I AM getting better

Last night was horrendous. Having no hearing in one ear made me feel vulnerable. It was a horrible sensastion. Plus that side of my face was numb, which didn't help.

This morning I woke feeling a bit better. Hearing a bit better. Dropped the girls off to school/garderie then went into David. Not just for cookie drop-off but also for a hair appt (cut and colour). Still blowing gross out my nose, but it was good to relax and just read a mag.

I dropped the bag (last weeks cookie jar) back here, then went to the doctor. For having no appt it was fast. I probably only waited 5mins. Took less than 5 mins to check temp (fine), ears (thankfully looking better than the other day) and nose (still a bit of pus) . He said to continue the aspirin, no antibiotics necessary. I reckon I am on the mend.

About bloody time.

Charlotte Sleep-o-Meter: Charlotte didn't wake once last night! Woke at 6.43am this morning (according to MK).

On the menu today

For lunch I made Chickpea with chorizo and silverbeet (Super Food Ideas, June 2005) - the chorizo was the tastiest bit. For dinner the girls and I (MK at work) had vegie pizzas. I pan-fried courgette, red pepper and mushrooms (all chopped fairly small) in olive oil. Put some passata (tomato sauce...sugo?) on three small pita breads, then spread some vegies on. Topped it all with grated cheese and baked in a hot oven for about 10mins. Served with mixed lettuce and WW French dressing.

Lily never really ate lettuce when she was small. She'd take a piece and chew and chew and chew and eventually spit it out. Charlotte, on the other hand, has taken to eating the lettuce from my salad plate whenever I eat healthy for lunch. She demolishes the stuff. And now Lily can get beyond chewing it to actually swallowing. It seems a bit of a favourite for both of them.

Tonight Lily ate all her vegie pizza and salad. Then ate 4 weetabix with milk one after another. Granted she didn't have much for afternoon tea (a few mini smarties bought home from school) but that was a lot for her...or anyone!

Through the wringer - and out again - with Lily

Lily has just come through a bad patch. She seemed to spend all her time screaming, whining and crying. It was pretty unpleasant, for everybody. Drove me crazy. I said to MK that when I looked at Lily I just saw whining and screaming.

Well, just in the last several days she seems to have 'snapped' out of it. Thank bloody god. And she has been extra sweet and lovely. Playing with Charlotte, being helpful, using her manners. She has her lapses, but not as severe as before. She's gone back to being...reasonable and easier to deal with.

So when she asks, in bed at night, 'what was your best today?' I tell her it was how much I enjoyed her and Charlotte playing together, or how helpful she was, or how much I enjoyed her company.

Makes a pleasant change.

Charlotte Sleep-o-Meter update: Last night she slept all the way through! And woke at a decent time (not sure how 'decent' as MK got up for that one).

This is getting boring

Well, not so much boring as I am completely sick of being sick. My ear is still blocked (it's like that half of my face is numb), my head is still full of pressure, I'm still on the aspirin (too unbearable not to) and for like the 9th day in a row (warning: gross imagery) I fill every tissue with the foulest green stuff.

I just rang the dr's office asking to speak with him. Ask him if I should fill the antiobiotic prescription. I imagine the answer is no. But this just doesn't seem - or feel - right. They said the dr will phone me back.

MK is on afternoon shift this week so the mornings will be OK but I'm carrying the afternooon load by myself.

Update (9pm): The dr did ring me back and wasn't sure himself. He said something about the antibiotics I've got are not the right ones for my nose, only my ears. And he mentioned a 3 day antibiotic that might be good for both. And to come in tomorrow so he can quickly check my ears and nose if needs be. I think I'll do that. My right ear is so stuffed and numb now that I have can't hear properly out of it. It is a disgusting feeling...like having cotton wool jammed down there. I just want to bang my head, literally :(

There goes my aspirin resolve

Only lasted till 10am. Everything hurts - my teeth/jaw aches like buggery, my face aches, the pressure in my head is still there. I feel miserable. On the feel sorry for myself scale I am a 10.

My gut doesn't hurt today. See how long it takes for the aspirin to kick in...both to give relief and cause more pain. Oh the friggin' irony.

On the Charlotte Sleep-o-Meter:
She woke at 1.30am and MK got up to her. He tried putting her back to bed a couple of times, unsuccessfully, and they both fell asleep on the green chair in the loungeroom. He put her back to bed at 4.30am. He didn't give her any medication.

I made the pancakes this morning but I have no idea what they tasted like as my sense of taste is buggered at the moment. Has to be a stronger flavour to get a reading.

Update (11pm): I spent some time in bed this afternoon as I felt so bad. Took another aspirin at 5pm and the good news is my gut didn't hurt all day. I feel a bit better now, still tired and washed out, a bit blocked and some pressure but not so bad. The headache came back - off and on - today but it's gone now. Gotta get my sorry arse into bed.

Television

There isn't much to watch on tv here, in English. Well, that's what I normally say. There is always EastEnders, my fave show (on Mon-Thurs at 7.30pm). And the odd cooking show (Rick Stein at the moment), comedies (The Office, and now Little Britain). But often you stumble onto the good stuff while channel surfing.

Like now. Couple of weeks ago we stumbled upon the first episode of Lost on the Swiss Italian channel. It was on in dual and seeing as we have the right telly we can press a button on our remote control and change the language from Italian to English. That first night there were three episodes back to back. So every Sunday night we settle down to at least two, if not three, episodes of Lost.

I have also been watching CSI Las Vegas and became a bit addicted. But last night it was replaced by 24 Hours (which usually followed CSI) so I'm not sure what's going on there.

