Edit 6 August 15.45: Wow. What a difference a Facebook post can make. That is a heck of a lot more light than before. What happens next is of course a worry, but for now I assume I can risk starting to clean and re-furnish and use the balcony. And enjoy what is left of the summer.
I still wish they would inform me (IN WRITING) what is going to happen to that wall and to my balcony, and preferably approximately when, because I am fully aware of the fact that the real nightmare may not even have started yet, but they do not seem to want to do that.
Every time I think it will get better, it gets worse.
In an e-mail last week, I was informed that the last work would be done on 3 and 4 August, and that the net could then also be removed (I don’t know what it is doing there at all now). I therefore dropped my plans of leaving Berlin for any considerable length of time.
I did flee the chaos for three days, and arrived home in the afternoon of 5 August hoping to be able to slowly start cleaning and using my balcony (and my living room) again.
Instead, I found things looking worse than ever. In addition to some more boards and some more rubble, they have installed what looks like an entire euro-pallet – ON my balcony. So much for “your balcony will not be affected”. That statement is becoming more and more laughable by the week, and has been for over a year now.
No work was being done on that wall yesterday afternoon, and none whatsoever today, 6 August, either.
I don’t know what is more breathtaking – the arrogance or the propensity to lie over and over again. Do they actually think it is nice to have a good-sized balcony and not be able to use it? Especially during the summer, in a year where I ought to be at home most of the time? Not to mention the fact that my living is full of most of the things that are normally on the balcony.
EDIT: Latest development: There is now an agreement that the current work will be finalised, and the net removed, by the end of next week.
I will make sure I am not in Lindenstraße, or even in Berlin, a lot during the next ten days.
During the week 10 to 15 August I will then be able to clean everything and take possession of my balcony again. They did offer to do the cleaning, but I prefer to do that myself. I really am not in the mood to have strangers invading my home these days and I do not want to talk to anybody.
I sincerely hope that these are the last words I will ever write about this matter.
EARLIER: Now they are turning up on my doorstep – unannounced – asking to be let in. Why? So they can tell more lies, this time undocumented? If they want to see the balcony, they are almost standing on it.
I guess there is no point in cleaning the balcony today (see video below). I hear a fresh layer of dust descending upon the one from yesterday (see next post).
I just spoke to one of the young people in the WG next to me who was almost in tears. All three are either studying or working from home and keep having to go somewhere else, and they have so far been unsuccessful in obtaining a reduction in rent (despite the fact that the owner of the flat will sooner or later receive compensation, or at least that was promised in a meeting of owners with the Hausverwaltung in spring 2019 – but perhaps that was also a lie, just like the claim that our balconies would not be directly affected).
And still no indication how long this is going to last. But I guess that is better than when they lie and say they have finished when they clearly have not.
They said they had finished and that it was no longer necessary for the balcony to be empty, so I cleaned parts of the balcony yesterday and started to put things back on it.
Now I just arrived back from a daytrip and found this. The entire balcony looks like this – again.
F…! It was THIS close to having been a lovely day.
I was always taught, in school and by my parents, that lying was completely unacceptable. Here in Germany, it seems to be a sport. That, and blaming others for everything that goes wrong. You can certainly see where a certain US president, with German ancestors, gets his habits of lying and blaming others from.
By the way, what are those black stains, and how do I remove them? They appeared during the work they did last summer, shortly after this part of the scaffolding had been erected. There are many more, also on the marble shelf and on the floor of the balcony – currently covered by dust – again. I thought I would be able to scrape them off, but they are completely solid and stuck.
Is it because the monstrosity is under Denkmalschutz that they can get away with being so unbelievable arrogant and do what like?
EDIT: I have just been informed that this is what it is going to look like for the duration, as far I understood the vague reply. That means at least another couple of years. I think I am going to scream. Does anyone know a lawyer with whom I could have a word about this?
Also, it turns out that they did what they had to do last week and that it was no longer necessary for the balcony to be empty. They just could not be bothered to inform me and grant me the honour of cleaning the balcony of the thick layer of dust and put everything back on it. I spent almost two hours yesterday cleaning the balcony. Today I went out most of the day and came home to find another thick layer of dust everywhere, including on the plants which I had been naive enough to put back. The nightmare never ends.
Earlier: I know it seems that I am just very angry – no more no less – but I am actually devastated.
I thought my balcony was chaotic in the past thirteen months or so, but just as I thought it was bound to get better soon, it got 150 percent worse. Not only is my balcony now even less useable, but my living room is barely live-able-in because so many things from the balcony have to be stored in there. Of course they said my balcony would never be directly affected (that’s almost hilarious ….), but to be fair, they never promised me that my living room would not be affected ……
This year of all years, where many of us have to stay at home the majority of the time, and not go out and be among other people, and not travel, it would have been so good to have a comfortable and nice-looking home, and the option to spend a lot of time on the balcony for daylight.
