Compact

Previous item got me thinking about work, since some people use that as an excuse for not having time. I think it's more not taking time for what's important.

Anyway, made me think about my first job. I was 15, and got a job in a kiosk at a camping. I worked 8 weeks in the summer from either 8-15 or from 15-22. And for this I got the measly amount of about 2 francs an hour. No extra for working late hours, or that it was the weekend.

I had a moped that I was very proud of. It was a blue Compact, which was a bit trimmed by the previous owner and on a good day got up to 60 km/h. I passed almost all my male friends, who all had blue Push Dakotas. I drove to work with this moped.

Looked like this, and had the added advantage that a friend could ride between your legs (insert joke here).

I ended up working there for three summers, as well as working weekends when in school in a kiosk outside the sports arena. That included serving hot dogs and fries. I didn't walk into a Mc'Donalds until I was 35 years old after that horrifying experience! Can you imagine the smell after making french fries? Not only does your clothes and hair smell, it's like your whole body stinks. Ouch!

Friend or foe?

I've been thinking about how friendship works, and come to the conclusion that a big portion of it is how it works over time.

I have never had trouble meeting people and be friends with them, but if you want a lasting friendship it needs work from both sides. And if that works over a longer period of time, say 5-10 years, it's no problem in losing touch over years, then come back.

Heard from a friend I haven't talked to in two years the other day. No problem, we know each other quite well since about 15 years, and she has two small kids, so no wonder she hasn't had the time. No hard feelings from my side.

But there are other people who I have invited numerous times, and almost never been invited back to. This is getting to me. And it's not only the no invitation back, it's the not keeping in touch that bothers me. Makes me feel a bit used to be honest.

And it's pretty simple if you ask me. A quick hit on skype, email or sms asking how I am goes a long way. But then again, I'm always been keen on feedback, good or bad. And every morning I log on to my blog, I get a smile on my face when I have a comment. Even though it's mostly opposing my opinion.

Flat

A friend of mine has just bought an apartment. It is slightly bigger than mine, and with a different layout. Of course.

I have seen the planning, and obviously I have thoughts. Most of them good though. Although, entering the master bedroom through the bathroom I find a bit funny.

Ok, so if you live there, it is likely it's only you and perhaps a partner are going to the bedroom, but still. Isn't it a bit weird?

The interior chosen is not my style (except for the bar counter which I somehow seem to have influenced :), but I think it'll look fab when done.

I so look forward to the housewarming!

West Wing!!!

Omg, I cannot believe it! Friend who visited tonight have never heard of West Wing! I don't how many exclamation marks I can put in here, but it'll never be enough. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a treat she has in front of her. And she's the typical person to appreciate a clever series like this. Smart and savvy. And fluent in English (which is not everybody here in ze Switzerland).

I so look forward to her feedback.

And yes, I'm watching this series for the about the 10th time! One wonders if it makes me 10 times more clever? Probably than most people...

Update

Sorry for not having blogged much lately, but I can see from the visitors stats that you are still checking.

Well, what have I done lately? A bit slower pace than normal due to very cold weather. Ok, so there are worse places in the world, but minus degrees doesn't do it for me. Only go out when I really have to.

But last week I had a nice day with a friend, showing her Zürich, showing off my boat, and letting her experience my bar. I'm sure the latter was the highlight :).

And yesterday I got my lamp! It's gonna be a little while before you see it up, need some help with that, but it's gorgeous. I took a peek in the box. Guess the colour!

17% increase

I have a beef with my bar, the one I'm usually going to. They raised the price of my wine with a whopping 17%. Just like that, in one go.

It's a bottle containing half a liter of white wine, and it used to cost 29 francs. This is an acceptable price for going out, listening to music and have fun for a few hours. 34 francs on the other hand, is steep I think.

I know, in a restaurant you pay more, but at home I pay 4.25 per bottle for my better house wine (well, not really, since I'm always buying when it's on sale, at least 20% discount I get. And it's 75 cl, not 50!).

I much rather go out when I have the feeling of not being ripped off.

Please duck

Friends approved of the duck. Second time I did it, kinda trial for Easter. Nice eve, had the magnum bottle of red (Lemacchiole, Bolgheri rosso 2008) which I got at my birthday from this guy.

Extra plus, I got to speak my mother tongue a whole evening!

PS. My telly looks tiny at this distance. It's not, but friends suggested I put a picture up there instead, considering hos little I watch tv. I beg to differ. I now watch Mad men on dvd, and that is something I really do not want to miss! Gash, he's gorgeous!

AA meeting

Unlike what you think reading the headline, it's a group of women with names both beginning and ending with an A. Well almost. We have tweaked it a li'l bit, but not much.

