Swine flu

Right now everybody has an opinion on the swine flu, but I heard there is a cure. Oinkment. Hehe.

Bad timing

Going to the matinée in the Opera to see Tosca this afternoon, and just realized it's marathon in town. Have a feeling no trams or buses will go. Too bad I haven't received my step measurer gadget yet.

New acquaintances

I just love meeting new people. An exploratory dinner together to find out whether you have anything in common, possibly adding them to your list of people you want to meet again and know more about. The best thing is when it works out. It doesn't always I admit, but this evening I think there was a hit. Nice to have you guys here, and hope there will be more opportunities to party with you :)

Ok, I have to add a but here. The but is that the woman had really low blood pressure (we checked with my new fancy blood-pressure-thingy) and it was low due to her skinnyness. I really should hate her, you know pretty, skinny and nice but I just couldn't. She's just as nice as she looks in the pic. Mind you, there are lots of things to say about the guy...

Marcel Marceau lives again

Mildly funny and also somewhat funny.

Sweden - a socialist country

Part 1. Part 2.

And it's gorilla time

A glass and a half full.

Remember Credit Suisse?

Well as of today I have erased them from my memory. More than 2 months ago I wrote them a complaint letter telling them that they had deceived me. Twice I got letters saying something like we have received your complaint, and we regret the delay of the investigation. Today I got a letter stating that they will reimburse the money I asked them to do. 472 CHF. I knew they would, since I could not entirely prove but indicate that they lost me 13,000 francs, and they really didn't want to open that particular can of worms. See! You gotta complain, otherwise you get nothing. Mind you, the loss of 13K is still mine, and my new bank better not make the same mistake!

Sweden's got talent 2009

Knäckebrödsdansen. I rest my case.

Interesting project

Tweenbots. Where would we be without human intervention?

Just like any Monday

Well, in Zürich it wasn't. It was Böög-time. You know the man they burn, measure the time, and that shows how the summer will be. I can tell you, quite honestly, that the summer will be fab-fantastic. 9 minutes until the first blast, 12 minutes when the head exploded. Not mine, but the Böögs. And I have to admit we (read me) got a tad drunk. What else is there to do with 19°C and sunshine, an afternoon off and the best band playing. Party if you ask me. Yeah, but I do remember a conversation I had with my friend. Told her about my "addiction" to men in uniform. Told her I should to hang out in bars near the police station. "Nah", she said, "all you gotta do is to become a criminal". Hmmm. Very good idea. Asked her if it would be ok to only become a shoplifter, not a murderer. She thought that would be acceptable. Thanks for having good friends!

Electricity car

The only thing I care about cars is that they take me from A to B. This is a bit of a waste I guess since I live next to a Porsche garage. All these supposedly hot cars leave me totally cold.

But the other night I was out having drinks with a friend, and he told me about a new model that is being launched. It runs on electricity and the chassis is covered in solar cells, which from what I understood charges the battery while driving.

The battery can run for 500 km before having to be re-charged and only takes one hour to charge. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? Besides, the car itself looks pretty cool to me.

+1

Well if you think the English/Commonwealth/United Kingdom/Great Britain are out of touch with the world, that is nothing in comparison to the Americans. Have you ever come across an American who puts the country code in front of their phone number? No, they just expect everyone to know that +1 is America. But how many of them know that +41 is Switzerland? +39 is Italy? +44 is UK (or whatever...compare above), +34 is Spain, +91 is India, +61 is Australia? Not many I bet since most Americans think that Europe is one country and the rest of the world doesn't matter anyway...

The commonwealth is all backwards

Have you ever noticed that there aren't any websites ending .uk? They are always .co.uk. What's with the co you ask (well at least I do). My understanding is that it stands for "Commonwealth", but that doesn't make me any wiser. A long time ago I visited friends in Jersey, and when writing them letters (you know the paper kind we used in the 80's?. Well these people are in their 80's so still on paper) I asked them whether I should write Jersey, UK or Jersey, Great Britain on the envelope. They did give me an answer, but heck if I can remember. Think they said Great Britain, which supposedly include the small islands like Jersey. Why don't they just use country code endings like everybody else? Think it has a lot to do with what a taxi driver once told me in England "we just like to be a bit backwards". Well think euro, think meters, think driving on the wrong side and I am certain the taxi driver was right! PS. Just think about how you pronounce theater, it's certainly not how they spell it in England...theatre. The Americans may not have many things right, but when it comes to the language they got it down!

