Kartoffel fest
(Preparing masses of food: Berlin, Germany)
Right at this moment I am taking time out from a lot of running around Berlin. Now that might sound like lots of fun (well it was) but it has also been a long day with no breaks, no lunch to speak of and a lot of frenzied activity. For those of you that don’t know, a friend from Berlin passed away in Glasgow last month and I am here in Germany to attend his Trauerfeier. Jochen began as a close friend of my German flatmate, Maz, but became a regular feature in our Glasgow lives, memorably gifting me impressive flowers each time he called at the flat. Trauerfeier translates literally as mourning party, but basically means a funeral. I think ‘party’ is certainly a better description in this case – there has been a distinctly genial and cheery approach to the whole affair and I have found myself at Maz’s side, deeply embroiled in the preparation for this event.
The day began relatively slowly with breakfast in the mid morning. We then embarked on a journey involving trams, then trains, then a bus to reach the Baumschulenweg crematorium where Jochen is residing currently. I will add photographs of this incredible building soon as its simplicity, resonance and scale impressed me more than I expected. It took around an hour from Maz’s house and at least four changes that I remember. Once we reached the crematorium, we were greeted affably by a gentleman in a dark suit and ushered into a room bristling with brooms, lights and wall mounted hand sanitizer dispensers. It was here we waited as if in a holding pen for him to return with Jochen’s coffin. Panic not – it was empty. We were there only to check it over and add some personal effects so that the coffin appears more personal. I was surprised to learn that the coffin had been sprayed a lurid, happy yellow. It looks almost too fun to fulfill its function. This done, we gave the building and chapel a once over, confirmed details for tomorrow’s service and thanked the gently smiling gentleman before making off into the long afternoon.
Another series of bus, rail and tram changes brought us back to the beginning where we met Maz’s mother buying groceries for the gathering that will take place in Jochen’s home after the service. This image shows how many potatoes we peeled for the colossal potato soup (in that enormous pan that takes two to lift now that it’s full). We three were dressed in matching aprons and peeling vegetables as if we were competing – time was against us. With no time for a proper lunch, we sped off once again to a tram, then the train to reach Jochen’s home. There we were meeting his family, close relatives and neighbours to organise proceedings. Since I technically don’t fall into these categories, and my German falls short of speech writing, I did the exhaustive job of documenting the apartment with a camera. After well over an hour, I felt I had hardly scratched the surface. More on that soon too…
By the time it reached 8pm, the talks finally dissolved into chat, I began to clear empty beer bottles and used glasses and we herded all the visitors out before locking up. After yet another cross city trek, we ended up back at the potato soup production line and assisted in tasting all the food, readied for the wake. The evening has been spent ironing, tying up loose organisational ends and laughing a lot to keep us from getting too serious. Maz and I have become a temporary tag team of project managers. More news soon. I’m exhausted, it’s almost 1am and we have an early start and more pan Berlin trekking tomorrow.
– Today Rosie is helping out, and also attending a mourning party in Berlin, Germany –
Thanksh Rosie for your aMAZing help! You are Incrediball!
Thanksch! It was a wonderful service and a truly lovely time spent with all manner of old and new friends. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.