I have a theory. At least three quarters of British actors have either been in the Harry Potter films, or in Doctor Who. Or in both.
Case in point: On Saturday, I saw Speaking in Tongues in London's West End. There were four actors in the play:
(1) John Simm - played the Master in Doctor Who in 2007. To return for the 2009 Christmas special!
(2) Ian Hart - played Professor Squirrel in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
(3) Lucy Cohu - played Captain Jack Harkness' daughter in Torchwood: Children of Earth (Torchwood is a Doctor Who spin off).
(4) Kerry Fox - making up the 1/4 who have not appeared in either Harry Potter or Doctor Who.
Give me one famous British actor who hasn't been in either of the two! Derek Jacobi - tick. Ralph Fiennes - tick. Alan Rickman - tick. I mean, even R-Pattz started his career in Harry Potter!
02 December 2009
20 November 2009
Bad spelling
I used to be great at English spelling, even if I say so myself. I always put it down to having systematically learnt the language in school, rather than growing up with it.
But. There is a but. Since I moved to the UK, my spelling is going down the drains. Take my last post. I published it and then quickly had to edit it as I had written "as if you're feet are more steady" in the last paragraph. D'oh! It has happened a few times that I wrote an email to somebody (preferably work-related, to add to the embarrassment), clicked on the send button, and then saw that I had mixed up "you're" and "your" or "their" and "they're". Could anything be more embarrassing? (Also, I'm not sure how to spell "embarrassing" anymore).
Clearly I've been living in this country for too long.
But. There is a but. Since I moved to the UK, my spelling is going down the drains. Take my last post. I published it and then quickly had to edit it as I had written "as if you're feet are more steady" in the last paragraph. D'oh! It has happened a few times that I wrote an email to somebody (preferably work-related, to add to the embarrassment), clicked on the send button, and then saw that I had mixed up "you're" and "your" or "their" and "they're". Could anything be more embarrassing? (Also, I'm not sure how to spell "embarrassing" anymore).
Clearly I've been living in this country for too long.
I'm so German
I hated Birkenstock sandals for most of my life. Let's face it, they are plain ugly. My sister and I both shared a dislike of the Hausschuhe Mum made us wear at home. In actual fact, she still makes us wear them when at home. Ökolatschen, yuck! And is there anything that is more stereotypically German? Apart from our alleged love for David Hasselhoff, maybe?
As I student, I bought my first pair of English-style slippers from H&M. Pink, fluffy, and with a little Snoppy printed on them. And ever since, I steered far away from Birkenstocks.
Until... last September. I had planned another little trip to London and suddenly really fancied a pair of Birkenstocks. So I made my way to the Birkenstock shop in trendy Soho and bought a pair of suede clogs (similar to the ones that Julia Roberts is wearing in the final scene of Notting Hill). I put them on straightaway. You walk differently in them. As if your feet are more steady. And what can I say - I suddenly felt like being at my parents' house in Germany!
As I student, I bought my first pair of English-style slippers from H&M. Pink, fluffy, and with a little Snoppy printed on them. And ever since, I steered far away from Birkenstocks.
Until... last September. I had planned another little trip to London and suddenly really fancied a pair of Birkenstocks. So I made my way to the Birkenstock shop in trendy Soho and bought a pair of suede clogs (similar to the ones that Julia Roberts is wearing in the final scene of Notting Hill). I put them on straightaway. You walk differently in them. As if your feet are more steady. And what can I say - I suddenly felt like being at my parents' house in Germany!
19 November 2009
It's good to laugh
Went out for a comedy night last night, despite it being a work night. And it was so worth it! I had never heard of Adam Hills before, but I haven't heard of many people so no surprise there. Apparently he is really big both here and over in Australia (the man's an Aussie), including hosting his own TV show and what have you.
It was such a good night - such an uplifting performer! He just put a smile on my face, and made me laugh constantly (and cough - still haven't shaken off that flipping cough!). I didn't mind the sore throat though - laughter really is the best medicine against feeling poorly. He even sang a Bon Jovi song. I mean, how can you not love this man?
Here is Adam's blog entry about last night (and yes, the asbestos guy from Great Barr really got the most applause!).
