A legend has returned
2012-01-11: Hello everybody!
I have already sent you brief but heartfelt best wishes for the new year through Facebook, but now here are a bit more elaborate greetings and detailed news about my new life in my new home. So: I hope you had fun on New Year's Eve and wish you all a great 2012!
The beginning of the new year was somewhat unusual for me, because we all stepped out of the house and onto the street at midnight to set off some firecrackers ... and we were all alone. Yes, none of our neighbours was outside, so we couldn't wish them a happy new year. In Germany, everyone goes into the streets at midnight to greet everyone else, whether you know them or not. But this wasn't the case now. I don't know if you just don't do this kind of thing in England, or if maybe our neighbours had gone downtown, where the big parties were, or whether they don't celebrate the new year on this day because they use a different calendar. After all, London is very multi-cultural.
That was a bit of a pity, because we try to take part in the social life as much as possible here. For instance, our little one is now in a baby swim group. I went there once and it's really funny when they're belting out toddler songs in English - splish, splash, splosh!
It's very liberating, anyway, how much at ease you can be in public here. You may have read that I've given an interview to German journalists along the banks of the river Thames when suddenly a young Spanish couple asked me to take a photo of them, with Big Ben in the background. That was a nice experience, because usually it's the other way round and somebody is asking to take a picture of me. But over here you're not being recognised everywhere - and that's refreshing.
Unfortunately we've hardly found time so far to really check out the city. We couldn't even do the normal tourist programme. I mainly get to see sights such as Big Ben or the London Eye when I'm giving interviews like that and we got to places where the photographers can take typical London pictures.
This lack of time has, of course, to do with our schedule. We don't have a winter break and also played over the holidays. On the one hand it is a lot of fun, because the atmosphere at the grounds is particularly great for those games, as the fans truly soak up the game. But as an athlete you lose all sense for the festive season. The tranquility you normally associate with christmas isn't there, you're constantly focused, always in your tunnel, and gear everything towards the games. It is very special - but that's exactly why I'm here, to experience this!
However, we did have the family feeling of the past years, because my family came over to London for the holidays, so we didn't miss anything in that regard. My body, though, was missing the break it was used to. I already felt something was not quite right during the games on December 31 and January 2, but I gritted my teeth and hung in there. But after the Fulham game I had to rest, because I'd caught something. So your body simply takes a break all by itself and demands a period of rest.
That was one reason why I didn't play on Monday and instead stayed at home to give my body complete rest. And so I sadly didn't see Thierry Henry's unbelievable comeback live at the Emirates. Amazing. It had already been an experience for me when he came and trained with us to stay in shape. Then the manager announced he would be a team-mate. And now he's also team-mate who decides games for us! I repeat: amazing. A legend has returned, there's no other way to put it.
I hope I'll be able to tell you about more successes and incredible moments like this one when you next hear from me.
In the meantime, take care and all the best!
Yours, Per
I have already sent you brief but heartfelt best wishes for the new year through Facebook, but now here are a bit more elaborate greetings and detailed news about my new life in my new home. So: I hope you had fun on New Year's Eve and wish you all a great 2012!
The beginning of the new year was somewhat unusual for me, because we all stepped out of the house and onto the street at midnight to set off some firecrackers ... and we were all alone. Yes, none of our neighbours was outside, so we couldn't wish them a happy new year. In Germany, everyone goes into the streets at midnight to greet everyone else, whether you know them or not. But this wasn't the case now. I don't know if you just don't do this kind of thing in England, or if maybe our neighbours had gone downtown, where the big parties were, or whether they don't celebrate the new year on this day because they use a different calendar. After all, London is very multi-cultural.
That was a bit of a pity, because we try to take part in the social life as much as possible here. For instance, our little one is now in a baby swim group. I went there once and it's really funny when they're belting out toddler songs in English - splish, splash, splosh!
It's very liberating, anyway, how much at ease you can be in public here. You may have read that I've given an interview to German journalists along the banks of the river Thames when suddenly a young Spanish couple asked me to take a photo of them, with Big Ben in the background. That was a nice experience, because usually it's the other way round and somebody is asking to take a picture of me. But over here you're not being recognised everywhere - and that's refreshing.
Unfortunately we've hardly found time so far to really check out the city. We couldn't even do the normal tourist programme. I mainly get to see sights such as Big Ben or the London Eye when I'm giving interviews like that and we got to places where the photographers can take typical London pictures.
This lack of time has, of course, to do with our schedule. We don't have a winter break and also played over the holidays. On the one hand it is a lot of fun, because the atmosphere at the grounds is particularly great for those games, as the fans truly soak up the game. But as an athlete you lose all sense for the festive season. The tranquility you normally associate with christmas isn't there, you're constantly focused, always in your tunnel, and gear everything towards the games. It is very special - but that's exactly why I'm here, to experience this!
However, we did have the family feeling of the past years, because my family came over to London for the holidays, so we didn't miss anything in that regard. My body, though, was missing the break it was used to. I already felt something was not quite right during the games on December 31 and January 2, but I gritted my teeth and hung in there. But after the Fulham game I had to rest, because I'd caught something. So your body simply takes a break all by itself and demands a period of rest.
That was one reason why I didn't play on Monday and instead stayed at home to give my body complete rest. And so I sadly didn't see Thierry Henry's unbelievable comeback live at the Emirates. Amazing. It had already been an experience for me when he came and trained with us to stay in shape. Then the manager announced he would be a team-mate. And now he's also team-mate who decides games for us! I repeat: amazing. A legend has returned, there's no other way to put it.
I hope I'll be able to tell you about more successes and incredible moments like this one when you next hear from me.
In the meantime, take care and all the best!
Yours, Per
