Julia Haferkorn: Music Agent

Where would we find you on a rainy Sunday afternoon?

Julia Haferkorn, Contemporary Music Agent and Producer I’ve always lived in West London and I love the parks it’s got on offer. Battersea, Holland, Chiswick, Gunnersbury and Richmond Parks are all oases of calm and green and I wouldn’t mind a bit of rain on a Sunday afternoon!

What do you do to recreate Germany in the UK for yourself when you feel homesick?

After 19 years in London, I don’t get homesick but I do feel pangs of nostalgia, especially at Christmas time. This means advent features big in our household – a wreath with four candles on the table, proper advent calendars and lots of Christmas bakery things like cinnamon stars, Lebkuchen and Spekulatius.

I also try and recreate a small part of German childhood for my three children by switching on Sendung mit der Maus at 10.30am on Sunday mornings!

Which German author or book is a must-read in English?

I haven’t read it for a long time but I remember being so fascinated by Die Blechtrommel that I gave it to lots of British friends when I first moved to London. For children, When Hitler stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr is a brilliant book.

What is the best souvenir /gift to bring back from Germany for your British friends?

For somebody in need of comforting: Apfelmus. No better comfort food than a bowl full of rice pudding with cinnamon, butter and a blob of Apfelmus on top.

For somebody looking to (re)connect with German Christmas: One of those beautifully carved wooden nativity figures which you can buy at any German Christmas market.

For somebody keen on alcohol: Ebbelwoi. I’m from county Hessen originally, so have fond memories of Süß and Sauer Gespritzter, which is apple wine mixed with lemonade or fizzy water.