It was such a good night - such an uplifting performer! He just put a smile on my face, and made me laugh constantly (and cough - still haven't shaken off that flipping cough!). I didn't mind the sore throat though - laughter really is the best medicine against feeling poorly. He even sang a Bon Jovi song. I mean, how can you not love this man?
Here is Adam's blog entry about last night (and yes, the asbestos guy from Great Barr really got the most applause!).
Holding up the queue, oh the shame!
Some time ago, I registered with the Embassy in London, during the process of which they changed the "place of residence" entry in my passport from Wuppertal to Birmingham. But IT LOOKS LIKE I DID IT MYSELF! The lady basically took a ruler and a pen, crossed out Wuppertal and wrote Birmingham underneath. To be fair, I'm not sure how else you would change it. And she did stamp it, which makes it look slightly more official.
Anyway. I've been flying quite a bit since and have always been slightly disappointed at the lack of comments on my passport. I mean, I officially live in the UK - how cool is that? But nope, no comments.
Until last Friday, when I flew to Germany after work. The queue at passport control in Dusseldorf Airport was enormous. In fact, it wasn't a queue, it was a crowd of people pushing in front of the desks. Oh, how I sometimes miss the UK when I'm abroad! It took a while until it was my turn. Now: (a) I was dead tired and just wanted to get home. (b) I wasn't just tired, but also had a heavy cold and just wanted to lie down and curl up in a corner somewhere and feel sorry for myself. (c) The queue, errr... sorry crowd behind me hadn't really reduced by the time it was my turn. Despite all this, the official started a conversation about my passport with me. And he didn't really seem to be in any hurry to let me pass. So we spoke about whether I REALLY lived in Birmingham, about the value of the pound sterling to the Euro, ...
Do you know the feeling when you have people queueing behind you and you just feel bloody awful because you're holding up the queue and it feels like everybody is staring at your back? That was me on Friday night!
Well I guess if it hadn't been for my cold, and my tiredness, and the queue behind me, I would have actually really enjoyed this little chat. Kinda puts a human touch to life, doesn't it? Although I slightly mistrust the staff at Dusseldorf Airport since the time they made fun of my home town.
Anyway. I've been flying quite a bit since and have always been slightly disappointed at the lack of comments on my passport. I mean, I officially live in the UK - how cool is that? But nope, no comments.
Until last Friday, when I flew to Germany after work. The queue at passport control in Dusseldorf Airport was enormous. In fact, it wasn't a queue, it was a crowd of people pushing in front of the desks. Oh, how I sometimes miss the UK when I'm abroad! It took a while until it was my turn. Now: (a) I was dead tired and just wanted to get home. (b) I wasn't just tired, but also had a heavy cold and just wanted to lie down and curl up in a corner somewhere and feel sorry for myself. (c) The queue, errr... sorry crowd behind me hadn't really reduced by the time it was my turn. Despite all this, the official started a conversation about my passport with me. And he didn't really seem to be in any hurry to let me pass. So we spoke about whether I REALLY lived in Birmingham, about the value of the pound sterling to the Euro, ...
Do you know the feeling when you have people queueing behind you and you just feel bloody awful because you're holding up the queue and it feels like everybody is staring at your back? That was me on Friday night!
Well I guess if it hadn't been for my cold, and my tiredness, and the queue behind me, I would have actually really enjoyed this little chat. Kinda puts a human touch to life, doesn't it? Although I slightly mistrust the staff at Dusseldorf Airport since the time they made fun of my home town.
24 October 2009
03 September 2009
29 July 2009
What to wear?
Have been invited to a wedding in Germany in November. Well, technically, only the actual wedding ceremony will be in Germany, with the reception across the border in the Netherlands - I move in cosmopolitan circles you know!
Now, what to wear? In Germany, in winter? Suggestions on a postcard please!
Now, what to wear? In Germany, in winter? Suggestions on a postcard please!
27 July 2009
Eins zwei drei
You know how they say you can be as fluent as you like in a foreign language... you'll still end up counting in your mother tongue? Yep - so true. I started belly dancing classes again, and found myself counting "eins, zwei, drei" in my head, while our teacher was shouting "one, two, three". Now, that really is confusing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
