Summer in March

It has really been a beautiful weekend, just amazing weather. Last year the the cherry blossoms did not come till May and they are in full bloom now in March. So I took full advantage of it starting with a yummy dinner Friday, lots of walkies and a night out in between.

Friday I was treated to a Clair's curry, and as usual it was delicious.  Saturday spent the afternoon on the river, and then had a few evening drinkies.  And today had a lovely walk in France where Lola was determined to play with some very brave otters. Let's hope this is weather is set to continue and not just visiting.

My 18km

I have learnt from my fabulous fitbit that I walk at least 18km a day. I  was pretty surprised as think that is quite a lot.  It is largely down to Lola as we have a morning and evening walk and then a few little walks in between. So today I thought I would take some pictures of my 18km...
We start are afternoon walk by walking around the lovely park that Lola is not allowed in, but is always hopeful she will be.
We next climb a small but painful hill to the fields.
We pass an outdoor swimming pool that I have often thought of visiting but yet too.
Just before the fields we pass a graveyard and an elderly man that I have seen there everyday for almost three years visiting what I assume is his wife's grave.
We then roll around in the fields and lately sunshine..
.. before heading home, where we make a game of finding Suzanna's car (as she does not have a parking pass she always has to park miles away). And there you have it, a part of our 18km day :)

Christine vs Mandy

My first job out of university was at a marketing firm in Barbados, where I first learnt the beauty of 'hump' day. Every Wednesday (mid week, hump day) I went to Harbour Lights I danced until sunrise and every Thursday morning dragged myself to work. How times have changed, tonight, hump night, I played a game of scrabble with Christine (Chris to others)..

I was/am pretty excited and must say that honestly I am the worst winner ever! ps- Chris added best of three... I may never play him again!

Fitbit Fun Picture

I do not often write reviews of products, but once in a while when I come across a life changing one I then feel that I owe it to that product. I think the last time I found one I commented on was with the soda stream, which is still giving me amples of yummy bubbly water to this day. For those of you who do not know what a fitbit is (another popular competitor is the JawBone), it is a bracelet that you wear on your wrist, 24 hours a day, and it tracks how many steps you take a day, how many kilometers you went, how many hours you slept (and what type of sleep), how much you drank, and your calorie in take and out put. You can look at all you up to date data on an app on your phone or on the computer. It also emails you awards, so it told me once I hit 50km, and yesterday I got an email of all the things I have accomplished since I started wearing it on Thursday (although, I think Lola loves it more, as her walks have gotten way longer since purchase). Pretty and pink, love it!

Lucky lucky Shanghai

I am not the only one of my friends to be saying good bye to Basel this year and last night we came together to say farewell to Raluca... Raluca is leaving for a huge year long adventure in Shanghai (I am sure this women will be running a multi billion dollar corporation some day soon). She will be returning to Basel in a year, but of course I will then be gone. We have shared so many memories over the past two years, I still vividly remember her coming to my Roman birthday party looking amazing and dancing all night. She is one of the kindest, intelligent, caring, funny people I know and I, like most, will miss her dreadfully.

Raluca, knock them dead in Shanghai, have an amazing time and make sure you keep in touch!

Spring Arrives...

I thought I would share some pictures of our beautiful spring that officially started yesterday (unofficially weeks ago) as apparently that winter we never had will come tomorrow..
So it looks like Basel might get its first snow fall of the year in spring!

Quito, Ecuador

I have been suggesting for a few months that my time here in Switzerland may becoming to an end (well for now, who knows about the future).  I was waiting to post about it until the kids I teach knew, and it felt a little more real (as took the job in December).  So now the kids know, I think I have managed to get the Visa (albeit not actually the one I need) and I have just secured a flat right beside a big huge park where dogs can actually enter and even better go off the lead!  All and all becoming a bit more real.  I still have till  mid August here, which will sadly race by as have so many fabulous friends that I will miss terribly.  But really it was time to move on, my blog is getting too repetitive, there are only so many of the same hikes I can post and dinners parties I can host.  Time to go explore somewhere new.  Of course, I will still run my free, pretend B&B, so all visitors welcome (the view from the terrace is pretty spectacular). 

If anyone has ever been to Quito I would love to hear some advice and tips.  OH unless your comments are negative, I am scared enough, I only need positive!! 

Master Hikers

I am feeling pretty healthy and tired right now after a weekend full of hikes with Karen (well almost healthy, just ignoring the bubbles on the Rhine on Friday and the few ciders last night). On Saturday we hiked up Wasserfallen in record time (1500 metres steep climb), and today we went to Todtmoos in the Black Forrest for an extra long hike over all types of terrain.   I came home very hungry, made myself an 'Amanda Pad Thai' (basically nothing like a Pad Thai, and most would not love it, but I do), and trying my best to resist the temptation to go and join Suzanna in town for another  unhealthy treat..

