After a month of silence, I’ve finally found a few moments of calm in which to reflect and write a brief update on life so far. As I previously wrote, since my university days I’ve been wanting to return to Berlin and attempt to set up the next chapter of my life here. Actually the desire to live in Berlin stems further back than that according to my Aunt who reminded me of a summer holiday we took when I was twelve or so, where I claimed upon visiting Berlin ‘that I would live here some day’. I guess if you want something badly enough you end up putting yourself on the right path. That is exactly where I am now, on the right path.

The past three months have somewhat of a whirlwind affair and more has happened than I could ever have hoped for. Upon handing in my notice the clock was ticking and I set about looking for work and a flat. Fatefully and indeed thankfully I stumbled on a couple of opportunities and without boring you with the details sealed a respectable job offer which continues my career in an exciting way (more to my job in a future post). So here it was, a new job a ticking clock on which to leave the old and start the new, the only worry now was that of homelessness.

Without further-ado another trip to Berlin was booked; within that week I must have seen some twenty places or more! Some places were rented privately others through agents, the difference being that the agents somehow get their hands on a two month commission from the tenant for the pleasure of showing you around and signing some paperwork. I would be bitter about paying this but given the timeframe and near perfect flat that was eventually found, I’m not complaining. So that was that pretty much everything sorted, just logistics to sort out and then I’d be living the dream.

Three weeks of packing, epic touring around to see as many friends as possible, life was hectic. Of course during this whole three month period you realize, or people tell you about all the things you are leaving behind (In another post I will try and get a 101 things I hate about London), but those people who tell you that are right, you certainly leave lots behind and as I have little intention to return anytime soon it feels all so much more permanent. – I have been dwelling on this last sentence for a while now as I listen to the haunting sounds of Peter Broderick ‘Home’. Though I am reminded of others saying life is an adventure and not a rehearsal and deep down I know that nothing really changes in London. So to my friends, get over to Berlin and visit!

Last Saturday I set off in a rental van with guest writer Schimmo for what turn out to be a pleasurable 12 hours drive across Europe finally arriving in Berlin around 22:30, which was exactly 30 minutes before we popped across my road for a well earned and much deserved beer. ‘A big shout out now to Schimmo for not only moving all my stuff to berdogg but also for driving back to the UK on Monday, racking up some 2k miles in the brand new van‘.

So now it is Thursday (at the time of writing) and I’ve managed to unpack everything but clothes. The flat I realize is massive, so I have plenty of room to grow into the space. The chair that I built looks like it was purpose made for the living room. All in all, things are coming together perfectly, if things continue this way then life’s adventure should be exceedingly joyful.

Now for some pictures of the flat in which I now live.