Zoo II

This is like Kingkong, reflecting the girl in the glass. And a very cute gorilla baby.

And I think there shall be camel babies next year, since I had the pleasure of watching foreplay. Camel-style.

Zoo I

Last year I missed going to the zoo, but yesterday I was there, enjoying the penguin parade once again. They just look too funny.

I was on my own this time, and I almost got lost so I missed the tigers and the lions, but no regrets. I always feel bad for them, having such a small space to live in. But I saw lots of others.

On the countryside

I was at a party last Saturday. It started with us going on horse carriages, two of them drawn by six horses, the biggest 728 kg and about 1.80 cm tall. Big, impressive, well-trained horses. And a joy to join the ride so to speak. It did help with us having wolly blankets and glühwein served.

It felt almost mystical, being in front of the wagon listening to the click-clack-click-clack from the horses hooves, driving through a misty village from dusk to total darkness. Cool. I don't think most people understood how difficult it is to be a driver under those circumstances.

Then we had a fab dinner with tablegrill, a buffet with all sorts of food from bacon, three different kinds of meat, to cheese and garnish. It tasted fantastic after being outside for hours.

And I do think my speech went down well. I cannot be sure, maybe there were just polite, but I have a good feeling and I know my birthday friend had too.

All in all it was a great evening spent with a bunch of nice people of all ages I've gotten to know quite well here in Switzerland. Makes me feel welcome being an almost-Swiss.

A German poet

I'm invited to a birthday party on Saturday. A biggie. An even number, and a dear friend of mine. So tonight I had a few glasses of wine, trying to write a poem in German. Trust me, it needs quite a few glasses.

It's not like she's not fluent in English, but being an almost Swiss, I think it's important to show that I can do it in her language.

Just to give you an example, try rhyming on "Schweizer", and all I could come up with was "Jägermeister". Which is something I'd never drink, but white wine didn't work with my rhyming skills.

But in the end, I think I got it. Well, I don't really know until I've given the speech. Which is another worry. Swiss people don't do speeches at parties. Ah well, maybe it's time they learn to deal with foreigners :)?

Smelly rider

I was riding again today, and I've come so far that I know instinctively what I'm doing wrong. But to correct it, is another matter. A lot of it has to do with my fitness level, I don't have enough strength and endurance. And before you comment, I know, I need to reduce my smoking. It's something that's been on my mind for a long time, and I will do my best, beginning next year.

Nevertheless, I still enjoy it, riding i.e.. And when it's going ok I feel it. The teachers are almost always on about what to improve, and very seldom saying anything positive, but that's ok. That's their job. And thanks to them I do better.

Another thing, when I go riding in the morning I don't shower before, no point, since I'm sweating a lot, but when I go back home on the bus I feel myself stinking, both from the stables and from body odour, so I try to stay away from people. Maybe it's only me, 'cause nobody ever complained or even looked at me, but I don't wanna annoy people.

And I was thinking, if I reduce smoking which is getting to be more and more expensive, I could invest more money in my riding. I don't think anybody would vote against that!

Divine evening

I was hanging with church people yesterday evening, and one thing that struck me was that they are no better than "normal" people, i.e. antireligious. Of course I knew this, but still, it's easy to think that "Jesus-lovers" are obliging to the bible, always doing the right thing.

But the matter of the fact is they have struggles with relationships, weight, work and what have you, just like most people do. Myself excluded mainly because I don't fit in two of the categories and the third I have taken care of:).

For example one woman with an approx weight of 90 kg's was wearing such a short skirt it hardly covered her buttocks. An unfortunate outfit to say the least. One man was loudly talking about him and his wife going to therapy to make the marriage work (annoying his wife and the three other people around him that heard his monologue). Another guy was on stage telling a story about him losing his work, and (I guess, cannot be sure since it was in Swiss German) how Jesus saved him. Yawn.

Then they were playing "I'm going to see the king", and I remarked that Switzerland is not a monarchy, which I thought was hilarious. And for once my friend got the joke, and slapped me on my arm.

But the food was totally ok, bami goreng and a buffet with desserts. The chocolate mousse was divine :).

Swiss XXII

Hurray, Swiss government has accepted me. So you'd think I could celebrate. NOT! I still have to provide the original document, the acceptance letter, together with copies of payments to the city and to the canton. Neverending bureaucrazy in this country. But I did it, after a quite extensive search for a copy machine. I wanted to keep a copy for my files, and nobody in the vicinity had one. Eventually I found one at a travel agency next to the train station. Weird that the post office didn't have one.

