Brussels

It was supposed to rain all weekend, but I forgot my umbrella. All in all, we had 3 drops of rain in 2 days. The Saturday trip was stressful as it was raining cats and dogs in Geneva and I was stuck in the streets waiting for a cab at 05:30am, for a plane leaving at 06:50am. Luckily I got another taxi company on the phone to rush me to the airport.

I also discovered the pride of the country: chocolate and beer. I was aware of the beer culture, with its fruit beer and monastery beer. It makes me smile how many abbeys are also breweries. I suppose they had to get high one way or another, those monks.

This time though, I nonchalantly asked where to get some good Belgian chocolates: my friends al offered different answers, but also pointed me to the right place to go shopping: place des Sablons.  Imagine the Place Vendôme in paris, where the big names of jewelries have their flagship stores. Well, the chocolatiers have their own territory around this little square on top pf a hill and between 2 beautiful churches: Godiva, Pierre Marcolini, Whittamer, Leonidas, Neuhaus were conffronting each other on that square. 

Of course, next to the old grand Place, there are a lot more chocolatier and touristy places to buy chocolates. But this was the place to get the grand cru of chocolate and to admire the easter season windows settings.

After much sampling and walking around, I also explored much of line 3, 2, 6 of the metro, crisscrossing the old town and doing antique on Rue Haute (Hoog straat). Getting lost int he old town and stumbling on pita street (a whole street of pita restaurants), seafood street (another one with only seafood restaurant, including Leon de Bruxelles), and italian street (yes, only italian restaurants) was fun, and although the country is very flat, the old town has some nice paved hills that made me earn those chocolate bites.

Down with the flu

Mafy zareo ny manjo
Rehefa voan'ny sery
Mila ho vaky ny loha
Ny aina mihenahena
Mafy dia mafy amin'izany
Ka mila hampitomany
Ny lelo ahisina lava
Fa raha tsy izany
Dia tonga ao ambava...

Yup, this childhood song from Bebe comes to mind in the middle of my delirious fever. And the medicine is not really helping, merely attenuating the painful symptoms apparently. I have a very drowsiness inducing pill to take every night and a nasal spray that smells of pee and mint at the same time. It has been 4 days and I miss my energetic self.

Springtime snowboarding

Indeed, to celebrate spring, the weather decided to go bad and be cloudy and rainy. It was the day my first snowboarding lesson was scheduled on. Despite the headaches, the coughing and the sneezing, we managed to drive up to Flaine resort, after running out of petrol halfway and returning back down the mountain to fill up the car. Undefeated, we adorned our helmets, jackets and apparels, hoping the rain would stop soon. The instructor grumpily told me it was the snow was in a perfect consistence for beginners, as it was softened by the rain and warmth. He also admitted though that the resort would be opened for another 5 weeks...considering there was hardly any snow left, i am still wondering if that would be true.

In any case, my struggle with the board and with my balance went on for 2 hours, as I kept falling backwards into the slope, and failed to avoid the huge freezing water puddles on the beginners' slopes. But after 2 hours with the instructor (not even handsome, more like a grumpy old sailor), I managed to do the backside turn and passably get off the chair lift without embarrassing myself. As to the frontside, I realize I still need lots of practice and concentration, and looked very tense in execution.

Next winter, I will definitely snowboard again, and hopefully would not be too sore after wards and walk like a crab...For now though, my cold has caught up with me and forcing me to go to bed while it is still day outside. But first, a hot bath to soak my thighs...

Strolling in Zurich

I had this great idea of going to Zurich for a barbecue on Saturday, and ended up waking u at 7:00am to catch a 8:14 train. I managed to pay 150% of the ticket price instead of 50%, and got into the empty train just in time. I was hoping for a nice quiet time for 3hours, napping and resting. But at Morges, 15minutes later, a whole regiment of teenage boys hopped on and filled every single carriage with babbling and noisy chatters. Of course they were going home after their military service, which is mandatory in Switzerland. I tried to block the noise with my headphones and loud music and catnapped here and there until Zurich. I was already in a  foul mood (not a single handsome man in the whole carriage, despite the uniforms),  but the city of Zurich promised some relief.