They are a twisted bunch of "girls" ranging from 30-50 years of age, but all with a dirty sense of humour. Except for me of course.

When I heard "she's always getting in late" they actually were talking about "she's always getting laid", and when they were discussing men in ties I heard men in tights (thinking why do they talk about ballet?).

Next thing I know I'll be needing a hearing aid. Or, on second thought, I'd probably be better off without one!

Scarf jinx

A few months ago I was at a party. I forgot my scarf. Remembered while I was running for the bus. Well running is stretching it, but walking fast. Decided it wasn't important enough to go back.

So when I visited the same friend again, I got my scarf back. Or so I thought.

Wore it on the way back home, but when I was taking it on the next day I realized it was the wrong colour. Dark blue instead of my purple. Same material. Oh dear.

So it turned out I took her scarf (her favourite as it turned out, from the other 49 she has), instead of mine. Now we're meeting in February, so I am really looking forward to get my winterscarf back then.

Mad men

Borrowed series 1-3 of Mad men today. Gosh, that is what a man should look like! The series itself is pretty good too, but even if it wasn't I would watch just to see him.

New flat

Went to visit some people today who just moved into a brand new apartment. Not as fab as mine obviously, but pretty darn good. Albeit a quite different colour scheme, but at least they have one.

Now it just needs some lights, paintings and decoration and it'll be a very nice home.

And this one I've seen before.

Grandma's plants fit in nicely.

Me feeding friends

Two cat owners and a man (sounds like a movie title!). I feel that perhaps he thought we were talking a tad too much about our furry loved ones, but once you start, it's difficult to stop.

And he kept on playing with Zina, so I think he was all right with it.

Raclette dinner and vino, whisky and sherry. Yes, a very nice evening with good friends.

Friends feeding me

One of my friends doesn't cook, but that doesn't stop him from inviting me. We have dinner together every 3-4 weeks, once at my place, once at his.

And I gotta say he's inventive. He does a nice cheese plate, or something simple to cook. The point is not the food, and we always have a nice chat.

But now he met somebody who cooks. So tonight he was heating up a delish moussaka according to instructions.

And for dessert a sweet baklava. Yeah, I am now convinced my friends like me just as I am.

Heineken

That reminds me, when I was working in Holland, I used to be referred to as Heineken. Not entirely sure how they went from Heineken to Annika, but with the throaty language it somehow worked.

And in those days we drank a lot of fleutjes, those tiny beers where they use glasses, dip them in a fluid of some kind including a dishwasher liquid, then turn them around while there is still fluid inside, then pour beer and serve. It's really tiny glasses, so not sure how much beer it actually contained.

It was a good time in Holland!

Winterthur

Had to leave Zürich for a while today. 3 whole zones outside! 25 mins on the train, which is not that far, but I had actually never been there before other than passing thru.

Now I've seen not only the Bahnhof, but also an Italian restaurant and the soon to open Turmhaus center. It is still being refurbished, but I really liked the stone. Hope they will keep it.

And the previous tenant, right up my alley!

Misunderstanding

When I left my flat this evening I ran into the neighbour. He was dressed in a jogging outfit, and I was dressed for success. Sorry, I meant I was dressed to go out. Typical. Living in a building with child-producing people and sports fanatics. I so wish I owned the building!

Anyway, while leaving the bar tonight my friend was putting on a hat/cap and somebody was saying goodbye ötzi. While I was thinking of ötzi, they actually meant ötzi.

Some friends

I don't think my friends are helping much, when it comes to accomplish my goal weight. On the other hand, they may think I'm ok as I am.

Züricats

Good news for all of you who don't particularly enjoy reading about my cats. I don't understand you, but since I think they deserve their own platform, I can now proudly present Züricats!

Miaow!

Poncho

Got a delayed Christmas present today. My colours!

When I'm irritated

Was watching telly, and for some reason I got to think of when I was irritated (not like I'm never irritated now, frequent readers of the blog should know that), but this particular time I was only 20 years old.

I had gotten a camera from my father. A brand new one. The only problem was that all the pictures came out grainy. Not matter what I did, the quality sucked. And in those days you had to go to a shop and get them developed. And pay for it! Not like these days, when you load them to your computer, then delete if not fine. At no cost.

So I wrote a letter (you know on paper, with an envelope and stamp and all!) to the company who had produced this camera. After like a week I got a nice letter back, with a voucher of about the equivalent of 30 francs. Like the pictures was gonna be better if I bought more film!

This triggered me to write another letter, saying I thought that the evening press would be mighty interested in the story, and that I wouldn't hesitate to contact them.

A few days later I got another letter, stating that I could go to the nearest shop (they had even researched which one was closest to where I lived, and this was long before google!) and pick out a new camera of my choice. At no cost to me.

See! It pays off to be irrited once in a while.