Category: Kolumne

Das Rad ist jetzt auf seinen Weg nach London,und ich habe nicht nur 20 Euro gespart, sondern auch Güte und Hilfsbereitschaft erlebt die mir schon fast fremd war.

Morgen schicke ich noch ein zweites Päckchen nach London, es wird leer sein, nur mit Berliner Luft gefüllt. Die verteile ich dann nach Bedarf in London, damit die Leute sich
gegenseitig “Berliner” liebevolle Gefälligkeiten antun.

I left my wheel and went on my mission to find that box. First I targeted the bicycle shop near the station. To my surprise I was not told off for asking, but the assistant politely regretted that he had recycled all left over boxes on the preceding day. So I tried the flower shop, but the boxes were to thin. Next was the other bicycle shop on Friedrichshagen’s main road. “You are lucky,” I was told. “Tommorow we get lots of deliveries. If you like we can keep you a an empty cardboard box!” A favour without demanding anything back, or having to moan about me asking. How rare was that in London. I went back to the post office to pick up my wheel and post two postcards. I thanked the postal assistants for their kind ways and helping me, but they seemed a little surprised. They only did what they would do to anyone, help you to not waste hard earned money. On top I was given a note with the permitted sizes and the rates to help me later. Later the wife of the colleague with whom I stayed argued that the postal officers are supposedly not always that nice. I could not help but thinking that perhaps it was my English tweet suit that made the difference. Perhaps it reminded people of that long forlorn style of English politeness? Or perhaps those who live in Berlin permanently fail to take notice of the good natured ways of their fellow local men and women in their expectation for nothing from anyone?

When I collected my box on the following day from the cycle shop I discovered a note at its bottom. I thought it had been left there, a remainder from its previous use, but I found it was directed at me. It read: “You may find that your box is a little large, but given a little bit of love, it can be transformed into a smaller box.”

The wheel has now been posted at its promised 20 Euro saving, but I think tomorrow I should send another parcel to London. Completely empty, with its only contents being a good dose of Berlin air. I shall then distribute this air in London as needed with the aim of helping Londoners to do loving small Berlin-style favours to each other.