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I sniff a weekend coming

E often spoils me(us) by bringing us breakfast in bed on weekends. I *love* it.

 

My written top 10 goals is prompting me to act

Not much snoozing happening around here: I think I might have slept for 3 or 2 hours last night. And whose fault is it I hear you ask? Mostly mine (I was busy with emails), although the bedroom heater conspired by refusing to work effectively when I finally surrendered on typing and sending. I shivered in bed for at an hour or so wishing fervently for another blanket or electric heater. 

I am Ms. Emails:  I sent out a few which was long overdue and part of my 2012 goals (more of that below). They include emails to: (1) the German company we bought our expensive furniture from, plaintively asking for help - to sort us out once and for all (they brought wrong pieces which couldn't be assembled; our living room remains a forlorn state) and (2) various friends regarding the deets of the party we will be hosting in summer. The deets took some time to prepare and involved a lot of research. It was fun (one of my 2012 aims); I'm so easily amused. 

I haven't caught up on my missed zeds yet: Having to rise early this morning as the handyman was scheduled to appear first thing this morning. Sad to report that he turned out to be a no show - apparently "forgetting" about it. Funny to find these things happening here. First the delayed trains in Germany - now this. I feel somewhat let down somehow, expecting better Swiss/German efficiency (am I stereotyping?).   

Lunch, tea and cake with lovely gal pals: I haven't discussed about my top ten 2012 goals here yet, but they include having fun while planning the summer party, exploring all things Basel and forming strong friendships. What better way to support the last two than to organise lunch followed by tea and cake at places I haven't been with the girls I like and get along with from the course.

I chose a lunch place based on a good internet review; It was located on the side of the river. We got lost, traipsing in the cold for 10-15 minutes before gratefully finding the restaurant. Conversation carried on and on over lunch and then over tea/coffee and cakes as good outings go. We all agreed it was fun; I will plan another one in coming weeks. Ooh, I'm so pleased that my goals for the year is prompting me to act. 

So -why on earth did I choose to travel in the cold?

HM and I have been friends since 1999: HM is one of those old friends I can not only debrief various stuff with but also bare my soul to and expect to receive rationale, honest and non-judgemental feedback (and vice versa). We started off our angst-ridden PhD journey together (not realising that the other was equally angst) and have found out since then that nothing is too insignificant for us to dissect and discuss.

Finally catching up: I had chosen to make the long train journey involving 3 changes despite desperately wanting to stay and settle into everyday life here because HM and I hadn't seen each other since February 2010, mainly due to our conflicting schedules. And we had so much things to catch up on: our respective move to different continents, new additions to our family and changes we were experiencing in our professional lives. 

Of course, I didn't expect to spend long minutes waiting for delayed trains or have the journey time expanded. Still, I suspect this would not have swayed me from making the journey. It was an investment I could afford and wanted to make. Sometimes, one just has to bite the bullet and do tedious things like hopping on and off economy class coaches to maintain special friendships don't you fink? 

 

I took these pictures a few days before I left for Germany

 

 

 

Train journeys take much longer than you and I think

 

Fact: German trains systems are also affected by delays.

Delayed on the way out: My supposed to be nearly six hours journey involving 3 seamless changes to Ingolstadt took an additional hour. The train which was to take me from Stuttgart to Nurnberg arrived c.25 minutes later than expected and caused me to miss my subsequent train from Nurnberg to Ingolstadt. 

The wait on the platform was p.a.i.n.f.u.l. It was bitterly cold with a temperature of -17c. My body was protected by my many layers of thermal but my poor booted feet froze. Yeyse, I am a wimp when it comes to the cold but there, on the platform at Stuttgart, I saw grown men in business suits and thick coats shivering.   

Epic journey back:  More than 8 hours, due to another delay. Like previously this caused me to miss my connecting train and I found myself having to travel up to Frankfurt from Nurnberg just to get the connecting train down to Basel (it reminded me somewhat of my zig-zagging backpacking days). 

This time I was more prepared having worn thicker woolen socks and inserted heating pads into my boots (given to me by the thoughtful HM; they are apparently indispensable in Canada). The delay also happened in Ingolstadt and came with a warning before hand. This meant I could spend some waiting time skulking around in the sheltered station and was only exposed to the harsh conditions that was the windy train platform for a further 10 minutes (when it was announced the train was again delayed). I used this time to take the pictures you see below. 