But now it's on the way, could it be possible that everything goes through this year?

Two slices of lime

I changed my bank around maybe six years ago, and since then I had as many "advisors". If it's one thing I learned in my many years living in different countries, it is that none of them have been good for me. I always had to rely on my own instinct, which I might add has given me the privilege of having a good life without exhausting myself.

But today I was visiting the bank, the called me and wanted to review my "risk profile". I obliged, since it's no point in being unfriendly, although I didn't expect any revelations. And right was I. Turned out my new "advisor" is a woman who wasn't even born when I first was on the stock market, she didn't own any shares of her own, but wanted to be able to retire early. And she was supposed to give me advice. I don't think so.

But as I understood during the meeting was that she was covering her back. My "risk profile" was too high, and if I just signed a paper stating that I was aware of the risk, she'd be safe to go on "advising". Fine. Just doing her job.

And when I was shown into the meeting room, declining water or coffee, I was offered a hot napkin, just like in business class on an aeroplane. How weird is that? In a bank? But I dutifully wiped my face and hands, then placed the napkin on the plate provided next to two slices of lime.

Tip-top shape

Today I visited my gynecologist for a yearly check-up. Ok, hadn't been there for maybe five years but better late than never. I am pleased to say that I am in tip-top shape down under.

My doctor is a very loud but small woman, with very strong opinions. I like her a lot, she doesn't beat around the bush (so to speak).

And she was delighted to hear that I lost weight, and immediately went into a rant about how I am not to lose anymore, "'cause with age you lose without trying and" and "it's always good to have a little bit extra if times get tough".

Then I told her that I might consider cutting down on smoking starting next year, and got another infomercial about how not to quit right away but gradually, how to change my habits and on she went. Nothing was new to me, but she's refreshing. Very to the point.

She also checked my breasts, and I am due for another mammography. It was funny when she asked me to strip, and before she was done with writing down whatever in my journal, I was standing half-naked in front of her. "Gosh you're quick". But she didn't find anything alarming, so I think the mammography will just be a formality.

So another doc's appointment done. Next year I plan to stay healthy.

Just cheese everywhere

Had a nice group of friends over for dinner last night. Great to catch up, and be social over plates with raclette.

Talking about cheese, I am about to visit a neighbour who has birthday today and also loves cheese, so I prepared a little present for him.

10 years

Amazing, today I've been blogging for 10 years. I cannot be bothered to count but let's say 1-2 items a day on average, so maybe 6-7,000 times I've been sharing my wisdom with my readers :).

Here's my first blog item: http://afo828.blogspot.ch/2005_11_01_archive.html

Bottom of page, for some reason I cannot link directly to item.

Please keep your shoes on

I find this habit of taking off your shoes in a house or apartment really strange. Ok, I admit when it's wet outside you are to wipe off your shoes carefully before stepping inside, or let's say, you have one guest, and you want him or her to be comfortable, it's ok. But to have a party with 20-30 guests and demand them to take off their shoes? What were they thinking?

That they don't have to clean afterwards? That people feel comfortable without shoes? So to dress up for a big party, and then walk around in socks or tights. I get this white-trash-feeling. And definitely people I don't want to get to know.

Plus, let me tell you, with that many people there'll be all sorts of stuff on the floor. Chips, greasy stuff, spilled wine or whatever. Who cares? A party is fun, and the fact that you have to clean afterwards is maybe not a joy, but a must. Shoes or not.

Domestic elegance

I'm very pleased with my new curtains. Out with the old and dirty, and in with fresh and modern.

Biker friend

Had my new biker friend over for dinner this evening. And this time he had covered his tattoos. Not in the way intended though.

And throughout the evening I realized that if I ever get in trouble somehow, and cannot deal with it myself, I will have a squad of him and his friends "taking care of business" for me. Hmm.

Bag

Was donating blood again the other day, and as it was the 25th time I got a gift. A bag. And I'm happy since my old boat-bag has seen better days, and so it comes in really handy. I know, it may not seem much but still, it's a nice gesture and the bag has the right colours.

Wildlife on a Sunday morning

Was out doing a vitaparcours round this morning (well, morning and morning, but still, most people greeted with a "morgen" so I guess it was). And I saw animals. First an older man on a wagon behind a horse. Why? Have no idea. Aren't you supposed to transport something if you go on an old-fashioned wagon drawn by a horse?

