Lola's Day

After Friday's day of exploring the village eateries and bars, yesterday was a Lola day. Long five hour hike, followed by a BBQ, where Lola got her own piece of chicken.

Great walk, a bit of a complaint about the views though ;)

Some very intellectual discussions were had (anyone know why a butterfly was named after butter?)

Como Fun

All week the forecast for Como was changeable, with lots of rain and not very warm, how wrong they got it! Yesterday was a lovely hot day full of food, wine, walks and sunshine and today we have woken up to another beautiful day :)

The manager of our first restaurant took the top off with a sword, great way to start the day!

What a wonderful day we had!

Back to Argegno

A four day weekend, and back to my favourite village, Agrengno, Como, Italy. My fabulous friend, Cinzia, has put us in her new house, and it is perfect.

A beautiful morning

Our house :)

Our breakfast table :)

The team. Looking forward to a relaxing long weekend.

The New Amanda and Suzanna...

... are called Barbara and Harry and they are lovely. They came to see their new flat last night (they will be moving into my flat in August) and I held a dinner party to introduce them to to some of their new colleagues. It felt pretty emotional showing them around the place I have called home for three years (yes I had a tear), it gets more and more real everyday.

 My Thai dinner (shockingly was very nice)

Barbara and Harry, great replacements!

Grumpy Girl

You know when you wake up in the worst mood ever and you are not really sure why. And you storm around the house grumbling and feeling a little sorry for yourself, welcome to my world today (and you know it is bad when sunny and I am still seeing red). Well it took me the early part of the day, but I figured it out, I am pretty terrified and sad to go. It was my choice and sure it will be exciting (blah blah) but I am leaving a whole world of fabulous people behind once again and it stinks. I had another wonderful weekend with my wonderful friends, I am really going to weep like a baby for, I suspect, the whole month of August...

 A quick hello to Suzanna and then off to the pub

Had a lovely weekend, it was beautiful weather and had a great time at a BBQ and then pub for Rugby.  Boy, Quito you have a lot to live up too.

Raluca and Ginelle

Once again my weekend started off and will continue to be fairly full. Limited time coupled with sunshine and I have become a fairly busy girl. The night started with a quick weekend visit from Raluca...Having recently moved to Shanghai it was fabulous to have a drink and catch up.

I moved on quickly to Ginelle's masters celebration.  We had a great night celebrating her achievements which has put me wayyyyy behind schedule this morning!

Picnic Crashing

A beautiful night: hot, sunny, Rhine, friends, what could possibly be better... Joining possibly the best picnic spread ever, that makes it better...

Another great night by the Rhine, bring on many more for the summer. And a big thanks to the Sygenta ladies who welcomed us to their picnic, yummy food and even better company.

Castle, BBQ and Films

Yesterday was another day full of activities. We started the day visiting a castle in nearby Lorrach, Germany. It was a brilliant well preserved interesting castle with beautiful views and many stories.

We then headed to a farewell BBQ, for Hildi's (Pia's more like sister friend) girlfriend Leslie (who she will be joining later this summer in Dallas). We then returned home for relaxing and films. It was great to catch up with Darren and we had a great weekend (well I hope he did but I never really know till I check the guest book:)).

WW1 Trenches

Here at A&L B&B we like to provide a vacation offering a variety of activities. So yesterday several boxes were ticked, with a morning exploring WW1 trenches in the Alsace, the afternoon eating lunch and wandering in the Alsace, a small dinner party, followed by a night the town.
And although all activities were good fun, I decided to focus this blog on the trenches. I have always wanted to visit them and it was really amazing to see. I could barely go in one for ten seconds, let alone the three years the French and Germans occupied them (their trenches were actually only several meters apart). They were amazingly preserved and quite incredible, I cannot begin to imagine how it must have been in the winters and how terrifying it must have been altogether. 30 000 men lost their lives there, most around the age I teach or slightly older, it was a very sobering morning and I highly recommend a visit.

Mr. Jones

It definitely was a wise decision to lay low this week, as the next few days are action packed. Mr. Darren Jones flew in for the weekend yesterday (friend from BIM who recently moved to the UK) and as wanna be hostess with mostess there is loads to do. The schedule has been made (with a range of activities checking all the boxes including culture, history, vineyards, parties, BBQs and much much more), and for a Bajan he has done very well sticking too it..

Rosetta and Philippa

After a crazy busy week last week, I swore off going out this one. I have instead stayed in, and spent quality time with Rosetta Stone, some Spanish text books and Philippa Gregory (best historical novel writer ever, love her books).

I was going to wait to the weekend to actually venture out of my flat, but not sure I can handle another night of Rosetta and Philippa...

16 Hour Watson

Really, who flys to a country for 16 hours, Matt 'I am a jet setter' Watson, is who. I picked him at 5pm, had some bubbles, went to France for dinner and dropped him at the airport before 9am. It was wonderful, to see him, albeit for way too short of a time.

Another lovely evening.. This week I am not leaving home!

Still Burning

I must be burning an extra long candle, as somehow managed a night out last night after a fairly big week and am of course still up at the crack of dawn. I suppose I am making up for all those winter evenings where it was pretty difficult to get me to leave the flat on a weekend, let alone weekday! Either way it was a great evening, hosted by Patrick and Ellie in honour of Shaun's birthday.

Lovely time, delicious curry, good friends and now time to get up and prepare for my day, again packed full of activities.

Burning the Candle

Is definitely what I am doing, but I have to maximise my time here! So last night I went to wine club half asleep, but it is funny how good friends, food and wine can perk you up.

As always a great night and this weekend I shall continue to burn the candle (assuming there is any candle left), with one of my favourite jet setters arriving.

Mexican (of sorts) Fiesta

Last night I hosted a Mexican fiesta, well an Amanda style Mexican fiesta (not quite sure they put tofu in their fajitas and tacos but there was salsa, guacamole and corona, so that makes it slightly authentic)  to say thank you for some help with getting me to Quito. Of course, there was also games..

Thank you Carmen for visa help and Mark and Becci for actually going to Quito at Easter to check it out for me (possibly they went to visit Mark too).

Reinach Maths Gals

Well finally after several attempts some of us Reinach Maths girls finally got together for a celebration dinner. Big birthdays, new jobs and just a general celebration of teaching together.

Happy birthday Stephanie, congrats Judit and well done us for almost completing another year! Middle school ladies, you are next!

Le Petit Kembs, France

What a fabulous Sunday, a 40km bike ride, a fantastic French meal, great company and finishing with 'I feel very guilty' long evening Lola walk.  We had a great ride, even if I am ridiculously sore.  A lovely lunch in France and then an other ride back.  As I was suffering from Lola guilt, I did take her out with Pia and Chris upon our return for an evening walk.
The evening walk was beautiful (I definitely earned my lunch today).

May Day

You have to love a holiday in the week, it breaks up the week so nicely. It is even better when you get spoilt with a delicious, hostess with mostess, Suzanne meal.
We had a lovely catch up and debrief about our holidays, not to mention an amazing meal. And now only one more day of work (kinda has a Monday feel but really Friday, perfect!).