Leprosy?

I dunno what it is, but I have gotten some spots on my left arm. Could it be sun allergy? Never had before, but is weird. Looks funny though, when you try to take a pic of your own arm, and it ends up looking thick like a thigh.

But I got plenty of those little spots. Could it be leprosy?

Migros shit

After I dropped my big glass form (full of chicken wings) on the floor, I bought another type of form from Migros. It was on sale.

I now understand the reason, since it's shit. How long did I have it? Perhaps 4 months or so. And now it looks like this.

I will bring it back to their customer desk to prove a point. I don't have the receipt, so do not expect money back but no way am I wasting a Züri-Sack for this shit.

Cool runnings

For some reason I thought of Cool runnings, and lo and behold, some kind soul put the whole movie up on youtube.

I do not cry often irl, but gotta admit when Mary gets blind in the 'Little house on the prairie' and when the Jamaican boys carry their sleigh onto the goal line in 'Cool runnings', then it is hard to keep the tears back.

I think it's the underdog theme that makes it. Identification. We all want to make it one way or another.

Personally I want to win the euromillion. Just have to start playing.

Forgetful or ignorant?

I have a friend who accuses me of never listening to her. It's because something she mentioned in passing, and I had forgotten. She brings it up again, and I remember.

It reminds me of two people. One was the Indian guy who lived with me at my last place, and he told me upfront that he was forgetful. I understood what he meant when he almost put fire to the kitchen (having forgotten he put oil in a pan).

The other person it reminds me of, is somebody who could say in a conversation "well, don't you remember on August 21, 2007, when you said this?". And honestly, I could not. I do not keep track of what I said when and where.

Perhaps it's like my Mum said when I was young and paid no attention to what people were wearing, "you are just ignorant". I think she was probably right, since fashion has never interested me.

However, I do want to listen to my friends but at the same time, I do not want to keep track of what they said and when. Life goes on, and nobody is perfect. Present company excluded of course :).

Oven

I have a fairly new oven, it's only 2,5 years old. As long as I have lived in my fab apartment. And only today I realized that it doesn't distribute heat evenly. Isn't that something you should expect from a modern oven?

Boat day

Went down to check on my boat today, with the intention of taking it for a spin. For several reasons it didn't happen, and I ended up cleaning it instead. It's funny, in the front it has a pipe where water can run out but after the winter it is always clogged up with wet leaves and blocked. Which means that water is contained in the front, and it is very dirty.

So scrubbed and scrubbed and scrubbed. Then I sat down sweating, even though I was in my bikini. Not a pretty sight after enjoying loadsa food in the winter, and not having the stamina to go on diet. Well actually, I did start but finished after a day or so.

My boat is placed in the middle of Zürich, so there is the odd tourist (many actually) taking photos. I might end up on a porn sight for men enjoying fat people. Oh the embarrasment!

Strawberries

Summertime

As usual my aunt reminded me that this weekend we are going to summertime. And I dunno, wasn't very drunk when I got home on Friday evening but had it in my head, and changed all my clocks.

But what the hell, I am usually before my time anyway, so the fact that I was one hour ahead for a day was just fun.

Then I was checking the weather for the coming week, and it looks great. Up to 20°, obviously more in the sun, and I'm thinking boat.

Already have the foetus of a tan, having sat on the balcony in the sun.

Yes, this is gonna be a great summer!

AA dinner

Dinners have gone from talking to people to show each other various youtube-clips. Well, perhaps not entirely but a wee bit much if you ask me.

Otherwise delish food, lasagne and chocolate cake and I got to take leftovers with me!

Birdie nam-nam

Shot a glance at the cats, they were playing with a toy I didn't recognize. OMG! It was a bird! A real one.

Turns out the poor birdie had flown into my balcony door (signs of feathers) and probably died then and there. Then of course the cats found it, and they are currently very disappointed with me, taking it away from them.

