The curious case of Benjamin Button

I occasionally lend movies to friends, and most of the time I remember to make a note, since I've learned that many people do not return said movies within a reasonable time.

I don't know how you feel about it, but I find it appropriate to return movies that I borrowed within a month or so. I do most of the times, but I do have one bad conscience, with some friends in Basel I haven't seen in half a year, and I still have movies I borrowed from them. They don't like coming to Zürich, and I don't want to travel at all. Eventuelly I have to send them I think.

Anyway, what made me think of this, is that a neighbour borrowed some movies from me, and it was only when I wanted to watch one of them again, I realized who had them. When asking, she was very apologetic and I got them back immediately.

Plus one. I got a movie that wasn't mine. Only realized when I got back home. It's called "The curious case of Benjamin Button", and it turned out to be a very good movie. Didn't hurt that Brad Pitt was starring I guess.

I like movies (and books) that surprise me. That gives me something to think about, and to spark my imagination.

In hindsight, I don't mind at all that she kept my movies for 8 months. In this case, I got something in return.

10 years in Switzerland

In a couple of hours it'll be 1st of September 2012. Then I have officially been in Switzerland for 10 years. And ze efficient Swiss sent me my renewed C permit today, valid until 31.08.2017. Thank you!

And of course there will be a party. Unfortunately many people are on vacation, and I only invited friends in and around Zürich, so we won't be as many as on my birthday. But a party there shall be!

Was just thinking, am doing a chili and it's probably better to do it tonight, so that it can soak up all the good spices until tomorrow. Yes, that's what I'm gonna do. Right now!

Re-gifting

I am all for re-gifting, i.e. when you are given something you don't like, you give it on to somebody you think will appreciate it more.

I have been very open about my thinking of things given to me. I do not appreciate thingies, nowadays I can afford to buy what I like and enjoy. I don't want to be given dust collectors.

However, I do appreciate people giving me things, but more so consumables.

Now, on my last birthday, I was given a champange cooler. Or I guess white wine, prosecco, or whatever cooler. But the thing is, I think I used it once in one year. Getting very close to being a dust collector. Plus taking up space.

Tonight I had an idea. I have been meaning to get a big ashtray, filled with beach sand, to use for smokers. Very much included myself.

Why not turn it into a large ashtray?

Only problem now, where do I find beach sand in and around Zürich?

Life experience

Until you have experienced something, you don't know how you will react.

I was talking to my neighbours the other day. They have a summer house in France, and while there the last time, they woke up at 7 in the morning hearing a noise. Getting up they found three masked men in their living room, masked so that you could only see their eyes.

My neighbours asked what they were doing there, saying they would call the police. The masked men didn't move. Eventuelly my neighbour shouted for help, then the masked men demolished a window before leaving.

In hindsight, I don't know how they had the courage to act like they did.

But it got me thinking of when I was robbed in Naples. I was walking, quite innocently, along a road, when a young guy ran up to me, and tried to grab my bag. It was a sturdy bag, and I had some money and a credit card in it.

I reacted with fighting back. Thinking back on it, I probably wouldn't now, but back then I didn't think. I just thought that my stuff is my stuff, and don't anybody try to grab it.

I was dragged down some stairs, lost my sun glasses, a shoe, my knees were scratched and so were my elbows, before I recovered my breath and screamed for help. An Italian mama heard and came to my rescue.

It ended up with me having about 20 people around me, going "oh dear", then walking me (slowly) to the hospital about 5 min away.

I was then taken care of, I remember the docs being taken with the "young blonde". And yes, in those days I was goodlooking! They patched me up, and eventually I was driven back by the police to the bus station to get back to where I came from.

Also spent some time with the police, telling them exactly where it happened and what has happened.

In hindsight, I realize being Napoli they were probably all related and nobody would ever be charged with the petty crime.

Anyway, I got away with a few scratches and bruises, and trust me, I will never visit Napoli again.

And this happened long before Roberto Saviano published his book!

Drinks and nibbles

A little get-together tonight. Some nibbles, as much wine as you wanted, and a few friends having interesting conversations.

