Resolution #2

On the first day of every year, I make a list of ten positive things I would like to achieve in that year.  This year, I am on track to complete almost all (I will certainly miss one!), and yesterday my package arrived that would help me achieve resolution #2 which has become summer goal #3.

This is going to be tough, as learning German in Switzerland is like learning German in Greece (except hotter there).  Apparently Swiss German is very different.  As an example, recently my German flatmate, Suzanna, was in a waiting room with just one other Swiss girl for two hours.  As much as they tried they could not communicate at all, as the girl did not know High German and Suzanna does not speak Swiss German.  Luckily I live with Suzanna, whom I am hoping will help me along the way :)

Swiss vs German Shopping

There is no getting around the fact that Switzerland is expensive and that if I did not live on the border of Germany and France it would be even worse.  I do all my shopping in Germany and have told people how much cheaper it is but I am not sure everyone quite understands to what extent.  Today I went food shopping in Germany, and when I returned I realised I forgot a couple of items so thought I would just nip to the Swiss store across the road.  The Swiss shopping bill was 5 Francs (3 pounds, 5 dollars) more expensive, and the shops are 5 minute drive a part..

30 Francs: prawns, fresh fish, frozen fish, 5 cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, carrots, eggs, radish's, prunes, basil plant, 3 pots cottage cheese, 3 jars pasta sauce, 4 cans tuna, courgettes, green onions, flowers

35 Francs: 2 yoghurt's, coriander, radish's, lentils, veggie hot dogs, capers

The Three Castles, Alsace

Today Suzanna, Maria, Lola and I went to the Alsace to try and work off Saturday night's girls night out and have a little lunch.  It was a beautiful day, we managed to make it to the three castles, and then back down for a lovely French lunch (where believe it or not my main course was cheaper than a double scoop ice cream cone in Switzerland). 

The start, the castles are way in the distance :)

My Beach in Basel

Every morning I watch BBC morning before starting my day and for the last few months I have heard the same bad news about the weather.  Day after day about how it has been the worst April, May, June, about the horrible floods and the general frustration of the public.  And then on Monday morning, after a beautiful weekend in the UK, I listened to the same broadcasters complaining about the heat, that plus thirty is just unbearable, blah blah.  Now although I always want it to be hot and would never complain, I did sympathise a bit with the woman complaining.  As when it is baking hot, it is hard to get relief, there is very little air conditioning, homes do not have ceiling fans, there are very few outdoor swimming pools, so really unless you live by the water it can become fairly uncomfortable.  Which brings me to the purpose of this blog, the last week has been boiling here in Basel, and I think people here would suffer the same fate if it were not for the Rhine.  It is just magical in the summer, I love going to sit by it, dip my feet in it and if feeling really brave swim in it.  It really reminds me of being at one big beach party (minus the sand, salt water and palm trees of course).  There are hundreds of people floating down the river, or suntanning on the side, loads of BBQ's, the bars are full, they have a stage set up in the water for bands to play, and a really vibrant atmosphere.  So last night, when it was still 33 degrees at 8 at night, a group of us naturally headed to the Rhine.

Black Forest and Bubbles

This week hikes has taken me, Asa and Lola to the birth places of the Black Forest Gateau and then the yummy bubbly Cremant.  As in most of Europe it has been scorching hot, with clear blue skies that left us with beautiful views.  We managed to find loads of geocaches in Germany, have a lovely lunch in the Alsace (where Asa's husband joined) and then finished up properly with a little wine tasting :)

Quality Time :)

As I have set my self the goal to hike every other day (so far so good), it means I still have the 'off' days to occupy.  So I have set myself a few other goals, one of which is spending quality time with friends I just do not see enough.  I think during term time we are just so busy that before we know it, it has been a month since we have seen each other.  The recently expanded Grisetti family are a prime of example of this, even more so as neither teach at my school (Brian at Junior school, Fernanda being Mummy).  And we have managed to get together twice this week, once for Sunday brunch and then today for a dip in the Birs (river running into the Rhine).

This is what you get if you say that you are only eating healthy these days...

...and this is what you watch everyone else eat, only my favourite breakfast.

Daddy and Xander

Family and Auntie Amanda

Hiking Holiday

I was actually pretty ready to come back to Basel after my holiday as I really needed to relax, eat normal food and sleep.  This lasted for about two days and then I was totally bored (I am horrible at sitting around).  Therefore, I have set myself some goals for the remaining summer, one of them is to go on a hike everyother day.  So far it has gone great, living in Switzerland I am spoilt with choice, Lola is thrilled to bits (hiking one day sleeping the entire next day), it is not an expensive activity, I am burning a few calories (means more ice cream) and working on my tan. 

The walk was along a Swiss and German border.

Great day geo catching and then Sunday another group had a hike.

I was appointed, by myself, as team captain for the day.

We planned to take the gondula down, but as team captain this is where I failed.

I did not check the time for the last gondula (meaning long walk back).  Think I am probably fired as team captain :(

Basel Tattoo

Today I went to watch the Basel Tattoo (trying to tick the culture box on my summer holiday list).  It was pretty eventful, lots of drums, lots of marching, lots of drums, and then after it was over the most exciting part for me was treating ourselves to what I must say was an extra yummy ice cream.

Town hall, dressed up for the event

All the people

This girl is thrilled about her day out, she is loving the culture

My hiking partner and her husband (who has a very important role to fulfil)

Geocaching

Today Lola and I joined Asa on a hike/geocaching adventure.  It was an amazing day, beautiful weather, lots of exercise, breathtaking views, good chats and we found two Geocaches.  Now I have never been Geocaching before, and never really understood it but it is such a great idea.   Effectively it is a huge world wide out door treasure hunt, there are thousands and thousands all over the world (over 25 in Barbados!), you can find their co-ordinates on-line or on phone and then you search them out.  You can add your own as well (I am thinking of putting one on my Dads property as I think he would love random people searching), it really is just a fabulous idea.  I think it is perfect for me, it gives me an excuse to travel the world to find them all, I totally feel another blog coming on!




This is the gondola, we could have taken but did not.

The beautiful views.

Reunited

Last night I had some of my Basel girls, that had just returned from holiday, over for dinner.  Well I am not really sure what I served should be called dinner, as it was a bit of a disaster, even though I actually followed a recipe.  In fact, yesterday I reconfirmed many things about myself, I really cannot cook, or clean, or organise and a budget, forget it (any guesses to what keeps me single!).  Either way, it is great to be back, to see Lola after her suicide attempt, some of the Basel girls and of course the sunshine.

The view down from the window Lola managed to jump out of.

Hungry girls back to Basel!

Me and my girl, all healthy and happy (well as happy as Lola can be!)



Blue sky!



Bristol Weekend

My holiday ended with a great weekend visiting Nicola, my sister, in Bristol. We had a very full weekend, with a lot of meals out (going home a size larger), an anti-protest (as seen on last blog), a little culture (checking out local graffiti), catching up with friends (Dave, Holly, Lotte and of course Nicola) and a little dancing (hopefully combats some of my eating). I have had a wonderful trip, and now looking forward to seeing Lola, some sunshine and my Basel crew :).