Firstly, I bought sore throat tablets form the pharmacy, as my throat was acting up. Then I walked down Banhoffstrasse to Bellevue to admire the magnificent view of the lake and the background snowy mountains. Along the way, the many little streets of the old city showcased the cute architecture, so much different than in Geneva.

 Eventually, it was time to go to the barbecue so I took the long red train-tram to Forch where my ex-colleague was actually having a housewarming as well. It was 30min away from Zurich and it was the first barbecue of the year!!! Instead of alcohol though I had to settle with cold medicine (yiikes) as it was getting obvious that I would not escape the cold.

After much torture making conversation to complete strangers in couples and with babies, I managed to drag away from the party and slept happily in the train, drying my hair from the pouring spring rain and digesting the smoky meat....

Landmarks

Friday night we ventured into some pop culture and culinary landmarks of Geneva. First, we had a drink at Central Perks, where tattooed muscular black leather wearing gents are mingling with miss goody shoes, in an atmosphere of wholesome cafe: the menu offers anything from pistachio milkshakes to cuban milkshakes (vanilla, rhum milkshake, yum), as well as overpriced burgers.

Then we tumbled across the road, and had food at the popular and speedy Feuille de Banane. The menu is extensive and the service super fast. And the food really hit the spot and absorbed the rhum...It is a rare venue to eat plenty of good food for under CHF 18 a main dish.

The art of conversation?

On the way back yesterday, we got dragged into taking the small roads instead of the highway,so it took us ages to get back home. On the way, Jaysee was skilfully entertaining us with her conversation. I was glad she was there because I get quite awkward when alone with H. He's a nice guy but I don't really know what to say or what he is up to. It started up very innocently:
-'so what's your sign?'
I wish sometimes I knew loads about horoscopes. And so she said Libra and Aquarius really get along. And I had this very childish reaction and said:
-'but I hate H'
That was not even funny because I think everyone understood the opposite..LOL. in any case today was awkward again, even if he came and asked me something for work. I couldn't even kiss him good night last night because it was too awkward. SIGH. And now out of nowhere I get jealous he's going to drive to Belgium next weekend instead of coming to snowboard again.

I feel silly being so easy to manipulate, and also quite in awe with that Jaysee because she really can talk lead a conversation. I was just feeling sleepy and cozy in the backseat and let her make me feel so gooey and sentimental.

Funny thing is all I dreamed about that night was my hunky boss...go figure!

Really impressed with that demonstration of conversation. I need to learn some of that skill. I feel very inexperienced in that art...

Hangover skiing

Today I was brave and went skiing. Waking up with a headache from drinking 3 glasses of wine and a mojito the night before, and coming back home at 02:30am sure didn't help start the day. I was cooking breakfast wen my ride buzzed in, so I had to jump into the ski outfits, grab a snack or two on the way and hopped in the car ( a really nice car, I cannot describe it because I have no idea what car it is, just a big spacious car).

After picking up the others, an aspirin later, we were driving to Flaine, paying tolls on the highway and admiring the landscape and the very very blue sky.

I was planning on starting snowboarding but decided against it because I wanted to tag along with the guys and sky a long blue piste. By noon we found toilets, skis to rent and a ski lift that took us up to 2300m. The view is just breathtaking up there, and the slopes as well. i had a heart attack at the top of the blue piste, as the slope was very steep and I was still trying to find the ski manual in the back of my brain and into my sore legs. After the first drop, I got cramps in my thighs and only managed to turn about thanks to the cold wind numbing the pain. But after a 40min skiing, waiting sometimes for the snowboarders in the group, I got back safely to the station, grabbed a chair and just tanned in the sun, waiting for the others to come down from the same piste...That chair was comfortable, and the sun so bright and warm, it was bliss.
Later on I stayed on easy green and blue pistes with another girl who was still not confident enough to do the big serpentine piste. We had scares and fun, and only got down to the station when the boys called for a food break.

