Other people have definitely moved in now. Our bikes are not alone anymore in the bike shed and there are civilians to be spotted at least every second time I leave the house. We also met a neighbour who rang our doorbell. Obviously, they, like us, are still in the midst of kitting out their place and, hence, the request was for a 2.5 Allen key rather than a cup of sugar. Other people things are happening too. Part to our building is a community room and neighbours posted a note in the corridor saying that they would be in the common room with a drink to toast to the new year shortly after midnight today. Only one of us can go because the daughter will be asleep alone in our flat but I sincerely hope that we will get around to it and not just sleep through midnight like the last couple of years.

Still, my feeling of home has quickly become connected to spotting cranes rather than seeing neighbours. It does not matter whether I cycle, run or come home after a journey on the S-Bahn – seeing the cranes means I am almost home and I always marvel at their rather beautiful silhouettes against the sky.