Northern Soul

20 years ago David Gray released his debut studio album "A Century Ends".20 years later - today . I am listening to his song "Shine". David Gray actually made me go and buy music after a very long abscence if mine. The music started a process.

Over the past year I have gone through some transformations that lead my closer to my true self. Over the past 12 months, I've revived my love for music. For my 40th birthday my sister invited me to a concert in Hamburg. What we both did not know back then: It seems that Hamburg as a place, a vibe, an atmosphere ... is like a perfect match to me.

nono from Lubeck, did you take a close look at the pile? I am getting ready!

I did not fully trust the overall positive feelings I had after my first stay. So I went back, expected some disappointments. The opposite happened: The excitement grew even bigger. Now, that I am going there for the third time within 12 months, I feel the need to "test" the city anymore. I will go there on my own.

My parents don't understand why I go there on my own. Why I would do this, go without company? I answered "Well, you know, of course I could stay here, sit and wait for someone to accompany me. Or, I could just go" (Not that I had not asked a few friends, if they would like to join me).


For all that we struggle
For all we pretend
It don't come down to nothing
Except love in the end
And ours is a road
That is strewn with goodbyes
But as it unfolds
As it all unwinds
Remember your soul is the one thing
You can't compromise
Take my hand
We're gonna go where we can shine*


I know, I will shine.
I already glow.
I guess I can call myself lucky, being able to feel joy and happiness even when being on my own. Well, I won't be all alone. Two amazingly welcoming people await my arrival.

dodo from Hamburg will meet me for dinner on my first night in Hamburg. We share the love for photography. Together we will conquer the 12 platforms of the Elbphilharmonie-construction-site. :-)


Have you ever meet a place (or country, people, language) where you immediately felt at home? Where you could be just "you" and felt akwardly alive, more alive than anywhere else? Please share your thoughts and experiences, I would love to hear from you!

Now I only need to decide whether the trench coat is a good or bad idea for this trip. The black nylon sports jacket would be the smarter option. But the trench coat has way more style.

I try to fit in. That's why I am going to see Abercrombie & Fitch from the inside. I need pink or green sweat pants for my upcoming stay at the Black Sea in May! Grey and navy is a No-go down there. Does this suffice to label this posting with "Shallowness"? Hmm. And please forgive me the typing errors, I need to get going, ironing waits for me. But I did not want to leave without leaving you a note!

Good night!
Paula, definitely a northern soul

Lyrics: David Gray: 'Shine'

Quiet Morning

This morning the sunlight creeped around the corner and entered our bedroom in the wee hours. All of a sudden, the light is back in our apartment. So bright, so light! We haven't got used to the bright sunlight yet. It feels strange. We move like cavemen who have been locked in for too long and can't believe their eyes. Those who live in Europe know what I am referring to: the permanently overcast sky, absolutely no sunrays hitting your skin for weeks ... It was tough.

We embrace the new bright season. Even though it comes with sleep-deprivation. The sound of your camera's shutter as the very first sound that touches your ears on a new day, bestows a otherwise blunt morning with magic. Of course it need the right light, too.

One hour later a freshly made bananabread left the oven. In case you see poor brown bananas on the shelf in the supermarket, on their way to the waste-bin, be a good person and save them, by transforming them into a loaf of banana bread, that will make everybody happy. Otherwise a lot would be totally pointless: Workers, probably working under difficult conditions, harvesting those bananas, shipping them around the globe, only so they end in the waste bin? Because everyone prefers to pick those bananas, that come without freckles? This recipe is fantastic. And you need very ripe bananas. Not just freckled, but awfully brown bananas. The recipe is so docile, when I run out of soy-milk I just replace the milk with water, no problem at all. I once bake a loaf for a good friend, meant as a treat for his trip to Berlin the next day. Well, the loaf did not even make to the municipal boundary of Vienna. It was just too good. And you don't need to live vegan to enjoy the taste. And last but not least: it's done without any effort, you can bake it in the morning before you leave for work (what I did today) or before bedtime, in your PJ's (what I did last week).

Past Winter

Watering dead plants in the morning sun brings out my other side, so Morticia Addams, so peaceful!