I have been up to so much since I last put fingers to keys. I guess there is no better place to start (.....than the very beginning, a very good place to start) than where I left off. When last I scribed I was walking through the hills, taking in the autumn leaves, breathing in the fresh (cow) air and belting out the occasional yodel, Swiss rap style (yo, yo-del...klaus is in de haus....you get the idea).
Well you may have noticed that the title of this entry is "Oz" and this is because I had a little journey down under to see family and friends. So for anyone reading this who I did not get to see I am very sorry and will rectify this at Christmas time and New Year when S and I venture down under for an Antipodean Xmas.
You know that any journey means a story of flight (an no, not the marvel that it is and a history of the Wright Brothers) but I am feeling kind and so will keep it relatively short but maybe still throw in a few pictures. S had already left Switzerland to go shopping for clothes in Asia (I am sure that is what his job is....he kept talking about jackets and learning more about them). I had a few days in the chalet on my own and was very excited by the first snow of the season.
My lovely cows did not seem too phased and I am guessing they are wanting to enjoy as much time outside as they can until they are relegated to the barns (or Bali) for the winter - do cows fly south like birds I wonder?????
I did meet some lovely baby cows (or veal as I like to call them) who thought I was very curious until a cat distracted them.....don't they know it is all about me!
So the day of the journey came and I had organised for a car to take me to the airport. Not that I am lazy, well, OK, perhaps, but I was concerned about lugging my luggage through train stations. I know, thousands of long haired, smelly back packers can do it so why can't I? You will be pleased (or shocked) to hear that I took the train on the way back. I am so at one with the people.
My routing would take me from Zurich to London then Singapore and Perth or ZRH-LHR-SIN-PER for those of us with a bit of geek. The flight to LHR on BA was fine and they served their stock standard "salad" in Club Europe. It was so average I did not even take a photo! Arrival meant a change of terminals from 5 to 3 and the safety and security of the BA First Lounge.
As I was travelling in First (love a points upgrade) I was able to use the pre-flight dining option. It is a nice dining area but it has to be some of the worst duck I have ever had. Tough as duck's feet and there was sand in my spinach. Hoorah for champagne!
The crew from LHR to SIN were magnificent. Very generous with the champagne and drinks and very attentive. We ended up leaving about one hour late as they had to offload a passenger who was drunk and abusive to the crew. Apparently he got arrested when he left the aircraft as he threw a punch at one of the ground staff. Silly man! I had a tight connection in SIN (50 minutes) as did a number of others so the aircraft was held in SIN and was literally across from our gate so was a quick and easy transfer. Next flight was ho hum with an ambivalent crew but was comfortable enough on the A330.
Ma and Pa were there to pick me up in the wee small hours and we had a lovely catch up and a couple of wines and headed off to bed about 3:30 am.
Time in Perth was great and although I caught up with a bunch of people I forgot to take any photos. One of the perils of coming home I guess is that photos do not seem necessary. I need to correct this on the next visit. Essentially I rolled from one meal to the next.
Had a great dinner on Saturday night with Brett at the Heritage (a new Perth dining establishment, even if I did have to send my schnitzel back as it was served on a sweet potato puree, peas and anchovies - it looked terrible). This was followed by drinks at Print Hall.
Breakfast with some of the boys the next day (Michael, Ian, Simon, Robert and Brett) was just grand in Maylands. So great to be able to get a decent coffee again. This was followed by a family lunch at Ma and Pa's with three excited kiddies pleased to see their Uncle Rodney, I mean, who wouldn't be? Lunch could only be followed by dinner with some of the book club girls and family (Mem and Melissa).
Monday for me involved a meeting with the bank (so some of the cost of the flight is tax deductible!) and then dinner with Mark, Simon and Brett at a local Thai Restaurant - Full Moon Thai or Sun Rise Thai, or Meteor Exploding Thai - I just can't remember. I should add that I also took my parents back to the airport as they had to attend a funeral in Holland. A sudden decision by them but I would see them in a couple of weeks in Switzerland (brace yourself for the parental blog).
Tuesday I did a spot of shopping at Karrinyup before having lunch with Alanna and getting to meet their new border collie, Speck - which by the way is bacon in German! I am told that he is called this as when he was a pup he had a particular speck of fur and not the threat of becoming dinner for misbehaviour! It was then an Indian Curry with Ian and Michael for dinner (the curry and not Ian and Michael of course).
Wednesday was a travelling day for me and the lovely Lisa (sister in law) took me to the airport to catch my Virgin Australia Coast to Coast service to MEL. Little Ethan was with us which meant looking at planes and fire engines - nothing wrong with that, there could be hot fireman to see! Grand flight over with DJ and scored a bottle of champers - lovely - which was shared with Kate that evening after she picked me up.
I was terribly lazy on Thursday. I think the food, booze and jetting around had caught up with me. I took myself out for some brunch and then spent the afternoon reading Judith Lucy's two books. I have to say I have never laughed so hard in a book before - I had tears rolling down my cheeks! I also had a very furry companion.....the lovely Miley....
Very little meowing, lots of purring and sleeping. Miley did something similar - boom tisch!
Friday was much more active and I headed off to see Pete the Personal Trainer and have a session too. I was sore for a few days after that but a very happy sore. It was then a quick journey up to sunny Blackburn to see all of those that were left at Retravision. They are all gone now. the building sold and the end of an era. I also read that the WA office will be closing down too and the brand being sold off to another buying group.
Dinner that night was with a few of the former work crew (Adam, Kerri and Praveen) and I actually took photos of us in Gingerboy - gotta love their son-in-law eggs!
Saturday started off with breakfast with some of the boys (Stuart and Malcolm) before having dinner that night with Kate at a modern Asian restaurant called "Davids" - the food was fantastic as of course was the delightful Kate.
The endless food and drink continued on Sunday where I took myself into the city to absorb some Melbourne atmosphere and buy some DVDs! the afternoon was catching up with Malcolm for a beverage at the Railway Hotel followed by dinner at Mitsy's Diner - no michelin stars here just lots of good old American fried fare. Was lovely to be able to catch up with Dale, David, Malcolm and Stuart again.
All of a sudden my Outback adventure had come to an end and it was time to saddle up and head back to the mountains. It was a long flying day as I went from MEL-PER-SIN-LHR-ZRH and the flights were generally pretty good. The big QF is still an excellent airline with a great bunch of people working for it.
So I am safely back in the Alps and was met by a thick layer of snow across everything and no cows. I didn't even get to say goodbye.
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