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lupestripeWe were meant to be in Nice this weekend, but the latest COVID situation forced us to postpone it until March. We could probably have gone in hindsight, but things probably wouldn't have been that great, plus I would have been anxious about Germany closing their borders in the meantime. Wolfie is travelling back to the UK on Thursday for a fortnight and has just been hit with his new rule about needing a pre-departure test, with little in the reporting about what tests are valid for those of us who are currently out of the country and need to go back. I feel sorry for the many Brits currently at MFF, who will undoubtedly be affected by this. Seeing all of the MFF tweets has made me long to be there, which is odd as I've usually thought it too big to be interesting to me. Still, at least I am getting some excitement for Nordic Fuzzcon at the end of February, while I am also tempted to see if I can get to Scotiacon, if I happen to be back in the UK by then. Alas, my immigration interview date is still unknown but they did say their aim was to see everyone by the end of 2021, so there is still time. Work are starting to get a little more demanding about face-to-face meetings and although I can ride this out in December, I am unlikely to be able to do so for much of the new year. I am hoping, desperately, that COVID becomes less of an issue soon and my immigration status can be finalised as it does mean I'll be able to travel more freely. Seeing all of the Christmas adverts on YouTube saying this year we can see who we like, when compared to 2020, is really hitting hard because of course, I can't. It has been nearly two years since I last saw many friends, as well as my mother. Regular weekly phone calls can only do so much. Still, I have sorted out most of the Christmas presents at least, which is something - just my mother to shop for now, and I know what I'm getting her, I just need to know when she'll be in for the delivery.
I have written letters to my grandfather for Christmas and Monika downstairs. I'm starting to fear the worst about the latter. She hasn't been on her phone since 15 November, two days after she told me she was in hospital with cancer, and I haven't seen her lights on either. I'm hoping she's okay and recovering, but she is frail and in her eighties so I am getting very concerned. The rising COVID cases are also a factor, although those have at least started to decrease in Berlin with the introduction of the 2G Plus rule which has seen only vaccinated people being able to enter most public places, with this checked religiously on the door, along with the requirement of wearing a mask.
Little has really happened this week, although I am currently halfway through a four-day weekend due to the aforementioned cancelled Nice trip. Work was largely hassle-free, with my new boss far more supportive and less demanding than the previous one who kept ringing me incessently. It's certainly a more pleasant way to work. Furthermore, there seems to be a few interesting US-based developments which hopefully will see a promotion and payrise early next year, while we may also have secured a couple of new contracts for our business as well. Consequently, things are busy, but with COVID really hitting my desire to do anything, along with the incessant cold and darkness, I am happy to stay in and save money this month. Indeed, with Wolfie away from Thursday, this is the most likely thing I'll do.
Friday and Saturday were days out though, although nothing too strenuous. Taking advantage of most people being at work, on Friday afternoon we headed down to the Zitadelle to the Spandau Christmas Market, the biggest in Berlin. It usually takes place along the streets of Spandau but this year was moved to the citadel for social distancing reasons, as well as it being easier to check everyone was 2G compliant. It opened at 2pm and we got down there just before 3pm, delighted that we could walk around all of the stalls with very few people. In the daylight it was much less magical than at night, but at least we got to explore the citadel too, with its long brick walls and excellent views over both Spandau and the Havel, which widens significantly to the north. There were a number of interesting buildings inside the city walls too, some former barracks mainly, with some of these converted into a puppet theatre, a ceramics workshop or a restaurant. There was also a fascinating museum about the history of Spandau, which detailed where the old city walls used to run, and indeed how the water course of the Havel altered over time. Unlike many provinicial musems, this one was stimulating, partly because Spandau was a garrison town with very good records as a result. There was also a temporary exhibit upstairs which celebrated one hundred years of Spandau being incorporated into the greater Berlin district in 1920. This exhibition was clearly meant for last year, but COVID messed things up, so it's now here until January. It was really interesting charting the politics of the time and just how unpopular the incorporation was. This was used by far left and far right forces in Spandau, making for an engaging window into how local issues can be exploited by actors and explode accordingly. It was also interesting to discover that Berlin almost had prohibition in 1925, while there was loads of really deep social history. We were in the museum for about two hours, only having to leave because they were closing. We'll be back before the exhibition ends on 9 January for sure.
