Just a Quickie

Hmm bad title that but it will have to do ! Arrived in Leipzig an hour ago .
The journey was great and this is one beautiful city . Trust me and try it.
Theatre tickets all in order . Room at the Radisson spectacular ... I can recommend.
Now to jump into the shower, change of clothing and OUT ON THE TOWN .
*Have been informed that the trains will not be on strike tomorrow .
Photos and more later .

Images from The Berlin Gauklerfest 2007

 

Fine food / creative drinks / fun / entertainment / fashion /arts and crafts .
These and so much more make up the Gauklerfest.Held each year behind Staats Opera in Unter den Linden -- this a place to have fun .It's on until the 12thAugust so try to visit .With an entrance fee of only €2:60 (valid for the day) you are guaranteed a lively and unforgettable experience. Can you spot who had her gloved hand kissed ? Not to mention who bought a rather chic hat made from feathers .... This will go beautifully with a mink coat ! Wonder if certain readers agree ?

A Berlin 'Watering Hole'.

This city never ceases to surprise me . Every day there's something new to enjoy .
Today whilst en route to Potsdamer Platz we came across an ecological haven .
With music , sun , water , drinks , food , loungers - hey who needed Majorca ?
Later on the way back to the U Bahn a stop was made and delicious food sampled.
It receives a 'Miss Vixen class A recommendation.' My huge plate of food cost a mere €7.50.
Summerwelt on Potsdamer Platz is until September 2007. Open daily from 10.00am it provides , strandkorb, deckchairs etc .These are set on a well created promenade .A wide variety of exotic cocktails / drinks and delicious foods are on offer. Thursday , Friday and Saturday there's live music from 19:00 hrs .This performed on the stage set in the water.
I can guarantee that this amazing 'city haven creation' will refresh, delight and relax you.
*Should you wish to make a reservation call 01635654132
** Maybe one of my German readers would care to do a polished translation of the notice.

The Long And The Short Of It.

Bet some of you wondered re that title ! Ah, foxy humour can be wicked .
Well true to my word here are a few more pictures. You see a dark grey skirt .Made from a sensational material which rustles as one moves ..it's quite erotic. The cut is something special and no amount of photography captures this . The black bodice (a very Parisian piece ) really coordinates. Note :- this skirt can also be worn as dress. Such versatility is a plus .
Then one really 'mad 'purchase . A little red dress for hot sunny days .Ideal for riding my bicycle . One is certain of the traffic giving way ! Method in my madness.

V is for Vixen , V is for Virgin ?

Well think what you like but I'm referring to the white oufit . Symbolism etc .
Never in my adult life have I had a white dress . Just goes to show there is a first for everything . To the reader who asked me to share some pictures of my purchases this is for you.
A lovely little dress it brings back memories of my time in Argentina .Have to dash ... off to dance a tango !

By the way ,'Interested' The oufit (plus handbag),see posting about Poland was also from my favourite boutique . More photos later in the week . PROMISE .

Miss Vixen loves Chilango Chains .

Here they are , my Chilango silver chain bracelets . Made in solid,silver these are simply sensational to wear . They feel amazing ,look stunning and are a must wear with or without gloves .
Indeed,a Chilango bracelet alone is 'fashion'. If not a statement !
Can't wait to wear with my furs come the winter.

What a Load of Bull !

Oh I know this is the 'Silly Season ' but the group of Hindu nuns and monks dwelling in Wales , would do well to remove themselves and their TB infected live stock to India . Life is cheap there , disease prevalent and nobody seems to care .
Well we in this part of the world do . TB is an awful disease . Highly contagious and lethal .
What next I wonder. Would they fight to keep a rabid animal alive ? The answer I feel we know .
Infected Sacred Bulls are no joke and as for the supporters who have flocked to lend their support I say 'try TB '.Remember those words "When in Rome do as the Romans do". Get real and learn to respect the culture and laws of the host country or just leave.Simple as ABC .
As for the Welsh Assembly I say ,if you weaken on this you open then door to all and sundry. Britain looks more and more like a doormat with a welcome sign .

