Scary voice

While neighbours are away I look after their apartments. Taking in the mail, watering plants and making sure nobody broke in during the night. Yesterday I noticed that the timer on the lamp the neighbour currently away on holiday and who usually has on during the evening wasn't working, and I realized that their cleaning person had unplugged the timer during the day.

I switched on the lamp, but having a very short fuse when it comes to technical things, I didn't manage to re-set the timer. It was dark in the corner where the lamp stood and I couldn't see the tiny, little, almost invisible arrow that pointed to the time, so I left it overnight.

Early this morning I went back, bringing a torch and without any problems I managed to set the clock and plugged the lamp back in. Then I heard a voice!

First I was confused, not being able to locate where the voice came from. I knew it wasn't from my apartment, but was it from any of the other two? Nope, walking towards the sound I realized it was from their bedroom. They keep that door closed, but I opened it hesitantly and found...a radio! Jeez, I guess they have it on as a wake-up call.

Heart attack avoided!

Update - about bloody time

Jeez, times flies. What am I doing with my time? I really couldn't say, other than it was a barbecue with friends, a visit to accompany an old dement woman while the husband was away, dinners at my place, an Ikea-visit, an old friend for lunch, at a somewhat younger friends for brunch and on the lake with the boat.

And this morning I was out doing a vitaparcours round with the dog. We passed a younger woman with her kid, and all the mother did was looking at her telephone. I cannot believe it! We, on the other hand, were enjoying the birds and a beautiful deer, standing there just looking at us.

What's this thing with a telephone? People cannot seem to live without it these days, and they forget the world around them. Poor people. They should really learn to stop and smell the roses.

Monoliths and megaliths

Today I was joining a group of fifteen people, all of us interested in monoliths. Ok, not that I was much before but I guess we've all seen the sign in the forest. Except for the two people working with Zürich city, and forced to be there, and a couple from the water supply department, but still. Let's say ten people came by choice. Not bad considering the little marketing they had done.

And it was kinda interesting. The guide was engaged and had done a lot of research. She also looked the part, like a person who lived outdoor complete with backpack and all. And with a smile on her face.

I'm not the type to necessarily need to know my roots and where humanity came from, but she was talking in an engaging manner, and it is a bit mindblowing to think about what people did like 6,000 years ago. Apparently they liked to raise stones.

Mostly, as I understand it, they did it to bury people under, but also to gather around and it was like a place to meet.

If I got it correctly, and I cannot be sure I did, it was found in the 1930's on my mountain but it wasn't until the 70's that people realized it was something special. They were found when a water reservoir was built. And then promptly moved.

Now, they want to build a new reservoir in a new place, not far away (the old one has done it's job and cannot be repaired) and it has caused great debate, what if they find more stones? And after a build-up of the guide with all the implications it would cause, and how archeologists around the world would be excited, it turned out that the experts found...tadada...absolutely nothing. They had dug all the way down to I-cannot-remember-what-the-layer-of-the-earth-it-was, but not even a bone or remnants of a fireplace was found.

And I gotta say that seeing the stones were a bit of a disappointment. Funnily enough this is a place where I am at a lot, since the Vitaparcours track (almost) passes here, but I never noticed. So I don't think we'll get a lot of Stonehenge-fans coming to visit. Just as well. But I'm glad I went. It was in a funny way interesting, and through the city woman I found out that a lot of excursions are organized by Zürich and most of them for free! Just up my alley.

Natural beauty

I saw a talkshow some time ago, where somebody claimed that people spend 3.5 years of their time taking care of their body, like showering, clipping nails, shaving and the likes. That sounds a lot to me. I haven't calculated how much per day that would be, but I'm sure it doesn't apply to myself.

I'm the type of person who doesn't like to shower, much less take a bath, which is why I chose not to have a bathtub. I do it as quickly as possible, dry myself off, apply body lotion, deodorant and mascara, and am out of the bathroom in 10 minutes. I'm not particularly fond of massage, but I do clip my nails when neccessary.

I believe it's called natural beauty ;).

Summertime

I totally messed up today. I was prepared, and had already adjusted all my clocks yesterday. However, in the wrong direction. I saw an article in the paper, and obviously read it the wrong way.

So this morning I thought I was an early bird at 7.30 am, which is pretty unusual for me, but it turned out to be 9.30, which is far more normal.

First I noticed when my mobile phone wanted to make an update, which I accepted, and I thought it got it wrong. Then I logged on to my computer, which also had it wrong. Or so I thought.

Then I tried the telly, which didn't work. Surprising. Something about a cable not connecting, which goes to show I never watch telly. Might have been faulty for months. Then I checked my automatically updated weather thingie, which showed yesterdays time. So much for automatic.

For a little while there I was confused, until I realized that the computer and phone were right, and that I got it wrong.

Note this people, 'cause it doesn't happen often :).

