Ruby Grimshaw decides to wing it to Berlin

I had to buy a new printer recently. The old one was only three years old but apparently it is cheaper to get a new one than to mend an unreliable one. This seems so sad. It goes against all our theories of saving the planet by recycling and reducing our carbon footprint. My mother would have been horrified. In my childhood things were only bought if they were ‘built to last’. Anyway, with my new printer I was offered a free flight to a European city of my choice. By buying extra ink cartridges I would get two free tickets.

Friend G, (she of the teapots and queen of the Pilates class) said she’d love to come, but when I got my second choice, Prague, she said she’d rather go to Berlin. (I find some friends are more picky than others.) Berlin had been my first choice. I went there several years ago before Checkpoint Charlie was built over. So I made some enquires and found it was possible to change, but Berlin would be less ‘free’ and we would have to go in May instead.

“Being close does include sharing a bed”

I spent a long time on my computer selecting a suitable hotel and when I received the confirmation email found we had been given a ’comfort’ room which seemed to mean an extra big double bed. G and I have been friends for many years but being close does not include sharing a bed. I emailed back in my best German (B grade A Level, 1995, Varndean College) and asked if we could have twin beds. I expected a reply in English, reflecting their opinion of my skill in their language. I was delighted when a very polite message arrived in German, telling me that it was not possible at the moment but that they would keep my special request in mind. (I was delighted there was only one word I had to look up!) G says if they can’t give us a twin room we can always put a line of pillows down the middle of the bed and if I start to snore it will be easy for her to hit me with one.

I am keen to get my German going again and I intend to join a class. It would be nice to find a simple one with conversation practise only, but I know how they can start off gently, and then turn into a competition, with homework and presentations. My Italian classes went that way and I still feel guilty about giving them up.