Just a short one to say hi. Sadly now daylight saving isn’t happening here anymore whilst all you Sydneysiders are now enjoying sunshine through till late.
On a positive though at least when I wake up in the morning it is not pitch black dark like it was last week… oh my god every time I woke up I was like “aghhh its not time….”
The only real problem I have with the new time is that there is now a ten hour time difference between Sydney and Zurich so it makes it a bit more harder for me to speak to my family at the times I am available….
Not to worry though I am home in 40 days so I wont have to call them because I will be right there… YAYYYYYY!
It also looks like now I will have a part time job for when I go home which is good because I have ran out of money!!!!! So to fund my travelling addiction I will be working at the Perfume Connection with Kimmy when I go home for a bit.
Just this last week Lacey and I booked our trip to Venice for Carnavale and we also bought tickets to go to Warsaw we just haven’t decided when we will go there.
Our accommodation for Naples is now booked and we are already looking at going to Stockholm or Berlin for the Easter break.
So in other words working when I get home is a realllllyyyyy good idea!
This past weekend we went out with some friends to a party in Baden again which turned out to be a really good night. We finally got home at 5am and spent most of the day sleeping (hehe)
Saturday night most of our friends ventured out and braved the cold for round two but Lacey and I went to her house and made dinner and watch Oceans 13.
Sunday was uneventful until my phone got stolen so I had to go and buy ANOTHER phone and get a new number. Now I am just in the process of trying to get my friends to send me their numbers which is not a fun task… aghhhhhh! For anyone who cares my new number is 0041 79 84 54 022
Its Halloween on Wednesday so today my little people and I are going to a pumpkin farm to go and do some carving. We went last year which was fun so I will post some photos soon.
Have a nice day, Megz xo
Monday, October 29, 2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Autumn Holidays
So for the past two weeks I was in Samedan in the Graubunden canton in southern Switzerland. My family that I work for has a holiday house there and so most school holiday breaks are spent there.
I was kind of nervous about going to Samedan again this time as this time last year was when we did a tonne of hiking and I really just wasn’t able to keep up. It was hard for me to be so high up in the mountains and I didn’t see what all the fuss was about walking for hours to reach the top of some huge mountain. Alos this time last year was when my tooth basically went "kaput" and I had to get it taken out.... 4000 francs later and me with a gap in my head for over 6 months.
This time around though I was more fit and had a greater appreciation of what the mountains offer: A chance to see a once in a lifetime view, the sense of completion and satisfaction in being able to see where you were and then where you stand now and
knowing that I am in the Swiss alps - I am so lucky.
I actually only did one big walk whilst away anyway and it was a mountain that we can see from our house. We did this walk last year and last time I thought I was going to die. This time around I felt great after walking up there and we were even an hour faster as the kids are much more able now.
What made my trip extra special was that Lacey was able to come down and join me for four days. She arrived on Thursday afternoon and was here for Camilles birthday. She turned one and I even got to see her take her first proper little steps on the Wednesday.
Lacey then spent the day with my family on Friday and then on the weekend we went on the Bernina Express which is a train journey that takes you through the Bernina Pass into Tirano, Italy. A two hour ride we got to see some beautiful mountains, a glacier and little villages along the way. Once in Tirano we had pasta (of course) for lunch, gelato, walked around and really got to see the difference between Italy and Switzerland. Wow. Even though we were right on the border you can really notice how different the two countries are. I prefer the cleanliness and beauty of Switzerland while Lacey loves Italy. Each to their own we had a nice day which included great weather, good food and perfect company.
We got back into Switzerland at dinner time so we decided to eat out in the next town called Pontresina. It was an effort finding somewhere affordable but in the end it was such a nice evening that we didnt mind. Off to bed early Saturday night we then went with my family on Sunday for a walk to a glacier called Monterasch (spelling!!!) It was unreal as you can see the glacier when you begin the walk. One problem though. Where you begin the walk is where the glacier USED to be, but due to global warming and the way we are thrashing our environment the glacier is melting at a rapid pace. See the photo below to see what I mean:
Once at the glacier after a leisurely stroll we got to climb on to it a bit. It is actually quite dangerous to walk on to it too far as there is a chance that the ice may be too melted and you can fall through but we were right on the edge and got to see some of the caves, and also touch the ice. It was so great to be in a real life glacier just depressing at the same time to see how much it has melted in 100 years.
Then on Sunday afternoon I sadly farewelled Lacey as she had to go back to her own family to begin work. So I spent the following four days with my family, mainly just at home as they did alot of bikeriding.
