On another planet

Had a very interesting day yesterday. Spent the day with former drug-abusers. They reside in a home quite far away from the city. To a great extent they are self-supporting with their own bakery and a pasta machine, their own pigs, cats and even a llama. The two latter more for company is my guess. They have a book printing lab, where they print everything for the organization they belong to, but also for industries, as well as a workshop.

They organize apero food, so think I'm gonna place my order there for my party coming up in October.

The daily routine is quite strict. Things that for us "normal" people is common, is for them sometimes difficult, like keeping time and appointments, organize your day, clean, cook and sleep at night.

They have a program in 4 steps, where they their first month are not allowed to leave the premises alone, then ending up leaving after up to a year to start out their new life in an apartment they share with others in the same predicament.

They work daily on a rotating basis, a couple of months in the bakery, a couple of months in the kitchen, a couple of months in the, rather large, garden and so forth. They go to the doctor, the dentist, a therapist and they have all access to "trust person", somebody they can confide in and discuss difficult things with.

The home has existed for 20 years, so the people working there have a lot of experience.

I had the pleasure of cooking lunch with them yesterday. We made pizzas. Thursdays are pizza day. Again, routine.

The only drug allowed in the house is nicotine, they have even got their own cig machine in the basement.

Sometimes they have sports day, the week coming up they will do a theater. Once a year they travel and go skiing. I was amazed about all the activities they arrange.

Yes, this is definitely another organization I will support.

Solar cell lights

One of my aunts is a very sweet person. She sends me packages with books, dvd's and the occasional gift. Like solar cell lights. Those you can put on the balcony and they get charged by the sun and they lit up at night.

She has no reason to, she does this just because she's a good person. I am fortunate to still have some good relatives.

I'm cute!

For some reason a friend of mine had shown my pic to her boss, who thought I was cute. The fact that he's a 49-year-old fat fart is not gonna take away the joy for me. I'm cute! On the record.

Quote

"I don't try to describe the future. I try to prevent it." Ha, love it. Said by somebody I've never heard of, Ray Bradbury.

If I could just stop the time now, I would. Life doesn't get any better than this. Or does it?

Colour samples

So got the colour samples for the boat cover today. This company and I will have a serious discussion when he comes to fit the cover. I don't think he's got that also women can own a boat. How boring colours are these?

I will make him promise that in 10 years when it's time to buy a new one, he can offer at least pink and purple too.

A day on the lake

Spent the day on the lake. Not many boats out, but those who were were mainly from the lake police. One of them saluted us. Two women in bikinis. Haha.

My friend was swimming, well, swimming is stretching it, but she jumped in. 12°C. Think it helped when I asked if she was a woman or a wimp.

For a while we had company of some men. Not the same species, but still.

3 bad things about Switzerland

I have been accused of praising Switzerland, and in particular Zürich too much, so I was trying to come up with 3 bad things about my new home country.

1. Ze language/s. Obviously.

2. The bureaucracy, or rather bureaucrazy. Ok, I agree after several phone calls, gazillions of forms filled in and a fair number of stamps it actually works. But still, this is the year of 2011, and you would think that internet would have reached also the government here. But no.

3. Still thinking.

Disco lights

Hard to tell from the pic, but during the weekend my disco lights were installed. Same light as in my guest room shelf, it can blink, flash or smoothly go from one colour to the other. I have only one word. Fabulous!

No cats yet

Saw an ad today for two black female kittens. I called, but I wasn't exactly the first one so they were taken. Thing was, they resided in Bern and not sure I want kittens not born in Zürich. Besides, who wants slow cats anyway? Nah, I'm waiting.

Unbalanced scorecard

My friend who was just visiting over the weekend, the control freak, never throws anything away. That includes documents on the computer.

Some 15 years ago when we were working together our company wanted us to develop a balanced scorecard to measure profitability, value-add and whatsit. We did so, as well as doing some private ones. This was my doing.

Actually, I think it's still funny.

Falling over

In the place I'm usually going to when going out, you are allowed to stand on the chairs, singing along to the music and clapping your hands. It's much more fun than it sounds.

