Chili chicken

Few things are as rewarding as preparing food for good friends, picking fresh chili from the balcony and put chicken in marinade overnight. This is 3 kg's of chicken wings, think it'll be enough?

Geraniums goodbye

One thing when leaving my old flat is that I have to get rid of my plants. To be exact the cement boxes they reside in. So they're going to a good friend of mine, and I have to find out what type of boxes that can hang on glass balcony walls.

Probably plastic. But I did enjoy several months of blossoming geraniums, and now I get to start anew. In every aspect.

Guillain-Barré

The only time I've heard about this disease was on Dr House. Guillain-Barré syndrome. It means losing the control of your limbs. They become numb. Met a guy today who was diagnosed with this disease recently, and he told me that he gradually lost control of his legs. They became numb. He wasn't in any pain though, but I must admit it was a bit painful to see a guy that young walking with difficulty. These types of things are supposed to happen to old people, not somebody in his early 30's or even late 20's. But since when was life fair?

Zürifahne

This is the Züriflag I am going to have on my brand new balcony!

1st of August

For a number of years here in Switzerland I had a tradition with a (formerly) good friend of mine. Due to certain events this is no longer. Last year I was in Italy. This year I had no plans, but things have a way of sorting themselves out. So now it's dinnertime on Saturday. Fortunately I have very good friends who are flexible and like the things I like. When I asked what I should cook I was told "your chili chicken". Ha! That's what I do best. And we decided on Caesar salad for starters. Plus my friends fantastic Toblerone chocolate mousse. To this we will finish a good chunk of the wine I have left. And we're not talking the Hungarian Pinot Grigio for 4.90 a bottle, we're talking Barolo, South African dessert wine and all the good bottles I saved for better people :) Seriously, who are better people than my friends?

Fingerless

Spoke to a friend tonight, and she told me she's been to the emergency room yesterday because she didn't think she needed all of her 10 fingers. "What?" I said. Turned out she put her finger into a lawn-mower for no particular reason. Reminded me of the time when I was charging my phone, hit my head on the telly shelf above, then got a split lip when sticking my teeth into the chair in front. Good to know we're all stupid once in a while.

I know a guy

...who knows a guy and so forth. Today I was given advice on karaoke machines. Never mind the inches on the screen, I have to focus on what's important. A Korean karaoke machine with as many microphones as you want, with chips that have 300 songs downloaded. This may be something for me.

India

I love meeting new people. At the same time I like heckling them for being stereotypes.

Like tonight. Was out with a guy who emanates from India. These are his hands.

He's married, have two kids, a wife who stays at home and doesn't wear a wedding ring. But he does wear rings given to him by his parents.

He told me when you get married in India the woman is given a rope around her neck, and the man does not. What does that tell you?

The Rhine

Just wanted to share a pic I took on the way from suburbia to Zürich last Sunday.

What's always on my mind

Had a long talk this evening with the people in the house behind who are selling me the flat. They are so nice, and in awe over my taste (and why wouldn't they, it's excellent :). I was informed they were thinking of keeping the flat instead of selling it, but luckily that's too late. They have watched the progress of the house since the beginning and are fully informed of all happenings. Very good to get the insight to both the new people who are moving in, as well as stuff going on with the builders. Have now arranged to get the key on Sunday to get another whiff of what's coming in about a months time...cannot wait!

The man can cook

A man who can cook AND has 50 inches. Definitely gotta get me one of those!

50 inches

Had dinner with some good friends tonight who has 50-inches. That's very impressive!

Connected both to telly, dvd and computer. I might have to get me one of those!

The blue food-center

A better view of the food-center. The thingie to the left is the ice-maker.

To the right of the food-center is the microwave/oven-combo, and below is a proper oven.

In the very front you can see the bar counter...

View from a bathroom

View from my bathroom into the guest bathroom where the not yet installed washing machine currently resides.

The end of Venus

Remember Venus my fireplace? Well this is where the smoke will come up. At the terrace above.

Glass on the balcony

My new and fabulous kitchen!

Scared the shit outta me when I thought they delivered the wrong food-center, but it's not really blue, just covered in plastic to prevent scratches.

I realize you cannot quite see the kitchen yet, but I promise you, it's fabulous!