I booked my snowboarding lesson with the ski school and will return next sunday hopefully. For now my muscles need their rest and probably a bit of detox...aie aie

Sunset. A well deserved weekend

Where is spring?

To think that last week it was 12C, and this week we have between 2C and -6C, I wonder when spring will show its true self.

I am sick of waking up frozen at 2am, or waiting for the bus in blowing wind that transforms everything in popsicles.

New bed

Finally the bed has arrived and I can now sleep upstairs, away from the crawling bugs..

Now I have a decent place where people can stay cozily.

From couch to run

花火 (HANA-BI) by 久石讓 (Joe hisaishi)

Recruiting ?!

Recently there were a few 50-60year old somethings visiting the office for interviews. We are shortstaffed and recruiting. Apparently th emanagers settled on an ex-employee.

Today, another crowd came for role plays and interviews. And they were in their early 20s...LOL. The guys on my technical team lustily eyed the new recruit wannabes, as they waltzed in and out of the office in their shiny black suits. To think the only candidates that visited our department were closer to retirement than anything, even I find it unfair!!!

It makes me feel old, and insinuates that no talented young graduate would not want to do our job...But to be positive, I have a job I can handle and allows me to travel around at ease. I would rather be among the elves making things work rather than to be in the limelight selling a Dorian Gray style image.

Year of the Tiger

It was pretty cool that the new Chinese year coincided with Valentine's day this year. Also it was a new moon evening.

It has been a while since I checked the horoscope. So here is a taste of things to come..GRRRRR

"
If you are a typical Snake, you can be quite at home with tending your own wounds and being your own best friend. That ability could be very useful during a year containing ten unfavorable months. Neither the pace nor style of 2010 is likely to be conducive to your peace of mind. Fortunately Snake's natural element, Fire, has the ability to control Metal, this year's ruling element. This should allow you to receive your fair share of that famous Tiger luck. The key is to be very Snake-like. Lay low; wait for opportunites; and strike quickly. Do not measure the year in the number of your successes. Rather, focus on one or two big wins. Pick your battles carefully and exit the scene at the first sign of trouble.


Overview Forecast of 2010 Metal Tiger Year in General

Hot passion meets cold steel with the arrival of the year of the Metal Tiger. This combined sign signifies both the energy to begin activity and the determination to follow it through to the end. Forget about last year's slow plodding. Events set in motion now will pick up speed and continue until either the objective is attained or the whole endeavor crashes and burns.

Bold, cold Metal rules in contrast to last year's pragmatic, calculating Earth. This difference will be all the more dramatic as 2010 is a dynamic, Yang year. Metal's Yang aspect is extremely aggressive and does not tolerate opposition.

Unfortunately Metal has a destructive relationship with the Tiger's fixed element, Wood. In fact this is the fifth in a run of six years governed by an unlucky conflict of elements. This should come as no surprise given the recent history of US and world financial markets, massive numbers of foreclosures in the housing sector, and the terrible tragedy that is Iraq today.

The combination of Metal and Tiger is not, however, a totally negative one. Together they represent the kind of force necessary to accomplish the most difficult tasks. The impossible just might be possible during this exciting time.

Things that have needed to get done but were not due to some blockage will be done or at least see significant progress being made. On the other hand, some that probably should never even have been attempted will also go to completion. This is because the Metal Tiger is associated with a lemming mentality. The Norwegian story goes that, once a group of them starts moving across the fields, they will charge ahead and unthinkingly run straight off a cliff to their doom.

The point is now is the time to attack the most difficult issues you face. You have one of your best chances of achieving a breakthrough. On the other hand, if you still run into stiff opposition, you would do well to consider postponing your attempt to another time. You see, the same force that propels you forward is also with those opposing your efforts. Thinkers can prosper, but lemmings could experience serious setbacks.

Since this is a Metal year, those people born in an Earth one will generally fare better than others of their animal sign, while those born in a Wood one are likely to do worse. It's also slightly negative for those born in a Fire year and mildly positive for Water sign people. Finally, those born in a Metal year will be in their element and do well if their animal sign is compatible with the Tiger but could run into lots of confrontations if not.

