Xmas was awesome! My brother and his family were here, and we ate, drank and were merry for 5 days, which was great! Xmas dinner was quite successful, despite the shopping FAIL when I tried to buy artichokes and a few other problems. I am not sure what my highlights were, but the chocolate trifle was great. As was the lobster. And the garlic soup. Hmmmm, difficult to say, basically... Rather surprisingly, the only thing my nieces really liked was the garlic soup! Oh well, I attribute their refusal of tuna carpaccio, goats cheese fondue etc to a lack of experience and simply assume it does not reflect my cooking skills! ;-)
Obviously, in addition to eating, there were presents, and everyone was happy with what they received. Well, maybe I shouldnt speak on behalf of others, but at least I was very happy with mine! For photos, go to Facebook or to Fedor's blog.
On Sunday, they all left and we had some time to clean up the house and relax, which was nice for a change. I went back to work yesterday and today, to try and finish as many things as possible, which has been fairly successful. My paper is finished, the research project that I am quasi-supervising is in its final stages, my Workshop (taking place on 1-2 February) is nearly completely organised (the only thing still missing is funds to pay for it, but I am sure this will work out somehow), and I am ready to go on holiday.
Because tomorrow, we fly to Bangkok!!! For four weeks of Sun and Heat and Temples and Beach and Food and Culture etc etc etc. I am totally looking forward to it, and to fleeing from the Berlin cold. We will fly out of Frankfurt, so we have a 13.00 train to get to Frankfurt, so we even have time to take it slowly tomorrow morning. So for that reason we start our holidays by going to see Avatar in 3D tonight (recommendation by my brother and his wife). I hope it is going to be great!!!
So, the only thing still left for me to do is to wish everyone a great 2010! Think of us while we are lying on a nice comfy warm beach and you are suffering in the freezing cold. :-))))))))
Tschüßi,
OJ
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
It's the most Wonderful Time... of the year...
It's nearly xmas! And it is absolutely FREEZING. Well, it was, anyway. Between Thursday and Monday morning, the temperature didnt come above -10, with windchill making it feel like a good -20 (during the day, that is). As my colleague Kati pointed out "oh, and it's not even winter yet"... oh god, I hadnt realised Berlin was going to be THIS bad! Anyway, since this morning it is a balmy -2 (windchill: -8), so it's nearly time to get our shorts out again...
We have had some snow as well, but not really a lot. not more than a few centimetres basicaylly, which is convenient as I, obviously, still cycle everywhere. I did join in with the rest of civilisation and purchase a hat, despite the obviously negative consequences this has for my hair... But it really is too cold otherwise!
Anyways, more visitors during recent weekends. Last weekend, Stefanie and Cobus were here, and this weekend Rosie and Ness were here (they were actually here for two Rammstein concerts, but stayed at our place: we did not see much of them). Tonite we are meeting with my friend Linlin who lives in China but is in Berlin for a few days, and tomorrow with Jochen, who is over from Groningen for a week or so to visit family. And then on Wednesday, xmas properly starts: My brother and his family will arrive! I am really looking forward to it, and to making lots of nice food etc. It will be lovely, I am sure!
In addition to the visitors etc, there has obviously been some work as well. Last week, I spent 2 days in Geneva for an Expert Workshop on Armed Violence Indicators. It was quite interesting, and a good place to meet many important people. Thanks UNDP, for inviting me! And for paying for the ticket (wtf, what idiot would pay 1000€ to fly Berlin-Geneva and back???). I did learn at least one thing new: the UN has an Office for Outerspace Affairs. How cool is that? Anyway, it was nice to see Geneva (I had never been there) and to meet people, but I was quite sad to arrive in Frankfurt to find that I had missed my connecting flight and to find that I was going to end up having to spend the night in Frankfurt. Oh well, shit happens, but it was all quite stressful and I really would have preferred to get home!
For the rest, my main activities these days are related to the organisation of my Workshop, which is taking place on February 1-2. Rather inconveniently, we will be on our honeymoon the month before the workshop takes place (I will be back at work on January 28th), so everything has to be taken care off right now. And that is quite a hassle! But I am sure it is going to be great: We are having people coming over from the US, UK, France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, India, Egypt, etc... So a nice international group, indeed!
Right, now that is it for now. Merry xmas to everyone and try not to get snowed in!
Tschüßi,
OJ
We have had some snow as well, but not really a lot. not more than a few centimetres basicaylly, which is convenient as I, obviously, still cycle everywhere. I did join in with the rest of civilisation and purchase a hat, despite the obviously negative consequences this has for my hair... But it really is too cold otherwise!
