If We Were Having Coffee… On March 26

March 26, 20174 Comments

Hello my lovely booklovers,

Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, a blog hop that was started by the lovely Diana over at Part Time Monster, but has now moved to a new home with Emily at Nerd In The Brain. Every weekend we get together for virtual coffees and a little casual chat. How has this past week been for you?

If we were having coffee today, we’d sit outside in the glorious sunshine, soaking up the sun and fresh air. For the first time this year it’s warm enough to leave your jacket at home. Spring is finally here!

I know I’ve missed another Weekend Coffee Share last week. Well, on Monday, 13 March, my hometown got a bomb threat. Now, we’re a fairly smallish town, with one shopping centre around the corner from where I live and work. It turned out to be false alarm, but if there had really been a bomb and had it detonated, we would have been in the zone. Bomb threads are not common at all in Germany, so for us to get one was more unexpected than scary. Like, why would you bother with a small town like ours?? It didn’t make sense. And I refuse to buy into fear – after all, the aim of terrorism is to spread terror, and panicking wouldn’t have helped.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that my new teaching job is going pretty well so far. Of course there are still a few problems as with any new job you start, but the boss has got my back and I’m learning to be stricter. I have never been trusted this much before, and people have never believed in me and my skills/talents like this before, and I’m a bit overwhelmed by it all. It makes a nice change from being talked down to and taken for granted.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that we’re still moving house. The first lot is done, but we still need to clean out various cellars that especially my dad kept stuff in (but eventually migrated our stuff across to make space somewhere else). We need to get them cleared out by the middle of April, and I’m dreading it. At least I know that not a lot of it is mine – an old stuffed animal, a few photo albums, some souvenirs and childhood memories. That’s all that’s left for me to move.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that I am well aware that I’m once again behind with my reviews and other updates on this blog. I sometimes feel like my life is not my own at the moment, and I’m constantly exhausted. I read, but I can’t find the concentration to then sit down and write properly. I work my normal job (and within the first 3 months of 2017 I’ve worked enough unpaid overtime to take a whole month off in theory), now I teach 3 afternoons per week, have to plan lessons and then look after my gran and my dad and drive them places or go shopping with them, and I’m getting sick of being the only one who always has to drop her plans because nobody else is available.

All I can ask you is to bear with me. It’s not just this blog that is currently falling behind. I don’t even get left alone enough to study for my TEFL certificate (although I need this for my job!!), research for my PhD project proposal, spring-clean my flat, heck, some days I don’t even get enough time to eat properly. I’ve been averaging one meal a day and a bowl of cereal to hold me over. So everything non-essential, and as much as it pains me, this blog falls into that category, is currently only possible if I got a breather from the rest of it all. I need a holiday – the last time I was able to just relax for a week was in 2012 – and I’m reaching the end of my tether. My hypnotherapy is going really well, but at the same time, I’m getting a lot more emotionally exhausted. I’m hoping the sunshine and warm weather will help with that. I’m a summer child, and I’m glad the winter is finally over. I need to get out of here, and away from all this responsibility I’ve been lumped with, especially as I never get any thanks or appreciation in turn. I just want to be alone, somewhere quiet and warm, maybe walk through nature or sit in a cosy but warm spot in a forest and read. I want to go somewhere I’ve never been before, explore a new place, be myself again and recharge my batteries because I’m running on empty.

Anyway. On to books: On last count, I now own more than 850 books. I have just finished the Shades of Magic series by V.E. Schwab and I can’t recommend it enough. Instant new favourites! I even got the hardcover versions signed and she personalised them to me! And yes, I’m well aware, that’s book collector gold!

The hadcover editions of the Shades of Magic trilogy by V.E. Schwab: A Darker Shade of Magic, A Gathering of Shadows, and A Conjuring of Light. ©theliteratigirl/IG

V.E. Schwab signed all three books of the Shades of Magic series to me! ©theliteratigirl

Have you read them? If you have, I’d love to talk to you about dream casting those characers. Especially in light of Gerard Butler having bought the rights and adapting it for film.

