Day 33: 40 years in the Wilderness

Someone likened where we are now in the negotiations to the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. That's an absolutely apt description. Although I really hope this does not go on for 40 years... 

Today's photo was taken when Angeline was done for the day, while I had hours more of discussions going around in circles to endure. I'm guessing that explains her look of absolute glee! 

My outfit: 

Grey shift dress from a shop in NEX

Dusty pink lace blazer from a flea market

Angeline's outfit: 

Top from Loft (on sale! I love sales!)

Burgundy cardigan from Uniqlo

Pants from Zara

Shoes from Bangkok

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at 4:03 AM

Day 32: Mobile Kitchen

I made my fried rice today. Best meal option in the Maritim Bonn in my opinion.

I firmly believe that decent comfort food is very important for survival in such situations. I always think about setting up an Asian food stall at the conference venue every time I go for negotiations. I am pretty sure I would make more money doing that, with shorter working hours. That is unless the negotiations are held in Bangkok. The food there is fabulous. 

Next on the menu of Gan Ann's kitchen is macaroni soup (hopefully). Anyone wanna place orders?

Anyway, here are our outfits for the day. Ignore the slightly dazed eyes. It was taken at the end of a long day.

Mine: 

Brown dress from Primark

Grey blazer from a flea

Belt free with a pair of pants

Angeline's:

Printed dress from Dorothy Perkins

Blazer from Zara

Ballet flats from New Look (5 pounds!!!)

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at 9:19 PM

Day 31: a Walk in a Park

With a tiny sliver of free time in the morning, we headed out to get some sun in the nearby park. 

What a glorious day. 

It is just a 5minute walk away from the hotel but it was a different world. The sky was blue, swans were in the pond, kids were running around having fun, families were having picnics. We really should have our negotiations outside instead. Possibly with a picnic basket :)

My outfit:

Black tank top from Mauritius

Black pants from G2000

Sunset scarf

(I had a black blazer on during the negotiations of course)

Angeline's outfit:

White top from Banana Republic (on sale!)

Skirt from Dorothy Perkins

Belt that came free with a pair of pants

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at 6:20 PM

Day 30: On the Right Track?

I spent today in meetings where I didn't understand what was happening, while waiting for a meeting that did not happen. Truly the pinnacle of productivity.

Today's outfit picture was taken at the tram tracks right outside our hotel/conference venue.

Mine:
Red dress from a flea market
Black jacket with sequin details from Bangkok
Cream scarf from my mom
Black tights

Angeline's:
Jacket from Primark (We all love Primark!)
Pearls from Bangkok
Pants from Zara

The tram tracks run right through our hotel and my room, is directly above it. Here's the view from my room.

Why anyone would build a hotel directly over tram tracks, or vice versa is beyond me. But thankfully, the hotel has pretty good windows, so instead of a deafening roar from the tram passing by, I just hear a gentle rumbling, which I've so far been able to sleep though. 

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at 6:09 PM

Day 29: Two is Better Than One

Meet my friend Angeline.

When I first joined this crazy process, she told me, that the key to surviving it was finding friends you could connect with. Over the last 2 years, she has been one of those who have kept me sane through the insanity that is negotiations. 

During this trip, we are doing the Different Outfit Everyday challenge together :) 

Since it was the first official day of the negotiations, we were all suited up. Here are our outfits:

Mine: 

Grey suit from OAMC from a flea market (one of my best buys! The tag was still on it)

Sunset scarf from a friend

Black leather shoes from Tangs

Angeline's:

Black blazer from Zara

Pleated skirt from ASOS

Black leather flats that she bought (in two colors!) online

One of the things we do to keep sane during our long negotiations trips is to cook our comfort food together. It has evolved from the primitive adding hot water to cup noodles, to what we have today:

Instant noodles with eggs, broccoli, mushrooms, bak kua and seaweed. The ultimate.

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at 1:06 PM

Day 28: It's a Beautiful Day

Looks like doing daily posts is not going to be an easy thing while at negotiations. Here's yesterday's outfit:
Pink cardigan
Black knitted top, a hand me down
Grey pencil skirt with lace details a hand me down

It was a beautiful day out with the sun shinning through the cold, so we took the lunch hour to head to town. Even though all the shops were closed , we stumbled upon a fire department fair. A whole range of old and new fire engines were on display. I was just pleased to be out in the sun :)

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at 6:35 PM

Day 27: Brrrrrr

"In Germany, summer happens only in the calendar"

That pretty much sums up today. I was in Bonn for negotiations in May last year, but I was expecting the weather this time around to be much warmer since it's June. So I packed for 15-20 degree weather, with mostly skirts and dresses. Alas, as usual, this sunny island girl was not sufficiently prepared for the chilly weather here in the pseudo-summer. Thankfully, we are stuck in the building all day (we are staying in the hotel where the conference is happening), so I don't have to brave the cold.

Here's today's outfit:

Orange dress, I can't remember where from
Green cardigan from Bangkok
Cream scarf from my mom's closet
Black leather heels from Tangs Studio

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at 11:03 PM