You dirty little whore

This is what I was called today. It might deserve an explanation. Bro and an American friend of his are visiting for the weekend and we were out this evening.

We talked about nothing and everything and as usual ended up with relationships. Just because I occasionally still sleep with the ex, the American guy remarked "you dirty little whore". I looked at him and said "WHAT did you say?" and he responded "it's a COMPLIMENT".

Ok, so if this is a compliment from a guy I can live without it.

And my brother burst out laughing. So much for blood-is-thicker-than-water. I kinda would've expected him to punch the guy in the face.

But since I know that he felt bad about it, and Americans have no tact, I am inclined to forgive him. He didn't mean what it sounded like. But in case you'd run into this guy, you'd know what to expect.

Sliding feet

One of the outcomes from the picnic the other day, apart from learning about men shaving their legs, was that my feet were not as nice as they should be. Saw another woman with nicer-looking feet than I have, and my competition instinct awoke. So yesterday I had a footbath, scraping off all the dead skin, finishing off with putting my feet in oily water. Extra virgine olive-oil mind you. Friggin expensive. Then sticking my feet into woollen socks, nearly dying of heatstroke (you know the saying about keeping your feet warm keeps your body warm?) but I gotta tell you. My feet were as smooth as a babys bottom (or so I guess, I wouldn't have a clue). When confronted with something better I will compete!

Green-something go home

Unfortunately 20 minuten today featured some "world-famous" German singer (I never heard of him but I think it's this guy) who apparently enjoys his breakfast (according to the paper he prefers the tuna-mousse - gee I'm so glad they told me!) at my around-the-corner-place. Thing is we planned to go there on Sunday, Bro is coming to town with a friend and some of my friends are joining. Fearing now when it's been in the paper it's gonna be even more packed than usual. Well, I saw it first. And Scandinavians are usually more liked here than ze Germans. Good!

Gavin & Stacey

They have now made it to the net, so in waiting for the 3rd season which is currently being shot please enjoy: Fish & chips Smithy's big entrance Get in the car And a new one I hadn't seen, charity thing when Smithy coaches the football team

Shaved legs

After a while hanging out I noticed the guy next to me, having hairy arms but legs as smooth as a babys bottom (not that I would know, but you get the drift). What's up with that?

Turns out he cycles. So what? Well, apparently, if you crash with your bike hairs make your wounds worse somehow. Sounded to me like a big excuse for wanting to shave your legs.

Picnic time

Zürich offers lots of green areas where people can relax, picnic and have fun. Bade Enge is one of them.

I have to admit that I didn't count on kids being there, but hey, I'm flexible and they were not too annoying.

Apart from when the 4-yearold (I'm guessing here, since I'm no expert on kids ages) wanted to hug me. But as it was as a goodbye I didn't mind.

We had a good time eating lotsa easy food, drinking wine (I did a large contribution here) and just hanging out. Not a bad thing to do on a Wednesday.

Essen nicht fressen

Meaning eat but not over-eat (ok, so Americans might not get it) but saw this today and I thought "cool". I have never ate anything bigger than myself, at least not in one piece.

Well maybe with the exception of a chicken, but certainly not a cow, sheep or pig.

I guess Darwin was right.

Apero

An apero is something very typical for Switzerland. It includes meeting up with a group of people to drink, so I guess not that typical but the expression is. And luckily it's very common here. It comes from the French and means before. Before eating I suppose, because there is very seldom any food involved other than peanuts and crisps and that sort of thing. Meaning you have a bunch of people coming directly from whatever they were doing grabbing a glass of alco, since normally the person inviting is paying. And then they grab another, and another and you get the drift. Drunken people who haven't eaten. Yeah, that's a recipe for success. In Switzerland. I, always being the sensible one (hehe), left in time and passed by my place on the way home. Only to realize there were people eating fondue (the smell of melted cheese! in an evening with 30°C!!). I asked the staff whether they were just stupid or tourists. American tourists I was told. But of course. So now I don't know whether to eat or go to bed.

