Behind blue eyes..

Having a 'The Who' day today- I was beginning to have an empty feeling inside, and then the other night, there was a busker outside our fav pub playing 'Behind Blue Eyes'(The Who) and I suddenly realised it was a lack of old skool rock that was missing. That hole is now filled.
In the first picture, the main focus please on the Rubik's cube- proof I did actually finish it, hell to the yes!! Was given a load of Cadbury's chocolate- god knows how he got it?! I didn't get the Starbucks.. gutted.
Second and third are nights in the student house, where some of the guys in the class live- we normally go there to have pre-drinks, there's about 40 people living there I think- so it's pretty epic playing 'Beer-pong' (weird game.. and not recommended if you don't like beer!)
And finally- my new work place!! I signed the contract on Saturday, so it is actually happening! But kinda annoyed because it means I can only come home at xmas for a week (not sure if I've mentioned that already.. ha!) but ohwell- its H&M, canny complain!
I'm currently eating 'Jelly Belly' sweeties, figuring out if I can make it to the gym before going out for Halloween tonight- feeling so lazy man!
There's like a Bank Holiday thing here tomorrow- so no school, wooo! But going to visit my family, who live further in the Black Forest- should be nice (especially as I won't have to cook lunch or dinner ha!)
Right so, gym time. Happy ghost christmas y'all x

Katzenjammer..

Not quite German- but how good is this!??! (btw- a Katzenjammer is a hangover in german- currently what I am suffering from..)
Oh also-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=wQbbIqQaypY - Norwegians are cool!!! (meet a few Norwegians the other night- at an Irish bar of all places..!)

Sunset Blvd..

Finally having a lazy day today- got in a tad late last night after getting rather lost on the way home (was a wicked night though!).. I missed the last tram home, so ended up getting the night bus- and the one time I don't take my little cheesy town map I end up at the wrong side of town!! Defo calls for a joggers day.
Watched 'Sunset Boulevard' this morning- so good. I'm going through a Film-Noir and French Animation phase right now- such fun! I defo recommend 'Belleville Rendez-Vous' & 'L'illusionniste' - both black comedy, animation things, with very little dialogue but pure brilliance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVgkCuRQ13w&feature=related - here's just the beginning, the song will probably stick in your head..!
Just done some research and the director (Sylvain Chomet) of both those films has done some more, which looks just as grotesque and awesome as the others! If you've ever read Angela Carter's works, short stories or novels, you may see a similarity between them- I sure do.. Anyway- he's also directed 'Paris, Je T'Aime' (which I think is probs the one most people have heard of.. with Juliette Binoche and that?!) and also a tiny (25mins) short film called 'La vieille dame et les pigeons'- seeing as its so short, I'm gonna look on Youtube laters for it- but looks weirdly wonderful.
Meanwhile though, the couple downstairs have invited for lunch (hell yes- means I don't have to cook today!!!)  so I best get out of bed and make myself presentable.
For you? this..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3PFsFwbj5U&feature=related (god knows why the video thingy isn't working..) Love x

Great voice of freedom..

The friggin' video thingy isn't working again- watch this. Plz.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZr2WV9JiwI&feature=related

I honestly believe I was born in the wrong generation.. I got da goose bumps!

The times they are a-changin'..

So I've finally gotten the photos developed- enjoy! (soz about some of the lighting, I ain't no photographer..)

Just stuff I've recently done/places recently been- the train station, my flat, the city gardens, the Town Hall plaza, a second hand book shop with a view of the Baechle and an old bike (how romantic man!), the street up towards Bertold's Brunnen, and my front door!! Just chatting to Mumma while I write this; complaining about the post, my lack of funds and clothes, of course! Sorting our xmas holidays and stuff out- scary. H&M only let me have 23 days in half a year for holiday, I've actually gotta start thinking about when is best to come home!
Gonna have a sleep now- going out again tonight. Defo looking forward to my lazy day tomorrow- woo. x

Sunny up..

A perfect way to start a sunny day, with a cup of English Breakfast and a kiwi- have a nice day y'all!

Happy birthday big brother..

So it was ma big brothers 25th the other day. We have this book in our childhood 'Es War Einmal Ein Mann' (Hans Traxler) and it was the best book ever- it had logic, pictures, rhyme, humour.. everything a child could want. But we only had one copy (which I of course kept hold of..) so for his birthday I bought him a copy off amazon- I think it's safe to say I won the 'Best Birthday Present' prize this year- woo! Here's a little extract of how brilliant it is:
"Es war einmal ein Mann,
 der hatte einen Schwamm.
 Der Schwamm war ihm zu nass,
 da kam zum Glück ein Fass.
 Das Fass, das hat ein Loch,
 da kam zum Glück ein Koch.
 Der Koch war ihm zu fett,
 da kam zum Glück ein Bett.
 Im Bett da lag ein Biber,
 das war ihm schon viel lieber."