Entry to the Christmas Market cost €3.50 but it was very well spent. Once we had left the museum, night had already fallen, meaning it was very magical with all of the spotlighting casting ghostly shadows on the walls and turrets of the citadel. Within here, there was the bright white lights of the stalls offering all range of produce from Italian salami and olive wood ornaments to langos and of course gluhwein and food. We grabbed two Bratwurst from two different concessions, stopping to eat on the conveniently placed tables. We also had an extensive look around, noting on our way out that two medievally dressed gentlemen were now guarding the fortress entrance with axes. This entertained the kids, but we were to leave before it got too busy, ending up in the Spandau Brauhaus as we fancied a beer before heading back home. The rest of the evening was largely spent chilling - ordering some more Lack tables for our new TV, of which we took delivery on Tuesday - as well as ordering one of the worst pizzas we have ever had from a takeaway which I am pretty sure resulted in the food poisoning and diahorrea I experienced during the early hours of Saturday morning. Pizza La Bella, shame on you, but it's amazing just how poor takeaways are here. In Charlottenburg, it took a while to get one burger place, one pizza place and one Indian that we liked, but in Spandau we have had no real luck. Granted, we have eaten takeaway less as we have been able to go out on Saturdays, but even then, every place we have tried has been poor. Part of the problem seems to be the lack of urgency in delivery, as the food invariably arrives tepid. Not good.
Saturday was the Furry Stamtisch down at Qualgeist, but we were both feeling a little ropey with the food poisoning (Wolfie too had had a similar issue). Consequently, we didn't get up to much, and I spent most of the time just chatting with a few new people and making friends. Alas, it was very poorly attended, with just ten people in total present. I think COVID was the main reason (although the snow yesterday probably put people off too) as when I turned up later for Doggy Evening, having forgotten to hand in my card after the Furry Stammtisch, there seemed to be very few people there again. We are going back down tomorrow evening, which I am hoping will compensate for the lack of action yesterday. Still, afterwards, we went down to Brewdog and met up with Feo and Fiasco, who joined us for a meal and some drinks. We grabbed a black pudding scotch egg, which was absolutely gorgeous and one of the things I really miss about the UK. My Cluck Norris burger was good, but perhaps too filling and I felt quite bloated for much of the rest of the evening. This meant we were drinking very slowly, but with only two beers on the menu which we hadn't yet had, there was less impetus to drink. Indeed, it was a little annoying that they still hadn't receieved the Brewdog Beer Visa 2.0 as it would have been a good opportunity to get some of the stickers for their core range. Still, even though there are people in the UK who have already hit the 20 bar and 20 sticker top level challenge, we are waiting for the booklets. As usual, the UK always gets priority. Anyway, it was a good evening all told, even if I did feel left out of the more technical and gaming conversations, plus we got to speak to a really nice barman from Donegal who was really interested in why we were here. Plus. at 1am on the U7 home, we stumbled across a rave that was going on in the train, with bright disco lights and pumping hardstyle. For some reason, it wasn't annoying, even though it lasted the whole journey to Spandau. I guess it was expected for Berlin, but with even some old people darting the full length of the train to join in with these festivities with strangers, it was hard not to get involved. Indeed, we would have gone down there ourselves had we not had the COVID risk to deal with. The train guard was even getting involved, just checking tickets and letting them get on with things. I really do love this city at times.
I have written letters to my grandfather for Christmas and Monika downstairs. I'm starting to fear the worst about the latter. She hasn't been on her phone since 15 November, two days after she told me she was in hospital with cancer, and I haven't seen her lights on either. I'm hoping she's okay and recovering, but she is frail and in her eighties so I am getting very concerned. The rising COVID cases are also a factor, although those have at least started to decrease in Berlin with the introduction of the 2G Plus rule which has seen only vaccinated people being able to enter most public places, with this checked religiously on the door, along with the requirement of wearing a mask.
Little has really happened this week, although I am currently halfway through a four-day weekend due to the aforementioned cancelled Nice trip. Work was largely hassle-free, with my new boss far more supportive and less demanding than the previous one who kept ringing me incessently. It's certainly a more pleasant way to work. Furthermore, there seems to be a few interesting US-based developments which hopefully will see a promotion and payrise early next year, while we may also have secured a couple of new contracts for our business as well. Consequently, things are busy, but with COVID really hitting my desire to do anything, along with the incessant cold and darkness, I am happy to stay in and save money this month. Indeed, with Wolfie away from Thursday, this is the most likely thing I'll do.