On Friday there was a guy in front of us who had some trouble keeping the balance. He kept on swaying in a way that made us worried, so we moved away a little while watching him. When nothing happened we started chatting again, but about 2 minutes later it was time. He fell straight on his back over glasses of beer and wine, crashing everything, splashing liquid mostly over my friend fortunately. I got away with a few drops on my legs.

Drunk as he was he didn't hurt himself, and he was really sheepishly apologetic. Got us new drinks and apologized profusely. Later it turned out that my wine bottle had survived the crash, so I even got a few drinks for free. Not a bad night.

Shoe praise

I got a friend who is really into her shoes. It's like she has a love affair with all 60 pairs of them.

I, on the other hand, usually walk around in flip-flops or sandals, or whatever shoes I find in the closet, not caring the least.

Yesterday on the tram I got asked by a woman where I bought my sandals. She thought they were beautiful. And my friend was wearing another pair of her beloved stilettos. HAHAHA.

Boat cover

Left a message last week with the people who sells boat covers, and they never called me back. Turns out they got my number wrong, possibly my German, hehe. So now we are friends again, and they are really helpful.

They gonna send me colour samples (gosh, I'm hoping they have purple!), then they will come to the boat and fit the cover. Ain't gonna be cheap, but what is in Switzerland? And my boat is worth it.

Belated apology

Email today:

"So I owe you an apology.
I hereby withdraw any negative statement, joke, or snide comment made about you cutting in to your own hand to remove the phantom thingy inside.

I can now completely and utterly sympathise with you as the very same thingy is now in the back of my hand, and I am so tempted to make a small incision."

Ha! If people could only learn to listen to me.

Travel...hmmm...something

In the bar toilet they sell strange things. My friend had seen a product called "TravelPussy" and chose to spend 7 francs on finding out what it was.

Turned out to be a plastic bag looking like one of those that you use for making ice, but with the shape of a, rather impressive I must admit, well penis. These are the instructions:

1. Open up TravelPussy.
2. Pour a very small amount of TravelPussy-Gel into the "vagina" and spread it.
3. Turn TravelPussy upside down and fill gently with warm water or simply blow air into it. IMPORTANT: make sure the water is not too hot, check with your finger!
4. Place some TravelPussy-Gel on your penis and you are ready for a wonderful experience.
5. After use, empty TravelPussy and leave it to domestic waste (not in toilet).

I don't know where to begin to comment on this! And why they would sell it in the womens toilet is beyond me!

But my friend and I have a cunning plan. We're gonna place it in the luggage of my visiting friend, then keep our fingers crossed that he will be stopped in customs. HAHAHAHAHA!

Sue Ellen and I

This afternoon was the time for my transformation. I had a hitleresque friend commanding me to sit in a chair, close my eyes while she was dabbing god knows what, and might I add, took friggin forever. First she did what in my days was called "brown creme" and is now named foundation.

Then it was something called baseline or similar. In my world baseline is the starting point of a process in IT.

Eyeliner was something she did as well, and it was liquid and the whole evening it kept on leaking into my eye and made me look like I had feelings. My left eye was kinda crying the whole eve, like Sue Ellen in Dallas. She was the one with cow's eyes who was constantly crying.

Then it was something else I cannot remember, and finally I was allowed to put mascara on myself. I simply couldn't handle her pointing a brush to my eye.

In my youth I sometimes spent an extra minute putting on eye-shadow and then mascara. And to be perfectly honest I think I looked better then. But ok, I was 20+ years younger which might have added to the natural beauty I possess :).

Like my friend was saying, "you don't need whatever-it-was-called-something-around-the-lips", cause you have perfect shape of your lips. I know. It looked like I had eczema around my mouth.

Lastly she was doing my hair. I had warned her that my baby-hair is not easily tamed. I gave up many moons ago, since whatever I do it doesn't last. Think you would need cement to make my hair stay in any shape.

Her attitude was "I'm gonna make you fabulous". Ha. Didn't work. Still looked like me. But I gotta give her points for trying.

PS. And no, no pics were taken.

I have a way with men

Was out this eve with some friends, and a guy sitting at the next table had been communicating, kinda showing interest. When he left he took my hand, kissed it, and I said "it was a pleasure meeting you". "A pleasure for you I mean".

He laughed. And left.