Now, having to spend so much time incramped and ugly surroundings, especially having no idea how long it will last (because Cresco Real Estate refuses to answer questions about it) is extremely stressful.
I used to love my flat and consider myself so lucky to have found it, but had I known what was going to happen and for how long, I am not sure I would have bought it. And now it is not only semi-un-useable, it is definitely un-sellable, and probably will be for the next around five years – this being Berlin.
The whole thing is literally zum Heulen, as they say. And there is no end in sight. Again today, NOTHING is happening at this end of the building.
And the irony: They are not even building a contemporary and interesting building. They are spending probably the best part of a decade, and I don’t even to know how many euros, plus making life a misery for hundreds of people living in the area – to restore one of the ugliest monstrosities in the world (Victoriahöfe, Lindenstraße).
EDIT 26 July: A full working week later, absolutely nothing has happened (apart from another couple of mm of dust). The situation is 150 percent worse, as I now am not able to use neither my balcony nor my living room, and my wild flowers and herbs are dying because they are not suited to be indoors.
The initial promise that our balconies would not be directly affected, which turned out to be false already more than a year ago, is getting further and further from the truth by the day.
Maximum daylight, and to have full use of my balcony, would have been particularly important to me this year where I am still trying to stay at home four to five days a week most weeks. As it is now, I barely have the use of neither my balcony nor my living room.
How is it even allowed to encroach upon other people’s private property, as seen in the photo, for so long?
EARLIER: Around mid-day on Friday 17 July, I was ordered – not asked – to empty my balcony of all plants, furniture etc. before Monday 20 July, because on that day, they wanted to start repairing the wall where the scaffolding is.
Despite the fact that 1) we were told at the beginning that this would not directly affect our balconies (in the case of my balcony, it has done nothing else for 13 months now ….), 2) it would cause some chaos in my living room and kitchen to find room for everything, and 3) technically, I was away from my flat for the weekend, but luckily, I was not further away than I was able to cancel two other plans, and go home and do as I had been told.
I even did that quite happily, because I thought it would be the beginning of the end of the nightmare.
Now, on the evening of Monday 20 July, has anything happened – anything at all? Nope.
Do I feel stupid for believing them, and for clicking my heels and letting myself be bossed about by them? Yep.
I could have kept my week-end plans, and then spent today emptying the balcony.
Instead, I am now wondering how many weeks or months I have to live with the chaos (and watch my herbs and wild flowers die because they are not meant to be indoors).
I often find that many Germans are very suspicious of others, and I understand better and better why. They probably think everybody is as unreliable as they are.
Time to recap what I have already outlined in several previous posts. Perhaps if I link to the entrepeneur, Cresco Real Estate, often enough, somebody will finally respond.
Some time during the first half of 2019, we were informed that a scaffolding would be constructed at the end of the neighbouring building, that it would be there for six to eight months, and that it would NOT directly affect our balconies.
The scaffolding was constructed during June 2019, and before the end of the summer, the work for which it had been constructed was completed (it had created an unholy mess on my balcony, but that is another story).
Three important factors are 1) that that part of the scaffolding is not linked to the original scaffolding around that building. It was put up much later, and could therefore also be removed without affecting the original scaffolding. 2) It has not been used for anything at all since late last summer. And 3) As far as I can see, when they get around to repairing that part of the building, they will need to take the scaffolding down anyway and use another one.
So that was one summer partially ruined, for which we were promised financial compensation – money that we have not seen or heard of since then, but it is also not really my point. I would rather have had the full use of my balcony all this year.
Fast-forward to February-March this year, when we all started to look forward to getting rid of the scaffolding and thus get a lot more daylight on our balconies and in our homes.
Nothing happened. On 7 April, in an e-mail to Cresco Real Estate, and to our Hausverwaltung, Schön & Sever, I asked when we could expect the scaffolding to be removed, enabling us to fully enjoy the priviledge of having a balcony, especially this year, where we have to stay at home much more than normally. I re-sent the e-mail a week or two later. I have not yet received a reply (as of 21 July).
A couple of weeks ago, some workers suddenly appeared on the scaffolding, raising my hopes that it would now be removed, but they only removed one little component, which caused part of the net to fall on my balcony. They did not bother to pick it up, but left soon after. I had to get out my ladder and a hefty pair of scissors to remove it.
Meanwhile, the scaffolding has now been there for 13 months, not six to eight months which we were initially informed, and the best part of the second summer partially ruined. How much longer will we have to look at this eyesore, and how much longer will it be stealing valuable daylight, for no purpose whatsoever. Both Cresco Real Estate and Schön & Sever are still refusing to answer this question.
One more thing – especially this year, where socialising is so limited, it would have been ideal to be able to invite one or two visitors for brunch or lunch or coffee or whatever, on the balcony from time to time. Obviously, the way that looks now, this is not really possible.
