No victory for England

Victory, the gilded statue on top of the Victoria Memorial

London's roads were nearly empty yesterday and everybody seemed to be in the pub watching the game. I went to the supermarket to get some prosecco for dinner at my former flatmates' flat when I saw the 4:1 result and felt sorry for the disappointed England fans.

However, most of them accepted the result - even my coursemates, whose tongue-in-cheek remark on Friday had been that I shouldn't dare to come into class on Monday, accredited the victory of the German team.

Duji, Emma, Justine and I had a great dinner yesterday. Duji cooked a delicious Indian menu for us and enjoyed chatting along. On my way back home I saw a fox running on the pavement of my street.

I'd known that there are many foxes in London, but didn't expect so see one myself. My coursemates told me today that there are many of them around and that they are a real nuisance in their mating season earlier in the year. They scream like a woman and keep you from sleeping at night.

Who's afraid of three lions?

Yesterday's title of The Sun

Lions are everywhere right now, as three lions are the symbol of the English football national team, and the German national team visited a wildlive reserve in South Africa as a relaxing treat before meeting their arch rivals today.
On my way to the entrance of the Bank of England yesterday, I came across a number of lions on its outer wall. The bank and the museum opened their doors yesterday and members of the staff showed visitors around. I saw the most beautiful governor's office - with a table that has been used by all governors since the 17th century - and the first floor Parlours, saw the first banknotes from 1664 and lifted a 13-kilogram gold bar worth more than 330,000 Pounds.

In the evening, I went with Duji to a gig of World musicians who are active in the struggle against poverty. In the Cargo Club in Shoreditch, we listened to the music of Carmen Souza who has a great voice and an even greater smile on her face, and Talvin Singh, who is a great Tabla musician and has modernised the use of this traditional Indian instrument.

Enjoy

Advise for a happy life - seen in a window in Brighton

A lovely sunny weekend ahead. A great match between two ambitious teams expected on Sunday. Lots of activities going on in this fascinating city and - I'm sure - elsewhere too. So don't expect a long blog from me today.

Just enjoy life, as I'm going to do.

England's got the World Cup fever

The least interesting thing for me is sports, especially football. Meanwhile England is preparing for the "must-win game with Slovenia" (Guardian) today.

I can't see much difference between life in England and in Germany during such an event as the WorldCup. Fans rather meet in pubs than on public viewing places. Some pubs even offer a free pint for every match England wins.

Betting is another hobby of the British we don't know much about in Germany. Bet365 Bookmakers, for example, have little doubt about the outcome of today's match and quote an England win at 4/9 odds on with the Slovenians only at 13/2. To be honest, I don't really know what that means as I'm German and not familiar with betting at all.

And shops use the event as motive for their window decoration and special offers (see pictures of two shop windows in St James's). There has even been a bride's dress spotted with a huge red cross on it.

However, every nation wants to see its team winning. I'll definitely keep my fingers crossed for both England and Germany later today.

When the moon shines on Big Ben

Some days ago I made a long detour after having attended the recording of the BBC Radio 7 show Newsjack. My way led me across Westminster Bridge and along the Thames when the sun set and Big Ben was lit up.

Many tourists waited for the right moment to take a picture of the Houses of Parliament with Big Ben and the bridge as it's such a beautiful sight.

Strictly speaking, "Big Ben" refers only to the bell that strikes the hour with its famous melody. My guidebook - again - says it takes its name from either the former Commissioner of Works, Benjamin Hall, or a popular heavyweight boxer of the time, Benjamin Caunt.

At the school the final spurt has begun. We have to do even more assignments and everywhere I go I take my pocketbook with me. Today I went to the Magnificent Maps exhibition at the British Library which was much more interesting than I'd thought.

I then went to the 180th anniversary of Covent Garden and the open-air event West End Live on Leichester Square. Okay, that was for fun only.

On my way home I did some research on a leisure ground in Maida Vale. After dinner I will write these two articles (one review and one article on a sports related topic).

There are definitely better things to do on a Saturday night in London. Longing for the time after the exams.

Descendants of a noble present

In the 17th century, Charles II received some pelicans from the Russian ambassador. Their descendants still live in St James's Park.

Luckily another pair of animals, two crocodiles that once were owned by James I, haven't left any descandants. However, that's what my guide book says. And so far everything was correct.

This morning I went to the new galleries of the Museum of London to do some research on my travel feature that's due next Monday. The exhibition - recently re-designed for 20 million pounds - is excellent with lots of interactive features and surprising objects. Among them a prison cell from the 17th century and this beautiful lift, put into operation in 1928 at Selfridges.

This afternoon, after my sports journalism course, I went to 19 Princelet Street in the East End. It's a Huguenot house near Brick Lane that later housed a synagogue. Today it contains Europe's first museum on immigration.

The house is urgently at risk and volunteers aim to raise 3 million pounds to rescue it. It's open to the public on very few occasions - as in this week as it's Refugee Week from June 14-20.

What you don't say

Sometimes what you don't say is even more important than what you do say.

When I walked through St James's on Saturday, I came across this blue plaque. These signs commemorate famous people who've lived in a house or in a house on the very same site or an important historic events. I'd written a newsfeature about blue plaques for the course some weeks ago.

