Girls trip repeated. I say how lucky we are to be able to meet so many times in the past weeks (that’s more than in the past 8 years). The sad side is that one of the girls is still “stuck” in Germany (Corona. USA. Visa.).
Anyhow. Girls weekend in the Allgäu! We had a blast. Plenty of wine. Good talks. And lots of food.
A beautiful piece of earth.
Enjoying a walk around the Alpsee.
Das Haus am See.
Followed by an Aperol Spritz stop at the beach bar.
…well deserved!
You know that you are in Bavaria when the disinfectant smells like 80% Schnaps – welcome to Bavaria!
Needless to say how much (especially) I enjoyed Bavarian food. Feels like being back home. Heimat.
Bigger, better, faster… that’s seems a long time ago. Corona had & still has its impacts on me. On us. On the world. Slowing all of us down. Having time to appreciate the little hits of happiness again.
There’s the everyday joy givers. Freshly washed bed sheets, towels, hair, bodies… those smells giving pure pleasure.
Light. Sunlight hitting the kitchen at 7am when making the first coffee of a new day. Light breaking through the clouds when walking Charlie. The glittering reflection of it in water. A candles flame. All life enhancing.
Time. Reading the newspaper. Enjoying lunch time in the sun. Queuing on the street to get the local asparagus and strawberries. Gardening. Watching the tomatoes grow. Enjoying doing nothing.
Warmth. The comforting, cosy weiht of a dog in my lap. Hubby’s warm chest to rest my head on. Climbing into a bed heated by a hot water bottle. A hot bath with essential oils. Heated car seats. First spring sun on the sun lounger. First summer nights in the garden with a glass of rose. Fire in the oven and laying in front of it. All of us.
Unexpected bonuses. The extra 20% at the till for something you wanted to buy anyway. A colleague inviting for coffee. A quarter of the neighbors cake at the doorstep. 3 limes for free from the generous veggie salesman.
Self care. Wearing favorite jewelry. Freshly pained nails. The satisfying ache of legs from the run the day before. That full but not stuffed feeling after eating the amazing new recipe. The feeling of your tongue on just polished teeth from the dentist. All making me feel good.
Bonding. The dogs licking tongue on my feet. A hug from a friend. A kiss from hubby. Sharing family memories and dreaming about it. The stare between hubby and me that silently says “I love you”.
Nature. The first flowers fragile petals in spring. Overblown roses. Freshly cut grass. Blue sky. The views of rich green reminding us why we love living here. Watching our veggies grow in the garden. Listening to the birds, bees and owls. The soft times of the wind chime.
Smells. Freshly cooked food. BBQ smoke. Just-cut grass. Sun lotion. My favorite perfume. My new favorites body shower gel. Simply fresh air.
Tasting: the lime in the sparkling water. The spicy Sichuan pepper in the pork. The sour lemon tart. The vanilla in the ice-cream. The olive oil in the salad.
It seems weird now the world has opened up and so much is in our grasp to downgrade our wants to everyday things. It seems that’s the key for happiness. It’s the juicy peach or dads home grown tomato that nourishes the soul.
Be mindful. Be aware. Be thoughtful. Be kind. It’s nice!
Already Goethe knew: “Do you know the land where the lemon-trees grow, in darkened leaves the gold-oranges glow, a soft wind blows from the pure blue sky, the myrtle stands mute, and the bay-tree high?” – Italy!
Vacation! The original plan was a road trip in the very south of Italy: beach, sea, gelato, cappuccino, Fiat500, fresh fish… and then came corona. And everything is different since! Flights were canceled. Borders closed. And no leaving Germany without spending 2 weeks in quarantine after coming back. So we moved those Italian travel plans to 2021. That’s leaving us with many ideas but no plan. It’s corona time (as my niece would say). Holiday this year makes creative.
Discover and fall in love: in & around Stuttgart: hiking vineyards.
Visiting friends.
Wonderful view…
Finally we made it to the Black Forest for an amazing „Surprise-Gourmet-Menu”.
Vacation. Rain. 8.5C degrees. More rain. It’s cold & rainy in Germany. And suddenly the borders to Switzerland, Austria and Italy opened again… quarantine rules are canceled. The world is slowly waking up from it’s corona beauty sleep. All of that considered: let’s escape to Italy for a few days! A very spontaneous decision (and didn’t regret it).
Benventuti a Verona!