Sorry, didn't take a pic, had to remove it right away, before the cats got hold of it again and before I got squeamish. It's now resting together with a bunch of cigarette butts in a trash can. There are worse ways to end your days.

Beef

I have a little beef with my neighbours. Got very upset when they didn't tell me about their break-in (flat underneath me), since it kinda affects me too, and then when they didn't tell me that the police caught the guy.

So time to act. Yesterday I went downstairs offering my newly baked cinnamon rolls, inviting them to dinner. Short notice, so only one of them could make it.

That's fine, not everybody is as flexible as I am. But again I got irritated when he called 10 minutes after he was invited, saying he was gonna be late. Food was ready to be served, and on the table. "I was in a meeting, and I couldn't get out of it". Yeah right. It's not like he works for REGA saving lives.

Then I asked why he and his flatmate rents a fairly decent and quite expensive apartment with a huge terrace, which they never use. "What's it to you?" was the answer. And yes, he's right. None of my business, except for that I'm an owner of my apartment, and would prefer somebody who cares.

I much rather come home, seeing chairs and a table on this big terrace, like there is life, rather than seeing a sad christmas tree still hanging in one of the many windows still.

I think if you do not care where you live, live somewhere cheaper and save your money!

Plants

Spring is definitely here, so went to Coop bauhaus in order to pick up geraniums for the balcony. Only there was no flower market anymore. So bought a rosemary, since the one I tried to plant hasn't shown any signs of life yet.

Then I read on the Jumbo website that they have young geraniums for 1,50 only. Since I'm all for bargains, I ran there (well, took the bus). It was just that these young geraniums didn't show any flowers yet, and I am not taking a chance that they will come up with a faulty colour like red. So have to bide my time, and pay more when the real ones are available.

In the meantime I'm enjoying a hyacinth.

And I got a raspberry plant! Never had that before, but if they give off raspberries I'm all set for the drinks in summer. Bacardi razz, freshly grown raspberries and crushed ice. Cannot wait!

Yum

A bit of cooking and baking day.

Huge bug

Very exciting afternoon today. A huge bug got into my fireplace through the chimney (no way to get out mate!), and the cats discovered it. They have now spent hours tracking it, trying to catch it, and just lying around to watch it.

Since I don't have a man in my house to be a bug-catcher, I am happy with my two girls.

Lamp closure

After some "negotiation", i.e. gentle pursuation from my part I finally got the confirmation I wanted.

"Dear Mrs,

Thank you for your feedback.

After consultation with my colleagues again, we are happy to inform you that we will reimburse the cots you had in full.

Enclosed you will find our credit note. In the next few days, we will credit the value to your´s credit card.

We apologize for any convenience you were caused by this occurrence.

If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us."

Think they might have meant costs. Anyway, I am so glad I didn't respond what first got in my head (imagine the language here) when I got the first response, but rather waited and finetuned my answer. I simply asked whether she herself would accept to pay in advance for a product, then have to pay extra when it didn't work. I am now being reimbursed with 185 euros, which was the extra cost I had for the faulty delivery.

A decent company, not many of those around these days!

Fresh yeast

Found it! Fresh yeast. But I still don't get the measurements, what's up with the 42 g? What's wrong with an even number like 50?

Yeast and butter

It's always strange in a new country to find out the different types of food. Not that Switzerland is new to me, but I never baked here before.

The other week when I was baking cinnamon rolls I found out that yeast only comes dry. Not fresh that I was used to. And it comes in the measure of 7 grams per bag. 3 bags in one plastic cover. 21 g all in all. Many recipes have 25 grams needed. What's up with the 7 grams? Do Swiss people bake with 7 grams of yeast only?

And I bought two different kinds, thinking one of them was fresh. Not. So for 21 grams of the one kind I paid 90 rappen, and for the other 21 grams I paid 2.30. They were both dry. How weird is that?

A bit the same with butter. Where I come from the measurements are printed on the cover. 500 grams of butter are clearly marked each 100 gram. Here not. First of all butter seldom comes in more than 200 grams per box, and after you have used some of it, you have to guess how much 50 grams is (if that's what you need for the recipe).

