This past year has had its Ups and Downs but all in all it’s been a successful year.
But then again, I’m still hoping next year will be better!
So here’s what’s happened and what I’ve been up to in 2014.
January 2014
In January, I started renovating my new flat:
Living room wall painted and another wall stripped , ready for the new wallpaper. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Kitchen painted and shelves ready to go on the wall
Assembling IKEA furniture. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
I finished the first draft of my NaNoWriMo 2013 story The Bravery of the Soldier:
Finished my manuscript. At least the first draft. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
At the end of January, I visited my friend Ronni in Paris for a surprise birthday bash:
Notre Dame. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Conny & Ronni in Paris. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Basilique du Sacre Coeur in Montmartre. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Notre Dame Cathedral at night. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Shakespeare & Co. book store. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
February 2014
I officially moved into my new home. And yes, that is the actual wallpaper from 221b Baker Street in BBC’s Sherlock. I am a fan of the show, yes, but that wallpaper actually is a memory trigger for me, which is why I chose it. So I’ll never forget:
Finally got the bed assembled and mattress delivered. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Living room. Desk and cabinet in place. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Got the keys! Hallway table and a wallpaper that might be familiar to Sherlock fans. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Love my new living room, and the wallpaper! Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
March 2014
Goodbye to the long hair! It’s not been this short since Australia in 2007!
Shorter hair. Not had it above my shoulder since a hairdressing mishap in Australia in early 2007. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
April 2014
Got my 2013 NaNoWriMo novel The Bravery of the Soldier edited (for what felt like the 100th time), and got it printed and bound for me and my family & friends! So proud to finally hold it:
Holding a proper copy of my book for the first time! Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
A box full of my book! Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Ronni came to visit me for Easter and I showed her around Solingen, Cologne and Düsseldorf:
Conny & Ronni at Schloss Burg, Solingen. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Düsseldorf’s Media Harbour. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Cologne Cathedral. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Düsseldorf’s Rhine Tower. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Conny & Ronni in Cologne. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Düsseldorf and the shore of the Rhine. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
May 2014
I discovered Tripomatic and set about planning a trip to London:
Planning a trip to London. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Planning in the garden. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Tripomatic – making my own itinerary for London. Finished Result! Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Fernweh& Wanderlust at fernwehandwanderlust.org. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
July 2014
Took a stroll down memory lane at a Fairytale Forest (Märchenwald Ittertal):
Ittertal Märchenwald. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Fairytale Forest at Ittertal. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Inside Snow White’s hut. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Märchenwald Ittertal in Solingen. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Fairytale Forest. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
On 18th July, my good friend and university course mate Adam Montgomery passed away, aged 25. Farewell Adamski!
End of Year 1 picnic in Bitts Park, Carlisle, 2008. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Bowling with Adam 2009. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
My trip to London – the things I do for spectacular theatre performances, great shopping, Camden Town and Sceneframing!
Girl Meets Bug window at Selfridge’s. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Ready for London. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Whitehall seen from Trafalgar Square. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Speedy’s Café on North Gower Street. Fantastic wraps and the filming location of BBC Sherlock’s 221b Baker Street exteriors. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Camden High Street. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in Camden. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Nelson’s Column. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle window at The Sherlock Holmes Pub. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Charing Cross Underground Entrance. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Richard III – Martin Freeman live on stage at Trafalgar Studios, London. And I got to meet him afterwards! He’s my absolute favourite actor and has been since The Office!
Richard III starring Martin Freeman. Promotional poster by Trafalgar Studios
Martin Freeman and his fans after a Richard III performance. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Got to talk to Martin Freeman shortly and he signed my ticket. One Happy Fangirl. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Meeting Martin Freeman at the stage door after the show on 26th July 2014. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
August 2014
I was invited to join the Literaturwerkstatt Altenkirchen , a writing workshop 100km to the south of where I live:
Altenkirchen Street Art. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Altenkirchen Street Art . Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Got my hands on a ticket to see Benedict Cumberbatch live on stage starring as Hamlet at the Barbican Theatre, London next year! Tickets sold out in record time!!
Promotional poster: Hamlet at the Barbican, August – October 2015, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.
September 2014
I’m officially a student again! Signed up to do a Master of Arts degree in Cross-Cultural Communications at Horizons University, France.
Accepted as a Master of Arts student by distance learning. Horizons University, France. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Solingen holds a city-wide fleamarket every year called Zöppkesmarkt. This year, I had my own stall but still managed to buy 40 books.
Fleckenlecker Zöppkesmarkt 2014. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
Selten Selters, Zöppkesmarkt 2014. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
My Zöppkesmarkt / garage sale stall. Photo by Cornelia Kaufmann
At the very end of September, I started Study. Read. Write.
October 2014
I attended my first ever book reading as a participant, reading a scene from The Bravery of the Soldier (translated to German) in Altenkirchen.
Study. Read. Write. 