It was nice to get away for two weeks but even nicer to come back home to all of my own stuff. So on Thursday after my family and I went to Schuol and swam around in the thermal spas for half the day I jumped in the car and drove home. It was the longest drive I have done since being here ( a bit under three hours) but I was lucky as I had the chance to take the car on a train for some of the way. It was 27 francs for a 20 minute ride but it takes you through a tunnel through the mountain as oppose to driving over the whole thing. I was especially glad to do this the other day as it started to snow just as I begun my journey.
I actually left earlier than my family so I could go to french class on Thursday night so I braved the cold and headed back out to Stadlehofen at 6pm. I love my french class. Dont get me wrong it is really hard and I am not very good at it but the teacher is so nice and I feel like I understand it alot more than German.
Friday I was lucky to have the day off so I cleared up my things and did a bit of shopping in town.
Lacey invited me to her house for a traditional swiss dinner called raclette. This is a machine that grills cheese and then you pour it over potatoes, meat, vegetables, etc. We even had it with prawns - it is so good. I now just need to figure out if I can buy one in Australia. Laceys bosses friends were also over so it was a great evening made even better by dessert which were the famous "luxembourgli's"
yummo!!!
Saturday was a freezing cold day but we were tough and headed out to explore St Gallen, about 1 hour from Zurich we had a nice day shopping, walking through a famous street painted red and seeing a famous church and library. Lacey was especially thrilled as she got to see a mummified person. Blehhhh! Heheheh
Saturday night we were invited to a friends birthday party in Baden (bath town) so we trakked out there and had a great time. We met heaps of new people and then we went into the city to the regular night spot called Lady Hamiltons. It was a bit of a big night and way too much vodka was consumed but we had a tonne of fun as usual and were nursing a sweet hangover all day Sunday... so what do you do? Hahaha eat a tonne of Chinese - yum grease!!
Weekend over and a new week is here, back into my usual schedule and looking forward to the weekend ahead where we are doing ZIP!
I was kind of nervous about going to Samedan again this time as this time last year was when we did a tonne of hiking and I really just wasn’t able to keep up. It was hard for me to be so high up in the mountains and I didn’t see what all the fuss was about walking for hours to reach the top of some huge mountain. Alos this time last year was when my tooth basically went "kaput" and I had to get it taken out.... 4000 francs later and me with a gap in my head for over 6 months.
This time around though I was more fit and had a greater appreciation of what the mountains offer: A chance to see a once in a lifetime view, the sense of completion and satisfaction in being able to see where you were and then where you stand now and
knowing that I am in the Swiss alps - I am so lucky.
I actually only did one big walk whilst away anyway and it was a mountain that we can see from our house. We did this walk last year and last time I thought I was going to die. This time around I felt great after walking up there and we were even an hour faster as the kids are much more able now.
What made my trip extra special was that Lacey was able to come down and join me for four days. She arrived on Thursday afternoon and was here for Camilles birthday. She turned one and I even got to see her take her first proper little steps on the Wednesday.
Lacey then spent the day with my family on Friday and then on the weekend we went on the Bernina Express which is a train journey that takes you through the Bernina Pass into Tirano, Italy. A two hour ride we got to see some beautiful mountains, a glacier and little villages along the way. Once in Tirano we had pasta (of course) for lunch, gelato, walked around and really got to see the difference between Italy and Switzerland. Wow. Even though we were right on the border you can really notice how different the two countries are. I prefer the cleanliness and beauty of Switzerland while Lacey loves Italy. Each to their own we had a nice day which included great weather, good food and perfect company.
We got back into Switzerland at dinner time so we decided to eat out in the next town called Pontresina. It was an effort finding somewhere affordable but in the end it was such a nice evening that we didnt mind. Off to bed early Saturday night we then went with my family on Sunday for a walk to a glacier called Monterasch (spelling!!!) It was unreal as you can see the glacier when you begin the walk. One problem though. Where you begin the walk is where the glacier USED to be, but due to global warming and the way we are thrashing our environment the glacier is melting at a rapid pace. See the photo below to see what I mean:
Once at the glacier after a leisurely stroll we got to climb on to it a bit. It is actually quite dangerous to walk on to it too far as there is a chance that the ice may be too melted and you can fall through but we were right on the edge and got to see some of the caves, and also touch the ice. It was so great to be in a real life glacier just depressing at the same time to see how much it has melted in 100 years.
Then on Sunday afternoon I sadly farewelled Lacey as she had to go back to her own family to begin work. So I spent the following four days with my family, mainly just at home as they did alot of bikeriding.