As if the often infernal noise was not bad enough, but that is unavoidable so everybody tries to just ignore it . (Unlike the inexplicable shouting and singing which starts shortly after 6AM, and the loud “music” being played at intervals during the day, but our complaints about that are largely ignored),
But THE most frustrating thing is the fact that my questions about it are studiously ignored, both by Cresco Real Estate and by Schön & Sever who both still refusing to respond.
Starting to sound like a broken record, but I am SO TIRED of being met with the sight of this mess every morning.
On 1 June, my hopes were raised when a couple of workers turned up and removed …….. ONE little component, which resulted in parts of the netting falling onto the table on my balcony (photo in previous post). They did not bother to pick it up. They just disappeared again and I have not seen them since. I had to get out my ladder and a hefty pair of scissors in order to get rid of the bundle of netting.
As described many times before, this part of the scaffolding went up early last summer, beginning of June as far as I recall, it is separate from the rest of the scaffolding, and the word was it would be there six to eight months (!) which would have meant it would be gone my March this year (2020). Fast-forward to July, it is still there.
If it had a purpose, and was actually being used for something, that would be another matter, but it has not been used for anything at all since about August or September last year (when they made an unholy mess on my balcony, but that is a seperate story). All it has done is stealing valuable light – light which would have been especially important in March and April this year (which was the time they had told us it would be gone again) where most of us stayed at home 24/7 except for very short grocery-shopping trips, light which would have been valuable now, and light which will be even more valuable, but I fear it will still be lacking, come late summer and autumn.
Some of us are still spending much more time at home than we would normally, and we still have to look at that mess which makes it hard to fully enjoy the priviledge of having a balcony in these times.
But the most frustrating factor is that nobody wants to deal with or even hear about it. Obviously not the workers, and also not the entrepreneur, and not even our Hausverwaltung. On 7 April, I e-mailed them both asking how much longer, and re-sent that e-mail a couple of weeks later. So far, none of them have bothered to reply.
Superduper. When this happened two days ago, it gave me hope – not only that they would remove the netting – but that perhaps they were finally going to remove that part of the scaffolding, which has not been used for anything for about a year but has caused such great nuisance.
But since 1 July, all that has happened is that I had to get my ladder and a hefty pair of scissors out to get rid of most of that netting myself.
No sign of them today either.
Both our Hausverwaltung Schön & Sever and the entrepreneur Cresco Capital Group or Cresco Real Estate or whatever they are called are still refusing to answer questions about the scaffolding, which should have been removed end winter/early spring, as described earlier. My latest e-mail was sent 7 April and re-sent a couple of weeks later. You would think they had had time to respond. But obviously not the will.
In this of all years where some of us spend much more time at home than normally. And I, for one, would have liked to be able to enjoy spending some of that time on my balcony.
Things I can photograph without leaving home, on walks in the neighbourhood, and more recently also on longer outings away from home.
17 June (I lied in the previous update – THIS is the last update)
Still no reply from neither Schön & Sever nor Cresco Capital Group or Cresco Real Estate or whatever they are called to questions about the scaffolding, which should have been removed end winter/early spring, as described earlier. My latest e-mail was sent 7 April and re-sent a couple of weeks later. You would think they had had time to respond. But obviously not the will.
One of my first photos taken with the Sigma 150-600, at 600 mm and heavily cropped. I have to work on getting sharper photos, but with this lens I am not sure this will ever happen. Some in the excellent Facebook group Canon 90D Owners By Michael The Maven suggest that the focus is off and the lens needs to be calibrated. So that is another thing I need to look into. Talk about lifelong learning.
House of many textures
15 June (last update)
Two visitors for dinner. So that was three different households around the same table. This is probably not even allowed, but I have lost track.
This is the last post in my Corona Diary. I reckon life, for most people my age and older, is going to be like this until there is a vaccine, if that ever happens. Although I do know quite a few people around my age who are seemingly not taking this disease seriously and who do not seem to mind getting infected, with all the reported suffering that that would entail. Personally, I am still determined to die of something other than COVID19.
No volunteering in neither UNICEF nor Tierpark.
No concerts, movies, operas, or theatres (even when it all becomes possible, I would not enjoy it, and wearing a mask during such performances is for me not an option).
Staying indoors on weekends (too many droplet-spewing people, and now also tourists, around).
The occasional lunch and dinner with one, max. two, visitors? I am not sure. Most people are very careless and the thought of catching this disease does not scare even people my age. My last two visitors had been out and about all day before arriving at my place, and they did not even have masks with them. They also thought me wearing a mask while handling food and cooking was as a joke. I personally would never consider eating food cooked by someone without a mask on. Hysterical? Perhaps, but when I read about the suffering people my age and older have to go through if they are infected, I REALLY do not want to catch this virus.