I am not, repeat not, buying a weight machine! But clearly ze Swiss need to be educated on this topic.

As good as it gets

Was watching this movie (again!) and am still laughing about it. One of my favs.

Made me think of the time I was travelling around Europe with two guys. One was a colleague, and one was his friend. No romantic bullshit, but three people together 24/7 was an experience. Not that we fought or anything, but sharing a car, a tent, sometimes we splashed out on a hotel room, and the whole time together for three whole weeks was interesting.

As I remember we covered 11 countries and some 3,500 kilometers in those weeks. Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Yugoslavia (when it still existed), Italy, Sweden, Luxemburg, France, Liechtenstein, Belgium and the Netherlands.

My friend drove most of the time, I drove perhaps 1,000 kilometers and the third guy only a bit, since both of us realized he was a shitty driver.

But looking back it was good fun, and I wouldn't have it undone. It was a different Europe back then, and easy to get around. Even though some of the countries on our journey were not very well developed back then.

I'll see if I can dig up some photos from the trip.

Day 7

5 days out of 7, not too bad I must say for a hmmm-hmmm-year-old.

Not losing my religion

For the afternoon concert today in my fav place, I had invited a couple that I know. It's not exactly their type of place, but they did enjoy the singing at that my party so thought, what the hell, one time they can do it.

Thing is, I've been to their church three times to make them happy, and I thought they'd enjoy my place once more. But alas no.

So next year when I once again get invited to their church, I can with a good conscience say no.

Day 5

Somehow missed day 4, but then on day 5 I met up with some friends. One is always on her phone (although not answering my messages) and the other one is a person who claims he doesn't like my place.

I am flying

When my computer died I thought of all the data I lost (yes I know, but it was a conscious choice to let it go, it's something refreshing about starting up new), and realized not everything is lost.

I have some friends who have never deleted anything in their lives, and probably have several back-ups too.

Here's some pics from a very special flying trip over the Pacific Ocean.

I met Lassie

Where I come from the expression "I met Lassie" means that you are name-dropping. You are for example telling a friend of a famous person you have seen, or spotted. It could also mean that somebody told you that they have seen somebody remotely famous. It is seen as being somewhat pathetic. Like you don't have your own life.

Which reminds me, I saw this guy this afternoon with two cats. Only the cats were not real, even though they were moving. Like Tamagotchi. How sad is it not to bring two fake cats with you to a bar? And cuddle them!

Anyway, I am sorry to say that some of my family members are "I met Lassie" people, but there you are. Cannot choose them, cannot get rid of them. And, if I think about it, they do have other qualities. Better ones.

Lassie.

Lamp update

If you followed the blog you know that I finally got my new fab lamp up, and that I'm very happy with it.

You also know that I'm not happy having to deal with the admin of it all. But I did.

So sent the lamp back in the package it came in. Then separately I sent the additional cost I had, attaching the postage bill, the electrician I had to get here, and the VAT bills I had to pay twice. It all came to almost the cost of the lamp in the first place, but I don't care. You send me a faulty product, you gonna have to pay for it.

Today they called me, telling me that they had received the lamp and the bills, except for the invoice for the electrician. Interesting, since I sent all four bills in the same envelope as a registered letter.

I still haven't revealed the name of the supplier, but believe you me, if they do not pay me back, I will not only post their name here but I will spam their website.

And yes, I have now sent a scanned copy of the bill they lost.

The battle is on.

Old?

You know it's funny, but when you get older you tend to think more about your youth. What happened then, what formed you to be the person you are today, and how you got there.

Luckily, I still haven't sank to the level where I go to a shop and buy movies like "Hair" (which btw I never seen in my life) and Grease (which I have seen, but it was many moons ago).

Or as somebody phrased it yesterday, "you may have an old body, but you have a young spirit". Hmmm.

Day 3 cont'd

So there were the two of us enjoying the music, and I said that if she (the singer) would go professional, I would administer her fanclub. No problem whatsoever.

