Blind

And the blind guy was there. Met him before, but he had a new dog. The other one had gone to meet his makers. New dog didn't seem to mind cat smell, he was very friendly and licking my hand.

And I got to serve him food. The guy, not the dog. Carrots at one o'clock, beans at three o'clock, potato salad at five o'clock, steak in the middle, salad at nine o'clock. I cannot comprehend how difficult it would be not seeing!

Partnership

Went to a party today to celebrate a partnership of very good friends. There I had an interesting discussion about how Switzerland were the last country on earth to allow women to vote, given a lecture about direct democracy.

Later in the evening we got to discuss when gay partnerships were allowed in Switzerland (2007 I think they said), where I replied "but not in Appenzell I guess" (the canton they didn't allow women to vote until the 1990's). Touche. I think they got the message.

Nice party, as always with these friends.

Left bag

Another example that is very Swiss. Arrived in Bahnhof, the main station, today and crossed the street from the tram, noticing a travel bag, one of the bigger sorts, standing there alone. Nobody seemed to owned it, and people around were looking at it like it was weird.

Bomb, I thought and when going into the station buying my ticket I alerted a service guy. "There is a standalone bag out there, that nobody seems to own. You may wanna check it out." Him: "Was it across the street?". Me: "Yes". Him: "Well, that area doesn't belong to the station". End of discussion.

I was so startled I walked away. Wonder what he'd say if a bomb would have gone off. Perhaps it would have had an impact on his area of responsibility then.

Swiss predictability

'Cause of the flash it's difficult to see, but board says "4 minutes late". I LOVE ze swiss trains. In other countries 4 minutes late is on time, hell even 10 minutes late is. Here it's announced both electronically and on speaker.

Ze Swiss may be oldfashioned and conservative, but things work! Reminds me of the 60's...1960's i.e.

And they still have a restaurant in the train.

Wounded knee

Friend asked me yesterday why I had a wounded knee. It's not really a bruise, more like blood underneath the skin. I had no clue.

Last night I remembered. Last few nights the kittens and I have fallen asleep at the same time. Unfortunately they wake up at about four in the morning, and I remembered kicking them out (not kicking, but throwing the mouse I always keep under my pillow into the hallway, and predictably they run after it, and that's when I close my bedroom door, whispering "see you tomorrow"), then I went to open the window 'cause it gets stuffy with door closed and walked straight into my bed. That's how I got the bruise.

And no, I love my kittens and don't mind these minor damages.

Bauknecht service - NOT

Bauknecht and I have a very strained relationship for the moment. I just loved the way they treated me when I bought no less than 6 machines from them less than 2 years ago. Dishwasher, washing machine, two ovens, a stove and a food-center. I felt like a valued customer.

Not so valued when the dishwasher broke down. First time about half a year ago. They came and fixed it. Well, it never worked totally fine after but ok.

About a month ago it broke down definitely. I phoned and had to wait more than a week, only to receive a service guy who told me the engine in the dishwasher was broken. Well, I kinda knew something was. He left.

Then this morning another guy was coming, bringing the equipment. Or so I thought. First of all, he was supposed to call half an hour before. He didn't. I was in the shower, had to open the door with wet all myself clad in a towel. Charming.

Then he pulled the machine apart, flushing water all over the kitchen, swearing and muttering to himself, only to tell me the number of the new engine corresponded with my machine, but didn't fit. Left the machine in disorder, told me somebody would call me later. Told him I have two curious kittens, thus cannot leave the machine with an opening. He propped up carton. Am I impressed? NO.

Somebody did call me later, but only to tell me they couldn't say when the correct device would be available.

A month without a dishwasher. I am irritated!

Razz

The drinks weren't actually pink, they were dark purple. Flash issue. Raspberries, strawberries and those berries that are dark blue. Mixed with Bacardi Razz. Yum.

Growing like grass

Zina likes to sleep.

And then Zetti comes along, and we're off to the races.

New people we don't like

My cats are still working on the socializing bit. When somebody rings the door they run and hide under the sofa. About 2 hours into the visit they finally stick their little heads out from under the couch to check who's there.