Last year the same thing happened with Desperate Housewives. Stumbled across it, it was on in dual, so that became my Monday night 8pm 'fix'. Then it finished. Now I am waiting to see when it will come back on.

I've stumbled on some interesting movies lately that I've not seen before. Last night it was The Matrix, night before that was The Misfits and the night before that Bringing Down the House (Steve Martin and Queen Latifah). I've also recently seen The Life of David Gale (Kevin Spacey) and Mystic River (Sean Penn) - two bleak male-focussed movies with un-hollywood endings. And in one night I saw Shallow Hal (Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black) and Zoolander (Ben Stiller) back to back. Michael also saw the two Lara Croft movies on consecutive nights.

The funny thing is I often miss the first 10mins or so as I stumble onto these movies while channel surfing. And often I don't know the name of the movie till the end when I google the actor(s). The good thing is there is no more than one commercial - none on the old movies channel - during the movie.

And why no tv guide? The majority of the movies and shows in dual are on a handful of channels in the Swiss Italian and Swiss German part. Not extensively covered by the tv guide (in our home delivered Sunday paper) in the Swiss French part.

I'd still like to learn how to download shows from the net...preferably for free.

No better, bit worse

This illness really sucks big time. Now my gut hurts and I bet it's because of the aspirin. Feels similar to when I had gastritis last year, caused by the medication I was taking for the herniated disc. Gastritis is literally a kick in the guts...caused by the treatment meant to help your original complaint.

I am going to stop the aspirin. Shit timing as I've had a headache off and on today. Everything is still blocked and hurts. The pressure in my head is still there. The dr mentioned sinusitis the other day...I can imagine this is what it's similar to.

What we're eating

For dinner tonight I'm making Pork chops (baked) with honey roasted vegetables (Super Food Ideas, June 2005). Last night I made Apple and strawberry crumble (delicious. October 2005) which was quite nice.

For breakfast tomorrow I want to make Maple, walnut and flaxseed pancakes, a recipe I found today online. I might also make Banana Coconut Loaf (Super Food Ideas, September 2005) for the girls school/garderie snack box for the week ahead. And for dinner I'll probably try Turkey sausage patties, another new recipe.

I am going to ask MK to set me up a spreadsheet for recipes and where they come from. I read so many cooking magazines and see so many recipes I want to make. I want to record that info so I don't forget all these recipes. Would also be a good database of recipes I like.

Yep, might be sick but still thinking about food...

The Charlotte Sleep-o-Meter

Last night she woke crying just before 11pm and I got her back to bed just after midnight.

Up just before 7am this morning.

Blast from the past (website)

I was just looking through my Favourites list and came across this: Michael and Robyn's website. Wow, it's looks like the last time it was updated was July 2003!

I wonder if I'll update it now that I blog? It's more (our) family focussed, whereas this is more personal.

I'm really surprised how many people left comments!

Charlotte's 2 year old check-up

OK, we're only 2.5 months late for this appt...

MK took the girls to Dr C this afternoon for Charlotte's 2 year check-up. It went well by all accounts. Charlotte is now 90.2cm and weighs 14.45kg. She had an MMR vaccination, which is the second one (first was at 1 year old). In Australia this second MMR would have been at 4 years old, but it's done at 2 here. It's all noted in her records that we keep. MK said C only cried for 10 seconds then was happy about the bandaid. I was in the bathroom when they got home and when I saw C she already had her pants off and was proudly showing me her 'dand-aid'.

Ear infection

Last night my right ear and side of my face (like jawline) really started to hurt. I was watching The Misfits with Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable and wanted to see it through to the end so I just lay there on the green chair with my sore ear and face. I knew I'd need to make that dr's appt this morning.

So the Dr was able to see me at 9.30am (good time for me, with the girls in school and garderie). The pin prick blood test result was 21, which was lower than Wednesday (33). That's a good sign. My blood pressure was low (not a good sign) and my heart rate was normal (good sign). But when he looked in my right ear it was not a good sign - ear infection. I think it's more an inner ear infection which means it probably doesn't hurt as much as it could. Just feels very blocked. And I don't feel well. More nausea today than before. Thankfully I don't need antibiotics for the time being. He gave me the prescription but said to have it filled only if my ear gets worse. Or if liquid starts coming out. In the meantime he gave me drops for my ear (Otofa - Rifamycin) to take 3 times per day (5 drops). Drink lots. Don't get water in my ear. And to continue the aspirin.

Pneumonia. Ear infection. Bloody hell, I'm turning into Charlotte.

On Tuesday...

another mum at Lily's school - who I know speaks English - spoke to me. I've been meaning to do it, just been too lazy. She has two little boys, the older one is in Lily's year but not her class. The younger one is 18mths. She's Scottish and seems quite nice. Been here a year. Now we chat when we see each other at school, which makes a pleasant change. Today I offered to have Lewis (the older boy) for lunch sometime, and she agreed. Offered the same for Lily. So I suggested a playdate - maybe next week? - so they can come here and the kids can get to know each other. Wow, it would be a real novelty dropping Lily off at school at 8.50am and not picking her up till 3.20pm.

I dropped David's cookies off on Tuesday then went for a bit of a wander. And found the white board I've been looking for, except it's silver. My latest weight loss idea is not to record all I eat in an exercise book, but on a white board stuck up on the fridge. I found keeping a food diary one of the really good things about Weight Watchers (as well as the groups, and the control over your own eating) so I often go back to writing down what I eat when I need a push. But it usually doesn't last long. This way my white/silver board is right there in front of me, in the kitchen, reminding me of everything I've put in my mouth. Three - four kilos is my first goal (the damage from the last couple months), eight would be brilliant.