Then I was doing a light jog and saw a man with two leashes, and as I was glancing at the "dogs" my head kinda twitched and I looked again. You know the way it does when you expect something and it turns out to be something else, and it takes a split second to realize what you've actually seen. A man walking two goats on leashes. Wtf? Wish I would've had a camera with me.

After that I saw an ardenner horse, at least that's what I think it was. It could've been a shire, the biggest horse in the world, but I'm pretty sure it was just an ardenner. Big, bulky and with giant hooves walking majestically through the forest with a man on his back.

It made me remember when a friend and I were riding together on an ardenner, belonging to her grandfather. We were maybe 10 or 11 years old, and were riding bareback. No helmets or any safety equipment. Those were the days. But then the horse felt it was tired of two little flies on his back and decided that going back to the stables was the name of the game. So he galloped back, and the two of us, probably weighing about 10% of what he did, together, had no chance.

But we weren't hurt physically, but I guess our pride took a hit.

Riding

Had a riding lesson again today (on Feri, my first love), and my flatmate came to see if it would be something for him. I think not. He's never been on a horse in his life. A challenge I might be able to talk him into. Or not.

We arrived early and were watching a pro riding, doing things that the Spanish riding school in Vienna does, and he asked if I could do that too. Duuuuhhh! I wish, but sadly no. Shows how much he knows about horses.

He was asked to take some pics, and out of 25 these were the best. Not seeing him being a photographer. Ever.

Tintin

I couldn't belive it. For some reason yesterday I made a reference to Tintin. A ficture figure that everybody have heard of. Except the crowd visiting me. How is that possible? Didn't all of them have a childhood? Or parents reading to them? Or have they ever read a book themselves?

A big mystery.

Toothless but happy

I was at the dentists today to check up on the healing of my wound, after removing a tooth. I was sorely disappointed when another dentist showed up. He apologized saying the other one was busy, and would I mind him checking me up. Hard to refuse.

Anyway, he just stated what I already knew. The healing process have gone exactly according to plan, and I have had no problems whatsoever. Another check-up in a couple of weeks and I'm home free. With a big hole in my mouth. Actually I was surprised how big it actually is, considering it's just one tooth.

And then I got a nice surprise. My first and hunky dentist showed up just to see how the healing had gone, and to say hello. Omg, he's a 10 out of 10 of a man! Had a just been 10 (!) years younger I would have dragged him outta there, concession or not.

Tuesday dinner

We had a really nice dinner yesterday, and for once I didn't have to do a thing. Turns out flatmate can cook. A bonus I didn't count on.

So we had spaghetti carbonara and tiramisu for dessert. Yum! And I got flowers! Not from him mind you but from another guest.

But I think not to exhaust the poor guy, 'cause today he fell asleep. And it's fine, I can cook too!

Curtains

Some 4-5 years ago I spent three hours together with a nice neighbour, putting together cheapo paper-like curtains from Ikea for one of my windows in the living room. They are now done. Dirty and not very practical, since they cannot be folded and put out of the way when cleaning windows.

So today I ordered new ones. I love the fabric, and think it's gonna look gorgeous and elegant. At least I hope so.

Sunshine sunshine

This sun has no spots. Just saying.

Cruise

It is unbelievable to be able to cruise the lake in November, enjoying the sun and not freezing anyones butt off. So we were overlooking the Expovina, that row of ships parked in Zürich where you can try all different kinds of wine, while we ourselves were sipping on my new house wine. A chilled Pinot Grigio from Italy.

Had a couple of new acquaintances with me, who in the beginning disappointed me a bit. First, they turned out to be as untechnical as I usually am. They were trying, I give them that, to help me prepare the boat. It would've been quicker if I had done it myself, but still. They tried.

Then we were cruising slowly, the only speed my boat can muster btw, and I was thrilled, looking at the mountains (some still with snow on them), the city behind and all the people everywhere, and I saw the two of them staring at their so called smartphones. Silly name, since I don't think it's smart. I had to shout to inform them that irl is better!

And they listened. Eventually. And after that we had a nice time with some picnic and a refill of wine.

Swing it

Flatmate and I made another round in the forest today, and guess who won doing the plank? Yes, I am proud to say I did. However, there is no way in hell I can do what he did, i.e. swing myself up using just arm strength.

