Euro Cup 2008

I have to say I've spent quite a lot of money on Europa Meister(Euro Cup) 2008. Went out with colleagues, have drinks, dinner, it is not cheap to support a team!! Since England is out of the race, i figured i have to support another team, who else can it be?? of course is Germany!! The fever was everywhere, in the office, on the street, everybody was so excited and..........optimistic. To be honest, I don't think German team is as strong as for example: Spain, Portugal, France or Italy,(OK, FRANCE was knocked out quite early from the tournament) but somehow i feel that the-----fighting spirit, the bond between the players is so great that it can overcome the skill! If i compare player by player, English players are far more better than German players in terms of skill, but somehow when you put all English players together, they just can't make it work(see Lampard and Gerrard), hopefully Capello is going to sort it out.

Back to Euro Cup, i have to say it was quite an experience to watch the game here in Germany when the team is playing in the Final. The game started at 8:45 pm, but we were already sitting there, drinking at 4:30, or else you would never get a seat(is FINAL), it was fun! with German Music-some say horrible, and everybody chatting, cheering- is like holiday in Mallorca, there is no other place i would rather be! And just before the game, everyone started singing the national anthem, (you know the usual procedure before the match) everybody was standing, holding each other's arm(with strangers), singing really loud-it was very emotional, you can see the pride, the passion, and the spirit in their eyes, Unbelievable. Everyone was so supportive, like they said-'Die Hoffnung stirbt zu letzt'- the hope that never dies. Trully.

It was a great night, not a great match, but i trully enjoyed it. This is one of the night that i will never forget in my life.

Milan-part2

So, as i mentioned earlier, we were exhausted from the week, we set our alarm at 8 in the morning, and was looking forward to the breakfast buffet, however, we somehow switched off and went back to sleep.... the next thing we knew, it was already 11.30 in the afternoon, He was swearing a lot, because He loves hotel breakfast buffet... anyway, that's not important. Convinced by Yvonne that Navigli is very nice, so we hopped on the Metro underground, i was really suprised that they have a cooling fan at the metro station, very impressed, and wondering why can't London underground do the same.

It only took 10 mins to get there, walked out of the station and realised i didn't have my map with me, swore again, and decided to follow the 'flow'. Navigli is famous for night life, and i have no idea why we were there in the middle of the afternoon, but i liked it, it was quiet, relaxing, not a lot of tourists around, just some local sitting outside at the cafe, reading newspaper, having a cup of coffee, enjoying the Sun. We were both sitting there, looking at people, sipping water(too hot to have coffee), having lunch, just enjoying a quiet afternoon.

The afternoon went by quickly, we went back to the city, just walking and went back to Hotel to have Dinner and watched how the dutch were defeated.
Although it was short- 3days- i was happy it was stress free, i didn't worry if I've missed anything, i just went with the flow, and enjoying myself.

Milan-part1

I have to admit i wasn't that excited about Milan, i wanted to go to Florence and Rome, but there is no direct fight from Dusseldorf therefore i thought Milan is not a bad choice either, because i know how much He hates it if we have to transit.

I have always wanted to go to Italy, but somehow never managed, so i thought what's the best time to go? Since we want to celebrate our Anniversary, and i thought why not to Italy, and with this powerful excuse, He can't say NO.......haha

It was a hectic week at work, but i was busy socialising too, i went out with colleagues, watched football with my fellows, therefore there was no time to plan our trip. I started to pack my bags on Thursday night while watching 'gossip girl'(i'm so, so hooked on it), then had a big argument with Him, went to bed at 2am, but have to wake up at 5am to catch our flight, horrible. I spent all my time sleeping during the flight...

Finally, we arrived on time, the weather was extremely hot. I suggested to take a train which would have taken us 40 mins to go to city, but He insisted on taking bus!! which took us more than an hour. Still tired, didn't want to make a fuss, took a bus, sitting behind this annoying Ching Chong China man, talking relentlessly in a loud voice, in a language none understand (perhaps one of the dialects of Mainland China), i swear if He didn't stop me, i would have shout at the Chinese and shut him up, instead i looked out of the window. I didn't find it really interesting, or beautiful as one would describe the countryside of Italy( i later found out that Milan used to be an Industrial city and the airport is located at the 'ugly' side of Milan, hence the ugliness). Suprisingly, i thought it look a little bit like Malaysia, He said i miss home, maybe he was right. More than an hour and a 15 mins taxi ride later................

Luckily we are able to check in that early in the morning, exhausted, starving, i just grabbed the small pringle snack at the bar, finished it, and fell asleep on the big bed-it was 11 o clock in the morning. Then, the next thing i know, is almost 3, decided not to waste any more precious time, we headed out. Took a really 'old+slow' tram towards Duomo-the world 3rd largest cathedral, but was too hungry and got out earlier to find something to eat. Had some really terrible pasta, thought i could cook better. While walking towards Duomo, had some lovely gelati, felt really happy, and amazed when i walked through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the famous shopping arcade.

