Over the past four years our balcony has slowly, slowly improved. We've put down attractive parquet decking, acquired furniture, planted stuff, some of which has even survived. We (Armin) have hung up an insect hotel. (I have no idea why.) But there's a problem. A has ambitions bigger than the actual balcony. He keeps dreaming… Continue reading Priorities, boundaries, other things ending in -ies: 5 things 18.9.2017

Another job rejection, this time on a long-term freelance gig that I really wanted. And again, I thought I was a good fit, but I didn't even rate an interview. Oh well. It's fine. It's fine. I have plenty on the go and all it's just... demoralising. Whatever. It's fine. Pass the chocolate. Autumn. Yay!… Continue reading Eish: 5 things 11.9.2017

Having enough kid-free time (sick days, school holidays, Lehrerweiterbildung etc aside) to make it worth creating an actual schedule of what I'm doing with that time is really very exciting. Screw that whole free spirit, spontaneous thing, all I really want in life is a nice neat calendar with lots of blocks telling me exactly… Continue reading Exciting / not exciting: 5 things 4.9.2017

After being Quite Slack for a while, I'm getting back in the running and housework grooves, and I realise I feel pretty much the same way about each of them. I mean I'd way rather go running than clean. But: both are easy things to drop if you're feeling low, or tired, or overscheduled. Both… Continue reading Bumpy: 5 things 28.8.17

Kindergarten starts tomorrow afternoon. You know when you're really looking forward to something but you also don't quite believe it'll ever actually happen and then suddenly it's just there? That. I'm giving myself the week "off" – or more accurately: I'm giving myself the week to settle into the new school year gently. I gave… Continue reading Jetzt geht’s los: 5 things 21.8.17

During the holidays I've been taking mornings... gently. Which is to say, we've all been utter slobs, reluctantly sloughing off our pyjama cocoons well after 10 or 11am. And it's usually quite a fight. The other day, though, M surprised me by wandering out of his bedroom fully dressed, entirely without prompting, never mind asking… Continue reading Kids get bigger: 5 things 14.8.2017

I moan a lot about my day job (8 hours a week of mostly data capture), but I have a semi-regular freelance gig that's a complete treat. I write blog posts for a software firm about architecture – everything from mid-century houses to apartments from film or TV. I get to spend time reading and learning… Continue reading Stop whining: 5 good things