„…there is no world for me beyond the walls of Verona: but purgatory, torture, hell itself. Hence, banished is banish‘d from the world, and world‘s exile is death…“ William Shakespeare
Oh, the love city of Italy – Verona, a city of a tragic Romeo and Giulietta love story…
26C degrees and the lovely smell of flowers. Love is in the air. We arrived at the home to Romeo and Giulietta. Verona. Even Shakespeare was so inspired by this romantic city so he decided to set his tale of Romeo in this very city.
„I fear, being in night, all this is but a dream too flattering-sweet“. W. Shakespeare (Romeo & Juliet Act II es, Scene II).
The famous balcony which played host to the secret encounters between the two lovers.
Only in Italy: touching Giuliettas breast for good luck.
Breakfast in Verona. Beautiful!
Viva Italia! Flirting waiters (the masks are not taking the charming smiles away). Very much enjoying the daily decisions to which beautiful Café and restaurant to go (can I please stay here?). And one is better than the other. Oh, how much we missed that. Feeling free, wild & alive again.
A little different these days with masks, social distancing and soldiers & police checking on people & places following the rules. And hardly any tourists (the best part, Italy without (German) tourists). We were the only guests in our hotel (and felt a little like the Queen). It’s good to see that the Italians keep enjoying life!
It’s all about food. Of course. And we loved the 187-page (!) wine list. That’s Italy!
Aperitivi. Bevande. Antipasto. Primi. Secondo. Contorni. Dolci. Digestivi. Caffè. Bed! Repeat next evening (definitely back on low-carb after 6 days!).
Those mountains of gelato. Hmmmm!
Challenge acccepted!
Indulging.
Bella Italia! That’s drinking espresso at the bar. Italy is gelato, pasta, pizza (in that order & repeat next day). The steak and lamb are also incredible. Italy means yellow Ferrari’s passing by. Or Fiat 500‘s. Italy means fashion. So many beautiful shoes! People watching. Oh, how much I missed that. Piazzas & plazas. Walking on marble stones. Foreign smells. Locals arguing (the ladies are boss). Vespas. Anchovies. Osteria. Wine. More wine. Truffle. It’s hard to get enough of the summer truffle (truffle oil & truffle salami coming home with us…).
Bright Rosè Colour. Fine and Persistent Perlage. Gently Fruity Bouquet with a delicate Scent of Flowers. Fresh, Dry with a Savoury Flavour – wine tasting (& buying) in close by Vineyard. Those winemakers create a wealth of wines. So good!
I’m in love with Verona and it’s bars, Cafés, salamis, white wines, prosciutto platters… can I please move here? Already found my favorite balcony.
After another amazing lunch our trip continued to Lago di Garda.
Lago di Garda.SirmioneJust chill and enjoy the view.
Breakfast. That view…
The most stunning views.
No tourists but ducks.
The car is filled up with local goodies (Italy’s creamiest yogurt didn’t even make it over the border…). We are on the way back to Germany.
Italy, we loved visiting you again! It’s been too long. We’ll be back, I promise! Maybe next time with our new van which we started transforming into a camper van – our new project, challenge accepted!
It’s a shock looking to the East and following the decisions China made about Hongkong. It’s about breaking a contract which was signed 36 (!) years ago. Don’t contracts matter anymore? It’s fantastic to see the reaction of London. Don’t all lives matter?
It’s a shock looking to the West and following the demonstrations about #BlackLivesMatter. We have black friends in the USA, they lived for 2 years in Germany and just returned back home a couple of months ago. It’s heart breaking when she’s texting me that she wishes to be back in Germany. Don’t all lives matter? It’s fantastic to see the reaction of other countries demonstrating for human rights. Worldwide. Immediately! Forever! It’s also a shock for all those who have valid (!) work visas (and a life! A job! An apartment! A car! Friends!) and where at the wrong time at the wrong place, a Thursday morning in March when the president had decided to close the international borders. Don’t all lives matter?
It’s a shock to look around Europe not being able to handle the refugee situation better. Don’t all lives matter?
It’s a shock to look around the globe and keep following the corona epidemic. Some people demonstrating for their rights while global leaders try to decrease the number of infected people while others aren’t interested in working together developing vaccines. It’s a shock to listen to discussions of countries feeling privileged to purchase the rights of vaccines. It’s a shock that we celebrate hero nurses, doctors, truck drivers (and many others) only in times of corona. Don’t all lives matter? All the time?
It’s a shock following the #FridayForFuture demonstrations and watching the global leaders with hardly any reactions. Don’t all lives matters?
In what kind of world are we living?
In what kind of world do we want to live?
