Fleamarkets, boyworld and why I got a burnt package in the post

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Hallöchen!

Probably about time I posted again, I reckon. The last few weeks have seen their fair share of strange happenings, but would you expect any less?

Okay, so 3 Saturdays ago, I finally got around to meeting with Stephan at the cafe (otherwise known as the potential murderer). To start with, I was 15 minutes late . Not such a great start. The meeting itself was fine, apart from being attacked by wasps and the fact that he basically just spoke English and I was like, dude, we're supposed to be tandem-ing? Anyway.

So I'll get the boy gossip out of the way now. Well I was also late to meet him a few Tuesdays ago, because I was too busy sitting in a Vietnamese restaurant with S. He text me to say he was on his way and I was like, cool bro, just let me swallow this plate whole and I'll be there in 5. We went to the cinema last weekend, you remember I saw Fack ju Goethe with Sophie and crew? Probably not, but I saw the second one and it was brilliant) .

Apart from that and living in a strange, temporarily insane bubble, I have finally got a housephone (however I cannot get it to work). That was an ordeal in itself. I queued for like 10 minutes for the till lady to inform me that I was trying to buy an empty box. I came home to my long-awaited Skype headset (because my laptop is ridiculous and needs a microphone to skype) to find they were in a noticeably smoke-damaged packet. There was a letter apologising for the delay, but the warehouse caught fire. They even included a picture of the warehouse on fire. Okay, I believe you! If that wasn't enough for one Saturday, there was a fault with the water drainage in the washing machine. It costs 3 euros for every wash so I was forced to remove my still sticky clothes from a murky puddle of water, rinse them in my sink and watch ruefully as threateningly large puddles formed on my balcony.

This is the basement where washing comes to die

This is a man sitting on a dining chair, on the S-Bahn. Standard Monday eve commute.

I've also finally bought a duvet, and have very much enjoyed having a real bed again! That and the fact I have also signed up for Netflix (I am so late on the bandwagon it's embarrassing) and consequently have resumed my binging of Supernatural.

Fafel and halloumi sandwich + Sam and Dean = my kind of Saturday evening (I am such a loser)

Work wise, it was just me and J last week as S was ill. It was a little bit stressful at first, because J had a lot of German proofreading to do and so I had to pick up all the admin slack. But it was all fine, and by the end of the week I also had a few translations to do.Also, since I've been here, I've only had three serious anxiety attacks, which considering I have been here over a month, is damn good going. It just sucks a bit when they've happened at work. The girls are so kind about it though and check to make sure I've not actually climbed under the desk and tried to burrow to the centre of the earth,

This weekend I spent with myself which was actually quite nice! On Saturday, I just went for a walk around Friedrichshain, and wound up in that brilliant bookshop again and spent 3 euros on FIVE BOOKS. 3 EUROS ON FIVE BOOKS. Somebody stop me. I went to a flea market on Sunday and decided I desperately missed Niamh! I didn't buy anything, but I did thoroughly enjoy watching the hipsters squabbling over vintage polaroid cameras and gilets that had seen better days.

Carina is away in Hamburg from Tuesdays to Thursdays at the moment so I have the flat to myself tonight. I grilled some chicken (she's a vegetarian), played Kylie Minogue very loudly and went to the toilet with the door open. Not at the same time, mind.

This honestly was so much more delicious than it looks!

But she is so sweet. Last night, I came home to a note on my door telling me I could help myself to the rest of her noodles and home made sauce. A couple of Sundays ago, we went to Neue Heimat which is now closed forever! It's a food market off Warschauer Strasse, where you can eat Mexican street food and listen to techno at midday in a warehouse that's basically falling down.

Lastly, I received confirmation today that Lewis is coming to see me on the 30th October! So excited! Mum is coming on the 11th December AND I also just booked my flight home for Christmas! I've got a comfortable 10 days off, and will be inhaling the air of Stansted airport at 22.00 on the 18th December.

For now, I have a glass of wine and an episode of Supernatural to finish.

Laters xxx