Iceland

Was out having a fag and ran into this guy, who I could tell was not a German/Swiss. Turned out he came from...Iceland! As far as I know there are 300,000 people living there (how many polar bears?) and I only met one of them before. Used to work with a guy from there in Oslo.

Just saying it was unexpected. When you meet people you can usually guess what part of the world they are from. But Iceland is kinda wild card. And he wasn't even from Reykjavik, but from some village I cannot remember. How rare is that?

Oh so subtle

The new neighbours picked up the subtle hint of "well, in this house you have to invite the neighbours to be accepted" very well. This afternoon we were all invited, and most of the neighbours showed up. It's good to see them, because even if we live in the same house we have different timing and do not cross paths very often.

And when I gently suggested that the new neighbours would come with us to the city this eve, they were delighted. So they have now seen my bar/restaurant in town, and even though I'm not sure it'll be their second living room, I'm pretty sure they think that this is unique.

Hard work

Some days are just hard work. You know, you have to wake up, then show your visiting friend around, and just make an effort. Walking up the hill, passing these allotments with friggin flowers, walking all the way up the hill to get to the top. Then have to sit down at the restaurant, enduring a glass (or several actually) of wine and a cheese plate. Life is tuff.

Aussie coming to visit

On my way to the airport in a little while to pick up an old friend. Cannot say we have had close contact over the years, but when we met in Holland some 16 years ago we experienced some things together that we'll never forget. Being stuck in a foreign country, working with people who wouldn't listen, made us connect.

During the years we did other stuff together like I was visiting him in Australia to celebrate the millenium, we shared an interesting long weekend in Orange County and we spent a holiday together in Cook Islands.

One of the things I remember with him, is that he is THE control freak. We were in Sydney once, planning to go up the coast the next day where a group of us have rented a beach house. Unfortunately there were forest fires, and the roads were closed.

I didn't panic, figuring we were in Sydney close to Bondi beach, what was the issue of waiting one day? Whereas my friend completely freaked out. The forest fires messed with his plans. So while I was spending the day at Bondi, he was busy planning how to get out of Sydney.

But still, we are allowed to be different, and since we haven't met since like 2004, I do look forward.

From one bed to the other

Had another idea while sitting on the bus on the way home. I have now gotten my new (and might I add fab) shelf for my guest room. I am planning to put the thingie for the cats in there. Am also planning to buy an old peoples bed, one of those where you can move the head and foot on the bed by buzzing a remote.

Haha, remember first time I slept in a bed like that in a hotel. Thought it was so funny so I spent quite some time moving up and down, until I looked like a V.

Anyway, my thought was that perhaps I move into the current guest room and make it into my room, and leave the bigger of the two bedrooms for guests, an office, washhanging and storage. Just a thought.

Means I have to go down from a bed of 1.60 to 1.40 but even if my BMI is 25 I think it would be enough. Besides, it's cozy to cuddle up in a smaller bed, no?

Home sweet home

Then I came home and saw lights on in the house. Not hard to guess my windows, but please note, it's not purple ;).

Lederhosen

Saw this guy tonight. Think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Cat paraphernalia

Went to a pet shop today in order to browse what's available these days. The time I had cats was...hmmm...quite a few years ago.

And yes, did they have everything. Little cute feeding bowls. Black and shiny with stainless steel that would fit perfectly in my flat. A cat toilet in purple (hurray!). A transportation cage, which seemed a bit plastic but was cheap and how often do I need to use that? And the best of all. Dunno how to describe it, but it was a combo of scratching poles to sharpen their little claws on, shelves to lie comfortably on and a little "house" where they can hide. It was a rather big construction, but in shiny black fur. And what is 400 francs if it makes my future cats happy?

Shake your ass baby

I love my bar. Yesterday when the band was playing a sorta marching music a rather old guy stood up, like they were playing a national anthem, saluting. Then when the band was changing into rock, he started to wiggle his, rather large, ass.

Only in that place my friends.

Pretty balcony

Half price at Coop for geraniums. This is gonna be so pretty when they start growing a bit more.

Sächsilüüte 2011

Gosh, a year goes by fast. Today it is again Sächsilüüte. Packed with people in town, good weather and I bet the "Böög" burned good. 10 mins and 56 secs according to Tagesanzeiger. Yes, it's gonna be a fab summer!