I myself lived as a foreigner abroad. I know how it feels to “look different”, “speak different”, “be different”. We have black friends, gay friends, handicapped friends, old friends, young friends… and I’m glad we do! We have friends in China, Mexico, USA, Italy, France, Ireland, Finland. We have work colleagues in India, USA, China, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico… we are living in a global world. I’m glad we do! Diversity! It’s not just a fancy modern word, we need to tolerate and live it more than ever before!
Don’t take things as granted – because they are not!
How would Germany be without chai latte? Without coke? Without baguette? Without curry? Without dumplings? Without coffee? Without oranges? Without chocolate? Without IKEA? Without Toyota? Without French wine?
What’s up these days?
Something to think about!
Something to be sad about!
Something to have an opinion about!
Time to do something about!
Everyone’s life matters!
Those words are for you, my friends!
Stay safe! Stay strong! Stay healthy! Stay optimistic! Stay the way you are!
Week#11. Life was shut down for the past couple of weeks. And we have been working from home since. Haven’t seen my desk. Haven’t seen any colleagues or bosses. And it looks like this new working style will continue for a bit longer.
What is working from home like?
Sleeping longer (not in!). Less driving (yeah!). Internet interruptions („hello! Hello? Can you hear me?“). Lunch breaks with hubby. Neck pain (I totally underestimated the purpose of an office chair. No, it’s not made for turning around in circles!). Lounge wear & hair bands. No Autobahn rush hour (the best thing!). My husband, the only visible working buddy in the new next door office (when he spends one day in the plant I feel lonely). Lunch breaks in the garden. Home made cappuccino (still the best!). Somebody having breakfast (muesli crunch) while on Skype. Talking while muted… barking dogs. Crying kids. Chinese mother-in-laws shouting in the background (that’s the best one). Have I mentioned that mute button? Happy next door neighbor chicken (I’m sure their chit chat at 9am can be still heard via my Skype in Beijing), Gin & Tonic (virtual until 5:30pm. After that the real stuff).
I can also do virtual latte macchiato!
The past 11 weeks working from home felt like going through the (culture) shock curve: amazing in the beginning, sucks in the middle, got used to it for the rest… (I’m in the last phase). PS: the new office chair just arrived.
Is it time yet to think about a “CoV working from home exit strategy”?
Maybe not. But shops, hair dressers and even restaurants are open again. And all of that comes with a new challenge: don’t forget to wear your mask (what really sucks: my smartphone’s sensor doesn’t recognize my face anymore…). Many neighbors on the way to the bakery turn half way around to get their masks…
Dinner for one, max. two!
And social life became a topic again. Social what (just kidding)? OMG! Seriously, it took us a while to get (mentally) out of the lockdown again. I have to admit we had quickly gotten used to it and quite enjoyed it. We were a little overwhelmed when (social) life & things opened unexpectedly early up again: ehm, meeting friends? what, family visit? Checking calendars again? Is corona gone? Socializing? What’s that? Dressing? Sounds like a lot of work…
Which side of the barbed wire fence? 😉
I guess it’s about time to get that „life routine” up again. …routine what? Jep! Some of us may even need a training: getting ready to get back into our normal (work) life again.
On the agenda:
⁃ Clothes & Make up
⁃ Conversations & meeting people
⁃ Driving a car
⁃ In the Office
We are slowly being released to the world again. Yeah!
If all exits were that beautiful…
Let’s use some time to catch up getting ready. Do you still remember those pair of jeans? No… they don’t have an elastic waste band… instead they have a zipper and a button! Sounds like torture? Well, say goodbye to your jogging pants!
Let’s move on to conversations with people: what do you say if somebody says “hi, how are you?”. No, toilet paper is not the right answer… let’s try this one: “do you have plans for the weekend?”. No… sip, wine, wine & sip is not the right answer…
Another important hint: Consider that you cannot take a nap every day anymore! No, you cannot keep that! Instead you need to go to bed on time! And: stop watching Netflix! How? Push through! You can do it!
Moving on to going back to work. Like to a real office with people, colleagues: put on clothes and make up! I know that means getting up an hour earlier again… saying goodbye to that comfortable Lounge wear…
Let’s practice an on-site meeting, you are no longer in zoom meetings! Yes, your colleagues and boss will be able to actually see you! You are no longer on screen sharing (no tik tok movements!). There will be no more zoom calls! Everybody can see you again!
No, you also cannot eat crisps anymore – you are no longer on mute!
All of this sounds hard?
Well, get used to it!
Just drive to work and figure it out, ok?
Oh, you are not sure if you still remember how to drive a car…
Oh dear!
Breath!
Good luck! Have fun!