Day 5 of feeling blah

I am feeling a little bit better today, I s'pose. Well, I've had a couple of better patches. But once I do anything I start to feel crap again. Truly the best position is lying on the white couch with a magazine. Always has been.

Dr's appointment

I tried to go to bed at a decent time last night as I felt so lousy, but literally as I was getting into bed Charlotte woke up. So instead of 10.30pm it was 11pm.

And this morning I still felt crap. Being Wednesday there's no school or garderie, but MK was sleeping today and I didn't feel well enough to look after the kids. So I did what I do in an emergency...I rang Yasmine. She was happy for both girls to come to garderie, and Lily was keen as mustard to go (she has said lately that she doesn't like school, and at other times she says she wants to go to garderie). It was a late start (I went back to bed after Charlotte woke just after 6.30am) so we didn't get to garderie till about 10.15am. All the kids were seated having their morning snack...I'd bought 5 croissants, one each for the three 'teachers' as well as LPK and CPK.

I rang the Dr as soon as I got home. There was some trouble fitting me in and I eventually ended up speaking with Dr B. He asked me when I could come in (after 2.30pm when MK generally wakes) and he said he'd ring me back. Which his office did just after 3pm. I had a 4pm appointment. Was starting to feel a bit better by then, no doubt helped by spending most of the afternoon on the white couch (even though C didn't sleep much past 2pm she was happy to watch a Wiggles video quietly with Lily).

The Dr thinks it's a virus, which is fair enough. His nurse did a blood test (pin prick) for some sort of 'parameter' of infection (his word) and normally this reading is zero, but mine was 33. Apparently this isn't very high, but he wants me to come back in 2 days if I am no better or worse. In the meantime I have aspirin (for the anti-imflammatory properties), a spray for my nose and something that is an expectorant (and all-natural, if I have it round the right way). Hopefully they'll work a charm and all will be well again soon.

The birth of a new blog!

I'm excited about Jen's new blog In the Sponge. The two entries she's already posted are interesting and well written. I look forward to reading more about what the Sponge investigates. And adding my own questions for the Sponge to get her teeth stuck into!

Not quite the 'flu but...

I've only had the 'flu once and I know it ain't nothing like a cold. But what I've got now comes pretty damn close. I know it can't be as I wouldn't be able to sit here, but shit I feel like crap. Ache all over, the pressure in my head feels like it's going to explode, can't tolerate loud noises (or is that just my kids?) and feel wiped out.

The only drugs I'm taking is Dafalgan, and the trusty hot lemon and honey drink (homemade). If I knew I could get proper drugs I'd go down to the pharmacie, but stuff here is strange. Can't read the packaging so can't properly compare products. Even helpful pharmacists don't beat your own reading of a label. And the packaging on medication is often bland and not well 'marketed', I find. So you can't go after a picture.

Argghhh, rambling...and moaning. Quite common at the moment.

They've got that knack

I was sitting down before to write a post here on Happy Monday. MK was picking up Lily and Charlotte from school/garderie and was due home any minute. Time enough to put some thoughts down. When I heard screaming outside. The unmistakeable shrieking that Charlotte does. Looked out the window and there was MK with Charlotte in the pram hollering her head off. Lily walking beside him. I knew it was a protest - CPK doesn't mind being in the pram to go to garderie, but coming home is a different matter altogether. Would much rather walk.

So I ditched the computer and prepared for the onslaught...which was much milder by the time it landed here. We've just had pumpkin soup for lunch (well, Lily said she didn't like it so didn't eat it, CPK ate lots), the girls had toast, then I made pancakes (recipe using 4 eggs and a cup of cottage cheese, amongst other things). Now Charlotte is in bed calling out for something or another [I just went in there: it was 'birdy', the Big Bird puppet] and hopefully she'll be asleep soon. MK is on nightshift this week so he is home till tonight, and Lily is bugging us to watch tv for quiet time.

And the original idea for this post, along the lines of Happy Monday was the things that made me feel good today
*an email from Jen saying she'd booked her flight to NYC
*a letter from Georgie with all pamphlets from Adelaide (lots of kids activities included) saying that she knows why we are moving to Melbourne but she wanted to remind us what Adelaide has to offer vs Melbourne!
*speaking to a babysitter we used to use and trying to help her find more work during a difficult time for her
*clean apartment
*time alone with MK

As much joy as the kids bring into our lives, they also have an unpredictable - yet guaranteed - way of bringing stress and work. Fights, tears over the lunch table, screaming...I am constantly aware a situation can change from pleasant to gross in a very short space of time. Isn't that a form of torture? Knowing your situation can change for the worse quite quickly, but not having the control over it. Yep, gets a bit torturous at times.

Sick Sunday

Stupid cold stole my weekend. Felt like crap most of today, too. And I even got a decent night's sleep last night...MK got up for the (inevitable) Charlotte wake up at 3am, then again at 3.30am (the routine goes - pick C up, give her Medised, sit on the green chair and for me it's watch tv and for MK it's sleep, go back to bed either after the tv show has finished or you wake and realise you are sleeping on a lounge chair...either way C is deeply asleep).

But we did manage to get out once today for an old favourite - pick up lunch at the boulangerie* and head to the little park. It was very windy and cold, but at least it was sunny. Took some chalk - Lily's idea - so the kids (and MK) could do some drawing. Played on the swings, ate lunch and came home. Too bloody cold to stay any longer.

And then I tried to stay on the white couch as long as I could and read the latest Vanity Fair. Easy enough when C was napping, marginally harder after she got up. But I preservered. It was Sunday and I felt sick.