So I guess we'll call it a tie. Or win-win.

Zwa Büsi

Since my new inmate is from Germany, I wanted to impress by showing my talent in speaking Swiss German. Basically using the only sentence I've learned in the past thirteen years. "Isch ha zwa Büsi", which he interpreted to "I have two breasts". Hahaha.

What it means? I have two cats.

Fit as a man

Today I feel really good. Started out in the morning doing a vitaparcours round together with my flatmate. He's around 20 years younger than me, a non-smoker, and I kept up with him! Ok, we didn't exactly exhaust ourselves, but still, we were jogging at a steady pace and did all the stations.

I bet he's gonna feel it tomorrow :).

Broken in two bits

Yup, it's done. No more pain from this little sucker!

Honesty

Somebody sent this to me. He obviously knows me.

X-rays

So I lost the filling in the tooth that was supposed to be repaired, but no way in hell was I going back to the "butcher-in-a-previous-life"-so-called-dentist, so I got recommended a new one. Funnily enough it's just across the street from my old clinic.

Sent an email to the current clinic, asking for my x-rays back. I mean, I paid for them and here in Switzerland you're entitled to keep them at home. Got a phone call back saying I couldn't have them 'cause I hadn't paid the bill. Duuuhhh! Easy answer, I haven't received the bill yet.

Went there today, paid up in cash (having to request a receipt!) and finally got the x-ray pics. It's too bad since my absolute favourite dental hygienist still works there. I know, I could still go back to her, but I now have taken against this clinic.

What surprises me the most is that nobody asked why I wanted the pics back. It's like they don't care about customers. And I've been a patient there since I came to Switzerland (the old clinic, before it was sold). I think it's time for a letter to the owners of the new clinic.

Amalgam meal

I can't friggin believe it. My tooth that had a crack in it, and was "repaired" by the so called dentist that I believe was a butcher in a previous life, has now lost a filling.

I started to feel a bit of pain again a couple of days ago, thinking that I must find another dentist and have it checked by a professional. Wrote an email to somebody who was recommended to me and hope to hear from them on Monday.

However, today when I was talking to some friends about it, I realized all of a sudden that hey, there is a hole there. Must've just happened, 'cause this morning it wasn't there. I may now have swallowed some amalgam.

Now waiting to hear a clink in my toilet.

15%

I have now lived in my fabulous flat for over six years. The house has four flats and my share is 22% of the house. This means that I should roughly have that percentage of the cost. However, the first few years I had heating cost way above my share, up to 34%, but it took me some years to realize that.

First of all, we only get the numbers once a year so it was only after three years (year four) when I did a comparison and realized I was way above where I should've been. I had a guy over from the heating company to adjust my heating thingie, and to explain to me how the cost could've been so high. Turned out that it probably was because the balcony door was open (for the cats) too often, and when the floor heating was on the heat disappeared through to the balcony and the system was working hard to keep an even temperature. Expensive little hairy monsters!

So since a few years I have strived to not only be restrictive with the balcony door, but also to not switch on the heating too early in the autumn. This years it's been off since April and I still haven't switched it on. Despite that, I have around 22°C in the flat (thanks surrounding neighbours and the hot summer).

And today I got the reconciliation papers for the past year, and I'm down to 15% of the heating cost for the whole house! Pat on back big time!

Exit work

So I resigned after two weeks of delivering mail. The reason was not that I didn't like the work, I did, fresh air, movement and the work appealed to me. Everything neatly in order, and only myself to rely on getting the job done.

However, working for free for a private company is not for me. Six hours of my time invested, and minimum wage for two and a half. Not my cup of tea.

It is possible that I could've learned to sort all the piles a bit quicker with time, but still, to do it properly so that you don't have to go back to an address with an item you sorted incorrectly, takes time. And I don't think anybody, except for maybe an athlete, could drag around 70-80 kg's in one round. Besides, the wagon was too small to take all the mail. When I stuffed the two bags, there were still six piles that didn't fit.

However, I offered the manager to come to my place and show me how it's done in the time allotted, saying that if she could do it I could learn, and guess what? No reply, even though she claimed she had done the round herself. Ha! Well, good luck with finding a loser who wants to work for free.

IFO

It's not very often I have a sofa swinging by my window. Just saying.