PS: We really enjoyed the last couple of weeks. It will be a tough change! Not ready yet to enter the (new) normal world again.
We are going to have a vacation instead. Not Italy! It’s corona time (as my nieces would say). We have many ideas but no plans (for the first time, kind of exciting! Kind of scary for a project leader!).
Haha. Love the title. It was hubby’s idea and his contribution to this blog. „Hell“ has a double meaning: English, OMG we have to go back to „hell“. In German, hell means „light“ like it wasn’t too bad coming back after all.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – Laotse, China
Our first step to an amazing adventure together was taken pretty much exactly 9 years ago! And how many exciting miles we have made since.
Some of those miles brought us now back to Europe. Already one year ago. We made it! Wow! Time is flying. Back in Germany after 8 years abroad. And what can I say: we were very afraid of coming back (my bucket list pro Germany helped). And yes, life has been different for the past 12 months. Different but good! To our great surprise we are enjoying it!
For sure the „skyline“ of our town cannot cope with the one in Shanghai.
We are also definitely missing Shanghai’s amazing (roof top) bars & fabulous restaurants (what would we give for a visit at Mr & Mrs Bund…) and Mr Xu and the fabric market. And who would have ever guessed the advantages of smog: I was hay-fever-free for 3 years!
Even after 4 years, we are still missing our sunshine state SC, the blue sky, key lime pie, BBQs and the awesome cars we had. Our friends and my all-time favorite city: NYC.
Back in Germany. I didn’t think that I would ever appreciate the most common thing: fresh air. Just simply clean air to breath (and not have to choose between opening the window after showering to get bad air in or keeping window closed and produce mold)! Since Monday I can clearly see (well, or not see. LoL) the benefits of smog: no hay fever (currently missing the smog. Haha).
We love living in a little town in the countryside which brings us to the fields within minutes for walks.
I enjoy experiencing the seasons again (a super hot summer 2019, a colorful autumn, a rather warm winter and a fantastic spring 2020).
I truly appreciate the access to free & unfiltered news again. (Listening to it everywhere, all the time is a different story and can get exhausting.)
It felt weird in the beginning that we could again understand people talking around us (and sometimes I wish I couldn’t or didn’t have to…).
Needless to say: I love driving in the automobile country without speed limits: free, fast & flexible. And hopefully soon on the motorbike.
Back in the country of carnival!
Being in the same time zone as most family & friends (even some are disappointed that we don’t see each other more frequently).
It’s about the little things which have a big meaning to us. And most people take for granted.
Having a garden.
Cool nights. No humidity.
A short walk to the butcher, bakery and ice cream place (pavements & not getting run over by e-bikes, scooters, cars or trucks).
Home office.
Shopping: clothes in all sizes available again, every day (missing the fabulous bargains though).
Favorite magazines & newspaper again available.
Of course there’s a couple of annoying things as well (like in every other country, too): German bureaucracy sucks (7 months waiting time to apply for a driver license and 2 hour waiting time to pick it up – Germany is still far away from service friendly…).
I’m happy that we are happy being back. We are a little less Irish and a little less German and a little more American and a little more Chinese. I love working for an international company which makes everything a little less German, even in Germany.
We became good in taking roots but also learnt to dissolve them. We don’t have only one home but many. We are flexible. We have to be flexible. In British we would be called „anywhere’s“.
Lots of people are asking: what did you like better, the USA or China. We loved both and it’s not really comparable since both countries are very different. We met wonderful people in both countries. We made a lot of amazing cultural experiences and learnt: we all smile in the same language. Big hugs & kisses around the globe. It’s you who made & makes our life colorful!
For now we keep enjoying discovering Germany & Europe with the positive attitude from America and the practical way of China.
There’s lots to love about the cities of Europe: freshly pressed olive oil, grand and sweeping avenues, corner boulangeries, thick café crèmes, tidy public transport, crêperies, chocolatiers, flower shops, antiquity shops, sweet cafés and so much more.
Home is wherever I’m with you (now I cannot get that catchy song out of my mind anymore).
One year in „hell“ – not so bad after all 🙂 Happy to be here!
Beautiful May. The smell of roses. The red poppies. Those temperatures. That blue sky. Maiglöckchen or Lily of The Valley (what a pretty name) & red reddish (we had that one already… still eating them).
May is also the month of Birthday. Bank holiday(s). Mothers Day. Father’s Day. Long weekends… Plenty of reasons to get together to celebrate the happy moments.