Bellevue

Bellevue in Zürich is quite a big tram venue. That's where you change when going in something like 5 different directions. But now they've decided to do something fabulous on that big square, so trams are re-directed during a period of several months. Very confusing today when I came from Acqua, walking all the way to Bürkliplatz, taking a tram one stop to Bellevue and thinking of changing to tram No 4 to Central. Only I had to walk towards Central, then take a tram back to Bellevue, see it pass Bellevue where it used to stop (waving at the confused people waiting at the old tram stop) and finally proceed towards Central. How did they think when they planned this?

Not quite yet a kitchen

Next week I'll hopefully have pics of a more hmmm...assembled kitchen.

A flat with a view

Two more pieces of positive news today. I discovered that I can actually see the top of the Alpes from my windows. Guess I've been too busy checking out the progress in the flat when I've been there before.

Second, I met two of the new neighbours today. They seemed really nice, open and friendly. They are also English-speaking which helps. Only one little downside, they're expecting a baby. But I guess as long as I'm not asked to babysit it'll be all right.

Grey

When they said that the house will be painted in grey I didn't think it sounded very nice, but must admit that it looks quite fab.

Food-center

See the food-center to the right? It is huge I admit, but still. Not going up the stairs? I'm not sure...

Appliance delivery

A bit of a drama this morning I must say. I was outside my new house at 8 in the morning waiting for the guys from Bauknecht. They arrived on time and had all the products I ordered with them. So far so good. At the same time the people from the kitchen-supplier were there, and there was a lot of swearing and moaning about "this is a friggin building site, how are we supposed to get the stuff in?". Like I would know. The building coordinators had not shown up. Well, they managed to get the appliances up the stairs, but my beloved food-center was too big they claimed. So I called the construction manager and he told them to put it in the garage. I later found out that I would have to pay for a crane, to get the fridge/freezer into my flat. Jeez! That is extra cost I don't need. Had a feeling those cranes cost a fortune. Which is why I was really really relieved to get a phone call just now to tell me that they're gonna fix it this afternoon. For free. Apparently they have another delivery that comes in a truck with a crane, and they will do it for me. I am so happy!

Kitchen!

Tomorrow is a big day. If not the biggest in my life, so a 9 on the scale. My kitchen is arriving. Finally it's closing in on move day. I am so so excited. I have to be there early in the morning to coordinate, since I've chosen to get my devices from Whirlpool/Bauknecht and the kitchen from Germany. Normally everything is coordinated out of the architect firm, but since I happen to have some excellent connections with the great people in Bauknecht I have opted for coordinating this myself. It does help to get a hefty discount. So tomorrow there will be pics of the kitchen. Doubt that you're as excited as I am, but I bet when you see my new bar, you will be!

Dinner in Zürich

Well suburbia of Zürich. Almost Zürich. Even looked like Zürich. A bit. Forgot to take a pic of the delish lasagna we had, but didn't forget the dessert. A Swiss specialty, white and dark chocolate mousse, served in a professional restaurant-like manner. Me likey very much!

It was a great evening, sitting outdoors, enjoying the cat fights (!), talking about nothing and everything. Very relaxing, and perfect for a Sunday.

Broken tail

In suburbia again, and because I've been accused of always posting pics of cats when I am, here she is. Including a broken tail.

Typing class

When I was younger, much much younger (yeah, you can insert joke here), I was in school. There was a choice between "social studies" and "type-writing". For reasons I won't go into I chose "type-writing". Possibly the best choice I made in my life. Now, when the whole world is electronic and internetty, I have an advantage. I can type real fast. Which my buddies cannot. When I chat with friends I can go to the toilet, get something from the kitchen, smoke a cigarette, and still be waiting for an answer when I get back to the computer. Fast is good!

How to get old

This guy just died at the age of 113 but there is hope yet: Allingham credited "cigarettes, whisky and wild, wild women - and a good sense of humour" for his longevity. Apart from the women thing I am taking this as a challenge.

Spider woman

Have had itches lately. On my back in case you had dirty thoughts. Discovered (with the help of a mirror) today that I have a sort of an insect bite on my back just above the bra line. This is very very scary. It has been hot in Zürich and I've slept with little clothes on and with an open window. I visualize a giant spider (Huntsman-like) taking a stroll over my back when I sleep. This is not comforting. I really do hate insects! And FYI I actually saw Huntsman-spiders live in the scary place down-under! A spider as big as my hand! I just don't understand people who wants to live in a country where animals might kill you!

