Countdown to 40

Only 3 months to go! And it's going to be the best! Natasha, Stuart and the kids have been over from Adelaide this week so we've seen a fair bit of them. And Natasha has been asking what I want to do for my birthday. She has offered to fly over to Melbourne to celebrate with me! Talking about it with her these last couple of days has really spurred me on to planning The Weekend. And this is what I've come up with...Friday night dinner with Michael, Saturday (The Day) lunch with family (mine and Michael's) at a winery or somewhere like this close, Saturday night drive into Melbourne and meet Natasha there (she thinks she'll fly over on the Sat am), spend Sat night, all day Sunday and Sun night in Melbourne with Natasha, and invite Lizard along to join us. And anyone else who might want to fly in for the weekend! Monday around lunchtime drop Natasha off at the airport and head home HAPPY :)

And then there's the biggest gift I have already received for my birthday - Jen has booked and paid for me to visit her in San Francisco! It was the biggest surprise when she offered and I couldn't wait to organise it - I had the dates/details organised within days and Jen booked it straight away! So excited, and I feel so blessed. I leave on October 25th and I'm away for 16 days (exactly 14 days in San Francisco). Michael and my parents will look after the girls and are happy to do...I am one lucky woman :)

Turning 40 is going to be the best thing!

Weight Watchers here I come!

Ten years ago I lost 20kg with Weight Watchers and became a Lifetime Member. It was one of the greatest achievements of my life. On and off over the last 10 years I've contemplated becoming a WW Leader. In Adelaide, in Switzerland and back here in Victoria. But even though I'd make the phone call and begin the enquiry process, irrespective of how far I'd get in that process nothing would ever come of it (for varying reasons - in Switzerland it was because they didn't have the training material in English).

Until now.

I rang WW a couple of weeks ago and this time enquired about becoming an At Work Leader (or Consultant). That role really appealed to me. Within a week I had an interview at a local cafe with 2 managers and was receiving very good feedback on my suitability. I thought about it for a couple of days and rang them back and said I'd like to go forward. So, the training begins. I've been working through a workbook (in my own time) and on Friday I go into Melbourne for a 5 hour training day (paid). Then there's an assessment and I think I'm good to go. Apparently there's heaps of work in the city but not sure I want to travel the distance. I'm sending out positive vibes for close, interesting work...work place meetings or community. I feel open to either.

Time constraints will be one issue, though - with Charlotte at kindergarten this year my time is limited. But I'm still staying open to the possibilities. And considering WW advertises internally, who knows what may happen next year when both girls will be at school.

Poking my head in....

To set the record straight, I never did do that speaking thing for Chefs Toolbox. Maybe that was the beginning of the end. Maybe I knew the writing was on the wall (my writing, my wall). I gave up TCT by the end of the year...it happened gradually. First I handed on workshops that were too far away (nearly 2 hours of travel one way was losing it's appeal). Then I passed on workshops that clashed with family events (hey, I didn't return from living on the other side of the world to miss more family events because of a *gasp* job). And finally I handed on workshops....just because. And in there somewhere - September actually - Jen and Brad visited from the US and I started to lose interest.

So no more Chefs Toolbox. No more job outside the home. What am I doing now? Still wondering what my next job/business will be. According to the psychic I saw last month I shouldn't have to wait too long. Wheels are in motion now, if I remember correctly. Yeah, not much evidence around me but hey you never know what's going on in the Universe as we speak.

But I am grateful for all that I have and choose to focus on that rather than anything else.

Not good at keeping up, but love to read

This blog is no longer a part of my daily life like it was in Switzerland. But today I've sat down to read it as there was an entry from last year I wanted to find.

Tonight I've been asked to give a 5min talk as a new Consultant at the Chefs Toolbox Birthday Fun event. Happy to do it, but hate the work involved to write a speech. So I've left it to the last minute, as per usual.

But I thought it'd be interesting to re-read the entry I wrote last year (September it turned out to be) about the work life I wanted to create for myself 0nce I was back in Australia. So I've picked pieces out of it and I'm going to incorporate that into my speech.

So, thankyou blog, and my payment to you is this entry!

End of the weekend

I haven't updated since our 'day off' in the city which was, as expected, really good. We got into town just after noon, parked at Crown and walked to Federation Square where we had lunch (yummy organic Japanese restaurant). The city has changed - Federation Square is new to me as were other buildings and developments. We headed towards David Jones where I found out my very old vouchers for $690 are still valid. That made me very very happy! MK was keen to go into the Food Hall and you don't need to ask me twice. We spent ages down there, just like the old days.

Did some shopping, tired MK out, had coffee at Starbucks then made our way down to Docklands (another new area). Had dinner there (Greek) then did the big walk back to the carpark. We were home by about 10pm, tired and happy.

I had my second swimming lesson on Friday morning, this time with Whitney, a young Uni student who was also v good. She taught me survival backstroke which was good for my confidence (being able to learn something practical). I had my prescription goggles, I'd bought earplugs and I had a nose plug thing. Cathy had suggested the earplugs, then when I went to buy them the woman threw in the nose plug thing for free. I swear they are so nice to me for 2 reasons 1.private lessons are expensive and 2.I'm the poor woman who can't swim and is trying to learn and is anxious. Anyway I tried the earplugs but gave the nose plug thing a miss. In the end I ditched the earplugs as the thought of being blind and deaf wasn't appealing (not true - the vision with the goggles was better this week). So I've gone all out and booked two lessons next week - Wednesday morning the same time as Charlotte's lesson (11.30am) and Friday morning 9.30am. Trying to get some momentum up after cancelling last weeks lesson.

Saturday we were invited to Leif's 40th b'day party at his parent's place which was really lovely. The girls had a great time and loved playing with Keely, her toys and her magnificent home-made cubby house. We had a great time eating and having adult catch up time. We got home at 8.30pm and Mum and Dad had friends over for dinner so the girls were a bit late going to bed but they were ok.

Today Mum and Dad had more friends over - 2 couples and one guy who's wife couldn't make it. I made a couple of salads, Rosemary Olive Oil Bread, the Chocolate Mousse Cake and a divine Lime and Coconut Drizzle Cake. Dad did a bbq and we had extra desserts from a French bakery that one couple bought. Enough food! The girls had another fun day and got lots of lovely attention.

And now I have a cold. I first felt the sore throat when I woke up yesterday, I felt progressively worse as the day went on yesterday and today I feel fairly ordinary. Just a cruddy headcold, but my nose won't stop running at the moment and I'm blocked up. Urrggghhhh.

I thought Mum and Dad were returning to Hong Kong next Saturday but it turns out Dad couldn't get the extra days leave so they're returning this Wednesday. Unfortunately the Parent Teacher interview with Lily's teacher is this Wednesday night so I'm not sure what we're going to do about a babysitter. We both really want to go. Need to get a local babysitter sourced.

Off to bed...Mum and Dad are leaving 7.30am in the morning for a day in town with appointments, MK will be sleeping in as he starts a week of nightshift tomorrow night and I have to get Lily off to school. Charlotte and I will probably stay for assembly (as I like to do on a Monday morning - all parents invited) then we have an appointment with the Financial Planner at 11am. Hopefully I can convince MK (and Charlotte) to call into DFO afterwards for a look. I want to see what all the hype is about.

Off to Melbourne

Mum and Dad returned from Queensland yesterday afternoon (MK picked them up from the airport). We were thinking of spending the night in Melbourne Friday night, but it's not going to work out. So while I was going on my early morning jog this morning (I so need to do it) I had the idea MK and I could go into town today. It's about time - the only time I've been to Melbourne since returning is for the First Aid course but I was in a building the whole day. I want to shop and eat!

So Ma Ma will pick Charlotte up from garderie school at 12noon and then Lily from school at 3.30pm. I'd like to have dinner in town as well, so I imagine we won't be back till early evening (at least after 7.30pm...after the girls should be in bed!).

Wooohoooo, a day in the big smoke!

Charlotte's sleeping has improved

I've just been re-reading some of my old blog posts...and one thing that stands out is how badly Charlotte used to sleep. But since we've been back in Australia she's been sleeping like an angel. We've had one bad night - several weeks away - when she was up several times and I could literally hear a cold develop overnight. Sure enough, she had a full blown head cold by the morning. Oh, and the other night - she called out upset several times after I went to bed. She was crying about a bee being in the room. Which there wasn't, but she thought there was. The last I saw of her was totally covered by the doona. And apparently that was what MK saw when he went in to her the next morning. But this happened the same week she'd been stung by a bee so there was a context.

When Ma ma and Poppy are here both girls get up and go straight into their room. When they're not here, the girls often come into our room in the morning. In Switzerland Lily would go out and turn on the tv. Here the telly is too hard to turn on so we haven't encouraged Lily to learn.

