Feeling "home"

When I came home yesterday a huge parcel was waiting outside my door. First I wasn't even sure what I've ordered.... I ordered quite some Christmas presents these last days but thought that I've got all of them. Well, once I looked at the box a bit closer I obviousely remembered what it was. My Britshop-order. It is very hard to come upon British food in Switzerland. The English Book Shop (Orell Füssli) sells some things, but not much. And, as I discovered this week, Coop too, though only a very limited range (Marmite - yuk! - some crackers, tea, apple sauce, mint sauce, custard and some marmelade and cutneys)

Last week I decided to try out the Brit-Shop. Delivery charges are quite high, but well... If you order only once in a while it is ok. And they were very quick, I ordered on Sunday, payed by credit card and got it all on Wednesday. So I can higly recommend it!

So there is only one British thing I really miss... Pret à Manger... Well, and Boots... And Monsoon.... And Sainsburys chocolat chip chookies....

Christmas crackers (the fill-your-own ones) * Christmas cards (wasn't able to resist...) * Kettle Chips Mature Cheddar and Red Pepper * Walkers Salt & Vinegar * Coleman mustard powder

Soon soon...

I just found this lovely video about Brighton and thought I'd share it here.

What an inspiring couple!

This might be an unusual post, though I really like to do one about Winston and Clementine Churchill. When I was small, my grandad told me storys of historic events and for him, Churchill was the hero who saved Europe. So ever since I'm a small child I'm interessted in WWII and also in Churchill. Well, maybe also because I'm born on 30. of November.
About two years ago I watched The gathering storm because of Vanessa Redgrave who plays Clemmie and so I realized what a strong bond it must have been between Mr and Mrs Churchill. I also have the book "Speaking for themselve" with some of the letters they wrote to each other and it is such a joy to read them. One of them also found it's way into "Love letters of great men" we all know from Sex and the city.

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There is a lovely story behind this picture. She welcomed him back from a conference in Moscow. When they kissed, the journalists tactfully turned away.

P.S: As always when I post pictures of which I don't own the rights, you can find the source when you follow the small "via" link underneath the picture.

One year!

Exactly one year ago was my first school day in Brighton! Unbelievable that it is already such a long time and that I'm back since June now. Still miss my time in the UK very much and I still love and miss Brighton, which has become my second home. Every day I spend some happy moments thinking of this wonderful town and of the UK in general. Every day I walk along the seafront in my thoughts, sit in Preston Park or just go for a bus ride through town. Every now andthen when I need a little bit of distraction I google for some nice pics or just read a random Brighton-related article on wikipedia.

This is not a picture post - though one will follow for sure in the next days or week - but a music-post. There are some songs that are just so related to this town for me and whenever I heard them I'm back.

When I was in Brighton for the first time back in 2009 I had recently rediscovered Johnny Cash and was listening to this song for two weeks almost without a break.

Shortly before I left for Brighton I googled something and ended up with Russ Conway and instantly liked his way of playing the piano. This song is only one of many I've listened to.

And finally this one. My host parents both really like Kings of Leon and once my hostmum was listening to this song and I went upstairs to my room and bought the song five minutes after I've heard it the first time. I'd say this is my Brighton-2011-song!

England day 5

My last day in the UK started with packing. And with realizing that I need a second bag.... My suitcase had somehow shrinked... But yes, I was not able to resist shopping and so I also went to Liberty - where I only bought some ribbons - and to a stationer. The rest of the day was time for walking arround and then I saw the old Routmaster busses and had to board one.... Love them!

The last thing I did before I went to the hotel to fetch my lagguage was buying a can of custard powder... It is very hard to get it in Switzerland. I made my way to the airport quite in time but as I was a bit nervouse, I wanted to calm my down with some crosswords and forgot the time... I had to run but thanks to the helpful lady from security check I was there in time. The way back was a bit shacky and I paniced for a moment. The man sitting next to me just looked at me and when I told him that I'll be fine in a minute but that I do not like it when it is shaky, his answer was: "Have a stiff drink and sleep for the rest of the journey!" That's one reason why I love the British!

I really enjoyed my time in the UK and I already missed it when the plane landed in Zurich. But knowing that my best friend is at the airport waiting for me was even better than beeing in the UK!

 A Christmas Express lift...

 What does a zebra do at Liberty???

 One of the Routemasters still in service

How did that happend???

England Day 4

After I said goodbye to Brighton and the sea, I travelled up to London. First point on my schedule was a stop at Fortnum&Mason to buy some tea and then I headed towards Covent Garden. I was not really in the mood of some serious sightseeing and just wandered arround in town and when I got tired, I took a bus down fleet street and after a stop at a Starbucks, another bus back to Victoria Station, where I stayed in the Easy Hotel.

