Happy New Year!

2010 has not been the easiest year - especially with three bereavements in the last nine months, the most recent one just this week.

However there were also lots of memorable times: seeing my family and friends in Brisbane; visiting my NYC 'family'; hearing the news of sister C expecting her first baby girl and sister K meeting her soul mate and getting engaged; celebrating my 7th wedding anniversary and starting a shiny new job; re-connecting with high school friends; music-related group trips to the hot (Barcelona) and cold (Berlin); and getting healthy by swimming at twice a week (even through winter) and having my first cigarette-free year since 1999.

Thanks to everyone who reads my random posts and has contributed throughout the year: I love reading your comments. And here's to 2011!

Red and white

Taking shelter at the Union Chapel in Islington

on the first day of the snow blizzard.

Fashion @ GSK Contemporary

I visited the GSK Contemporary exhibition on a lunchtime jaunt to Mayfair with Miss A. It was a well-edited show with works from fashion legends including from McQueen, Margiela and Yamamoto.

The gown pictured on the stairwell is by Grayson Perry, and the embroidery detail was exceptional. The transparent gown is made from material which slowly degrades in water and looked like something for a selkie. Unfortunately I couldn't take any more pictures - even without a flash - due to a staff request.

Covent Garden

Giant reindeer sculpture from greenery:

a festive version of Jeff Koons' Puppy.

Borough Market

Nothing like a Saturday afternoon at Borough Market; sampling bread and truffle oil, cured salmon, and about 30 different cheeses. Dinner sorted!

Volkspark Friedrichshain

This park was just one block behind our apartment. Being winter, the fountain was closed and many of the ornaments around it were covered in wooden boxes. All of the visible sculptures were either of animals or small children - and on a weekday morning, it had a feeling of quiet gothic.

Parklife

Friedrich-Ludwig Jahn Sportpark

Angular

By the Spree River

Grey cells green

Brunch @ Anna Blume

This time last weekend, we were having brunch at Anna Blume in P-Berg. It's a very cute florist/cafe that is heaving with local families and couples. We each ordered a breakfast platter which contained 2 choices of sliced meats, 3 cheeses and a selection of finely prepared fresh fruit. Mine also came with a delicious wasabi jam that was a perfect complement to the soft cheeses. In our bread basket, there was enough bread for twice the size of our group - my favourite was the pumpkin seed roll.

After a couple of hours strolling and checking out second hand shops, we were ready for a 'hot' hot chocolate (fortified with a shot of whiskey) and a small sliver of belle helene tart.

In memorium

This memorial - for the murdered Jews of Europe - was designed by Peter Eisenmann and after considerable controversy, opened a few years ago. It's a very sombre experience walking through the 'field of stone' and it was very disconcerting to see people running through the avenues; laughing, shouting, and playing pranks on each other.

Tiergarten

Desolate

When walking around Berlin, almost every block has some type of development project in progress - it feels like the city is in a constant state of flux.

A reminder

The plaques that mark where the Berlin Wall once stood are a frequent site when walking around P-Burg and Kreuzberg.

Gothic

I loved these trees that wouldn't be out of place in a Tim Burton or Guillermo del Toro fantasy.

Family day out

It was barely zero degrees outside yet this family were having a blast. Dad was teaching daughter how to create the large bubbles that blew right across Potzdamer Platz while earning a few euro in the process. Cracking.

The Wall @ Potzdamer Platz

I found the layers of faded chewing gum oddly compelling.