Challenge #31: Visit a different country for the weekend

Finally, I understand the concept of a 'mini-break'.

I first discovered this term while reading 'Bridget Jones' Diary', a novel I always bring out whenever I feel that my life needs some improvement. I figure that if Bridget can do it, then so can I. She's completely hopeless, after all. So I translate that to mean that there must be hope for all of us.

Bridget is obsessed with the idea of going on a mini-break with her version of Mr Wickham, Daniel. She claims that a mini-break must mean true love.

With this in mind, I booked flights to visit my friends while they were in Berlin. I figured that if Bridget could view a mini-break as a sign of true love, then so could I. Who said true love couldn't mean true friendship?

During what was not my wisest hour, I decided to forgo the usual rush from work on a Friday afternoon (and save the $20 for a hostel bed) and leave on Saturday morning. Early. I mean, really early. When you book a flight for 6:30am you forget the fact that you actually have to be there BEFORE that time.

So, on the morning in question, I got up at 3:30am to catch my 4am train to Gatwick Airport. The advantage of this ungodly hour is... Well, none. The sun hasn't come up and you feel like you're walking through a fog, only that fog is in your head. Although my total exhaustion from having 4 hours sleep did mean I crashed out on the plane. Thank god for window seats.

I was excited as my plane touched down in Berlin. Not only was I revisiting a city I adore - with its soul-destroying, yet fascinating, history, and its cool culture - but I was going to see my favourite married couple for the first time in 16 months. I love that 'I can't believe this is happening' feeling I frequently get while living in London. Those moments where you feel proud of yourself for getting off your bum and actually making something incredible happen in your otherwise run-of-the-mill life. Most of Europe gives me that feeling.

Berlin did not disappoint, not that I expected it to. I had already fallen for it a year previously, so I felt like I was returning to an old friend. As I tried to figure out which bus to take to get to my hostel, the kindly German bus driver wrote instructions for me on my page, while talking to me in German.

I noticed very quickly why I love Berlin: People smile there. I love London, it's my home, but people look at you strangely if you smile at them, so no one bothers. In Berlin, people seemed so much more relaxed and friendly. And this is a city that was divided by opposing political ideologies pretty much yesterday in the grand scheme of history. I immediately felt relaxed and safe in Berlin's graffiti covered streets.

Graffiti doesn't necessarily have to make sense, right? Maybe there's some
deep meaning here...

One of the bittersweet upsides to living away from family and friends is the moments when you actually get to see them. You appreciate every single second, and you are constantly reminded of why you love them. My weekend with the Bolligs was no different. We laughed, we reminisced and we swapped Europe stories. These are the moments that life is all about. Falling in love with your friends all over again.

Does this really need a caption?

TV Tower. Meh.

We roamed the Berlin streets and had a closer look at the Reichstag. I wanted to go in, as I missed it last time, but found you had to book two days in advance. So, we continued our wanderings around the city, taking in the Brandenburg Gate and the famous TV tower.

We had tickets to the ballet and I enjoyed watching the incredible skill that it requires. Although, to be frank, I spent most of the time whispering comments about the male dancers' crotches. When it finished they took so many bows I thought I was going to miss my flight - the following night.

Me and a segment of the wall. I managed to restrain myself
from buying one of the 'pieces' on sale...

The Sunday was spent wandering around again, taking in The Wall, the Jewish Memorial and the Topography of Terror. Berlin manages to present its terrible, horrific past in such a precise and honest manner. There is no shying away from the truth. They present it and admit it happened. I found my respect for the German people growing and growing.

To finish my weekend in Berlin, I did what I went there to do: I had a kebab. There is nothing quite like a Berlin kebab. If you don't believe me, go there and try one. Preferably from a booth in the middle of one of the boulevards, like the one that leads up to the Brandenburg Gate.

The best kebab in the world. Seriously.

After a weekend of friendship, history, ballet, kebabs and smiling, I left my friends on a train platform and retraced my steps back. Airport, plane, airport, immigration, train, home. I collapsed on my bed, knowing I had completed another challenge and knowing that I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

But not on a 6:30am flight.

