Ze Swiss railways

It's been a little while since I wrote last, I really don't know what happened, but all of a sudden I felt no need to write. Weird that.

But here I am again to tell you about ze Swiss railways. The other day I got a letter sent to all citizens in Zürich, talking about some railway maintenance taking place between Hardbrücke and Oerlikon between February and mid March. At night.

Yes, I realize there are people travelling on the trains between 22.00 and 5.30, but to tell all of Zürich about it? Wouldn't it be enough to post information at the train stations about it? Six Fridays and one Monday according to the letter.

Especially since the last sentence in the letter reads "Die Züge fahren trotz Bauarbeiten fahrplanmässig", meaning the trains go according to the timetable despite the construction work.

Hmm. Using my tax money to send a letter like this, not ok Zürich if you ask me.

A friendly ghost

In my home the man spends a lot more time in the bathroom than I do. I'm the type who showers quickly, dresses, a wee bit of mascara and I'm done.

Today flatmate offered to share his face-mask with me, an offer which I laughingly turned down, being the natural beauty that I am. Can you blame me?

I love kids

Ok, let me rephrase that. I love people, who happens to be parents, throwing a birthday party for a 3-year-old. Or rather, not. They didn't throw a birthday party, that'll come later, but I was there and we, the grownups, were having wine and cake and funny conversations. The kids were playing on their own, which was perfectly fine with me.

Any reason for a party is a good one if you ask me.

Respect in da house

Today I had the pleasure of scaring the shit outta my flatmate.

I have a painting since many years with a frame that I never liked, and today was the day I was gonna change that. So flatmate and I dissembled the painting, separating it from the frame. And the glass broke. A little piece in one corner broke off, but no point in saving it so I brought a plastic bag to put the remains in.

Only it wouldn't fit, one piece of glass was too big, and he was too scared to break it in smaller pieces. He looked at me, helplessly, and I decided it was time for action. So I took my flip-flop-clad foot, put it down the plastic bag and crushed it! You should've seen his face, haha.

I am pretty sure he has a newfound respect for me.

NY resolutions

My New Years resolutions this year was to reduce my smoking, to start sporting again and to buy new clothes.

The smoking goes ok considering my previous consumption, but is still way too much.

In December I kinda gave up sporting, blaming the weather and whatsit, but fact is, I was just too lazy. And it has shown on the scale. Today I started again, despite heavy rain and a cold, by powerwalking/jogging up the mountain and back. Pat on back, but I have to keep on going. Which I in a strange way look fw to.

The clothes shopping is still on the list, and if I could choose it would stay there forever, HATE shopping, but have to. I cannot keep walking around in clothes with holes in them forever.

So far so good.

Happy New Year!

Just in time before the New Year is about to ring in here in Switzerland. I had guests who insisted to go into town to see the fireworks, and was very worried about me being alone here at midnight.

Not even a million francs, ok maybe 100thou, would make me leave the comfort and warmth of my home to venture into a cold and rainy and very crowded Zürich at this time. Nope, instead I'm off to my neighbours who has a fab view of the whole city (incl fireworks) and from there I can roll home in no time.

Happy New Year!

Democracy at its finest

Tonight was a great evening. I had invited a couple, quite a bit older than me, for dinner. At the same time I had talked to another friend about meeting up, and as it turned out, he could only make it today. So I decided to let them meet each other.

On one hand we had the older conservative been-together-forever couple, dressed up nicely and always behaving, on the other hand the motorbike guy clad in leather with tattooes and an attitude.

And it was a hit! At least for the guys who discussed politics, religion and who-knows-what. We, the women, were shakin' our heads and tried to butt in but to no avail. I think it's great that different generations, backgrounds and cultures can still have a nice evening together.

They kept on talking, talking, talking and when I served the dessert the mc guy was drinking out of the bowl to get the last bit of juice, to be followed by the older and more conservative guy doing just the same. This is what I like to see when I throw a dinner or party. Unruly behaviour and not being predictable.

A fab evening!

Christmas 2015

It was a fairly quiet Christmas Eve this year. There were four of us, having a mixture of ethnic food. And I was impressed by one of the visitors, a friend of my flatmate. She was very young, but engaged, had an education as a baker (the schoggi-mousse was fab!) but has now chosen another career, together with volunteer work for refugees. There is hope yet for the future.

So no stress, just a very pleasant evening with some Christmas music on the computer and no presents in sight. Good so.

Horse show

Last week I went to the stables to watch a show. It was interesting. A combo of professionals (I'll never be able to ride like that!) and students like myself riding in formation, a tiny pony who clearly had his own will and refused to jump, a white unicorn (a white horse with wings attached) and a "bull", consisting of two men under a cloth being chased by a horse. Funny. Sorry about the quality of the pics.