Poland .. Just € 18 day return .

No, I didn't travel by a certain Irish Airline but by the super efficient Deutsches Bahn . Cost(rtn ) €13 , my bike €5 .
In Germany the majority of stations ( this includes S Bahn and U Bahn ) have lifts to platforms and the trains are built to take bikes,wheelchairs,prams etc . All of which makes for problem free travel.
In just over an hour of leaving Berlin I was in Frankfurt an der Oder . This old and famous university city it is a mix of modern and old architecture .Located on the River Oder it is part of the German - Polish border. One crosses the lovely bridge to Slubice ( a very typical Polish town ) Hardly any German or English is spoken there but smiles and body language suffice .The lady I'm pictured with was a great help and her German impressive .With a bike it's easy to explore . On my return to the German side I spotted a super lingerie shop .(Yes a purchase was made. )Then coffee , more exploration and back to the station for a smooth ride home .

PS)Should you wish to try this,take your passport . Border controls still apply .

An Action Packed Day Ms Vixen' s Way..

 

The day began with over of an hour of swimming ( none stop ) .Time then for breakfast and out to the city on my bike .
After cycling for miles a coffee was called for ! Hours later and loaded up I decided to take the S Bahn part way home .
Thank goodness one can . As you can see ,I was not alone in utilizing this fantastic feature .
Should you visit Berlin do try it. Bikes are cheap to hire and you certainly get the best of both worlds using one plus the transport system.... Not to mention staying in shape .

Fashion Statements or ?

It's been extremely hot here of late ,so on Saturday when I first saw the above characters I had to pinch myself . However, all was for real . Just goes to show how true the saying is :-
'whatever floats your boat '

ps ) seems the two white rats are sisters !
pps ) somebody was having 'a bad hair day .'

Something old Something new.

Errr no, by old I am not referring to myself lol !
In my post June 28th I mentioned a super little boutique where beautiful clothes can be bought for next to nothing .
Namely ,'Mode und Sparen' .Here you can see two examples of recent purchases. The little black dress .(A must have for any occasion.) On this I have fixed a really unusual brooch ( also purchased there for next to nothing ) . The very chic oyster jacket is French and feels as good as it looks. As for gloves . Well you know my weakness for these . The chunky chain silver bracelet is another story though . For that you must wait. No it isn't Mode und Sparen. Nor is it Chanel . It is Chilango .. Seems that not only do I have a thing for chains but, for designers whose names begin with Ch .
I wore this ensemble this evening and felt $1000,000 !

Thoughts made words - But whose words ?

A few days ago whilst sorting documents I came across these words in my hand writing .( recorded on hotel notepaper during some of my travels )
What troubles me is not the sentiments expressed but my wondering are these words mine or does anyone out there recognize from another source ?
Order was never my art but,neither is plagiarism my style , hence the explanation . and I've marked it *Anonymous .Any enlightment would be most welcome . As you see I'm puzzled .
Meanwhile ,enjoy these few words which for me come closest to explaining that 'magical chemistry 'so rarely enountered but never forgotton.

' I live a week with you in several hours,
A month in several days,
and a lifetime in several weeks ---
Why ? Because "things" happen between us . '

* Anonymous

A Picture and Some Hundred Plus Words .

