Finding the Doctor (or at least the TARDIS)

My Dearest Reader,

so as expected my second host knew not only lots and lots about the Doctor, but she also introduced me to a really cool spin-off, namely "Torchwood". We watched the first two episodes last night and I have to say I quite like Captain Jack and his crew (not to be confused with a certain pirate and his crew which I also happen to like ;) So today I was not only in the cat hospital (without the cat nurses) as well as some other places where hostile aliens tried to take over the world, but I also stood on the Torchwood elevator, where you cannot be spotted and paid tribute to the shrine of a character whose death I still have to experience.
The end of this private locations tour held a lovely surprise. As I've told you with a heavy heart the Doctor Who exhibition has been closed last month (until 2012 when it will return bigger and better - of course), but when we went into the city museum, where one of the Christmas episodes was filmed, there it was: the TARDIS!!!
Of course I took pictures from every angle and with me in front of it, but unfortunately it was locked so I couldn't get inside for a quick travel in time and space.
So instead of a quick jump through the vortex I'm just taking an ordinary train to Bath right now, where the adventure will continue...

Still TARDIS-happy,
Me

No Doctor in Sight

My Dearest Reader,

so I'm in Cardiff now and everyone - probably including you - has been asking me: what the ... do you want in Cardiff? Well, the whole idea of a trip to and through England started when I was watching Doctor Who, which is being filmed here, so Cardiff had to go on my list. Unfortunately the permanent Doctor Who exhibition just closed last month. There is also an unofficial bus tour, that I at least wanted to do, but it is on Saturdays at noon and I of course arrives on Saturday in the afternoon!
The guy I was staying with yesterday doesn't even watch the show - so no help there - but I'm putting high hopes in tonight's host, who seems to like the Doctor quite a bit.

Anyway, my other host was a raw vegan on a fast, which was, well, not my cup of tea - but he didn't mind me munching away on some huge cookies that he got from some promotional thing and that he won't eat anyway since he doesn't eat processed food. Since the weather was quite nice yesterday, we walked around a lot and talked about alternative lifestyles, which he is seeking. However, I think I'm way too comfortable in modern society to live on an self-sufficient island. The total opposite was presented to us in a play in the evening, which was called "Serious Money". It was all about the stock exchange and making billions in a heartbeat. The acting was quite superb, but for my taste there were a few too many characters, so I got a bit confused between money smack talk and inside out worn jackets.

Today my host has to work so I took the opportunity to visit the Cardiff castle (which he wasn't interested in). However, I have to say, I've seen far more impressive castles, that were far more worth the overpriced entrance fee.

Anyway, my second host should be back in the city soon and then it's finally (hopefully) all about the Doctor :)

Looking for the TARDIS,
Me

I didn't find Charlie

My Dearest Reader,

One of the reasons for this trip was to visit my friend Laura who I met backpacking while through Australia a couple of years ago. She lives in London and I thought it would be great to see the city through the eyes of someone who actually lives there. Unfortunately she had plans to spend this weekend out in the country away from all the wedding fuss. However, since her friend didn't have time on Thursday I at least got a day in the capital. Everyone was crazy with wedding preparations - the whole city was buzzing, flags and Will and Kate pictures everywhere and - most amazing - people camping out a the barriers along the streets where the procession would be. Not only English people, but we also saw people from America, Australia and the Philippines who all put up a tent in order to reserve a primo spot for a little glimpse of the royal family - crazy!!!
My friend wanted to get some bunters to decorate her car with, but they were all sold out for days! Actually 700 miles of bunters were sold for this special event!
As soon as I can figure out how to get pictures from my camera onto my iPad I'll show you some of the craziness....

The next day started off with a (scaled down) English breakfast and the wedding ceremony on the telly. Waiting for the scandal to happen that never happened ("Will, I got your lovechild" "terrorists have set off a bomb") we finished our breakfast and left the city for a wedding garden party in the country with hog roast and ale. I didn't really know what to expect, but I certainly didn't expect to be the only single without kids. There were about 30 adults and at least as many kids between the age of one and ten. So I got a pretty good glimpse of things to come, since two of my friends at home are married with kids now, so I guess I'll have to get used to this kind of thing...