Celebration

Yesterday was busy, but it ended very nicely. Some very good friends and I were celebrating for several reasons. One, that I got accepted by the canton of Zürich, and yes, another reason too :). Let me give you a hint, I feel younger and fitter than ever. Even though I may not be.

We spent the evening having first an apero, then a delicious dinner and an interesting tour in the house where we were.

The table was set with fresh flowers and as a starter we got a yummy salad, for main whisky-flambeed meat with baked tomatoes and roasted potatoes, and a sauce made from the flambe-remains. Dessert was as usual my fav, a rolled cake with raspberries and cream. And I got a bag of leftovers with me!

In the end of the evening we got a tour of the house. Of course, I've seen it before, but now a feature had been added. A specially made table to fit into the attic, surrounding the chimney, holding a miniature town including public transportation. It is funny to think that the people living there are older than me, but I gotta admit, once I got to drive the trains, I got hooked. It was fun!

But you had to drive carefully, otherwise a wagon or two would get on the lose. Just happy it doesn't happen in reality.

New flatmate

As of today I have a new flatmate, so spent the whole day cleaning and preparing. NOT! No, of course I had done that earlier, so everything was in pristine order when he arrived.

And I don't have a feeling he'll be a bother. He's studying and working and will be busy and away a lot.

And no, he doesn't have a problem with me blogging about it. I asked.

Since he arrived a few days earlier than expected I hadn't prepared any food, but we agreed to have a meal together on Friday. I asked if there is something he doesn't eat, and yes there is. Lemongrass and ginger. Haha. Those are ingredients I almost never cook with anyway, so this'll be fine. Lemongrass anyway, what is that? Some Asian stuff?

Many heavy things

Oh dear. Tomorrow another batch of catalogues and letters will arrive for me to sort. And the company has upped their game, increasing the documents from 229 last week to 336 this week, and from 49.6 kg to 68.7 kg. To this has to be added the weight of the boxes and the trolley. Not even sure I can make that in two rounds. More than 40 kg's per round. Ouch!

So first I shall exactly measure how many minutes it takes to sort, then I will very accurately measure how long it takes to deliver and communicate that to the company. If they are not willing to pay for the time I work, I shall say goodbye.

Swiss XXI

No more than almost four months it took for the canton to approve me! Yes, I'm being a tad ironic here, but hey, having lived in Switzerland for 13 years one gets accustomed to the bureaucracy.

However, the decision was taken already on the 27th of August, but arrived to me only today, almost two months later. Where happened to my application in between?

And I'm a bit confused. I think they say that within 3-5 months I shall receive the formal acceptance, and then I have to supply copies of my payments, both to the city and the canton. Why I ask? Because it earlier said that my application wouldn't go any further unless I paid, so they must know that I did pay. Communication people! Plus the original document that I am approved. Which I first thought was the paper I received today.

I shall have to consult with a real Swissie!

Charity work

Woke up really early today, eager to get going with my new job. Had a friend over yesterday, who convinced me to it in two rounds, it was far too heavy to not only drag around but also to get down and up the stairs in the tunnel. Smart advice. No point in risking ones life, tilting the wagon and get it on top of me.

So off I went with about 35 kg's worth of catalogues and mail. And it went kinda fine. I knew the round, but I hadn't checked out the mailboxes (why would I?). So at every stop it was digging into the box on the wagon, finding the mail for that particular address and deliver. In the middle of the piles I found mail not in my address list, which means I have to send it back.

Came back two hours and 15 min later. Had a break and then went off again with the rest. The second round started out a bit bad. The wagon tilted in the stairs, and mail started to pour out (hadn't secured it enough). Fortunately it was only ten or so. The rest of the round went fine. A couple of them couldn't be delivered, 'cause nobody with that name didn't live at the stated address. Those also have to be sent back. Second round took two hours and 25 minutes.

The problem is that it takes me about 15 min to get to the starting point, and then 15 min back. Plus the fact that the round is impossible to make in the stated time.

I get all in all paid for 2.5 hours incl sorting. Yesterday I spent about 1.5 hours sorting, which I probably could get down to quite a bit under an hour, now that I have a methodology that works. Everything was immaculately sorted! I was proud of myself.

But then the rounds together makes 4 hours and 40 minutes, say altogether 6 hours spent, and I get paid for 2.5 hours. Plus I have to code the mail to send back and post it. Do I feel used? Absolutely. Who wants to work for free when it's not for a good cause?

I shall now wait to see if the company asks for my feedback, and then take the opportunity to discuss the pay with them. Otherwise, you know what'll happen.

