7 - 14 January 2013 - Reality sets in

So, we are back from down under, suffering the usual post holiday blues - yes, even those not working can suffer those!  Attacked the Mt Everest pile of washing, caught up on all sorts of little admins and then reality sets in.....

I had always said that I would take six months off and somehow that has disappeared and there is no fun in negative cash flow.  So January is here and it is time to start the job hunt.  Where to even begin!  Well I already had my LinkedIn profile and I also set up a Xing profile (the German version on the recommendation of S).  So I have been online sending off applications like there is no tomorrow.

Obviously my lack of fluent German is an issue, even if I had started the course some months ago, fluent I would not be.  As an aside I start my intensive course on Monday - five days a week for four weeks from 8:30 am for three hours.  Means a very early start from sunny Einsiedeln to get into Zurich by 8:15 am!  Ouch - this will be a shock to the system.

Not really had many bites or even an interview.  This could get a bit soul destroying!  I have now a meeting with Michael Page - a start and have had some hints on how to set out my CV.  Different to Oz.....they like a photo and your age in it.

So what have I been doing in between applying for roles.  Best explained by way of pictures:

I have continued to explore and walk the town.  We have had a lot of snow and Einsiedeln looks very beautiful.

I found these guys and finally worked out where frozen chickens come from!

Loving the snow.

So pretty and pretty nippy.  Sometimes it is so quiet I wonder if there has been some sort of world catastrophe that everyone else knows about but me!  A bit morbid...clearly too much time on my hands.

This is my new horse friend...bit of a close up but I think I had just sneaked him a carrot so he was more a bit more affectionate!

This was a Christmas gift from Mum and Dad - a 3-D jigsaw of Paris.  It was a lot of fun to build.  You start with a base map, then the upper map and finally the buildings and the bridges.  Cool and geeky at the same time or so I keep telling myself!

Cold Sunday afternoons leave Rodney with itchy fingers.  So what better way to keep himself entertained than with Lego! And it is a plane too. 
I also have Lego architecture sets of the Guggenheim and Rockefeller Centre - happy me.

We had an afternoon in Bern as S had to renew his passport.  Those Germans are sticklers and you need to have an interview at the local Embassy - he passed!

We saw a fun van on the way there.

We enjoyed the cobblestone streets.

And took in the sights - this is parliament house Swiss style for the Confederation Helvetica - in case you were wondering this is where the "CH" comes from on the stickers on cars.  We all want it to stand for chocolate or cheese but sadly it is something a little more dull.

 

 

 A bit random but another gift from Mum and Dad which I

 had to share.  It is a game of solitaire where the pieces are cows! How neat is that?

 

 

 

The Australian Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry had an Australia Day function on 24 January at the Renaissance Hotel in Zurich.  The Chef there is Australian and as such the food had an Aussie lean to it.  It was very cool to see that one couple brought their kelpie (Daisy) resplendent in a Driz-a-bone, flags and Fosters.  It was a fun night and I met some great people including the Honary Consul for Australia who is actually Swiss......yeah I can't work it out either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next entry will be on my recent trip to Holland to catch up with Ma and Pa, the Dutch relatives and my Uncle's 70th birthday.

30 December 2012 - 5 January 2013 - Christmas Batical - the last part

When I last left you we had checked into the semi-glamorous Hilton on the Park where we had a nice corner suite with views over the city and the MCG.  There was very little time to relax as we had a pressing dinner engagement in the Crown Complex.

30 December 2012 - more food, or so we though

I am not really a fan of all things "Crown" but I had wanted to try Spice Temple for some time.  Granted I had heard some mixed reviews.  We met James and Stuart there after a relaxing walk in the sun.  The restaurant is quite dark but we had a nice table by the window.  This is where the positives firmly end.....it was very quickly explained to us all of the items which were NOT available on the menu.  This included a number of their signature dishes.  OK, I can accept you run out of some items.  So we ordered some things to be then be told that more items had run out.  This was getting annoying so we spoke to a manager who did not apologise but kept saying that because of the public holidays they could not get items delivered.  This was a Sunday and the Thursday and Friday were not a holiday!  We then got told that they were also open for lunch which meant they ran out of items.  I had had enough by this stage and indicated that they needed to find us somewhere else to eat.  They found us a table at Rosetta (another Neil Perry restaurant and we ended up having a great night).  I think they need to change the restaurant name to Space Temple for all the room they have on their menu - it was a disgrace.