The only thing we can say for sure is the year 2010 will be a tumultuous one. This is true for individuals, societies and the human race in general. It's perhaps a better time for knocking down walls than building them. People who thirst for adventure and can reign in their emotions could experience a thrilling and rewarding year. Those who seek peace and harmony might find themselves running for cover more than a few times. "

Really, if that made sense to anyone, explain...

At bretaye

'Tsara iafarana' by Rija Ramanantoanina

Rija & Lily - Tsara iafaràna (Bessa)
envoyé par Andraina. - Anniversaire, mariage, premiers pas en vidéo.
Miriorio foana ny angidina
Tsy mahagaga tsy akory f’izay no fombany
Misavoamboana dia midina
Ka mianjera any an-kady rehetra any

Vola no maha-be rehareha
Ka mazàna jamba ny maso voatakony
Nefa ny mibirioka fandeha
Zohin-tsiny lava ka tsy mba madio

Kendreo izay ataonao
Saino lanjalanjao
Mandalo ihany izao rehetra izao
Fidio ny mba ho soa
Nefa tandremo koa
Sao diso aoriana ka voa

Harena sy voninahitra
Rendrarendra tsy hita ifandafarana
Fa mbola hafa maharitra
Ny fitiavana tsara hiafarana

' Nada sou sou' by Rimi Natsukawa ( 涙そうそう-夏川りみ)

I whisper “thank you”, as I leaf through this old photograph album,
to one who always cheered me on, within my heart
And should the memories of that smile I think of,
come rain or shine, fade away into the distance
They return in the days I search for a glimpse of your face, a stream of tears

Almost a habit now, I wish upon the very first star
Looking within the evening skies for you with all my heart
The memories of that smile I think of, in sorrow or joy
And if you can see me, from where you are
I’ll live on, believing that someday we’ll meet again

And should the memories of that smile I think of,
come rain or shine, fade away into the distance.
In loneliness and yearning - my feelings for you, a stream of tears
If only we could meet, if only we could meet - my feelings for you, a stream
of tears.

古いアルバムめくり
ありがとうってつぶやいた
いつもいつも胸の中
励ましてくれる人よ
晴れ渡る日も雨の日も
浮かぶあの笑顔
想い出遠くあせても
おもかげ探して
よみがえる日は涙(なだ)そうそう

一番星に祈る
それが私のくせになり
夕暮れに見上げる空
心いっぱいあなた探す
悲しみにも喜びにも
思うあの笑顔
あなたの場所から私が
見えたらきっといつか
会えると信じ生きてゆく

晴れ渡る日も雨の日も
浮かぶあの笑顔
想い出遠くあせても
さみしくて恋しくて
君への想い涙そうそう
会いたくて会いたくて
君への想い涙そうそう

A prayer for my granny

Today a short wake is held in south Paris to remember and send off my
Gran. I will be burning candles and flipping through photo albums.
It is scary to dissapear in the memory of others...it makes me aware
of how dear memory is.

Birthday menu

-Coquilles Saint-Jacques salad (mash, nut, tomato, scallops)
-cheese polenta, brocoli and salmon filet
-raspberry tart, chocolate moelleux, vanilla ice cream
A bottle of white Swiss wine (Chasselas)

Thanks for A. and S. for eating my cooking today.And for the gardening kit !!!

The moon shows up close to keep me company

I conclude my 32nd year in this life with a sad note. The full wolf moon will not brighten my day, and my thoughts are still with the mourning family. My gaze to the moon may meet yours, to comfort and look over you.

My superstitious self would like to think the elements are expressing their loss as well: tides swelling, wind blowing as the earth prepares to take in its bosom the burnt dust of someone dear.

The universe does its show to make me remember these times.

Mourning

Today, my grand mother died. I saw her last on Sunday, when I said goodbye. Although the news were expected soon, I had to retire to the restroom to cry. Somehow her image of that last Sunday was so sad I was relieved she passed away without staying too long in a vegetative state. The guilt will follow me from now on, ad so I cried.