[Translation..] 

"There once was a man, 

who had a sponge 

The sponge was too wet,

luckily there was a barrel

But the barrel had a hole,

then there came a cook

The cook was really fat,

luckily there came a bed,

In the bed there was a beaver,

who was much much nicer."

- Obvs it doesn't rhyme in English- but its still funny right!! 

Anywho- I've just got in from a few 'quiet' drinks with some friends, was brill! Think I've finally found a pub I could happily go into again- although a tad on the expensive side..! Going out proper like tomorrow I think- for Halloween. Reckon I've got my costume all sorted.. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/photos/rock-star-inspired-halloween-costumes-20111028 - got half my hair sorted already!

Supposed to be going to a Wine Fest- but I got no time.. I've got to sign the contract for my H&M job tomorrow morning (so I probs should go to bed.. HA!) and gym and work for "school" and swimming and going out. Crazy life- but getting used to its brilliance.

I know I've put pictures up of Paris before, but it really is such a pretty city and had such an amazing time there, that I'm gonna put just one more up..

Na'night x

I don't know..

Recently learnt this on my guitar- beautiful song by a beautiful woman with a beautiful voice.

I have saved all my ribbons for thee..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5TDLKMli3Y&feature=related -- the video thingy don't wanna work, so just press on the link instead, soz!
Having a Leonard Cohen day today- I'd heard this song a while ago on a Joe Bonamassa album ('Black Rock'-amazing album btw, especially 'Quarryman's Lament'&'Steal Your Heart Away'!) and knew it was a Cohen special, but never actually heard the original version, till a friend kindly showed me the light! Pure brilliance. I highly highly recommend the film 'Bird on a Wire' too- I watched it just before coming out here and man I sure did fall in love with Cohen that night!!
So the other day I found a BIO supermarket, right around the corner from the "school"- its amazing!! Like a huge elf foods- (for those who know me, its a friggin' god send!) So I've been super healthy, buying all (well maybe just some.. its expensive!) of ma food there- dried fruit, cracker things, cereal stuff, and of course, healthy nutella.. yes I jest not, it does exist!! And damn tasty.
I wanna plan something for this weekend- seeing as its Halloween, should be getting up to something crazy and scary! Who knows, don't wanna be stuck in watching films like 'In Bruges' again on my own. Which, btw, just want to say- amazing film, like seriously fantastic(!) but not one to watch on your own- so sad, but so so brilliant!!!!!! (Plz watch it.)

On the note of films.. This is a random picture of my month long Inter-railing trip in the summer (fab trip!) As known to us English/American lot 'The Hangover' is a very funny film about a trip. In France, they prefer straight forward titles for films.. 'Very Bad Trip' sure as hell concludes the films content. Personally I just found it funny to look at.
Off swimming tomorrow with Elodie- probs shouldn't have just eaten a load of that BIO nutella..
Peace out x

Oh, to live on Sugar Mountain..

I saw some people doing this today (unfortunately this isn't my own picture..) and thought friggin' hell- how totally cool!! In Freiburg there are these little 'bächles' which means, well, according to Google translate there's no direct translation- so I suppose they are like little man-made rivers flowing through the town, and obvs where people like to have the occasional drink on a summer eve. That's the romantic view anyway, the other way of describing them I guess would be to say, there's a load of sewers running through the town. Although no-one wants to hear that, so we'll say rivers.
The reason for me not putting up my own photos yet is that I have no camera.. I'm as un-technological as ever, and am currently using a disposable one (partly out of unwillingness to use a digital camera, and partly(mainly) out of unwillingness to pay for one..) its fun cause you never know what the photos are gonna look like, and after a while forget what you've taken- but then I've gotta take 27 photos before I can get them developed..!  So a friend and I spent a few hours in the city gardens after "school" today, taking random pictures and eating marzipan kartoffeln. (Now if you Google translate that it'll be marzipan potatoes, and yes I know they sound horrid, but honestly trust me- friggin' gorg.)

(Personally I'm more of a romantic..)
Peace out for now mandem - x

Wish you were here..

I wish I was back here, in summer, with an ice cream.. Such a beautiful city!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAH!!!!!!!