31 December 2012 - NYE

S was thrilled that we had no commitments all day which meant a lovely sleep in (we ended up having breakfast only once for the six days in Melbourne) and some time to wander through downtown Melbourne.  Had a lovely bite to eat at Caffe e Trattoria and bought some DVDs, had a walk in the park, tried not to get sun burnt etc, etc. 

Little rest back at the hotel and then it was off to the New Year's Eve festivities at Fenix Restaurant (owned by Gary Meaghan of MasterChef fame although I doubt he is ever at the restaurant anymore!).  The wonderful Michelle and Craig picked us up from the hotel and we got to the restaurant well in time to secure a great table spot.  You know, be the centre but not quite the centre.

 

It was a tasting menu and the food was pretty good, some ups and downs and not sure two desserts were needed.  We had a great waiter looking after us which helped a lot.  The drinks flowed nicely and then, oddly, as the witching hour approached, a decision was made to leave the restaurant.  As this was not really my group of friends I could not protest too much.  So we jumped in a cab and drove to a bar.....................which was closed!  So we found somewhere else open (The Boozy Rouge) and had midnight on the street.  Not terrible but not great.

 

1 January 2013 - a fuzzy start

 

Isn't it always the way that it doesn't seem like you had much to drink until you slow down or lie down?  Well, we both were suffering from a little malaise this morning.  Urghhh! 

 

We were meeting my Melbourne breakfast boys for a little picnic in the park and needed to feel more sprightly than when we first woke up.  Also needed to forage for food for said picnic.  The only option was to let my fingers do the walking and I ordered two club sandwiches to go.  I have to say that the Fitzroy Gardens are a lovely spot and perfect for a few butch boys to get together for a picnic.  We were joined by Mark, Stephen, Malcolm (and friend), Stuart (and Frank), Dale, David and Lindsay for a blanket luncheon.  Spent time gossipping, catching up, braiding hair, painting each others nails, just the usual.

 

S and I headed back to the hotel to inspect the pool to discover that it was overflowing with holiday revellers...so we scurried back to the sanctuary of our room to debate our dinner options.  Int he end we thought let's give the the hotel restaurant a go....our advice now is, DON'T.  It is overpriced, soulless and scant on choice.  That could be their tag line!  So we went for a wander and discovered not much was open, even in cosmopolitan Melbourne.  We ended up at the Grand Hyatt which was better.

 

2 January 2013 - Neigh!!!!

 

Another day, another missed breakfast as they say in the classics.  We managed to surface well in time to walk to the State Theatre where we had tickets to War Horse on Ice, just kidding, it was plain old War Horse.  I had seen the show in London (name dropper) and loved it and thought S would too.  We ended up with seats in the heavens but still a central view.  The puppetry is still incredible and I still highly recommend it. Go on, do yourself a favour!

 

My wonderful friend Kate, always at the forefront of what is new and hip, had organised a dinner at Moon Under Water at the Builder's Arms Hotel - phwoar - tradies maybe?  In fact it is a very elegant restaurant which is decked out in the latest style - all white.  We were also joined by a former flatmate and friend Louise.  There is no menu just a daily degustation.  The food was excellent and they also had a great wine list.  Highly recommended and bookings a must.

 

For us it was also walking distance which meant the pleasures of Fitzroy Gardens.  As many of you may know, it comes alive at night with bats and possums.  I reckon the possums are pretty cool and they were surprisingly tame and curious.........see below for the German version of Steve Irwin....

 

 

3 January 2013 - Food and Friends - the continuing story

 

We threw caution to the wind once more and skipped breakfast and headed straight to Mess Hall on Bourke St for a light lunch with David and Graham.  More gossip and airline geek chat followed by a coffee in the Greek part of town, I know that doesn't narrow it down all that much.

 

We had a few hours to digest lunch before we wandered into the city to meet Praveen and Adam (former work colleagues) for an Asian food bonanza.  Again was great to see them and to meet Adam's wife.  Last time we saw Praveen was in India where he could not stop dancing!

 

4 January 2013 - meal reprieve until dinner!

 

I have a feeling, but my memory is a big foggy that we may have even made it down to breakfast.  Really not sure though.  I do remember, if we were there that it was a little chaotic. 

 

I am going to stick with my fog analogy until dinner which is super clear! It was off in one of Melbourne's yellow taxi's to Flemington and a dinner with Mark and Stephan.  Always a super duper time with wine, laughs and yummy food thrown in.

 

5 January 2013 - the end is nigh

 

Well, that is the end of another down under adventure of the mostly culinary kind.  Today is our flying day.  This means some packing and stuffing around.

