late last nights lollies

the good thing about Germany or Cologne in particular is that there are Kiosks everywhere. The not only sell beer cheaper than in the bars, but also mixed lollies, a phenomenon that is unknown to many other countries (Claudi was obsessed with mixed lolly bags whenever she came over from Vienna). a yummy, fun and cheap way to pass a night, walking through the city from kiosk to kiosk.
and, besides, the Donots played at the Gamescom city fest :-)

Wiedersehen III: mit Ulli am Kanal, mit Risna zum Fussball

Summer in Germany: it is hot and humid and can get nice 'n chilly at night. I drove to Münster to say hello to my best friend Ulli and my former flatmate Risna who just recently moved out of our sharehouse into a stunning adult-like apartment.
With Ulli, who just graduated from Uni and faces the same hassles of life as an adult as me, we whinged a lot, had yummy dinner and a bottle of sparkling to cheer us up and then went to sit at the Kanal with some friends, Münster style.
The next day I went over to Risna, who got me started on all this culture/events management shit and we talked a lot about festivals and stuff. Later we went to watch her flatmate play soccer in the sun

A gypsy music street battle and the arctic monkeys from the back of a church

The arguably hottest day this summer in Germany was really, really, hot. Plus, thick black clouds heralded the advent of a thunderstorm the very evening and created an ominous atmosphere and headache all day.
Another sign was a dead bird, I found on the street on the way back from the supermarket. 'what's wrng with you, photographing a dead bird on the street' shot through my head when I took the picture, but have a closer look: The bird is positioned on the seams of the sidewalk tiles like Jesus on the Cross...

I am still not sure how to interpret this. what strikes me, I have not seen Elvis for a while*.

In the afternoon the Gypsy came back. There is a group of Gypsies roaming Köln Nippes these days, the kids begging and the adults palying music. One of them shows up each afternoon in te street under our window and plays the accordeon. But this time, Puli and me were prepared: as soon as we heard him play, we put on my gypsy music and turned up the volume. And the miracle happened: the guy actually picked up the melody and played on...so we put on another song and the same thing happened! untill he unfortunately walked on...gypsy magic!

Later on that night, NRW radio station Eins Live held a radio concert of the arctic monkeys in the beautiful but small Kulturkirche in Cologne. Since they only raffled the tickets live on air and my brother in law me were unlucky, we decided to give it a listen anyway. So we bought beer from the kiosk close by and went to the back of the venue, which is actually an old church. The lights inside rythmically illuminated the church window at the back, while at the same time the first lightings flashed in the clouds behind the church

Wiedersehen II: Anne in Köln

We had food...


we had Cocktails....


We got tipsy...

Wiedersehen I: Claudi & Beirut in Berlin

My favourite band Beirut was playing in Berlin last Tuesday, reason enough to pack and jump on a plane again and go there. My lovely and beloved friend Claudi had already bought the tickets - thank god, the gig was completely sold out.
Somehow the opening band did not show up, so we had to wait for a while without music, and learned that Astra beer only tastes good in Hamburg, where it comes from and better should stay.
When Beiruts mastermind Zach Condon finally entered the stage, he seemed quite drunk but played a good show, although the venue was too big and too crowded for this type of music.



What can I say, we danced, we drank, we eventually went home and slept the sleep of the just . Awoken by the nasty construtionists next door, we went to have a massive breakfast with russian blinis which we shared with 4 wasps,

we went to a park to lie lazyly in the sun, a good old German summer habit.

the wedding that made me come back

After curing a bad throat infection I first took for swine flu and soaking in the german rain, the day of my cousins wedding came and the sun broke through the clouds to herald harmony.
The marriage ceremony was held on a moated castle...

the bride and my dads pride


my sister and me


the kiss


married!

... later we went to a nice restaurant where we sat outside and danced the night away to really old and cheesy 80s and 90s songs.




my grannie and me

Melbourne farewell, my love

Everything has to come to an end, even my stay in Melbourne. I am deeply grateful to all of you who bade me farewell and made my last day one of the happiest. Thanks for teh shared coffee, the stories, the good wishes, the gifts. Thanks for your time, your jokes, the beers (and wine!), for your addresses and hugs and kisses.
I'll take you with me and we shall meet again (at least on facebook!)

Love ('cause that what it is)
jana

The Closing Night

The MIFF closing night Bran Nue Day, Rachel Perkins fabulous Aboriginal Musical set in the 1960, a film full of Rock'n'Roll and feel good vibe.


I took my little cousin who now studies in Melbourne and we danced the whole night through.


MIFF Marketing Carly and me


MIFF guest coordinator Anthoula and me


Aurelia and me

The best party of the festival at NICA

One of the best MIFF parties was held at NICA, the National Institute for Circus Arts. We celebrated the premiere of Australian-Israeli clay mation co-production "$9.99", with all the special guests and VIPs.


Joni and me with the wings

Tissue artist

Fusball: MIFF marketing Carly, festival director Richard Moore, actor Anthony LaPaglia,

QT @ MIFF