Interesting to observe my little ones, they are no longer so shy. People, preferrably leaving their shoes or bags in the hallway, which they can sniff, are almost welcome. Especially if guests bring cat treats!

Baking

Baked a few cinnamon rolls for Saturday.

Just in case you were wondering what I did yesterday.

Coal mine

Haha, was just watching a program on telly about coal mines in the old days, when I smelled it. Funny, I thought, how you can create a smell in your mind seeing it on tv.

Until I realized I put one of my feet up on my other leg. Haha! Sweaty feet. Now smells the same as an oldfashioned coal mine. Like I would know how that smells!

Dell sucks

If you want it done, do it yourself!

I had a lousy weekend. On Saturday morning I did my usual routine. Got up, switched on the coffee machine and my computer. Only I couldn't connect to my wireless network. So I did what most people would do. I called Orange, my provider, who told me the network signal was strong and that they couldn't see any problems. And since I couldn't connect they couldn't check my computer remotely. Step one.

Step two was to contact my neighbour to ask for a computer. He's in the business, so have several (this I know since it's not the first time he comes to my rescue). Only he was out and not home until Saturday evening. But then, as I suspected, my network worked fine on his computer. Conclusion, the problem lies with my pc.

Browsed the Dell website and found a phone number, 0848 335 562, but only open Mon-Sat 8-20. Had to wait until this morning.

So called, got the "Welcome to Dell" routine, bla-bla-bla, and press 3 for English. Wait. Then I stated my "service tag No" to somebody, described the problem, and was routed to an "expert". Again I had to describe the problem and provide the service tag No. And then to my surprise he said "you're calling from the UK, right?". No, from Zürich. "In Switzerland?". Sigh, "yes". "Oh, sorry, then I cannot help you". Asked for another number to call, waited like 5 minutes, while he was browsing their own website, only he couldn't understand German so couldn't give me a number. Hung up. I cannot believe so called "service desks" haven't come any further.

Back to checking for another number and found 0848 335 559. Same routine, described the problem and provided the service tag No twice. "You're calling from South Africa, right?". Sigh. Didn't even bother to wait for another number.

Called again 0848 335 559. This time I cleverly pressed 1 for German, and hurray, when providing my service Tag No they found me! Then I again was routed to "an expert", but after having waited around 10 minutes, listening to elevator music, a recorded voice told me to call again later.

Can you imagine my stress levels by now? I was ready to throw the friggin computer out the door!!! Then and there, I decided never to get a Dell again. You hear Dell? You are losing a customer. Like you care.

So I decided to have a go at fixing the problem myself. After having spent about one hour finding a site that was at least a little bit helpful, I did a system restore.

And heureka! It works again!

Matchmaking

Another thing I'm not very proud of. I am responsible (ok, not directly! you get that?) for several kids being born into this world.

In Holland there is a happy couple that I introduced, and they now live fucking happily ever after with two kids. Yesterday I heard that another couple in Norway, another one I introduced, is expecting.

Ok, so I say here now sincerely. I am sorry! I didn't mean this to happen. I just wanted them to have a happy shag, and then move on.

Why can't everybody be like me?

Feminism

If only people would understand what feminism is. It's not changing who we are, and it's certainly not changing the words "her" and "him" to "hem" or "hir".

Feminism is to say that 50% of the population are worth just as much as the other 50%. Paying the same amount of money for same type of job. And for those of you who choose to have a family, share the burden. Stay home the same amount of time with the nappy changing, do the dishes, cleaning and cooking.

Mind you, it doesn't mean that both have to do exactly the same thing in 50% shares, but share. Do what you are good at, let the other person do the other part.

I just get so irritated when we still in the year of 2012 see movies and series that portraits women as little silly ones who need to be taken care of. Fuck off I say!

Haha, probably why I'm still single :).

Local politicians

A friend was stopping by this evening. She lives in a village, and is very engaged in what is going on locally.

Now she has been approached by the "Gemeinderat", the local council, about being a member.

