Berlinfusiontag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-941193915649615482012-06-27T00:45:09+02:00From sushi to sauerkraut - moving from Tokyo to Berlin.TypePadPatriotism and Internationalismtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834017615d94ada970c2012-06-27T00:45:09+02:002012-06-27T00:45:09+02:00Since arriving in Berlin I seem to have become more patriotic. Not in a 'Britain is the best country in the world' way, but more, 'Britain has more going for it than I thought over the last few decades.' way. Perhaps absence does, indeed, make the heart grow fonder. I...Carole Hallett MobbsMy Buffet Menutag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834016766088616970b2012-05-02T23:57:51+02:002012-05-02T23:57:51+02:00I was going to put this on the previous post but had already written too much. However, I've been asked to do it, so here is my menu! This will also be useful to me if I decide to venture into social catering again. Nuts: Nigella Lawson's Bar Nuts, exceedingly...Carole Hallett MobbsChannelling my Inner Cheftag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834016304fcf60f970d2012-05-01T00:13:43+02:002012-05-01T00:13:09+02:00Approximately every five years I get it into my head to throw a dinner party. I'm not sure how it happens - there's a gap in conversation with friends needs filling and suddenly I find I've invited people around. As I say, it doesn't happen often and the last time...Carole Hallett MobbsPositive Progresstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834016763f53edc970b2012-03-19T10:20:00+01:002012-03-19T00:08:16+01:00Things are looking brighter, at long last. Light is pouring in at the end of the tunnel and I sincerely hope it continues to do so. While I may have shown symptoms of depression, I don't want to use that term. I was suffering from stress, shock and a myriad...Carole Hallett MobbsMy London Triptag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401630215578f970d2012-02-27T09:54:00+01:002012-02-27T02:13:01+01:00This post would have a very different tone if I'd written it a couple of days ago when I'd just returned from London. It was a fairly eventful trip. It started with a heavy snowstorm on the morning of my flight out. Runways were closed and my plane was stuck...Carole Hallett MobbsOur First Berlin Christmastag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401675f6f046e970b2011-12-27T01:32:22+01:002011-12-27T01:29:46+01:00So. We've just experienced our first Christmas in Berlin and it was unanimously voted as possibly the best Christmas ever. The only thing that would have made it perfect would have been snow, but that seems to be missing for the foreseeable future. It was also declared to be very...Carole Hallett MobbsA Christmas Rounduptag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340162fe3a4703970d2011-12-23T09:45:00+01:002011-12-23T19:41:20+01:00It's been a busy couple of weeks. So busy, in fact, that I don't feel I've shared enough of my mundane life with you all. Let me rectify that now... We've been to Christmas parties: one for the kids where Santa appeared with presents. I think this is possibly the...Carole Hallett MobbsChristmas Caboodletag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340162fd05e565970d2011-11-28T11:15:37+01:002011-11-28T11:15:37+01:00Christmas-time in Germany is a cultural shock I wasn't quite expecting. It's just so full-on! And there's so much of it I find my brain whirling. I've never been a particular fan of this festival apart from the fact that I can indulge my shopaholic tendencies with no guilt. I...Carole Hallett MobbsThis Year's Birthday Caketag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340153923e5f67970b2011-10-12T12:10:27+02:002011-10-12T12:10:27+02:00Today got off to an early start thanks to the birthday girl. She set her alarm clock for 6am so she could open her presents before going to school. Oh joy. We gave her a couple of gifts to open and made her wait until after school to open the...Carole Hallett MobbsBaking Mathstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401539239fb66970b2011-10-11T18:45:51+02:002011-10-11T18:45:51+02:00I am not particularly good at maths. It took me three attempts to pass my 'O' level. Which makes it rather ironic that I spent a good part of my career working in banking. Anyway, I don't believe I'm alone in this but there are few mathematical subjects that are...Carole Hallett MobbsRude Foodtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401543566d821970c2011-09-13T23:42:04+02:002011-09-13T23:42:04+02:00One of the many fun experiences overseas is visiting food shops. When I am in a good mood and have the time to browse, that is. If I don't have the time, or if I'm desperately trying to find a particular ingredient, it's not so much fun. For example, did...Carole Hallett MobbsMischief Managedtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e8b59dac8970d2011-09-07T16:07:35+02:002011-09-07T16:09:53+02:00Goodness, I left quite a gap between posts there, sorry. An update to my insomnia post: I didn't bother to go to bed in the end and stayed up to complete the earthquake article. It was a disturbing subject to write about so I though it best to get it...Carole Hallett MobbsWhy?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401538fc22ff5970b2011-08-12T17:06:00+02:002011-08-12T17:06:00+02:00Why did I start this? It's 3am and I haven't even started to schedule these 26 posts... Yes. When in a new place, say "yes" to every invitation you can possibly attend. Sometimes it doesn't work out. Sometimes it does, with interesting consequences. Often it's wonderful. Perhaps you may regret...Carole Hallett MobbsT-t-t-tiredtag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834015433953ad2970c2011-08-05T17:23:00+02:002011-07-09T02:25:07+02:00Tired. I'm very tired now. I'm writing this post at 2.30am the night before we head off to the UK for the first time in two years. Why am I doing this? Well, to keep Berlinfusion going while I'm away for a start. It was also planned as a way...Carole Hallett MobbsB-b-b-b...tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401538fb727b3970b2011-07-12T17:00:00+02:002011-07-09T03:14:31+02:00Continuing Berlinfusion's A to Z rambles. is for... Lots of things! Blog. And Berlinfusion, natch! I like the design of this but I may have a fiddle with the layout at some point. Well, as much as I can with Typepad. I like the pictures down the right of this...Carole Hallett MobbsA Whale Boat and School Bombshellstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340154338db065970c2011-07-08T00:39:21+02:002011-07-08T13:10:58+02:00An end of year school trip was announced last week. Yes, very little notice again, but thankfully we were able to go. The trip was a family cruise on the Tegeler See, a massive body of water in the Charlottenburg district to celebrate the end of term and thank the...Carole Hallett MobbsTequila Timetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401538fa302ae970b2011-07-04T16:10:46+02:002011-07-04T16:10:46+02:00Last night I finally got to meet some lovely ladies! It was (sadly) a leaving 'do' for one of them - I always meet the best people as they are about to leave. Tim dropped me off at her house and we caught the bus together. Which was just as...Carole Hallett MobbsMeeting Mumstag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401538f9130f6970b2011-07-01T14:24:30+02:002011-07-01T14:24:30+02:00Last night I was excited to have a chance at last to meet some parents and teachers from school. A few weeks ago, Rhiannon brought a letter home from school inviting parents to join a focus group to discuss improving communication amongst the school community, additional activities for the children...Carole Hallett MobbsSuccess!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e8946ff4f970d2011-06-21T09:57:48+02:002011-06-21T09:57:48+02:00Good morning! Just a quick update on yesterday evening's night out. In my opinion, it was a great success. This means I wasn't over or under-dressed and I did not drink too much and embarrass anyone. The people were interesting and (very) intelligent. And further entertainment was provided in the...Carole Hallett MobbsWhat to Wear?tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e8942dbd3970d2011-06-20T16:25:44+02:002011-06-20T16:25:44+02:00Well here's something new. Tim and I are going out to a function tonight and... we finally have a babysitter! It's taken a long time, a rather complicated set of phone calls, emails, and text messages, date misunderstandings, a bit organisation and a lot of help from someone I've not...Carole Hallett MobbsProcrastination Overcome - Until Next Time...tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401538e9f8279970b2011-05-21T21:58:21+02:002011-06-02T01:58:50+02:00It's one thing procrastinating madly when the chips are in the air, but once they come down, then I do (finally) get to work. Wednesday