Pangs of sadness still hit me unexpectedly as I mourn for a woman I could not understand for her simplicity. She had a faith I may never have, and her frail frame will stay in my mind as I hold her hand for the last time.

I cry for my Mom as she lost her Mommy. I cannot imagine the feeling and miss her dearly. I hope she is not too exhausted and can relieve her heart's sorrow.

This was a last day, of Nenibe, and a last day for me as well.

Sunset at 5pm

Ambushed from 100 sides/Hiding everywhere

Well, that's exactly how I feel coming back from my vacation. Ambushed by the temperature difference (from +26C to -2C), disoriented by the not so familiar city, known only for 4 months, unable to remember routine at work, and emotionally crippled by feelings of guilt, loss and lust.

I have had smoother retuns. This time though, full moon, hormones, fatigue and others built up to a sense of alienation unknown till then. I was not even sure of my address given to the cab driver when I drove back from the airport. At work, speaking on the phone was awkward and I felt like a new starter, fumbling for words, trying to make sense to myself.

Inside, my feelings are a jumble of survival instict to carry on no matter what and to coldly face the day, and a tendency to slouch and let go of all the things unsaid for almost 10 years. I should not be so considerate and selfishly guess or make up others's feelings. But a thing unsaid here and there ultimately dragged on too long and now there is this humoungous fear of being too late or having missed an opportunity.

When the Ripper shows up its shadow,...No, when you hear the sound of the hooves carrying him (well, he/she is riding a valiant horse in my imagination), feelings seem to rush about, sorting out people around me (and not so near physically). I now understand how awful and unwanted the word 'regret' is.

Because I do not want to feel regret, I need to sort out the words so that they make sense. But where to start?

*Hiding everywhere is the babelfish translation to 十面埋伏, which opened in the box office as...House of Flying Daggers

Nip tuck maybe?

To investigate my frequent dizziness and a small needlepin pain at the heart elvel, I've taken an afternoon off to see a physicial recommended by a colleague. Turned out though she was sick herself and was off today. So I had to use the yello pages and find one that could fit me in his/her schedule today. A bit of short notice but at the worst I would have gone to the hospital which is not too far. It was very difficult to find a general doctor because everyone seem to be of some specialty or other, or homeopathic.

I was saved from being among loads of diseases at the hospital by finding this general doctor not far from my house. However, I got the surprise of seeing his title on the door of his clinic: esthetic surgeon. AHEM...Well, at the very best I was going for liposucion I suppose, but I was afaraid for my bank accoutn as well.

In the waiting room, the 4th wall was a huge mirror. I was on my own, and reflected on the fact that indeed there seem to be lots of esthetic practicians around town, from hair dressers to surgeons. Lots of pamphlets about how to disclose you natural beauty were available, and unmarked beauty products were on display. A handsome man was saying goodbye to the doctor.

When doing his diagnose on me, he scolded me for not taking anti-malarial drugs before and during my trip to Senegal. he also scolded me for not wearing a bra (well, I was having a heartache, I was not going to wear that corsetry, dammit!!!). Anyway, there is nothing wrong with my brain apparently, I have a small virus infection and he prescribed a blood test (goutte epaisse) to test against the malaria bacteria...

A liposucion would have been nice. But I guess I have to go to the butcher for that. Which reminds me, in Senegal, the butcher shop is called 'la dibiterie'...it made me go on for a whole day..hehehehe

Happy new year 2010

Christmas lunch

O tannenbaum...

Turning a page

The pre holiday blues hit me again this year, with its share of
sentimental breakdown and body aches. It is annoying when the same
person I want to forget is the first person i want to talk to and seek
consolation from. Once again I am stuck in that one sided longing.

I was 2 inches from acting on my emotions and blurt out the whole spectrum of melodramatic speeches. But my fever abated and I found a courage and new hope in my work and the list of places I want to see, the list of things awaiting for me to experience.

After working hard, we play hard...

What we did on Wednesday: discover the concourse for 10min, qualifications for 10min and a 20min race where they did 36 laps...I did 29. I was not last though...someon got sick and had to stop racing.
So I finished, but with my whole body shaking and so weak.