Cats

Went to visit the homeless cats today. Cannot believe I didn't take any pics, but got so occupied with lovely Emma, black, cuddly and contactseeking that I forgot.

But really I want two female kittens, and who knows, maybe I'll find them here.

Ex on tv

Saw an ex on internet-tv today. We lived together gazillions of years ago, but he still kinda looked the same. Felt a bit weird I must admit. We lost contact so many years ago, but I could still remember the fun stuff we did together. Of course there were bad times too, which is why we broke up.

But still, it was good to see him.

Cruising

I know that I go on and on about my boat, but it is fantastic. Took it out today, and never wanted to go back. But 3 hours in the blazing sun without sunscreen was probably enough.

Got that burning feeling on my skin now. Nice!

These little woolly things

A friend of mine is, how can I put it, oh fuck it, she's just difficult with food. Today when I was ordering a kebab, she flirted with the guy in the shop and got a taste. And lo and behold, she liked it!

This is the type of person who is very opinionated and not easy to convince. Of anything.

So texted her when I got home to say "you do know it's sheep meat right?". She thought it was pork.

Ok, so not all my friends are Einstein. In fact, hardly anybody is coming to think of it. And gotta admit, it doesn't look very tasty on the plate. But it tastes good. Perfect food if you want to avoid a hangover!

Swiss service

I wanted to say it's an oxymoron, but today I experienced it firsthand. Was gonna buy geraniums for my balcony, when the assistant told me that they will be on sale from Monday on. The thought of saving a few rappen made me postpone. But I bought some other flowers. Pretty, aren't they?

Cat ladder

One of my neighbours loves cats, and when I yesterday told them about my plans to get some kittens, he told me that he would get a ladder from my balcony to his terrace. But being Swiss, and thinking for a while, he added "a very small one".

HAHAHA. Don't wanna risk me climbing up there.

Spontaneous

Yesterday eve I remembered that my new neighbours were moving in today. So sent an email to the little neighbourhood community we have going here, and told them to drop in for a drink. No answer from anybody, so thought to myself, well at least I tried.

But later this evening the door rang, and most of the neighbours joined. Including the new ones. Very nice to be able to introduce them to each other. A few drinks (vodka strawberry) makes wonders when people are meeting for the first time.

I hope they feel welcome, and I look forward to get to know them more.

I'm whole again

The boat is now back where it belongs. With me. Fetched it from the repair people today, and had a nice cruise back to Zürich with 26°C and sunshine. The charming guy helped me to get the boat out of the harbour, it was squeezed in between other boats. A bit scary. But he was still very charming...

REGA

REGA is a Swiss organization, that helps people in need. If you had an emergency in the mountains, or if you got hurt in another country, REGA takes care of you. They assist with medical personnel, and they bring you to a hospital or back to Switzerland. They live purely off donations, and for a measly 35 francs you can become a patron. I did the other day, even if it is very unlikely that I will ever have an accident in the mountains, prefer them from afar, or be sick in a foreign country since I don't like to travel.

Today I visited them, and I must say, got an overwhelming welcome. Two people took care of me and gave me a tour for a whopping 2 hours and 40 minutes. We saw everything from the hangar to the planes and choppers, got a good overview of the Zürich airport from their terrace, a movie showing the type of work that they do, and the call center where all activities are coordinated from.

These people do good work, and shall be supported by me.

EDIT: Got an email from the REGA people saying it is only 30 francs, not 35. You gotta love the accuracy of ze Swiss!

No greener grass

I have many friends who love to travel. I can relate to this, since I was the same for many years. If I didn't travel for work, I travelled on holidays. America, Australia, Africa, think the only part of the world I haven't been to, other than Bangkok airport, is Asia. Don't like the fact that they promote child prostitution.

And of course all countries in western Europe, except for Andorra. Also covered Yogoslavia, when it still was Yugoslavia. And Hungary, five miserable months working there.

Well, the point is that today when I was sitting sunbathing in my boat in the middle of Zürich, waiting for the engine repair man, looking at the snow-clad Alps, I thought to myself, there is absolutely no better city in the world. And I'm here. Now.

I'm done with travelling. I have found my home. And there is no better place on earth!