 

Car picked us up and whisked us to Tullamarine.  We had been trying to change our flight to the non-stop A380 service but the cost was too much.  Our flight was going via SIN to DXB.  So we thought we would ask at check-in.  Still a world of no as we were told First Class was full.  Oh well, it was worth a shot.  Never one to give up, we tried again at the lounge and lo and behold it was possible, including moving our checked in baggage across.  S and I both did not believe the lass at check-in and were proved correct - it is so good to be right!  We did reward the lounge lass with a bottle of champagne as a thank you.

 

That did mean an extra three hours in the lounge.  There are worse places to be!  Flights home were pretty good and managed to get a good night's sleep on the 14 hour flight to DXB as well as eating and drinking our fill!!  A380 is good fun and S liked the showers on board.

 

We ended up with a very tight connection time in DUS to make our Air Berlin flight.  The Emirates station manager was waiting at the door with our onward boarding passes - now that is service.  We made it with a few minutes to spare even with a very thorough liquids check at security.

 

What another fantastic journey.  It was so wonderful to see and break bread with everyone.

 

 

 

24 December - 30 December 2012 - Christmas Batical Part II

Well after a generally good sleep it was time to face Christmas Eve.  First order of business after a hearty breakfast with the parentals was to head off to Whitford City Shopping Centre to attend to an issue S was having with his Australian SIM card - he could not get internet access.  How do you keep up with Words with Friends otherwise?

By way of some history, back in the day, I spent some of my youth working at a very glamorous discount department store known as Big W.  Ah those heady days when shops were only open half a day on Saturday and there were no scanners and only two registers had an EFTPOS machine and credit card payments were processed on paper on a "click-clack machine".  Oh the memories....

It was then back to my teenage home for more food and a little rest before the evening festivities began.  Our wonderful friend Brett had kindly invited us and the lovely Kate over for a pre-Christmas BBQ at his villa - what could be better.  Me, being so excited to have my car thought I would drive.  Well, who is the sober fool!  The food and company was top notch and there was exchanging of gifts - what more could you ask for?  And can I just say could S, B and K throw back the champagne and wine...the catch cry of the night was "I could go another bottle".  There was discussion of leaving my car there and I was questioned on why I drove - I still have no sane answer to this!  At least there would be no hangover on Christmas day for me.  I am trying to find a positive in my foolish behaviour.  It was a fantastic night and a great prelude into the festive season.

 

25 December 2012 - Some special event happens on this date....

Christmas lunch was at Ma and Pa's this year and S and I were roused by my father telling us that the rest of the family would be there in 30 minutes....it was 10:30 am.  I knew that meant three little excited tykes who would be eager to get at the presents Santa and others had brought them.  I also knew there would be Lego for me to play with!!  Some I had bought for the nieces and nephew and others I would be receiving for me (two more Lego Architecture series).  So they all arrived and general chaos ensued with wrapping paper everywhere and squeals of delight....yes, mainly from me.

It was then time for lunch which my mother had been slaving over for days and it was delicious - so good, I tell you.  Lunch was accompanied by quizzes and word sleuths as supplied by my niece Sophie.  They were a bit challenging!  It was then back to the lounge room to immerse myself in Lego heaven.  I helped Hayley with her Lego Friends set and then started on a mammoth fire station for which one young Ethan, who was a little impatient, kept asking when we would finished - geez!

Highlight on the dessert front was Mum's alpine profiteroles with snow!

Late afternoon we ducked up to Brett's parent's place for another festive glass of bubbles and see how they had fared this Christmas.  It was then home to welcome the delightful Penny and Darren for a light dinner.   Mum is not so big on the word light so there was ample!  The picture below is of them in Paris...I forgot to take a festive snap.

It was then all over for another year and time for some rest, but maybe slip in another wine before bedtime.

26 December 2012

It was 'up and ad 'em' at a relatively early time for we had to sort ourselves out for the day ahead.  Of course the first stop was breakfast and then it was up to my brother's for more Lego building.  There were three sets to be made - goodness.  We made some good inroads but we had to drop in to some friends before our journey to the south west.  We dropped by to see Melissa and Mike (and family) and managed to catch up with a few folk there.

By now it was about 4:00 pm and time to take the Audi A5 convertible on its first journey to Margaret River.  It was a bit too hot for the roof to come off unfortunately.  After just under three hours we arrived just south of Yallingup to Cape Lodge.  I have always wanted to stay here.