Anyway, I think that’s it from me for now. Thank you for having coffee with me and giving me a chance to sit back and soak up the sun for a few minutes! Check out the other Weekend Coffee Sharers, I’m sure they’d also love to see you!

Same time, next week?

If We Were Having Coffee… On March 12

March 12, 2017March 13, 2017Leave a comment

Hello my lovely booklovers,

If we were having coffee, we’d sit outside for the first time this year and soak up the spring sun! It’s finally starting to get warmer here – I can’t wait for long and sunny days.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’ve been teaching my first few classes, and so far, it’s been pretty good. Of course I’m still finding my way, but I guess that’s natural. I also found that teaching my native language German is much harder than teaching English – despite being bilingual, I had normal English lessons at school, so I learned it as a second language and concentrated on grammar. By the time we focused on German grammar, we’d already been speaking the language 10 years, so the approach to the language was completely different, and questions about irregular German verbs and rules flummox me, because I know them all instinctively.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that my flat is still a mess, though I have been making progress. My bookshelves are all rearranged, and I actually managed to fit all my books on them with space to spare! Which is good, because I already have more books on the way.

If we were having coffee today, we’d talk about Buffy the Vampire Slayer turning 20 this week. I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since Buffy first aired – it’s little things like this that show me I’m getting older. I’ve been a fan, a Slayerette, a member of the Scoobie gang from Day One, and I loved the fact that there finally was a show with a kick-ass (literally) female lead character who was so much more, and capable of so much more, than anyone gave her credit for. The same goes for Willow Rosenberg too, by the way. And of course there was Giles, the fatherly Watcher, magician, librarian whom I simply adored.

If we were having coffee, I’d ask whether you’ve read V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic series. I’m eagerly awaiting my copy of A Conjuring of Light, the third and final part of the trilogy. I’m simply obsessed with Kell, Lila, Red London and everything else concerning the story. It’s been a while since a series has drawn me in like this, and it has quickly become one of my favourites.

If we were having coffee today, that’d be it from me. Check out the other Weekend Coffee Sharers as well, I’m sure they’d like to see you too.

Thank you for having coffee with me. Same time, next week?

If We Were Having Coffee… On March 5

March 5, 2017March 6, 20172 Comments

Hello my lovely booklovers,

I apologise once again that I had to miss yet another update last week. My life has been busy, but things are finally starting to fall into place for me! As far as that is concerned, my motto is “Let the good times rule”, or as the people of New Orleans would say “Laissez les bon temps rouler!”

If we were having coffee today, I’d first of all tell you my exciting bit of news: I GOT A JOB! During the Weekend Coffee Share on February 19, I told you guys that I had been offered a job at a language school as an English teacher, despite not having applied or interviewed for the position. Well, I got it!! I officially started as a language instructor on March 1, teaching English as a Foreign Language and German as a Foreign Language! I’ve had my first two English classes (which are 1 Business English / Conversational course and 1 UK primary school prep course) and I’ll teach my first German lesson tomorrow! I am so excited about this opportunity! A bit overwhelmed as I have no idea where to really start, but I can do this! I’ve still got my part-time day job and I work as a freelance language instructor, but there’s a chance I could get taken on permanently if I prove myself. Native German & English instructors are apparently hard to come by, so being a bilingual native speaker of these languages who can teach is a pretty good situation to be in. The school is really supportive in terms of resources, and they will even sponsor me to get my TEFL certificate (which I started but never finished due to my MA).

I FINALLY got recognised for something I’m good at and work doing something I like.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you about last weekend. I gave a talk / presentation about the UK at the Naturefriends house, and I was asked to provide tea and scones as well. It’s been marked down for months, but I didn’t get a chance to prepare much. I was up all night Saturday to sort through 6 years worth of photos to use. It all went swimmingly. Apparently, the talk was interesting, just the right length, and fun for everyone. It also brought back a slew of memories and now I miss the Lake District something fierce!

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you about my trip to Cologne yesterday with my cousin Fabian. We hadn’t seen each other in almost a year and were long overdue a get-together. So we decided to go to Cologne and shop for books, as there’s one huge bookstore that has an excellent English-language section. I ended up buying Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology, and an absolutely gorgeous Penguin Threads edition of The Wizard of Oz!