*my fave is the chevre on noix bread (goat's cheese on walnut bread, it's divine)

Going downhill...head colds all round

We all have head colds...it has given the girls a bit of grief (and therefore me also) at night. And Lily didn't go to school yesterday morning as she woke early (around 5am), watched some tv, then went back to bed till just before 9am (I pieced that together from Lily and MK, who got up with Charlotte around 7am with Lily back in bed). I also got to sleep in as I'd been up with Charlotte twice between 4am and 4.40am.

Anyway, I thought my cold was very mild. Just a runny nose and that's it. But this afternoon it kicked into overdrive. Nose streaming, head stuffy and I feel like crap. Gross. But some nice timing, as the Mud Cake order got cancelled yesterday (it was a pick up for today). Didn't worry me, plus she put in another order for late Feb and early March.

Now I am letting MK 'manage' the girls while I hide away and feel sorry for myself. And blow my nose, again and again and again...

Cupboard-cleansing chilli con carne

Yesterday I had the urge to make cornbread, so today I made chilli con carne. I'll make the cornbread tomorrow and we'll have the lot for dinner tomorrow night.

Anyway, the chilli con carne recipe is one I've had for a while but haven't pulled out in ages. It isn't hard but there's lots of ingredients. Just making this batch today I finished off some cumin that Jen gave me when she left (end of '02!), some chilli powder I'd had for ages, a thing of paprika, couple of bottles of vinegar that had a little bit in each bottle and an old bottle of cooking red wine.

I hope that's all the cleansing this chilli does.

Here they come...

I picked up two baking orders today...this morning I went to the PM coffee morning and chatted to some women I hadn't spoken to before. One is a newly qualified/authorised massage therapist (would like to go see her) and the other was very keen on my baking business. She asked about muffins and how to order and tonight I received an email from her for Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins and Pancake Mix.

And then this afternoon at ballet one of the women there asked how much notice I needed. She wants a cake for Saturday so we chatted and tonight she sent an email for a Mud Cake.

Back in business it seems...

Good timing as I'm doing a lot of research re accomodation in Rome and we are looking at apartments. They are comparable in price to hotels but offer more of what we want...space and a kitchen.

Where's the party?

Lily went to a birthday party at garderie this afternoon. Audrey attended garderie at the same time as Lily and her mum kindly invited Lily (she also went to her 3rd b'day party last year). So Yasmine and Maxim picked Lily up on their way to the party as Charlotte was supposed to be sleeping (yeah right...she woke when I went in to get a clean pair of tights for Lily who had an 'accident' in the bathroom). I picked Lily up later and noticed a bit of cake and some juice on the table. Was that all there was for the party? Yasmine told me that when Lily got to garderie she asked Yasmine where the party was...Yasmine was laughing when she told me that it was OK as no one understood what Lily was saying except her! And when we were leaving Lily was asking me where the sweeties/bon bons/lollies were...she had asked Yasmine and Yasmine had said Audrey mummy had forgotten to buy them! Of course I asked Lily if there was a b'day cake and she said there were two other cakes and they did sing happy birthday. But that was it re the food.

Yep, bit of a 'cultural difference'!

When avoiding someone is OK

I really like my French teacher*...she is fun, smart, funny and a down to earth sort of gal. Her boys go to the same garderie as Charlotte and she is a friend of Y's so what's not to like. But sometimes, no matter how much you like someone, you just don't want to talk to them. Happened to me in Migros the other day. I saw S walking in before me, so I slowed right down to let her gain a bit of distance on me. But she was in no rush, boys in garderie so she could shop in peace. So it took a while to let her get past the dairy and into the fruit n' veg. We did share that same space but other ends of the dept. Until I was picking mushrooms (to make a vegetable lasagne for dinner that night, which turned out really well and MK's quote was 'don't lose the recipe for this one'). Anyway, I had my back turned picking mushies out when I saw in the mirrored area above me someone coming up behind me. I knew it was S (couldn't see her face, just body) so I waited for the hello. And it never came. She came up behind, then turned around and walked away! It was brilliant, such a relief. She didn't want to speak with me either!

Wow, how far will two people go to avoid the inevitable question of re-scheduling another French lesson?


*can I still call her 'my French teacher' when I only had three lessons with her, and the last one was well before Xmas?

Thumbprint Cookies

After Charlotte and I picked Lily up from school this afternoon we made Thumbprint Cookies (a recipe from Jan the Nutritionist) as Lily was in the mood to bake. Even though I gave Lily her own kids baking cookbook for xmas, I'm not keen to use it all that often as the recipes are full of sugar (no shit, Sherlock). So this recipe was much better. It's the first time I've made it with the kids and it turned out really well. Even Charlotte got in there and helped put teaspoons of jam into the thumbprint.

Not bad for a control freak, neat freak baker like me.

More snow

It started snowing here mid afternoon...I thought I saw flutters on the way home from dropping Lily off at school (even though it's Monday - not an afternoon for school - they had something on at the Octogone theatre for the kids). Then when I got home it became really heavy. It is so beautiful looking out our apartment windows watching the snow fall. Especially with the late afternoon light. I might not like being out in it, but I do like watching it from inside.

I didn't walk this morning so I hope the snow doesn't ruin my plans for the rest of the week...

Is the baking break over?

Other than my cookies for David (which started again last Tuesday), Now Baking have been very quiet. I've recently had an order for Feb 2nd for a one year old's b'day party (Little Pear and Cinammon Cakes, Cupcakes and Family Chocolate Cake) but that's it.

I *think* I'm ready for the orders to start coming in again. What am I saying? The orders need to start coming in...we've got trips to pay for!

