sometimes...

...I can't eat as much as I wanna puke
(and please excuse my graphic language, I'm a hardcore emetophobic person so if I say something like that things must be really bad)
It's a famous German quote from the Berlin painter Max Liebermann by the way.
( „Ich kann gar nicht soviel fressen, wie ich kotzen möchte.“).

I saw it on monday in Kingston, I saw it yesterday in Primark. 
Kids sitting in their pushchair...with a mobile dvd player on their knees...to keep them entertained...to survive the horrible time outside when there is no tv anywhere to keep them quiet...this discovery left me speechless. Call me old-fashioned or some alternative hippie who has lost touch with reality, but: What the FUCK are those parents thinking?!? What has happened to kids which are nosy, eager to learn and to see new things, happy to run around, get dirty and move? If that is the future then good-night world...

PS: Hereby I vow that my future children will not come near a tv until they are at least 3 years old...that they will learn new things everyday and that with me they will run around all day and play in the mud. They might be unpopular but one day they will, hopefully, thank me...

Do the Bus Stop...

In the UK bus stops have usually no proper seats but those taller bars to sort of lean on while forming a tidy long queue for the bus (I have never done that myself as I can't work out the system - is the queue for all bus numbers? or only for the next one?? I do my usual silly thing and stand a bit away, waiting, observing and  pretending to text...). The glass wall is between the road and the stop to protect passengers-to-be from puddles...I guess.

In Germany you normally find proper seats in various states of contamination and destruction and the glass wall is behind the seats so you can sit in a little hut. When the bus arrives there is anarchy.

Just another completely insignificant difference between the two nations...and to prevent this post from being too pointless, here a fun dance I remember learning in dancing lessons - do the bus stop!

pre-christmas Boots bargain...

Like every year Boots is selling a different one of their christmas gift boxes each week for better than half price. Those boxes are usual a very good value so I got interested once again...for all the other lovely sets they have, wait until they are on sale (as I do every year) and you will get them all for half price. Well worth waiting!

This weeks box looks like that

and contains:

• No7 Heavenly Hydration Moisture Mask - 100ml
• No7 Cleanse & Care Eye Make-up Remover - 100ml 
• No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Beauty Serum - 5ml 
• No7 Protect & Perfect Night Cream - 50ml 
• No7 Protect & Perfect Day Cream (SPF 15) - 50ml
• No7 Eye Shadows 
• No7 Liplicious Lip Gloss - 12ml 
• No7 Exceptional Definition Nutrient Enriched Mascara - 7ml
• 5 x Brushes and Applicators 
• No 7 Quick Thinking 4 in 1 Wipes

The amazing thing is the price; all products together are worth about 125£ (I checked it myself), the price normally is 65£ and now it is 30£!!!
I'm amazed it wasn't sold out yet...nearly a bit boring not having to hunt down a lovely hat box like that. And I have had some good excuses to buy it - I needed a eye make-up remover anyway and as it is not long that I'm hitting 30 it's about time to start on the anti-aging facial care regime...:-)

A bag of presents...or: I'm different

This weeks "Blogstoeckchen" by Miss Winkelmann is all about presents.

Giving presents or receiving them?
Neither nor. If I really think I have found something absolutely perfect for someone than it can be fun. Or if I get a present that shows that someone really really thought about me and paid attention...but in general I really don't like getting presents (nothing worse than the embarrassing moment when you have to unwrap it with an audience staring at your reactions...I don't have an "Oh-wow-that's great" excitement button that I can easily switch on)

What's on your wishlist?
nothing...I'm terrible, if I want something I'll get it. And the only things I wish for unfortunately cannot be bought.

How many presents do you make this year? What will it be?
none

Best present of all times?
my "Barbie Traummobil" in the very early 90's...absolutely adored it and still remember when I had to go into our garage during christmas eve to find it...another great present was a pair of used ballet shoes my granny bought me in a second hand shop. And a friend from school got me a poster of the rainbowfish...pisces me loves it and it still hangs framed in my bathroom.

