Spoiled kids

Went to a birthday party this afternoon, a 3-year-old. Which would've been fine, had it not been for the other 9 kids that showed up. All between 2 months and 4 years. Phew! Am I happy or am I happy for my two quiet cats?

Wish I would've brought my camera, have never seen so many toys in one confined place before. It was plastic container after plastic container with toys, toys, toys. As well as kid furniture, a complete kitchen, a slide, a doll trolley, soft animals and who knows what else? They could easily give toys to a few orphanages in a poor country, and each kid would get their own toy.

And of course there was a cake. The biggest one I've ever seen live.

So if judging by who has the most, this kid is a winner.

And I got to take a balloon with me for the cats to play with. But at least Zetti doesn't seem to care. Zina took one look at it and discarded it. My little girls are growing up!

Death mask

Was talking to a friend today. He had visited his aunt, and she was asking him to help clean out the basement. There he found a death mask. What?

My mind went immediately to Hannibal Lecter, and whether his aunt was a black widow. Turned out that she had a plaster head, moulded from her (2nd) husbands head.

None of us could work out the reason she had it made in the first place, but now it is crushed into little pieces.

But really, how weird is that? And did my friend have anything to do with it? Haha, just joking. Seen too many episodes of CSI.

But the head was there. Really, who wants a replica of a dead person?

Expovina.ch

Except for it being extremely crowded in 7-8 ships at every wine counter, it was a nice evening. First grounding with some raclette (I only had one portion, some other had two!), and then onto the wine tasting.

The German saying "Gratis ist gut" applies here. It's just too bad they serve just a few drops in each glass, so you really have to work on it. Nevertheless, we managed to get a few drops.

And the trick is, if you have several tastings at the same counter, to play interested and ask for the wine list. That way you don't have to feel bad for drinking their wine for free without ordering boxes of it.

Tights

Oh darn, I have to go shopping for new tights!

Or maybe I can use them one more time, wearing boots? I mean, they are still covering the legs, and I'm not the type to throw away something that still works. And it's only one toe, right?

Pinot Grigio 3.90

My house wine cost 4.25 full price, but clever as I am, I usually buy when it's on sale for 3.25. Now the other day I found a Pinot Grigio in tetrapack for 3.90. And I think it's worth testing. Guineapigs, anyone?

Mat in place

So finally Grandmas plants were re-planted, new soil, new pots and a brand new purple mat underneath. The cats very much like it, the mat that is. It's apparently funny to play with, to duck underneath, to push aside. But what the heck, we all have to have some fun in our lives.

Kid presents

Am surrounded by kids these days, well at least two and one is having a birthday coming up, so had to go get some presents. For the wee one I got a book, she'll be almost four months at Christmas, and you can never start too early.

Ok, not a book about rocket science, but pictures of for example a cat, saying cat on the side, or a car, saying car on the side. An idiot should be able to read that one. Time to do some IQ testing! You cannot get by on looks alone. Well, at least I couldn't, and since she smiles like me, I am not gonna take any chances.

Cooking

On Christmas Eve I am invited to spend the day with my family, well what is left of it. And since it is planned to have food from home I am tasked with bringing meatballs and "knäck", which is a kind of toffee/fudge sweetie.

Now, here in Switzerland I have not been able to locate the paper forms needed, so had my aunt send some. She doesn't do anything halfhearted, so sent 500 of them. But when I checked the recipe I realized you need 100 of them for one bunch. Clever aunt.

Tonight I'm doing a trial round. And yes, I have done it before but it was probably like 20 years ago, so wanna be sure I do it right for the new part of the family. Pride I think they call it.

And when reading the recipe I realized you're supposed to use a thermometer to check the exact degree...well, we didn't do it when I was little so I'm gonna take a chance. Besides, the very old thermometer I have only goes to 90°C, so useless anyway.

Living life on the wild side, yes that's me!

Cinnamon sticks

Yesterday, when shopping for the last tiles, I came across cinnamon sticks. Bought a bunch of them. Me thinking that it would give off a whiff of Christmas, and take away the smoke smell that I'm sure my flat has. Not that anybody has ever complained.

But I gotta tell you, cinnamon might be aromatic, and smell nice, but not even six of those sticks smell anything. Nor does my smoke mind you.

It is friends way of arranging the sticks, I had nothing to do with it.

Balcony feature

Am very happy with my feature on the balcony. Friends were advising another row, but I dunno. Think this is what I had in mind, and although I appreciate their help and advice, I might stick with my own opinion. As always :).