In our own home the girls will know how to turn the tv on!*

*although I have said there is to be no tv on school mornings...and I don't think there's any children's tv on weekend mornings. We'll have to teach them how to use the dvd player.

Two courses in one day

This morning I did a Thai Cookery Course (10am-12noon). There were 13 of us and the teacher who prepared 3 dishes - a dip, a soup and a salad. I enjoyed it...we got to taste the food afterwards and it was yummy. I went and bought the ingredients for the soup and salad after the class and plan to make them tomorrow night. I also enrolled in the second Thai Cookery Course (same teacher) in 4 weeks time.

And tonight I was supposed to be at my Food Safety Handling Course - the final night, and also the assessment night. But, it was the Information Evening for Prep parents at Lily's school. So it was a bit of a dilemma. We had no babysitter either so MK had to stay home. As it was, MK got home late from his golf game with Leif so I would have been late to the Food Safety Handling course. And Natasha rang and I got involved with catching up with her, so in the end I went to the Parent Information evening. Glad I did - we missed all the information sessions at the end of last year as we didn't know which school Lily would be going to. And now I don't want to miss out on anything I don't have to. A case of Lily's education coming before mine.

Next week is the Responsible Serving of Alcohol course, so at least I'll have that certificate as it's one night only.

The weekend...

...was really good. Lily had her 2nd French lesson on Sat morning, then later in the afternoon we drove down into the city, picked up Leif and went on to Mike and Joanne's. Got there around 5pm, girls were very excited to see the new bunk bed Nanna and Pop had bought for them. Very cute!

It was lovely to see how happy and excited the girls were to be at their grandparents place, and how easy it was to say goodbye and go off to the party. Z's house is only 15mins from M&J's so it was all too easy. Party was good - the roast lamb on the spit was my personal highlight :)

Home by midnight, then J made her famous pancakes in the morning. MK slept a little longer as he was on nightshift (7pm-7am). Liz and the girls came over a little later, and Liz and I were able to bunk off to the shops. Came home to a yummy dinner of meatballs and spaghetti.

Straight after lunch we said our goodbyes and headed home...via Joyce's place. I'd rung her in the morning and she was excited to hear we were planning a visit. She'd made scones and we bought an apple loaf. That house hasn't changed a bit...it's a time capsule.

I'm still enjoying the 'normality' of weekends like this. We all are, I think.

Our weekly routine at the moment

Lily started school on Thurs 1st Feb and on that day and the next she was only at school from 9am till 12.30pm. On the following Monday the preps started at 9am and finished at 3.30pm, the proper school day, four days a week. They have every Wednesday in February off, then they will be going 5 days a week as of the first week in March.

Charlotte started Occasional Care on Feb 1st 9am till 12noon. I can only book a maximum of 3 sessions a week (either 9am-12noon or 1pm-4pm, every day except Monday) and only 2 weeks in advance. At the moment I ring up every Monday and extend her by another week. The days she is going at the moment are Tues, Thurs and Fri mornings. Hopefully next term I'll be able to secure her a permanent place 3 mornings a week. I have the date that these become available so I'll be phoning on that morning. I will only be able to lock in for the term. The 2 women who run it - Marcia and Jenni - are lovely and Charlotte seems to have fun and enjoy the painting, singing and playing. Her only concern is 'the boy crying'. So she'll say occasionally 'I don't want to go to garderie school' (her name for it). Why Charlotte? Because the boy is crying. I spoke to Marcia about it once and she said there had been one boy that they'd also been concerned about (kicking the door and crying, that sort of thing) so they rang his mummy to come collect him. Apparently they were recommending he come in the afternoon when there are fewer kids.

Charlotte's name is also on the waiting list for 3 year old kindergarten. This is only once a week, though, for 2 hours.

Charlotte has swimming lessons on Wednesday at 11.30am in a group with 2 or 3 other kids. Lily's swimming lesson is on Friday afternoon at 4.30pm. They both love going to the swimming pool and at the moment Lily can come for a play swim on Wed mornings when Charlotte has her lesson. And Charlotte goes for a play swim on Fri afternoon when Lily has her lesson.

And Lily has French lessons on Saturday morning.

I know Lily could also be doing ballet or some sort of dance class but that can wait for now.

MK is working similar shift work hours to what he was doing in Lausanne, but an hour later. Which means he ends up leaving at a similar time as in Switzerland, and drives for that hour longer.

I have my Food Safety Handling course on a Tuesday night, but there is only 2 left. Then back to WW on a Tues night. I also had one swimming lesson on Fri morning 9.30am but I cancelled the one yesterday as I didn't feel so good. All in the mind? I hope not. That first lesson freaked me out a bit. I realised that I haven't put my head under water since I was a kid and I hate it with a passion. Makes me feel v anxious. I have a long way to go.

I haven't been a gym-goer but maybe I could look into going and see what it's like. Maybe I could go after I drop C off at garderie school.

The 40th's begin

Tonight we are going to MK's friend Z's 40th birthday party. He only lives about 15mins away from MK's parents apparently so they'll look after the kids for us. And we'll all spend the night at Mike and Joanne's*.

Next weekend is their friend Leif's 40th party, then in September it will be MK's 40th. Big year for the 3 boys.

I've still got another 18mths...or so.

*I love having the support of family within reach. It just feels so normal and right.

Lily's French lessons

Lily started French lessons with Madame last weekend. A friend of Mum's had given me her contact details not long after we got back, but it took me a while to get around to calling her. Her lesson is at 10am Saturday mornings, and today was her second. Went better than last week when we were late as I wasn't able to find her house. Madame - who is an older woman - was not impressed. She gave me a good telling off...which was fine as it guarantees I don't do that again!

I sat in on last week's (shortened) lesson but today Lily told me she is less shy if I'm not there. I told Lily it was her lesson and that was her choice. I'd rather she learn comfortably without me there. So I went and did some grocery shopping.

And Madame mentioned today she thought it would be good if I had a couple of lessons to help Lily. Ugghhhh, don't tell me there's no escaping this French thing?

...and me?

All good! The first call I made the Monday after we arrived on the Saturday into Melbourne was to Weight Watchers. I've waited a long time to be able to attend meetings and do it properly. Online was good, but not the same. And the day before, Sunday, we'd gone to a big shopping centre near here to organise our mobile phones and I was really shocked how big people are. My fear is that could be me. I have to work hard. So if I can go, every Tuesday night there's WW meetings.

In that first week a lot happened. We checked out schools and MK got a taste of what the commute between here and Moorabbin was like. Yes, it's long (minimum 1hr 5mins, usually between 1hr 15min ad 1hr 30min) but he thought it was do-able and agreed that we could start looking for houses in this area. Yipppeeee! So we did - we looked at our first houses a week after we arrived. Haven't found anything yet, but I know our home is out there and when the time is right it will be ours.

At the moment my energy and focus is on house-hunting, settling the girls, running our (temporary) household and re-establishing our lives here (currently that means organising private health insurance, but it's included heaps of different things). But I've also made time to do some courses. Last Sunday I did the Senior First Aid Course down in Melbourne (to the day, 3 mths after we arrived back in Australia and amazingly the first time I've been into Melbourne...doesn't really count though as I spent the whole day, 9-5, in an office building) and at the moment I'm halfway through a Food Safety Handling/Responsible Serving of Alcohol course (every Tues night for 4 weeks, WW had to be bumped). And supposedly I am learning to swim - had my first private lesson last Friday morning, but cancelled this morning's lesson as I don't feel so good. And I'm doing 2 Thai cooking classes which are one-off morning lessons.

I have to be honest (because this story is a bit...unusual) and say that the momentum for all this started the first day Lily started school, Feb 1st. I went to a tea and tissues coffee morning hosted by the one of the parents at their house for new prep parents. Met some of the parents, and at the end of the morning met the husband of the woman hosting the morning. Long story short, he works for Qantas as a flight attendant manager, we chatted, he said some interesting things and I scuttled home all revved up about putting in a job application to be a flight attendant. And two of the requirments were the Responsible Serving of Alcohol certificate (I'd already thought about doing the Food Safety Handling part of the course) and Senior First Aid certificate. Oh yeah, and being able to swim 50metres fully clothed. And I've been meaning to take swimming lessons for a long time.

So, this conversation provided a catalyst for me to do these courses, track down my CV (well, MK did that) and contact my previous Social Work referees and really think about what I want to do. And I realise that even if the flight attendant thing goes nowhere (and I've not even submitted the online application yet, especially after MK and I chatted about the fact that two shift-workers just won't work in one family) I have achieved a lot.

My priorties are finding a house and getting us properly settled. It's enough for the time being and I'm happy doing these things.