My friend then stated that she would be the manager, and I would have to report to her. What!?! I so do think so. Me reporting to somebody? Nah, ain't gonna happen.

Mind you, perhaps we should've talked to the singer before fighting about being in the entourage.

But no way would I report to somebody! Just wanted to make that clear :).

Day 3

So since old person cannot take going out anymore (haha, you just wait!) we decided to enjoy the afternoon concert instead. And got rewarded with some good ol' rock'n'roll. Yessss!

But I had to translate for ze Swiss. Waiter: "would you like your water with gas?". She: "yes, I would like a water but without gas". Me: "he said gas, not glass".

Some shopping again

A brand new steamcleaner and an iron. Bought the iron not only 'cause it's got a fab colour, but because my current one is broken since about 6 years. It has a hole in it, since somebody who wasn't me dropped it on the floor, and it leaks water.

Steamcleaner is for the windows, and I'm told it gets a better result than just manually washing. Will let you know.

Day 2

Gosh, think I am getting a bit, how shall I put it?, a bit oooh-nooo old! Went out again tonight and even though it was fun, all I could think about was to go home, have a bite to eat and cuddle with my cats.

This is indeed so not good news.

Day 1

The Zürich painting

Finally I have gotten the gift from my birthday up on the wall, where it belongs. Fab pic of Zürich in the old days. Now I can look at it every day.

There was a discussion where other people thought it may not be displayed at the optimal place, but let's face it, how many paintings do you look at when visiting others? My thoughts were that I want it where I can see it on a daily basis.

And here it is.

Being a good hostess

Part of being a good hostess is to prepare as much as you can before the guests arrive, so that you can "entertain" by the time they are arriving.

I dunno if I'm a good hostess, but I try to be.

Today I am busy preparing pancakes, to be served with a lukewarm raspberry jam and whipped cream. A special treatment for somebody who will visit and help me put up a picture.

Electricity reduction

Am pretty proud of myself. Got the yearly reconciliation from the electricity company, and have managed to reduce my usage from 2,196 kWh to 2,026 compared to last year. That is a 7.5% reduction.

Not entirely sure how I did it, but always running washing and dishwasher machines on low tarif probably helps. However, I am using more light in the living room, even though I'm not home, to prevent evil burglars from bursting in. I should really get a reduction from the insurance company too!

Stamina needed

Next week a good friend of mine will be singing with the band all week in my fav place. So look forward. It'll be busy for me, having to go out every day.

But I will find the strengh somewhere, it'll be like the old days!

Jealousy is a sickness?

I don't get it. I know this couple, who I see on regular basis, maybe once every second month. Tonight only the man came to see me, and to pick up a few things I had that were theirs.

He stayed for a drink, maybe 45 mins or an hour, and was just wrapping up to go home when he got a phone call. It was her, demanding him to come home.

I really don't get it. Either join him, she was welcome too, or leave him to have a chat with me. What is wrong with this woman?

My eighth own home

Now we're talking. My eighth own home was in Copenhagen, in a good area. Found an old house, where the attic was being renovated housing two bachelor flats. It was really expensive, but since I knew it was gonna be 90 m2 with top quality furniture, I signed the contract.

Well, first of all I lived in a flat on the ground floor the first couple of months, since the flat was still being built. Then I moved, while it was still a building site, but since I was going to Australia for three weeks I thought it was perfect. It was gonna be done when I got back.

Ha! Was not. Landlord had chosen to renovate the other one and get some more rent in, so nothing had happened while I was away. Had to live in building dust for quite some time. Then I found out the way the Danish calculate square meters. It includes "your" part of the stairs and common areas. Living space was only 60 m2.

You live and you learn. But I liked it, even though it was 104 steps and no elevator up to my flat. Fabulous view and that's where I met a friend. She had the other attic flat. I rang her door one Friday evening after coming home from work, and we ended up going out until pretty darn late. Been friends ever since. Good memories there, M, don't you think?

