bisschen blau

Colourmatching with the surroundings and the company. 

One time this summer, my parents left for a weekend of camping and I stayed in their house to work. This boy, too, got stressed from citylife in a small student room, and he came to visit me. We build an office outside and enjoyed the sounds of birds and cycling passerbys instead of the hectic noises of the city. It was the perfect weather. Warm enough to sit outside but not too warm that it makes you melt. Perfect.

BLAU 407 There is something so great about small dead animals on the street (my favourites are birds, mice and flat frogs). It started as my cats brought "presents" to the doorstep of dead birds and mice. It's kind of disgusting to see, but such a sweet guesture and quite fascinating as well. You don't really ever have time to study a bird or a mice when they're alive. It's strange how things can still be "cute" even though they're dead and slowly fading. We used to have an unborn horse in a jar in school. The most disturbingly disgusting and at the same time the cutest thing I've ever seen. These days I don't find so many flat frogs anymore, but they were always my favourite because they were so hard and 2D and became so abstract in a way. I would put them in the mailboxes of the kids I hated. 

We always moved houses every few years. There are 4 houses which I could call the places of my youth. I am quite happy we did this, because I enjoy some change every now and then and I am glad to have seen quite a few different ways of living (I have lived in an additional 6 different houses since I moved out). But I've also always been slightly envious of people who have lived in the same house since forever, because there are so many traces left of other times. Child's drawings on the walls, trees that once were little twigs you've planted yourself, posters of bands you once loved, but most of all a lot of living memories. And even if you don't know the exact memories.. You can sense them around you.  I dont think I could ever live in the same house for longer than 10 years or so, and I am not at all sorry for that. But I'm happy there are always people who can do so and are willing to have me over for a couple of days and allow me to take a peek into the history of their life. I think a house says a lot about somebody. 

On the Alps was an old house which we got all to ourselves. They used to make cheese there, but it now only served as guesthouse. We had to make a way through knee-high plants which started to take over the stone stairs. In the very top was a small wooden "appartment" with a little kitchen with an old oven and a table. Through a very small door, crawling-sized, we could climb to the bedroom. A bunch of matrasses, a broomstick and some books. I hang up some pictures of bears in the snow and a man with a mustach - and it immediately felt like home.  It always makes me happy to know that I can still find happiness in places where there is not really anything at all.. Just in case I end up homeless or wanting to be a hermit (I dont like that word, I prefer the dutch "Kluizenaar" because hermit sounds too much like termite or kermit the frog)

Hi! Do you see these two lovely lads? They are called Daniel and Marius and they are both German, but still really cool. They are about to visit New York City to photograph the smallest skyscrapers. Great plan. The only problem is that they still need a place to sleep from the 19th of august till the 23rd (and possibly also middle of september). Are you a nice person willing to host two nice boys for a night or two? Or do you know anyone who would? Please let me know! And spread the word :)

"We started our day in Munich with a typical "Weißwurst Frühstuck". Basically it is two white sausages that you unpeel from their white skin (which ends up as a little pile of used condoms on the side of your plate. Not very appealing when you're already busy trying to get over the fact that you're eating a white sausage in the morning), a lot of sweet mustard (this is very good!), a fresh brezel, and.. a white beer! It's the most ridiculous thing on earth, but it was a great start of our Munich day, and I was proud all day that I managed to eat at least one of the sausages!"

Munich has a river in the middle of the city. I was surprised how quiet it was (usually one would expect tons of people in such places, with crying babies and annoying teenagers). A great place to cool down your feet for a bit and relax.

From now on, I'll be counting cows before sleep. They are super relaxed even though machines are sucking their titties, they also dont get stressed out by their own bells, and they have numbers on their butts which helps with the counting when you're getting real sleeping. Cows are great. The sounds they make are also quite a bit like yawning. They are perfect for getting sleeping. 

I'm not counting sheep for sleep anymore. It's just not realistic. While trying to take some nice sheeppics, We first had to run all around them. Then they kept turning their butts to me and thinking I was going to murder them, so I had to wait a long time very quietly untill they got used to me, but there were so many biting mosquitoes that it was not fun. Sheep are stressing, buttshowing weirdos. You dont want them as a start of your dreams.

In the middle of nothing, one hour driving from the closest village, we stayed three days in the alps on this farm. Such a privilege!

The south of Germany is beautiful. I kept thinking I was in an episode of the teletubbies..

The day I left Hamburg was not as bad as it could've been because this boy was with me. As two kids in the backseat of the car with mummy and daddy driving. oh.

Finishing up my roll of film on the way to the photostore. I like dressing up for silly things like the 3 minute trip to the photostore.

This looked a bit like a ship, but it is in fact a metrostation on the way to a very lovely night with the sweetest people in the most beautiful house with the most delicious food.

I know it is not so special, but seeing a hotair balloon never fails to excite me. On calm summer nights I can see them floating by my window, over the city. When they are particulary close, I can even hear the flames. I vaguely remember some kind of "rule" that when a balloon accidentally lands in your backyard, you have to give them wine, or they have to give you wine, I dont remember. But I always like this idea. It is one of my favourite images in my mind: accidentally landing in someone's backyard. The man and woman of the house run out from the backdoor, a bit in shock. Two frenchlooking gentleman and a femme fatale gracefully step out of the balloon, holding up a cheeseplate and a bottle of champagne. The man and woman of the house light up and run inside to get a picnicblanket and some glasses, then they all cuddle up in the fallenover basket and eat the cheese and drink the wine.

The best thing about this weather is that you can wear woolen socks and sweaters, but also floaty pants and cheap shoes and no need for a coat.