Food-hit

Not sure how long I have known M, but think it might be something like four years. Tonight was the first time he has asked for a doggybag after dinner. Yes, this flying Jakob is a hit.

Tomorrow another lucky friend will get the leftovers.

I'm half

Well, at least I feel like I lost something. The guys (one of'm very charming!) came to look at my boat engine today, and even though it runs as it should it also turned out to be leaking a bit of petrol into the water. So they took the boat with them, and will now do service on the engine.

But I got a pic of my boat! I am always in it, so haven't seen it running before. A beauty, ain't she?

Arrested!

I'm so excited. Got back from doing some shopping, and ran into a bunch of beefy police guys just outside my house. Ran up the stairs, so that I could watch from the window.

They had stopped a foreign car, Eastern Europe I'm sure, and searched both the people and the car. Must've found something since they both got handcuffs! Then a blue van showed up, the suspects were placed in the back and off to be arrested. This is too exciting for a Monday.

Spring

The heroine

I really don't want to push myself in front, but what can I say? I rock.

Money talks

No news to me, but it's funny to see how people act when there is monetary reward on the horizon. Couple of weeks ago I sent for a broschure from an organization called REGA. They rescue people in need, preferably with a helicopter. Told them I'd consider putting them in my will.

The next day I had the broschure in my mailbox, and two weeks later a letter saying something like "if you need any more information please let us know". I phoned them to ask if they would take a meeting to show me more in detail what they do. And yes, they were delighted.

So on Wednesday I'm gonna see the copters live. And men in uniform I hope.

Handy

I have a friend who every time she visits me has her mobile phone within reach. She texts, she answers when it rings, she fondles it, she IS her mobile phone.

I can sorta understand this. My mobile phone and my computer are mine. I like them, I depend on them, I have them within reach most of the time.

Except for when I have company. Then I don't much care. Company IRL are more important to me.

And it surprises me, that when I text this friend of mine, I often have to wait until the next day to get an answer. Should I read something personal into this?

PS. Mobile phone = handy in Swiss German.

Brunch on the balcony

29°C on the balcony...

Which nationality?

Even I can be mistaken, as strange as it sounds. Was out tonight and standing next to a guy clad in white linen pants, white shoes and a light pink top, as well as a big flashy watch. Typical Italian was my first thought. Who else would think this is manly?

Then I thought, maybe Albanian, as in a wanna-be Italian.

Turns out I was wrong. He was...wait for it...Austrian! How many men from Austria wear white linen pants? I think I might have met the only one.

Ready to go

Well, not quite. Cleaned out the boat, and thought I'd take it out for a cruise. Good thing I didn't, since the engine didn't sound quite sound. Let it run for a while, and was just about to reverse when it died. Hmmm. Scheisse.

Who are we?

Was listening to some people talking about how you were as a child, and how true it is that you end up as an adult like that. Made me think about when I was about 5 years old.

When I was born my parents had a 2 room flat. At the time it was the world for me, but I reckon in hindsight it was about 50 m2. A long corridor/hallway when you got in, a bedroom to the right, a bathroom to the left as well as a walk-in closet. Sounds glamourous, but as I remember it was the only storage we had. Then a living room and a tiny kitchen.

Also a small balcony, and when my parents put a plate of porridge out there, I believed that Santa Claus was climbing up to eat it until I was 7. The innocence before internet...

Anyway, the point was that when I was about 5, my Mum was downstairs outside the house hanging the wash or similar. I was left alone in the flat, and wanted to tell my Mum something. So climbed up the kitchen shelf and managed to open the window to shout to Mum whatever it was I wanted to tell her. We lived on the 5th floor.

She told me later she practically flew up the stairs, so afraid I was gonna fall down.

Then I never understood what all the fuss was about. Now when I'm older (and wiser I'd like to think) and have developed a fright of height, I can totally understand her.

But I can still relate to the feeling of taking the chance, even if the risk-taking nowadays have moved away from heights.

So we show very early in life who we are. Was the point.

How cool is this?

The new dvd shelf at night!

New shelf!

I am so extremely happy about my new shelf. Gives the guests a whole new welcoming into the flat. On the pic the guy who built and installed it.

The light can be fixed, blink or smoothly go from one colour to the other. Extremely cool.