Now I'm sitting at this little train station in the middle of nowhere hoping that soon a train will take me back to civilisation or actually to Doctor Who city. Somehow I'm surrounded by German exchange students which is slightly weird - what the hell are they doing here in the English countryside in the middle of nowhere? Ah well, the train comes...

Riding into new adventures,
Me

Off to England

My Dearest Reader,

I actually wanted to do a video about traveling to English speaking countries, but a combination of organizational stuff, a packing crisis, a new gadget, and facebook games unfortunately robbed all my time - the last could of course have been prevented, but now it's too late for that I guess.

Anyway, I'm off to England where I will be couchsurfing for about three weeks. 

Of course I will take my little camera and show you some footage when I return. 

Until then - farewell my friend - I'll write you a postcard :)

With the traveling bug in my bag on my back,

Me

Turning 30

My Dearest Reader,

a while has passed since my last video, because my last job took up all of my time.

The only not job related thing I did was celebrate my birthday - the 30th.

Since I didn't have time to organize a big bash and also didn't want to spend a big amount of the little time I had cleaning up I invited my friends into a bar. I think about 30 people showed up - which was quite fitting for my new age - and it was a really nice evening (besides the temperature - if I had known that it would be so hot that day I would have invited to a BBQ). There was no crazy dancing, no excessive drinking (besides maybe one guy) and no wild make-out sessions - I was not even really drunk! I mean, do you know it when sometimes when you drink you just feel a little sick after a while, but not drunk and drinking more makes you only more sick and not drunk at all? That's how I felt on my birthday party - even though I was drinking some very tasty strawberry cocktails. Later on I just switched to water - so this might be one of the first birthday parties that I actually remember pretty clearly (like this new year's eve) - but I have to tell you, I actually like it. I like that I don't do embarrassing stuff and say stupid things and make-out with random people and have a hangover and have to puke all day. I like that I can remember who was there and what we've talked about (at least most of it :)

I guess I'm really becoming a grown-up.

But I actually feel ready for it now - the whole package - career, husband, kids - they don't scare me anymore.

So let's get to work!

With grown-up thoughts,

Me

Speed Dating (or Marrying)

My Dearest Reader, 

I've been single for a while now and since I'm pretty busy with other stuff, speed-dating is actually a convenient thing for the modern woman. 

It was kinda fun to have 8 minutes of intensive one on one time with someone who wants to get to know you too (at least more or less), but also a bit exhausting. Even more so since I had a bad cold that day. 

However, I didn't expect to find my next big love at this little gathering and it was good of me to do so, since I actually didn't meet any of the guys afterwards. 

But it was still a fun experience that inspired me to do a new video and check out the split-screen technique. 

I hope you'll have as much fun watching as I had making it :)

Still without a man,

Me

Cologne Carnival Craziness

My Dearest Reader,


as a teenager I really enjoyed the dress-up, partying and hooking up with random guys on carnival immensely. Even though I lived pretty close to Cologne, one of - if not THE - carnival capitals in Germany, I never went to celebrate there. 

Later on in Uni I had some old friends from high-school living in Cologne, so I sometimes visited them for carnival. But then the decline of my carnival party stamina had already started and I never stayed for more than two days.

Now that I live in Cologne - and not only in Cologne, but right in the heart of the carnival madness - I didn't really celebrate these last two years since I had to work both times. Actually it is kind of funny that last year, when I had moved into this flat, I  basically didn't party at all - not even on the weekend.

This year, however, having carnival off and also some visitors (some of my awesome university friends) I partied hard on Saturday - and then had enough of this whole spectacle already. However, at least I got to see and experience the Rose-Monday parade this year, even though afterwards I chose to finish this video instead of going on partying.

Yes, I'm getting older and cannot do a whole week of drinking, partying, and random guys anymore - but actually I'm totally fine with that - at least in this way I don't really have anything to blame on the Nubbel* :)

With a tired stamina but a clean conscience,
Me

*a straw poppet that hangs in every bar. At the end of carnival he gets blamed for all the sins that have happened in that week and gets ceremoniously burnt.