My seventh own home

When my two years were up on the assignment in Utrecht, my boss called me and pleaded "please, hear me out before you say no". He knew I wasn't fond of the north.

But he managed to persuade me by promoting me, giving me my own country. Well, that's stretching it a bit, but humour me.

This was and is a very expensive country, and I was on a local contract, which meant I had to pay for accommodation myself. Ouch.

So got a second-hand apartment, albeit in a good area of Oslo, but cost at least half an arm and part of a leg, for a really shitty place. It was furnished with left-over cheapo stuff. That's when I bought one of the very comfortable armchairs I still have, so I at least could sit somewhere in the flat.

And it was one of these old places that no matter how much you cleaned, it still looked dirty. Yikes.

I sorted out their finance business, trained the assistent I inherited, so that she could take over (fab job done there E!) and I could move on. Not a day too early if you ask me.

Too cold, too boring, too friggin expensive. Saying me, who ended up in Zürich which lately was chosen the most expensive city in the world.

Life works in mysterious ways.

The sweetest

Figured you wanna see the new background pic on my computer.

Shopping spree

Bought a new frying pan today. Couldn't find a purple one, so had to settle for a blue Jamie Oliver pan. The old ones only lasted like 9 years, so this better be a quality one.

Happened to pass the towel rack, and of course couldn't resist. It's for the boat. Season coming up soon!

My sixth own home

Well, I guess my sixth own home wasn't really my own. About five years earlier I had decided that I wanted to move abroad. I felt there was more to see in the world, than the little country I happened to be born in.

And people from my home country are very, how can I put it politely?, diplomatic. Another word is scared to stand out, to do anything that other people don't do, and to think it's important how you look to others. That doesn't suit me, so I wanted to move.

I was lucky. Well, let's say I pushed luck a little by being very annoying to my bosses and more or less forcing them to give me an assignment in another country. They caved in, and sent me for a 2-week project in the Netherlands.

I loved it! Cannot say I played a major role in getting the deal we finally signed (500 people from the IT company owned by the Dutch railways), but I was there. And I got invited to the celebration party, which really pissed off my current manager back home big time. He made me fly back at 7 in the morning, and even though I had people from the Dutch project, much higher in hierarchy than my manager, asking me to stay, I did fly back. Went straight from the party to sleeping half an hour on the plastic chairs at Schiphol before boarding the plane.

Anyway, after a few months I was asked to move to Utrecht and be part of the finance team for a couple of years. I took me less than a second to decide.

Ended up living in a house that the company rented for an American, who had gone home earlier than planned. Three floors, three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen and two bathrooms. Paid by the company. At the same time I was renting out my flat back home. To the same company.

Never say I'm not business-minded.

Irish coffee

Saw a show on telly the other day, talking about all the glasses that people have hidden in drawers and never use. Made me realize I am one of those.

So when friend visited the other day I made Irish coffee! In glasses made therefore, and with a long spoon doubling as a straw. Never mind it was in the middle of the day.

And made a cheese cake, which to be honest needs some...well, something more. Wasn't perfect. But at least I tried.

And the coffee was delish!

Excitement

Zina and Zetti are also very excited about all the new things in the flat.

My new fab lamp

If you think I put it up myself, you were wrong.

Very happy with the outcome...even though I am still dealing with the admin.

Lusol

Not entirely sure, but think Lusol is a Swiss brand. Nevertheless, it's great to finally have a decent set of cutlery.

Pyjama pants

I am actually considering buying new pyjama pants. Am pretty disappointed, think I only had those for about 10 years.

Turning into a house wife

I did it! I baked for the first time in eons. Apart from the fact that I couldn't find any baking forms and only dried yeast in the shop, I have to say, they are delicious. Now I only have to work on the presentation (and find the forms).

But I learned what yeast is in German (Hefe) and what I call pearl sugar (not sure about the English word) is in German called "Hagelzucker" meaning hail sugar. Very fitting.