 

Two beautiful days, a great way to end my week long holiday. 

Faschnaut Fun

I have no idea how I missed this last year, as I also stayed home this week, but somehow I did.  I went to the city in the day to see the event, but never at night, so I am very happy I made the final night last night.  The city was packed, the streets were covered in confetti and liter (yep, really and truly liter, in Switzerland), people were dancing and toasting and having a great time.  We were able to go to several 'Kellars', which are underground drinking establishments for different cliques (the bands that play throughout the event)and that only open to the public twice a year, and then we finished the night of with a bit of a dance (thank goodness I am off work today!).

 

Really a great night. I underestimated the event and glad that I finally made it and highly recommend it.

Training..

I got up yesterday morning ready for a day of training for 2018.  I researched where to go in the Black Forrest, collected Asa (recruiting her to represent Sweden), and drove us to Todtmoos, only to find...

 ... a beautiful town, warm, full of sunshine and not a snow flake in sight (possibly should have updated their website).

 As it is hard to train for cross country without snow, I drove us all the way back to Basel to hike instead with Lola (a few minor hiccups along the way, I really need to learn to monitor my petrol levels better).  But Asa, as always, was happy, content and forgiving.

 The walk did not go exactly as planned, possibly a bit longer than expected but eventually I made a mends with a yummy lunch...

...in the beautiful lovely sunshine and I think all was forgiven (based on the weather, I think I may have started training a bit late in the season).

Pyeongchang 2018

Watch out for me and Pia 2018, Pia will be cross country skiing for Malaysia and me Barbados (Karen went home earlier so we will have to see if she is interested in training for the UK team, might be harder than me and Pia's choices). We have a lot of work to do, but already knocked some serous time off our second lap after lunch. We may even get guns and do the biathlon.

Now back to Basel :)

X-Country in Bargis

What a magical amazing day, me and Karen had a brilliant time cross country skiing and then hiking back down the mountain to our village. Cross country skiing was amazing and reminded me so much of happy times spent with my family growing up. I sometimes forget how lucky I was and the great opportunities my parents gave me. In the winter we were able to cross country ski from our back door across the beautiful country side. I was so surprised after such a long time how naturally it came back to me. It was beautiful and I spent the whole time remembering such special child hood moments. A truly perfect day.

It was also a year ago today that I meet Karen so a great today to spend our anniversary!! (Just happen to remember as we meet at faschnaut last year :))

Skiing in Laax

My second and guess final skiing weekend of the year, and the weather is stunning. Sunny, warm (well hot even), really just amazing. We arrived this morning (Chris and Pia) to join Karen and Lu and hit the slopes immediately.

A fabulous beginning to the weekend :)

Post Parents

After a long parents day/evening what better way to unwind than dinner with good friends. I was lucky enough to have a record low amount of interviews so time to get home and prepare food for four lovely ladies. Vivien (Suzanna's colleague) and Suzanna, Emily and Erin from school as well

Lovely Erin. Side note: for anyone who knows Lola pre Basel, she use to be terrified of cameras. If someone took one out she was off. But bizarrely now she jumps in my lap when ever someone goes to take my picture..

And Auntie Em. Now one more day of school, but no kiddies and then off to the mountains!

A note to ms. Garwood

I have mentioned once or twice how much I love teaching. I have such a laugh with the kids and actually think they learn something along the way. But it is not a selfless job, not at all. It has dawned on me recently that I probably secretly (well not now) do it to boost my own self worth. So possibly my motives for becoming a teacher were not as pure as I once thought. Either way receiving a poem from one of my students (attached to an assignment) is lovely and so appreciated after the longest most tiring term ever (they must sense I am at breaking point!).

I mean, really how sweet. I hear so many negative comments about the youth of the day, I must say I know quite a few amazing ones.

Double Sunday

I very rarely plan a relaxing Sunday and even when I do something usually creeps up and little relaxing occurs. So it was pretty amazing to have not only one Sunday but a double Sunday weekend (Saturday being the second one). A weekend full of movies, duvet on sofa, yummy take always, pop corn, chocolate, a 15km sunny stroll and good friends to share the duvet and popcorn with.


My first Indian take away while here, it was delicious. Eaten Saturday night, two films before dinner and two after (had to watch Karen and Suzanna cry like babies over a cartoon and bridesmaids, ridiculous!).


Sunday a huge walk followed by a bowl of Chris's pea soup, birthday cake, and a film I have wanted to see for ages (the lives of others).


And no weekend could be complete without plenty of time with Lola Cola who was zonked after her long walk.

Chris (tine)'s 40th

After a bit of a dance and walk down memory lane at prom I headed to Chris's (Christine to me) 40th Big Leboski birthday party. And I must say having come straight from an 18 year old party, they have nothing on us, we old timers still know how to properly have a party.

Happy Birthday Christine! And thanks to the beautiful hostess, Pia (aka Condense Queen 3).