It was nice to get away for two weeks but even nicer to come back home to all of my own stuff. So on Thursday after my family and I went to Schuol and swam around in the thermal spas for half the day I jumped in the car and drove home. It was the longest drive I have done since being here ( a bit under three hours) but I was lucky as I had the chance to take the car on a train for some of the way. It was 27 francs for a 20 minute ride but it takes you through a tunnel through the mountain as oppose to driving over the whole thing. I was especially glad to do this the other day as it started to snow just as I begun my journey.
I actually left earlier than my family so I could go to french class on Thursday night so I braved the cold and headed back out to Stadlehofen at 6pm. I love my french class. Dont get me wrong it is really hard and I am not very good at it but the teacher is so nice and I feel like I understand it alot more than German.
Friday I was lucky to have the day off so I cleared up my things and did a bit of shopping in town.
Lacey invited me to her house for a traditional swiss dinner called raclette. This is a machine that grills cheese and then you pour it over potatoes, meat, vegetables, etc. We even had it with prawns - it is so good. I now just need to figure out if I can buy one in Australia. Laceys bosses friends were also over so it was a great evening made even better by dessert which were the famous "luxembourgli's"
yummo!!!
Saturday was a freezing cold day but we were tough and headed out to explore St Gallen, about 1 hour from Zurich we had a nice day shopping, walking through a famous street painted red and seeing a famous church and library. Lacey was especially thrilled as she got to see a mummified person. Blehhhh! Heheheh
Saturday night we were invited to a friends birthday party in Baden (bath town) so we trakked out there and had a great time. We met heaps of new people and then we went into the city to the regular night spot called Lady Hamiltons. It was a bit of a big night and way too much vodka was consumed but we had a tonne of fun as usual and were nursing a sweet hangover all day Sunday... so what do you do? Hahaha eat a tonne of Chinese - yum grease!!
Weekend over and a new week is here, back into my usual schedule and looking forward to the weekend ahead where we are doing ZIP!
Friday, October 19, 2007
Autumn is here
Nothing very exciting has been happening over the last few weeks. Working, hanging out with my friends and starting to notice the small amount of time there is until I come home for Christmas.
I think this waiting period of coming home and seeing my family and all my friends after over a year has had me a bit on edge. I kind of want the next two months to fly by so that I can just be home with everyone. I have therefore been a bit unhappy just waiting and I also partly blame the weather which has gradually gone from sunny and beautiful to dreary and chilly.
The wardrobe has now been swapped over and all the summer shorts and swimming costumes have been packed away for next year and out has come the gloves, beanies and waterproof clothing! The days are already starting to get shorter in light and while I watch the temperature sore in Sydney it is dropping dramatically here. Don’t get me wrong some days it is still beautiful, but I am just hoping that the coming winter is like the last one: brief and not very snowy (at least in the city anyway!)
Last weekend some of the girls that I know got to go to Oktoberfest but I had to babysit on Saturday night so I stayed in Zurich. Luckily though I had the chance to meet up with a girl that I met in Bruge, Elizabeth. She is from Atlanta but she is currently working in Genova, Italy and was stopping in Zurich before she went up to Munich for the Oktoberfest also. Even though I didn’t know her that well we went out for Starbucks and had a really nice night on Friday night. She was filling me in on what she has been up to and her plans, etc.
Saturday rolled around I got to go to the Oma’s 70th birthfday brunch in Mannedorf. It was a really nice morning with Ruedi doing magic tricks and the kids having fun. Later on in the day then Lacey, Laura and I made our way out to the fairly new mall in Zurich called SihlCity. It wasn’t as big as I originally thought it may be but it was nice to be in a mall where all the shops are nearby. I was on the lookout for a new camera and knew which one I wanted but I was shopping around for the best deal. We had a quick look and then we went back to my house so I could be on time for babysitting. We got pizza for dinner and had the kids in bed reasonably early.
Sunday morning we had another brunch for Catherine and Beats friends so Lacey and I got to eat with the family. Then my day on Sunday was spent doing my photobooks that I am making. It taking forever but these books are soooo much money so I guess it should be perfect.
The past week was the final week of the school term and Noel was bringing home all his art projects over the last few weeks. French class has being going well. We have some new people in the class now and I am really enjoying learning this language. The pronunciation is far harder than German but it is nice to try something different.
Then on Friday Catherine and the kids left mid afternoon set for Samedan as we are going down there for the two weeks that are Autumn holidays.