The postman never rings

Yesterday my door rang and the wee neighbour came to deliver a letter for me that had been put in their mailbox, together with a note from the postman:

"Sorry, I put the letter for Annika in your mailbox". And a smiley. How sweet!

Have to remember to give him/her a few cookies on Christmas Eve.

Swiss XXVI

It seems like we're not done with the paperwork. Today I received a "Bürgerrechtsurkunde" (like a citizen formal document) with the city symbol carved out in the paper. The mayor congratulates me and welcomes me to Switzerland and Zürich and tells me I can now vote. Plus that I am invited to a party next year! Who would've thought?

And all I can think about is that where is the bill for this?

Trash men

I dunno what's wrong with men, but something it is. What do they think it means when a trash bag is placed next to the door? That it's decoration?

Swiss XXV

I won! Almost exactly 48 hours after I applied for ze Swiss ID-card, it got delivered directly to my door yesterday. It's like ze Swiss had given up. Ok, so we've given her permission to be a citizen, now we'll show her how quick we can act.

So here I am, a Swissie at last!

Swiss XXIV

Today I went to the "Kreisbüro", the office that handles the applications for a Swiss ID. Yes, you'd think that the paper from yesterday would be enough, but no. Ze Swiss requires you to have at least an ID, even if you don't want a passport. Another 70 francs.

And of course I didn't think to bring a photo. I wasn't the first, since a photo-machine was placed in the foyer. One of these modern ones, which the staff knew, so I was guided through the whole process. Even when we left, me being 10 francs poorer, the machine was still talking.

You're not allowed to show teeth on the pic, why I have no clue, but I remember one time when I took a photo for a passport and had to show an ear. New year, new rules.

So of course I looked really silly, not being made up for a pic. But that's almost always the case, isn't it? I've never seen anybody look good on a passport or ID pic.

I was promised that it would be delivered to me in ten working days, so I hope to have it all done this year. Wouldn't that be something to celebrate on the 31st?

Swiss XXIII

As per 10th of December, coincidentally the day the Nobel prize winners are celebrated, I finally got it! I feel like a winner! Not a Nobel prize mind you, but a win over the Swiss bureaucracy!

I am a citizen!!!

Breast pics

Today I've seen pictures of my breasts. Why you ask? It's not like I haven't seen them before, but to be honest never on a picture.

I went to do a routine mammography, and this time I brought the x-rays from last time, which was five years ago. I remember when they blamed me for not doing that, so yesterday I was locating them, making sure they were in my bag.

Not necessary, as it turned out, they already had my former pics on file. Guess progress has been made the last ten years.

And indeed it has. When leaving the clinic today I had a CD with pics of my breasts instead of these voluminous x-rays. And of course I had to look at it. Not that I got much out of it, other than that my breasts looked really fine. Nice and round and perky (even though it felt like they were flat as pancakes during the mammography). Seriously, I have no clue. Yes, I could see it was a breast, but that was about it.

But as everything was fine, I'm happy. Breasts ok, check!

No jinx

Was visiting some friends this evening, and was proudly telling them that I'm almost Swiss. At which time one of them presented a Swiss ID. WTF!?! Here have I been telling them all about my struggles and the preposterous process I've been going through, and I haven't heard beep from them.

I tell you, some people. The reason was "we didn't wanna jinx it".

And I know, they have been here three years longer than me, but not enough years in Zürich. What I didn't know was that Zürich changed the rules from six to three years some time ago. I'm not one to read the fine print. Still twelve years in Switzerland though.

But I can still win, they started their process in February 2014 and got their ID's in October this year. One year and eight months. I started mine in September 2014 and am almost there. But considering ze Swiss admin, who can be sure?

At least we can celebrate together. If and when I get mine.

Apts available

I'm considering renting out a few of my flats here in central Zürich. Ah, you didn't know that I am in possession of more than one?

Well, as a matter of fact I am. Seems like I'm trustworthy and keys are given to me left, right and center. Hehe.

The only catch is that one of the apts is only available for one day, the other two are empty and up for grabs. Any takers?

Pipe-rinsing

Since a couple of weeks the water in the kitchen hasn't drained properly, and every time the dishwasher was running it collected dirty water in the sink. Yikes.

We've tried everything from cleaning the bit you can reach, pumping to various kinds of cleaning products (avoid, avoid, no good for environment, but when desperate...). Anyway, I had to give in and call a professional.

And professional he was, bringing the heavy artillery with hoses, pump and all sorts of gadgets. Loud they were too, but after an hour or so my pipes were as good as new. Apparently you're supposed to do this every 4-5 years and I've been living here 6.5.

But he gave me a good tip. Instead of trying the useless products on the market, boil several liters of water and splash it down the sink, all in one go. That will clean out fat and things stuck. I shall do this now and then.

But for now, I have a pristine sink with pipes as clean as a whistle.

Zoo III

And the last round is always through the Masoalahalle looking at the giant turtles and enjoying the rain forest.