Back in Australia, happy and loving it!

So here we are. It's been 3 months since we arrived home (Nov 18th, or was it 17th?) and it's been really good. But a lot has happened, obviously, and it's hard to know where to start...

Going right back, we spent 5 nights in the Movenpick Hotel at Ouchy before leaving Switzerland. That was a super-busy time as it was when we cleaned the apartment in preparation for the final inspection. I am so grateful to Lucinda and Yasmine who helped me clean. They came on the Sunday, spent all day - Yasmine doing the 2 bathrooms and Lucinda doing all windows - and did a phenomenal job. I also had our cleaner, Catarina, come for a couple of hours on Saturday. The inspection on the Mon afternoon went ok, but they had a nit-picking list of final things we needed to do (like replace the ice-tray in the freezer!) but MK got all the things done.

Yasmine had a little do for us at garderie on the Tuesday night and this was very emotional. We both cried a lot when we did our final hug. She had been so strong and positive for all the time leading up to this but it was too much for both of us saying goodbye. She was so important in our lives. Us and the kids.

And basically everything went without a hitch and I know I left Switzerland the way I wanted to - calmly and peacefully. I chose the way I wanted to end my time there.

Having said that, our flight from Geneva to London was cancelled on that fateful Wednesday! But it didn't matter - we just caught an earlier flight and had longer at Heathrow. Aussie Jen and the girls had come to the airport to see us off but it was one big rush. Very sweet of them to make the effort.

Have blocked all flights from Geneva to Melbourne from my memory (oh, except the memory of someone calling out 'shut-up' when Charlotte was screaming on one flight and me spending ages in the toilet with her just waiting for her to stop crying).

Mum, Dad and Matthew were at the airport to meet us, and Lindy joined us a day or two later. Being in HK was excellent - went to Ocean Park (hot, but good) and Disneyland (excellent). Ate out lots, shopped, took the girls across to the new park opposite Mum and Dad's apartment. Michael left before we did, so we celebrated Charlotte's 3rd birthday twice. Once when MK was there, then a couple of days later on her actual b'day. She's still talking about the Beanie Cake she had for her b'day. Personally I preferred the buffet lunch at the fancy 5-star hotel we had on her b'day.

Mum flew home with the girls and I, and was lucky to get on the flight (booked solid). MK's parents were at the airport to meet us, along with MK and the car his parents bought us. We are very lucky people.

And when we got home to Ma ma and Poppy's place (where we still are now) Lily jumped on her bicycle and hasn't looked back since. That kid is so Aussie it's not funny. She was really made for this place. The great outdoors, catching frogs and lizards, feeding the horses, playing in the dirt, gardening, her fairy tree. She loves the lot. It is so so wonderful. Charlotte loves the great indoors a bit more, but that's ok, so do I.

Mum and Dad were back in HK for Xmas and we spent it with MK's parents, sister and family. It was a really lovely Xmas and we spent a happy couple of days down at their place.

Since we've been back Mum has been here 3 times and Dad twice. The girls love having them back and it gives us extra hands. Much easier for them to travel HK - Melb than HK - Geneva.

Lily started school at the beginning of February. We had enrolled her at the Montessori school here but we visited it and two local primary schools. The one closest to Mum and Dad's really stood out as suiting Lily the best. They have a good amount of land and lots of outside activities. Right up Lily's alley. Only 178 kids and 22 in her prep class. The teacher is lovely and the best thing of all is...I speak the language!

On the same day that Lily started school, Charlotte started at Occasional Care. She goes 3 mornings a week (the maximum amount she can attend) and at the moment that's Tues, Thurs and Fri morning 9am-12noon. She's settled in well, but I know she's not the Miss Independence her big sister is.

And me? We'll I'll save that for another post...

Email from my blog

Recently my blog sent me an email...how cool is that? And this is what my blog said to me:


Hello my friend...
You last wrote to me on 14 November from cold, lovely, Switzerland. You were busy up to your eyeballs with your move and farewell do's. I miss you .. and I believe our followers who used to hang on every word are searching for things to do late nights when they normally find a big smile checking in on us.. well I mean you and the girls and MK, of course.
I'm sure those faithful readers would love to see how the new chapter's move along ... life in Australia ... cute school outfits and playing on the property. Many are eagerly awaiting to see if and what your ideas are about your business ventures.
Please come back my friend. My pink pages are just lonely and bored waiting for your detailed events that make life exciting for the Patton Krvarich clan.

Lordy knows, I've got an ego and some of the things my blog said...well, hit the spot. So here I am. Back in the Blogging Seat. I have no idea where to start, but I want to say thankyou to my blog (and to my dearest Judi) for the prod. I've not forgotten you, Blog, just been very very distracted.

To my blog

I have not forgotten you. Life is full of too many distractions to sit in front of a computer. Lots of eating, some shopping, keeping the kids amused. I will be back to finish off the suisse experience and of course to record the next chapter of our adventure.

What a week

It's been pretty full-on...sorting, selling, giving away, binning, fielding emails and phone calls (both of which have pretty much stopped - most everything is gone). My biggest concerns were the two couches (one free, one for sale) and three wardrobes (two for free, one for sale). No one wants them. I thought I'd have to send out a 'damsel in distress' email to friends here asking for husbands (to dismantle this furniture and transport it away) and storage space (to keep it till hard rubbish collection day - next week?). But the ever-resourceful Christine C rang the other night and she suggested asking our removal company if they could dismantle and take it for destruction. I rang Nelly yesterday and she said yes, thank god. She was supposed to get back to me with a cost but I never heard from her.

But all going well the removal guys will be here at 2pm today to pick up the boxes that we have been sorting and MK has been packing (still a pile of stuff to pack). And take away the unwanted furniture.

Also yesterday we had an attempted break-in! Long story short, MK and I were standing near our front door when we saw the handle of the door slowly, slowly moving down (being opened). We opened the door and there was a woman there - her story was (in Italian, not French I think) that she was looking for an estheticienne. There is no beauty place near us (chiropractor and pediatrician, yes, no beauty salon or the like). While MK was talking with her I took the phone onto the balcony and called the cops (Rose had only told me a couple of days before about being burglered and they live in Pully also). No English spoken, but they did a three way conversation with a woman who translated for me. Within minutes a uniform officer was at our door (again no English) but by this time she had gone (I'd seen her out our windows afterwards on a mobile - which made me think she might have been innocent). Anyway, the cop took our story then not that long after he left the doorbell rang again. It was a plain-clothes young cop asking if we could identify the woman if he showed us a photo - they had a woman in the police station her who fit the description! Lordy. Anyway MK looked and I looked and her hair looked shorter. A wig, I said. Yes, they do that the cop said excitedly! It was a bit fun, I have to admit. Another cop joined us (also young and out of uniform) and apparently he'd taken the photo. They took several phone calls then told us the woman did admit to being here at our apartment and then they us she'd told the same story at another place on Ave CF Ramuz (street near us). She's a liar, they said, and I think I believe them.

And the most amazing thing? From the time of the conversation with the woman at our door (the would-be burglar) to the time the police left us and the issue was resolved was just over an hour! How's that for good service.

Oh, and somewhere in this crazy week MK and I had our 7th wedding anniversary. Think any celebrations will be deferred till HK!

Last night in the apartment

Tonight will be the last night ever we sleep in this apartment. We love this apartment. It's big (enough), has fantastic views, is in a fantastically central location, is open-plan and holds a lot of our memories from the last 3 years and 9 months.

Lily had her 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th birthday here. Charlotte was conceived here and had her 1st and 2nd birthday (she misses out on having her 3rd birthday here by a couple of weeks - I'm pretty sad about that). We've had friends and family come and stay here, we've had coffee mornings and playdates.

Goodbye apartment - you have been perfect for us.

My going away dinner

Saturday night we all went to Chalet Suisse in Lausanne for fondue and a good laugh. There was 14 of us, including Christine C's sister Jennifer who was visiting at the time. I was pretty teary when I got there - I think mainly because I was tired. Lot of late nights put me behind the 8 ball. But a couple of wines and I was fine.

Lucinda gave a speech when she presented my presents, then other people made a speech. It was really moving. The gifts were amazing - as I asked for (!) there was a Swiss cookbook and everyone wrote in it and an address book with people's details in it. But the surprise gift was a Sf300 voucher for Myer Melbourne! And when Claire gave her speech she also had a gift - a Swiss photo book (Memories of Switzerland) from her and Rose. And Claire had taken the photos and had the book made up. It's beautiful.

I gave my speech - once I got past being completely choked up. It was important to me to say something to acknowledge my 5 years in Switzerland and the importance of my friends during that time.