Yum!

New computer!

Blogging from my new computer! Spent the afternoon downloading stuff I need and configuring the pc. One thing that struck me is that the cables are always too short, so you need a connecting cable, which means there are snakes everywhere.

Same with my ironer. Unless you stand exactly next to the outlet where you plug it in, an extra cable is needed. I really don't get it.

But computer is ok, screen is smaller than before which is a minus, so is the colour, stripy purple, but it's silent and quick.

Got a real scare when unpacking the pc, brown-black cover!!!, but turned out it was interchangeable. Phew!

Kitchen clean-up

Some people might find it a bit sad to stay in on a Saturday evening to clean a kitchen cupboard, but in fact, I used to always stay home on Saturdays back when I was busier than now. Ok back then I was also out most other evenings.

Nevertheless, feel good about myself. Yesterday I cleaned the cutlery drawer, which btw wasn't very dirty, to make place for my fab new set. All handwashed before (I AM really getting old!).

Today I cleaned out the cupboard where I keep dry food. That one hasn't been organized since I moved in. Now all small stuff is collected on a plate, and messy stuff like flour and sugar neatly placed in a plastic box on a towel. Much easier to take out and clean instead of spreading powder all over the place.

Next thing you know I'll be making cinnamon rolls like a real housewife!

No Swiss

Today I went to the Kreisburo to enquire about getting a Swiss passport. In August I have been here for 10 years. Turns out it's the wrong place to go to, but they did provide me with an informational broschure.

Turns out you have to be here for 12 years, not 10, before you can apply.

But this is Switzerland, and everything is up for negotiation. Like my friend, who had a question on her taxes and so called her local authorities for advice. They told her, since she was one of the high-paying tax people in the village, to interprete the rules in her favour. You gotta love a country when even taxes are up for discussion.

So maybe, if I dress up nicely, go there, hat in hand, they will look favourably on a too early application? Worth trying.

Bargain

Normally I do not read any advertising sent to me. I bin it. But I guess having a bit of time on my hands, made me glance at some offers.

So today I bought a 70-piece cutlery set, and I am very happy. Have actually been thinking a long time about getting a decent set, so that I can get rid of all the different cheapo Ikea cutlery I have used most of my life.

And what made me most happy was the price, it was set down from a whopping 399 francs to 149! Which maybe in itself is not fantastically cheap, but for the quality and the number of pieces, yes. Feel very happy with myself right now.

UPS sucks (or possibly Dell)

I am so irritated with Dell. I received two emails, one saying delivery date was the 6th of March, the next one saying 5th of March. Fine.

Just got home and found a note in my letterbox, saying UPS was here and I was not.

What!?! Means I could've had my new computer, and spent the weekend configuring it. IF THEY WOULD HAVE FRIGGIN TOLD ME!

29th of Feb

A friend of mine had a baby yesterday, how cool is that to have birthday only every fourth year!

Ok, so for a kid maybe not, lack of presents and what-have-you, even though I'm pretty certain the parents will see to it anyway, but when he's older, not having to experience the every year aging (I know, the logic is a bit iffy but still) is great.

Anyway, congrats! And thanks for being on another continent (no baby-sitting required) ;).

On a first name basis!

There is this woman I met about 5 years ago, she handles some stuff for me and I pay her for the services.

She is Swiss, and therefore very formal, but after all these years I think I have finally charmed her. Sent her an email, saying please call me Annika, and today when visiting me, she finally did. For nationalities that don't understand, this is a big step for ze Swiss, who like to call people by their last name even though they have known each other for a long time.

Anyway, she had told her partner about it, and he had laughed heartily, so at the spur of the moment I decided to include them in my circle of friends and invited them for dinner.

Not the first time I work hard to get to know ze Swiss, but so worth it! Once you're in, you're in for life. And my life is here.

Spring!

On my balcony 20 degrees and sunshine, me in shorts and a top, ciggies and a glass of white on the table, feet up and a book in my hand.

Life is goooood!