Bavarian Holiday 5

Bavarian Holiday 4

Bavarian Holiday 3

Bavarian Holiday 2

Bavarian Holiday 1

Top 5 Penguin Books – Part II

It is the 15th again – so it is time for reading. And time for sharing my favourite books with you. This month it is all about penguin books. This range of amazing paperback books – from classics to contemporary bestsellers – which just costs $9.99. And because they have so many wonderful books, this is just part two. Part one you can find in July.

The little Prince – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
The one book that literally everybody should read. Once. Twice. Three times, ... So you have to own it and not just borrow it from someone, because you will want to come back to it and read it all over again.

Love in the Time of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The greatest love story you can imagine. You will feel Florentino’s hope, joy, despair and disappointment. And you won’t be able to put this book down before you have finished all 432 pages.

Mother Tongue – Bill Bryson
The most engaging non-fiction book I have ever read. Thrilling facts and stories about the English language – fascinating for native speakers as well as learners.

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
A touching story of friendship and how far you would go to protect you friend. Not as easy to digest as the title might suggest.

Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - Patrick Süskind
A masterpiece of a mystery story. Creepy, full of twists, good and evil and a feast for the smelling sense.

More information on all books here

Servus, Munich!

See ya, Melbourne!

Hello and goodbye – Shopping

Hello and goodbye – Fashion

Hello and goodbye – Seaside

Hello and goodbye – Mountains & Cities

Hello and goodbye – Savoury & Sweet

Hello and goodbye – Breakfast

Hello and goodbye – Hip Suburbs & Midnight Snacks

Hello and goodbye – Shopping & Waterways

Hello and goodbye – Skyscraper & Parks

Hello and goodbye

We are off to Germany in 10 DAYS – 240 HOURS – 14400 MINUTES....

This week and a half will be crazy with packing boxes, saying farewell to our Australian friends, cleaning the apartment, getting the little one ready for her big trip... Crazy organisation and moving stuff!

Emotionally I am ambivalent.

One the one hand side I am so happy and excited to go back to my family. To my friends who know me for decades. To my country. To my Berlin. To people who speak the same mother language than I. To food that I have missed. To stores in which I haven’t shopped at in 3 years.

On the other hand I am sad to leave Australia. My new friends. My Melbourne. My travel adventures. My job challenges. The place that really has been home for the past 3 years. My fresh seafood.

I am afraid I won’t have much time to post on this little blog of mine. Therefore I have prepared some Hello-Goodbye posts for the next week. To show you all the things I look forward to in Germany and all the Australian things I will terribly miss.

My pregnancy in numbers

Every Monday I will post something related to babies: inspiration, craft projects, baby news, and discoveries I have made in this new and exciting world for me. I hope you come along on that rollercoaster ride with me.

* * *

1 – happy, healthy baby

2 – months before I conceived

3 – pregnancy tests taken

4 – ultrasounds

5 – days with morning sickness

6 – false alarms

7 – hours in serious labour (the one in which you don’t smile anymore)

8 – mood swings (if you ask me)

11 – visits to my obstetrician

20 – hours from first contraction to birth

50 – mood swings (if you ask my lovely husband)

273 – actual days of being pregnant (approximately)

825 – felt days of being pregnant

Bella, bella Umbria

At the beginning of each month I want to show you places where I’d rather be at that very moment. As you know I am constantly either travelling or dreaming of travelling and I want to share my favourite bars, restaurants, hotels, cities and countries around the world with you. And I am looking for your recommendations for my next trips.

* * *

It is cold and rainy in Melbourne.

I am terribly busy with getting organised for our move to Germany.

So I dream of Italy. Naturally ;-). Of a warm and sunny place. Of a peaceful place with the most amazing food: Umbria.

Last year we celebrated my mum’s 60th birthday in a wonderful villa in Umbria. Just 2 hours north of Rom.

The main villa and the pool to cool off from the midday heat

The amazing garden full of fragrant roses and rosemary hedges

A beautiful decal in the former stable

Where: Villa Zuccari, Località San Luca - 06036 Montefalco (Pg) Italy
Tel: +39.0742.399.402, Fax: +39.0742.399.194,

Highlight: la dolce vita, the history and culture in every little village and town nearby, the food!!!

More photos, information and ideas: Villa Zuccari, Assisi , Spoleto, Umbrian Cusine