Aussie Jen had picked me up and she also dropped me home. It was about 1am when I went to bed, wrapped in lots of good feelings from the night.

Life in reverse

It's been really good having Christine and Sophie here. Not just for the day to day help, but having a friend has made everything a bit more fun, normal. And Christine being a practical person, her input is helpful.

It's interesting seeing our life here unwind...the reverse of what happened when we arrived but faster.

Things are selling and going.

Now I really want the big 5 door wardrobe and the dining room table and chairs to shift.

We sold the car!

The car went in the paper yesterday (first day) and by last night it was gone - literally! MK showed it one guy at about 5pm who offered us half of what we are asking (he was onto the clutch). And then another guy at 6.30pm. And when MK came upstairs from seeing that guy an hour or so later he'd sold the car...the guy had given him cash and taken it. And the price was still below what we'd asked for but above what everyone else had verbally said they'd give us for it.

Result :)

Visitors arrive any minute!

Yes, it's past midnight and yes, Christine and baby Sophie will be here within 15minutes I reckon. Their plane was delayed 45 mins (thanks to tighter security at London airports) and they caught a later train from the airport so they've had a long night. But all will be good when they get here.

Last night I kept plugging away at the computer - bad move - and didn't get to bed till 1am. Then I woke early this morning (around 6.30am) - a bad dream woke me - and couldn't back to sleep. So I was knackered all day. Poor MK - he's on nightshift this week and worked all last night. I think it was a hard night for him.

By this afternoon I had a raging headache and it only went away a little while ago. But it was another productive-ish day trying to shift our stuff. A woman came round this morning and would take the trundle bed if it wasn't already promised to someone else. And tonight the blue travel cot was picked up and paid for, and another woman came round (the one who wants the trundle bed) and she took the knife block with her. Plus I responded to emails all day, and some phone calls. The WRG site gets a good response, but for some people we are too far away to come to. Fair enough. I wouldn't travel an hour for a Sf35 tricycle.

The boxes were delivered this morning and are sitting in the loungeroom (folded) - a constant reminder of where our life is heading (literally and figuritively). And tonight on his way to work MK saw it was hard rubbish collection night so he came back (twice) to put the two black chairs out on the street. Our physical environment continues to change, slowly.

Juggling, sorting, selling, negotiating, discussing, clicking and clacking...my mind is on the job at hand.

I'll be glad when it's all over.

Goodbye Germany, Goodbye Aunty - We're home

Well, we left Frankfurt today at 2.20pm and we got home at 8.10pm. We had one quick stop for petrol about 30mins after we left then around 6.30pm we stopped to for a loo break and buy dinner to eat in the car (sandwiches all round).

It was a terrific weekend. We did stop in Basel for lunch and a quick look around - ended up being there 2 hours. And we arrived at the Harheimer Hof at 7pm. By 7.30pm Aunty and Uncle were joining us at the hotel for dinner. Such a nice evening - everyone was happy and relaxed. Of course, Aunty came with gifts and we were amazed again by her generousity. My b'day present was a beautiful ring and for MK some aftershave. Barbies for the girls and colouring books and pencils (ever practical Aunty - the toys were perfect for the restaurant).

The next day, after breakfast, Aunty met us at the hotel and we went off in her car. First stop was the hairdressing salon to see Uncle and get haircuts for the girls and MK. This time Aunty did the girls hair. At first Charlotte was saying 'no haircup' but after Lily finished she was raring to go and saying she wanted to be a pumpkin (they'd seen billboard pictures of pumpkins all over the place!). Bit of a change from when we were there 6 mths ago and they were saying they wanted to be princesses.

Afterwards we went to the NorthWest Zentrum and had lunch at the same Chinese restaurant as last time...and glad we did as it's a yummy buffet. MK then went off to get some photos developed and Aunty, the girls and I went to ToysRUs, then to a dept store. I couldn't help myself and bought two mugs and matching serving plates (chocolate brown). Aunty bought the girls another Barbie each (Mermadia). We met up with MK and had coffee (us) and icecream (girls) at the same place as 6mths ago! We enjoyed the sense of familiarity of continuity...and could well building on these with subsequent visits if we were to stay in Europe.

Later in the afternoon we went back to Aunty's apartment and she made us dinner - bread, sausages, salads. Then cake after. The girls loved being there and playing with Uncle. She drove us back to the hotel in time for a reasonably early night. Good for all of us, esp the girls who were very tired.

Yesterday morning Aunty picked us up after breakfast again and we went to the Palmen Garten. It was a bit chilly, but the sun was shining and the girls enjoyed playing in the kinderplatz (playgrounds) and riding on the little train. We tried to have lunch there, but the restaurant was full. Aunty took us to her friend's restaurant, a Croatian place, where MK had a big mixed grill and Aunty and I had the calamari - mine with lots of extra garlic! Charlotte fell asleep before lunch arrived but ate her soup later, and Lily had a bowl of tortellini.

Then more eating later! We went back to Aunty's for an hour or so (and saw Uncle), then at 5pm we all walked to a restaurant in their village (Bonames) to have dinner with Frank, Diana and baby Sarah. It was lovely to see them again, and Sarah has grown.

(Ugghhh, I am now so tired I'm standing here at the laptop, in the kitchen, barely able to type a proper sentence...I started this post in between the millions of things I've been doing on the computer tonight. All related to selling our stuff. Responding to emails, updating my Word documents, posting ads on WRG and updating the photobucket Items for Sale site. I think it is time to call it quits and start again tomorrow. When I will have to unpack from the weekend...haven't even looked at it since we got in. It's now 12.06am and I am outta here).

On the road to Frankfurt

We have left behind all the sorting and selling for a few days. Although we have packed the laptop in case I can get on the net and post our stuff on WRG classifieds and check email if possible. Anyway we left home at 10.30am and plan on stopping in Basel for lunch.

What a treat!

Another long day, but it did start beautifully...well, once I found a park (the road in front of the Beau Rivage - lakeside - was blocked off) and found the main reception (never been in that reception before, just the bar round the front). I was late, but once I got there and put my robe and slippers on it just got better and better. The treatment was out of this world - Japanese bath ritual (oils, rose petals, tea and dried fruit, head and neck massage in a gorgeous wooden bath), full body exfoliation (scrubbed within an inch of my life - divine), shower, full body moisturise, then the amazing facial which included a face/head/neck/hand massage. Wow.

It took just under 2 hours. Then I was free to use the hamman or pool, but I didn't want to go near chlorine or steam. So I lounged in the relaxing room, read a magazine, drank water and ate an apple and pear from the fruit on offer! Bliss. I left at noon.

And just as I was leaving I got a call about our baby stuff. The woman and her husband and toddler daughter came and looked at it tonight and bought a bunch of stuff (she's pregnant). And they'll come back on the 27th to pick up Charlotte's cot and the travel cot.

And Nicky H came round this afternoon and she'll buy all the glass-fronted cabinets, cutlery and a bunch of wine glasses (the last two we're really just chucking in). Yayyyy!

Off to Frankfurt tomorrow. Back Monday afternoon.

We could stay here and keep working but we really want to say one last goodbye to Aunty and Uncle.

Busy birthday - 38th!

I am so tired, I really need to go to bed...but I have to do one post on my birthday! It was a nice day, busy as expected. The girls were so excited this morning and it was fun opening cards and presents. MK got me a Palm Pilot and subscription to BBC Good Food, both of which were on my wishlist (stuck to the fridge!). And there was a nice pile of cards to open.

I made pancakes for breakfasts and went out for my jog/walk. More walk as Michele rang and I chatted to her (helped with my stitch).

Back home we got ready and headed out for lunch at La Stella. Once Charlotte got some food it was a nice meal. My pizza was yummy and MK had chasse, which is in season now.

Later Gary came round to check out the things he wants from our apartment. The list isn't as long as I'd hope, but it's not too bad.

At 3.30pm I had a wax appointment which was in anticipation for my spa treatment at the Beau Rivage hotel at Ouchy that Jen got for my b'day. I made the appt for tomorrow morning and I'm very excited...it's going to be divine I know.

And then jobs, jobs, jobs...Jonnene and family came round tonight to pick up the exercise bike, telescope, MK's bike and helmet. I've spent all night loading the photos for more of the things we want to sell, describing and pricing them. And just now posting them on Lausanne Kids and sending them out in an email.

I'm done.

No sale for Now Baking

Marlene just rang and she did get the 6 month contract. Which means (although it wasn't explicitly said on the phone) that she won't be taking on Now Baking.

I'm ok with it. In fact, I think there's a reason why it hasn't gone. Maybe I'm just not meant to sell it for some reason. No big deal...I'll be taking the domain name and website with me anyway. It was the recipes, email mailing list, reputation and contacts (and some ingredients, including vanilla extract) that I was going to hand over. For a price, which was never laid on the table.