Roma

The possible trip to Alicante in February has turned into a trip to Rome...MK just booked it tonight. I think this is the better choice. Even though some sun would be good, and Spain would be interesting, Rome just seems more of a priority before we leave. And we just couldn't go past the price. For the four of us flying with easyJet it will cost a total of CHF291. Bargain.

So now the hunt for inexpensive (looking for bargains), centrally located, good accomodation begins. We are away for 4 nights, leaving on a Tuesday afternoon and returning the following Saturday afternoon. I know we avoid city breaks while we have little kids but one a year shouldn't be too bad...should it?

Bad karma re electronics

My Palm Pilot (a 3 year old model) has been out of action for a long time and I am keen to replace it so I have somewhere for my addresses (god forbid I use paper and pen). The computer has been giving us grief and recently hit the skids so we bought a new lapttop. The display on my electronic scales (the one I use for baking) started going crazy and I can't fix it. And the most recent casualty is the digital camera...the lense won't open. MK played around with it, checked out the Troubleshooting guide but nothing. So looks like we'll have to replace it.

Starting to feel like we're jinxed...

Playdates

Sveva (4) and Bianca (7) came over to play on Wednesday afternoon. They are sisters...Sveva was Lily's closest friend at garderie. Lily had been over to their place for a playdate ages ago so we were due a return invitation.

I was happy to have both girls (my invite was for both) as Lily gets on well with both of them. I don't think the Mum expected that, but Bianca was keen to come as well. The babysitter dropped them off at 2pm and picked them up just before 5pm. They all seemed to have fun...I made pancakes and the three older girls ate 5 each! Charlotte let the average slip by only eating four. I did healthy toppings of plain yoghurt, honey and sultanas, but towards the end I drizzled dark and white chocolate on the pancakes (left over from David's cookie order the day before).

A lot of the play was make believe. Bianca was the mummy and the rest were the kids. It was funny hearing Lily call out 'Mummy' but be speaking to Bianca! At one stage 'mummy' sounded quite cross with the kids and wanted to be left alone. Glad it happens in other families.

They were all playing together, so I decided to clean the bathroom (as you do). I heard Bianca ask 'don't you have a cleaning girl?'. There was no response (cleaning what?) so I said 'yes, we do have a cleaning lady'. Bianca then said their cleaning lady was there today, in fact she comes Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I can only dream. Although granted, both parents work outside the home. She's a sweet girl, so it didn't sound as bratty as it could.

We have another outstanding invitation to return...Lily had a playdate at classmate Elisa's place a while ago (plus attended her b'day without us) so must get onto that one.

And there are a couple of birthday parties coming up...tomorrow Jenifer Z has invited us to Sophie's 2nd birthday party. And on Wednesday afternoon Audrey is having her 4th b'day party at garderie, which Lily is invited to. We don't have much to do with either little girl, but we all love a party. The only thing is presents. Wish I was creative enough to make interesting gifts instead of heading into Migros every time an invitation comes in.

More job news

MK spoke with his boss on Wednesday, who emailed the big boss in Melbourne. As MK said last night, it's not good news and it's not bad news. MK is to submit his resume (CV) to the big boss. This guy is in the process of finding positions for the people in Melbourne whose dept is also disappearing. So he'll have MK's details as well. Plus, the company who all this is being outsourced to might have an on-site office in Melbourne (I thought all the work was going to India). Doing what MK is doing here. And they might want people who can come in and hit the boards running. Which MK could do. So that is also a possibility.

The boss here also indicated that June may not be the end, there may be another 3 month contract after that. This doesn't surprise me. My guess is the contract/position won't end till somewhere between September and December.

Best case scenario at the moment would see us returning to a job in Melbourne with the company who this is being outsourced to. Sometime in the second half of this year.

Spoke too soon

MK set the computer up and it's not working...again. At least he retrieved and saved all the important stuff before it decided to bugger up again.

Poxy computer.

So I am back on the new laptop, with the not-so-clear screen, French keyboard, and weird keyboard quirks.

Exercising

I have started exercising again. It was probably two months ago that I stopped walking. It was just too damn cold. So, I went for my first 50 min walk on Wednesday and have walked every day since then. It is still bitterly cold but at least there is no wind. Today I slipped on black ice and fell on all fours. My hands are OK, but my left knee is skinned. I'm glad no one else was around to see it. That's the benefit of walking in the middle of winter.

New York, New York

I have just booked my flight to New York in May. Jen and I will have 6 days there (Monday to Sunday). My favourite city in the world. My best friend.

Too excited for words.

First afternoon at school

I took Lily back to school this afternoon for the first time. MK had done the morning school and garderie drop off/pick ups, then left for work just after 1.30pm. We left around 1.35pm (I figured I'd stick to the same morning times as the start times are 8.50am and 1.50pm) and had a bit of a wait once we got there. The bell went at one stage (not so loud) but turns out it wasn't 'our' bell! Lily was playing happily with her friends when the next bell went and just ran inside. It was her friend Olivia who waved and said goodbye to me! Charlotte was in the pram so I rushed her home and straight into bed, only an hour late at 2pm.

I literally had one hour to myself when it was time to get ready to leave. Pick up in the morning is 11.25am, but in the afternoon it's 3.20pm. Just after 3pm I was getting ready to wake Charlotte up when she woke herself up. I let her walk to school, we waited a bit and Lily came out. We jumped straight on the bus to Lausanne as I had cookies for David (my first cookie drop off to him this year). When I started making them last night I realised I had no eggs, so I made Big Hearted Butter Shortbreads from my favourite cookie cookbook, spread half with dark chocolate then once dry syringed white chocolate dots onto the dark choc.

So the afternoon routine went fine...no major issues except the inconvenience. Still got my time on the white couch, but not that relaxing when you know you only have one hour. And counting.