I think she would be fabulous in this role, but the last couple of times we met, she has spent a lot of time telling me why she will never be part of it.

I am biding my time, and am pretty sure that she'll end up there eventually. Mind you, not yet, but give it time.

And I can't think of a better person being in politics, with a chance to have an influence. She has empathy, she knows right from wrong, she is reliable, she takes everything (sometimes a bit too) seriously, she is caring, she has a successful career, and she's a cat lover. The last of course most important :).

What works against her is that she's always honest, and doesn't like to play (political) games. If only we had more of her kind in politics in general!

I'll follow up on this item when she's elected president of the village. Only a matter of time if you ask me.

Speedy

Had the pleasure of going on a speed boat this evening. Ok, I am happy with mine, going very slowly but still getting me out on the lake, but this is something else. Vroooom! Crossing the lake in no time. And the lake is much broader further out from Zürich. Plus you're almost alone out there.

And then we stopped for a swim, it was great after having been sweating for more than a week, 24°C in the water. Fabulous!

Death penalty

As a democratic normal person it is expected to be against the death penalty. And as a thinking empathic person, who has read about the Americans on death row who turned out to be innocent after university students could present facts that proved it, and the recent example in Sweden, where a so called mass murderer, convicted in court of eight murders, turned out to be a druggie, with drugs given to him by the system, and now has been acquitted of six of the eight murders, expecting the other two soon, I am doubtful.

But I've been thinking. Here we are. A murderer. Somebody who without a shadow of a doubt has committed the ultimate of crimes. A murder. He (very seldom she) has taken a life. Taken away the opportunity for the victim to do something, to create something, to excel in something, to feel something, to do something. To exist.

Some people never recover from a loss of a loved one. Why is it really that we have no death penalty, and that the "sentence to life" sometimes only lasts 12 years? The lives that these murderers took aren't never coming back.

And think of the cost of keeping those prisoners. That could be used for care for the elderly, healthcare, cancer patients, kids with deformities, infrastructure or something else we pay taxes for.

It's not like these prisoners are thrown into a cave, living on water and bread anymore (but not a bad idea if you ask me). Most of them in the so called civilized world has tv, access to internet, a proper bed and a desk. They get to exercise, and read books, but they do not contribute to society.

Nah, I have mixed feelings. Is the cost of keeping those murderers in jail worth it? In comparison what you could get for the cost of keeping them there. I should do some research.

Change

Got one of these emails from hotmail and saw something about a change. I don't like change when it's not initiated by me.

This time it's about hotmail.com disappearing and being replaced by outlook.com, and of course with "a new and improved functionality". New and improved my ass. It just means that I have to search for options I knew were there before, and not finding them. It's like gmail.com. I opened an address with them and hate how it looks and works.

I think I'm onto something here. Open up an email site where I promise never to change anything. I bet a lot of people would sign up. Grown-ups like myself. Not old mind you, but mature people who only wants to use the functionality, not being interested in new hot looks and design.

Like when I went to the Orange shop, looking for a new phone. My phone is six years old or something, and little plastic pieces are starting to fall off. I want a similar one, folding and with a screen. All I use it for is texting, the occasional phone call (never been above the allowed 30 mins a month) and sometimes taking a photo. And I don't want an iPhone.

Guess what? I couldn't find one. All the ones which are folding had tiny screens, much smaller than I have now. And smaller keyboard. I don't have fat fingers but those ones had keyboards where you press down at least two keys in one go.

When are the telecom companies gonna discover that not all customers are 16 years old?

Melting

I am melting. Ok, it's nice with warm and sunny weather but 36°C for several days in a row is too much for me. I was so tired yesterday I slept for 10 hours in a row! The temperature in the bedroom is about 26°C, but with the window open it is almost bearable. Well, I was so tired when I got to bed I fell asleep immediately and cannot remember any nightmares, so probably all right.

However, during daytime it's different. After the morning shower you have to sit very still, feet firmly planted on the cooling granite floor, and not do anything. If you make a humongous effort, like say move, you're starting to sweat.

