Britta's Letters from her life divided between city-life in German's capital Berlin and life in a Bavarian village

Sunday 12 July 2020

Danish Pastry



Dear You,

today only a short letter from Yours Truly. 
See the little Danish pastry - I walk an extra mile to get them from that baker, have to choose between three different fillings, cherry is very tasty too, as good as this vanilla pud with tangerine - so let's take them all.

I send you the photo because on the plate (which I love dearly - have only two left) the pastries are so tiny - that reminds me of the smaller scale most things were in the past.

Nowadays the cookies have the size of a cow pat - the popcorn comes in huge buckets, size of an elephant foot, and many people swell like balloons.

Take as many of these little delicacies as you want (a man needs at least three), there are more if you wish - but just stop a minute before you take the next - you don't have to scrape your plate obligingly just to make the sun shine tomorrow (that's what the told us when I was a child - a plate not cleaned meant rain tomorrow).

Enjoy your sunny Sunday!

Yours Truly
Britta




Friday 10 July 2020

This one is for Geo.



Dear Geo., 

on your blog "Trainride Of The Enigmas" you wrote about that haunting experience in your garden, "Pumpkin Demon" (scroll down on the right to reach it, 6 days ago) and I am so glad that Norma was able to take a stunning photograph of it.

I asked you if I am allowed to draw that little monster - and here it is:

Pum P. Kin. 

You might have heard more of his distant cousin - who lives under the name of  Potem P. Kin
- and that says it all... 
Over-zealous he added one "P" too much, sometimes writing it out into Pjotr, claiming that his roots clung to noble Russian soil, (his knowledge of Russian aristocracy is ... erm... a bit weak, and only by  hearsay) You remember when once he tried his luck as an architect? The customers admired the beautiful fronts of the houses - but entering they were not content, too much fresh air...
His newest projects are different versions for Cindarella's pumpkin coach, digital of course.

So, you see, there is a vast difference to Pump P. Kin, who is a friendly and honest creature.

But it is easier to tell about the bad guys!   :-)

Yours truly,
Britta 



Tuesday 7 July 2020

Stormy Weather



Dear You,

Look what happened, twice!
The wind smashed the great pot of oleander - the oleander survived (well, he has a long practice from clinging to the centre strip of the autostradas in Italy...) but the pots--- not...

For weeks now we have a very strange wind, hot, it reminds me of the short story of Raymond Chandler, "Red Wind".

"There was a desert wind blowing that night. It was one of those hot dry Santa Anas that come down through the mountain passes and curl your hair and make your nerves jump and your skin itch. On nights like that every booze party ends in a fight. Meek little wives feel the edge of the carving knife and study their husbands' necks. Anything can happen. You can even get a full glass of beer at a cocktail lounge."




To strengthen my jumpy nerves I started drawing again - since I call it "illustrating" I love it more, because that takes away the stress of higher aspirations. I am not an artist as Rachel or Tom or Cro - just an amateur who knows quite well that I paint way to precise, use far too small brushes (but have a good eyes for colour), and as the storm blew me a twig from a plane tree in front of my feet, I used it for "my little daubs", as Miss  Mapp always put it, looking in the hope for getting approval. 
She - not me!   :-) 


I always forgot to ask: Do you draw as a hobby? Or how do you use your creative talent?

Yours truly, 
Britta


Thursday 2 July 2020

Intoxicated by the smell of limes

photo Britta 


Dear You, 

These days Berlin smells like a heavily perfumed woman - the lime trees flower and their honey-sweet smell comes into every room - wonderful!
I'm glad that I am here at this time! 

"Frau Toni" is a perfume manufactory in Berlin as you know, because you once asked me which perfume I wear, and other than my friend Hildegard I do not keep that as "TOP SECRET". So you know that I use No. 37 - "Violet" - which was the perfume of Marlene Dietrich - and is not half as heavy as it sounds.
(By the way: this is in Germany the only perfume that contains violet - you have to travel to Paris to get one from Serge Lutens)

And this "Frau Toni" has also created an air freshener (perfume for a room - which I normally detest) that is called "Berlin" - and is limetree-flower smell in a bottle - heaven!

Outside I often see bees or bumble bees that lie on the ground - if you bend and listen carefully you'll here them bawl songs as

                      "Let's go for a drink, forget it from now,
                       Put it behind you, I think it's your round.
                       Cause you're my mate and I will stand by you,
                       You're my mate and I will stand by you...." 
Right Said Fred - so help that little totally pissed little mate on a place where no-one might trod upon it...

Yours truly, 
Britta