Reading, studying photography (and German – YAWN!), trying to keep fit with the help of youtube, and – during the weekdays, walks further afield avoiding areas full of heavy-breathing, droplet-spewing joggers most of whom refuse to wear masks and refuse to do anything at all to keep a distance, although they should be keeping a much bigger distance than everybody else.
The scaffolding has been there for over a year now. Initially, we were told it would last six to eight months. Instead, I see a second summer partly ruined. Also, it steals light which would have been valuable in the autumn and – especially – in the early spring this year during lockdown. For a second summer, I also do not have the option to keep the balcony door open overnight, which used to be a luxury, letting cool air in without the traffic noise from the street.
And noone will tell us how long it will still last. Both our Administrator, Schön & Sever, and the construction manager, Cresco Real Estate, refuse to answer questions about it.
I am signed up for this trip at the end of July: https://reisen.tagesspiegel.de/nord-ostsee-kanal/, organised by Tagesspiegel and M-tours Live Reisen GmbH. The Kiel Canal is alledgedly the world’s busiest man-made waterway. We have just received details of a very thoroughly and well thought through hygiene and distancing measure and rules, so I am definitely going, and am really looking forward to it. I do not hail from a seafaring nation for nothing ;-).
Facemasks obligatory in shops and public transport till further notice.
12 June
Taking a taxi in Berlin: Only via an app, face masks obligatory, plastic curtain between front and back seats, and only contactless payment, also via the app.
Despite signposting being notoriously poor, and now worse than ever (does not reflect reality at all, and neither does the map they give you at the entrance), Tierpark Berlin is still my favourite zoo. These days, a visit can only take place with an online ticket, and in a pre-determined, four-hour time slot, which puts you under considerable time pressure, given its size, especially if you also want to put in a pitstop for coffee, let alone lunch.
Europe’s biggest landscape zoo, it covers 160 hectares and has over 9.000 animals. In comparison, Berlin Zoo covers 33 hectares with room for almost 20.000 animals. (As far as I remember, Copenhagen Zoo, for example, is 11 hectares). Do the maths. If you want to see as many animals as possible within one half-day visit, I’m afraid you are better off visiting Berlin Zoo until everything is back to normal. But if you also like to feel like you are going for a walk in the forest, and occasionally seeing an animal or two, and feeling that no matter how many times you visit, you will never get to find your way around (a feeling exacerbated by the poor signposting) or see every corner, then Tierpark Berlin is the place for you. And if you go straight to the other end – to the area also known as “the mountain”, you will meet no or very few people.
The restaurants are open. I had lunch in Restaurant Patagona which has a large terrace overlooking parts of what is known as the pampas. Inside, face-masks are obligatory whenever you are not seated at your table. At the entrance, guests are required to disinfect their hands (liquid available) and fill in a piece of paper stating name, address, date of birth, phone number, and date and time of visit.
In any case, I enjoyed being back, albeit now as a visitor and not as a volunteer. If and when my previous volunteering jobs (with UNICEF in the Philharmonic and the Flugshow in Tierpark) start up again, I will only appear after a vaccine has become available, and I am among the pessimists in that regard: I don’t think that will happen in the foreseeable future. Therefore, I am still looking for alterntives, something I can do from home or from somewhere within walking distance from my home, which does not involve being among hordes of people.
8 June
Still catsitting. Still “Weiß Fotografieren”.
Staying in today. No matter how normal life seems when you venture outside, and no matter what the authorities say we can now do, it does not change the fact that Corona is still out there, and each time you venture out into the big bad world, you expose yourself to possible contagion. And reading about the suffering a lot of senior citizens have to go through with this disease, I am still determined to stay out of those statistics.
6 and 7 June
I walked back to my own place both days to attend an online course “Weiß Fotografieren” with artistravel. (See next post). This was my first webinar – actually first time using zoom – and it worked like a dream. I see many advantages in conducting courses this way. Also great to see Martin Timm and Benedikt Ziegler again. Martin is a joy, as a teacher and as a person.
Full moon the night between 5 and 6 June.
5 June
Another within-walking-distance destination, and on the way I saw this sculpture:
I have not been able to find anything about it. I think it was in Hosemannstraße, perhaps on the corner of Ostseestraße, but I did not pay much attention as I did not think it would be difficult to google. I can’t even find the institution, only one by the same name in Mitte. I have trawled this list, which is a very impressive collection, but it is not there.
EDIT: It turns out that the building is actally a ballet school. That must be one of Berlin’s best kept secrets. The sculpture is by Veronike Hinsberg: http://veronike.hinsberg.de/w_oeffnengleiten.html.
On to my first gallery visit since lockdown. At Sexauer Gallery this group show is on till 8 August.
I recently read about the book Totentanz Berlin by Helmut Altner, Berlin Story Verlag, in which this place is allegedly described. Since I am trying not to buy any more printed books, I had to go and see for myself 😊.
But first, as a bonus, passing the grounds of the Olympiastadion from 1936, I saw that the viewing platform in the bell tower was open. I was the only visitor there.