At reception we were met by Stephan eating stollen, from Germany...we were to discover that there are very few Australians working in the South West.   Off to our Forest Spa suite we were taken and although the setting is beautiful the rooms are a bit underwhelming and the furniture feels a bit IKEA like and they were obsessed in vacuuming stripes on to all the furniture.  On the plus side when we arrived we were told that in our rate we had a dinner included (which was that night), and a winery tour and tasting at Voyager.  Who knew - we love free surprises!!

So off to dinner we shot again to be looked after by the United Nations of waitpersons.  This included a French wine waiter who was "'orrified" to be serving a chardonnay at 2 degrees when we mentioned that all the white wines were too warm - clearly we are plebs! I like my white wine to be crisp, especially when it is so hot.  The view from our table was wonderful (bottom right, above).  The restaurant had been rated one of the ten best in the world but I think the person rating it had only been to ten restaurants as it was not that great!!  Still, we ate and drank quite happily!

27 December 2012

We hit the breakfast buffet with gusto and a coffee was definitely needed.  It was then off to enjoy scenic Caves Road to Voyager Estate Winery for a little tour, tasting and lunch - not that we were hungry.  We had a lovely little journey through the vineyards and then to the tasting.  Lunch was advertised as two courses but it seems as if "bread" is now a course as there was only one course...hmmmmm.....

After this we hit the road again further south to Augusta and through some of the beautiful marri and karri forests....which S observed mostly through the back of his eyelids.  We made it happily to the gusty Augusta Lighthouse and it was time for some Kodak moments.  One of the guides was very excited to tell us that Switzerland has a lighthouse which of course is odd for a land locked country - I think the Swiss just want to have everything.  Apparently it is in Lake Geneva and is there to ward off foreigners, well, maybe not.

I had been missing my cow friends and they erected a statue for me.


The famed lighthouse where two ocean's meet.

Trying not to get blown away (but loving my Bally loafers) and before S went exploring on the rocks which to me looked very "verboten".









It was then back up the highway to the hotel for a little pool time before dinner which was to be in Busselton with my good chum Wynn at the Goose Restaurant.  I had driven so on return to the hotel we managed to sneak in a quick night cap at the bar.

28 December 2012

Somehow we managed to sleep through breakfast but they did ring us to see if we would be joining them - a nice touch.  As Kath and Kim would say, it was then "wine time" but not before a quick visit to the Dunsborough Bakery for a meat pie which I coupled with a meat pie - obviously I was having some sort of tradie fantasy.  Closest I will get is calling one to install something.

Then we tootled off in the Audi to Pierro and Cullen wineries.  As we had a late-ish start we limited ourselves and we wanted a little pool time. I also managed to get in touch with the debonair Patrick who was down at his south west retreat and so we also took ourselves for a visit and a champers.  So lovely to catch up with Patrice and hear all his goings on.

It was then back to the lodge (roof down, wind in our hair) for dinner where we tried the a la carte menu washed down with a wonderful local red wine.  Wine was excellent as was the truffle butter and the food was fine.

29 December 2012

Much to our mutual disgust it was an early start today as I had organised a myriad of social catch ups on the way back to Perth.  We did manage to get a decent breakfast in before we hit the open road.  First stop, Dwellingup where the delightful Simon was with his partner Robert.  This drive was stunning (and for those with their eyes closed, really dark) and really showed off the WA countryside.  We made it in record time and enjoyed a natter, some bubbles and laughs. 

As they say in the classics, it was then time to hit the road and this time to Yokine to see Jo and Suzanne, with whom I started my accountancy career with at Price Waterhouse.  They are now all happily married (one for the second time...) with kiddies.  Our friend Sharon was also there who I used to work with.  Again wonderful to see everyone and a great afternoon tea spread was provided with prosecco and coffee.  Really it has been been just moving from one meal to the next!

As if this was not enough it was time for drinks with the boys at The Cabin in Mt Hawthorn.  The funniest thing was that the manager asked us what the occasion was with all these "blokes" getting together for a drink - he asked if it was a "buck's night".  Yeah, something like that!  It was so wonderful to be able to see Mark, Simon, Ian, Michael, Brett, Donald and Mehmet.

I am such a good son and had agreed that I would have our last night at home with Ma and Pa.  Another culinary treat was in store and it was a wonderful way to finish off the Perth stay.

30 December 2012

Another day, another jet as they say.  10:00 am departure meant an early rising.  Ma and Pa took us to the Perth Aerodrome Qantas Domestic Terminal - full of flouro vests and bogans.  Thankfully we took ourselves to the Chairman's Lounge for some tranquillity before our long journey across the Nullabor.

