This is the year I moved to Hamburg for good, saying goodbye to friends and family in the UK, some of whom I would probably not see again. It was a big step for me but a necessary one. Gatti and I had discussed our options over the previous two years and it had become clear to us that staying in the UK was the least favourable alternative in terms of income, having a support network, and lifestyle.
By the time I arrived in February 2011, Gatti had found both a flat and a well-paying job. Even Tigger had settled in without any problems, although I think he probably missed his garden. Gatti had also established our presence in the local hostelry, the “Narzissen Eck” which, rather conveniently, was within 50 metres of our front door!
The Narzissen Eck was the meeting place for our Sparclub (a bit like a Christmas club in the UK, but with beer!). There were lots of social events taking place in the pub, like the one below which I and my fellow prisoner Keith (sadly now no longer with us) attended shortly after we broke out of jail.
The first year in Hamburg wasn’t all fun and games though. For several weeks during that first Spring, I was enrolled in a language school where I attempted to learn the intricacies of German grammar. Not an entirely successful endeavour, but it did improve my language skills to a certain extent. I have since been told by many of our German friends that my German is very good, but I suspect they are being kind. In any event, German grammar is still one of life’s great challenges as far as I am concerned.