And it ain't looking up. Weather forecast still says very, very hot. Probably didn't help that I burned myself a bit on the lake yesterday..."sun screen is for wimps" punishment.

Cannot say I look forward to the autumn, but I do very much very much very much look forward to cooler temperatures.

36°C

Wow, it has really been hot today, but it was great on the lake. A little wind, some waves, me and three hunks. Aren't I lucky?

Dinner with complications

Went to a dinner with friends tonight. It was great. A fishy starter with a great cucumber salad and a chili. Lots of wine. Nothing to complain about. Even the company was good :).

But then, since I don't have an iphone I asked somebody to look up my last bus. Somebody did. But then the bus was late, and despite the driver telling me about the connection I missed it. Which I told him when we were nearing his end station, and at which time he shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't have cared less.

And I had to walk. And walk. And walk. Which reminded me of my youth, when all you had to do was stick your thumb in the air, and the next car would stop to give you a lift. Not working anymore. I know this for a fact, since I tried. Or maybe ze Swiss don't know about the thumb. It couldn't possibly be because I'm not 20 anymore...

Finally, after walking half the way home I got a taxi. Driver asked me if I had been to the Madonna concert. Haha, didn't even know she was in town.

And the famous quote of the evening (after I told them I cut my own hair), "everybody needs a good hair-cut now and then"...from a guy with...let's put it diplomatically...not a head full of hair.

Birthday party

My little Bro had a big birthday today (well yesterday actually) and we celebrated with a surprise dinner at the lake.

Very nice setting and very nice company, but for the price not enough if you ask me.

I came early and had a drink, a frozen strawberry daiquiri for 17.50 francs, consisting of a small glass and no fresh strawberries but something that came out of a bottle. Not acceptable in the summer.

One of the friends ordered a martini and got just that. Martini in a glass with ice. No gin, no vermouth or whatever is usually mixed therewith. He complained and got a new one. If a restaurant charges 17-20 francs for a drink, they should really know how to make it.

The food was excellent, but not hot. Not ok when a main course cost about 55 francs. And one of the guests had a starter, and didn't get his main course. Had to ask for it. Got it like half an hour later when all of us had finished our meals.

The jugs of water we ordered were not re-filled once, and the bread was only brought on request when we finished the first basket. Wine was not served, and we had to serve ourselves (ok, not a big deal but still, in a nice place you expect service), and at no time was it asked if we wanted to order something extra. And this with a less than half-full restaurant.

I can understand the need of keeping costs down, but then don't charge an arm and a leg. And don't have 10 staff but nobody tending to the actual guests.

Nope, I'm sorry, but you won't be seeing me again.

Current owner

In their lives my parents built a house, I've written about it before. Actually, it was mostly my Dad and my grandfather who did the actual construction work, but of course my Mum was a part of it too. Mostly with the design.

Anyway, I lost track of who lives there now so used the useful tool google to find out. Then I had a very strange sms-conversation with the current owner.

I presented myself, told him the house he now lives in was built by my Dad and my grandfather, and would he like to have a chat. He politely declined.

I really don't get it. If I lived in a place, which had other owners before, I would love to compare notes, ask questions, and in general be interested. This guy wasn't.

Just goes to show my Mum was right, she wanted to sell to the highest bidder, whether my Dad wanted to sell to the "right" people. And the house had about four different owners since it was sold by my parents. The current owners not my favourites!

Migros and Coop

Today I ventured out to check the new location for a Migros in my hoods. Migros and Coop are the two big supermarket chains here in Switzerland. Turns out it's located just opposite of Coop. How stupid is that?

Instead of having a Migros one place, and a Coop another place, they want to compete by having their respective shops just across the street.

And another indicator they are not talking to each other...Coop is closing for renovation between 18th of August and end of September. The Migros opening is on the 30th of August. Which leaves people in the area without Migros AND Coop for two weeks.

I think Migros should've opened even closer to my place! And they've taken the facilities over from Dosenbach, where I buy my shoes. But as my friend so rightly pointed out yesterday "your buying one pair of 29 francs shoes every year probably didn't keep them in business".