But we all enjoyed it.

Now there is a talk to start a championship, having points etc...
Thanks to M for the pics:







And the person to beat is chief.

Shh listen to the snow

It is very difficult to work when Christmas is a week away and snow has laid its coat all over the country. The craving for hot chocolate and fondue is intense.
I can't wait for timorrow to play on my terrace covered with snow!

Snow

I landed in the evening and could not see the surrounding snowy
mountains. But driving home in the midst of fluttering snowflakes
drilled in this feeling of winter cold and fuzzy vanilla spice scents.

15 days before Christmas, or before my days off

And so it begins, the rush for shopping, making list, then shopping for more things that are not on the list. This weekend it begins with a trip away from this shopping desert: I don't want any more chocolate, and I sure don't want any watch.

More than that though, I need to reset.

It's crazy how I managed to create new habits last summer, moving out here, but old habits are very hard to get rid off. I bite my nails again and have already changed the furniture arangement in the room 3 times.

New resolutions dawn every morning and dies everyday around 6pm. I am stucck on page 8 of my music sheet, and chapter 18 of my Japanese book. The only hope I have is that I keep having resolutions... I feel comfortably stuck in my life...and seeing the amount I pay for health insurance every month, I should live more dangerously and break a leg every 3 months.

Today was children's day at work and loads of tots and dolls came to attend a puppet show. They were all individually cute and sweet, but all together gave me a major headache and anxiety. They are scary in their innocence and freedom. And even scarier because a couple of them could easily irritate me (bless my godchild, lol).

What's positive lately?


I sleep better at night despite the neighbour upstairs walking with wooden cloggs on wooden floor every night and every early morning. The plants I bought last week are still green, and this week will be sunny.

I need my holidays and for my heart to go 'kyuuuuun'....

A chocolaterie

Well even the chocolate is dressed up for Christmas

Moonrise over the snow

This morning at 7:40am, I was riding the shuttle half asleep when my frozen eyeballs registered the view over the lake. It was going to be a cloudless morning and I could see the snow over half of the mountain's height as well as the huge luminous moon reflecting the sunrise. After fumbling in my handbag searching for my camera, I couldn't stop the curses when it ran out of battery as I tried to take a picture. So I ended up with the phone camera.

I cannot complain that: this place has a way to keep me in awe at unexpected times.

Stalking the past...

I was bored

Friday pizza

My first homemade pizza: mozarella, calamar, green beans...

A nice trip at the callanques with the baby

We drove to Cassis to get some amrine air and enjoy the view from the 'callanques'. It was windy, but we found a rock flat enough to settle the breastfeeding mum, and have a picnic. Time was flowing at a strange pace, with the rythm of his respiration and silence after some cries of hungry mouth.

All in all though, it was nice taking naps with him every 3 hours...gives a quiet comforting feeling to the landscape as well

Fast marketing

Friday 13th

Foggy weather and mild temperatures. It is past halloween and closer to black friday. I am off to the south of France for warmer weather and my first godchild.
The date will be memorable, not to eclipse his birth date.

Hurrah!!!Hooray!!

After nearly one month and a half camping in my apartment, the furniture are now finally assembled.



And finally as well, the books, photo albums are now shelve


And even the wardrobe in the entrance got assembled, to give me a mirror to look into before getting out. I have had so many wardrobe malfunctionning since I got here, hopefully this mirror will help prevent showing my panties to the whole office...

A blessing in disguise?

I happened to get the assignment opened last week at work, and now wondering if it is a good thing. I will be joining a team that deals with everything operational in the company. Let's just hope I won't be doing any telephone or halogen lamp repairs all day.

The main goal though will be to meet as many people in the company and know about their roles and business,as well as the kind of things they usually need: last minute webcams for executive training, automated tools here and there, a website or reporting site, etc...

I was hesitant to pursue the assignment once after the interview, but change is good and challenging. I may be used like in th eprevious job, but I also have loads to gain in term of networking and exposure.

