Time to go home
Our last day in the city dawned bright and clear. We’d not planned to go very far but simply over to Leipzigerplatz to check off the one or two things which remained on our list.
We’d had a letter with news of enhanced CV protocols last evening and as we left the hotel, we noticed that one of the entrances - the one we normally use - was closed. Everyone entering and leaving the building had to use just the one entrance, where staff were making additional checks on all visitors. As residents, we’d already completed all the formalities and so were each given a wristband to allow us entry. I stupidly pulled mine a little tighter than I’d intended, but there was no way it was going to come loose. Aaagh!
All was quiet in the shopping centre on this Monday morning and we soon found what we were looking for and more: I was happy to find advent calendar number stickers that will work equally well in my December Journal. So much choice here and things we simply don’t see at home.
The other shop I wanted to visit was in the other section of the centre - across an open air walkway. My word, the wind whistled through there and it was really quite chilly out of the sun.
I was looking for a good craft shop I remembered from last time - Idee. But before we got there I spotted a familiar name… Cricut is a brand of digital cutter, similar to, but not as flexible as my Silhouette (my opinion!)
This appeared to be a Cricut store…of course, I had to take a look.
No sooner had we stepped inside than Laura, one of the assistants came over to greet us with a goodie bag each. This was their first day of opening and we were amongst their first customers. My hero decided that he would relax on one of the benches just outside the shop, leaving me to chat to Laura about the range of machines and their capabilities. My German was put to the test well and truly discussing different cutting processes, the variety of blades and the differences between them and yes, comparing the Cricut to my Silhouette (I came clean and owned up to being a user of the rival brand) The range of materials and machines was impressive, the samples equally so and had I been in the market for such a machine here I am sure I would have been very tempted indeed.
Coincidentally - or not! - the Idee store was next door. Noting that most of the goodies in the bags we’d been given were Idee products, it appears that this is a tie-in. Never mind. I can only wish for somewhere equally well organised with such an excellent range of products at home!
We’d arranged a late check out at the hotel but still needed to pack up the last few things and make our way to the airport.
Our flight was late, which meant a very late arrival back at home, especially since the motorway was closed too, resulting in a detour through Oxford. It was a shame that the special livery of the plane went broadly unnoticed in our eagerness to simply be on our way then.
I knew we should have taken the teleport option! (in our dreams, eh?)
