[kj] Dream of Wintergardens

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This is my account of my afternoon before the first Killing Joke gig in Berlin in 2008.

In Berlin I wondered north from Checkpoint Charlie. I found myself near the zoo where the poor animals are imprisoned in tiny enclsures with no crime on their record. The emus reminded me of Paul Fergusson, and near the railway station was a Judas Goat. This was the southern extremity of a large beautiful park known as Tiergarten. I crossed the river and gave some coins to a young lady playing classical violin. For a while I relaxed under the trees. Then I carried on north and found a huge roundabout in the centre of the park. In the middle was a tall column with a golden angel at the top. It was possible to go underground in a subway and reach the central column. As I reached the end of the tunnel I switched on my walkman loaded with a tape of "Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!" and a couple of Come songs and it kicked in halfway through BUTCHER. As I emerged from the tunnel, I saw the angel towering above as Jaz sang, "Butcher the womb and expect her to
 bear." For a couple of Euros it was possible to climb the spiral stairs to the top of the tower where the view across the park and the city where spirit was spared was stunning. There was a small museum at the base of the tower and I navigated it to the tune EXIT andbegan my ascent listening to THE HUM. It was dead funny to hear, "Slowly Slowly All Fall Down" as people walked past me down the stairs in the opposite direction. At the top of the tower EMPIRE SONG kicked in and I stayed up there until closing time gazing at the inspiring view of promised lands and fields as the sun went down. The last song I listened to up there was appropriately WINTERGARDENS and I descended in silence. Back in the subway I listened to AGE OF GREED and sang along at the top of my voice, listening to the amazing echoes under the busy autobahn. Then I retraced my steps, every direction leading to TURN TO RED. PssYCHE sped me faster and faster back to the station and I
 jumped on a train south to Columbia Hall for the WARDANCE.

Well, it was a little better as a warm up to a Killing Joke than some drinks in a London pub!