The Last Supper...For Now

So last night was Babs and Scotts last night and we went to a Greek restaurant in Germany with Patrick and Ellie. We had a wonderful night, and Babs and Scott once again generously treated everyone. We then went home and had a drink or two looking over old photos and reminiscing about all the adventures we have had over the years (and there have been quite a few). This accompanied by the fact that I really just did not want them to go made it fairly difficult to take them to the airport at five this morning. But I did reluctantly. Lola and I returned home to our empty flat feeling very depressed, Lola sulked into their bedroom, went back to bed and honestly I could hear her crying. And I am now in school, getting ready for my day, finding it fairly difficult to hold back my tears, in fact the first person I saw this morning asked how I was and my eyes welled up ;)

Spoilt

So today is Babs and Scott's last night (assuming I take them to the airport tomorrow), and me and Lola are going to be seriously depressed without them.  Not only do we both love them to pieces but they have been spoiling us rotten with walks, clean house, company and possibly the best suppers I have had since well the last time I lived with Scott.  I have tried to peek over shoulders and remember key tips, but something tells me that I will not eat again like this until I visit them in Cornwall...

Possibly the best meal of the week, even all out
French meals and sushi

Or maybe this was the best one, or maybe the soup

True Love

Adventures in the Alps

Yesterday we went to the Alps for Babs and Scott to try some skiing and snowboarding.  Sadly, they had me as a teacher, who has never snowboarded and really is not able to give too much skiing advice.  I really have never laughed so much in years, which is not very nice, but watching Scott fly over an edge (he was fine) and lose his snow board twice down the hill (took us almost an hour to find it the first time) was hilarious.  Babs, unfortunately already had a bad leg and really suffered badly from my teaching, so I can safely say she may never get on skis again.  Moral, if you want to learn to snowboard or ski, take a lesson and not from me...
(oh and we got back from the Alsace by taking a train to nearby city and then a very long taxi ride home...)




Only saw this beautiful smile again when she gave back the skiis

In the clouds

He spent sometime here - but must say he picked
it up quickly, just needs to learn to stop

Alsace Adventures

Yesterday we ventured into the Alsace, where our goal was to eat and drink everything French. And this we certainly accomplished, mainly because we missed our train and had to stay in the restaurant to wait for the next one. The owners were fabulous, feeling guilty about the train (they booked a taxi that did not arrive on time), they spoiled us with beautiful creamont and Lola half a pig. They even drove us to get the 9:53 train, which was great until we went inside and discovered it was actually a 9:23 train, the last train...

Who'd have Thought..

Now, although I do not eat meat, I try never to lecture anyone about what they eat, in fact I have cooked meat lasagna, roast chicken and burgers in recent months for friends.  However, I have also have avoided going to a steak house in Germany that everyone raves about, because well basically a steak house is clearly not a veggie persons first choice. But I love my Babs and Scott and they love steak, so I took them there last night.  However, it did not go un-noticed with God, Allah, Budda, the universe, or whatever, almost getting stuck in a parking garage over night and then getting a flat tyre on the way home. Next time I am sticking to sushi.

So do you think I had a steak?

Cow and Pig...

Burns Night

So last night, after lots of discussion, Scott convinced us to go out to dinner and to a pub for Burns night rather than staying in.  He saw the pub on their walk through Basel during the day and was keen to go watch the live band, hear some poems read and have some haggis.  We went for sushi and I think it was a fairly big shock coming from Bali where they could get an amazing meal for 3 pounds to Switzerland where you cannot get well anything for 3 pounds. But it was very delicious and I was very lucky to be treated. We then set off to the pub, to discover that Burns night is actually today...

Scott fairly shocked that I gave him my wine

Me and Scott bought a ticket, no time for Bab, she was scared to
get arrested by Swiss police

Babs and Scott

Both me and Lola are two very happy girls as Babs and Scott arrived last night for a whole eight days! They are my old house mates from Bruton, two of my bestest friends, and all feels right when they are back with us (especially to Lola who loves Scott more than anyone else in the world).  Where ever, when ever we are together we manage to have a great time and I often wonder how I held down any job living with them, as we certainly lived life to the fullest.  And based on their first night, I can see that nothing has changed, my fully stocked fridge is looking a bit empty this morning and I drank my body weight in diet coke on the way to work (always a good sign).  Luckily I am a hardened pro now (medicine cabinet full, and a pint of water always by the bedside) and can easily handle a week.  Of course, it may take me the month of February to recover but they are more than worth it...

All tanned and gorgeous, just back from Bali

Our little family

My Quiet Weekend...

...did not turn out exactly as planned! After a fairly quiet Friday night, my neighbour, Suzanna and my old neighbour Marcia twisted my arm to go out Saturday (the twisting just entailed them mentioning it to me and me jumping at the invite, another night of tv may have killed me). Amazingly, there was drinking, roller-skates and dancing and I ended the night in bed and not in accident and emergency!

Not the week I was Expecting

So after claiming to want a quiet week, I found myself dining out every night, bar last night where some dined at mine.  This means that this weekend I am definitely going to keep it quiet as from Monday my life will turn up side down with the arrival from some very special (yet going to keep me up all hours) friends...

Started with the best chocolates ever Monday night -
not Swiss, American...

Finished off my 'quiet' week with some bubbles of course

The Difference...

