Fun in Manchester and Glasgow

I haven't told you much about my time in Manchester and Glasgow as a lot of it was spent simply hanging out, catching up, drinking tea by the fire, going on walks, watching man TV, taking baths, eating pasta, working on the little children's book I wrote (more on that later) and hanging out with a little child. Just time with people who are so close to me but live so far away. Amazing yes, but not too much to report on there. But then again, what a good time we had just being us and being silly. Going out and having fun, staying in and having fun, from evenings jumping on the bed with my niece to late nights in the Northern Corner wearing hats and being ridiculous with new friends. Oh and there was my brother channeling Elton John, Nick eating a really big fish and two year old Sadie cooking us all dinner. I do seem to have a few photos of that: 

Berlin Weekend Roundup

The thing about my weekends is: they just keep getting longer. I know this is nothing to complain about, but the things I need to do in my week keep expanding too. Hence the lack of posts. But anway, last weekend which happened to involve my birthday, my brother, his wife and their 11 month old (there they all are on one bike!) ended yesterday at about 4 when I said a bit of a tipsy goodbye after our final of many liquid plus cheese plate lunches. Although the weather (curse you Berlin) was only pleasant for a day and half of their stay, we had a wonderful time being together and doing the usual: eating, drinking, being merry, and these days hanging with baby. And Saturday was one of those quintessential Berlin warm days and maybe one of the best days I have had here. Karsten also had a friend in town this weekend who was fun to chat with and who tagged along for some of the family fun as well. We even managed to find a proper Mexican food restaurant for my birthday dinner (no piñata this year though, probably for the best). I can't wait to go back again and again. I also can't wait for next weekend when we have no guests (no offense, it's just tiring) and no plans whatsoever. But that said, I am sure it won't compare to the fun the last few days.

It all went something like this: "pre-birthday" kebabs, carnations, and wine, downstairs for drinks with Andreas from Munich, morning family greeting, an empty before 11 am Berlin, hilarious but annoying wait for brunch, cheese plate that wasn't called a cheese plate, free "hot drinks," road soda, walk through the park, ping pong, playground, pool by the river (badeschiff), grapefruit beer, Nani run in, Manny run in, Andreas meetup #2, evening sun, evening swim for the boys, beds of sand, dinner on the river dock, Andrew, Karsten, Sadie schnitzel-off, stroll to the ice cream shop, bike ride home, Andreas meetup #3, first ex-girlfriend run in (eeek), 29!, new birthday shoes via K, chocolate croissant breakfast, family bike ride, a bicycle built for three, Russian Memorial, fitting thunder storm, bratworst and beers, cards at my house, playground, Mexican feast, Zoolander, dead tired sleep.

Scotland Week Roundup

In the last year of my life I have ended up some places that I really never thought I would go. First off the biggie: Berlin. Although I always knew it was a certain kind of cool, it was never really on my radar until my bro decided to spend the summer here. Now look at me, living in Deutschland with my Deutsche man. Then there was Umbria, Italy. I knew I would go to Rome one day (and I did) but I never expected to end up in the Italian country side with three generations of Cahns.

Then last week was Scotland, another place I never gave much thought to. But my brother just moved to Glasgow from London so my Mom and I spent a few days there (there are an over abundance of thrift shops in that city FYI) eating my bro's amazing cooking (he still is the best chef I know). Then he and his wife took us on a weekend getaway to the Isle of Mull. This place is pretty much a wildlife preserve on the edge of the earth, where you sightsee (in a non-touristy way) all day and eat fabulous meals until you fall asleep soundly breathing the crisp air at night. I seriously have never tasted such fresh air in my life or eaten so much food (definitely gained some pounds) or seen so many cute little animals. In one day we actually saw what we coined "the trifecta of cute," a lamb, an otter and a puffin. OMG. Okay let's cut to the chase with a roundup of my amazing vacation and some pics. If you need more check out the flickr.

It all went something like this: Andrew-made thai food, futbol, Glasgow sightseeing, Andrew-made made monk fish deliciousness, Glasgow shopping, the best Indian food I have ever had, scenic drive, clam chowder, toffee, ferry trip, baby lambs (no that is not redundant), cows, sheep, gin and tonic cocktail hour, three-course meal, ferry ride number two, UK birthplace of Christianity, fields of green next to white sand beaches, holy sun, choppy boat ride, seals, rock formation island, cliff hike, puffins, otter spotting, three-course meal again yes, sound sleep, hike, sea eagle, picnic at a castle, road trip, shrimps and crab claw. Yeah that is right. What? Uh huh. Vacation. Now I am on a diet.

Baby Sadie

Spent the week in Scotland with this little munchkin. My brother Andrew and his awesome wife Catherine's ten month baby girl is a little bundle of laughs and smiles (although these pics might not really show it). She is one happy social baby, who at the same time knows what she wants and won't take no crap from no one (as these pics do show). Until recently, I never really had any babies or little people in my life being the youngest in my family and all. But Sadie is now my third niece (the oldest just turned three) and it is such a joy to be able to hang with all of them and see their similarities and differences as they grow.

Family Love

Last night I had great conversations with my Dad, my brother Michael and my sister-in-law Deanna, which makes me feel so good today. It's hard to be across the world from so many of the people I love, but phone calls like these make it all okay. And in three weeks I will be in Scotland with my brother Andrew, his family, and my Mom. I can't wait!

This is a pic of the Cahn gang (minus my Mom and baby India) in Italy last summer.

Scotch Anyone?

Just booked my ticket to Glasgow to spend a week with these lovely folks who happen to be my bro, sister 'n law and sweetheart niece. Can't wait to see how much Sadie has grown since last time I saw her, eat some of Andrew's amazing cuisine and have some girl talk with Catherine.

Umbria Part 1: The Cast - The Cahn Family

Never did I think that 11 of my family members would spend an entire week together, let alone a week lounging by the pool or under the shade of an Italian olive tree, playing doubles tennis and late night liar’s dice, changing diapers and answering Maisie’s constant questions, eating cured meats and Umbria’s finest delicacies, dangling hippie snakes and making up theme songs revolving around Wild Boar hunting...and in the end not killing each other. Sure there were tense moments over too many (or too few) glasses of wine or cards in a poker players' hand, but without that it wouldn’t be family. I am a lucky girl to have such memories of such loved ones. And here they are, three generations of Cahns:

Bobba

Ma (Jackie)

Aaron

Deanna

Andrew

Catherine

Uncle Mikey

Aunt Magel

Maisie

India

Baby Sadie

Wild Boar

Hippie Snake

The Whole Gang Minus Napping Indy