Cheryl Howard
@cdngrrleh.bsky.social
🇨🇦 Toronto 🇩🇪 now Berlin | Founder of The Berlin Life | Help people find work in Germany | Feminist | Cat mom to two Polish rescues
Find me at https://bio.link/theberlinlife.
Find me at https://bio.link/theberlinlife.
Pinned
The Great Sick Leave Crackdown is Coming
Don't you dare take sick days. Life without electricity. Job search vibes in Germany. 16 funded German startups. How do you add value where AI can't? €6000 to purchase an EV. Free potatoes for all.
theberlinlife.substack.com
The German government thinks we're faking sick. Their fix? Axe phone sick notes.
This week's newsletter: the sick leave crackdown, €1.4B in startup funding, 21 companies hiring, and why 1 in 3 internationals wants to leave.
theberlinlife.substack.com/p/germany-phone-sick-notes-changes
This week's newsletter: the sick leave crackdown, €1.4B in startup funding, 21 companies hiring, and why 1 in 3 internationals wants to leave.
theberlinlife.substack.com/p/germany-phone-sick-notes-changes
I’m giddy just from my running my dishwasher for the first time in a month! 😅
January 26, 2026 at 10:54 AM
I’m giddy just from my running my dishwasher for the first time in a month! 😅
It's been one month without electricity in half my flat (outside of the more than one week without electricity in the building).
The worker is here, along with a young apprentice (cool to that!), and both are ever so nice.
Fingers crossed they can fix everything.
The worker is here, along with a young apprentice (cool to that!), and both are ever so nice.
Fingers crossed they can fix everything.
January 26, 2026 at 8:23 AM
It's been one month without electricity in half my flat (outside of the more than one week without electricity in the building).
The worker is here, along with a young apprentice (cool to that!), and both are ever so nice.
Fingers crossed they can fix everything.
The worker is here, along with a young apprentice (cool to that!), and both are ever so nice.
Fingers crossed they can fix everything.
The German government thinks we're faking sick. Their fix? Axe phone sick notes.
This week's newsletter: the sick leave crackdown, €1.4B in startup funding, 21 companies hiring, and why 1 in 3 internationals wants to leave.
theberlinlife.substack.com/p/germany-phone-sick-notes-changes
This week's newsletter: the sick leave crackdown, €1.4B in startup funding, 21 companies hiring, and why 1 in 3 internationals wants to leave.
theberlinlife.substack.com/p/germany-phone-sick-notes-changes
The Great Sick Leave Crackdown is Coming
Don't you dare take sick days. Life without electricity. Job search vibes in Germany. 16 funded German startups. How do you add value where AI can't? €6000 to purchase an EV. Free potatoes for all.
theberlinlife.substack.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:04 PM
The German government thinks we're faking sick. Their fix? Axe phone sick notes.
This week's newsletter: the sick leave crackdown, €1.4B in startup funding, 21 companies hiring, and why 1 in 3 internationals wants to leave.
theberlinlife.substack.com/p/germany-phone-sick-notes-changes
This week's newsletter: the sick leave crackdown, €1.4B in startup funding, 21 companies hiring, and why 1 in 3 internationals wants to leave.
theberlinlife.substack.com/p/germany-phone-sick-notes-changes
Reposted by Cheryl Howard
“Get it all on record now — get the films — get the witnesses — because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
January 24, 2026 at 9:24 PM
“Get it all on record now — get the films — get the witnesses — because somewhere down the road of history some bastard will get up and say that this never happened.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
Dwight D. Eisenhower, after visiting liberated concentration camps in April 1945
Me working on my newsletter today. I had some company. 🥺
January 24, 2026 at 10:04 PM
Me working on my newsletter today. I had some company. 🥺
In case the news is too much and you want to to bask in the glow of a legend
January 24, 2026 at 9:56 PM
In case the news is too much and you want to to bask in the glow of a legend
My emotional support cats (sitting beside me all day on their own chair while I work)
January 22, 2026 at 11:08 AM
My emotional support cats (sitting beside me all day on their own chair while I work)
Our building’s new WhatsApp group has really grown into something. 💕
We have sub-groups in English and German.
An elderly man needed to be rushed to the hospital today and a few residents went to help him and his wife while they waited for paramedics.
It’s become quite a lovely community.
We have sub-groups in English and German.
An elderly man needed to be rushed to the hospital today and a few residents went to help him and his wife while they waited for paramedics.
It’s become quite a lovely community.
January 21, 2026 at 9:11 PM
Our building’s new WhatsApp group has really grown into something. 💕
We have sub-groups in English and German.
An elderly man needed to be rushed to the hospital today and a few residents went to help him and his wife while they waited for paramedics.
It’s become quite a lovely community.
We have sub-groups in English and German.
An elderly man needed to be rushed to the hospital today and a few residents went to help him and his wife while they waited for paramedics.
It’s become quite a lovely community.