The 70's are back

Last time in Ikea I saw a lamp that appealed to me, and so today I went there again in order to purchase. I wanna move the current lamp from the living room to the guest room, which doesn't have a ceiling lamp, and have a new one in the area where I spend most of my time.

I had read up on the website but seemingly not enough. I read that the LED to be connected to the lamp had to be bought separately, so I thought great, I can choose. Not.

I cannot believe the LED to be incorporated in the lamp only came in orange and green. What was Ikea thinking!

So we went through the whole warehouse passing the cash counter without a single item. Not often that happens I'm sure. But not to worry Ikea, I spent a minor fortune in your food shop, and now that I'm thinking about it, didn't show my family card. Somebody should teach the shop assistants to ask for it.

Ordnung muss sein

So this morning at dawn the delivery arrived. All the equipment, catalogues and stuff I am to deliver tomorrow and/or on Friday. It was a tad more than I had expected actually, and quite overwhelming.

However, I am a person who likes to put things in order so I started using the methodology the teacher told us yesterday. That went down the drain immediately, when I realized that we yesterday sorted only a few piles.

After a quick smoking break I went on it again, sorting into piles. Every delivery has a number, where the three last ones indicates where it comes on your round. So I made 13 piles, one from 1-10, 11-20 and so forth up to 127. Then I sorted each individual pile so that everything comes in order. I found two in the wrong place, who knows how many I'll find tomorrow? Which means I will then have to go back and lose time.

Then came the task of putting it into the boxes I got in an order that makes sense.

And yes I know you're not supposed to put it on the floor (maybe other people have dirty floors?), but 90% of it were in plastic and I don't have a table big enough.

And I gotta admit, that trolley is heavy like a person, which it indeed is if you weigh 62 kg's. There is no way I can get that thingie down the stairs and up again in the tunnel to get to my starting point. So I either have to make a longer round, schlepping that trolley after me, or make it in two rounds.

This company certainly makes you work for the (little) money. I have a totally newfound respect for postmen. On the other hand, they usually have a vehicle.

A new profession

Today I've been educated to a new profession. It took 2.5 hours. I guess that's why they pay minimum wage :).

However, it wasn't as easy as I first thought. I mean the job is simple enough, but there is a ginourmous apparatus of logistics behind it all.

Tomorrow there shall be a delivery to my house. A wagon with boxes, a bag, the material to be sorted and delivered, some paperwork and a GPS. Talk about being watched by big brother. The GPS has to follow on every round, so that they can see exactly where you go and how fast ("but if you wanna stop for a beer we don't care". This is where I remarked that the rules say no alcohol :), which brought a few laughs). It then gets transported into an extremely detailed xl-sheet, and each deliverer is monitored and graded, where A is best.

Several people had questions on pay, not me, I know it's next to nothing, but it turned out to be an very intricate matrix with weight, number of packages, hourly pay based on the route and the number of mails that cannot be delivered for one reason or another. Everything is calculated down to the second.

Anyway, every Monday I will get an sms with the number of packages and the weight to be delivered on Wednesday. Then I have Thursday and Friday to do the job.

This week I shall sort 229 mails/catalogues which together weigh 49.6 kg's. That sounds doable in one round. I actually look forward.

Locked in

I haven't been riding for a while now 'cause I haven't been well, but today it was time to get up in the saddle again. It didn't start out very well though. I got locked in one of the stables. I was there peacefully preparing my horse, when I heard somebody shouting. Too late I realized why. I was locked in, and the lesson was about to start in ten minutes.

Fortunately I was able to get out by climbing through fences (luckily not electric!), and for each one I saw a surprised horse looking at me.

And it was happy days. Lately I've had a feeling that it didn't go too well, and that I'm not making progress, but today was different. First, I had my fav, and second, I was able to melt in with the group. We seemed to be on the same level. So even though we were five today, it went very smoothly and I had a good feeling. I felt more secure and relaxed. Possibly the horse felt it too.

After that I was served a delicious dinner, so another good day.

I applaud promiscuity

Recently I saw a tv program about genealogy, where semi-famous people were looking for their roots. I have to admit I'm not too interested in this, except for the people I know or have heard of in my own family.

I mean, they were all looking for drama, for having a king or queen, or a murderer in their blood line, but who cares? I am what I am, and they are what they are, no changing that.

