The BossHoss Rock Berlin!

Last weekend Axel and I went to see the awesome 9 piece German cowboy band called The BossHoss who sound and act like they've come right out for Nashville but are actually from Berlin. They started off by doing country versions of famous pop and rock songs, some including Britney Spears, Toxic and The White Stripes, Seven Nation Army. They now have their own songs too which are pretty awesome. At the concert they had a 'suprise' for the audience, a 20ish piece brass and string section that added the most awesome tones and edge to their songs. If I could work out YouTube I'd love to post some video that I took on the night. Here are some photos from the night.

The BossHoss, oh how great they are in their hats and boots!

The original 2 man setup, Boss and Hoss, oh how sexy that Hoss is! I have a crush on him and I don't care that Axel knows hehehehehe.

The fans wearing all the essential gear!

And lastly Axel and I sitting out the long wait for the concert to start. Arrived at 4pm they didn't start until about 8ish. But it was all soooo worth the wait!!!!!!

Berlin I Have Arrived!

So here I am again in that beautiful city called Berlin. It's great to see Axel again and the appartment feels like a home away from home. I've already done some sight seeing visiting the Brandenburg gate and Jewish memorial. I've also started the horrifying task of finding work in a foreign city. It seems there are millions of others like myself looking for 'teaching english' jobs. I'm not quite sure how things will go because most of the jobs start next semester which starts in August and I leave at the end of August. I've also started reading for uni and gathering information for my first assignment. The weather has been so nice though that it's hard to stay inside reading, all I want to do is wander around and go exploring.

20 years since the wall came down, it mark the event you can get your photo taken with an East side soldier and get a passport (fake of course) with the original passport stamps from the different areas of Berlin, American, Russian etc. Only 2 Euros what a touristy bargan!

Jewish memorial

Infront of the Brandenburg Gate

Anyhow I will try and keep this blog updated although with uni work and job searching and a bit of sight seeing, there is really not much time for anything else! Ah but who's complaining. I love this city!!!!!!

New Handmade Felted Bead Necklaces

I've been busy making a batch of felt bead necklaces. I'm hoping to take them with me to Germany where I hope sell them at one of the craft markets in Berlin. I'm really happy with these necklaces mainly because I feel I've done the best I could with the materials I've used and I believe they are of great quality, no corners cut. Thick tiger wire, metal beads and clasps, fittings and chain, none of that cheaper plastic stuff that looks like metal, and of course tightly felted beads made carefully by hand and quality wooden beads.

Some of the necklaces are adjustable and finished off with a wooden bead.

These beads are actually made with wool that I've washed, carded and dyed by my very own hands. Wool supplied from my uncle's farm in Toolernvale, Victoria.

I thought these hot pink beads deserved to be glammed up with some gorgeous silver metal beads.

Hopefully I will be able to establish an Etsy shop as well but I have a few things to work out before I do that, like how extra income (if things go well) will affect my taxes etc. and if I need to register it all as a business with business name and ABN number. Anyhow it's been a dream of mine to sell stuff at a craft market so I hope I can live out that dream. Also how cool would it be to live that out in Berlin?!

Wish me luck!

Sitting not so Pretty in Hong Kong's Airport

Well what does one do when they are stuck in transit for 12 hours? Yep they hop on a computer and write a blog entry. What does one write about while sitting waiting for 7 more hours to pass? Well I don't know... I guess I could give you all an update regarding my trip to Rome and Germany. I was hoping to write about it when I got home and had some photos down loaded but oh well I'll just have to post a bit of a gallery later.

This trip to Germany was great, good chance to get a feel for what it will be like living with Axel, which will become more apparent after the 6 month stint in April. As expected he is easy to live with, quite relaxed, flexible and extremely attentive and helpful. I don't know what I was like to live with, at times a pain in the bum I suspect but he assures me that I was fine. I'm sure the snoring wasn't a hit with him but hopefully the home cooked meals made up for that. Anyhow I am so excited to have him back in Australia in three weeks even though it's just for 6 weeks this time, I have to wait until October before he moves here permanently.

Well what can I say about Rome...? First of all you cannot turn a corner without there being something amazing and monumental there in front of you. While 2 and a half days is not really enough we did manage to get to see most of the main attractions. Spanish steps, Colosseum, St Peter's, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, St Angelo's Castle, Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and a few other small churches and museums with significant artworks. We also got a bit of a look at the Roman forum, all the ancient ruins. It's so amazing to think that you are walking on the same ground where others so important in history also walked. Very inspiring actually. I must say getting a good feed and at a reasonable price was tricky and there were some annoying moments. Not being able to speak any Italian also makes it quite tricky. It's not like Germany in that sense, you really do need some knowledge of the local tongue to get what you want. Anyhow overall it was a great cultural and artistic experience!

Anyhow I hope everyone is doing well and are enjoying either the hot or very cold weather, depending on where you are in the world. I'm not looking forward to returning to a 30 degrees C day in Melbourne, but then at least there is air conditioning at mum's.

Hope to write again soon and post some more holiday pics! Stay tuned

New Year´s Eve with a 180° view of Berlin

Yes I am doing things a bit backwards here, posting NYE photos with the intention to put some other Christmas photos on later. Sorry about that guys. Anyhow as mentioned before NYE in Berlin was really all about the fireworks. We were lucky enough to have our friend Nadine invite us to join her and Erni to view the fireworks from her work place´s roof top. It was amazing! Beautiful 180+ degrees of Berlin. I must say it didn´t take long for the sky to be filled with firework smoke which was a shame because it spoilt the view we had.
Here are some photos from the night...

Axel and I after the NYE count down.

Friends Nadine, Erni and Simone.

Handmade Christmas Presents

Just thought I´d post a few photos of the Chrissy presents I made for Axel´s niece and mum. Both presents were appreciated and many thanks were given. It was amazing and a great relief for me to see the cardigan and beanie I made Lena fit so perfectly. It´s tricky making clothes for a baby that is growing so fast, you have no idea how much they will grow over the 5 months you are away.

Anyway I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and a great start to the new year, I know mine has gone off with a ´bang´! I can´t believe how many fireworks were lit in Berlin. Everywhere on the streets people were throwing those little bangy fireworks (I don´t know what they are called fireworks are illegal in Australia) and then the other rocket ones. The appartment above our friends caught on fire from fireworks sparks. The firebrigade and police had to come but by the time they did our friends had broken into the appartment and put out the fire which we later found out was just a flaming plastic chair on the balcony.

As you can see it looked quite bad.

Afghan is in it's New Berlin Home!

I just received some photos from Axel depicting the afghan I made for his apartment set out on his bed. I think it looks kinda neat. I do think his room needs a make over though. Something for me to do when I go over there for Christmas. Axel will be at university so I think it's safe to say I can do what I like to the apartment, deco wise.

I am nearly finished sewing the jacket I've been working on in sewing classes. I just need to heme the bottom. I am going to try and make a shirt next for my little sister, she's probably the only one out of all of us that will wear it. We shall see but I get the feeling that most of the stuff I'm going to make is never going to be worn.