Just signed up for HBO Max ... in Germany. Is this even real-life?
We've been waiting on HBO Max for so long here. 😆
We've been waiting on HBO Max for so long here. 😆
January 20, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Just signed up for HBO Max ... in Germany. Is this even real-life?
We've been waiting on HBO Max for so long here. 😆
We've been waiting on HBO Max for so long here. 😆
A small win from the recent disaster activity at home. 🙌
I'm getting reimbursed for all of the food I had to throw out.
I'm getting reimbursed for all of the food I had to throw out.
a cartoon of a horse looking into a refrigerator with the words oh god written on the bottom
ALT: a cartoon of a horse looking into a refrigerator with the words oh god written on the bottom
media.tenor.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:14 PM
A small win from the recent disaster activity at home. 🙌
I'm getting reimbursed for all of the food I had to throw out.
I'm getting reimbursed for all of the food I had to throw out.
The news cycle is so rapid, wild, & horrible. I find myself doom-scrolling and being filled with an endless existential angst. We're not met to live like this. It's not healthy, nor helpful.
Working on changing how I consume news and use socials.
Any advice? Drop me a line with tips. :)
Working on changing how I consume news and use socials.
Any advice? Drop me a line with tips. :)
January 19, 2026 at 4:39 PM
The news cycle is so rapid, wild, & horrible. I find myself doom-scrolling and being filled with an endless existential angst. We're not met to live like this. It's not healthy, nor helpful.
Working on changing how I consume news and use socials.
Any advice? Drop me a line with tips. :)
Working on changing how I consume news and use socials.
Any advice? Drop me a line with tips. :)
Reposted by Cheryl Howard
It's official - electric car buyers in Germany can benefit from a state-backed subsidy in 2026 worth thousands of euros. Here's how much you can get depending on your income bracket.
How much money can you get towards buying an EV in Germany this year?
It's official - electric car buyers in Germany can benefit from a state-backed subsidy in 2026 worth thousands of euros. Here's how much you can get depending on your income bracket.
www.thelocal.de
January 19, 2026 at 4:28 PM
It's official - electric car buyers in Germany can benefit from a state-backed subsidy in 2026 worth thousands of euros. Here's how much you can get depending on your income bracket.
The past three days at home have been so nice! Slowly getting back into a rhythm.
The cats are happy. I’m cleaning like crazy, in some kind of OCD induced nesting like frenzy.
I always clean when I’m stressed. Feels good to just focus on manual work and being offline.
The cats are happy. I’m cleaning like crazy, in some kind of OCD induced nesting like frenzy.
I always clean when I’m stressed. Feels good to just focus on manual work and being offline.
January 17, 2026 at 4:12 PM
The past three days at home have been so nice! Slowly getting back into a rhythm.
The cats are happy. I’m cleaning like crazy, in some kind of OCD induced nesting like frenzy.
I always clean when I’m stressed. Feels good to just focus on manual work and being offline.
The cats are happy. I’m cleaning like crazy, in some kind of OCD induced nesting like frenzy.
I always clean when I’m stressed. Feels good to just focus on manual work and being offline.
I couldn’t wait and moved home tonight, with the cats of course. One of the elevators back in service!
Burt’s already had a long reunion with the scratching post and is stationed back at his usual sleeping spot.
I’ll be sleeping in my own bed with light and heat. How amazing! 🤩
Burt’s already had a long reunion with the scratching post and is stationed back at his usual sleeping spot.
I’ll be sleeping in my own bed with light and heat. How amazing! 🤩
January 14, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I couldn’t wait and moved home tonight, with the cats of course. One of the elevators back in service!
Burt’s already had a long reunion with the scratching post and is stationed back at his usual sleeping spot.
I’ll be sleeping in my own bed with light and heat. How amazing! 🤩
Burt’s already had a long reunion with the scratching post and is stationed back at his usual sleeping spot.
I’ll be sleeping in my own bed with light and heat. How amazing! 🤩
Look I can see my flat at night! What goodness is this?
Of course the previous problem still exists and only half the flat has electricity, but that‘s a later problem.
Water the plants, aired out the flat, and will move back in on Friday.
So exciting! 🤞🏼🙏🏻
Of course the previous problem still exists and only half the flat has electricity, but that‘s a later problem.
Water the plants, aired out the flat, and will move back in on Friday.
So exciting! 🤞🏼🙏🏻
January 13, 2026 at 5:42 PM
Look I can see my flat at night! What goodness is this?
Of course the previous problem still exists and only half the flat has electricity, but that‘s a later problem.
Water the plants, aired out the flat, and will move back in on Friday.
So exciting! 🤞🏼🙏🏻
Of course the previous problem still exists and only half the flat has electricity, but that‘s a later problem.
Water the plants, aired out the flat, and will move back in on Friday.
So exciting! 🤞🏼🙏🏻
Holy mother of pearl! The god of something served up a miracle and there's limited electricity back in the building.