Penguin Threads edition of The Wizard of Oz & Cologne Cathedral ©theliteratigirl

Next stop was The English Shop, where I stocked up on Twinings Tea, Bakewell Tarts, Hobnobs, and 2 Guardian newspapers, as well as the book The House at Baker Street. In this book, Mrs Hudson and Mary Watson team up and it sounds like they’re showing Sherlock and John how it’s done. I’m all for BAMF Mrs H, so this is right up my street! My legs are still sore from the long distances we covered yesterday, but eventually we found ourselves next to Cologne Cathedral at a Kölsch brewery where we had a well-deserved beer. At the station I found one more book though, and I had to buy it, considering the title:

Enid Blyton for Grown-ups: Five on Brexit Island. With National Express rolling stock on the railway tracks of Germany. ©theliteratigirl

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that dad has now moved out of my childhood home and into the house I live in, though there’s still lots to be done. I’m just glad to have had a weekend’s rest from moving boxes.

Anyway, that’s it from me. Check out the other Weekend Coffee Sharers, I’m sure they’d love to see you as well!

Thank you for having coffee with me. Same time, next week?

If We Were Having Coffee… On Feb 19

February 19, 20174 Comments

Hello my lovely booklovers,

I am so sorry for not having participated much this month. Life has been really hectic, and I barely got anything done. If we were having coffee today, we’d sit on all sorts of boxes and crates while I offer you coffee or tea to drink.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that my dad is moving house this month, and he is moving into the house I live in. His office will be above my flat, and his new flat will be above that. But that means moving all his stuff out of a place he has lived in for the last 35-odd years. Since January, mum, my sister and I have been emptying out our own basements and flats to make space for whatever we want to keep from dad’s place. But that’s taken longer than expected. We’ve also cleaned out dad’s basement (more or less) and we have taken countless bags of clothes to charity donation boxes. On Feb 9, we moved the first lot of stuff across, mainly dad’s home office. But at the same time, they dismantled the furniture in my old room, which I wanted to keep. So I had to clear out my own wardrobe and shelves, move them away and make space for a “new” wardrobe and shelves. I am still sorting stuff around because getting dad’s things sorted for the move took precedence. I also got my old desk back, which is still the best desk I ever had and fits better into my flat as well. Let me just say I am sick and tired of boxes, and I am not going to be moving anytime soon.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that I sort of got offered a job this week, teaching English at a language school. I accompanied my dad to his Conversational English course because I had to drive him, and the teacher (and owner) kept asking me questions which kept me talking for about 1/3 of the lesson. Afterwards, he told me that he is currently looking for teachers and asked whether I’d be interested.Even though I don’t have my TEFL (yet), I could start out on Conversational courses and then take over the normal classes as well. He wants to get in touch next week so we can sit down and discuss this further! I am super excited about this opportunity! Especially as it was offered without an anxiety-inducing and nerve-wracking application process.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I want to get so much done. Not only do I want to catch up on my reading and reviews and blog posts, I’ve got quite a few Coursera / FutureLearn / edX courses lined up that I want to do. Plus looking for a job and PhD opportunities, writing more, putting together a recipe collection and work out more. It’s a bit overwhelming, to be honest.

If we were having coffee, I’d also tell you that I now own 815 books and there are at least 7 still on the way (I’ve ordered 7, but I’ve already planned on ordering at least 8 more, all 15 of which will be signed!). I found a little, independent book shop which holds signings every other day, and even if you can’t attend, if you order and ask for a signed copy, they’ll get it signed for you. I’ve finally found something worthwhile to collect!

Anyway, that’s it from me for now. I hope to have some more time to myself and for this blog after next weekend. Check out the other Weekend Coffee Sharers, I’m sure they’d love to see you as well!

Thank you for having coffee with me! Same time, next week (hopefully)?

If We Were Having Coffee… On Feb 5

February 5, 2017February 6, 20172 Comments

Hello my lovely booklovers,

Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, a blog hop by the lovely Diana over at Part Time Monster. Every weekend we get together for virtual coffees and a little casual chat. How has this past week been for you?