That was fast!

I eventually got the things listed on our photobucket site, wrote a description and picked a price then I was able to send them as a group email and post them on the Lausanne kids website. No sooner had I posted them on the Lausanne kids website than I got a phone call - 'I'll take your men's bike, men's helmet and exercise bike'. Errr, ok, who's this?! It was another Aussie, Jonnene, who had been burnt before. Been offered stuff from a friend who was leaving, ummm-ed and ahhhh-ed a few days, by the time she got back to say yes all the stuff had gone. She wasn't waiting this time!

And while we were on the phone her husband emailed to say they'd take the telescope! So that's the majority of our big, non-baby stuff gone. Which is a relief. But getting rid of the baby stuff might be harder...hope not.

She's coming round tomorrow night to pick the stuff up.

And Gary - who was supposed to be coming round tonight after work - just rang to say he can't make it tonight. Can he can tomorrow night, same time? No problems. I just need to know asap what he wants/what he doesn't so I can start planning accordingly.

Off to clean garderie

Yesterday I was texting with Yasmine and she offered to take the girls this morning when she was cleaning garderie. I know the girls would love this, but I was also concerned that the girls would be in the way. Yasmine being Yasmine this wasn't an issue.

So this morning, when I was about to get in the lift (Yasmine had said 9.30am) who came out of our lift except Yasmine! She was there to collect the girls. Just can't beat her. She'll bring the girls back at noon (even though I offered to collect)...

And now I am trying to load all the photos of our stuff for sale onto my photobucket site...get this job done and I can send the link out and hopefully start shifting some of this stuff.

Bike for sale

...but we're keeping the kids.

MK took this photo yesterday when he was taking pics of all the things we want to sell.

Better Monday, and weather to go with it

Michael was sleeping today (after last night of nightshift) and Catarina came to clean just after 10am so the girls and I went out. And it was another beautiful day, so easy to do. First stop - Dr Breuss across the road. I was able to make an appointment for 2.15pm. We then went to the boulangerie and the girls had a tasse de lait (semi chaud) with a croissant each. I had a renverse decaf.

We then went swung by the little park and the girls had a play. By then it was time to head home, and we popped into Migros first to pick up a few groceries. Catarina had gone and MK was up by the time we got home.

So the doctor's appt...I had a slight temperature (38 degrees) but all was good when he checked with the stethoscope and the blood test (to measure infection) came back good. So he wasn't pushing to do an x-ray. Even though it was an x-ray that picked up the pneumonia last time. Anyway, he was happy and sent me away with a prescription (ordannance) for cough syrup, capsules that work as an expectorant and tablets for my sore throat.

I do feel better today which is the best news. I just can't be sick now. No way, no how.

Sick Sunday

Yesterday I thought I was getting better. Today I don't feel that way. I have no energy, my cough is dry and a bit painful and I can tell my breathing doesn't feel quite right. Ugghhhh, please spare me from anything serious.

I've spent the day on the white couch, wiped out. MK is on nightshift so when he got up and had 'breakfast' he took the girls outside. It's a lovely day here - mild and sunny. And I've not taken advantage of it one bit.

But more importantly I've done no jobs. None of the jobs I *should* be doing. Like cataloging that babystuff so I can post it for sale. Let alone work on clearing out a cupboard, or something similar.

Yesterday I took the girls into town for lunch. MK had slept in till 10am (privilege allowed when he's about to start nightshift) and he wasn't keen to do much. So we left just before noon, and he got stuck into his wardrobe. Lots of sorting and tossing.

We had lunch at Manora, which was quite nice. The girls had the menu enfant - breaded chicken and chips, a drink and balloon for Sf5.90 - and I had the medium size salad plate (salad buffet for just under Sf8, as much as you can fit on your plate).

Afterwards the girls wanted to watch some buskers in St Francois, and I saw Kris S who is looking amazing after having her 3rd daughter, Sophia, 7 weeks ago.

As a treat I bought the girls a gaufre each, and had to have some myself. Love that waffle! We looked in Globus (all the renovations are finished on the ground floor), and Interio (all changed around on it's ground floor). Had to stop at Manor for a toilet break (Lily) before catching the bus home. Got back just before 4pm having only bought 3 cards from Globus. Hmmmm, might have to go back in by myself and have one last shop in Lausanne.

I must have felt alright as last night, before MK went into work at 7.30pm, I went for my jog. Certainly don't feel like doing that today.

Lost my voice, found my voice

Yesterday I lost my voice. It had been raspy the day before, but yesterday I was reduced to a whisper. Which had the effect of other people lowering their voices! I also have a bit of a cough but not too bad.

Today my voice is better...still a bit funny, but better than the last couple of days. Hope I'm on the mend. Aussie Jen emailed me last night saying she had lost her voice - coincidentally - and had been to the doctor and been diagnosed with laryngitis and bronchitis on one lung. Pass. And I've just received an email from her saying she's cancelling Chloe's party tomorrow as she's worse (shivering, skin hurts, needs to be in bed). Yikes, poor thing.

Good health will surround me.

Trip down Lausanne memory lane

Last Saturday afternoon we caught the bus into town. After I'd done some shopping at Promod (treated myself to a new pair of better-fitting jeans) we walked down Petit-Chene and had a bit of a reminisce. All the times we climbed that hill with Lily in the pram on our way into the centre of Lausanne. How it seems a lifetime ago that we first arrived here and lived in that little apartment near the train station. We walked through the train station (Lily and I shared a bag of chaud marron) and through the other side to our old apartment. Then down to the Coop which was completely renovated after we left (I'm convinced they'll do the same thing to the Migros downstairs after we leave!).

Then to my favourite gift store in Lausanne, then we walked to Montchoisi to catch the bus home to Pully. Which is where MK took this photo, as we waited for the bus.

Things are starting to fall into place

This week I have chosen the zen path...not to let things stress me out. So what if it comes to it that we lose money on our apartment (ie don't get all of our two month deposit back). I want to leave here peacefully, happily and with me choosing what to feel about situations. And I choose to let things go. Well, of course as soon as I sent this out into the Universe things started to fall into place. Culminating in today.

Obviously the big worry has been the apartment. But today we received a letter from the gerance saying that we are free of our obligations of our contract as of 1st November (the letter is in French). There is a copy of another letter mentioning painting work that needs to be done, but I'm not sure that is our responsibility. It's addressed to the owner and we've received a copy. Will get a French speaking friend to call about this next week.

We'd already found out during the week that Gary had been offered the apartment, however he wasn't agreeing to their terms. He didn't think it was a big issue - just them playing funny buggers - and made a time to come round here next Tuesday after work (he's in London till Monday). Well, he's just left a message on the answering machine saying the gerance has agreed to the one year contract, then every three monthly after that. Which is what he wanted.

Yayyyy, seems the apartment is sorted. Now with Gary coming round on Tuesday we can work out what he wants to buy, I envisage listing everything then us agreeing on a price. Woohooo!

This week we agreed to go ahead with the removalist company I preferred (the one Jen and Brad used) and today the woman who will be managing the move called me. We made the pick up date for Friday Oct 27th at 2pm. And they will deliver the boxes sometime in the week of October 16th. Good stuff.

Also we've organised for all our stuff in Adelaide to be transported to Melbourne and this will happen on Friday Oct 20th, arriving in Melbourne the next day.

So now I have to get onto the job of selling all our baby stuff (prams, travel cots, backpack etc) and odds n' ends (exercise bike, MK's bike and anything Gary doesn't want). It's a matter of cataloging (sp?) it all so I can post it on different websites and intranets.

And sell the car. Although next week MK has the week off and it's 2 weeks school holidays so we were thinking of going to Frankfurt for one last goodbye. And we'd need the car for that. I am so zen about it, it will all work out :)

Busy Thursday, but good

Went for my jog after dropping the girls off at school/garderie then had a full day of appointments. First off was Marlene at 10.30am (well, she arrived at 10am but no matter!) who came to talk about Now Baking and the possibility of buying it. In a nutshell I don't think it's going to happen as it's not the right time for her. But she'll let me know next Tuesday. Then I went into town and had lunch with Michele (12.15pm) at Cafe St Francois which she chose as it was the same place we had lunch just before Charlotte and then Adam were born. She treated me and it was very nice.

At 2pm I had a hair appointment at David's, just up the hill from where Michele and I had lunch. Just a colour, and I have another appt for a cut and colour the day before we fly out. My last ever appt at the Red Room.

