{Lately on Instagram}

This past week has seen my happiness levels sky rocket and all I can say is, thank fudge for that!  After last week's heartache over the Rabbi and more sleepless nights than I can count, I was starting to despair a little.  Yet, somehow and somewhere, between the tears and the naps, I found this beaming light of positivity, that just radiated all over my body.  I can't even remember what started it!

I just decided one day, enough is enough.  There is a time for grieving, I should know, but it does not do to dwell on the past for too long.  Hence, I made a conscious decision to get up and get out and absorb some of the sunshine on offer at the moment.  Taking sleepy strolls around the Prenzlauer Berg neighbourhood, I photographed every little thing I saw, that made me smile.  You'd be surprised at how much you come across on an hour's walk!  Smiley signs, colourful graffiti, vintage vinyls donated to the curb.  Little things that somehow make the difference.

On Thursday, I packed up my bag once again and hauled it onto the dreaded U-Bahn, to move back over to Neukölln for a week.  Being a vagabond wasn't such a hardship when I was moving from country to country, it was just part of the deal.  However, now that I've committed to one place, I will admit that this bohemian lifestyle is getting ever so slightly tiresome.  Oh to have an apartment all of my own, just myself and Mr Pig.  To be able to whip my clothes off when I felt the compulsion and dance around in a balletic fashion, to the tone of the Rat Pack.  Patience, patience, I must have patience.

I do feel happy though, despite the persistence of my insomnia and my longing for the Rabbi's company.  These past few days, I have experienced these unexpected waves of love, wash serenely over me.  Completely out of nowhere, I suddenly feel confident again and at ease, with life, with my body and even with my mind.  In all honesty, it's a sensation that I've not entirely felt for a long long time and I have to say, I am pleased to be feeling it once again.  Maybe it's the sunlight.  Maybe it's the extra chunks of chocolate.  Maybe it's my yogi porridge in the morning.  I really couldn't say, but I'm not questioning it, I'm not analysing it and God forbid I not appreciate it!

So, my dear friends, here is to a peaceful and happy weekend, for all of us!
Tomorrow, I will be attempting to get up early enough for Markthalle Neun's Sunday Breakfast Market!  We'll see how that goes...Have you anything glorious planned for Sunday? 

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{Lately on Instagram}

I have been stuck indoors for the past few weeks, working tirelessly and unfortunately getting very little sleep and even less daylight exposure in the process.  It has truly been exhausting.  However, with certain things now done, my schedule is somewhat back to its usual relaxed state and so, I am slowly readjusting, or at least trying to.  My sleep cycle is still completely skewed however and so, mornings are becoming afternoons and the nights are far too long.

Late August was unexpectedly cold here in Berlin, which made me start to get a little excited for autumn.  I was finally able to embrace my chunky knit sweater and hide my messy tendrils under a wide brimmed hat.  Funny how the simplest of things can make you deliriously happy.  I think perhaps fall is becoming my favourite season.

I spent the last two weeks of August over in Neukölln, enjoying deep and meaningful conversations, with good company, over delicious food and taking evening strolls, getting to know the area a little better.  It was such a pleasure and with the cold setting in, I also cut down on the number of days I went to yoga, instead starting to do back-to-back classes a few times a week.  Beginning at seven in the evening, I would do ninety minutes of fast paced vinyasa, followed by ninety minutes of deep stretching yin.  A really nice combination which led me to feel super relaxed, as well as super achy.

Sadly late August also saw the disappearance of Samuel, my beloved bicycle.  Spaced out from three hours of yoga, I came out of class to find he'd simply vanished.  Not even a wheel was left to remember him by.  I hope he's being treated well, wherever he is.  I can't say I'm not devastated, because I am.  Mostly because I'd become very emotionally attached to him, we'd been through a lot together.  Overcoming my fear of cycling, his stolen seat, the flat tire incident.  I will miss our middle of the night rides across town.  Alas, all things happen for a reason and so, for now, I am simply walking everywhere until I find a replacement.

As of September, I am temporarily back across town in Prenzlauer Berg and it appears as though we are having an Indian summer here in Berlin.  After finally taking the time to venture outside this week, I couldn't believe how hot and sunny it was!  I have officially folded my sweater back up and have happily brought the T-shirts back out.

Embracing both the weather and a freed up schedule, I had the great pleasure yesterday, of meeting one of my lovely readers and fellow writers, Rose, who has recently moved to Berlin from England.  The pair of us went for delicious vegan cakes and shakes over at Chaostheorie (Lychener Straße 4, Prenzlauer Berg) and then afterwards, we treated ourselves to a refreshing mango sorbet each, from the local Eis bar.  The sun was shining and it literally felt like a summer's day!  Making new friends, eating sweet treats, soaking up the rays, this, I've decided, is what life is really all about.

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{Lately on Instagram}

Last week felt like I'd somewhat taken a little vacation from 'reality' after leaving the comfort of Prenzlauer Berg to head over the bridge to Kreuzberg, for a short stop over, before taking up temporary residence here in Neukölln.

In that classic case of be careful what you wish for, it turned out that being within walking distance of yoga, wasn't as much fun as I thought it would be & with Katie away on vacation in England the same week, there was no real reason to leave the neighbourhood, so poor Samuel, my beloved bicycle, was left locked up in the downstairs hallway for the entire week.  It's surprising the difference it makes, just a few days without the endorphin boost of a good power cycle.  I ended up doing back-to-back yoga sessions most days, just to fill the void!  Although, the benefit to this is, I have now discovered the joys of a good vinyasa workout, followed by a relaxing evening yin stretch.

After two months of moving around Berlin, I finally decided to throw all my eggs into one basket & use what was left of my pitiful bank balance, to rent a room over in Neukölln for the last few weeks of August.  It's a huge, light, bright, airy room, that's hopefully going to give me enough space & time to concentrate on my work, which is suffering of late, from all the floor hopping.

A life lived out of a suitcase can get awfully tiresome at times & I for one am so incredibly ready to finally unpack for good!  Just the thought of a well stocked kitchen, clean sheets on my own bed, squishy blankets, lit candles, good books, old films, snuggles with Pig & no more worries about where I will be next week.  That would be such bliss!  I guess we'll just have to see...

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