I know I have been avoiding you all last week and I apologise for that. I’ve had a lot on my mind and not much time to myself, let alone time to write. It’s all been a bit much, really.

Yesterday we would have met up in Düsseldorf with a friend of mine. We would have gone into the Old Town, had a lovely lunch at a Creole restaurant (which is pretty uncommon over here), and then strolled through the rain to bookstores and ended up at a café to while the afternoon away.

Today was slightly more hectic, I’m afraid. Brunch with the family, and then emptying out the basement. You see, my dad is moving house soon, and we’ve got 30+ years of accumulated stuff to either pack or get rid of.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that this move is a colossal effort. Dad’s only moving two doors down (into the house I live in, in fact), but we need to empty the flat and 3 cellars. Yes, three. He didn’t really give us any heads up that movers will move the first lot of stuff next Thursday – which is the busiest day of the month at work!! – and he currently can’t walk properly or lift much, so mum, my sister and I have been going through wardrobes and cupboards and sorting stuff out. So far, we’ve donated 10+ bags of clothes, towels, and plush toys to charity for the refugee houses in town. We’ve thrown away boxes and boxes and probably dozens of bags worth of broken things, outdated things, school work and knick-knack nobody will ever need again.

But that’s not all. I’m actually keeping part of my childhood room furniture. It’s still in tact, it doesn’t look dated, and I’m in need of a proper wardrobe and a desk I can actually work on. So I will need to clear out my own bedroom, move the shelves I currently use as a makeshift wardrobe, and sort out my own cellar too. The one I’m currently using is filled with stuff belonging to my dad and sister, plus a few of my own boxes. I finally got my own cellar today, so we’ve put up a shelf and cleared out all those empty boxes of gadgets we no longer own and all the stuff my sister won’t keep. We’ve filled a whole garage with rubbish we’ll need to take to the tip when it’s open next week. That leaves me with moving my stuff across to my new cellar and making space in my flat to rearrange the furniture. It’s a mess. On the plus side, I’m going through my parents’ home library as dad won’t be taking many of his books with him. Unfortunately the ones I’m most interested in – mainly by Grisham, Le Carré, Clancy, Hailey and a few assorted others – are the ones dad wants to keep. I did find a few that I’ve been able to add to my own home library, though, especially more Agatha Christie, Dürrenmatt, and a collection of world literature.

If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you that I feel like a failure. I said in a previous Weekend Coffee Share that I would be applying to PhD programmes. Well… deadline for research proposal submission was Feb 1 and I didn’t get mine done in time. Mainly due to the moving and sorting stuff out business. I’ve been way too stressed to research properly, wasn’t given the peace and quiet I need to work on this. But I’m also proud. When I realised I wouldn’t make the deadline, I stopped worrying. I actually took a step back and said “I’m taking a break from this” instead of stressing to the last minute. I didn’t want to hand in anything that rushed, and I wouldn’t have been able to save the proposal in those last 3 hours. So I decided to stop there for the moment, and once the move is dealt with, I’ll go back to researching properly, take my time formulating the question better, find more literature, and contact students and alumni of the programme(s) I want to do and talk to faculty. There’s no point handing in something this important if it’s half-arsed. I’d rather do it properly, even if it means waiting a year for my chance, than hand in something I’m not happy with right on deadline. I’m still disappointed, though. I’m not usually a quitter, so this feels like I let myself down, though I know that the stress around me, in combination with bad episodes of my SAD, has made it hard for me to function properly this winter. Who knows, though, maybe I’ll have published my thesis by the time the deadline comes around again – my professor keeps urging me to find a respected and peer-reviewed journal to publish in.