 Love x

I'd stand in the line of fire for you..

I read a book in the summer called 'A Town Like Alice' by Nevil Shute- and I recently downloaded Mystery Jets album 'Serotonin', and the first song was this (called 'Alice Springs'!) I love finding similarities between books and songs (-I thought I'd found one between Dylan's 'Like A Rolling Stone' and 'On The Road' by Jack Kerouac, but turns out Bobby wrote the song while depressed on a tour around England.. great.) Anyway the song is brilliant, and the book even better! Passed it onto my mum- which after reading this Hesse atm ('Die Steppenwolf'- no idea what that is in English.. soz!) I defo wanna read again, such an uplifting story, yet (as great stories often do) reducing one to tears as you pretty much endure everything the characters endure.. Have a new found interest in the Vietnamese War and Australia aswell!!
I'm off to bed now though.. Woke up at eight (normally this is early right, here its late.. Stupid German early birds.) and forgot the trams were striking, thus arrived a tad late to "school".. Opps! FYI- school is in inverted commas as I feel weird saying I go to school, so its a "school" instead. I know, its pretty much the same- but it makes me feel less young saying "school" than saying school.
Ta'ra x

Remember the time..

So I told my dad to check this out.. and he kindly pointed out I'd spelt Hemingway wrong- how embarrassing!! Anyway, I officially became a working resident today in Freiburg (had to tell the council that I live here now and wanna work and that)- scary stuff! They even crossed out Loughborough on my passport in exchange for a huge friggin' stamp of Freiburg!! Also opened a bank account and sorted out my tax- how thoroughly enthralling. And to celebrate I'm off to the gym. It sure as hell doesn't get better than this. Actually I am kinda excited about one thing, I get to put my name on the letter box later today- eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! Now I really cannot wait to do that.. It's all getting so official- its brill!
Been having an MJ day today, 'Remember The Time' being a fav- its just got a brill beat (as per usual) and its not quite up there as his most well-known, so I feel like a true fan listening to it (and knowing all the words..)!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8aiTeHEXdU - check this out, found it earlier- just thought it was a pretty cool version! Peace out x

Never thought I'd say this..

... I actually miss Tesco's- yes that's right I'm damn well did say it. Its true what they say, every little really does help!! (Getting all nostalgic again..)

Posters of Dylan and Hemmingway..

So a lots happened in the past week, landed myself a job at H&M- defo cannot wait to start working there..(not to mention make use of the awesome discount!!) I've also finally joined a gym, running was just getting too boring on ma own. I have however made myself a very embarrassing 'WORK IT' playlist- strangely containing Snoop Dogg, Mr Hudson, Jibbs, Willow, Lupe Fiasco, The Game, and so on..(even a Fast and Furious soundtrack made it in there!)
I've been listening to a load of proper good ol' English music- although old it really isn't! Frank Turner and Laura Marling are just two of the artists keeping me very much glued to England.. I seem to have an addiction to listening to songs about leaving home, going back home, or beautiful England, this sure ain't good man. May go put some Kraftwerk on to make up for my English sentimentality!
Off now to finish some work.. Getting back used to doing work takes friggin' ages!! This language school is pretty awesome here though, the other day a teacher bet I couldn't solve a Rubik's cube.. its safe to say I totally won that bet!! He's gotta buy me a venti vanilla latte and cake from Starbucks now- HA! Starbucks is slowly becoming a personal fav of mine and Elodie's (my beaut swiss friend!) the guys who work there pretty much know our daily orders now..

Time to say goodnight..

x

Falling off the face of the earth..

So I got told to make one of these blogs as a type of journal of my trip and new life. Moving to Germany was a super big step, and I sometimes feel like if I had taken longer to think about it and hadn't so spontaneously organised it, I would still be in Loughborough, working till four in the morning, in some shitty pub. Defo right move!
I've got myself a list of new music, a list of books and a big fat German dictionary to help me get through the dreary days..
But I also love getting parcels and letters through the post, which cheers me up dramatically! The 'rents often send me little packages (mainly clothes I couldn't fit in my suitcase..) but the other day I received the best gift EVER from a dear friend.. a very old version of Keats' complete poetry collection!! It made me tremendously happy, so I have ever since been glued to reading that instead of the dictionary!

"Beauty is a joy forever,
Its loveliness increases,
It will never pass into nothingness."

My new home..

Finally settling down.. Its taken a few weeks but I am certainly getting used to the idea of having my own balcony in the flat!

Hey, thats no way to say goodbye..

And so the journey begins..