This plaque is suspicious as it doesn't say who Nell Gwynne was. Eleanor "Nell" Gwynne was in fact one of the earliest English actresses to receive prominent recognition, and a long-time mistress of King Charles II. According to Wikipedia she has come to be considered a folk heroine, with a story echoing the rags-to-royalty tale of Cinderella.

My guide book tells a nice story about her. The house she lived in (the one with the blue plaque; Pall Mall no. 79) had a garden which backed onto the grounds of St James's Palace so that she and Charles II could chat over the garden wall.

"It was from one of the windows overlooking the garden that Nell is alleged to have dangled her 6-year-old, threatening to drop him if Charles didn't acknowledge paternity and give the boy a title, at which Charles yelled out "Save the Earl of Burford!"; another, more tabloid-style version of the story alleges that Charles was persuaded only after overhearing Nell saying: "Come her, you little bastard", then excusing herself on the grounds that she had no other name by which to call him." (The Rough Guide to London, page 83)

Uniformity in uniforms

The first to appear: The mascot of the Irish Guards, an Irish Wolfshound, the world's largest breed of dog, and his keeper

It's the Queen's birthday today. Not the real one - that's 21 April - but the official one. It has long been the tradition to celebrate the Sovereign's birthday publicly on a day in the summer, when good weather is more likely. Time for Trooping the Colour, a huge parade in front of the Horse Guards Building.

The regiments take their turn for this honour in rotation. This year, the 1st Battalion, The Grenadier Guards, were parading.

I was stunned by the precision in which the guards marched and rode along The Mall. Every movement was syncronised, even that of the horses. However, some of the horses seemed to be quite nervous. Everything was very punctual although before the master of the ceremony could begin, a policewoman collapsed directly in front of me. She was revived and moved off for treatment.

In the Royal carriages I spottet Prince William and Camilla, Prince Andrew with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and - of course - the Queen and Prince Phillip (pictured above). Directly behind the Queen's carriage were Princess Anne and Prince Charles on horseback, but I failed to spot them.

The Queen didn't seem to be in a very good mood when she passed the spectators along The Mall. However, this was my chance to take some pictures of her.

The parade itself wasn't less precise. I had the chance to peek though the trees onto the parading space of the Horse Guards Building. Tickets were available only for those who'd applied for them in a ballot in March.

Breathtaking was the fly-over of the Royal Air Force (RAF). We all stood on The Mall when 29 aircrafts flew over our heads in very tight formations. Wonder how they did it. The last nine airplanes painted the colours of the Union Jack into the sky.

I went to a pub afterwards, strolled through St James's, had my favourite Custard Nata Tarte at Patisserie Valerie and went to see the West End musical Chicago, where I experienced the same precision I'd seen during the day.

Are we really so efficient?

Two Germans at the base of the memorial that commemorates another German, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Luckily enough, Germans have a very good image here in England. In my classmates' opinion Germans are very efficient. I even heard that we're supposed to be relaxed and easy-going. Berlin is often mentioned as the symbol of this supposed to be laid-back, creative lifestyle in today's Germany.

I don't know if that all is true. My impression is that if you want to proof something to be right you can always find the details to confirm it. I'm just glad we don't have to struggle with loads of negative prejudices.

Of course I come across many things I remember to be very different from the way we handle them back home. Recycling is one thing we Germans are much better in. Theatre is another thing. I can't stand people taking coats and bags, drinks and food into the theatre in England. Some even forget to switch off their mobile phones or send emails during the performance. Selling and buying houses and flats seem to be a hobby for British people. In every street there is at least one sign saying To Sell. Thank God all these aspects are quite minor and the things in England I favour prevail.

A very special birthday in Bremen

My mother among the family in front of Haus Ichon

Well done, Mami. That was a great day for the whole family and all your friends.

On 5 June we celebrated my mother's birthday in Bremen. The day started in manor Haus Ichon with a concert of the Bremer Kaffeehaus-Orchester and a tasty buffet. We then went to my parents' house to have coffee and cake in the garden. During the afternoon some close friends held humorous speaches, recited self-written poems and my brother Marcus, his son Bennett and daughter Annemieke performed a great TV news show on my mother's birthday party refering to her as Queen Marion.

My mother with my brother Christian and me (Photos: Günter)

Far too soon I had to leave Bremen again on Sunday afternoon. But London with all its attractions is doing its best to distract me from worrying too much. Just came home from another great evening at the West End. David Suchet, Zoe Wanamaker and Stephen Campbell Moore made All my Sons by Arthur Miller to an absolutely must-see.

The evening was a treat for working hard today on the first Live assignment for which each of us had to go out onto the streets of Maida Vale, find a news story and write a 150-word article in less than two hours. Luckily Ross was in a "good mood" and praised us all at the end.

Hello Kilburn

My new, spacious room in Alex' flat in Kilburn

Before I'm heading to school just a quick update. I moved into Alex' flat three days ago and already feel at home. We are in a small road in Kilburn, still in the Borough of Westminster, and it's just 0.4 miles to my school.

On Friday I'm flying to Bremen to attend my mother's birthday. As one isn't supposed to speak about a lady's age in public I won't tell you her age but it's a very special birthday as you might have guessed anyway. I'll be back to good old England on Sunday.