And I have my Denner even closer, the best drink shop in Switzerland!

Picnic on the boat

Now, when it's so hot during daytime, it's nice to take a cruise in the evening. Swim a little, have some food and drinks and just enjoy the Swiss summer.

Friend took pic of me when I was swimming, and later said "I'm sending your pic around the world". Hmmm. One of our mutual friends answered "Nice, Annika looks like a dolphin. Haha.". I don't even know what that means, so I will take it as a compliment. After all, dolphins are intelligent and always look happy. And as friend pointed out, it is certainly better than looking like a whale!

Shoes

I don't get it. In most homes you are not welcome with shoes. Ok, so if it's wet outside or snowy, it is perfectly understandable that you don't bring that into a flat or house, but with dry weather why not?

In my opinion a home is somewhere you live, and you want it to be comfortable. And you want your guests to be too.

If you're having a floor that doesn't tolerate shoes, buy another floor I say.

And if you're worried about dirt? Then try to look at your doors (how many times do the handles get touched?), the corners of your floor and ceiling, behind cupboards and shelves, the drains both in the bathroom and kitchen, under and behind the fridge and I could go on and on.

In my home everybody is welcome wearing shoes. Mind you, the first I do coming home is to wash my hands, but that is more to get rid of germs from other people, since I always go on public transportation, and I have a feeling it keeps me from getting colds. Works most of the time.

And until now I've never gotten sick from people wearing shoes indoors.

Hair

All my life I have had very thin hair. I gave up eons ago, trying to do something with it. Even a hairdresser has problems. It never lasts. Spray just makes it look plastic, and doesn't keep the hair in the shape I want. Or anybody would want.

So today when I sat behind a woman in the tram, seeing her hair, I felt a pang of jealousy.

Life certainly isn't fair!

My balcony

Very strange to see my balcony from the neighbours house. It looks small (well I guess it is in comparison to their monster-big garden), and not as cozy as from a shorter distance.

Also, the neighbours have re-painted their house in a very nice grey. Looks almost hip!

Barbecue!

Haven't had much grill food this summer, mainly because I've chosen not to have a grill, but Friday I was invited to the neighbours (as well as Thursday to other neighbours actually, also with grill food coming to think of it!) for a barbie.

Nevertheless, it was great. And they have a real fireplace outdoors, and no measly gas or electric grill.

And the grillmaster himself. Funny that with men. Some don't cook and the wife prepares everything in the kitchen, marinade, salad, potatoes, onions, bread, drinks and what-have-you. But when it comes to putting the meat in the fireplace, he's there immediately turning and poking around. A man's job. Haha.

Party lights a la neighbours!

Buoys and boy

Nice on the lake today, even though there were lots of buoys. I guess it's for the Street parade tomorrow.

Had a friend aboard, who couldn't resist yelling when we went under the bridge. Boys will be boys :).

But it was great, and I was swimming three times.

Swiss summer

This summer has been a bit weird. It was warm, then it was rainy, then it was really hot and seldom was it comfortable. Until now. Was on the lake today, as well as last week, and it was fab. Just the right temperature, and a little bit of wind. Exactly like I like it.

Just too bad it's already August.

Taking the boat out on Friday again, bringing a friend, but on Saturday no way. It's Streetparade again. Wow, the years really fly by.

Was texting a friend the other day, congratulating her on her birthday saying something like "soon we're gonna be old", and her reply was "Never! We are never getting old".

Ok, I can agree with that, but then the years have to stop going so quickly!

Pink and blue

Today I did something I've never done before. I bought kids clothes. It surprised me that we haven't come any further, there's still pink for girls and blue for boys. To me this is neanderthal thinking.

But digging down deep, I finally found something that would fit. Purple! And with a cat! I mean, the soon-to-be-born-girl has to know where her clothes are coming from.

And on the way out I caved in with the pink. The "Born 2012" socks were too cute to pass.

Retired

Yesterday we had a conversation about retirement. And yes, we're getting old enough to start thinking about it. Mind you, I might be a bit ahead, but if you ask me, it's never too early to think about the golden years. Carpe diem, smell the roses, be like Ferdinand, that type of thing.