So with an early mark on Friday I would have thought that this weekend would have been somewhat productive but I wasted a lot of time just lazing around….. Friday night Lacey and then Kristi came over and we made dinner together and watched a movie. The girls then slept over. Kristi left early to go to her Hot Yoga class but Lacey and I went out to buy my camera finally after deciding that the one I wanted wasnt really any cheaper in Duty Free. So I got my camera and I got a speacial deal where I got a free photo printer included. So if you start getting heaps of photos from me then you know why!!
Saturday night I then had the Gwen Stefani concert which turned out to be amazing. I went with Jenny, her boyfriend Martin and their friend Belinda. Then my friends Thomas and Christophe joined us at the last minute. It was nice to have a big group at the concert. We had the best time on the dancefloor where you can buy drinks like in a club. Gwen Stefani put on such a good show and she even came down onto the dancefloor with us so I got some of the best photos (with my new camera!!)
After the concert finished at midnight we made our way back across town to a club / bar called Mascot. We had to pay a 20 franc cover charge which is currently like a million dollars to me (since I am a broke arse) but it was worth it. I had the best time at this place. It was really trendy and played mad music. None of the people were really dancing but my friends and I made sure we were prancing around!
So after an extremely late night I kind of wasted the whole of Sunday. I did some last minute things like packing (I know I have forgotten a tonne of stuff for my 2 week trip…) but that was about it. Kristi and Lacey came over again for lunch bringing with them pasta which was nice.
Then at 6pm Lacey and I caught the train back into town so she could go to night church and I could get my train down to the mountains. I guess thinking that having no sleep and then expecting to be functional was a mistake. My boss wanted me to come down to the mountains after 7pm so that I could ride down there for free. I decided to come down a bit earlier so that they don’t have to get me so late at the station down there. Only problem with that is that I have to pay 15 francs.
No problem right?? WRONG! So I bought my ticket but then I didn’t get it out of the machine. I just left it in there like a total idiot. So just now I had to buy a second ticket on the train and pay a 5 franc surcharge. So basically the trip that was meant to be free ended up costing me 35 francs.
Now you guys at home are probably thinking… 35 francs not a big deal – but to me now that sort of money is so much. I don’t make a lot of money and when things like that happen it really brings me down. I know that my money at home that is funding my travel is running dry and in the past month alone I have had to buy a new camera, a new ipod and a new phone (don’t speak to me about it – I spilt milk on my old perfectly nice phone)
Aghhh I am so annoyed and now I am sitting on the train so angry at myself. I have a changeover in like 5 minutes so I better pack up my computer and then it is only 2 more hours till I reach the mountains. The ride down is so beautiful. I cant see anything though already because it is so dark. Only hoping now that I don’t fall asleep on the train and end up in Italy or something because the rate that my luck is going lately that is likely to happen to me.
In other news Lacey and I have now booked our ticket to go down to Naples for 5 days in November right before I come home. We are excited to go in the blue grotto, stick our heads in Mt Vesuthius (apparently the only active volcano in mainland Europe) and perhaps go to Pompeii and Amalfi time permitting.
Also Laura the girl who I have mentioned a few times in my blog was sent home on Wednesday night. She works for my bosses brother. Laura and her employers had a disagreement so based on the events she was sent home and flew out of the country on Thursday morning. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to her because it was so sudden but hopefully she will be happier back home.
Hope everyone is keeping happy back home in the Land of Oz. Happy 23rd birthday to Sahar AND Emerson for the 5th of October. Hope you guys had a great day xox
I think this waiting period of coming home and seeing my family and all my friends after over a year has had me a bit on edge. I kind of want the next two months to fly by so that I can just be home with everyone. I have therefore been a bit unhappy just waiting and I also partly blame the weather which has gradually gone from sunny and beautiful to dreary and chilly.
The wardrobe has now been swapped over and all the summer shorts and swimming costumes have been packed away for next year and out has come the gloves, beanies and waterproof clothing! The days are already starting to get shorter in light and while I watch the temperature sore in Sydney it is dropping dramatically here. Don’t get me wrong some days it is still beautiful, but I am just hoping that the coming winter is like the last one: brief and not very snowy (at least in the city anyway!)
Last weekend some of the girls that I know got to go to Oktoberfest but I had to babysit on Saturday night so I stayed in Zurich. Luckily though I had the chance to meet up with a girl that I met in Bruge, Elizabeth. She is from Atlanta but she is currently working in Genova, Italy and was stopping in Zurich before she went up to Munich for the Oktoberfest also. Even though I didn’t know her that well we went out for Starbucks and had a really nice night on Friday night. She was filling me in on what she has been up to and her plans, etc.
