Christmas is coming. I love it. I’m in a great time of my life. Everything is coming together. Except money. I still have none of that. But alas. Got a new jacket. Another one. I buy lots of jackets. Starting to be a bit of a shopaholic. St Nicholas’s Day Tomorrow. The Dutch celebrate Christmas tonight. So shall we. For Hans. I’m looking forward to it. Got my presents. Christina wrapped them. I wrote the poems. Apparently that’s a tradition. Quite like that. I’ve always liked writing poems. Jumper for Hans. Dortmund mug for Tony. My two flatmates. Our last two weeks. It’s sad. Strange how three people from three countries can be thrust together so randomly. All stumbling across accommodation. In the middle of nowhere. And get on so well. It’s been my favourite living arrangement I’ve ever had. Maybe. Certainly the easiest. Think back to that bedsit. In the first week. My little all-in-one. That was a strange time. A lonely time. I was trapped in my own head then. Not anymore. Or certainly less. I’ve adapted. I live in Mannheim now. Ich komme aus Chippenham. Ich wohne in Mannheim. Starting to reflect on Germany too. In the days leading to my British return. Too much mayo in the sandwiches, no ice in the cokes. No small-talk. Too much admin. And in Mannheim you have to buy everything with cash. Got some out. Gonna grab a coffee before the seminar. Help get me through. Get to see my lovely lecturer who I really fancy. Didn’t really get to see her last week. Just watched Avatar. So time to turn on the charm. That’s one plus of living abroad. People being nicer to you. English accent and a cheeky smile goes a long way. What that says about me or the world, I’m not sure. Keep on smiling though.
Last night, I had a proud moment. I went to brush my teeth. Found the bathroom flooded. Sink blocked. I looked up the best way to unclog a sink on Google and went for it. At midnight no less. I assembled a make-shift tool kit for the operation: Saucepan- for mixing of salt and boiling water. Coat hanger, toothbrush (non-brush end) and washing up brush- all for general poking and unclogging. Tea towels- for mopping the floor. I got rid of the standing water and using boiling water and salt solution and a variety of unclogging devices, went to work. Watching the last water fall down the plughole was like watching an orgasm. Or having one. I did it. Myself. DIY. Me. I’m gonna tell my parents. They’ll laugh. But actually be impressed I’d imagine. Especially with the style of the operation. We are a family of unconventional fixers. Cries of “don’t forget to check the wok!” when finishing a shower were common. The wok was under the bath as a sort of leak management system. Very practical. Funny. Makes me smile.
Wednesday night. Cinema. Like Orange Wednesdays. With Christina. We really get along. Better and better. I honestly feel like I’ve known her ages. Yet it’s barely been a week. Bohemian Rhapsody. Freddie Mercury. When I was working in a cafe an old Lady came up to me. Told me I looked like Freddie Mercury. Cupped my face. At the time I thought it was a compliment. Now I’m not so sure. Big teeth. Rami Malek was spectacular. I think about the time I ran the wrong way home. From Ullmenweg. Should have taken me fifteen minutes. Instead I ran half an hour the wrong direction. Had to get a taxi. That was the bedlam that was the first month here. Now I’m settled. German house. German friends. German girlfriend? Why not? Long day. Good day. Another one. The best days are always the ones that flow. As if shot frame by frame and then cut perfectly. Like a montage. No breaks. Nothing unwelcome. Set to music. Bohemian Rhapsody? Maybe too dramatic. I studied and then watched a film. That’s it. Though I did search half of Mannheim trying to find a plastic fork. Maybe that’s when the Galileos could kick in.
George F Brown 