Planning my birthday in corona times is not only difficult but rather a real challenge:
1. Challenge accepted! (at no #5 I almost gave up).
2. Find out about the current rules (they change constantly).
3. Try to understand them. It took me quite a while this time. I even had to ask friends & potential guests for help. WTF! Why so complicated?
4. Think about who you want to invite. And more importantly these days: which county do they come from? (if different ones, go back to 1. and repeat research).
5. Calculate how many people from which households are allowed. Who is considered family? New thoughts: Are we not all sisters & brothers?! (LOL).
6. Do I really want to celebrate my birthday?
7. Yes I do!
8. Ask the guests if they “are willing” to be in contact with other “households” (risk!).
9. It was a “first come, first serve” kind of thing. (Sorry for all the others… 2nd party?).
10. Not planned but happened: celebrating all weekend to be able to see everyone 🙂 (the last guests just left. I needed a little siesta… getting older, you know).
11. Social distancing can be beautiful.
I had a fantastic birthday (weekend)! Surrounded by lovely people: family & friends. Thanks for coming! You made my day & weekend! It was fantastic to see you all again! It’s been a while! And that’s all what matters!
A garden party. Not only because of social distancing. The weather was fabulous (well deserved I think)!
Enjoying brunch:
Romantic and yummy dinner with hubby in a restaurant (our first visit since corona re-opening). So much detail & beautiful work on this plate!
Pure joy!
More celebrations with family:
Living in Swabia means Black Forest gateau – of course!
Family portrait May 2020:
A visit in the Wilhelma, Stuttgart’s zoo:
Beautiful!
Thanks for all the beautiful gifts! A new bottle of gin (very much needed with the never ending home office days). Macarons (that Wanderlust keeps rising…). Beautiful flowers for the garden & for the table. Tasty things from the homeland. A book for becoming a baking goddess (dear neighbors, your diet has ended, new pies will follow). And so many more…
A flower cup cake!
Day 4: a break. Also much needed 😉 (not 16 anymore…).
We know Autokino from America. And from Kornwestheim (cars are not as cool here…).
In corona times it became so popular that tickets have been sold out fast. All the time. Every week. Every day. Except tonight. We made it!
Mini is on!
The program: 25th Tatort Stuttgart. A premier. Love it! (Sunday on TV)
You purchase your ticket online, you bring your own snacks and radio.
Front row is the penalty for coming too late (we notice that we should have cleaned the windscreen…). The film starts rather late due to summer time (let’s see if we middle old people can make it).
Love listening & dancing in the living room at 8am because I cannot sleep anymore (wish I was at the bay though…).
The plan for later: reading my favorite weekend newspaper for a couple of hours. In Pyjamas (or lounge wear how I now prefer to call it. PS: Lounge wear can be also worn in the supermarket!). A lot of coffee included. Followed by a siesta in the garden. Just wonderful! Pure luxury.
Guess, what we have been eating since a couple of days?
Yes! Our first home-grown radishes are ready and soooo tasty!
Lessons learnt though: don’t grow a hundred radishes at the same time and believe half of them not gonna make it. Otherwise, Monday: radish with salt for lunch. And with vinegar for dinner. Tuesday: radish with salad. Wednesday: radish with lamb. Thursday: radish with steak. Friday………..
It all started pretty much 9 weeks ago with the corona lockdown. All of a sudden we had time. A lot of time. A perfect time for gardening! Time for growing red radishes (and chili’s, spinach, carrots, beans, rucola, lettuce, basil, leek, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes…) in our garden.
A seed.
Seedling sprouts.
Seedlings.
It works! They grow!
It feels very gratifying taking a plant through its whole life cycle.
Is there a nicer place to grow?
After sometime we moved them to a new home: hubby’s self-build raised bed (a former TV transportation box from China…).
We watched them grow. Daily. With excitement & big surprise. I guess we didn’t expect them all to grow. And we appreciated how lovely the silence of growing things is. That’s how we felt for the past 9 weeks.
Gardening is the slowest of the performing arts. Don’t they look artistic (well, maybe the shape is a bit weird)?
Patience missing: maybe harvested too early. Yummy!
There’s kind of a competitiveness going on. Between sister & brother and neighbors. In a good way. Exchanging photos of seedlings 🙂 It feels good.
Leek, spring onion, red pepper, chilies, mushrooms, potatoes, lettuce, sunflowers, lavender, poppies, tulips (2021)… to follow. Cannot wait! And in-between we may work on more radishes…
Strawberries growing well……and our runner beans started running.
PS: anyone interested in Turley-tomato-seedlings? Let us know! We have plenty. Might be even able to support Italy with tomato sauce this year 😉
Stuttgart547 