Teufelsberg, which I still have not visited.And yes, you can see the TV Tower even from way over on the other side of Berlin.
And then on to the memorial consisting of 104 traffic mirrors leading towards and adjacent to the site where between 12 August 1944 and 14 April 1945, the Wehrmacht executed more than 230 people, mostly for desertion or conscientious objection. The memorial is by the artist Patricia Pisani.
After you pass the stadium and the entrances to Waldbühne, turn right by the first mirror, and soon you will see a long stairway going down into a sort of valley (unfortunately, you will have to climb an even longer stairway going back up later on). Just follow the mirrors til you get to where there are mor of them in a cluster. That is apparently next to the actual place of execution, which is not accessible to the public.
These have nothing to do with the memorial. I have no idea what they are, but they seem to be of some value to somebody.
1 June
I am thinking of ending this diary. I reckon the way my life is now is pretty much the way it will be till there is a vaccine, and that could last a very long time.
I had forgotten a few things when I packed for Prenzlauer Berg, so I walked home and passed this mural on the way. I very much think it depends what your gut tells you.
31 May
Internally Displaced. Catsitting in Prenzlauer Berg. Here is 18-year-old Alma still fit as a fiddle.
Arriving at the cats’ place made me realise – again – how we all live in different worlds. Unlike at my place, where you find sanitising liquid and/or tissue in every room, and a drawer full of different types of masks in the entrance way, there is no evidence of any of that being used here. Despite the fact that the couple have been going out to work all along, by public transport every day all through lockdown. They are quite a bit younger than me and obviously belong to the segment that does not understand why people of my age group REALLY do not want to catch this disease. I had brought my own, and immediately wiped down all door handles . I never thought I would find myself doing something like that and felt quite OCD-ish :-).
30 May
First visitors since New Year’s Eve, AND first café visit (apart from one take-out coffee a couple of weeks ago). Ahmed and Omar came for brunch (home-made waffles, salads, ice cream ….) and a walk to Engelbecken, and a drink at Café am Engelbecken (life on the wild side). (Photos taken with my smartphone).
29 May
Some more photos taken with my new toy:
And later attempting macro with the 24 mm “pancake” and testing a couple of other lenses on the view from my bedroom:
Canon 50 mm “nifty fifty”Canon 10 to 18 mm @18 mmCanon 17 to 55 mm @17 mmCanon 24 mm “pancake”
28 May
The up-side of a courrier service pretending “you were not home” and then delivering your parcel miles away is that you get to put your 15.000 steps in in areas you have not yet, or very rarely, visited, and to see a building actually built where you once considered buying a flat based on floor plans and computer-generated drawings.
Viktoriapark:
I once considered buying a flat here, based on floor plans and computer-generated drawings. I have never before seen the buildings actually built.
And here is the first photo taken with my new baby – Sigma 150-600 mm:
27 May
I am all for masks being mandatory in shops and public transport, and I also wear them if I have to pass through areas that to me are a bit too crowded for comfort, but I must admit that in these summer temperatures, wearing them is truly a pestilence.
26 May
Uh-oh. I have not been missing this blott on my view. Perhaps when I receive my Sigma 150-600 mm I will be able to portrait the tourists in it – warts and nose hairs and all.
25 May
Another rainy day
Update on what is now allowed and what is still not allowed
Most importantly, masks are obligatory in all shops and in all public transport.
This is quoted directly from Tagesspiegel today, via google translate, unedited:
According to the containment regulation, which is valid until June 5 in the current version, Berliners are still required to “reduce contacts to other people to an absolutely necessary minimum.” And even if it gets warmer and the parks lure: big meetings are still prohibited.
Members of two households are allowed to meet – no more
Specifically, only members of two households may continue to meet, always at a distance of 1.5 meters from household to household. This rule does not apply to life partners and children for whom you have custody and access rights. This means, for example: Two large shared apartments may meet, but not three friends who live in three one-room apartments.
In the park, other groups are five meters away, barbecuing in the park is prohibited. In addition, in the private sector, only events that are “required for imperative reasons” are still permitted - for example, the regulation says, weddings, funerals. Up to 20 people can be present there. The care of people in need is also permitted.
Demonstrations are allowed from Monday with up to 100 participants if they take place outside. 50 participants are possible in closed rooms. Interior Senator Andreas Geisel (SPD) has announced that full freedom of assembly may be restored in June if necessary. Religious and religious events, such as services, can continue to be held with up to 50 people. Anything beyond that is prohibited.
Unlike restaurants, bars, betting shops and casinos are still not allowed to open. The same applies to clubs, theaters, concert halls and cinemas. The only exception: drive-in cinemas.
Prostitution is prohibited: "The provision of sexual services with physical contact is prohibited," says the regulation.
When it comes to sports, the situation is somewhat confusing: at the moment sports facilities that are outside and that meet a number of requirements are allowed to open.
