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Robin Look
Nov. 28th, 2020 11:35 pmThings have started to slip into a familiar pattern now we have been in Germany for three weeks. Lockdown has been extended until 20 December and my new work project has kept me incredibly busy, meaning there has been little else to do but stay inside. I have been exploring the local area in the evenings, but once it has gotten dark, you do end up seeing a lot less. Meanwhile, Wolfie's foot is still giving him problems, although it is slowly getting better. Today, he was able to go outside and explore one of the main shopping areas, meaning we could have a leisurely two hour walk although there wasn't much heed to social distancing going on. Fortunately, nearly everyone was wearing masks so that was something and I certainly feel a lot safer here than I did in Pudsey. I also got to see much more too - our nearest army surplus store, an opticians called Robin Look and a cat cafe where six cats live. We also saw a guy kicking someone outside Penny, to the disdain of their customers, which was less pleasant.
On Thursday, we managed to chat with some of the local furs on Discord, an initiative that Kamsirius tried to arrange until Wolfie grabbed a firm grip of the tiller. I was meeting my new editorial team as part of the aforementioned work project, so I ended up being two hours late to the event, but this didn't matter too much as it then went on for another four hours. The conversation was generally scintillating, but definitely got better when there were fewer people about. In the end, there was seven of us, and we felt we started to form really good friendships. One of them works in a local butchers and told us about a place in Berlin where you could get decent bacon and black pudding. As it turned out, he also supplies to one of the local cheesemongers, which is one of the places we went on our walk today. We're looking forward to trying some of these products this coming week. We also got to try our new Kupps Beerfasser machine, which stores special two litre bottles of beer in a chilled compartment. You connect the nozzle up to a tap on the front and you can dispense your beverage as if you are in a pub. It's a neat little thing and hopefully will prevent me having to serve Wolfie whenever he wants to share a beer, but I am still struggling with how to pour the damn thing without getting too much head.
I am still yet to hear about the taxation or health insurance situation, which is started to get me concerned. I am sure it'll be sorted, but I would just like everything done. With the law now having been passed here protecting our rights, we also need to fill in another form for the local authority and it's something I'd like to do before Christmas. Indeed, I just want all of the bureaucracy done by then if possible, even if my employment situation may be in limbo somewhat until the start of next year. Speaking of which, it has been weird doing full hour weeks again - pretty much my first for nearly a year - I had forgotten how draining they are. I am glad to be occupied again, although the project has already morphed into something far beyond what we agreed, which is why we're having a catch-up meeting on Monday.
I have been feeling a little dislocated this week and have noticed that around the 20th of each month I feel this way. I don't know if it's a time of the month thing, or something hormonal, but certainly over the last four months, I've always had emotional bursts around this time. In August, I had a huge crying fit and October saw me have a huge row with Wolfie when the Leeds Meet was on, so I wonder whether it is something cyclical. It hasn't been too bad this time, but I do feel pathetic and unloved, while Wolfie is starting to grate with me. I'm probably being too harsh on him - he's had his first full week in his new job and is still getting used to everything - but there are things he does I'm finding frustrating. Not sorting out the internet back in the UK is one, while we need smoke alarms in this flat as I discovered on Friday that there are none, but these little jobs haven't been done. I do keep nagging him, and hate him for it, but my impulse to get all chores done clashes with his laissez-faire approach and it does grind me down.
The rest of the week has been pretty typical. I ordered some wireless headphones as part of the Cyber Monday Sales, so when I get a beer for Wolfie at least I'm not missing anything we're streaming, while I managed to get five new dresses for £80 too. I am wearing dresses far more often these days as it's something I can easily do in the flat without making too much noise, and I feel far more comfortable with it. I also bought a few other small things for myself as well as sorted out my Christmas shopping, which pleases me greatly. Last night was Gothi's rock and metal set - a weak one really with all the mash-ups - and tonight is more Jackbox games (where inevitably people will take this piss out of me as some of the drawing games have Lupestripe pink in their pallette) after our weekly takeaway (this time it was a curry, which came in a huge pie dish and was big enough for three people - it was decent, but not as good as the curries back home). As I say, it's starting to become a cycle again and although I appreciate all the contacts with our friends, I'm craving proper meet-ups and travel once more. I know vaccines are on the way, so maybe within six months things will return to normal, but it's going to be such a grind getting there. Still, it's the only choice we have.