Good computer news

Our computer is back with us! MK took the desktop to work today so that his colleague could look at it (and the hard drive) and see if he could retrieve anything or get it working. All MK did was turn on the computer and voila! No more blue screen...everything was there. He's backed everything up, obviously, but I'm hoping that we can go back to using it as normal, and this new laptop can be put to use in other ways (esp if MK is able to get the WiFi sorted out that we bought at the same time as this laptop).

Such a relief...I am happiest to get back all my Now Baking stuff (spreadsheet and price lists) and emails and addresses.

Trip planning

We've been looking at the next 6 months and thinking about what we'd like to do. Specifically during MK's rostered week's off. There's lots of places we'd like to visit and things we'd like to do before we leave Europe. Now one of them is planned...this afternoon I booked a flight for Lily and I to go to the UK in March to visit Christine and David in Cambridge. We fly into Stanstead which isn't far from them. Should be great...we get to see baby Sophie again, see their place and go shopping. All good stuff.

We would also like to visit MK's family in Frankfurt (April week off?), maybe a cheap-flight trip to Alicante (Feb?) and the big one for me is a trip to NYC to meet up with Jen (May).

But that would be the tip of the iceberg...too many places, not enough time/money. Not complaining though.

Lazy Sunday

We have been so lazy these holidays...not doing much (except a lot of hair-pulling over shitty computers). And the girls have seemed happy enough to play inside most of the day (I wonder if Lily would stay inside all day if she had the choice...and we have done it). The standard dress wear has been dress-ups...take pj's off and get into your tutu/fairy costume of choice. Well, not for MK and I.

The morning also includes a fair bit of tv watching...so while the parents laze in bed (after another too-late night) the girls are up playing and watching the box. They are playing together pretty good these days...the odd scuffle but I think the preference seems to be to play in harmony. We have been getting up embarassingly late...8.30am would be considered early.

And this weekend we even got motivated to go get out a couple of dvd's...Friday night was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and last night was The Forty Year Old Virgin. Both were ok, but Virgin was pretty stupid and blokey. A few laughs. I think you can take it that MK enjoyed it more than me...he was still watching (and laughing at) the 'Extras' when I went to bed. Charlie was a bit disappointing, but I'm glad I've seen it.

So tomorrow is the first day back at school and garderie. Unfortunately every time I mention this to Lily she says she doesn't like school, it's not her favourite. Same deal for her teacher. It's not like her at all...she usually gets very excited about most things to do outside the home, especially if it involves her friends. And this week is when they introduce two afternoons a week. We have to be at school in time for 1.50pm, then picking her up again 1.5hours later at 3.20pm. Every Tuesday and Thursday (Monday and Friday are added after Easter I think). What the hell am I going to do with Charlotte's naps? Admittedly her naps are a bit hit and miss, but that's not the point. Pain in the arse I think the whole thing will be.

Ice skating

After spending yesterday buying a new computer, today we took Lily ice-skating. She held onto the frame for a bit, but spent most of the skating without it . Each time she goes (I think this is her third time) she gets better with balance and confidence. And today was the first time MK had seen her ice-skate.

We took along Charlotte's Barbie roller skates so she had something to do while Lily was on the ice. But it wasn't good enough. Charlotte spent a lot of the time crying saying 'in there' and pointing to the rink. So maybe next time we need to find out if we can hire the strap on skates for babies. And hope they have large enough skates for MK's feet.

I reckon a psychic told me a couple of years ago that Charlotte would be an Olympic ice-skater when she grew up. Wouldn't that be spooky. Should go back and listen to the tape again...

Big computer problems

We have lost everything...the hard drive on the desktop computer (the one I use) is buggered. So everything is gone. And coincidentally the old laptop is now buggered...although it's not as important. So yesterday all four of us went shopping for a new laptop. The old one is over 4 years old (I bought it in HK on my way over here) so this will be the one we take back to Australia.

It's taken MK ages to set this new computer up...and we still don't have email. Nor access to lots of other things, yet. Let alone the things that are gone, like email addresses, my Favourites, Now Baking spreadsheet (MK had backed up some of it), Now Baking and Pancakes at Home price lists.

This is really bad for a computer/net junkie.

Really bad.

Losing our furniture

This is an old, on-going saga. When we moved here (3 years ago now, beginning of 2003) we sub-letted the apartment from the previous tenant (a Swiss lawyer and his family who built their own home). We also 'rented' their furniture, as a private arrangement between us and them. Saved us having to buy a whole bunch of furniture we'd just have to sell one day. Not flash stuff, but good enough for a family with kids. Earlier this year the sub-letting agreement ended and we took over as the tenants. Plus we decided to end the furniture renting. For us to keep the furniture the guy wanted thousands of francs for it, which we knew it wasn't worth. Plus we'd already paid a lot of the previous two years. And we knew how hard/expensive it would be for him to have the furniture removed - and who would want it? Doubtful whether charity would take it all, not likely he'd be able to sell it so it was possibly destined for the scrap heap. We offered to keep it here. It was all fairly messy and uncertain for a while, then the whole issue went quiet.

Till just before Christmas when we received a letter from Mr Swiss Lawyer saying he was coming to collect his furniture in January, possibly December if he had the time. I was shocked as it came out of the blue, but then MK and I remembered that we had resolved earlier this year that if took his furniture it would be a good thing...not hanging over our heads anymore. But what crap timing if we leave in June. So I sent him a letter saying that we have become aware that we are likely to be leaving in June and is it possible to retain the furniture till then. I did it under the thinking of 'Nothing ventured, nothing gained' and 'You don't know if you don't ask' but I am nearly 100% sure the answer will be No. That sort of guy. So there goes our bed, the wardrobes in all three bedrooms, lounge chairs, kitchen table, glass cabinet down the corridor. But I refuse to be worried...it's not like we'll be homeless or anything and something will work out. I hope we don't have to buy much...not worth it for 6 mths but we'll do what we have to.

