Bye bye, 2013

Oh there it is: the last day of 2013.

I cannot believe the year’s over already! It’s gone so quickly… I just love how the city is buzzing with excitement. Everyone has put on something nice and sparkly to welcome the new year.

2013 was a great one. I have settled more into my life in London now, got a permanent contract at work and I am still not tired of this beautiful city. Success!

But it had some rough patches as well. There was a lot to take in as I faced things that I have been avoiding for a very long time. Turns out there’s always something new to learn about yourself.

Luckily there is always a bright side to everything. So facing these issues has been one bumpy ride, yes, but it has shown me again how lucky I am to have such supportive and wonderful people in my life.

My friends have been very understanding and just never get tired of reminding me of the good things when I tend to see only the negative side. As well as my family, whose love and support give me so much strength.

And, boy, did I have good times this year. I’ve spent quite some time at airports going from England to Germany back to England and then four months later do it all over again. London blessed me with another beautiful, warm summer filled with adventures. And going to the pub with ze Jules and other colleagues or spending a day at Westfields with Fatima is adding up to many, many hours of laughter, drinks and food.

And I’ve gotten back into dancing, which will hopefully stay in my life for ever now.

This year was about learning and accepting and having fun. And it was fantastic. Thank you, 2013.

So I don’t have any specific goals for 2014. No long list of things to do or fixed plans to stick to. 2014 is going to be about improvement, preparation and security.

I have to keep my finances is check, mate! And I will probably spend a lot of time studying my buttocks off – these A levels are not gonna write themselves….unfortunately. Another big thing for me will be feeling secure – in relationships and about myself.

And now it's just a couple of hours until midnight…

But tonight I am going to stay inside, have a little piece of chocolate cake and watch the fireworks in my jim-jams.

I wish you all a very happy new year. May 2014 bring you loads of love, laughter and happiness – and a pocket full of magic!

Christmas at Home

Here we are again. I have just arrived in Frankfurt airport and am now on my way back to my place in the wilderness. Kidding.

It is very late and I am running on about 5 hours of sleep. Last minute packing – not again. But I made it. Getting up, going to work, working, getting to the airport, flying, leaving the airport.

And even tho I am pretty knackered I could not help but notice that Frankfurt is getting more charming with every return. Staff at the airport is so nice, their smile could freeze hell. And the helpful guy who charged my 6 quid for two bottles of iced tea. And changing trains in Germany is a bitch.

But it’s all good and it’s all worth it. Because I can be home for Christmas! I will have food and pressies and cocktails and more food. Food until I pass out! And we will put up a huge tree and lots of Christmas light. I am gonna Christmas the shit out of this one, people!

Have you got all your lights and trees and presents out already, guys? Or are you really late to the party?

I was a bit down last year because I could not be with my family for Christmas due to work. It wasn’t too bad, I had a very nice English Christmas (including the veggies from hell – Brussel sprouts!) with a bunch of lovely people. But it’s just not the same….

So I am even more excited this year. Christmas is, as you might know by now, my favourite time of the year and I love our traditional meal (which is not very traditional) and being with the family and my ladies. Plus, this year we will have two little gems at our table and Mama K and the Princess are back as well.

Oh, I have to get off the train… I hope you’ll all have a wonderful, magical Christmas. Let’s hope Santa brings you a load full of awesomeness!

Oh So Fabulous!

Carrie Hope Fletcher, who’s currently starring as Eponine in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London, uploaded a pretty amazing video about being healthy and happy. Please take a few minutes to watch it.

Well, I am not as confident as Carrie, so no measuring. But I do love the message of this video.

Love yourself! Be okay with the way you look! You ARE beautiful! Yes, you can wear that!

Believe me when I say that I do know what it feels like to not be comfortable in your own skin. It’s a pretty shitty feeling. And there are still days were I feel bloated and fat and like dressing in a bed sheet so no one will see my wobbly bits. But that’s okay. Because the next day - or even the day after that - I will feel fabulous in my new dress or favourite top.

And please, please, don’t let ANYONE make you feel crap because of what they think of your weigh, height, size, colour, hair… This is you. You are the only person who has to like it.

There will always be someone who won’t like your outfit or your hair colour but the good news is that it doesn’t matter. You are not here to please everyone.

If you want to lose a few pounds, fine, why not. As long as you do it the healthy way and don’t harm yourself or others. If you want to put on some weight, hells yeah! Whatever makes you feel most comfortable and happy – do it!

Sometimes, when I’m extra happy I put on one of my favourite “feelin’ sexy” tunes and have a little dance. Here are a few. Listen and let go, babes:

Jessie J – Sexy Lady

Alicia Keys – Girl On Fire 

McFLY – Party Girl 

Ellie Goulding – Burn 

Scouting for Girls – She’s So Lovely 

Shirley Bassey – Big Spender 

ABBA – Dancing Queen

I hope that Carrie’s video and this post have made your day a little bit brighter. You look fabulous, you ARE fabulous!

Growing up and being silly

That's what it's all about, princess!

