German Sunday | Hermann Hesse

hermann hesse was a german-speaking writer and painter. he was born in 1877 in the black forrest (so kind of near-ish to where i am from) and died in 1962. he is quite famous in the german speaking world. i have never read any of his books but have visited a museum of a place where he had lived for a while and personally found him to be quite strange. 

however, my mother, who knows my love for poetry, gave me a book with poems from different authors to my birthday and i wanted to share a poem with you which is written by hermann hesse. 

it is a poem about travelling entitled 'reiselied', which translates to 'travel song'. i thought this to be quite appropriate as i travelled to london this last week which was magical and will embark on some travels to germany tomorrow. 

thank you england

4 years ago today i moved from germany to the uk. (crazy how time goes, isn't it?!)

it has not all been easy but overall it has been an amazing time. i have grown a lot, i learned more about how amazing the living god is, i found a church which i now call home, i got more excited about church planting, i got a bachelors degree and i fell in love with a very handsome, intelligent and funny guy. (to only name a few significant events.)

even though i miss germany and especially my family the uk has become my home and i love this country and its people. 

feels appropriate that on this 'anniversary' i am in london, seeing some of the amazing places and sights of the capital of england.

royal albert hall - i really want to see a concert there now. such an impressive building.
 

view from the tate modern. loved the art but the view was stunning also! was lucky as some random pensioner took me as their plus one into one of the exhibitions that you have to pay for. if you get a chance definitely visit 'the world goes pop' exhibition at the tate modern. so interesting.

on my way to my exam yesterday morning. felt like a londoner in the midst of the rush hour traffic but still managed to be a tourist and take pictures.

after my exam i went to the bank of engalnd museum (i know how to celebrate, right?) and then enjoyed the stunning weather by walking from there along the themse to westminster, than through st james park, past buckingham palace and to victoria station. felt incredibly blessed by being able to see so much of london, being able to linger when i wanted to and to enjoy the sunshine.
london, i'll definitely be back. but for now i am looking forward to going back to my beloved north-west tomorrow!

It's my birthday

i am 25 today! happy birthday to me! 

i love birthdays and to celebrate the fact that i am alive. what a privilege and blessing to be in this world with all it's terrible and beautiful parts. i am so grateful to God for all that he has given me especially the people he put in my life: my boyfriend, my parents, my brother, my church family, my friends. there have been many tough and many happy moments in the last 25 years but through none of it all i had to go alone. so thanks to all the amazing people who were there. 

anyway i stop being soppy now.

as 25 years seems like a milestone and i really like that number i thought it is the perfect time for a bucket list! so here we go...

things i wish for and things i would like to do before i am 30 (in no particular order)

1) start every day by talking to jesus.
2) run a half marathon.
3) see noah and the whale live.
4) visit india.
5) get married.
6) open an etsy shop.
7) read brave new world.
8) get a cat.

9) buy a house.
10) figure out how to live a sustainable life.
11) have a baby.
12) visit japan.
13) read lord of the rings.
14) get back into horse riding.
15) buy a meal for a homeless person.
16) help plant a church. 

17) learn a new language (spanish or french)
18) visit iceland.
19) see the tallest man on earth live.
20) get good at playing guitar.
21) join a choir.
22) plant a tree.
23) grow my own vegetables.
24) kiss at the top of the empire state building.
25) sleep under the stars.

hope you all have an amazing day today whether it is your birthday or not. 

nostalgia

even though this is pretty:

right now, i would just like to go back to summer in italy...

summer recap #1

roadtrip to scotland...

Edinburgh

lots of rain and wet feet

waving to the queen

backpipes

good food and drink

Glasgow

scottish national football stadium

nature walks

...and castles!

Back from Paris

Sorry for my lack of posting! 

I've just returned from Paris where I had a marvellous time. 

Even though I visited the city before, I was once again enchanted by its beauty and the Parisian lifestyle - good, strong coffee, fashion, art, music, excellent food... what could one want more?