Oh dear (yawn) Another Bin laden video. Suppose when your Pa is a friend of that family you're on the mailing list .
Please make a note of two previous posts :-
25th April 2006 and December 8th 2006 ..For good measure throw in August 19th 2006.
Then make sure you get a copy (bought or borrowed )of George Orwell's book 1984.
Read .consider our lives since Bush,then look at my posts . Ask yourself .
Who was worried by the departure of his partner in lies Blair ?
Who is holding on to power by all means possible ? Most befitting a dictator.
Who uses bully tactics and will stop at nothing ? The end justifies the means .
Recall the mayhem caused at Heathrow to install fear .The so called ricin production in a Manchester house and so much more .Phony anthrax scare in USA .All stage managed to justify an illegal invasion . Endless videos at apt moments.
The day after Blair left office UK found itself amongst more of the same. A country well known for it's tolerance is now in the midst of a mammoth ,sick ,witch hunt . Plant fear, divide ,rule .A nasty and as like as not planned legacy for Gordon Brown .An honest man,his office was not welcomed by Bush and Co.
Finally look at this picture .It says more than a thousand words .It sends shudders down my spine .One final question :-
Do you trust this man ? I for one know my answer .

Endings and Beginnings or is it Switchback ?

On the 27th of April I did a post :-
'Helena Mikas Knows Good Food and .... '
In this I recommended ,a terrific Berlin bistro.
Today was rather sad as the owners are leaving for another region in Germany .
This wonderful couple have run the place for the last six and a half years . Here you see them and yes ,they will be missed. Yet knowing what they plan is their dream ,all wish them well .
On Monday the ownership is back in the hands of Nadino (the gentleman at the top)
A true Sicilian ,he was the original owner . Two things are certain ...
a) the quality of the food will remain great, b) On going in I will be serenaded with my name ( Remind me to change it )

Miss Vixen and Kaiser Wilhelm Friedrich .

Last week was rather hectic but I made time to go out and get more details of 'SHOULD DO' for would be tourists . So here goes with my report .
Take the bus number 218 from Theodor Heuss Platz and go to Wannsee. As a rule these are historical buses and very comfy too . The journey takes you through the Grünewald ( a huge forest ) along the shore of the Havel all the way to Wannsee.
You can get on and off using the same ticket and one stop I do recommend is the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Tower . By the way ,Kaiser Wilhelm's 1st's life makes interesting reading . The tower is huge and one can go to the top , via many, many steps ! Well worth it, as the view is spectacular. With forest and water as far as the eye can see it's hard to believe you're in a city .Typical of here there is a restaurant nearby .So after the climbing you can refuel.
For the top fit,you can walk or cycle. Also one can swim in the Havel or go windsurfing .For me though it's car or bus .
Further on is Wannsee where there are terrific boat trips and Strandbad Wannsee with it's famous beach, boasting FKK facilities for those who wish to take off their clothes and live .....
Somehow I think Kaiser Wilhelm Friedrich would approve . All in all, a great place to spend a day in this unusual city.

As Time Goes By .

It's been some time since my last post. As usual ,the world news makes Alice in Wonderland seem like a serious novel, plus life in Berlin has been extremely busy.
Today was special (where has the year gone?) and to all those who sent greetings let me say a big thank you.
This morning was one terrific tele/pc communications session . Then I was taken out for a delicious lunch . Afterwards the delights of a Knickerbocker Glory .
Miss Vixen's rule is :-"One does not diet on one's Birthday "
Then later friends came to my place for drinks and more goodies .
Tomorrow there's another luncheon . Yes time goes by and each day, each month, each year brings something new.
These photos taken today are not exactly professional. They may not have captured all of my body BUT they do show happiness.
ps On a silly note , this is what Blog things have to say about 10th July people.

Your Birthdate: July 10

Independent and dominant, you tend to be the alpha dog in most situations. You're very confident, and hardly anything ever shakes you. Mundane tasks tend to drain you - you prefer to be making great plans. You are quite original. When people don't "get" you, it bothers you a lot. Your strength: Your ability to gain respect Your weakness: Caring too much what others think Your power color: Orange-red Your power symbol: Letter X Your power month: October

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Err not too sure what it means save to say it's spot on re 'mundane things ' .
Dusting etc is the pitz !

BBS Summer Fair .