We went straight to the Duomo afterwards, and walked a million stairs to the roof terrace. We both nearly fainted, not because of the breathtaking Duomo but because it was uncomfortably hot! 35 degrees. We were both sweating like Hell. I knoe He can't take it anymore, so we went to a Cafe nearby. Can't believe it when i looked at the menu, the drinks are overpriced compare to Germany, though they serve you with crisps and olives, still, a beer cost you 8 euros(you can get a good one in Germany for 3 euros). Ya, what can i do, either die of dehydration or get a drink and sit comfortaly under the shadow. You know what i've chosen, i'm still alive. There you go-the roof terrance and front view of Duomo.

To be continue....

Are you getting what you deserved?

Went out with Sarah today, talking about our jobs, and how she is getting on with her new role, what we are getting paid..OK, we just vaguely talk about what we earn. I still find it difficult to talk to colleagues about how much i earn, and i find it hard because in a way i feel that we are competing with each other...don't you agree?
I think in order to get what we deserved, the relationship with the boss is extremely important,(of course if your boss is like David Brent(the office), you can forget about it, and quit as soon as you can) regardless if you are good at your job or not. I do think that it is very unfair to employees as the boss is not judging by performance but relying on the delicate relationship which never last.( think-how many of you have a great relationship with your boss and still keep in touch? NO!!!) I guess, instead of working hard, and focussing on our job, we should first start to learn how to please our boss, and there should be a DUMMIES-learn how to please the boss and get what you deserved!!!! and, there- there goes your promotion and pay rise.

I'm coming home.

Is been almost a year, but i'm glad i'm going home in 3 weeks time, though there are still lots to do at work, but the day is approaching.
Is weird really, i didn't really miss home that much up till now, not even chinese new year!!(maybe i was working, and there isn't a lot of chinese around, so no celebration at all) Now, i can't stop thinking about home, food, friends, the extremely hot weather!!! Here i come...

Home-Michael Buble

Another summer day
Is come and gone away
In Paris and Rome
But I wanna go home

Maybe surrounded by
A million people
I Still feel all alone
I just wanna go home
Oh I miss you, you know

And I’ve been keeping all the letters that I wrote to you
Each one a line or two“I’m fine baby, how are you?”
Well I would send them but I know that it’s just not enough
My words were cold and flat
And you deserve more than that

Another aerorplane
Another sunny place
I’m lucky I know
But I wanna go home,
I’ve got to go home
Let me go home
I’m just too far from where you are
I wanna come home

And I feel just like I’m living someone else’s life
It’s like I just stepped outside
When everything was going right
And I know just why you could not Come along with me
But this was not your dream
But you always believe in me
Another winter day
has come And gone away
And even Paris and Rome
And I wanna go home
Let me go home
And I’m surrounded by
A million people I
Still feel alone
Oh, let go home
Oh, I miss you, you know
Let me go home
I’ve had my runBaby,
I’m done
I gotta go home
Let me go home
It will all right
I’ll be home tonight
I’m coming back home

Berlin

I was sitting in the car with Yvonne the other day, she gave me a lift. (For those who are wondering who is Yvonne-she is my assistant) She lived in Berlin for a very long time-7-10 years(i think) before moving to Dusseldorf because of her job. Her boyfriend is a graphic designer, still lives in Berlin, and she is going back almost every weekend, is quite tiring really-5 hours drive, and most of the time with very bad traffic congestion. Anyway, this is not what we discussed in the car, i was telling her that my friend back home will probably laugh at me if i'm going to tell them i haven't been to Berlin YET, eventhough i live here for almost 2 years... I really want to go, but the train ticket is too expensive, and blabla.. She talked about the Art Scene in Berlin, how Berlin changes straight after the war and wall, and how commercialism 'destroyed' Berlin.. A lot of Rich people from the West Germany were rolling into Berlin as it was the new establised capital of the Unified Germany. Rich businessmen ceased the opportunity and potential lies in Berlin and everything started to change. People(i'm referring to artists, musicians, designers) were leaving Berlin because they don't feel the same anymore, and Berlin is losing its true identity...........
A lot of you might think Berlin is a very cosmopolitan city, rich and full of excitement, in fact it is-but not rich, it is the very opposite-poor. A lot of people are unemployed, it is very hard to get a proper job, flats are extremely cheap, because people can't afford anyway, lots of students graduated in Berlin have to move away to West Germany to look for a job. That's also one of the reason why she is here. She kept telling me about all her stories, how she met people on the street and invite them to her party, the 'cafe' phenomenon, her neighbours-a few actresses, mucisians, she has creative people live all around her, and it inspire her in many many ways. How i wish i have the same experience.
It was really fascinating and i felt the urge to just pack my bags and hop on the train, but i'm still sitting here on a saturday night-writing this blog and not on the train-i guess this is the essence i'm missing in my life-being inspired and being spontaneous.

I'm joining the crowd

Finally, here i am. I can't think of a name or a title, hence 'ohne titel'-no title. I might get myself into some troubles-possibly a lawsuit as there is a fashion brand which has the same name, but who cares......