Please do keep following me though, I know I've not blogged in a long time: www.WillinSheffield.blogspot.com
It's a clever title as I'm sure you can see.
Monday, 23 November 2009
Will in Sheffield
I'm now back in sunny Sheffield and I'm really having a great time. The film side of things is really falling into place it's just a shame I can't say the same about the job search. Oh well.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Twitter and micro-blogging
I have added a 'Twitter' box to the right hand side of the blog. Twitter is a micro-blogging site, which is like blogging but a lot shorter. Think Facebook status and you basically have it. The other different to normal blogging is that people will update their Twitter much more frequently usually with what they are doing at that particular moment.
I signed up to the site a long time ago (as you'll see) and used it for a few days before getting bored of it. But a few days ago I saw that I could add it to the blog and figured it'd be a good addition, especially as I can update my Twitter from anywhere with my iPhone.
Also, I am intent on updating my blog fully today. But as I can neither be bothered to write about and can't remember everything that has happened in the last 2-3 months there will be some summarising.
I signed up to the site a long time ago (as you'll see) and used it for a few days before getting bored of it. But a few days ago I saw that I could add it to the blog and figured it'd be a good addition, especially as I can update my Twitter from anywhere with my iPhone.
Also, I am intent on updating my blog fully today. But as I can neither be bothered to write about and can't remember everything that has happened in the last 2-3 months there will be some summarising.
Saturday, 17 January 2009
Departures, Arrivals and Doctor Who
On the Saturday my parents headed off home. My sister was staying to the following day so we decided to spend the day watching Red Dwarf a quite clearly excellent use of time. Later on in the day my first couch surfer for Berlin Winter Camp arrived (more on that later).
In the evening my friend Michael joined us and the four of us watched the Christmas Special of Doctor Who as both my sister and I are fans of the show and my sister introduced Michael to it a while back.
The next day my Sister went home and I headed to Potsdamer Platz to register at Winter Camp.
In the evening my friend Michael joined us and the four of us watched the Christmas Special of Doctor Who as both my sister and I are fans of the show and my sister introduced Michael to it a while back.
The next day my Sister went home and I headed to Potsdamer Platz to register at Winter Camp.
Christmas in Berlin: Christmas Day
Christmas Day was spent lounging around, eating chocolate and generally not doing a whole lot, my kind of day.
We also watched two films, the first of which was 'In Bruges' a dark comedy:
I enjoyed the film, although the constant interruptions of "oh, we've been there" etc from my parents who recently went to Bruges became rather tedious.
The next film we watched (one of my Mum's presents) was Mamma Mia, which I can wholeheartedly was awful, a true chick flick. Not even the comedic value of seeing Pierce Brosnan sing makes it worth watching (unless you're a woman of course then I'm sure you'd love it):
We also watched two films, the first of which was 'In Bruges' a dark comedy:
I enjoyed the film, although the constant interruptions of "oh, we've been there" etc from my parents who recently went to Bruges became rather tedious.The next film we watched (one of my Mum's presents) was Mamma Mia, which I can wholeheartedly was awful, a true chick flick. Not even the comedic value of seeing Pierce Brosnan sing makes it worth watching (unless you're a woman of course then I'm sure you'd love it):
Christmas in Berlin: Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve we got up early to go to Ikea in the morning to buy some furniture for my apartment which would be my Christmas presents. After getting the things I wanted, most important of which was a duvet we grabbed a quick lunch in the cafeteria. For anyone who has eaten at Ikea before you'll know how nice the meatballs are, for anyone who has not been I'd recommend going just for that.
After hauling everything back to the apartment we relaxed for a couple of hours. In Germany the tradition is to have a large meal and open your presents on the evening of the 24th, then get drunk and head to a midnight mass. Christmas Day is then spent recovering and doing very little. Well, we did half of that. So around 7ish we opened our presents. I'd had the idea of buying my family gifts related to Berlin, so I bought my Mum a photography book of Berlin and my Dad a couple of history books about the Berlin Wall. I had planned to buy my sister a couple of the films we'd seen at Berlinale but unfortunately none of them are available on DVD, and I have still yet to buy her a present. This I felt especially bad about as the present she'd bought for me was perfect. It's Banky's 'Wall and Piece' a collection of photographs of his work and stories and writings by him:
I was genuinely surprised and happy when I opened it. I'm usually very particular about what I'd like for Christmas so although I appreciate what I get, it's generally not all that much of a surprise, so this made a nice change to that and the book is not sat in pride of place on one of my shelves.
After hauling everything back to the apartment we relaxed for a couple of hours. In Germany the tradition is to have a large meal and open your presents on the evening of the 24th, then get drunk and head to a midnight mass. Christmas Day is then spent recovering and doing very little. Well, we did half of that. So around 7ish we opened our presents. I'd had the idea of buying my family gifts related to Berlin, so I bought my Mum a photography book of Berlin and my Dad a couple of history books about the Berlin Wall. I had planned to buy my sister a couple of the films we'd seen at Berlinale but unfortunately none of them are available on DVD, and I have still yet to buy her a present. This I felt especially bad about as the present she'd bought for me was perfect. It's Banky's 'Wall and Piece' a collection of photographs of his work and stories and writings by him:
I was genuinely surprised and happy when I opened it. I'm usually very particular about what I'd like for Christmas so although I appreciate what I get, it's generally not all that much of a surprise, so this made a nice change to that and the book is not sat in pride of place on one of my shelves.