Train debacle

Was out in suburbia the other day, which is nice when you know you can come back into town. Was taking a train that always goes from tracks 21/22 or 23/24. Except for this day, which I realized only coming down the stairs. Up again to check the information board, that stated track 12. Ok, I still had a few minutes to go so no issue. At track 12 it said "Bitte nicht einsteigen" meaning "Please do not board", which was kinda unnecessary since there was no train. Oh dear. Off to the information counters where it was packed. Checking the board again it stated track 4 (bloody hell, when are you going to decide?) so started sprinting. In high heels. Arriving just in time, but of course the train was 4 minutes late. By the time I got a seat I was really really hot and the sun was shining straight into my face so pulled the curtain to get some shade. Only it was somebodys jacket. Oops! It's eventful getting out in suburbia.

Subtle comments

I have friends, and then I have friends. Yesterday when I was confirming tonights dinner I told my "friend" that I would come alone, since Bro left to go back to Italy today. "Friend" replied on sms: "we'll try to keep the intellectual conversation to a minimum then". Haha.

Britain's got talent 2009

A female Paul Potts, Susan Boyle. "I'm 47. And that's just one side of me!" Lyrics: I dreamed a dream in time gone by When hope was high, And life worth living I dreamed that love would never die I dreamed that God would be forgiving. Then I was young and unafraid When dreams were made and used, And wasted There was no ransom to be paid No song unsung, No wine untasted. But the tigers come at night With their voices soft as thunder As they tear your hopes apart As they turn your dreams to shame. And still I dream he'll come to me And we will live our lives together But there are dreams that cannot be And there are storms We cannot weather.... I had a dream my life would be So different from this hell I'm living So different now from what it seems Now life has killed The dream I dreamed. PS. I am not easily moved, but this one makes me produce a tear or two. Only because I was chopping onion....

Première for the season

A cruise on the lake...

Happy Easter!

This was my evening. How was yours?

Grattamacco

This wine is a real contender to Amarone. I didn't believe a wine could be better but I'm willing to admit I was wrong. Grattamacco is the shit!

Public transportation

And if you don't have your own boat (loser!) you can get to the restaurant with other means...

Visit with boat

This restaurant you can bring your boat to.

Next time I go there I will have the end table. This is too cool to miss.

Key West

Key West, now also in Zürich!

Restaurant by the lake with a view of the Alpes, mountains with snow, as well as the lake. Beautiful.

Slim rhino

I can eat as much as I like and my ribs still show + I couldn't care less about ya!

360° view

One of the vineyards we visited.

Amateur photographer

Love this! It's sooooo not the way to film. First you see the little seal trying desperately to climb up the cliff, not succeeding. Then you see the panorama over other seals, very fast so that the images get blurry. Then you come back to the little seal who has finally managed to climb up, missing the whole "how did he get up there?" before switching over to people! You're at Seal island and you film people? Nah, don't ever consider a second career in filming Bro.

Go fishing

Everything you need in life

Food, drink and cig, what else is there?

15 rand

15 rand to taste 5 different wines, money that was deducted if you bought anything. 15 rands is about 2 francs, i.e. next to nothing.

I like the fact that we paid for the tasting, makes you not feeling bad if you didn't buy.

Ostriches

Another animal we saw. These guys can kick the shit outta you!

The chalet once again

More drinks

Just got some 350 pics from Bro from the vacation. Many of the pics are of course the same but these are worth sharing.

Strawberry marguerita or Mojito. Difficult choice. Mmm, I'm thirsty!

Balcony

View from the balcony. Not quite lake view, but greenery and city life.

Windows

Also from the living room. Lots and lots of windows and light.

Living room

This is my favourite room. The living room and the library together. Pics taken from the kitchen angle.

Library

I think the final decision to buy the flat was because it has a "library". Mind you, I've chosen not to have any walls from the living room in order to make the space airier, but can you see the hole in the ceiling to the left of the balcony door? It's for the open fireplace "Venus".

Kitchen

Now imagine this with appliances, a 4,25m long counter with stove, fan, sinks, the food-center (American-style fridge/freezer with ice machine!) and a 3m long bar.

The pipes on the floor are for the floor heating, and it was really difficult to walk around in there.

Cement on the walls still drying.

Bathroom

Time to use your imagination. Went to see my flat 'live' for the first time yesterday. Very very exciting! So ok, it isn't quite finished yet (statement of the year?) but I have a vivid imagination.

This is the bathroom. Shower is going to be next to the window, a panel with and I repeat; rain shower, shoulder shower, foot shower and massage beams. How cool is that?