The pictures say it all . International culture , fun and cuisine at the Berlin British School .There was great weather and a marvellous atmosphere .Sushi was bought and brought home . Korean food consumed there...delicious. As was the Egyptian..Some fascinating items were purchased and I can report that a good time had by all.
The sign re 'Pupils' I spotted on the door to what used to be my classroom . Clearly we language teachers share similar sentiments . Long may such attitudes continue .

A few moments in one of Ms Vixen's days.

Yesterday I was extremely happy .
The reason .... 'Delivered from Evil , delivered from Blair '
Appropriately it was a lovely day . I was invited to afternoon coffee by the gentleman you see in the picture . He brought me this sunflower ( I love such ) and pictures of his wedding . I missed this happy event due to travel. He and his lady friend after 30+ years dating, married ! Some years back I worked for an NGO where , using my Denglish I entertained the Germans at the weekly auction . He was one of my 'fans'
Today found me out and about on my bicycle . It came on to rain so *Thomas Eck Cafe was ideal . Outside in a Strandkorb there was shelter , delicious coffee and relaxation . Details at the end . Then on to **Mode and Sparen . A real favourite with me . Fantastic clothes at amazing prices . And more coffee . Miss V(L) with a saleslady ( middle ) and another customer . Guess what - I treated my self to a dress in ---- wait for it-- red / white / blue . Already I sense hope for Britain . It's been a full 24 hours .Hope you enjoyed these few 'moments' .

* Thomas Eck Pestalozzistraße 25 ,10627,Berlin ( open daily 8.30 am - 2 am ) licensed Go to :- www.thomaseck-berlin.de
**Mode und Sparen.. Kantstraße 117, 10627

Deliver us From Blair = Deliver us From Evil.

At last my prayers have been answered. The Jews found their promised land. We Brits may just return the 'Great' to Britain
Over the last ten years Britain has sunk lower than low due to one man who at last is bowing out . (Crawling would be more apt!)
Let's look at the word DELIVER and play the game where one see how many words can be made from it :-
1) lie , 2) lied , 3)die , 4) relied 5 ) live 6 ) evil .for example -
I know there are more but consider :-
Blair did not tell one LIE. He LIED none stop in domestic policy and then on the international scene with trumped up stories to justify invasion of a sovereign country. That illegal and EVIL act with Bush who RELIED on him . As a result, more than one person was to DIE . Hundreds and thousands of Iraqi civilians have .
I now pray that with the departure of this ghastly specimen people may LIVE. Both in Iraq and Britain where for too long lies have been the common currency .
Guess who will be celebrating later ?
Note * the downside of Britain's freedom from Mr B is his appointment as peace envoy in the middle east ! Please - A man who aided the Iraq massacre ? One who permitted weapons from USA to Israel to transit through UK , in full knowledge they were to be used on Lebanon ? His knowledge of peace is akin to Bush and his of literature. Nil.

Bad English = wrong message

'Brown crowned Labour leader'

This ridiculous headline from ITN is to be found in the Internet news !
Where did the so called journalists receive an education in English ?
Monarchs are crowned -- politicians are selected / elected / or chosen .
Is this a sign of the new age where MP's have deified themselves so much that the press has come to believe them ?

Anna and Helena

This amazing lady is to be seen regularly at Wittenberg Platz U Bahn .
I first got chatting with her weeks ago as I sat exhausted in the heat , waiting for a friend. She hands out discount vouchers for a small eatery in the vicinity . These are popular with the many young tourists . Anna loves her work as she meets people and I was full of admiration at the hours she puts in .Today en route back to the underground there she was . As you can see it had been raining but Anna was at work . She enjoyed having her photograph taken . Yes she will get a copy and yes I will be visiting her for coffee . She has invited me. If you are in Berlin , look out for her . Not only will you get a voucher... you'll receive a cheery smile ,and maybe you too will take a picture of a lady who is a wonderful character , not easily forgotten .