It's all good news at the moment - no furniture, no job! But I am really OK with it all...big believer in things happening for a reason and trusting that stuff works out one way or another.

Growing Up

MK had today off so after Charlotte woke up around 7am and he fed her breakfast he went back to bed. I don't usually fall asleep, well maybe nod off a bit but around 8am it was very quiet out there (Lily was still in bed). So I went out to find C doing a puzzle on the white couch. She had her back to me, standing, so I watched her while she did this 15 piece Ravensburger puzzle (Christine C gave her three of them for her b'day). And be buggered if she didn't do it herself. I pointed out a piece on the floor that had fallen and removed a piece that belonged to another puzzle but otherwise she did it all. Which is a good thing as I hate puzzles so she'll have more luck if she does them herself.

Then later today she had her ballerina outfit (a pink one-piece 'body' with tutu) and was asking me to put it on. I said she could do it herself, she said OK and took herself off. Came back later with it on bar the sleeves which we did together.

It's so hard to remember what Lily was able to do at this age and I know you shouldn't compare but it would be interesting...

The Major Events

Looking back, I would say the events that had the biggest impact on us last year were:

*Charlotte's constant round of sickness and the impact on her sleeping (and ours)
*The trip to Australia/Hong Kong (Feb/March)
*My herniated disc (April-June)
*Lily starting school (Aug)
*My trip to the States (Sept)

Year in Review - 2005

MK bought his first 'Above Hong Kong' calendar in 1997 when we were there for the hand-over and ever since then Mum has given him one for Christmas. It always hangs in a prominent position (kitchen wall in this apartment). And every year, between Xmas and New Year, I write in all the important dates...like birthdays, MK's shifts and Public Holidays. And this year I included the local school holidays (till June).

Before I pack it away, I wanted to record some of the stuff that we wrote on the 2005 calendar:

January
*Mon 3rd - Fri 7th Charlotte had daily home visits from a physio treating her for pneumonia (and bronchiolitis?)
*Mon 10th Lily started dance class every Mon at 4pm, held at the local primary school
*Wed 12th MK and I went to the REM concert in Geneva (it was my b'day present from MK from the previous October)
*Wed 19th Lily started weekly French courses at Espace Jeux, a local garderie
*Thurs 20th Charlotte said 'yaggy' or 'aggy' for Raggy (her companion of choice) for the first time
*Fri 21st Charlotte climbed on chair and stood up for the first time

February
*Tues 1st - Fri 4th Bec and Josh visit us
*Tues 15th - Lily, Charlotte and I flew from Geneva to Melbourne
*Wed 16th - Fri 18th MK in Holland (flew to Amsterdam then driving holiday)
*Mon 28th - Thurs 3rd March MK to Budapest and Berlin on another mini holiday

March
*Sat 5th MK flew from Geneva to Hong Kong
*Sun 6th RP, LPK and CPK flew Melbourne to Hong Kong
*I don't have the date we flew back to Switzerland
*I have the date for Judi and Michael's going away party (Fri 18th) but I don't have the date they left Switerland.
*Wed 30th Charlotte started walking (16.5 months old)

April
*Wed 6th Went for an MRI (referred by the chiro) and diagnosed with a herniated disc
*Mon 11th Charlotte started garderie (although it looks like she didn't attend that actual day as she was sick)
*Mon 18th Baking demonstration for TWIG (TetraPak International Women's Group). I made Mixed Berry Buttermilk Muffins and Cupcakes (and I remember being in quite a bit of pain with my leg).
*Wed 20th Lily's 4th birthday

May
Sun 1st Took Charlotte to the Children's Hospital where she was diagnosed with a double ear infection (I didn't write all these episodes down)
Mon 30th First physio appt, which began a set of nine twice-weekly physio appointments (Mon and Thurs). This was what really helped me recover from the herniated disc. I'd also been having chiro appts twice, sometimes three times a week plus the occasional GP appt. My herniated disc was like a full time job.

June
*Wed 15th Lily had her final French course of the year (3.50pm every Wed). I didn't re-enrol her for the new school year (starting Sept) as she was due to start at a French-speaking primary school. Plus she hadn't learnt much from these French lessons.
*Fri 17th Catarina the cleaning lady started (and now it's every Mon 9am-11am). Prompted by the herniated disc.
*Mon 27th Final dance class for Lily / Final physio appt for me and I felt better

July
*Tues 5th to Sat 9th Flew to Toulouse to stay with Mel, Jeremy, Okto and Freya (even though I'd taken Charlotte to the Children's Hospital the previous night as she was so unsettled. They put it down to her re-living the tumble off the bed she'd taken that evening. I was paranoid as we'd cancelled our last year's trip to visit the T-B's in Toulouse as I'd taken CPK to the Children's Hospital the day before we were due to fly out and she was diagnosed with the beginning of an ear infection. After we cancelled that trip she had conjunctivitis).
*Sun 17th We spent a night at a Chateau in Chambery. It was very hot and we spent time in the pool there.
*Fri 29th Last day of garderie before summer break...and last day of garderie for Lily for good. Bit sad as she'd been at that garderie for 2.5 years. But CPK carries on the legacy.