In the evening I went to the theatre to see "Driving Miss Daisy" Absolutely worth seeing, Vanessa Redgrave on stage is even more impressive then in movies! What a great actress she is!

After the theatre I walked all the way down from Leicester square to Trafalgar square and then along Whitehall to Westminster Abbey where I boarded a bus back to Victoria Station.

 I passed this building near Covent Garden quite some times but this was the first time I looked up and saw this lovely lion and unicorn

 Covent Garden christmas decoration

 London Eye in the dark

Love the view on the House of Parliament and Big Ben from the bridge

England day 3

I spent Sunday in Lewes. Lewes is.... Well... Half an hour bus journay from Brighton another world is waiting. Very medival, very idyllic, very British. I love all the small shops and the cafes and the lovely buildings.
I started the day with a walk along the Ouse and ended up with muddy  boots....  Then I walked arround in town, had lunch somewhere and did some shopping before taking the bus back to Brighton.

In the evening I met Cristina again. She texted me that she'll meet some friends from work and if I'd like to join. My first thought was, well, what should I do there where I know only her... But I decided to give it a try and it was such a lovely evening! We went to the Fortume of War pub at the seafront for a drink and after a while, a group of five of us made our way to Burger King as we were hungry.
Round ten, Cristina and me left and I decided to walk to the Pavillion with her. In the end we kept on walking all the way to St. Marys Church near Preston Park where she's living. It was very hard to say goodbye....

 Lewes

 and Lewes again

Some English countryside

and the pier again

England Day 2

On Saturdayafternoon, after all my shopping in the morning, it was time to go back to my beloved Preston Park. I first took a bus to ASDA-Store in Holingbury and then back to Stanford Avenue.I love going up and down Beaconfiled Villas by bus! I walked all the way through the park from the rose garden to the manor. The walled garden was closed - sad, sad! - but I was on the graveyards and took pictures of nice texts on gravestones. Then I walked up Preston Drove to Fiveways and took a bus back into town.

In the evening I joined a ghost walk tour. Well, what should I say? It was not bad, but nothing I would do a second time. Well, maybe it was my fault, as I have a book with Brighton ghost stories and knew a lot of them, so it was not all that interessting.

On my way back to the hotel I passed the ferries wheel and decided to try it out. It goes round four times and the first one was a nightmare. It stopped at the hightest point to let people out and it was sooo shacky up there. I do not really have a problem with hights as long I'm on stable ground. The last round however was just marvellous.

 There are roses still blooming in Preston Park end of November!

 and the elms are green as well

 More Christmas decoration in the Lanes

The pier from above

England Day 1

It is already a month ago since I've been to the UK and I always wanted to tell you about it and show yoyu some of the pictures, but Dezember was just too busy to look trough all the pictures and get them into a post. So I'll do it now.

I left on Friday and was very nervouse about my first flight alone but I decided to stay calm and play the "I love flying and everything is fine" game. It worked and I felt quite ok. During the flight I wrote a letter to my best friend, but also spent time looking outside. And when England came in sight.... I spent the rest of the flight with my nose glued to the window and almost cried. All the fields and villages and trees and then London from above are just soooo stunning!
We started with one hour delay due to "minor problems" and when we landed, we had to wait for almost ten minutes for them to let us out of the plane.... Nice announcement from the pilot, so very British: "I appologise on behalf of British Airways, but I know that this does not solve the problem."

When they finally let us leave the plane and I was through boarder controll and stuff I made my way over to Victoria Station and from there, down to Brighton. Leaving a train in Brighton is always just.... Well... It feels so good! After I droped my suitcase at the hotel I decided to go down  to the seafront first thing and walked from New Steine, where the hotel is, to Regency Square and then to Churchill Square shopping center to buy a scarf. Yes, I made the mistake of leaving the hotel without a scarf.... Silly me! I should know better! After some strolling arround in town and some shopping I got tired and it was almost dark anyway, so I took a 5B bus and drove all the way to Hangleton and back.

In the evening I met Cristina, one of my friends from school. She simply decieded to stay in Brighton and works in a hotel now. She texted me that there will be a surprise. It turned out that she called our teacher and asked him to come as well. So we had a lovely evening with a lot of laughter at "The mash tun" but left quite early. As I was not really tired I walked all the way along the seafront to The Duck's mouth, then up to Eastern road and back to New Steine.

A lovely welcome in my hotel room

An old friend, a seagull ;-)

I have douzends of pictures showing the sea at various points of the day, with rain or sun or whatever

Christmas decoration in the Lanes

Only ten days to go!

 

Today in ten days.... I'll be back in Brighton for three days and then go up to London for two more days! Sooo excited, can't wait!