Christmas in Berlin: Tuesday - The Berlin I Remember
On Tuesday I'd arranged to meet my parents early at Brandenburger Tor for a day of sightseeing. The first place we headed was the Reichstag. Because we arrived there early we beat the queues and were inside within 10minutes. We took a lift up to the roof and then walked up inside the dome getting a full 360 view of the city. The view of the city was amazing and the dome itself, stunning:
Also on the roof, next to the dome was a rather nice, although inevitably expensive cafe where we had a morning cup of tea. It was nice to just sit and chat with my parents, even if a large amount of it was about me getting a job. I also realised that I had the same feeling of awe about the city which I had felt back in February when my sister brought me here for Berlinale. That's not to say I don't find living here a blast, because I do, but I just haven't experienced the same feeling of being blown away by it all.
After the Reichstag the next stop was the Jewish memorial. This is a collection of various sized slabs on stone, which essentially gives it the feel of a graveyard. Below the memorial is a museum about the Holocaust. In one of the rooms it gives the estimated numbers of Jews killed from various countries, some of which are just astonishing.
Next, after walking past the British Embassy (I really need to go there with my passport at some point so I can see the inside) we headed to Checkpoint Charlie and from there towards Potsdamer Platz. On the way to Potsdamer Platz we stumbled across the 'Topography des Terrors' (Topography of Terror). There was a small section of wall but teh main part of the outdoor 'exhibit' was the information about the old SS headquarters that previously stood in the square but had been demolished and nothing had even been built over it.
Also on the roof, next to the dome was a rather nice, although inevitably expensive cafe where we had a morning cup of tea. It was nice to just sit and chat with my parents, even if a large amount of it was about me getting a job. I also realised that I had the same feeling of awe about the city which I had felt back in February when my sister brought me here for Berlinale. That's not to say I don't find living here a blast, because I do, but I just haven't experienced the same feeling of being blown away by it all.
After the Reichstag the next stop was the Jewish memorial. This is a collection of various sized slabs on stone, which essentially gives it the feel of a graveyard. Below the memorial is a museum about the Holocaust. In one of the rooms it gives the estimated numbers of Jews killed from various countries, some of which are just astonishing.
Next, after walking past the British Embassy (I really need to go there with my passport at some point so I can see the inside) we headed to Checkpoint Charlie and from there towards Potsdamer Platz. On the way to Potsdamer Platz we stumbled across the 'Topography des Terrors' (Topography of Terror). There was a small section of wall but teh main part of the outdoor 'exhibit' was the information about the old SS headquarters that previously stood in the square but had been demolished and nothing had even been built over it.
Wednesday, 31 December 2008
Christmas in Berlin: Monday
On Monday we went to Carlottenburg to visit the castle. It's a very large and grand building but unfortunately it's closed on Mondays (how very French of them) so we had a quick look round the grounds then went to Gendarmmenmarkt to look at the Christmas Market. We had to pay to get in but it was worth it as it was definitely one of the better ones I've seen.
The highlight for me was the live music, a Ukranian group called the 'Trio Scho'. According to their Myspace page (yes, they have a Myspace, it seems everyone does) they play 'Old Russian Swing'. Whatever it's classified as I like it, it's different to the rest of my music, which is usually a good thing.
After looking round the Christmas Market we went back to my apartment to watch the film 'Cabaret' on my projector:
I very much enjoyed this film and it was cool watching it in Berlin with my family.
The highlight for me was the live music, a Ukranian group called the 'Trio Scho'. According to their Myspace page (yes, they have a Myspace, it seems everyone does) they play 'Old Russian Swing'. Whatever it's classified as I like it, it's different to the rest of my music, which is usually a good thing.
After looking round the Christmas Market we went back to my apartment to watch the film 'Cabaret' on my projector:
It is the city of Berlin in 1930, a time when political unrest racks the country, the economy has been destroyed, and millions of unemployed roam the streets. Enter into this chaos an American cabaret dancer, working at the downtown "Kit-Kat club" where anything goes on the stage. Into this young dancer's life come several characters such as a rich German politician, a young Jewish man struggling with his identity, an Englishman teacher from London, and of course the all-knowing, all-seeing Master of Ceremonies.
I very much enjoyed this film and it was cool watching it in Berlin with my family.
Saturday, 27 December 2008
Christmas in Berlin: Friedrichshain
On Sunday I wanted to show my parents my apartment and Friedrichsain the area where I live. After showing them my apartment, it was around 11am and thus in true English tradition, time for a cup of tea. Mercifully my parents had brought over a huge box of Twinings English Breakfast tea for me:
After this I took my parents to a local flea market to look round. The flea market in Boxhandler Platz in Friedrichshain is a lot cooler than the one in Mauerpark. There is a nice mix of cheap furniture, random tat and kitch furniture and lighting.
After the flea market my family went back to their rented apartment and I returned to mine. I arranged to meet some people from CS at a local bar. About 8 or so people turned up, including the Australian girl I had spoken to on the Friday. We stayed for a few drinks and some table football before most of the people left for a club. Myself and two others decided to move onto another bar instead and ended up playing darts in a rock bar.
After this I took my parents to a local flea market to look round. The flea market in Boxhandler Platz in Friedrichshain is a lot cooler than the one in Mauerpark. There is a nice mix of cheap furniture, random tat and kitch furniture and lighting.
After the flea market my family went back to their rented apartment and I returned to mine. I arranged to meet some people from CS at a local bar. About 8 or so people turned up, including the Australian girl I had spoken to on the Friday. We stayed for a few drinks and some table football before most of the people left for a club. Myself and two others decided to move onto another bar instead and ended up playing darts in a rock bar.
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