Hopped on the bus and came back to Pully, just a couple of minutes late to pick Lily up from school. One of her teachers, Helene, was waiting with her and she told me it was her last day as she's going to Africa tomorrow (today) for 2 weeks holiday. So she wanted to say au revoir and bonne chance. Very nice, although it did get me teary. And Lily came home with a lovely little book with a note from her school friends and two class photos - one with their dog masks and and one with them off. Taken yesterday, so couldn't be more current.

Later picked Charlotte up from garderie and by then MK was home from work so the 4 of us went to Dr Corbuz's (pediatrician) for a goodbye appointment. I booked it saying the girls had coughs, which they sort of did, but I also took along a plant and a chocolate mousse cake. Once again I got teary. I love Dr C! MK took some pics and Dr C gave us her email address...she said she would write in French and us in English!

The traffic was blocked in Lausanne due to a protest march so it took us ages to get home. And Dr C was running probably 45mins late for our appt so it was late by the time we got home, girls had baths and we had dinner. They weren't in bed till 8.30pm.

And the night before that, I want to mention, Yasmine and Stephanie took me out to dinner to Au Canard Pekingoise (sp?). It was a fun night...food was yummy, and lots of gossip and naughtiness. Not the sort of talk you'd hear in Expatia!

My (privileged) routine

I have wanted to write this post since earlier this year, before the last school year ended. And now I realise that today is the last ever day of that routine so it's now or never. It's Lily's last day of school in Pully. But up to and including today my routine pretty much runs like this...

In the mornings we get up whenever the kids wake up. But preferably no later than 7.30am or 7.45am (although this morning it was closer to 8). Eat breakfast (porridge and frozen blueberries for me, Weetabix mixed with another cereal like Special K for the girls) then we get dressed. I just get into my walking gear - shorts/pants and t-shirt and sneakers. Pack the snack boxes and water bottles in their bags and we try and head out the door by 8.25am.

Lily needs to be at school at 8.30am when the bell rings. There are always parents and kids waiting outside the door (in what MK called the airport waiting room) but we are never one of them. More likely Lily runs ahead of us and says her goodbyes as she flies in the door.

Then Charlotte and I turn around and re-trace our steps to Coop where we head off in the direction of garderie, all of a couple of minutes walk. After dropping Charlotte off at garderie, at about 8.45am, I go for my 40min jog/5min walk along Lake Geneva. I love the view...always changing and dramatic. Stunning. And it's always quiet along the Lake...some dog walkers, fellow joggers, people taking a stroll. It's very low key. I go all the way to Lutry, out along the first jetty right to the end. Do 40 step-ups on the rock at the end, then turn around and jog the same route home. Coming up the walled road is steep and tough, but it's my Hill of Shame. I go as far as I can thinking of all the crap I've eaten!

I'm usually home around 9.30am or a bit later. Have a shower and do a few things around the apartment (which is what I'm doing right now). I can hear the noises from the square below us as people are heading into Migros. Cheerful voices, kids crying...all three levels below us. I usually head to Migros as well before picking Lily up.

At 11.25am I leave to collect Lily who comes out at 11.30am. We pop into Coop and pick up a few things before going to garderie to collect Charlotte who's out at noon. Walking home the girls are sometimes crabby and I try and do lunch as soon as we get in. But often they get home and become distracted by toys. Lunch here is often a main meal and it's not uncommon for people to go home for it. For us it's often just a toasted cheese sandwich. Lily loves it when it's pasta!

The girls have some playtime and often ask for a video. They can watch some tv but they are aware that the tv goes off when it's time to take Lily back to school. Around 1.30pm we start getting ready for the walk back to school and Lily needs to be there by 1.45am when the bell rings.

Charlotte and I come home just before 2pm and that's quiet time. Last school year this was the time I'd put C down for a nap but she's not the super-sleeper Lily was and if I do put her down for a nap the extra sleep keeps her awake at bedtime at night. So we skip it now. She usually watches tv and I have my precious one hour on the white couch with a cup of tea and a magazine. I love that time.

At 3pm I start making moves to collect Lily and we leave at 3.10pm. Lily is out at 3.15pm. We usually come home for a snack and the girls play. I like to have dinner early, around 5.30 - 6pm, so bath and bedtime doesn't get too late. When MK is at work (afternoon shift), it's not uncommon for the girls to be in bed between 7.15-7.30pm. With MK it's closer to 8pm.

This routine is every weekday except Wednesday when there is no school or garderie. And every Monday the cleaner (Catarina) comes for 2 hours (10.15am-12.15) so I usually head out and do jobs around here. And depending on which shift MK is on, it can change as he helps out. Although I prefer to drop the girls off in the morning as it sets me up to exercise. On Thursday Charlotte is at garderie all day (like Lily used to be when she went there) so I just have Lily to pick up and drop back to school in the middle of the day. I don't pick C up till 4.30pm. These last two Thursdays Stephanie has picked Lily up from school at 11.30am and taken her to garderie where she's had lunch. Then Sarah has taken her back to school for 1.45am. This is the perfect Thursday and it's what Mhairi were doing last school year when I'd have Lewis home for lunch every Tuesday and she'd have Lily every Thursday. That hasn't continued this school year as I think Lewis has been going to friend's house (another boy in his class) for lunch.

How lucky am I? I walk everywhere, rarely need the car and when I do need to go into Lausanne it's easier to take the bus as it there's one every 10mins, it only takes 10mins and you're in the heart of the city.

Man oh man my life is going to change bigtime.

Rain, rain go away...

I wasn't able to go for my jog today as it's raining, just like Sunday. Felt quite frustrated about that...I'm not used to dropping Charlotte off to garderie and coming straight home. Routine freak...and my routine is go for a jog then come home. Oh well.

Lucinda headed down our way again today. Becoming a very nice routine to see her every Tuesday. Today, however, we met at Christine's seeing as she is on bedrest for the next 4 weeks. I lugged a bunch of magazines and some cookies with me (as well as the French road map she'd lent us). Could only stay an hour as had to pick Lily up from school.

Afterwards Lucinda and Stefan popped in here till I took Lily back to school. Lucinda was able to ring the gerance for me (thank god for bilingual friends) but the woman we need to speak to is out of the office till tomorrow. Unfortunately I don't think the news will be good...at the very least if Gary is offered the apartment he's not able to give a months' notice on his apartment so I imagine wouldn't be able to move in till December 1st. And I imagine we'll be told we are responsible for the month of December.

Ugghhh, this is speculation on my behalf but I have to prepare myself...

October - our final month

Yesterday was the first of October. We leave Switzerland on the first of November. On Wednesday it will be 4 weeks exactly.

This month will be full of changes. High emotion. Stress. And hopefully plenty of good times. Life as we know it is going to change dramatically.

Up until now the work I've done towards our move hasn't really impacted our everyday life. That's changed. Yesterday it rained all day. So I started sorting/tossing/cleaning up the girls toys. Stuff to throw out, stuff to give away, thinking about what to take home with us and stuff to keep for now but will probably be thrown or given away when the time comes. We were invited round to Lorretta's place for the children's parade of the Fetes de Vendanges. But I rang her and even though we still could have gone it was not the do she was envisaging (people were going to be able to go out onto the terrace to watch the parade). And by then I was on a roll with the sorting/tossing/tidying job...so we stayed home and made the first big move towards down-sizing our life here.

It was good...so good, I'd recommend it on a yearly or twice yearly basis. Place looks a lot less cluttered. Not that we'll be here long enough to enjoy it. But it's a start towards what we need to do.

But, hell, the thought did cross my mind - if it takes us a whole day just to make a dent in the kids' toys, we have a lot of work ahead of us.

Will I be able to get...?

~ bananas for Sf3.10 a kilo (less on special)
~ WW croissants (2.5 points each)
~ clothes at Promod (me), H&M (kids), Cop Copine (when I want something a bit alternative), Zara (for a browse)
~ Gruyere cheese slices
~ the best, everyday yoghurt anywhere
~ a variety of really good cheeses in the supermarket between Sf11 and Sf20 per kilo (Gruyere, Emmentaler, Tilist, Assiagio)
~ gaufres
~ the smell of croissants when I open my balcony door in the morning
~ the sound of buskers playing music (often Eastern European 3 or 4 piece bands) wafting up to my apartment
~ views of Lake Geneva and the Swiss and French alps
~ a cheery 'bonjour' from one of Lily's classmates when I see them out

in Australia??

Ex-patia and Re-entry shock

I have long had in my head a post about Ex-patia. This is the place of being that we currently live. It's not just a physical place, but also a state of mind, a lifestyle, a daily reality, a counter-life. And I made the name up myself.