Challenge #1: Read Great Expectations

I always approach classic literature with a hint of skepticism, like I'm waiting for this world famous author to screw up somehow. I'm not really sure where this comes from, perhaps it's fear. Fear that I won't understand, that it will go over my head and I will be left feeling powerless under the weight of literary genius.

This feeling continues, even though I am constantly proven wrong. Every classic I've read has made me realise why it's a classic (well, except for The Great Gatsby, but maybe I was just too young for that one). I guess those literature professors (or whoever deems these novels to be classics) know what they're talking about.

That being said, I did find Great Expectations a hard slog, although I'm still figuring out why. It wasn't the language - I enjoyed his writing style and that time-traveller feeling you get from reading from the past. The story is captivating, the characters well-developed (I particularly loved Wemmick, with his constant desire to keep his work life and private life separate. And the fact that his father is just referred to as 'The Aged'). I think my major problem was a modern day conundrum: I watched the modern TV version first.

I made a classic blunder, although who can really resist anything on the BBC?? In fact, watching the TV mini-series inspired me to read the classic in the first place. But it ruined the mystery of the novel. I knew what was going to happen to Pip, Estella and dear Joe. The secret behind Pip's Great Expectations and his delusion that Estella was intended for him was no secret for me. That was why I found it so hard to pull the novel closer to me, to get into that excited reading-frenzy that great novels cause. Where you waste away hours in another world and when you emerge you're slightly surprised that the characters aren't standing in front of you. I already knew what was going to happen. All the suspense was spent before I even read the first page.

Still, I guess that doesn't matter as the end result is the same: I have finished reading Great Expectations. I can cross another classic off my list. I am acquainted with Mr Dickens and I find him quite satisfying, thank you very much. He can remain in the classic category, as far as I'm concerned.

Challenge #32: Eat a Cornish Pasty (preferably in Cornwall)

I ate something protected. I ate a Cornish Pasty.

I've had many pasties in my life, but never a Cornish one. Little did I know that I was stepping into controversial territory with this challenge. As it turns out, the Cornish pasty is now a protected species.

Recently, the Cornish Pasty has been granted Protected Geographical Indication status. This basically means that you can't call something a Cornish pasty unless:
- it follows a traditional recipe (beef or mince, swede, potato and onion with a light peppery seasoning)
- it is in a distinctive 'D' shape and is crimped on the SIDE (not the top!)
- it is made in Cornwall

Fair enough I say. Although, it does make me wonder about the 'French' fry.

So, being the modern lady, I googled 'best places for Cornish pasties' and found a list. Luckily, one of those places was in village we were planning to visit. So I dragged my parents down some street in Looe to find 'Sarah's Pasty Shop'. Guess what is sold there? You got it. French fries.

After purchasing our pasties, we walked down to the water's edge to enjoy them. I'm not sure how 'traditional' it was of me to cover mine with tomato sauce but hey, it tasted good.

The pastry really was the highlight. Ridiculously golden, thick, yet light. Crunchy. Not sure about the insides but it was fairly tasty. I don't think I'll be rushing out for another one. In fact, the idea of one makes me feel slightly ill. Glad I only got a medium one...

Aside from a slight nauseated feeling, my pasty challenge left me with some interesting facts about pasties. For example, pasties have existed for 200 years and were originally eaten by poorer families and working men in particular. The crimping on the side made a handy handle (ha!) for tin miners and was discarded afterwards because of the arsenic in the mines.

Part of the Cornish identity and now a protected species. Not a bad effort for the pasty really. And not a bad way to fill a hungry stomach on a windy spring day by the sea.

Challenge #22: Participate in a Pub Quiz

Who doesn't love a good pub quiz? You get to show off when you know things (even if they are few and far between), work as a team and drink beer while you do it!

I chose The Goat in Clapham for this particular challenge. They do a regular Monday pub quiz and are well known for their food. I have to say that they didn't disappoint on either factor.