So, you wonder how being adult is working out for me, right?
Besides the fact that I mix up my languages (including grammar!) on an hourly basis and getting far too excited about the little pleasures of my days, I think I'm doing a fairly good job at being an adult. Almost adult. Nearly almost adult. Okay, maybe I have not yet grown up entirely.

But I no longer worry about paying rent. And I only snooze my alarm for 30 minutes now. I even sit with my flatmates and watch mind-numbing TV shows after work - because that's just what I need after eight hours of talking. The Mumsy is really proud!
I still don't sort my washing by colours tho'.  And I still don't cook. After having thought about it for the first three weeks, I now no longer bother. Whatever can be heated up or baked in the oven will have to do for tea.


But, although I might have not fully grown up, I have moved on. And moving on is AWESOME! It is liberating and a giggle!

I might have sorted out my wardrobe and shipped all my earthly belongings to London at the beginning of the year, but there were little bits and pieces that I have dragged around with me for years quite a while now. Things I could not put in a box and leave in Germany to fall into oblivion.
Not all of it was bad, but it wasn't doing me any good either. So I did a lot of thinking and a bit of moaning, I threw in some laughter and new POVs, and let time and this beautiful city do it's magic - and voilà!

One year later, and I have finally conquered The Big O (explanation will follow) and I am in the midst of building a whole new life in London, England, Europe, Planet Earth.

Next stop - THE MOON!

So here's to new adventures

And the award for the blog with the biggest lack of update goes to....

I apologise, my friends/readers/strangers; I live in the most exciting city of the year and just don't keep you posted. Naughty, Danny, naughty!

So, it's been quite a while but I have a pretty good excuse for my absence. I have been INSANELY busy. Turns out, I actually have a life after all.

My summer in beautiful London was like a fairytale! I was just about to type "minus the romance", but I actually fell in love... Gorgeous, expensive, always busy, demanding, never boring, mood depending on the weather, full of surprises... that's how I'd describe my lover - also know as LONDON. The city was buzzing with excitement for the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. And both have been a huge success. Yes, see, we're really happy together.

After all the awesome events of the summer I had to get back to the more serious side of life. Big sigh. Don't we all, tho?

So I started to sort out my life, once again, and get ready to tackle the next big adventure my lover had in store for me: a new job and a new flat. Starting a new job in a new company is not so much of a first, whereas living on my own is. From apartment hunting and paying rent to buying all the stuff the Mumsy used to get for me, it's aaaall new. It's very exciting, very scary, very interesting. 

But I am slowly getting used to my new tiny room, the funny flatmates and my public transport journey to work. I am actually starting to live like a proper adult, huh? Dear....

There's been a lot of changes. [Insert philosophical quote from Sex and the City about how life always changes and the world never stops spinning, ect] 

I have also added a new feature to my blog (that I will command myself to update regularly again) so you can now find a link to my book reviews on the right side bar. And since I still, and always will, spend the majority of my free time having my eyes glued to pages please feel free to leave me a comment about your favourite book, any book or even the most crappiest nonsense you've ever read and I will make sure to check it out. You can also leave me a message on tumblr or tweetelede me on the twitterverse. And of course, leave me the link to your online diary and I will snoop around.

So that's done. I'll continue to be all grown up now and...wait, what do adults do on a Sunday night?

Oh, hello there, how are you?

So, the hostparents are at the Coldplay concert and I'm home watching the boys.

Find the mistake...

No, no, actually, I'm glad to get 'a few nights off my social life'. Ever since I have arrived in London I've been busy meeting and making new friends, exploring this beautiful city, getting sunburned and trying all sorts of beer. I've gone from movie nights with the bestie on Saturdays (I MISS THAT!) to three beers on a Wednesday night. Go me!

But since I had to babysit yesterday and tonight, I got the chance to do a bit of a reflection on how I feel since I have arrived. And I finally got some early nights.
So, how am I feeling? Honestly? Pretty fucking good! Despite the meltdown and fears and last minute doubts, I am happy here. And yes, this is the moment you smile to yourself and think "Awww, man, I'm really happy for her!"
Everything is new and exciting, obviously, and my boys are simply wonderful, but something about this busy, crowded, gorgeous, expensive city makes me smile all day. Maybe it's the certainty of opportunities, or the promise of new experiences, or the chance of being simply myself or...the beer. Could also be the fact that I don't have to drive a car. Probably a mixture of everything. Anyway, I take it.

Plus, beautiful London has some pretty amazing things in store for me. The Diamond Jubilee of HM The Queen and, yes, yes, the Olympics. And hopefully a wonderful summer filled with sun, fun, BBQ and new as well as old friends.

And I got to say it: I am really, really glad I took this crazy opportunity life was throwing at me a couple of weeks ago. And while I miss my loved ones terribly, I finally start to see it all come together.
So a little advice from me, just because I am such a happy bunny these days and I want eeeveryone to feel the same - if you get the chance to do something you want to do, do it! Despite the doubts, do it! If it seems absolutely bonkers... that's even more of a reason to go for it.

Now, I'll hold on to my floating balloons and keep getting used to having an actual social life again. And I must buy a party hat to celebrate Her Majesty's 60 years of service. God Save the Queen.