I've been having some epic fun recently, and expanding my friend circle outside of the two people (however lovely they might be!) I have been spending almost all of my time in Berlin with! I have 3 separate blog posts to write and post, so expect an inundation in the next day or 3!

First of all, there was the small matter of my first visitor from England: my brother.

Starting as I mean to go on, I fell asleep for too long and woke up just 20 minutes before my brother was landing at the aiport. The airport that was an hour away. And I needed a shower. So, knowing that my big bro was perfectly capable of handling himself, I quickly provided instructions on getting most of the way to my house. I then picked him up from the station that is 5 minutes away from my house, and we began his time in Germany the only way acceptable - with a currywurst (curry sausage).That night we went to Kreuzberg for a Sri Lankan curry (preparing him for his move to the Far East!) and then to Marietta Sundstrom (or „that cafe bit in front of SchwuZ" as it is more commonly known) for a couple of beers, then to SilverFuture for a couple more. A quiet first night in Berlin.I still managed to feel rough the next day - not used to the beer after being in Berlin so long.

Thursday, when we woke up, required a trip to the supermarket for teabags, sugar and a toothbrush. Then it was all-you-can-eat sushi, and I couldn't really eat a lot but I tried my best to get value for money! After that we chilled in a coffee shop, where my brother was pleasantly surprised to hear the music of some of his old students (known as „The XX" - they're the next big thing apparently!) playing. The coffee shop workers were also suitably impressed with this. I also had my first coffee, as part of an attempt by my brother to make me civilised and grown up. Later, it was off to the very kitsch bar Roses (that of pink furry walls, tassles,pictures of Mary with spinning colours circling her halo...) for some drinks. Again we ended the night at SilverFuture with some vodka shots and a guy who looked like Jesus. A bit.

Friday we went shopping at Alexanderplatz (including another coffee - go me!) and a haircut. And it didn't turn out as a mullet, so good news all round! Then after waiting all night (because you have to do that in Berlin!) we went to a place called Haus B, apparently the only place with normal music that night (if we had wanted techno, however...). Being very wary about the place having been warned that it is terrible and full of „provincial idiots" with „very low IQs", I was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and looks of the pretty gays. Though the night ended with vomiting, Red Bull-theft (not me this time!), kissing, my brother needing a trip to hospital with half his finger hanging off, expensive taxi fares and phone bills, pointing, shouting, crying and not enough sleeping! But everyone needs a bit of adventure on a Friday night!

And to round off the trip, we awoke to realise the train to the airport we were meant to catch was 20 minutes ago. Somehow we still managed to make it, but I'm not sure how my brother got through airport security ok with that amount of blood on his jeans!

The first occasion of family in Deutschland didn't pass without incident, but we remained (mostly) in one piece, and fun was had! My brother is now in India somewhere near Nepal, but if he can survive Berlin then I'm sure he'll do fine out there where they're much friendlier and there's less broken glass around!