The Goat had made their pub quiz a bit more interesting by awarding extra points for the 'best decorated goat' and a prize for the best team name. We ended up being called "Get your goat, you've pulled" which apparently is a play on the line "Get your coat, you've pulled" which basically means a guy has managed to con a girl into going home with him. According to my housemate anyway, I'd never heard it before. And we didn't win the best team name so maybe the quiz master hadn't either...

We also didn't get the extra points for our 'Where's Goat?" version of the goat. We all felt robbed.

Needless to say, we didn't come last. We came second last. This was even more embarrassing considering that one of the rounds was 'Australia' and 3 of us were Australian...

I did learn some new things though. Did you know that the largest structure built by organisms is The Great Barrier Reef? Or that the quiz master was born in New South Wales?

Love a good pub quiz.

Challenge #38: Picnic at Hampstead Heath

Sunshine in London is more precious than water during a drought. So when the sun does make an appearance Londoners all flock to the amazing parks and commons in the city.

Hampstead Heath is one of those havens. On a sunny day it is packed with people who are picnicking or throwing gigantic frisbees (well, someone did on the day I was there).

As soon as it was obvious that the sun was staying out, I left the house in - shock horror - a t-shirt! This is a sign of truly warm weather in London. (A total freak, it went back to its usual chilly temperatures by 5pm). After grabbing a roll from a supermarket, I met a couple of friends in the park for a picnic. Admittedly, I usually go to more effort than buying a pre-made roll, however on this day I just wanted to be in the sun. A sign that I'm becoming a real Londoner.

I didn't see a lot of the heath in the end, just enjoyed the warmth and the lake, as well as some good conversation with my friends. Which is the whole point of the heath I think. I will definitely go back there and have a better explore but for now I think I can deem this challenge completed!

Challenge #34: No caffeine for a week

Addiction: Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance.

Sadly, I think this challenge has been the most difficult so far.

It's interesting because so many look down on people with addictions, yet everyday millions of people 'need' to have their morning coffee. That is addiction, my friends. And giving up is painful.

Literally painful. The first day of my caffeine free week I thought I was dying. Splitting headache, irritable, tired. I was Miss Crabby Pants with a headache on top. And no amount of painkillers numbed the pain. (And yes, I do acknowledge the fact that I used one drug to get over another drug...)

The second day was the same. And the third. By the fourth day my sanity had started crawling back into my brain. By the fifth I was almost back to normal.

Actually, I should probably admit that this challenge has lasted two extra days because on my second day I bought and consumed a drink without thinking. Iced Tea. Despite the fact that I doubt 'Black Tea Extract' has very much caffeine in it, I decided that I needed to do the two extra days to really deem this challenge complete.

So I guess the question everyone is asking is: when are we going for coffee? Well, not any time soon. Addiction, of any sort, is not anyone's friend. So I'm keeping the coffee for special occasions for the moment.

Tea? Now that's another story. That's not really an addiction... It's a national past time!

Challenge #52: Watch 'Withnail and I'

This challenge stems from a hamster named 'Jeff Wode'.

Intrigued by this name, I soon discovered that he was briefly mentioned in the film, 'Withnail and I'. And so I decided that I needed to see this classic British film.

Set in Camden (although I recognised none of the scenery), two out of work actors, Withnail and Marwood (what is with the names in this film?!), decide to go to the country for a break from their non-existent work lives.

That's about all there is to the film itself. There is also the weird 'Uncle Monty' who pays a surprise visit and spends most of the time hitting on Marwood (who doesn't do a very good job a repelling his affection I don't think). They drink a lot and Withnail goes off on ridiculous rants. Also they have no wellingtons so they wear plastic bags on their feet. Genius idea!

Highlight was definitely the 'Jeff Wode' part, an athlete who was taking anabolic steroids and probably has "huge balls" according to Withnail.

A fairly easy challenge to complete really, but I think if it wasn't a challenge I would have switched the film off very soon after the famous 'Jeff Wode' part. I'm sure there was some deeper meaning, but Sunday evening is not the time to find one.