If we were having coffee today, I’d talk more about books. Just yesterday, I received 4 signed books all the way from BookPeople in Austin, Texas. Moonglow by Michael Chabon, The Girls by Emma Cline, Swing Time by Zadie Smith and The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden. The latter is even made out to me! BookPeople has rapidly become my favourite bookstore, even though international shipping isn’t cheap. They host dozens of author events, readings and signings per month, and even if you’re too far away to attend, if you order the book before the event and let them know you’d like it signed, they’ll get it signed for you no extra charge. You can even ask for personalisations, though those are at the author’s discretion (Katherine Arden was happy to personalise, Zadie Smith wasn’t but that’s fine!). The events are usually close to the release dates of the books, so chances are you might even get a Signed First Edition! And they’ll keep a few signed copies in stock, so as long as it’s listed as a signed book on the website and you ask for a signed copy, you’ll get one! Moonglow and The Bear and the Nightingale are both signed firsts! I’ve already ordered for an event in March, because I don’t want to get to the end of the month and discover my money doesn’t quite stretch that far anymore. Because on March 1, they’ll be hosting V.E. Schwab, the author of the Shades of Magic series. I’m currently reading it and can’t wait for book 3, A Conjuring of Light. I knew I’d order it from them and ask for a personalised signature. So I emailed the shop, asking if it was at all possible to get all three books in the series signed if there’s time, and they checked and said that V.E. Schwab would be happy to sign all three. so yeah. Sometime in March I’ll have a complete signed set of the Shades of Magic series on its way to me! I love it. Books make me happy. And with signed books, I’ve finally found something really worth collecting.

Oh, my reviews are forthcoming. Once the big move is underway and I don’t need to sort boxes anymore I’ll resume the reviews. I’ve read a few really good books lately and I can’t wait to share them with you!

Anyway, I think this is enough to be getting on with. There’s more to tell you, as usual, but it’s getting late and I’ve got a busy schedule for the rest of the night and tomorrow.

Check out the other Weekend Coffee Sharers. I’m sure they’d love to see you too!

Thank you for having coffee with me. Same time, next week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Favourite Plays

January 24, 2017January 24, 20175 Comments

Top Ten Tuesday is the brainchild of The Broke & the Bookish. Every Tuesday, we compile a list of our literary Top 10, and then add it to the blog hop.

This week is all about our Top 10 FREEBIE – So I chose Top 10 Favourite Plays.

I am pretty sure I could fill this entire list with Shakespeare’s works, but here are some plays I saw live on stage or via National Theatre Live, and which blew me away!

Special mention to the below version of Richard III as directed by Jamie Lloyd for Trafalgar Transformed – this is the play and the adaptation (set in 1979 Britain after a military coup, with Martin Freeman as Richard III see my review HERE) that finally unlocked Shakespeare for me!

Stationery Book Tag

January 9, 2017January 11, 20173 Comments

If you know me, then you’ll know that I love stationery – I even worked in two different stationery stores! Well, both of those stores also had book sections in them, so, in a way, this post combines stationery and books and harks back to my early university days 10 years ago!

Book Tags are always fun and the lovely Holly @ Nut Free Nerd has tagged me in the Stationery Book Tag! Thank you so much for tagging me!

But how does it work??

Thank the creator: Sam @ RiverMooseReads, Thank you!
Answer the questions.
Add pictures! (If you want to)
Tag (about) 5 people.

Q & A

Pencil: Favourite Children’s Books

Having grown up in Germany, one of my childhood favourites has always been Das kleine Gespenst (The Little Ghost) by Otfried Preußler! It’s the story of a kind ghost who’d like nothing more than to see daylight instead of haunting his castle at midnight. But when he does manage to wake up at noon he meets humans – and nothing goes according to plan.

Pens: A Basic Staple for Every Reader

Definitely The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien!It’s one of those books I think everybody should read, and it’s suitable for children and adults alike. There’s just something about growing up with stories about Middle-Earth, hobbits, dwarves and dragons that does wonders for your imagination.

Notebooks: Books you own multiple copies of

As a bilingual, I own many books in English and German editions. Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera is one of those books. It was the first book I bought in New Zealand, on my second day of school in Auckland, because it was our required text. It has become one of my favourite books over the last 14 years.