On Thursday, we managed to chat with some of the local furs on Discord, an initiative that Kamsirius tried to arrange until Wolfie grabbed a firm grip of the tiller. I was meeting my new editorial team as part of the aforementioned work project, so I ended up being two hours late to the event, but this didn't matter too much as it then went on for another four hours. The conversation was generally scintillating, but definitely got better when there were fewer people about. In the end, there was seven of us, and we felt we started to form really good friendships. One of them works in a local butchers and told us about a place in Berlin where you could get decent bacon and black pudding. As it turned out, he also supplies to one of the local cheesemongers, which is one of the places we went on our walk today. We're looking forward to trying some of these products this coming week. We also got to try our new Kupps Beerfasser machine, which stores special two litre bottles of beer in a chilled compartment. You connect the nozzle up to a tap on the front and you can dispense your beverage as if you are in a pub. It's a neat little thing and hopefully will prevent me having to serve Wolfie whenever he wants to share a beer, but I am still struggling with how to pour the damn thing without getting too much head.
I am still yet to hear about the taxation or health insurance situation, which is started to get me concerned. I am sure it'll be sorted, but I would just like everything done. With the law now having been passed here protecting our rights, we also need to fill in another form for the local authority and it's something I'd like to do before Christmas. Indeed, I just want all of the bureaucracy done by then if possible, even if my employment situation may be in limbo somewhat until the start of next year. Speaking of which, it has been weird doing full hour weeks again - pretty much my first for nearly a year - I had forgotten how draining they are. I am glad to be occupied again, although the project has already morphed into something far beyond what we agreed, which is why we're having a catch-up meeting on Monday.
I have been feeling a little dislocated this week and have noticed that around the 20th of each month I feel this way. I don't know if it's a time of the month thing, or something hormonal, but certainly over the last four months, I've always had emotional bursts around this time. In August, I had a huge crying fit and October saw me have a huge row with Wolfie when the Leeds Meet was on, so I wonder whether it is something cyclical. It hasn't been too bad this time, but I do feel pathetic and unloved, while Wolfie is starting to grate with me. I'm probably being too harsh on him - he's had his first full week in his new job and is still getting used to everything - but there are things he does I'm finding frustrating. Not sorting out the internet back in the UK is one, while we need smoke alarms in this flat as I discovered on Friday that there are none, but these little jobs haven't been done. I do keep nagging him, and hate him for it, but my impulse to get all chores done clashes with his laissez-faire approach and it does grind me down.
The rest of the week has been pretty typical. I ordered some wireless headphones as part of the Cyber Monday Sales, so when I get a beer for Wolfie at least I'm not missing anything we're streaming, while I managed to get five new dresses for £80 too. I am wearing dresses far more often these days as it's something I can easily do in the flat without making too much noise, and I feel far more comfortable with it. I also bought a few other small things for myself as well as sorted out my Christmas shopping, which pleases me greatly. Last night was Gothi's rock and metal set - a weak one really with all the mash-ups - and tonight is more Jackbox games (where inevitably people will take this piss out of me as some of the drawing games have Lupestripe pink in their pallette) after our weekly takeaway (this time it was a curry, which came in a huge pie dish and was big enough for three people - it was decent, but not as good as the curries back home). As I say, it's starting to become a cycle again and although I appreciate all the contacts with our friends, I'm craving proper meet-ups and travel once more. I know vaccines are on the way, so maybe within six months things will return to normal, but it's going to be such a grind getting there. Still, it's the only choice we have.