August
*Tues 2nd to Sat 6th The four of us flew to Prague (out of Zurich) for a summer holiday
*Sat 13th Took Charlotte to the Children's Hospital (but I didn't write down why)
*Mon 22nd Lily started school - Ecole Enfantine, four mornings a week, 8.50am to 11.20am
*Sat 27th MK's work Picnic
*Tues 30th Parent's evening at Lily's school...the one I cried during the majority of it

September
*Fri 2nd MK's 38th birthday
*Mon 5th Lily's first swimming lesson (first of 10, but we missed one so it ended up being 9 lessons)
*Thurs 8th Lily started ballet lessons (this was the try-out lesson, but she liked it and attended weekly on a Thurs at 4.30pm)
*Tues 13th Dr appt for Lily and diagnosed with an ear infection
*Wed 14th Charlotte's follow up appt with the pediatric cardiologist and everything good with her heart - next appt when she's five
*Wed 21st to Thurs 29th My trip to Berkeley, USA, to visit Jen and Brad

October
*Thurs 6th to Sun 9th Georgie visited us
*Tues 11th My 37th birthday
*Tues 11th to Sun 16th The Tuscany trip
*Wed 12th Mum's 60th birthday
*Sat 22nd American Women's Club Halloween Party
*Sun 23rd Our 6th wedding anniversary
*Wed 26th Mum and Dad arrived
*Sun 30th and Mon 31 The six of us spent the night in Zermatt and saw the Matterhorn

November
*Thurs 3rd Mum and Dad left
*Sun 13th Charlotte's 2nd birthday
*Wed 16th Charlotte's b'day party
*Tues 22nd My first French lesson with Stephanie
*Fri 25th Nina, Darren and Emma leave Switzerland for Australia (via London)
*Wed 30th Children's Xmas Party (MK's work)

December
*Sun 11th Lily's ballet spectacle at the Octogone Theatre...first time on stage, all 1.5mins of it
*Tues 13th Helped cater for the AWC Christmas Party
*Sun 18th Diagnosed with pneumonia after a trip to to the Vidy Medical Centre
*Tues 20th Last day of garderie for Charlotte before Christmas break
*Fri 23rd Last day of school for Lily before Christmas break
*Sat 24th to Wed 28th Christine, David and baby Sophie arrive for a visit

It's now after midnight - it's taken me hours to do this! But looking over the 2005 calendar it's amazing how many appts we've had - dr, chiro, physio, eye. All for the girls and me. None for MK. Wish we could 'keep up' with him.

June 2006 - The End?

We have known for a while now - a year? - that there will be big changes in MK's department at work. And over the course of last year ('05) the decision was made to close down MK's dept here and move it all to the office in Melbourne (where they have an identical dept). All the permanent staff in the dept here were asked if they wanted to stay here but move to a different dept, go to Melb on a short term assignment, move to Melb permanently or leave the company. The contractors were not offered the same options, except MK. He was asked if he was interested in moving to Melbourne. We said yes. And the time frame at that stage was to have it all finalised by the beginning of 2007. Even though our original plan was to return to Adelaide, once we were offered the chance to move to Melb it became increasingly attractive. Not only was it the guarantee of a job (possibly a permanent position) but it also meant we'd be near family. And the thought of not parenting in isolation anymore is attractive to both of us. So many people will win if we are living near family.

Anyway, it is now looking like there will be no job in Melbourne...the whole lot is going to be outsourced. No official announcement has been made but it's not looking good. So come June it looks like there will be no job for MK here in Switzerland nor in Melbourne with this company. Bummer really. But I refuse to be too worried about it. Now that we've visualised moving back to Melbourne, we will still go down that track. And I suppose it means MK needs to start looking for a job in Melbourne...somehow.

Favourite food

Charlotte's favourite foods are
*cereal
*porridge
*red peppers (capsicum) - cooked or raw
*plain yoghurt

When I asked Lily what her favourite foods were she said 'bonbons'. But I know she also likes cheese and yoghurt. She also loves most carbs.

Off to bed!

I reckon I'll be in bed by 11pm...that's early for me on any night let alone NYE. But MK is in bed (another 12hour day for him tomorrow starting early) and I'm pretty knackered.

Resolutions? Nah, I am who I am. However with Christmas and New Year over it is time to pull in the unhealthy eating and start getting healthy again. I wonder how soon after pneumonia you can start exercising? Although with it being so bitterly cold it's unlikely I'll be walking, and the exercise bike just doesn't appeal.

It's going to be interesting to see what 2006 brings...I wonder if this is the year we return to Australia? All signs are pointing that way...possibly by June. Lily has said a few times she wants to go back to Australia. I tell her that that means we leave Switzerland for good, no coming back. Big concept to take on board. For all of us.

Happy New Year - bye 2005!

Thought I better write this before it gets too late...and I've already had a Two Dogs (thanks Christine and David!) and glass of red which is a lot for me.

The girls had dinner before MK got home...they started on prawns (wasn't sure if Charlotte would like them but she bogged in), then fish fingers, potato cubes and peas and corn mix. After they had yoghurt (CPK her normal plain and LPK a pot of bio berry). Then they shared a pain d'spice (sp?) of pere noel left over from Nocturne de Pully. Oh, and a bottle of children's champagne from Migros.

When MK got home he gave the kids their bath, then story and bed. For dinner we had prawns as well, then Steak with Rocket Sauce (Donna Hay 'The Instant Cook' p108 - thanks for the recommendation Ange!) with Sesame Sweet Potato (marie claire 'Food Fast' p134) which were both really nice. The wine was a Wyndham Estate Bin 555 Shiraz 2002 (courtesy of Bec and Josh).

And dessert is now ready - Caramel Dumplings, a yummy cold weather dessert even if it is a WW recipe.

Didn't get a chance to do my Year in Review post so will be back next year to do it!