Too early phone call

At the crack of dawn this morning my phone rang. My landline, 'cause my mobile is only on when I'm awake. Terrorists.

It was a really strange conversation with me speaking English, since I thought he was selling something (this is my strategy, "I don't understand German" when I think they're wanna sell me something), but he lacked the lingo. He asked who lived on the top floor in my building, and when I understood he phoned from a heating company I gave the name of the top floor neighbours.

He then asked for the phone No of the neighbour, which I didn't give.

I contemplated this for a while, then emailed my neighbour about the story, and it turned out that they had booked a guy for some maintenance and it was legit.

I still find it strange though, that he probably looked me up in the phone book first and phoned me. Hmmm. Will have to speak to the neighbours again.

Stalkers

Was just watching a program about stalkers. Made me remember my parents. When I was little my Mum had a breather, you know one of those that phone you up and breathes heavily. I of course only learned about this much later.

Anyway, my Dad had the phone calls traced (and this was in a time when you had to apply to the government to get a phone! A fixed line!), and it wasn't cheap. Turned out to be a neighbour.

My Dad approached him, told him to back off (not privy to the exact words), but that was the end of it.

Watching the stalker show today, I think that people have gotten more violent. Am very happy I am not famous. In all my seven years of blogging, I only had one hate comment, and that was from an American. Which doesn't count, since most of them do not know the difference between Sweden and Switzerland :).

But go Obama, at least a slight majority of the Americans understand what is best for them.

But yes, this is kind of a new type of assault, one that I believe is to be taken seriously. Have a feeling though that the police wouldn't know what to do. I hope I'm wrong.

She smiles like me

Ok, so baby is cute. Made me think of 'West Wing' where assistant questioned the shoot of a baby "is it a cute baby? Not everyone is".

Partytime

Have you noticed how time at the beginning of a party/dinner/get-together/pub-crawl or whatever seems to go at normal pace, but from approximately 10 pm it races? You get more comfortable with the people (in case you didn't do that from the beginning), the alcohol is flowing and you seem to be more witty and more sociable than at the start.

Not that I'm not witty or sociable at all times, but still. Hmmm, might be the alco then :).

Anyway, last couple of times I've been at some friends place I almost missed the last bus. Next time I will have to set the alarm.

And that's another funny thing. I didn't used to care about when to go home, but since I now live in Zürich, and everybody (at least above the age of 20) goes home with the last bus/train/tram I have adapted.

I have the solutions to this problem. Start the partying earlier! Yes, that's it.

People and a lamp

Oh yeah, here's the gang from tonight.

And the "intriguing" lamp.

A whole menu

Ok, I dunno know if it's something wrong with me or my phone, but the photos don't make the food justice. Yeah, yeah, I know my phone is old but still.

Anyway, the food was delish, a starter with three types of tiny sandwiches, a bruschetta (right spelling, S?), something with kiwi, goat cheese and balsamico, and a third one with some meaty thing on it. Delish, and almost too much as a starter. After all, you wanna save some space for the main.

Then it was a salad with celery, walnuts, apple and other thingies in a dressing including a Greek (like yoghurt or the likes). Equally delish.

Almost finally was a lamb dish with couscous, and oh gosh, I ate too much. But what to do when one tasty dish is served after the other?

And finally-finally it was a chocolate cake. With real chocolate!

I had a feeling it would be good, and almost brought plastic containers for leftovers, but thought it would be too obvious. Now I know better. I got leftovers sent with me, and next time I will bring them. I'm proud to say I'm no longer ashamed :).

Windows

Was leaving this evening to go to a dinner, and as I always do, I turn around to look at my house (ok flat then if you're picky), thinking how lucky I am to live here.

If you're clever you can figure out which windows are mine.

Shoes

Was out with a friend this afternoon. I think one can easily say that he's not too much into fashion.

It's good to know somebody who is worse than me.

Btw, when I blogged about the baby having nine pair of shoes, a friend remarked "that's probably as many as you had in your entire life". Haha, he's not far off.

Tiles!

Yes, tiles turned out nice. Am very proud of myself. Scrubbed the balcony and laid the four test tiles. There shall be more. I foresee a few trips to the shop, can only carry four at a time.

Baby shoes

Went to see the wee one the other day, and was asked whether I wanted to hold her. I politely declined of course. But I wonder, does an infant need this many shoes? It's not like she's walking.