Easter

Everybody who knows me knows that I am bad on planning in advance. I like to keep my options open, yet have something fun to look forward to. Couple of days ago I realized that Easter is fast approaching and I didn't know what to do with four days off. I know, luxury problem, but one that was quickly resolved. On Friday it's dinner with a friend. On Saturday Aussie boy, ex-flatmate, Bro and I will have Easter dinner (I was as surprised as you are...having spent nearly 3 weeks with Bro I thought we agreed to not see each other for a couple of months), Sunday still open but Monday dinner with other friends. You see, things are working out. Always.

Dating business

There is this guy I know, he's much younger than me so I try to coach him when it comes to dating. Perhaps not a good idea, but he's naive so he listens. Only, the problem is the women he dates. Yesterday he was out and the date told him first about her FB and then that she wants to marry and have kids. Dooohhhh! Who says that on a first date? Yes, they have known each other for some time, but never been on a date-date before. There is something seriously wrong with his choices. Or in this case with the woman. What woman goes on a first date telling the guy she fucks somebody on a regular basis, but she's looking for another loser to have kids with? Makes me ashamed of being a woman.

Switzerland is joining the new millenium

Went to test my eyes recently. I have noticed that my sight have gotten worse. This is not in line with what the company in Norway said when I operated my eyes some 10 years ago. Then it was all talk about "lifelong" improvement, 20/20 vision for the rest of my life. Yeah, yeah. 5 years ago I got glasses to accommodate for the recurring nearsightedness. I needed it for television and to scan interesting guys. Have kind of gotten used to them, the glasses i.e. I had lenses for a lot of years, and am reluctant to go there again. My old optician used to tell me that I flirt to little (hard to believe isn't it?), but apparently I don't blink enough so I get dry eyes. So a couple of days ago I bit the bullet and went to the optician, very much ignoring the lecture she was giving me about "older" people needing check-ups to make sure the pressure (or whatsit, I wasn't really listening) is good. This time however I was allowed to order glasses (unlike the first time 5 years ago when they made me go to the doctor and get a "get-go" before I was even allowed to buy the friggin glasses) and I was impressed over the speediness. Today I got an sms to say the glasses were ready. An sms! In Switzerland! From a company! Ok, so the message was all in upper case but still. This is progress. Slowly but surely.

Toilet paper

Not to read for the faint-hearted (or men!). I come from the North. In the North we have proper toilet paper, or rather had. Things have changed now when everything is available. Not always for the better. In the old days when I used to take charter-trips to Spain and Italy I was presented with paper without any sort of ability to absorb liquid. Which is not so nice when you're in the bathroom kinda expecting the paper to indeed absorb. Anyway, I regress. What I wanted to object to is that toilet paper usually is too soft. The softer the better seems to be the name of the game these days. Fuck that I say. If you're a woman you do not have a protruding genitalia but one that goes inside you. Soft toilet paper will leave soggy little remnants that you really do not want residing in your pants. Why is it that we think that soft toilet paper is good? Ok, I agree that the non-absorbing variant is no good, but a reasonable piece of paper that actually does the job, why is that bad? I really do not want a "Bambi" toilet paper where you need to use 2 meters of paper wrapped up into a ball in order to dry yourself. And I certainly do not need the pieces staying stuck. Think I may start a facebook-group called "Real toilet paper to the people!". Wanna join?

Partners in bed

Had a really unpleasant experience last night. I had just put the light out when I realized that another visit to the loo would be a good thing. Turned on the light again and saw this monster insect next to my pillow! Yikes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fortunately it was a slow one, so I accidentally dropped my book on him plus stood on the book. For several minutes. He is now a very flat ex-insect.

Only I cannot bring myself to pick it up from the floor, so it's going to reside under the book until a guest drops by.

Which made me think of this really nasty insect I saw in Cape Town.

50!

In a few minutes Swiss time one of my best friends turns 50. Here's to you!

Construction workers

On Friday afternoon I had some time on my hands and went to see the builders (and the building of course:) at the construction site. Was informed by the architect who coordinates everything that they work every day from 8-5 and on Fridays to 4pm. Yeah right. When I arrived there all excited (in more than one year I fantasized about my new flat, but haven't actually seen it "live" yet) I found the building site deserted and locked up. What a bummer! So I promptly informed the architect that no wonder that the moving-in is delayed 2 months when nobody works there. Today the manager called me (hey, it pays off to complain!) to explain that the plaster had to dry (yeah, nice try for an excuse) and when would I like to come and visit? Yesssss! On Thursday morning I get to see my flat for the first time! I am extremely excited. Look fw to pics people.