Long time planning or last-minute shopping?
I love to plan but then never get it and in the end it is sold out and I give up.

How important is the wrapping for you?
If I get a present I'm one of those tidy unwrappers who makes sure nothing breaks and folds the paper to take it home with me. But I absolutely have no joy whatsoever in wrapping things nicely...I'm known for my newspaper gifts.

Are you taking part in any "Secret Santa" activities?
Done twice so far. Once in primary school where I gave something nice (can't remember what though) and received...5 blue ink cartridges for our fountain pens...from the most uncool boy in class...hmmpff.
In grammar school. I had better luck. One of my class mates found out which book we were about to read next during German lessons and got me one of those helpful interpretation books to go with it. So practical and yet so thoughtful, proved that man can make great gifts too if they want to!

Il Camino

A few years ago, after Hape Kerkeling (which I didn´t really like before but sort of adore now) published his bestseller "Ich bin dann mal weg", I saw a tv program about two young girls walking the way of St. James. Since then I want to do that as well. Want to start walking near the Spanish border and walk all the way to the coast. Want to experience how it is to live with only the absolute minimum of belongings. I´m not religious at all and left the institutional church some years ago but I´m definitely searching for something.

Will I have the strength? 800km is something else than going for long walks around the neighbourhood...Should I walk on my own or in company? Is there anyone on this planet with whom I could spend and share so much time, blood, sweat and tears? My husband supports the idea but is lacking any wish to walk that far nor does he have so much leave at work...
Will I ever get round to sort the project out logistically? Hostels or hotels? Is it safe? Should I stay away from the internet for the time? Is it a good start for such a decision to think about being online first thing??
Thousand questions to answer but I still know: I will do it...I have to...whenever that will be...

the green and red dilemma

I used to be a good German waiting at a traffic light until the little green man lit up and I was allowed to cross the road, no matter if it was rush-hour or the next car 10km away. Then I visited places like Paris and London...

Suddenly it felt extremely touristy and uncool to wait for the green man's turn. Everyone else kept crossing the road and left me behind feeling foolish. I changed and started crossing whenever I can follow a local. And if I don't trust the situation and wanna wait I have to admit that I feel embarrassed to press the button for green light. I press it, hope no driver gets angry at me and pretend to text or something like that so I don't have to wait too visibly...

Then I'm in Germany again and simply cross when I think it is safe. And get angry looks for being a bad role model...and feel like a true cosmopolitan rebel still fearing to get fined by bored policemen...

So I always feel out of place wherever I am until I get adjusted again. Impatient in Germany and silly in Paris and London (Rome by the way is a different case, my experience here is that the drivers head for you no matter what light is flashing)

Glossybox! I finally jumped on the bandwagon too

You probably live under a rock if you haven't heard of glossybox yet (or just don't waste anywhere near as much time on reading blogs and watching youtube videos as I do).
It is a monthly subscription of a box full of 5 cosmetic products to try out - preferably from the higher price end and at least one in the original size.

After months of reading about it and being undecided as so many were unhappy with their products etc. I gave in and ordered one too (the German one, the UK one has different products). Will test november and december and cancel again afterwards if I'm not blewn away.

So, yesterday it arrived and I have to confess that it got me veeery excited.
Here is what was inside:

Avene Hydrance Optimale Riche

Dr. Scheller Calendula Handbalsam

Kryolan Shades

Morroccanoil Oil Treatment

Schwarzkopf Essensity Shampoo

I must say I'm really impressed with it. The Avene cream I use as my night cream now as it is very rich and a real treat. The Kryolan eyeshadows are really nice too - the lilac and violet shades are simply perfect for a greeneyedmonster like me and I wanted to try a Kryolan product for a long time since my favourite youtuber therike25 hypes them a lot.
Handcreme is always useful and the hairproducts I will try as soon as I have the chance.

So all in all a positive resumee from me and I'm already looking forward to the next one!