note to self, having something distinctive hanging from keychain = very good idea. Pat on back. Oh by the way, did I mention that it’s my favourite club at the moment? Well it is, it’s small and crowded and dirty but with one of the best atmospheres in this city, a perfect place to hang out with friends and get your boogie on. haha

Battlestar Galactica finished last friday which was a bit of a bummer, really enjoyed that series. Ina came up with a typical comment since she doesn’t like TV anyway, “just think Jordan, now you’ll have an extra hour or so each week!”. Wow, I said, I hadn’t thought of it that way before. Not like I watch a lot of TV anyhow.

Well, talking about Ina, both her and I still haven’t smoked a cigarette this year so we’re doing ok. Nearly a quarter of the year gone. We really didn’t want to make a corny New Years resolution (and didn’t) it just kinda panned out that way. I never imagined as a teenager that I’d still be smoking at 33 and the only way to change that was to stop. Nice to know who’s in control of the good old body sometimes anyhow.

Talking about being in control of the body, have been on a diet for the last month or so and have lost about 5-6kg so far. Pretty happy about that as I was starting to get a bit chubby (to me anyway). I think I’ll just keep dieting until the love handles are gone and then try to stay at a good, healthy food intake level. In the past I was too often succumbing to over indulgence.

Well, I guess I’ll leave it at that for now, oh hang on…….question, why the fuck is everyone getting married and soon after getting a dog? I swear I must be at that age, I can just imagine all the dog owners having kids in the not too distant future. Some of them can hardly look after their stupid dogs so I hate to imagine what the future brings…….