But friend is not realistic. One second, it's buying a flat in Alicante ("it's an investment") without having done the research. The next is a house in the Caribbean. Without ever having been there.

I think two of us rolling our eyes, may have given her a hint that it's not sound to do. However, it is perfectly ok to dream, and have ideas, but before you spend your life savings, do some research!

When I came to Switzerland almost 10 years ago, I planned to stay here maybe 2-3 years, then move on to somewhere else, and finally retire in Spain.

After a holiday trip to the Valencia area, and a job assignment in Barcelona, I realized that the dream was to stay a dream and never ever to be realized.

I mean, Spain is fab and has the best food in the world if you ask me, but the idealized picture I had was from Spain more than 20 years ago. Nowadays it's clogged with all other nationalities than Spanish, it's touristic, not genuine anymore, it has an economy looking more and more like Greece, and I don't even want to think what happens if you get old or sick in Spain.

Seriously, we're not all gonna be 100 years old, being healthy and in need of no help. These things are important. You wanna be in a country where the social security net exists.

And guess what? I found my piece of heaven...right here in Zürich!

No veggie

By the time friends arrived I was ok again, no more drooling out of the side of my mouth, no more stroke-look-alike. Good, since we don't meet very often and they might have thought I'd have become a vegetable.

So we had some cold-cuts on the balcony.

And they liked the chocolate/Nutella cake. Yes, I think I will make this one again.

Teeth

So went to see the dentist today. Turned out to be a hunk. Now, what you really don't want is to have an attractive man poking around in your mouth. On good days I consider myself quite attractive, but let me tell you, leaning down in a chair, having your mouth open with a device stuck in it that removes your drool, you feel kinda exposed.

Not the woman in charge I really am.

But the fact that he was handsome, was kinda irrelevant when he started to sharpen the drill. Well, that's what I think he did behind my back anyway.

Turned out I had no hole but an exposed...and here we come into a problem...asked the two English people I had over this evening for a word...they didn't know. It's the part of the tooth between the actual piece you bite with and the spot where it touches your gum...in my case it was exposed and caused the pain.

So handsome stuck a big needle in me, anaesthetics, and went about with his work. Not painful but friggin uncomfortable. When he was done, like an eternity later, I was asked to rinse. Which is very difficult when you do not have control of one side of your face. I think I spat out water in the corner of the room.

Nevermind, it wasn't my room.

And after a few hours I started to feel normal again. Only, coming out of the clinic I lit up a ciggie and felt like I looked like a stroke patient trying to coordinate my lips in order to suck.

That sucked! But at least I don't have to worry about it anymore. Ignoring the warning hunky gave me, that old fillings are, well old, and might need tending to soon.

I'm not one of these people who think that getting older (sucks!) is bad, but I can seriously admit that the prospect of having false teeth does not appeal one bite (hehe).

Dentist

When I was little I had a lot of holes in my teeth. I don't know if it's common for young people, but I did. And I developed an anxiety of going to the dentist. In those days they were not as kind and gentle as most of them are today.

But since I've been a grown-up, I have had very few problems with my teeth. They have served me good.

However, about two years ago I was at the tooth hygienist, and she told me that I might want to see a dentist sometime soon. A problem with one of my corner teeth. I didn't really see a problem until lately. Have since a few months felt a vague pain. Not all the time, and not severe, so I delayed making an appointment.

Over the weekend it kinda worsened. Not too bad mind you, but enough to make me call for an appointment.

And sometimes Swiss efficiency isn't good. I got an appointment tomorrow! Well, today actually. I was hoping for a couple of weeks, before I have to face a new dentist. Yes, mine left years ago, haven't been there for five or six years I think.

But maybe it's good. Get it over with kinda thing. Only I have friends coming for dinner tomorrow (today), and it would not look good if I have an anaesthetic cheek, mumbling, chewing on my own flesh.

Good thing I tasted a piece of that Nutella-cake already today!