So I am building the shelves to hold my long unopened books, and prepare mentally for steep learning curve and to feel a bit lost and useless again: the assignment starts monday. It will be 50-50 and I keep my old role, but it will be enriched with the scary experience with the ops team. GO ME!

Autumn at my desk

And so after a whole night of pissing rain, the afternoon graced us
with golden rays and 2 rainbows. It fascinated me for at least 15 min,
taking my head off work.

Leaving Brittany

Halloween in Brittany

And more photots here and here.

Halloween is near

Lately, I have had some anxious dreams.

For example, I dreamt that I forgot to pick up my Halloween costume before flying off to the murder party. My heart was racing like mad when I woke up.

Just the day before, I had this dream where I am running like mad to return to shelter because the person I was somehow following did a U-turn and started running after me. And for some reason I know that he was going to explode. Again I was panting like I had run for real a 60m sprint.

For the costume, I understand my impatience to get to the party. For the other one...

Tartiflettes and Génépi

About 1h30 by bus from Geneva, we got to Annecy, a pretty small clean old city with a pleasant paved old town area and canals that lead to the purestand cleanest lake in Europe: lake Annecy.

The idea of the trip was to window shop and eat. So we wandered about the Sunday market, making a mental note of the different cheese stands and the million types of saucissons. It was quite painful to walk past all the food and not being able to make a decision on what to buy. We were quite reasonable though and didn't even taste a single sample!!

Getting lost along the small streets, we were really looking for a place to sample the local fare: tartiflette. To those unaccustomed to the dish, it is not something you would eat if you were on a diet. Made of potatoes, and usually bacon and cheese (Reblochon) it is quite easy to make. I have made it a few times myself, because trust me, my pants size didn't increase by itself.

1-cook the potatoes and bacon a bit
2-put in a baking pan
3-put the cheese on top
4-cook in the oven until its melted and all gooyey
5-serve hot

We eventually found one restaurant calle the 'Munich' that served tomatoe tartiflette and goat cheese tartiflette. As you may guess, those were just additional ingredients....Imagine eating potaoes and bacon and 500g of melted cheese....feels good and heavy. We had to sit for an additional 30min chatting to digest and be able to move.

About 15minutes alter though, we stumbled on an ice cream shop that had yummy sorbet: I had a scoop of grapefruit and another one of passion fruit. We kept on walking in order to discover more shops, and so I discovered Génépi in one of those tourist trap shop. It was the perfect digestif after 800g of good food.

By 4pm we were by the lake and embarked on a 30min cruise. The weather was nice (about 16C) and no wind, so we sat outside, which was a mistake because once the boat picked up speed, the wind froze my face and the sight of the beautiful autumn leaves became secondary to protecting my eyes and nose from icy winds.

After that less than warm experience, nature blessed us with a beautiful sunset reflected on the white rocks and cliffs surrounding the lake. The setting sun reminded us of the time and so we hurried back in the shopping area for a crepe and cider before heading back to Geneva. We weren't really hungry, but it would have been a crime not to have one.

Annecy will definetely see a bit of me in the future.

Geneva wins in shootout

Hockey

Before shoot out . Bern vs. Geneva, score is at 3-3 after the 5min overtime...

Jazz a Geneve

I was surfing for concert venue when I stumbled on AMR. Got to the concert page and saw a trio playing Thursday night. I tried to talk some of my colleagues into joining me in an evening of jazz, when one of my colleague pointed out he was going because his brother was playing there on that night.

I guess Geneva is such a small town that it was worth it after all to ask if he knew the saxophonist who bear his name...LOL

It was a night of magic, in a cute non smoking (*) venue. The saxophone was at times whispering, then exhilarating in a fugue, Bach style, with unimaginable sound. The bass was consistently melodic, with classical guitar and Segovia inspired touches, and the drums were just as punctual and supportive as ever, with its own melody and breathing sounds.

They played all kinds of atmospheres: from children's sounds, to melancholic views of a traffic packed bridge on a sunset, a beautifully sad remembrance to an old friend...

I also found some known tunes among the improvisations: oscar peterson's night train, Satie's gymnopedie's tones played as a bass line.