Anyways, more visitors during recent weekends. Last weekend, Stefanie and Cobus were here, and this weekend Rosie and Ness were here (they were actually here for two Rammstein concerts, but stayed at our place: we did not see much of them). Tonite we are meeting with my friend Linlin who lives in China but is in Berlin for a few days, and tomorrow with Jochen, who is over from Groningen for a week or so to visit family. And then on Wednesday, xmas properly starts: My brother and his family will arrive! I am really looking forward to it, and to making lots of nice food etc. It will be lovely, I am sure!
In addition to the visitors etc, there has obviously been some work as well. Last week, I spent 2 days in Geneva for an Expert Workshop on Armed Violence Indicators. It was quite interesting, and a good place to meet many important people. Thanks UNDP, for inviting me! And for paying for the ticket (wtf, what idiot would pay 1000€ to fly Berlin-Geneva and back???). I did learn at least one thing new: the UN has an Office for Outerspace Affairs. How cool is that? Anyway, it was nice to see Geneva (I had never been there) and to meet people, but I was quite sad to arrive in Frankfurt to find that I had missed my connecting flight and to find that I was going to end up having to spend the night in Frankfurt. Oh well, shit happens, but it was all quite stressful and I really would have preferred to get home!
For the rest, my main activities these days are related to the organisation of my Workshop, which is taking place on February 1-2. Rather inconveniently, we will be on our honeymoon the month before the workshop takes place (I will be back at work on January 28th), so everything has to be taken care off right now. And that is quite a hassle! But I am sure it is going to be great: We are having people coming over from the US, UK, France, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Belgium, India, Egypt, etc... So a nice international group, indeed!
Right, now that is it for now. Merry xmas to everyone and try not to get snowed in!
Tschüßi,
OJ
Sunday, December 06, 2009
update from the bed!
Wow, that was quite a while again. We have had so many visitors, and so many other things to do though! Jorryt and Lilian (and their Unborn), Suuz and BarD and Felix and Annaig. It was all great fun and good to see everyone (see pictures at the end of this post). But to be honest, and that is meant in the nicest way possible, I am most excited about the current weekend: our free weekend!!! The first one in a looooooooong while. So now it is Sunday, 1pm, and I am in bed, updating my blog. And loving it!!! And oh, btw, this update is coming to you from an EEE notebook: my new computer, that is!
Fedor's ancient computer finally died, 2 days ago (it had been a long time coming), so we bought a new one. But because we didnt really want to spend much money, we decided to go for one of this mini netbooks (its about half the size of a normal laptop), which is my computer now, and Fedor has my old one. It takes some getting used to, but it really isnt all that bad. And it really is a lot more convenient for taking around with me. So I am quite satisfied. (oh, and it only cost 249 euros, that is also a big bonus).
Anyways, the first time I will have the opportunity to take it with me is next week, when I go to Geneva for 3 days, for a meeting with some people from the UNDP and others (an expert meeting on the role of violence in the accomplisment of the Millenium Development Goals: pretty cool, actually). Oh, while talking about work: Did I mention I had a paper accepted in Journal for Development Studies? And a Revise&Resubmit at Journal of Conflict Resolution? Well, I do! And I am very happy about it. Oh, and 3 Discussion Papers, which can be found on the DIW website, if you are interested.
Just a short summary of other things we have recently done: xmas party from work, which was fun. And booking our honeymoon (oh yeah, I forgot to mention: we will fly to Bangkok on the 30th of December, spend 4 weeks in Thailand-Cambodia-Laos and get back to Berlin on the 26th. And we are soooooooooooooo much looking forward to it. Particularly given the CRAPPY weather in Berlin...)
Tschüß,
OJ
Fedor's ancient computer finally died, 2 days ago (it had been a long time coming), so we bought a new one. But because we didnt really want to spend much money, we decided to go for one of this mini netbooks (its about half the size of a normal laptop), which is my computer now, and Fedor has my old one. It takes some getting used to, but it really isnt all that bad. And it really is a lot more convenient for taking around with me. So I am quite satisfied. (oh, and it only cost 249 euros, that is also a big bonus).
Anyways, the first time I will have the opportunity to take it with me is next week, when I go to Geneva for 3 days, for a meeting with some people from the UNDP and others (an expert meeting on the role of violence in the accomplisment of the Millenium Development Goals: pretty cool, actually). Oh, while talking about work: Did I mention I had a paper accepted in Journal for Development Studies? And a Revise&Resubmit at Journal of Conflict Resolution? Well, I do! And I am very happy about it. Oh, and 3 Discussion Papers, which can be found on the DIW website, if you are interested.
Just a short summary of other things we have recently done: xmas party from work, which was fun. And booking our honeymoon (oh yeah, I forgot to mention: we will fly to Bangkok on the 30th of December, spend 4 weeks in Thailand-Cambodia-Laos and get back to Berlin on the 26th. And we are soooooooooooooo much looking forward to it. Particularly given the CRAPPY weather in Berlin...)
Tschüß,
OJ
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