This and that

Was out tonight celebrating some bad news. The only way to go when you receive news not fitting into your calendar is to celebrate and find the positives related to it. Plus a few drinks do help. When I got home I caught the last 10 minutes of Dr House. Always cheers me up. Tonights saying was "You're not gonna feel a thing", then House cuts the patient up without anaesthetics, adding "except for excruciating pain". I know how he feels. The patient i.e.

Banks and credit card institutes

It never ceases to amaze me how ignorant banks and credit card companies are to their customers. Remember the letter I sent to Credit Suisse, and the answer I had that they were looking into it? Never heard from them again, despite me sending it directly to their CEO. Guess I better google to see if he got fired during my holiday. The other company I had a discussion with recently was Diners Club, who I have been a customer to for around 20 years. Always paid on time (except for once when I was a tad late). Without previous warning they raised my annual fee 420%!!! Acceptable? I don't think so. When they refused to pay back the difference I informed them that I wanted to cancel the card. This prompted another response that yes they will indeed give me the credit this year, but from next year the new fee will be applicable. Fine with me. I plan to cancel the card by then.

Complaints

20 ridiculous complaints made by holidaymakers.

How to win and lose a guy in 2 hours

Was out tonight. Immediately when I was walking into my place I saw this guy. Dismissed him being too young. After him looking at me about 40 times, I realized that maybe he wasn't too young. So checked him out. No rings. Well dressed, but he talked to a Swiss guy I know so from Ticino, the Italian part of Switzerland. Hmm, a half-Italian. But the way he was looking at me, the way he was smiling at me was very tempting indeed. We finished our drinks at the same time, it was meant to be. Us leaving together. Until I was leaving and a friend showed up, suggesting we had a drink in a nearby place. Friend suggesting that he wasn't my type. Well, perhaps he wasn't, but he could easily have been my type for tonight...

Gaaaahhhh!

Ok, there might be a follow-up from the vacation of things I forgot, but for now it's a closed chapter. Yesterday I agreed to take part in a walking competition over 125 days. What was I thinking? Not only do I have to pay to participate, but I am to walk around with a step-measurer thingie for 125 days. And all for nothing! This is a worldwide thing, and there is no way on earth that our team has a chance. Especially not with me on the team. Besides, I don't even know if there is a price. Also finally got around to buy my own blood pressure measurer, and I'm wondering what's with this health thing all of a sudden. This surely cannot be good. And when Bro suggested I even dust off the jogging shoes I bought 3 years ago (and never used) I knew I had gone too far. Now I need to focus on men, booze and party, otherwise things will go horribly wrong!

Holiday - Cape Town L

This is a bit of a mix between left-over pics from Cape Town and our 5* hotel in Dubai that I forgot to post.

One of the last days I amused myself by doing a competition with Bro about how many countries we've been visiting. It is a really close call. Depending a little on how you count (some "countries" belong to others) we have both visited some 30+. Nobody wins, nobody loses, that's how you keep peace in the family :)

I have said that I only want to visit New York (which is not a new country for me, just a new city) and then I'm done, but considering how much fun I had in Cape Town I may have to be a woman and change my mind. It has been known to happen before!

Holiday - Cape Town XLIX

About to wrap up from all my pics from the holiday. This one I really took of the car, but in the background you can see the new sports arena being built for that football thing that is taking place next year.

Holiday - Cape Town XLVIII

Oh, and the last day we also went to Signal Hill. A grave oversight according to my friend, so she promptly took matters into her own hands and drove us there. Not to be missed. This my friends is Cape Town in all its glory.

Holiday - Cape Town XLVII

No 18 on the waiters list, but No 1 on mine.

Holiday - Cape Town XLVI

On the last day my friend took us to a great place just in the middle of Cape Town, where we had a view of the sea and where I had my last strawberry Marguerita (well I did have one in the airport too, but that doesn't count, does it?). Goodlooking guy, ain't it?

Holiday - Cape Town XLV

And at least one of us dared to confront the Atlantic ocean.

Holiday - Cape Town XLIV

Somebody said they didn't want to go to South Africa because the beaches were not nice. Well, I don't know about the rest of the country but I can assure you that the beaches in Cape Town are fab. The only issue is that the water holds a temperature of no more than 14°C, brrrr!

Holiday - Cape Town XLIII

Oh, and I forgot that we went to look at the penguins in Simonstown.