It was then time to board the luxury Qantas A330 and settle in to 1A and 1B to Melbourne's Tullamarine.  Crew were great and very accommodating and happily kept the glasses topped up.  There was even a new Australian sparkling on board.

We then were whisked to the Hilton on the Park in a lovely Audi A8 where would lay our hats for the next few days.

22 December 2012 - 23 December 2012 - Christmas Batical Part I

Have you all missed me?  I know I have.  Who cannot miss those pearls of wisdom, insights and witticisms that only I could dole out.

We have been back from our Christmas / New Year journey for some time and I have been very lax in putting fingers to key.  In fact I suspect this may be in two parts.  What reasons can I give?  I can always use bone idleness but this was coupled with having about 18 loads of washing to get through, the third season of Downton Abbey (inc Christmas Special) and various other distractions such as snow and horses.  Hard to imagine that this could drag me away from my faithful followers but it did.  Added to that I have a cold....I bet I caught it from one of those pesky economy passengers when I went to explore the Emirates jet - never again I tell you, never again.

So where did it all begin, before I was struck down with this debilitating virus....I am surprised I can even move.  Well we left snowy Zurich on 21 December to head to sunny and much warmer Dusseldorf.  Why you ask?  Dusseldorf is a lovely city and the birthplace of my brother but essentially the airfare on Emirates was cheaper out of Germany.

To get to DUS it was all aboard Air Berlin on their zesty little Airbus A320 where the air hostesses wear red gloves to welcome you on board, and protect their skin from all those happy endings they give I suspect.  Check-in was hideous as the lass on the desk had no idea what she was doing or how to deal with our copious amounts of luggage.  We were in economy on this sector but both Emerald One World Frequent Flyers - not sure she had even heard of One World or even knew the days of thew week.  Anyway, all luggage was checked-in and no cost incurred.  It was then off to the lounge which had some strict rules!

We had one night in DUS and S had chosen well in his hotel with the Briedenbacher Hof Hotel.  Excellent hotel right in the heart of the city.  Rooms were great.  I did have a minor incident which did set me off - hard to imagine but true.  I opened my main case which had been carefully and lovingly packed to discover some sticky confectionery had exploded - I was not a happy smurf.  Out everything came, with a tantrum, and then a vacuum cleaner arrived and the staff even did the vacuuming - very nice.  then I calmed down and we had dinner and wine...always settles the wild beast.

Next day was a leisurely breakfast and a little walk around the town centre.  It was relatively sparse affair with "Continental Breakfast" meaning only bread and jam....similar to prison I guess.

Our limousine arrived to take us to DUS aerodrome where we checked in with Emirates with no fuss and a friendly check-in agent at the First Class counter.  Next step was security which was not so easy.  The First/Business fast track lane was being used by everyone and when S asked one of the officers on duty she replied with "First Class begins on the plane....".  Nice!  We made it to the sanctuary of the EK Lounge which looks the same as every other EK Lounge which is great from a product consistency point of view.










It was then finally time to board our Boeing 777-300ER for mystical Dubai.  It was a warm welcome on board and then an escort to our suite as we turned right on the jet.  It was time for champagne and in some ports now EK will serve the good stuff before take-off.  Hoorah, DUS was one of them.  It was then followed by dates and Arabic coffee neither of which I am a big fan of.  It was then time to settle in and prepare for our next six hours of what would be essentially being a couch (suite) potato - eating drinking and watching the IFE.  The crew were fantastic with nothing being too much trouble.  Here are a few cabin/food shots all surrounded by the bling that is EK....I am not a fan of the faux wood and gold trimmings....  In case you are wondering what the black photo with white dots is, well it is a picture of the ceiling in the jet where you have an image of the night sky (well, the ceiling has lots of small holes drilled in it and small lights shine through).

We made it to DXB on time and had a couple of hours to relax in the lounge.  DXB airport is still the same as I remember it, big, busy and crowded.  It lacks the serenity of Changi...I will miss it on those QF flights.  After a quick shoe shine and a champagne it was time to board the next Boeing 777-300ER bound for PER.

The crew were nowhere near as good as the first sector and in fact I would probably call them lazy!  Anyway had some food, wine and a snooze and all was well.  Arrived on time to a warm PER and Ma and Pa there to meet us.  Funnily enough at customs I got straight through but S had to go and be sniffed by a dog.  He was gone for a while....maybe he liked it.  He did describe the dog as cute and they did exchange numbers!

So I am back home in Perth to the wonderful hospitality of the parentals.  There is a never ending flow of food and drinks and that night was no exception.  It is only the beginning.....