The digital era

Some things were better before, but certainly not cameras. I remember being on holiday, coming home, going to the shop, leave the film, come back three days later and get the photos.

Not to mention when you were just taking the odd picture at home, and the film consisted of 24 or 36 pics, so you had to wait until all were taken, and sometimes you only got to see the photos like six months later.

Now, in the digital era, I take pics almost daily. Out with the cable, stick it into the computer, load the pics and a few seconds later, you see the result. It's great.

I don't think blogs could've existed without photos. A picture is like 1,000 words they say. I tend to agree.

PS. And just for the sake of it, there won't be a pic in this item :).

Nutella

Last Saturday I was making Nutella-mousse for dessert. It was ok. Not as good as my friends Toblerone-mousse (nothing is!), but totally ok.

Having Nutella left, I googled another recipe and found chocolate/Nutella cake. Just made it. It's really for the guests tomorrow, but I dunno. Shouldn't I taste it before I serve it to others :)?

Ordnung muss sein

This spring I realized I had to apply for an extension of my permit to stay here in Switzerland. I remember thinking about it several times, and then somehow during the summer I either got Alzheimer light or had other things on my mind. I forgot.

As a Swiss-wannabe this is bad. But as "Ordnung muss sein" here in the land of the Alps, I got a reminder sent to me! Fantastic. It can of course also be received as "here in Switzerland we keep track of our foreigners". Both are true.

So bringing the letter, the application form that was enclosed, my passport, my current permit, a new photo if I wanted (no, I looked better 5 years ago so keep the current one please) and most importantly, 65 francs, I went to the Kreisbüro and applied.

It'll take 4-6 weeks to get the new one. Gee, I wonder what will happen on the 1st of September, when my current one expires, if the new one doesn't get here in time?

But considering nobody has ever looked at my permit (except for Orange who wouldn't sell me a phone unless I showed them my permit!), I think I'm pretty safe.

Advice

When my little cat started to jump up on the balcony walls my heart nearly stopped. Then I talked to a friend who has three cats, who told me to stop being such a sissy.

Ok, so a sissy I am not. Never. I have been called many things in my life, but a sissy? No way Jose. Ok, I'll stop overdoing it now :).

Tonight, when sitting on my balcony, the little cat did her trick and jumped up on the balcony wall. I think my friends heart nearly stopped. Ha! Easy to give advice, ain't it?

But seriously, her advice was good. I cannot stop her (the little cat, not my friend) from doing it, so why worry? I shall worry the day something happens, and not a day before.

That's how I keep my heart in good condition...mind you, my lungs may not be in the same good shape.

Saturday night...dinner

I was just about to blog about how ready I was, when the door rang. Ready I was for the guests this evening. Food prepared, in the oven, in the fridge, table set, even remembered to pour plain tap water into a carafe. This friend prefers her water lukewarm and without bubbles. No comment.

Later in the evening we got to talk about Sudoku. I consider myself fairly good having an average of 4 minutes on the hard ones (web-ones i.e., not the easy ones in the papers). Guest had trouble, even though he claimed to be a strategic person. I think the emphasis here should be "he". No further comment on that either.

And here they are, the clever woman and the somewhat well less clever man :)

PS. He's Swiss...

Swiss national day

Realize I've been a bit slow in blogging lately, sorry about that. Think it's the heat.

Yesterday I was on the lake, fab weather, almost 30°C with a bit of wind. Had my first dip in the lake for this year, very late but still only 22° in the water. Refreshing!

Good thing I went yesterday, since I'd forgotten it's the Swiss national day today! Imagine it'll be several thousands of boats there today, and I don't like a crowd.

Better be a big duck in a small pond than vice versa, if you know what I mean.

And all these fireworks. I dunno about you, but I dislike them. Five seconds of a splash of colours in the air, where the money could've helped elsewhere. I don't see the point. Neither do my cats, who scurried indoors at the first bang. Clever ones!

Well, in five years or so I might be able to celebrate the Swiss national day being a Swiss if I'm lucky.

But what the heck, I'm feeling pretty happy anyway.