It made me travel through time and through my emotions, and mad eme relax from an uneventful day, bringing me home smiling with a peaceful satisfaction, and 2 CDs.
Soundbites here.

Steve Swallow – www.wattxtrawatt.com
Ohad Talmor – www.ohadtalmor.com
Adam Nussbaum – www.adamnussbaum.net


(*)Geneva once voted to ban smoking inside public places. But then the referendum was apparently unconstitutional or toor esticting, so the result of the vote was cancelled. This weekend, they will vote again for all sorts of things. As a results, some venues are smoke free by putting a sticker at the door advertising so, and some are just smokey, by putting a sticker outside claiming prohibiting smoking is limiting liberty...so much propaganda everywhere...that will be topic of another post!

New dig

A brand new kitchen


The bed/living room and terrace

Japan inspired corner.

Polyglot

• adjective knowing, using, or written in several languages.

• noun a person who knows or uses several languages.

— ORIGIN Greek poluglottos ‘many-tongued’.
From the online Oxford English dictionary

Last Friday I realized how mixed up my brain connections were when I hopped into the shuttle and found my Italian and Spanish colleagues. Because they were aware I understood Spanish, they went on chatting away and making plans for the evening. I enjoyed the fluidity and running sound of the language, and was trying to switch my brain slowly to it.

Then syddenly I was even included in the conversation.
S:'Angie, vienes?'

Me:'うん, Si, たぶん (tabun)...'
My brain:'what the.., how do you say maybe again?'

N:'We will have dinner first and the others will join us for drinks or something'

Me:'OK. どこで？I mean, dónde?'
My brain:'just pick one and stick with it damnit, it's been a long day and am seriously cansada'

S:'no lo se. buscaremos para un lugar y le diremos.'

Me:'OK, see ya later then. じゃ　ね.'
My Brain:'Get away now, hear the silence'

S, N:'Ciao bella'

Driver:'Bonne soiree'

Me:'Merci, a vous aussi'
My brain:'Don't look back or you'll have to say bye again and who knows in which language it will be.'

I suppose I need to get used to it soon. I will be loosing more hair and my tongue will be tied, and my brain will have many short-circuits and lots of fumbling about. Having TVE, Italian TV, CNN, BBC and French channels at home does not help as I flip channel when my J-drama are not accessible online. Imagine if I also understood Swiss-German!!!

Listening and understanding fills me with joy and brings a certain satisfaction and wonder to the everyday chores and encounters. However speaking is an excrutiating exercise of the brain that hopefully will keep it fit in the long run.

4 ladies before the run

We did about 32-33min for 5km

First lady for 10km run Carouge

She did 10km in about 30minutes!

Run with me

Just got my number and waiting for my jogging partner to arrive, and the race to start. I have discovered that the soles of my shoes are flapping. i'm just hoping it will last the 5km and won't trip me.
The clock has struck 2pm and am desperately fighting a nap urge!

pouet pouet pom pom

Clocks

Something they have kept under short leash:time. Ther might be 5 clocks per block and they are all on time. Maybe that's why public transportation is always on time.

Views from the window

When work is stressful, a glance at the window brings my tension up!

Get a Swiss knife!!

And so I have settled slowly in my life in Geneva and really enjoying the walking distance to naywhere around town. My colleagues are not far, but far enough to enjoy some privacy. We got to do walk tot he sunday market at Plain Palais, tan at the lake, anf jog in the morning in thesun.

I even got the startled look of my colleagues when I told them I was missing a can opener: get a Swiss knife, they all said in chorus...

Since all shops close at 7:00pm, except your persistent newsagaent, I will have to wait until Saturday to find a Swiss knife that suits my taste...I also received 2 tablets of chocolate at work as a welcome gift, as well as a red and white mug. The chocolate re-appeared quickly around my waistline, and the mug is being used as my cereal bowl when I am waiting to find an apartment and receive my boxes from London.

I could get used to being drunk at 8:00pm and stumble back home 15min later by foot, on heels and paved roads..hehehe