Saturday rolled around I got to go to the Oma’s 70th birthfday brunch in Mannedorf. It was a really nice morning with Ruedi doing magic tricks and the kids having fun. Later on in the day then Lacey, Laura and I made our way out to the fairly new mall in Zurich called SihlCity. It wasn’t as big as I originally thought it may be but it was nice to be in a mall where all the shops are nearby. I was on the lookout for a new camera and knew which one I wanted but I was shopping around for the best deal. We had a quick look and then we went back to my house so I could be on time for babysitting. We got pizza for dinner and had the kids in bed reasonably early.
Sunday morning we had another brunch for Catherine and Beats friends so Lacey and I got to eat with the family. Then my day on Sunday was spent doing my photobooks that I am making. It taking forever but these books are soooo much money so I guess it should be perfect.
The past week was the final week of the school term and Noel was bringing home all his art projects over the last few weeks. French class has being going well. We have some new people in the class now and I am really enjoying learning this language. The pronunciation is far harder than German but it is nice to try something different.
Then on Friday Catherine and the kids left mid afternoon set for Samedan as we are going down there for the two weeks that are Autumn holidays.
So with an early mark on Friday I would have thought that this weekend would have been somewhat productive but I wasted a lot of time just lazing around….. Friday night Lacey and then Kristi came over and we made dinner together and watched a movie. The girls then slept over. Kristi left early to go to her Hot Yoga class but Lacey and I went out to buy my camera finally after deciding that the one I wanted wasnt really any cheaper in Duty Free. So I got my camera and I got a speacial deal where I got a free photo printer included. So if you start getting heaps of photos from me then you know why!!
Saturday night I then had the Gwen Stefani concert which turned out to be amazing. I went with Jenny, her boyfriend Martin and their friend Belinda. Then my friends Thomas and Christophe joined us at the last minute. It was nice to have a big group at the concert. We had the best time on the dancefloor where you can buy drinks like in a club. Gwen Stefani put on such a good show and she even came down onto the dancefloor with us so I got some of the best photos (with my new camera!!)
After the concert finished at midnight we made our way back across town to a club / bar called Mascot. We had to pay a 20 franc cover charge which is currently like a million dollars to me (since I am a broke arse) but it was worth it. I had the best time at this place. It was really trendy and played mad music. None of the people were really dancing but my friends and I made sure we were prancing around!
So after an extremely late night I kind of wasted the whole of Sunday. I did some last minute things like packing (I know I have forgotten a tonne of stuff for my 2 week trip…) but that was about it. Kristi and Lacey came over again for lunch bringing with them pasta which was nice.
Then at 6pm Lacey and I caught the train back into town so she could go to night church and I could get my train down to the mountains. I guess thinking that having no sleep and then expecting to be functional was a mistake. My boss wanted me to come down to the mountains after 7pm so that I could ride down there for free. I decided to come down a bit earlier so that they don’t have to get me so late at the station down there. Only problem with that is that I have to pay 15 francs.
No problem right?? WRONG! So I bought my ticket but then I didn’t get it out of the machine. I just left it in there like a total idiot. So just now I had to buy a second ticket on the train and pay a 5 franc surcharge. So basically the trip that was meant to be free ended up costing me 35 francs.
Now you guys at home are probably thinking… 35 francs not a big deal – but to me now that sort of money is so much. I don’t make a lot of money and when things like that happen it really brings me down. I know that my money at home that is funding my travel is running dry and in the past month alone I have had to buy a new camera, a new ipod and a new phone (don’t speak to me about it – I spilt milk on my old perfectly nice phone)
Aghhh I am so annoyed and now I am sitting on the train so angry at myself. I have a changeover in like 5 minutes so I better pack up my computer and then it is only 2 more hours till I reach the mountains. The ride down is so beautiful. I cant see anything though already because it is so dark. Only hoping now that I don’t fall asleep on the train and end up in Italy or something because the rate that my luck is going lately that is likely to happen to me.
In other news Lacey and I have now booked our ticket to go down to Naples for 5 days in November right before I come home. We are excited to go in the blue grotto, stick our heads in Mt Vesuthius (apparently the only active volcano in mainland Europe) and perhaps go to Pompeii and Amalfi time permitting.
Also Laura the girl who I have mentioned a few times in my blog was sent home on Wednesday night. She works for my bosses brother. Laura and her employers had a disagreement so based on the events she was sent home and flew out of the country on Thursday morning. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye to her because it was so sudden but hopefully she will be happier back home.
Hope everyone is keeping happy back home in the Land of Oz. Happy 23rd birthday to Sahar AND Emerson for the 5th of October. Hope you guys had a great day xox
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