Markers: Books with beautiful covers

The picture really doesn’t do the cover of The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley any justice. What looks like dirty yellow on the picture is really more golden, the octopus and smaller details are bright green, even the page edges are tinted green and the cover also has a cutout where the fob watch is, continuing on the layer below. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

Glue: Two characters that work together, even if they aren’t together

Possibly the best literary friendship EVER has to be between Mr Sherlock Holmes and Dr John H. Watson in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. Not only are these two the oddest roommates you’ll ever see, their individual skill sets complement each other and they’re friendship and work relationship as consulting detectives lasted more than 40 years. They even retired together. If those are not Best Friend Goals, I don’t know what are!

Scissors: What Book Would you like to Destroy

Eileen by Ottessa Moshfegh is probably one of the worst books I have ever read. To date, it is the only book I only gave a one star review. Incredibly boring and drawn-out, with a thoroughly unpleasant main character and a plot that only really starts on the last 20 pages, this is one book I regret reading. I wish I could have that time I wasted back to read something more worthwhile.

Art Kit: What completed Series do you own

I own many completed series, but the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is my favourite of the lot. I also own it in my two main languages – English and German – and it is one of my go-to book series whenever I’m down. I was 11 when I first read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, so I really have grown up with them and gone to Hogwarts in their year. Returning to Hogwarts is like coming home.

Tagged Bloggers

Leann @ LM Creative

Melissa @ Readerly Geek

Candace & Erika @ Literary Dust

Theresa @ The Calico Books

Nat @ An Aussie Bookworm

So tell me: What would you answer to these questions? Let me know in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Top 10 Books I Read in 2016

December 27, 2016December 28, 20161 Comment

Top Ten Tuesday is the brainchild of The Broke & the Bookish. Every Tuesday, we compile a list of our literary Top 10, and then add it to the blog hop.

This week is all about our Top 10 Books I Read In 2016.

OK, I couldn’t just stop there, because I have two more books which I’ll put under “Honourable Mentions” here:

#WeekendCoffeeShare: If We Were Having Coffee… On Christmas Eve

December 24, 2016December 24, 20162 Comments

Hello my lovely booklovers,

how are you? Welcome to the Weekend Coffee Share, a blog hop by the lovely Diana over at Part Time Monster. Every weekend we get together for virtual coffees and a little casual chat. How has this past week been for you?

Happy Holidays my lovely readers!

If we were having coffee today, you would be warmly invited to celebrate Christmas with me and my family. Here in Germany, we celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve.

If we were spending the day together today, we’d have to go to the shops early. I still have to pick up beef and turkey from the butcher for Christmas dinner tonight (don’t worry, it’s pre-ordered and we’d be in and out). We’d also pop in next door to get drinks for tonight.

All my presents are wrapped and ready, so we’d have a bit of time to kill until just before 4pm. I’d invite you to come to church with me for a family-friendly service in my local church, where the female pastor greets everyone with a hug at the door and the service consists mainly of the nativity play and a few Christmas carols. We’re not a religious family, Christmas is the only time we actually attend in a year, aside from weddings, funerals and christenings. But we’ve been going to this particular service since I was 12 and one of the kids in the nativity as preparation for my confirmation. I love that even though it’s the main protestant church in town, it still feels like a family affair, and the family service is always translated into German Sign Language by pastors from a different parish. Everybody gets a candle, and towards the end of the service, the children are invited to approach the altar and light their candles on the Peace Light, which has been lit with the Eternal Flame that has come straight from the Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem. That sea of candles is when Christmas starts for me. And not even the organist who is always waaayyyy too fast (and who happens to be my high school music teacher) can ruin it for me.

After church, which lasts 1 hour 15 mins maximum, I’d pick up my dad and we’d make our way to my gran’s for Christmas Dinner. It’s just dad, gran and me tonight, my mum is at her parents’ and my sister is with her partner and his family.

We’ll have meat fondue tonight, as it’s been our family tradition for as long as I can remember. So we’ll have beef and turkey bites to dip into the rechaud, and enough baguettes, herb butter, sauce hollandaise and red sauce (my dad’s concoction) to make dinner last hours. But before we sit down for dinner, we’ll exchange gifts – don’t worry, we never go overboard on presents.