I have been asked to explain what 'the difference' is with my B&B.  Well first of all it is mine, so it is never going to be normal, as that would not be me.  Secondly, this B&B is for people that want to be entertained, not for people who want to do things on their own (of course not everything with me, but you got to be a bit social).  When you book you will be asked to fill out a form asking things you like to do (going to the mountains, visiting the wine regions, going out for meals, bars, meeting new people, skiing...) and then I will prepare a trip based on these things.  Lastly, you gotta like Lola, as it is her B&B too :)

Highly recommend the mountains

A&L bed&breakfast

So A&L bed&breakfast is ready for its official launch, now that logo and business cards have been prepared!  I am ready for an influx of bookings ;), so book early to avoid any disappointment!
PS- my logo and cards were created by a brilliant designer, Gill Kennedy, she provided me with loads of amazing designs and ideas.  Her details are below and I can highly recommend her.

Hotel de Chein

So Mum tells me that there have been complaints about my lack of contribution to the blog again and people are wondering where I was in the family pictures in Barbados. Well I visited a 'hotel' in France for two weeks and then went to awesome Asa's house. Now when Mum dropped me in France I must say she was being a bit of a baby, crying and crying (fairly embarrassing around the other dogs really), I had to try hard to be tough for both of us. But, the hotel was lovely, underfloor heating, electric door to my own run, a decorated room, daily walks and regular feeding times. I am not sure what all the crying was about really (although I would have liked the underwater themed room). But then I really went to paradise spending just over a week with Asa and family, loads of new smells, beds to choose from, and places to walk. I must say it is nice to have mum back (as she does spoil me rotten) but at the same time I am looking forward to my next holiday (especially if that cute Yorkie is next to my room again).

Reality

So after probably one of the best months I have ever had, reality has hit me hard.  I am sure most people will be happy to know that the next few weeks are going to be very difficult with mountains of work to catch up on, reports to write and lessons to plan.  I am sure I will fit in the odd activity but I think the rest of this month will be fairly dull :(
(well I am going to try to keep it quiet, but I must admit I do find this hard, so we will see how long this lasts!)

Just the beginning...

Against all Odds...

.. I am on my way home from ski camp with no broken bones, sprained ankles or any head injuries. It was the most amazing trip with beautiful blue skies and weather usually seen in March not January. So unless the coach drives off a cliff on the way down the mountain I have survived the Swiss Alps!

Second Day of Term

Day 2 and still alive and unscathed, still gotta survive day 3 though...

Like Riding a Bike

Today was my first day skiing in I am guessing 14 years, I was fairly nervous this morning but it was a bit like riding a bike. It certainly helped that the conditions were perfect, sunny, warm and the snow was good. I ended the day on a black run and only almost died once (our leader directed me to a jump, I thought he meant one a bit off the track, big wipe out!), so no injuries to report yet but we are ice skating tonight...

Stopped for lunch

Ellie and our fearless leader Liam

It's a Tough Life

So i have gone from one extreme to the next, from sunbathing to making snow angels and surfing to skiing. I am on a ski trip in the Swiss Alps (Nendaz) with the high school. I wish I had a good camera as the night views are so beautiful. Tonight was sledging and tomorrow I begin working on resolution 3, I guess there are worst jobs to have.

Back in Basel

After taking a plane, then coach, then another plane, then a train, 16 hours later I arrived to my not so warm flat. I unpacked and stupidly took an hour nap. So at midnight when friends texted to drag me to the bar, I could hardly say no as I was wide awake. Probably not the best thing for jet leg as ended up sleeping way too late. Missing all in BIM but nice to see Basel friends. Tomorrow I will also be starting to work on resolution #2, which I can only hope goes a bit smoother than resolution #1...

Bye Bye BIM

Had a fabulous last day in BIM on the beach with Aunty Andy (Mum's sister), she treated us to a lovely lunch and it was great to spend the afternoon with her.  I am going to miss all here so much, but I am sure it will be a relief to most of you to see me in freezing cold Basel once again!

Below is a painting that I purchased from Aunty Andy, she has a wonderful studio full of beautiful art work for sale so if you are ever here call Andrea Peirce, also found on facebook.

69

69 - was the score of team 'It's all Relative' in last nights pub quiz, placing us a respectable 4th out of 13. The entire team contributed but I would have to say Craig again was key and also Nicola answered some very tricky questions and Dad stormed through the country size round. This week we lost 2 players but gained three more which was great. However, having these many members did cause a bit of a debate at the beginning. The pub quiz master limits the teams to 6 and since we had 7, he said we would have to start the quiz at -7. Our choices were really to kick someone off, have a person sit out each round (7 rounds), or take the hit. After much discussion it was decided that it was better to have us all play together as it is all about having a nice time together (so really our score was higher than 69). Now you can image, as I am not competitive at all that I thought this was also the best solution ;) but take my new added poll on what you would do. PS- not to influence anyone but it is a cash prize ;)

Craig, Me, Nic and James (who is a wealth of information, most not totally useful!)

Me, Nic and Rosette

HOPE

This is a special congratulations blog to my good friends Ian and Julianne, who finally after loads of nagging and ten blinking years of courting finally got engaged on New Years eve.  I am very excited for them, and like the rest of the island are hoping they will not wait another ten years for the actual wedding...

HOPE - their engagement, FINALLY, has
reinstalled faith in me that resolution 4 is not
impossible for everyone

Yummy Sushi

Last night went out for yummy sushi with my usual sushi crew, we had to change location as unbelievably our normal spot is closed on a Tuesday (I was none too happy).  The new location was delicious. Probably ate far too much, had a few drinks and discussed important world issues such as over fishing and swinging... 

De crew

Honestly, pork sushi, what is the world coming to!

De men

De girls