But it made me think of my own heritage. My grandmothers mother, who I vaguely remember, she must have died when I was very young, was born in the late 1800's. She got pregnant and gave birth to my grandmother when she was only 15, and unmarried. In those days it was not something you did and got a medal for.

But without her being "open" I wouldn't sit here today. So I applaud her. And she did get married to the father of the child later on. But that didn't stop my grandmother from doing the same thing :). Four children with three men! A lot of people have said I'm like her, except for the children of course. Good thing there weren't birth-controll pills in those days!

This and that

Nice day. I was working serving the elderly their coffees and cookies, today it was Berliner. This Donut-like cake-thingie with jam inside. It was appreciated. I cuddled with the two visiting cats, and had the pleasure of serving also two of my friends who came for a surprise visit. I also ran into a new friend of mine, and we compared health progress. My tooth is now healed. Fingers crossed!

Then we went to see my friends new apartment. I just love seeing how everybody else lives, and it is especially interesting to see an empty flat, 'cause I know it'd look different if I would've furnished it. But I so look fw to their housewarming. They have a great view of the city, and something I'm jealous of. An open fireplace on the terrace!

Then a quick drink at my place, and now I'm baking cookies. Lemon is todays theme.

Banana flies live forever?

I keep my kitchen clean at all times, but nevertheless, it's always one of two banana flies, these little irritating insects, that keep on surviving. The other day one landed in my wine glass, and even though it would be extra protein for me, I decided to fish it out of the glass and put it on a napkin.

A nice death I thought, but to my surprise some fifteen minutes later it was flying away. Wobbly, mind you, but still. Maybe they are like cockroaches, cannot be killed?

Recovery

Yesterday a friend of mine texted and wanted to visit spontaneously. I love this kinda stuff, which is a bit uncommon here in Switzerland, where most things have to be planned months beforehand.

But I couldn't help thinking, what have I done wrong now? It was because the same person once brought a message from another, saying that I had made an inappropriate joke. The joke was directed towards my friend, who didn't mind, she knows me, but the other person had reacted negatively.

Which I cannot take seriously, if you cannot face up to the person yourself, but have to bring an agent, you're as much of a joke as the one I made.

But I needn't worry. She just came with a bottle of bubbly, to wish me good health and happy recovery. Nice!

Slavery

I take work seriously. Any work. So today I tried out my route as a postwoman, or delivery agent is probably a better word. I was sent a very specific list with addresses, and you walk a route that makes sense.

It took me 15 minutes to walk to the starting point, 50 minutes to walk the round without any mail to deliver and without stopping at mailboxes, then 15 minutes back. And I walked pretty fast.

It didn't start out well, the first building was a renovation object with no people in it, and no mailboxes. Then I discovered that some houses do not have mailboxes outside the house, but inside, which means you have to bother people and ring somebody's door to get in. Ouch! And considering the number of mail to be delivered in the same area, I have a feeling it's mail that not everybody has ordered, but the kinda stuff I get sometimes. Promotional catalogues and newspapers and who knows what. Exactly what I didn't want to participate in. Hmm.

And they pay absolute minimum wage. I will get paid for 2.5 hours and that includes not only walking and delivering, but also sorting. Not sure this'll be worth my time, but since I signed up, I'll give it a go.

The postwoman never rings

Talking about profession, I am about to change mine. But don't get too excited. We're talking about a couple of hours a week.

I am to become a postwoman! Quite a long time ago a friend knew I was thinking of getting a parttime easy job, and sent me a link to a company that delivers addressed mail. I would never consider just commercial stuff, where you deliver something that is not wanted, but this appealed to me. However, at the time they didn't have anything for me, so I gave up the thought, until I got called today.

So I will get catalogues and mail delivered to my address. I will then sort it, and deliver it in my 'hood. This is supposed to take 2.5 hours, which is what I get paid pittance for. However, I am pretty certain it will take quite a bit longer, especially in the beginning before I know the route. Also, I'll be doing it by foot and I know that some of the addresses are already 20 min's walk away.

Nevertheless, I look fw to it. It'll give me a chance to exercise and at the same time earn cig money :).

New friend?

Yesterday I was hanging with a new acquaintance, and I think we are as different as one can be. Different sex, nationality, religion, profession, interests, age, hair colour, and most other things I cannot think of right now. Despite that, it was a really fun afternoon, and we got on well together.

I think I might have to revise some of my prejudices.