What are your holiday traditions? What do you celebrate? I’d love to hear more. One of the reasons I wish happy holidays is because my friends are so diverse, they all celebrate different holy days. And even those who do not celebrate in December, are still likely to have winter holidays or time off for bank holidays and New Year’s. This week, I’ve been celebrating the winter solstice with a Pagan friend of mine, and loved it. It was a small outdoor gathering on a local hill with an amazing view. I for one am glad the days are starting to get longer again.

So I hope that you’ll join me for part of my Christmas celebration today, just as I will be happy to celebrate your holiday with you! You’re more than welcome here and there’ll be plenty of food. Check ou the other Weekend Coffee Sharers as well, though, to spread the festive mood!

Same time, next week?

Happy Holidays, my lovelies, whatever you may celebrate this month!

xoxoxo

#WeekendCoffeeShare: If We Were Having Coffee… On September 10

September 10, 20165 Comments

Hello my lovely booklovers,

If we were having coffee we’d meet in town, because it’s our annual city-wide flea market “Zöppkesmarkt” this weekend! I love a good flea market, and I’ve put aside a few hours today to browse around for English-language books. I’m really trying to limit myself – the last two years, I bought about 40 books each time, but most were German and I still haven’t read those. But I know a few stalls that usually have English books, so I’ll go straight there. We’ll stop for waffles at the local church (no visit to the Zöppkesmarkt is complete without their Bergische Waffeln, in my opinion), and maybe get some Bratwürste to go later on. There’ll be all sorts of knick knack and I love going through all that stuff, but this time I’m on a mission (English books), don’t have much time (got a thesis to complete), I’m trying to save money (basically, I’ve only budgeted for books) and the only thing I’d make an exception for is a retro typewriter.

(Update: Found 14 English language paperbacks for €8 total, including 8 Classic Penguin Books, the oldest from 1953. My feet hurt. Inhaling the icing sugar on your waffles is never a good idea. Town is packed, so be prepared to shuffle along in 28°C basically brushing against people every step of the way… I think I need a cold shower.)

If we were having coffee, I’d ask R U OK? Thursday was R U OK? Day in Australia, and you may have seen my post about why I fully support this campaign. Reaching out to people and asking them whether they’re ok can make all the difference.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about a party I went to last night. One of my high school classmates turned 30 yesterday, and she had invited me to her party. I’m not sure what I expected, but somehow I didn’t expect a leisurely backyard BBQ. My friend’s husband was also in our class (although they weren’t high school sweethearts), and I hadn’t seen him since we graduated. Back then, I don’t think we’ve exchanged more than 10 words in 9 years unless we were forced to on group projects. So imagine my surprise when he gave me a proper bear hug, like so tight he kinda squished my glasses. In hindsight, he may have had a few to drink. We’ll all go for coffee soon to catch up properly. There were two other friends from school there and to be honest, if someone had told me 10 years ago that I’d spent the loveliest evening with this particular group of people I would have laughed. I liked them back then well enough, we just didn’t have anything in common to talk about, so to finally meet them and get to know them better now we’re all grown-up was very nice. My friend (the same one I went to see David Duchovny live in concert with back in May) also had the most epic playlist for those of us having grown up during the 90s. The music ranged from Vengaboys, No Angels, Tic Tac Toe, Backstreet Boys, Loona, Spice Girls and Robbie Williams to Britney with some token Bon Jovi thrown in. Needless to say, everyone there knew every song by heart! I’m sure the playlist at my 13th birthday party was similar.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that my thesis is almost done now. Just a few things to tidy up, a few things to add here and there, format and then it’s off to three friends who have kindly agreed to proof-read for me. I hope that the writing part is done by Sunday night if I can get stuff done today and work through the night to get everything done. I’m so close, I can feel it! Writing the case studies was the hard part. The rest is child’s play, I just need to tie everything together.

If we were having coffee, I’d leave you to browse the market stalls some more, while I have another waffle. I’m sure you’ll find something you like! Check out the other Weekend Coffee Sharers as well, I’m sure they’d love for you to stop by!

Thank you for having coffee with me. Same time, next week?