Still skeptical, so heading back to the flat tonight to see if it's real.
BUT ....
I'm just a girl who wanted electricity and got electricity.
Still skeptical, so heading back to the flat tonight to see if it's real.
BUT ....
I'm just a girl who wanted electricity and got electricity.
January 13, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Holy mother of pearl! The god of something served up a miracle and there's limited electricity back in the building.
Still skeptical, so heading back to the flat tonight to see if it's real.
BUT ....
I'm just a girl who wanted electricity and got electricity.
Still skeptical, so heading back to the flat tonight to see if it's real.
BUT ....
I'm just a girl who wanted electricity and got electricity.
Meanwhile, why our electricity is not back on yet 😱
January 13, 2026 at 10:29 AM
Meanwhile, why our electricity is not back on yet 😱
Yay! I have internet back on my phone. 😬
January 13, 2026 at 10:27 AM
Yay! I have internet back on my phone. 😬
Reposted by Cheryl Howard
I had my suspicions opening the door to this today...
There are Scammers going door to door pretending to work for Telekom, asking to see your cable connection. As outlined here, it's the first stage in a scam to likely issue fake invoices.
praxistipps.chip.de/telekom-betr...
There are Scammers going door to door pretending to work for Telekom, asking to see your cable connection. As outlined here, it's the first stage in a scam to likely issue fake invoices.
praxistipps.chip.de/telekom-betr...
Telekom-Betrugsmasche an der Haustür: So reagieren Sie richtig
Mit der Telekom-Betrugsmasche versuchen Gauner ahnungslose Opfer an der Haustür zu überlisten. Darum sollten Sie vorsichtig sein, wenn es bei Ihnen klingelt.
praxistipps.chip.de
January 12, 2026 at 5:49 PM
I had my suspicions opening the door to this today...
There are Scammers going door to door pretending to work for Telekom, asking to see your cable connection. As outlined here, it's the first stage in a scam to likely issue fake invoices.
praxistipps.chip.de/telekom-betr...
There are Scammers going door to door pretending to work for Telekom, asking to see your cable connection. As outlined here, it's the first stage in a scam to likely issue fake invoices.
praxistipps.chip.de/telekom-betr...
Cats are weird. Burt loves the kitchen counter and Domi seems to think his only water supply comes from the bathtub
January 12, 2026 at 8:15 PM
Cats are weird. Burt loves the kitchen counter and Domi seems to think his only water supply comes from the bathtub
So a pro of staying in a different neighborhood is trying out some of the nearby restaurants.
Just tried out a newly opened Bánh Mi place and wow, it was yummy.
If you are in P-Berg, try Someday in Hanoi. They have only been open for 2 months and need business. 💕
Just tried out a newly opened Bánh Mi place and wow, it was yummy.
If you are in P-Berg, try Someday in Hanoi. They have only been open for 2 months and need business. 💕
January 12, 2026 at 1:22 PM
So a pro of staying in a different neighborhood is trying out some of the nearby restaurants.
Just tried out a newly opened Bánh Mi place and wow, it was yummy.
If you are in P-Berg, try Someday in Hanoi. They have only been open for 2 months and need business. 💕
Just tried out a newly opened Bánh Mi place and wow, it was yummy.
If you are in P-Berg, try Someday in Hanoi. They have only been open for 2 months and need business. 💕
Officially no more electricity in the building for a week. What the actual fuck?
January 12, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Officially no more electricity in the building for a week. What the actual fuck?
The cats seem adjusted to the new place. 😅
Woke me up at 4:30 am because they were play fighting and chasing one another through the empty rooms.
I am also about to cook an actual meal.
Taking the small wins where I can. 🙏🏻💕
Woke me up at 4:30 am because they were play fighting and chasing one another through the empty rooms.
I am also about to cook an actual meal.
Taking the small wins where I can. 🙏🏻💕
January 11, 2026 at 10:56 AM
The cats seem adjusted to the new place. 😅
Woke me up at 4:30 am because they were play fighting and chasing one another through the empty rooms.
I am also about to cook an actual meal.
Taking the small wins where I can. 🙏🏻💕
Woke me up at 4:30 am because they were play fighting and chasing one another through the empty rooms.
I am also about to cook an actual meal.
Taking the small wins where I can. 🙏🏻💕
Moved into my friend’s place last night. It’s an empty apartment with some cushions on the floor for a bed, but making the best of it.
Amazing what a difference heat and electricity make. The cats are stressed but seem to be surviving. 🙂
Amazing what a difference heat and electricity make. The cats are stressed but seem to be surviving. 🙂
January 10, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Moved into my friend’s place last night. It’s an empty apartment with some cushions on the floor for a bed, but making the best of it.
Amazing what a difference heat and electricity make. The cats are stressed but seem to be surviving. 🙂
Amazing what a difference heat and electricity make. The cats are stressed but seem to be surviving. 🙂