In Ex-patia, we live in a bubble...a soft, protected bubble. Where it's easy to have no idea what's going on in the local area (good thing - crime? what's that? sure it doesn't exist as I can't read the papers/watch the news/listen to the radio to know it exists, bad thing - something special on this weekend? don't ask me, I wouldn't know), where you belong to a small, supportive group of like-situated individuals who know exactly what Ex-patia is like, where the opportunities for travel are unbelievable - just jump in the car and within a couple of hours you're in France, Italy, Germany - and where you know it won't last forever.

Which is where re-entry shock comes into it. A woman I know recently mentioned a book called Homeward Bound - a spouses guide to repatriation by Robin Pascoe. I've just checked out the website and it looks like I need the book. Good timing. A lot of what she writes about strikes a chord for me.

Think I'm gonna need all the help I can get.

Mexican brunch, then back to the real world

Yesterday Rose picked me up in front of the train station (after doing the school/garderie drop off) and we drove to Monica's for the Mexican brunch. She lives the other side of Lausanne (Cugy) in a nice place. Only thing is they have a pylon in their backyard (as in a large electricity thing). Yikes, it's huge. She made enchilladas (chicken) which were yummy and Rose had made a white chocolate cheesecake which was so rich and delicious. I gave them each a bag of SR flour (weird, but expensive and hard to find here!) and some Rocky Road I made for Monica.

After I got home a woman from the gerance/regie/whatever the hell they're called came to look at the place to see what work needs to be done. The only thing she commented on were the 'Picasso' scribbles on the walls courtesy of the girls. She asked if we had some sort of insurance that I'm not familiar with. MK spent the rest of the afternoon working those magic sponges!

She asked who had put in an inscription (thought she'd know that) and we mentioned Gary's name (the super-keener). She said she was going to look at his inscription and they would be ringing us next week. I rang Gary as soon as she left and he's going to ring them...he needs to give his notice by tomorrow (as the end of the month) if he gets this apartment.

Please, please, please let it be Gary.

Although as an interesting sidenote, Rose reckons we're out of the contract with the gerance as soon as they put the rent up. This apparently breaks the contract, especially as they didn't notify us. Hmmmm, hope we don't need to quibble this point.

Now Baking for sale?

When I started Now Baking in mid 2004 my brother advised me to sell it when we leave. Then when we knew we were leaving Christine C (dear friend and lawyer) strongly encouraged me to sell the business. My first reaction is I have no business to sell...it's just a hobby. But I suppose I do. Even though I'll take the name and the website with me, I still have my customer base, email mailing list, recipes and goodwill. So that's something. I asked a couple of people if they were interested (Lucinda - no, and seeing as she works it was to be expected, Rose from the baking class - no, they've just found out they're moving to Sweden and Grace - no, not the right time for their family) but didn't get far.

Until today. A woman called Marlene emailed me via the website and I rang her back. She's 62yo, recently out of work (same company as MK), loves to bake, is looking for something to do and Monica (also in the baking class) had told her about me. We chatted for a while, and she was keen to meet up. Which we'll do next Thursday. Even though I don't know the amount, money was mentioned and she is going to think about a price. As will I. I just hope that if she is interested I have enough time - and headspace - to do a thorough handover.

Productive yesterday, sick today

Yesterday I achieved quite a bit. Got on the phone in the afternoon (went for my jog after dropping the girls off to school and garderie, then Lucinda and Stefan visited in the morning, stayed for lunch) and rang a bunch of places advising them we're leaving. Generally had no problems finding someone who spoke English. Some places only required a phone call, others a letters, and some a letter and the Attestation de Depart from the Commune. So afterwards I went to the Commune and picked up the form you need to complete in order to get the Attestation. Straight forward form and you just have to hand it in, with Sf10, and they issue the Attestation on the spot. Which is what MK did today.

I also went to the bank to find out the process for closing our account. Once again, fairly straightforward, but it was funny when the woman said the bank only continues relationships with people who are overseas who have a minimum of Sf50,000. That's one relationship that won't be continuing then!

Still haven't heard about the apartment. There were a few people who called last week, but none turned into a visit. The one guy who is really keen - and the only one as of last week to submit an inscription - came back late last week to show his wife. He also mentioned that he'd be interested in a lot of our stuff. He is the perfect tenant, for us anyway. I am really really hoping they offer it to him. But I know they wanted more than one inscription and I just don't see that happening now. It's getting late - the interested guy needs to let his place know by the end of this week that he's giving notice. Please, please, please offer him the apartment.

We started to advertise the car as well. Early days yet, but I am really hoping that we sell it for the price we're asking. Hell, I really hope we sell it.

Later in the day yesterday I got a headache, but functioned ok. Today I woke up with the headache and didn't function ok. Spent a lot of time on the white couch, wiped out. Felt sick in my tummy and my head was pounding. Advil didn't work. Feel a bit better tonight, but hoping tomorrow I'm back to normal. Girls were home all day today, but luckily when MK woke up he was able to take them out for a bit. They did some jobs (Commune, post office to send letters and pay bills) and then took their bike and scooter out around the fountain.

Back to real life

We got home around 5.40pm tonight, tired and crabby and definitely ready to be home. The last part of the car trip was a bit of a nightmare...screaming, crying and general carrying on. Not to mention how MK and I felt. Ugghhh, and poor MK had to go to work tonight as he starts a week of nightshift.

Anyway, we got through dinner and bath and the girls went to be in good-enough time.

And now to think about what I have to do this week...hopefully show more people through the apartment with some of them sending in their inscriptions, post the car ad in different places (starting with Lausanne Kids website tonight), send off some parcels (if I don't do it before we leave I have to pack the gifts with all our other stuff being shipped and god knows when I'll see them again), chase up the quotes from the two removalist companies who were here last Tuesday, start notifying utilities and services that we are moving.

And catch up with people. I had two phonecalls on the answering machine tonight from friends referring to the ticking time and wanting to catch up. Me too, just need to find the time and headspace to do it.

Au revoir, Burgundy and France

Had our hotel buffet breakfast again then packed and left, after dragging the girls away from the lego play area in the lobby. Then a moment of potential marital compromise - MK wanted to go wine tasting at a special place in town (15 wines for 10 euros) and I was happy to go grocery shopping and head home. Solution - Charlotte and I went shopping (Casa, an inexpensive homeware store, Champion for groceries and a shoe store for Charlotte. We replaced her old size 25 Barbie sneakers with size 27 shoes -oops!) and MK and Lily went wine tasting. We all met up again at the shopping centre for lunch. Everyone happy! Now on the road home after leaving Beaune around 2.20pm, Charlotte, Lily 'reading', Flinstones CD on and it's now raining.

Sunday in Burgundy

Yesterday, after our hotel buffet breakfast, we drove to a small town near Beaune called Savigny-les-Beaune looking for their Sunday market. No market but did see a beautiful Chateau so went there. Chateau was MK's dream - it had vineyards and wine tasting, old motorbike and model airplane museum, big military plane display and a racing car collection. A dream destination for boys of all ages! After we went back to Beaune and looked around the beautiful Hospices de Beaune Hotel-Dieu. Another traditional dinner before an early night.

Beaune

Left home yesterday at 11.30am and the trip took 3.5 hours, not 2.5 hours MK said it would. Worth it though. Hotel location a bit ordinary but a short drive into town. After settling and checking out our room we drove in. Girls went on a beautiful carousal then went for a wander. Looked in a great cookbook/wine/souvenir shop - so many temptations. Girls wanted to go on the tourist train around town so we did. Dinner didn't start in most places till 7pm but the girls hungry so found a restaurant that was open - more touristic? Anyway Lily had her first escargot. And then another! We enjoyed our boeuf bourguignon and pommes purree. And back to the hotel by 9pm.

On the road

The girls have a zip-lock bag of cheerios each and the Flinstones holiday cd is on. We must be on a driving holiday!

Well, I'm not in London - off to Burgundy

The flight was at 7am this morning and I wasn't on it. Didn't even cancel my ticket. That was MK's job last night (I went out for dinner with Nina, Christine C, Lorretta and Lucinda to the Thai restaurant at the Alpha Palmiers hotel) but he couldn't find the place to do it on the easyJet website. So there you go.

Instead we are going to Burgundy, specifically a place caled Beaune and this hotel. We leave in a minute (I packed this morning) and we're back Monday. I know nothing about the area but apparently we won't be far from Dijon. The region is known, according to MK, for it's wine, mustard and snails. None on my top 10 list, but I'm sure there are other temptations.

Flight update

I have booked and paid (*gasp*) for the flights home. Slight change in the dates, give MK an extra 2 days in HK (one at each end).