Timing

You know, it's pretty funny with people who have kids. Actually not, but they change. When I say lunch-time I mean afternoon like 3 or 4pm, they mean 1 o'clock. Me, I'm lucky if I had breakfast then.

But flexible as I am, brunch it'll be at 2 o'clock. Nothing is like compromizing.

Ok, I didn't mean that, but still. It's worth making an effort for good friends. Even if they have kids.

The only way is up

In 10 minutes it'll be the shortest day of the year. Excellent. From now on, the only way is up!

The digital era

Some things were better before, but certainly not cameras. I remember being on holiday, coming home, going to the shop, leave the film, come back three days later and get the photos.

Not to mention when you were just taking the odd picture at home, and the film consisted of 24 or 36 pics, so you had to wait until all were taken, and sometimes you only got to see the photos like six months later.

Now, in the digital era, I take pics almost daily. Out with the cable, stick it into the computer, load the pics and a few seconds later, you see the result. It's great.

I don't think blogs could've existed without photos. A picture is like 1,000 words they say. I tend to agree.

PS. And just for the sake of it, there won't be a pic in this item :).

Leap day

I have a friend who is really oldfashioned. Apparently on the 29th of February, which only happens every 4th year, a woman can propose to a man, and he asked me if I planned to.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

First of all, I don't see the point of marrying at all. For me who is not religious, I don't understand the concept. To have a piece of paper to show others that you belong with somebody? I think it's really weak if you are not strong enough to stand up for yourself, and care what others think.

Second, most western countries have laws that give children the same rights as when you're not married. Ok, having children is another issue and not one that interests me anyway.

Third, if you want to be part of a relationship it's a good thing. Just as it is if you do not.

And to say that women can only propose if it's leap day, well, that's just oldfashioned and plainly stupid! I wonder if friend would prefer to see me in a burka?

Purple!

Haha, was looking in an old photo album and found this pic of me wearing ta-da purple! It was hmmm...many many years ago. Why change a winning formula?

Summertime

In a couple of hours Europe is going to summertime. Not a minute to early! I, being organized as usual, hahaha, have now changed all my clocks. One hour forward. I hope that's the right thing to do! Made me think of a saying I read the other day. "I don't need to be shown the way, because I don't intend to go there". Yes that's me. Not doing what everybody else does, but plan to do it on time.

When is afternoon?

Have a date with a friend for a drink tonight. She promised to get back to me "in the afternoon" today to agree on time to meet. Five minutes ago I wikipediad "afternoon" to certify that it ends at six o'clock. While I was busy compiling a sarcastic message on the phone she texted me. Talk about timing. So now we're to meet at eight. Will be an interesting evening I'm sure.

Summertime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WWtGpEqpV4 Despite having had summertime for many many moons I still haven't learned which way the clock goes. I think it's forward...

Driving school from 1919

This is a picture showing a driving school at Gasometerstrasse near Limmatplatz from 1919! Isn't that mind-blowing?

Love my ass

Valentine's day this year didn't render a great take. A skype message from my brother and an sms from an old (and very married) friend was all. Very very poor return.

On top of that I had a friend in Norway who thought that putting a bed together for her parents was more important than skyping with me this evening. To be topped off by friends in Holland who on skype showed me their offspring for the first time, and he took one look at me on the webcam and started screaming his lungs off.

I'm starting to think I'm not wanted anymore. Booo-hooo.

Don't know why but it made me think of this pic that a friend in Singapore just sent me.

Full moon

Had trouble sleeping last night, and couldn't understand why until I read that it was full moon last night. Time to howl like a wolf!

Transportation

I am disturbed. The public transportation had the nerve to change the bus timetable. In good faith I went down tonight to get the bus, and imagine my irritation when seeing the bus time had changed two minutes forward! I cannot believe it. A whole cigarette I had to wait. This is just not on!

Downward spiral

Feel a bit like I'm on downward spiral this winter. Everything same-same, go to bed, get up, do what I need to do, not much fun. Think it's all this cold and grey weather that gets to me. Not even in blog-mood. Today an acquaintance of mine flew off to India for a month. Imagine 32° and sunshine for a whole long month. Makes me even more depressed. Why I am left here in freezing Europe? With three months to go before I fly off to warmer places. Life's not fair in case you hadn't noticed before.

CG and his attitude to time

If I want to be generous I could say that CG has a somewhat optimistic view on time. Very optimistic in fact. Eight o'clock very quickly becomes eleven o'clock. 10 minutes turns into 5 hours in a flash. Which is a bit funny for somebody who is compulsory on time. All the time. Every time. Like me. But I'm trying to be understanding. It's all about give-and-take in a "wohngemeinschaft". And I'm sure I have flaws too, I just don't know what they would be :)

Poets day

Perhaps I'm terribly behind but I've never heard this expression before. Means Piss Off Early Tomorrow's Saturday. Brilliant! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poets