Helmuts ass

About 5 years ago I was out and I was drunk. Then Helmut stuck a piece of hashish in my pocket, which I later had my ex flush down the toilet. I have never been a drug person, just alcohol and tobacco will do it for me. Lots of it. Anyway. Couple of years ago Helmut was bragging about his new-born daughter and he did disappear from the scene from years. Lately I've seen him again, and this pic was taken before we talked. I was gonna make a glib remark about his ass, which btw is not a bad one. But then we spoke. He remembered me ("you didn't speak German last time we met") and I remembered him. Asked if he was still on drugs, and he said yes (it's always a hint if somebody drinks coffee on a Friday night), and I asked why. "Didn't you have a daughter and went off drugs?" I asked. "No", he said, "I had a son but he died". Jeez! He explained that his ex and his 2-year-old-son died in a car accident. This is terrible! But since I am quite sure he said a daughter last time I talked to him years ago, and that he's a drug person I'm not sure I can believe him. I am not one of these women who write to pedophiles/murderers/whatever in prison thinking I can change him. But I gotta say he sounded serious. And if he's telling the truth I am so so sorry for him.

Going nowhere

When I was loading the pics I found one I haven't posted. I took this one some months ago, just because it's so...well Swiss. Stairs leading to nowhere? It's like I heard today about every new-built house needs to have a bomb-proof cellar. Why? Why the hell do they need bomb-proof cellars in the safest country in the world?

This is a country where weapons are given to every 18-year-old when they do military duty (for what one might ask?). Weapons are taken home, staying under the bed, or wherever one might store a deadly device. Yet in Switzerland there are very few shootings, compared to the US where everybody can apply for a weapon (a 5 min application and then you go home with a pistol).

But I digress, I just was gonna post the pic of the stairs.

Riding into the sunset

I should find out who the guy on the horse is, since I'm around there a lot, but a statue? I dunno.

Which one is mine?

Trick question, which one is my boat?

My beloved Zürich

The twin towers of Zürich.

It's not likely Bin Ladin & Co will attack it fortunately, although Libya seems to have a bit of a grudge for the moment. This is hilarious, Gaddafi thinks that Switzerland should cease to exist, and that the German-speaking part of Switzerland should go to Germany, the Italian-speaking part to Italy and surprisingly enough the French-speaking part to France. What he wants to do with the Räto-Romanisch is not known. He probably doesn't know they exist.

I bet you he's pissed about not being able to access his secret Swiss bank account!

Booooschänzli

What else is there to do on a day with sunshine and 30°?

ewz continued

Remember the cool ewz-guy from the electricity company? Well, today I got a letter from "ewz-Kundenzentrum" confirming that they had de-registered me from my current address from 1st of September. It was signed "Freundliche Grüsse" and "Ihr ewz", meaning your ewz. No name though, so that they can remain anonymous I guess. But what about a letter to say, yes we have de-registered you but at the same time registered you at your new address? Perhaps that's next week. In Switzerland we do things slowly but thoroughly.... PS. Makes me think why Americans will never succeed in this country. For Americans it's all about "do it now", not necessarily do it right. And also why ze Swiss will never succeed in a competitive environment on their own. They need a kick in the ass from the aforementioned Americans!

He was only 15

Wow. If I would've been this smart when I was 15! Of course it would've helped if internet was invented... On the other hand, he's only using common sense but I guess the profit-hungry consultants are a bit devoid of that. PS. A piece of trivia, I got a 5 (on a scale 1-5 where 5 was best) in music when playing "she was only 15" on guitar and singing to it in school. The teacher must've been tone-deaf. Takes one to know one.

One small step for man

...one giant leap for mankind. On 20th of July it is 40 years ago we (as in people) went to the moon. And I remember it as it was yesterday. Sorta. There is all sorts of space travel these days from Apollo to Discovery to Endeavour and all other enterprisy names in between, but have we really done something as big as this since 1969? Yes, I know there is internet and other types of communication, there is progress in medicine (why haven't we cured the cold yet?), more books written (on the same themes as Shakespeare 500 years ago), advances in how we treat the environment (at the same time we destroy it more) and in general more knowledge. But have we forgotten science? Adventure? Discovery? The fact that penicillin was discovered by accident, and if I remember correctly so was x-rays, we now seem to be over-rationalized and always look to profits. Always these friggin profits first and foremost. I have been informed that most discoveries that later became useful were made by accident while looking for other things. It's sad to think that some people today think we cannot pay for it. I say, we cannot afford not to!