Anybody who tries to make friends with them, they ignore, and walk or rather run away with their tails held high.

Yeah, in this household we don't take to people easily. They have to earn our trust. But we do like the people who bring fish!

Hunger in Africa

As far as I can remember there has been hungry people in Africa. Now there is a drought in some part of Africa. Again. I don't mean to not show empathy to the people living there, but it's not like it should come as a surprise that in some parts it never rains.

In the last 50 years the situation has been the same, and although governments and private people have tried to help, the fact is, it's not better. People are starving, they do not have enough water, sanitation or healthcare. But obviously they have enough strength to procreate.

I know there are voluntary organizations trying to help out, but to no or little avail as it seems.

I'd like to help, but if governments have not been able to in 50 years, how can I be expected to make a difference? Seems to me all the aid is going to fatten the dictators, and I won't have no part of it.

Brat

Was waiting for the tram yesterday, when a kid spilled some sort of soda on my feet and sandals. Ok, so the parents said sorry, then went on before I had the time to gather my wits and say something sarcastic.

Wanted to let the parents know that they shouldn't have kids if they cannot teach them to behave. Least they could've done is to offer me a napkin.

Assholes!

Wannabe Swiss

I'm one. Figured if I'm gonna stay in Switzerland for the rest of my life I might as well get a passport. Realize I don't know enough about Switzerland to qualify, especially when it comes to politics. Have to read up on it. All I know is that the extreme right wing party is not my style. Plus I probably have to learn the names of all the cantons. All 26 of them!

Then tonight I thought about that I don't even know their national anthem, and tomorrow it's ze Swiss national day.

Which of course means more of a day off than anything else to me, but I could always hum it while cruising the lake...

Socializing

My kittens are not yet very social. They are ok with me, but other people are suspicious. They appear to sleep when I have people over, but they cannot really relax.

After my visitors leave, they first sleep like there is no tomorrow, then play like the same. I never get a full nights sleep these days. If I throw them out of my bedroom, they spend the better part of the night miaowing outside it, demanding to get in.

But who can get angry with little ones looking so sweet!?!

Homemade lasagne

And with that I mean it was made in my home, but not necessarily by yours truly. Friend demanded me to provide her with a good bottle of red, and so I did. What a waste to open a splendid bottle of Merlot just to use a deciliter! Now I gotta drink the rest!

No hairballs yet

Still waiting for the result...

Hairballs

I had the good fortune of being invited for a really nice dinner this afternoon/evening. And since my cats shouldn't have any less I went to buy special grass for them today, so that they can digest all the hair they are swallowing with the intensive washing. Now I'm eagerly (?) waiting for the result.

Today I also got a lift to the pet shop. Now there are 60 kg's of cat sand stored in the basement, along with some food.

The little creatures should be grateful. Just spent more than 200 francs on them!

My old home

My upbringing was pretty typical. When I was born my parents had a small 2-room flat. When I was 7 years old we moved to a chain-house. When I was 16 my parents built a house, and there I lived until I moved out 3 years later.

The house was sold some 10 years ago, and I lost track of who moved in and out since. A while ago I saw the house advertised (built by my Dad and my Grandfather) and it was completely transformed. To the better I must admit, although it was pretty clear it had been styled for the pics.

Last pic shows my old bedroom. Looked completely different back then. Good thing they restyled it!

Luxusleben

My neighbour was visiting this evening and she claims that the kittens have a luxury life. But I dunno know. It seems they prefer to drink water out of the one-month-old still water including a dead big bug in the can on the balcony, rather than from the designer bowl I bought for them placed in the kitchen and that is filled with fresh water twice a day.

Spicy

Was watching one of these design shows again, and they were planning on renovating a kitchen this time. They found very old spices, and it looked really unclean.

Realized something. I haven't had a decent clean-up of my own spices since, well a long time. Think it was the ex who bought most of them.

As I suspected most of them had expired like 2005. And now they are gone.

Pretty Zina