Friday and Saturday were days out though, although nothing too strenuous. Taking advantage of most people being at work, on Friday afternoon we headed down to the Zitadelle to the Spandau Christmas Market, the biggest in Berlin. It usually takes place along the streets of Spandau but this year was moved to the citadel for social distancing reasons, as well as it being easier to check everyone was 2G compliant. It opened at 2pm and we got down there just before 3pm, delighted that we could walk around all of the stalls with very few people. In the daylight it was much less magical than at night, but at least we got to explore the citadel too, with its long brick walls and excellent views over both Spandau and the Havel, which widens significantly to the north. There were a number of interesting buildings inside the city walls too, some former barracks mainly, with some of these converted into a puppet theatre, a ceramics workshop or a restaurant. There was also a fascinating museum about the history of Spandau, which detailed where the old city walls used to run, and indeed how the water course of the Havel altered over time. Unlike many provinicial musems, this one was stimulating, partly because Spandau was a garrison town with very good records as a result. There was also a temporary exhibit upstairs which celebrated one hundred years of Spandau being incorporated into the greater Berlin district in 1920. This exhibition was clearly meant for last year, but COVID messed things up, so it's now here until January. It was really interesting charting the politics of the time and just how unpopular the incorporation was. This was used by far left and far right forces in Spandau, making for an engaging window into how local issues can be exploited by actors and explode accordingly. It was also interesting to discover that Berlin almost had prohibition in 1925, while there was loads of really deep social history. We were in the museum for about two hours, only having to leave because they were closing. We'll be back before the exhibition ends on 9 January for sure.
Entry to the Christmas Market cost €3.50 but it was very well spent. Once we had left the museum, night had already fallen, meaning it was very magical with all of the spotlighting casting ghostly shadows on the walls and turrets of the citadel. Within here, there was the bright white lights of the stalls offering all range of produce from Italian salami and olive wood ornaments to langos and of course gluhwein and food. We grabbed two Bratwurst from two different concessions, stopping to eat on the conveniently placed tables. We also had an extensive look around, noting on our way out that two medievally dressed gentlemen were now guarding the fortress entrance with axes. This entertained the kids, but we were to leave before it got too busy, ending up in the Spandau Brauhaus as we fancied a beer before heading back home. The rest of the evening was largely spent chilling - ordering some more Lack tables for our new TV, of which we took delivery on Tuesday - as well as ordering one of the worst pizzas we have ever had from a takeaway which I am pretty sure resulted in the food poisoning and diahorrea I experienced during the early hours of Saturday morning. Pizza La Bella, shame on you, but it's amazing just how poor takeaways are here. In Charlottenburg, it took a while to get one burger place, one pizza place and one Indian that we liked, but in Spandau we have had no real luck. Granted, we have eaten takeaway less as we have been able to go out on Saturdays, but even then, every place we have tried has been poor. Part of the problem seems to be the lack of urgency in delivery, as the food invariably arrives tepid. Not good.
Saturday was the Furry Stamtisch down at Qualgeist, but we were both feeling a little ropey with the food poisoning (Wolfie too had had a similar issue). Consequently, we didn't get up to much, and I spent most of the time just chatting with a few new people and making friends. Alas, it was very poorly attended, with just ten people in total present. I think COVID was the main reason (although the snow yesterday probably put people off too) as when I turned up later for Doggy Evening, having forgotten to hand in my card after the Furry Stammtisch, there seemed to be very few people there again. We are going back down tomorrow evening, which I am hoping will compensate for the lack of action yesterday. Still, afterwards, we went down to Brewdog and met up with Feo and Fiasco, who joined us for a meal and some drinks. We grabbed a black pudding scotch egg, which was absolutely gorgeous and one of the things I really miss about the UK. My Cluck Norris burger was good, but perhaps too filling and I felt quite bloated for much of the rest of the evening. This meant we were drinking very slowly, but with only two beers on the menu which we hadn't yet had, there was less impetus to drink. Indeed, it was a little annoying that they still hadn't receieved the Brewdog Beer Visa 2.0 as it would have been a good opportunity to get some of the stickers for their core range. Still, even though there are people in the UK who have already hit the 20 bar and 20 sticker top level challenge, we are waiting for the booklets. As usual, the UK always gets priority. Anyway, it was a good evening all told, even if I did feel left out of the more technical and gaming conversations, plus we got to speak to a really nice barman from Donegal who was really interested in why we were here. Plus. at 1am on the U7 home, we stumbled across a rave that was going on in the train, with bright disco lights and pumping hardstyle. For some reason, it wasn't annoying, even though it lasted the whole journey to Spandau. I guess it was expected for Berlin, but with even some old people darting the full length of the train to join in with these festivities with strangers, it was hard not to get involved. Indeed, we would have gone down there ourselves had we not had the COVID risk to deal with. The train guard was even getting involved, just checking tickets and letting them get on with things. I really do love this city at times.