Cover up

Switzerland can now proudly add another dumb law to this website. Ze prude Swiss cannot take the sight of naked people in their beloved Alpes. Personally I think it's because it's German nudists... But they are real avant-gardists in Appenzell (apart from the dog-eating then) and did allow women to vote already in 1990!

Living in harmony

Remember I mentioned moving from anonymity to a more close environment? Well, I'll be happy to. Hopefully I will live in a house where people can talk to each other. Now I've got a letter about using the washing machine and/or tumbler outside hours, meaning after 10 in the evening. The envelope from the maintenance company was addressed to me, but the letter inside was "to the tenants" but I bet it was the oversensitive French woman upstairs who once complained about me smoking in my flat ("it's so much smoke in my flat I have to sleep in the bathroom"!!!). Anyway, I admit to having run the washing machine at 11 one evening about 3 weeks ago. On average I think I might have done this horrible deed about once a year for 7 years. The tumbler I do not use at all. Bet she'll be really happy to hear that the new tenant seems to be a quiet person who's a non-smoker! PS. I'm fairly sure this is the same person who hasn't learned to shut off the sound of her computer, so that when her daughter chats you can hear every beep...

I am always right

Yes, they are lightweights...

Girls night out

Having 4 girls over for dinner tonight, and then we're hitting town. Except for one, I don't know these girls too well and I'm told they are not big drinkers. Hmmm. Let's see what happens after mozzarella&tomatoes&basil from the balcony, chili chicken-wings and large salad and a lemon cake from the bakery + plenty of fizzy wine, white wine and dessert wine. Think I can get them to let their hair down a bit?

Ice

I ran out of ice-bags and went to get new ones. Discovered that I do not know the German name for it, and it took me some time to find the "eiskugelbeutel". Anyway. In my new fabulous apartment I will never ever have to worry about ice cubes again, my new and equally fabulous "food-center" has an ice-creating thingy, which is why I was really irritated to find out that they now sell "self-closing ice-bags". You fill up the bag, turn it upside down and it closes itself. Why wasn't that invented when I needed it? Mind you, these new bags still have to go in the freezer to freeze. I say only one thing, food-center!

ewz rocks and can handle change

ewz is an electricity company here in Switzerland, and when I got a bill a few days ago I thought I'd let them know I'm moving so sent an email. The guy responding also found out that it's a new building, but contrary to Swisscom it wasn't a problem. After a few emails back and forth a guy named David responded "Hi Annika. Thanks for your answer. The change of apartment and address has been completed. Have a nice day. Best regards, David" So I replied: "Hi David, I hope that means that I will have electricity in my new apartment. Please confirm. Thanks. Annika" His answer: "Hi Annika. Yes, you've got electricity, as much as you want. David". Haha. I like this guy.

Swisscom

I think I might have insulted a French person. I was calling Swisscom, which is my telephony and internet provider to arrange for the move. I want obviously to move the telephone number and to have a new modem that hopefully will work better with shit-Vista than the current one. Thought I might go for a wireless in the new fancy building. Anyway after going through the painful exercise of pressing 4 for English, pressing 1 for current telephone number, pressing 3 or whatever for "other" issue, pressing 4,5,6 for more options I finally got to talk to a person. Only he was French and his English was questionable. After I explained my problem he suggested to transfer me to somebody else, and I asked politely if he could make sure that person spoke English. After a pause he responded "This is Switzerland, everybody has an accent. Also you." Good point. Very good point. But my point was that my English is understandable. Anyway, after 25 mins of telephone call I was informed that my new address doesn't exist. I kinda knew that. The building is not yet finished. So now he will find out what to do (I guess it's a totally new problem to solve for Swisscom!) and call me back later. Story to be continued I'm sure...