Wed Nov 1st Geneva - Hong Kong (via London)

Arrive Thurs Nov 2nd

Sat Nov 11th Hong Kong - Melbourne (MK only)

Arrive Sun Nov 12th

Fri Nov 17th Hong Kong - Melbourne (Girls and I, and hopefully Mum)

Arrive Sat Nov 18th

MK starts work Nov 14th and will be at his parent's place when he first gets back. He'll pick us up off the plane and we'll head back to Mum and Dad's place. Where we'll stay for...well, that's the million dollar question.

School update

I rang the Principal of the Montessori back the next morning as I couldn't get through when she told me to ring. We had a long chat, and in a nutshell there is one place left for both girls and that place will be held for them. It's a different system than what I am familiar with but basically Lily would go into Cycle 1 Year 3 (5 days a week, 9am-3.15pm) and Charlotte would go into Cycle 1 Year 1 (4 mornings a week 9.15am-12.15pm. Normally it's 3 mornings a week but when I told her Charlotte's current garderie hours she was able to offer an extra morning).

School starts January 30th which is only 2 months after we arrive, so that's a bit more pressure.

I now need to fax the registration form for both girls and the $65 processing fee (non refundable) per application. If I have trouble sending the money she will hold the places till October 20th.

And when we get back she wants us to come in as soon as possible to meet with her and sit in on a class so we can see the school in action. If we decide to go ahead the bigger fees begin.

Even if we don't end up in the Gisborne area I feel like I've done something to begin the process of finding a school for Lily. And one thing always leads to another.

We had Nina and Darren, the kids and Nina's Mum Elaine over for dinner on Wednesday night. They are in Lausanne for a week, and in Europe for 5 weeks, before returning to Melbourne. Elaine asked if we'd heard of Camberwell Primary School saying it's a half French, half English curriculum. Then when I had my hair cut the next morning David mentioned the school as well.

So I tried ringing them early Friday morning but it rang out. Found out later it's school holidays so I need to ring back in a couple of weeks.

It would be an interesting option. It's a public primary school so you need to live in the area to go there...don't know the area, but I'm guessing Camberwell is well out of our price range for buying a house.

Can't sleep...

Went to bed at my usual (late) time of 11.30pm but I just lay there with my eyes open. So decided to get up and...call Australia. I've just been speaking with the Principal at the Gisborne Montessori school and she asked if I could call her back in 30mins as she has a meeting. Sure, but it'll be 1.10am when I phone her so I said it'll be 30mins on the dot.

The two removalists companies came round yesterday for a quote...the one in the morning was far more professional and thorough than the guys in the afternoon. So even though we're yet to see the quotes I know which company I'd feel comfortable dealing with. Still going to cost us a sh*tload of money to get our bits n' pieces home. And we'll take the bare minimum...sell, give away and throw out the majority of stuff.

So that's another reason I couldn't sleep...I was visualising holding an Open House with all our stuff for sale. I'd stick signs on everything saying what it is and the price. People would walk through the apartment and look at everything (mostly in it's natural habitat). And then hopefully buy it.

Another woman came round to look at the apartment tonight. Once again it was hard to gauge her interest level. MK saw a piece of paper she dropped which mentioned three apartments she was looking at tonight (including ours). She took an inscription and I hope she fills it in.

No Milan for us this weekend

This weekend is the one we were hoping to go to Milan. I was originally booked to go to London for a catch up with the EC gals but it's a long weekend for MK so we thought we'd take advantage of it and go to Milan as MK has never been there.

But there are no hotels available. I checked with the travel agent near the train station here and she confirmed this. Said there is between 8 and 10 salon (like tradeshows) on there this weekend so no hotel accomodation.

Hmmmm, so where to go? MK is looking at the French guide book now to find other ideas.

But I still haven't cancelled my London flights...

Living in Gisborne

Last night I started looking at houses to buy in Gisborne. That got me a bit fired up. Today I found a school for the the girls in Gisborne (the Montessori) and I'm going to phone them tomorrow morning.

I'm fantasising about how great it would be to live real close to Mum and Dad. How much the girls would love it. How much we'd love it.

I know, I know it ain't practical for MK's job. But I can dream, right?

On a roll now, let's get this show on the road

Public holiday here today (jeune federale) but hasn't stopped me making a million phone calls...to Australia.

Been doing some real estate research and last night came across a Buyers Advocate website in Melbourne. After reading her website got excited about this being the answer to our (one of many) prayers. So first thing this morning I rang her (Melissa Opie from KPI, from her photo and name I'm sure I know her...did we go to school together?) and had a longish chat. Yep, she could do pretty much everything - put us onto a mortgage broker, find us a house (rental or to buy), go to auction for us. The lot. For a fee of course. She'll send us through the mortgage broker info, then we might make a time to meet her when we get back to Melbourne. She could really minimise our workload and timeframe, I imagine.

Then rang Storage 2000 in Adelaide. Giving our brand new cot and change table to Georgie so want her to have access. They were also able to give me a quote to have all the contents moved to Melbourne ($3500!!!!). Rang the property manager for our house in Adelaide - time for a rent review? yes. Plus they can arrange an valuation on the house. Then rang a bunch of other removalist companies in Adelaide to get quotes for our stuff to go to Melbourne. Rang MK's parents (ok if we store our stuff at their place for a while? yes, of course). Rang Georgie - she and James will check out the storage unit on the weekend and see if they can pull out the cot and change table then and there. If not, might need to go back when the removalists are there.

Phew. I'm on a roll and a bit buzzed. Who else can I ring?

Schools? Dad's opinion is to choose a house/area based equally on two criteria - location to MK's work and a good school for Lily. My criteria is somewhere within a 30 min commute to Moorabbin, good access to Mum and Dad's side of town and of course a beautiful house with a big backyard (!). I find the whole school thing a bit overwhelming at the moment. Somewhere like we had Lily enrolled in in Adelaide would be good - a low fee paying independent school with a good reputation. But looking at the map of Melbourne makes my head explode. It's so big. And I'm so unfamiliar with it. But Lily is due to start school three months after we arrive home. Arrggghhhhh.

Even more reason to engage this buyer's advocate. My dream (which I thought was unattainable) is to buy a house before Lily is due to start school so she only has one major move. Not two (rental to the house we buy). I don't know....help!!!!

Brunch menu

Homemade granola
Porridge (extras: cream and brown sugar)
Fresh muffins
Pancakes

I get these bursts of ideas for what I'd put on my brunch menu, if I owned my own place. I've just been reading the Good Food magazine (UK) and it has a granola recipe. Reminds me that this is a great thing to make...and yummy. I loved how popular porridge ('oatmeal') was in NYC. I'd definitely put that on my menu. Gotta have muffins, and of course pancakes. So many things you can do with pancakes.

Or maybe I'll just open a place like Cereality.

Home again from the chalet in Chateau d'Oex

We're back from our trip to the mountains...left the chalet at 7.35pm last night after giving the girls pasta for dinner. While they ate I cleaned and MK packed. Only took us 1hr 10mins to get home (via Bulle, near Gruyere).

Yesterday after our yummy fondue lunch the girls played in the park out the front of the restaurant. Then we went for a walk down to the river Sarine. Girls had fun throwing pebbles and stones into the fast flowing river. When we got back we did some shopping at Coop (just before 5pm by then which is when the shops close, and Monday is a public holiday so I needed supplies) and picked up our souvenirs from Le Chalet, the restaurant we had lunch.

Souvenirs? We haven't really bought souvenirs for ourselves in the last 5 years. But in Gstaad the other day I bought a small metal house plate that says 'bienvenue' and a doormat that says 'Famille de Maison'. Then yesterday at the restaurant we bought a real cow bell (gasp!) and a framed print of a landscape with cows. We are still very conscious of getting this stuff home so I'll be very interested to see what the quote is on Tuesday from the two moving companies that are coming round. But if we don't buy some stuff now we won't have any Swiss stuff to take home (other than Charlotte!).

On Friday we walked into Chateau d'Oex and up to the church on the hill. We wanted to have fondue for lunch but Le Chalet had a large group in and it was an hour wait. Instead we went to La Poste which Marlene (upstairs tenant in Stephanie's chalet) had recommended. Food was good and there was a playroom downstairs for the girls.

We then caught the GoldenPass Panoramic train from Chateau d'Oex to Zweisimmen. It took an hour and was really gorgeous. The scenery was breathtaking. We had just under an hour in Zweisimmen (a place I'd never heard of and it's not that big) to walk around before we caught the GoldenPass train back to Chateau d'Oex.

How to...fondue

Either a single cheese (gruyere) or moitie-moitie (gruyere and vacherin). Use rustic, day old bread. Drink white wine, tea or bubble water to aid digestion (never water). If you drop your bread in the fondue you kiss the person next to you. Rub the pot with garlic before putting the cheese in. The hard, stuck on cheese on the base of the pot is sought after. Fondue is eaten during colder months, not summer.