was a washout, work-wise (see previous post). Then Tim told me he was taking Thursday off so I wasn't going to get my work done...Carole Hallett MobbsKaDeWetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a4288588340154324ec0c9970c2011-05-14T21:20:52+02:002011-05-14T21:20:52+02:00Woohoo! We went into the city centre today! My favourite hobby - shopping. Well, it didn't quite work out that way (does it ever?). By the time Rhiannon's sleepover / playdate mate went home, it was 3pm before we caught the bus. Anyway, it gave me an insight into how...Carole Hallett MobbsKitchen Chaostag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401538e60f058970b2011-05-09T18:59:48+02:002011-06-02T01:38:25+02:00I still cannot get used to my "new" kitchen. It's much smaller than the last two I've had and, although there's quite a lot of cupboard space, it's all been filled with crockery. Why on earth do I have so many mugs and bowls? I love them all, so getting...Carole Hallett MobbsIt's the Little Things...tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e884faabf970d2011-05-08T20:47:17+02:002011-06-02T01:35:07+02:00It's the little things in life that make the transition from Tokyo to Berlin more enjoyable. Thick, soft toilet paper. Yes, you did read that correctly! Japan may well be known for its fancy toilets (or not) but the toilet paper left a lot to be desired. It was thin...Carole Hallett MobbsIn Which I Find A Farmers' Markettag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a42885883401543222234f970c2011-05-05T20:34:54+02:002011-06-02T01:28:31+02:00Went in a different direction for today's dog walk. I was actually heading towards what Google Maps said was a supermarket. The map was wrong. No supermarket was there, but instead a rather nice farmers' market lined the street selling delicious fruit and veg, a few clothes and the ubiquitous...Carole Hallett MobbsBringing You Up-To-Datetag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834015431fc9b34970c2011-04-28T07:35:59+02:002011-05-01T23:29:52+02:00I'm now going to round up the past couple of weeks now so I can start blogging in real time. It's confusing my readers to have all this retrospective stuff going on and it's frustrating to me too. My Japanory blog is still missing two years worth of memories, but...Carole Hallett MobbsKaffee und Kuchentag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e8817d48e970d2011-04-27T11:24:43+02:002011-05-01T23:31:55+02:00Saturday 16th April was when the sun finally came out and boy, did it make a difference. I took my camera with me on my morning dog walk. This is a statue we pass on the way to the lake - Hubertussee. There are some great bird-watching opportunities around the...Carole Hallett MobbsJet Lag, Giant Dogs and a Janitortag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834015431ecd0b9970c2011-04-25T10:15:48+02:002011-06-02T00:32:38+02:00Wednesday 13th April I awoke at 5am again after spending most of the night in the bathroom. No, I wasn't ill, I have a peculiar jet lag symptom - needing to pee every hour or so. Actually, my jet lag is very similar to being pregnant... headache, tiredness, insomnia (yes,...Carole Hallett MobbsOur Pets Arrive!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834015431ec6173970c2011-04-24T21:45:47+02:002011-06-02T00:26:38+02:00(Yes, this is still continuing from the previous post for 12th April 2011) Once we returned from visiting the school, my mind reeling at what I'd promised for Friday, I collapsed on the sofa. Desperate for sleep but knew I mustn't succumb as the only way to deal with jetlag...Carole Hallett MobbsArriving in Berlintag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834015431e75b06970c2011-04-23T15:37:09+02:002011-06-02T00:08:17+02:00"Where the bloody hell are you?!" This was the somewhat surprising greeting I received from Mum when I phoned her from our new home. I could tell from her voice and her minor swear word, that she had been panicking in a big way. My rather stunned response was "Well,...Carole Hallett MobbsWelcome to Berlinfusion!tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553a428858834014e61176afc970c2011-04-21T01:58:21+02:002011-06-01T23:59:29+02:00Finally! I've chosen a name for my new blog and selected a theme and layout - for now. I've just discovered it doesn't support a particular widget I like, so I may change it at some point. I have finished configuring as much as I can but I'm not sure...Carole Hallett Mobbs