Philosophy

As I was passing through Bahnhof yesterday I thought about how lucky I am. I live in a great country (the greatest even), I have soon a beautiful home, I have a boat, I have friends and enough money to buy almost what I want. This all went through my mind while in Bahnhof. On Wednesdays there is a market, and carefully avoiding the flirting Güggeliman I cruised between the stands, ending up buying some really good cheese from the Alpes from a quite gorgeous man (hello, gotta come back there for sure!), a chocolate brownie and fresh raspberries. Like a treat to myself because I'm worth it. Later, when curled up on the sofa in front of Dr House at home I had the brownie and the raspberries. But when I got to the bottom of the berrybox the raspberries were not so fresh. A bit of a disappointment. Like life itself sometimes. Quoting Forrest Gump "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Ok, that's enough of philosophy for one day.

Pretentious

It's funny with the word pretentious. Where I come from Luther ruled, and I can honestly say this isn't my favourite guy. Everything that is fun is bad in his eyes. Perhaps that's why I became an atheist. I don't think they know Luther in Switzerland. This is a good thing. When they look for professional people here they advertise for "pretentious" people, meaning "trying to appear or sound more important or clever than you are". This is funny in itself since ze Swiss never try to shine and be stars. But I like it, and Luther can go f... himself! And Switzerland is like an oxymoron. That's why I like it here!

Anthracite

Had an argument today with the tile&floor-man. When I was in the flat last week it looked like the "Fugen" were not black as I had ordered. You know the stuff they put in between the tiles on the floor. If I have black granite floor, I certainly do not want grey stripes around it, I want black. Today he assured me they put anthracite on it, which I interpreted as grey but he assured me it is black. It was "only because it's dusty now". Hmmm. Going there on Friday to inspect.

Insect bite

It started out as a simple insect bite, but after scratching it got infected. Good thing they have emergency rooms in Germany, that can provide antibiotics.

Swiss countryside

Spent the day on the Swiss countryside. Very relaxing and with cuter animals than the spiders. Isn't she a beauty?

Zwei Ärsch ein Gedanke

Sometimes I have to laugh at the Swiss "language". Today I learned "Two asses, one thought" which I suppose in English translate to "Great minds think alike". Funny. I like the Swiss version better.

Appenzeller-dog

In Switzerland when you hear Appenzell, you think about cheese. They make cheese. Really good cheese. Apparently they also enjoy meat. Dog-meat. From what I understand "everybody" knows that Appenzellers eat dogs, but it's not talked about. Wouldn't surprise me. The things that go on in the Alpes here are not always fit for the ears of the public. To think that people like Fritzl in Austria do not exist in Switzerland would be naive. But I'm not sure I'll enjoy Appenzeller-cheese quite so much again...

Wildlife in Switzerland

Was waiting in a booth at a train station this evening, where I saw this ugly spider. They really should do something about that. It's not friendly to have spiders this size near people!

Birds - Annika 1-1

Just because I hadn't taped the boat completely shut, the friggin pigeons had gotten in again. So we murdered their babies.

I've got tiles!

Progress in the bathroom.

I've got a floor!

Hey, I've got a floor!

Name and shame

Today was name'n'shame-day on the walking project. Email with graphs going out for all to see. Out of 6 people I'm the second last, and I'm averaging 9,779 per day which is excellent if you ask me. It's just that I'm in a team with over-achievers who does nothing but think of the walking. Alternatively I am honest... I find it more interesting to just stick the pedometer on, then act normal. For example walking to and from the public transportation, out in the evening meeting friends, that type of thing. But I was invited, I accepted and I contribute but I do it my way...

ICE

Today I learned about ICE. It was because of an acquaintance (btw, this is the word I always have to google. I'm good at spelling, but this one evades me) who ended up in the emergency room, needing surgery. ICE means In Case of Emergency, and the tip from my brother was to register 'ICE1 brother' in my mobile phone with his number, so that if something happens to me the hospital people can call him. Now, told him that I feel fine and don't plan on being sick. Besides, I told him if he doesn't hear from me by email, msn, skype or sms in one day, he can be sure that something happened to me. "One day?", he responded. "More likely one hour". Well, can I help it that I'm good with communication?

Steam-taxi

This is so cool...a steam taxi!