Sports groups can be a maximum of eight people, changing rooms must remain closed, and of course the following applies: 1.5 meters away.
This means that some sports are completely eliminated. Fitness and yoga studios are closed. The Senate plans to advise on sports and health studios next week. It could start again in late May and early June.
24 May
A grey and rainy, and surprisingly windy, day.
There are some tiny yellow flowers on my balcony. I don’t know what they are. They are from a little bag of mixed seeds which are supposed to produce an abundance of insect-friendly flowers. These are the first ones to bloom. And as usual, I am unable to get sharp photos of them.
23 May
As mentioned in my post earlier this month, I am looking for a dog since, if I choose to go on living, it will be a completely different way of life from now on. In that regard, I have just had a great disappointment. I found a rescue dog whose description I really liked, and which had just arrived in Berlin from a shelter in Hungary, through an adoption agency who shall remain unnamed. I talked to them, and agreed on meeting the dog at her current “Pflegestelle”.
We had a nice walk in a nearby park, and the lady told me a lot about the dog’s progress since arriving in Berlin. I liked the dog even more after meeting her than based on photos and description. This was on Wednesday, and the lady wanted to deliver the dog to me on Saturday (today) around mid-day. She also said it would be good to have a professional trainer there when the dog arrived at my place.
Given the short notice, I went home and immediately contacted the two trainers I had already contacted earlier, both of whom live near me, and made sure that at least one of them would be able to be there when the dog arrived.
The next day, Thursday, the adoption agency told me it would be better to wait a couple of weeks before introducing a trainer. Which I then communicated to both trainers and said I would contact them in a foreseeable future.
Friday afternoon I went shopping in an animal food and equipment shop, and drew up the obligatory dog insurance, and late Friday evening, the agency changed their mind and informed me by e-mail that the dog would not be handed over the next day after all.
I will learn to love again, but I am not setting myself up for this kind of experience again. And those two trainers must think I have lost my marbles. I am beginning to understand why most Germans assume everybody is untrustworthy until otherwise proven. The way I was brought up, it used to be the other way around.
Am I still looking for a dog? Definitely not a rescue dog – I just don’t trust those people any more. But if anybody knows of a dog whose owner is no longer able to take care of it, I would still be very interested.
21 May
“Pea flowers” (Lathyrus) adorning the netting that surrounds that monster scaffolding, which makes the balcony seem a lot smaller and more claustrophobic than it actually is. It also steals a couple of hours of sunlight from our balconies. In a time where light in and around one’s own home is more important than ever. The scaffolding was supposed to have come down in March/April. Instead, I fear another whole summer is more or less ruined by it.
Neither our Hausverwaltung nor the company in charge of the renovation (Cresco Group, are answering questions about it.
20 May
Enjoying the sunrise or keeping an eye on my balcony? Every spring and summer, starting in March, is a fight between the pigeons and me – or rather, the plants on my balcony which seem to offer several ideal nesting places.
A stone?? What for?
As flower shops were allowed to stay open all along, I have gotten into the habit of always having fresh flowers at home, to have something pretty to look at, and immobile motives to play around with.
19 May
Day six of not leaving my home, the longest I have gone during this isolation. Almost afraid of going out now :-), and also completely lacking the energy, but I really do need to do some shopping.
The view from my bedroom window, taken with the Canon EF-S 24 mm, in colour, and in B&W. I can’t make up my mind which I like best:
18 May
I am sick and tired of hearing how masks do not protect the wearer and that young people have to wear them in order to protect vulnerable senior nuisance citizens, and young people then blaming us for these infringements on their lifestyle.
Would it not make more sense to simply produce enough of the type of mask that does protect the wearer? Alternatively, give us that little pill to take? Nobody wants to live like this and be alternatively patronised and reviled purely based on our age.
Determined not to figure in the statistics as a careless burden on the health care system, I have now stayed at home since Wednesday afternoon, this time around. If I get infected, it will be by somebody who has been a lot less careful than I am, so why are we not able to purchase masks that protect OURSELVES as well as others? That way, we would not have to dodge all those who refuse to wear masks (which is actually mandatory in shops and public transport here) and who are not even trying to keep a distance, nor would we be expected to be eternally grateful to those who do wear masks and respect the distancing rules.
That was today’s rant. Please may I go to the supermarket today?
Thyme and cress (with bokeh for which I reluctantly have to thank the cars in the yard) in bloom on my balcony.
15 May
These are SO good. Especially eaten in little bits together. And that is almost healthy – right?
14 May
Lupine. A very common outdoor plant when I was a child, but already back then there was – to me – something old-fashioned and retro about them. I don’t think I have ever had them in a vase indoors before.
Now all I need is the dog:
And a visitor:
12 May
After three days in splendid isolation in my home and – not least – on my balcony, I met up with Ahmed for a walk in Volkspark Rehberge and round Plötzensee.
10 May
The big news (to me at least) is that I have started to look for a dog to adopt or buy.
Often tempted, I did swear never to get a pet again, both due to the commitment and the heartache. But now, coming to terms with the “new normal” and realising that, at my age, it will be a very long time before I can again take up most of the activities that used to fill my day – if ever – I can focus more on what I also like – long walks, in cities but also in nature, and there is so much of that in and around Berlin. For that, it would be lovely to have a canine companion, and the more dog-training tutorials I watch, the more I feel like dedicating a lot of time to working with a dog. I would very much welcome a rescue dog.
The “problem” is that I am partial to large dogs, for example the German Shepherd type dog, and both breeders and shelters are quite strict about – or rather against – large dogs in flats without a garden or a fenced-in back yard for the dog to run around in, so I probably have to look for a more medium-sized dog.
I have already found two different dog trainers who are available even in times of Corona, and both live in my area. One of them right nex to me.
I am currently not interested in adopting directly from a shelter in Macedonia, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Spain or Italy, although that is quite common here in Berlin. I would prefer a dog that has already arrived in Berlin, the I can actually meet, who can meet me. Other than that, it does not have to be a puppy, and definitely not a pure-bred.
Watch this space ……
9 May
For a couple of hours I was convinced it was Sunday (since it’s all a blur, but how could I have skipped Schuman Day??), so made me a Sunday brunch. Pan-fried green asparagus, olive oil, fresh-pressed orange juice reduced, chili flakes, eggs, feta, salt, pepper, pea shoots, coriander, rucola …..
As from 15 May, cafés and restaurants may open (following the distancing and hygiene standards) till 22.00 hrs. Buffets not allowed. On-line reservation is a must and data must be kept for four weeks.
Hotels may open for guests from 25 May, but without breakfast buffet..
As from Saturday this week, all shops may open, regardless of size, with no more than one customer per 20 square m at any one time. All types of beauty treatments are also allowed from that day on, as long as everyone can still wear masks.
Citizens from one household my now meet with more than one person from outside that household, for example an entire other household, not only in public spaces but also at home.
The March regulation, according to which Berliners were only allowed to leave their home for grocery shopping, fresh air and exercise not too far away, has now been relaxed as long as the minimum distance of 1.5 meters to other people is observed.
However, the Berlin Senate still urges citizens to keep contacts with other people other people to an absolutely necessary minimum.
Museums, memorials and galleries have been allowed to open again since 4 May, as long as they comply with distancing and hygiene rules.
Operas and theaters are closed until at least 31 July . Large cultural and sporting events with more than 5.000 participants remain prohibited until 24 October, and events with more than 1.000 participants until 31 August.
Demonstrations with up to 50 participants are “generally approved” as long as hygiene and distancing rules are observed.
Attending church service with up to 50 participants has been possible again since 4 May.
Baptisms, weddings and funerals for up to 20 people have been possible since 22 April. The prerequisite is that the distancing regulations can be observed and an attendance list is kept, containing first and last name, full address and telephone number. The list is to be kept for four weeks and handed over to authorities on request.
Returning travellers arriving from other countries at Berlin airports and by land must report to the health authorities and observe a two-week quarantine.
Violations will be punished as follows:
Not keeping the distance of 1,5 meters: between 25 and 500 euros.
Walking in groups of three or more who are not part of the household: between 25 and 250 euros.
Failure to comply with an ordered domestic quarantine: between 250 and 2.500 euros.
Holding unauthorised events: between 500 and 2.500 euros. Participants between 25 and 500 euros.
Accommodating tourists: between 1.000 and 10.000 euros.
6 May
An early morning visitor.
Muffins and a walk with a friend where Kreuzberg meets Mitte, and for a couple of hours, life seemed almost normal. Or what we used to consider normal.
And it’s a full moon again:
5 May
Went to Engelbecken because news of this year’s five cygnets had reached me. I only managed to catch a glimpse of them almost hidden under mom’s wing, but took some photos of some of the other animals there.
A dramatic evening sky.
3 May
Ruccola. Actually prettier than those highly cultivated plants that are purely for decoration, I find.
2 May
Time to do a bit of scanning and reminiscing, so here are some very old photos.
October 1965
Around 1995, probably Copenhagen Zoo
May or June 1989, Dresden
1 May
Getting arty-farty with a lamp, a glass, a wall, and a dry rosé.
For a few moments , an unusual light while the sun was setting and it was raining. Here is the same view with two different focuses (foci?).
29 April
28 April
Eye contact. I doubt I will be able to go any sharper than this without getting into stacking, and I can’t be bothered with that. And now, it would be nice with a bit of diversity in the species of visitors. This is slowly overstaying its welcome.
Guess a macro. Haha, with my current obsession, that should not be too difficult.
Yellow legs. A subspecies? A male/female thing?
26 April
25 April
Went back to Urbanhafen to practise photographing swans in flight. Far too many joggers, and they do nothing to help keeping any kind of distance, although they – with their heavy breathing – should stay even more than two meters away from everybody.
Anyway, not particularly happy with the photos, so there is room for improvement, which is just as well, since there is at least another four months to go before I can start turning back to the activities that used to fill my days and evenings.
A bit of street:
And a bit of nature:
24 April
First of all, if anybody in Berlin sees this, please do not forget about this collection: https://www.stadtmuseum.de/berlin-jetzt. Please keep your eyes out for memorabilia suitable for inclusion, and take a photo and submit it. Alternatively, please let me know where to find it.
Insect extinction is a sad fact. Hardly any insects find their way to the rather large lavender plant on my balcony.
23 April
It will be a while before I master macro photography, but I love my Canon 35 mm macro. Here, a rare visitor.
22 April
Ventured out to look for a specific mural at Urbanhafen. Took this photo on the way:
The weather was beautiful, and Urbanhafen was as full of people as ever, nobody observing any of the guidelines, so I quickly took the photo and hurried back to my perch, taking just this one photo on the way back along the Landwehrkanal:
21 April
My attempt at adding some structure to the day. To-do list and list of things I must/should do each day.
19 April
An extra-curricular, non-scheduled, “non-essential” walk along the Landwehrkanal.
Nearly home
18 April
17 April
One of two weekly getting-out-of-the-cage-to-go-grocery-shopping days. Took Mr Canon and his Nifty Fifty with me. Finally managed to procure two masks. I wish they would make them mandatory on public transport and in supermarkets (as long as it is emphasized that they should be used along with the current distancing and other rules so as not to give a false sense of security). If nothing else, it serves as a constant reminder to keep the required distance and to not touch your face.
Taking random photos is probably not considered an essential reason to go out, but nobody stopped me for lingering.
Another reminder that Germany has been through a lot worse
I miss eating chez those guys. Take-away is somehow not the same.
16 April
No animal was harmed in the making of this photo. It was dead when I found it. I swear.
15 April
This afternoon, most of the current restrictions were extended till 3 May. That is probably wise. Shops up to 800 sq m may reopen. E-mails are already coming in from art galleries that they are reopening. Keep calm and carry on. Masks on public transport strongly advised but not mandatory. Hairdressers may reopen, but I think I will wait a while, having just bought an arsenal of hairbands to keep my hair relatively in place.
14 April
It is guess-a-macro time again. Solutions will follow at the end of the day.
This has been tried before but now with a better lense.
It was grocery shopping day (EXCITING!) and my favourite flower shop was open when I passed by, so I could not resist treating myself to something pretty to look at at home.
Solutions to the macro photos:
13 April
It is certainly true that cloudy skies make for more interesting photos
Distance is key
If I survive this, I might start a new political party. Platform: Balconies for everybody, asap and definitely before the next pandemic. No flats without a balcony – really ought to be written into the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Fish curry
12 April (Easter Sunday, but it’s all a blur)
It is guess-a-macro time again:
Solutions:
Right above my balcony since Thursday evening. Please do not let go.
Rootwork
After a cloudless day with up to 23 C, the weather started to turn.
11 April
Experimenting with my two new arrivals: Canon 50 mm (the “nifty fifty”), and Canon 35 mm macro. And Lightroom.
10 April
Leftover risotto mixed with egg and fried = brunch
Apparently, pot soil is the new toilet paper. That one I can understand. Obviously, many people now have the time to discover the joy of growing things even on small balconies, which is great. But toilet paper?? Not to brag, but I was using that long before it trended.
Good morning. I still hate you, even though just for a change you are on the neighbours’ balcony and not mine. You are still just a rat with wings, as far as I am concerned, and I would not be surprised if it turns out that you are contributing to the spread of the Corona virus.
1 April
Today’s entertainment: Someone passed by in the street, and a new crane on the block.
It is also guess-a-macro-photo day. As anyone who sees this (if anyone at all) will see, I can’t really get the hang of macro photography, no matter how many tutorials I watch, so if there is an expert out there who would give me a private lesson, post-Corona, I would be very grateful.
And finally, had to go out, and even use public transport for the first time in about three weeks. I could barely contain my excitement, so I took my camera with me.
Domestic violence? It is apparently rampant these days
Caught in the act of social un-distancing
A reminder that Germany has been through a lot worse
31 March
30 March
29 March
26 March
23 March
22 March
21 March
When Corona lockdown started here in Berlin, Germany where I live (having retired and moved from Copenhagen to Berlin in January 2016) I suddenly had the time I have been hoping for to devote more time to photography. I ordered the Canon EOS 90D which I had been considering for some time, and started to take photos from my flat on the sixth floor in the area of Kreuzberg which borders on Mitte. Along the way, since there was nothing else to spend money on, I bought some more lenses. The results can be seen above.