 

{my feet warmer, I could appreciate my surroundings better}

{late again}

{the wheels of my new carry-on probably in tears}

{what the city is good at producing}

Germany

Hello from Ingolstadt.

Herr Meyer (HM) has just left for the airport to go back to North America; I'm going to the train station shortly to head back home. HM's mum has gave me a lot of jam to bring back, knowing from past years how much I LOVE her home made jam. HM's dad who doesn't speak to me very much (not surprisingly as I don't speak any German...yet) might drive me to the station with his hunting car if HM's mum is not back from the airport in time. Yesterday, I saw a dead bird with nice feathers outside on the driveway.. HM's dad motioned to me to see what's inside the garage like store. I was expecting to see another dead bird - maybe a bigger or more beautiful one .. and screamed when I saw instead a wild boar hanging from the ceiling: a bounty from HM's hunting a few days ago. 

***

I had a very pleasant surprise yesterday - meeting up with old friends from Spain. I had written on fb that I was here and it was spotted by a couple of Spanish friends who had moved here. They had been living outside Barcelona in the same old farm house as F from a few years back and the last time I had seen them was probably over dinner in 2003 or 2004. They exclaimed themselves to be Spanish -ergo having no problems to spontaneously show up at HM's house at 930pm last night. We had a great time catching up. 

Planning for 2012

Ok folks, I know, I'm likely to be 1 or 2 months slower than you all - thinking hard and planning the specifics relating to 2012 only now. The fact is - I need to be myself, with no interruptions, a note book, a nice chosen pen and in a "yeah, I can so totally do this" state of mind to do this.

Indeed, a particularly good session would require a re-read of the book below, which I bought more than 10 years ago in KL and have moved along with me (Leicester, London, KL, HK and now Basel). I've just unearthed it from one of my boxes a few days ago (upon coming back from Sing) and started re-reading it. Still at the early stages of the book (hard to focus when I have a cute 4 year old tugging at my trousers to play) but already I am feeling inspired.

I had forgotten and was reminded when I opened the book that I had scribbled in it. Once in 1998 and then 10 years later: 1999 turned out to be a great year for me. I persevered and changed my lifestyle to lose close to 8 kg, which I had recklessly gained from consuming one too many roti pratha breakfasts and evening cocktails upon returning to KL in 1997. I also got my act together to chase and win a position and grant which allowed me to pursue a PhD in the UK.  2009 was another interesting year. A year of change in HK, with a number of highs and lows; I realise now, retrospectively, that the events in 2009, collectively formed the catalyst for my subsequent epiphany in 2010.

What's in store for 2012? I'm still thinking about it but it's not hard to figure out that I would be aiming for (in no particular order) a good and successful career, happy family and healthy, fashionable and zen self. Now, to work on the deets!     

 

 

Acrylics and canvas in Singapore

G treated us to an art jamming session while I was in Singapore. I focused on animal cartoons. It was a learning experience. Lessons for next time include: (1) regardless, start by sponging the background; (2) use smaller brushes -they are much easier to control and; (3) bring along a black marker to make clear outlines.  

{Realising I'm may be better off with a sponge}

{Work in progress}

{The finished product with a message delivered to a delighted receiver}

 

New apartment

 

 

{our room with a view}

 

 

{my first work of art* - in the living room} 

 

* Car tracks from masking tape - Idea gleaned from a blog somewhere (I can't remember where) on how to amuse little boys while travelling light.   

Settling in

{view from iced window upstairs - old home)

Back home: An uneventful and smooth flight back to Basel but a wonderful welcome at the airport. I was greeted by E and LE - the latter rushing and jumping towards me. I had missed him so very much there was nothing to do but to drop my bag and catch him for a long, big hug. It's so nice to see him again - I really (100x) love him.   

It's snowing: E and I talked about taking LE out for a walk in the forest on Sunday - after I arrived but reconsidered when it started snowing. We subsequently kept warm, playing indoors and watching cartoons on television. It is still snowing but LE's teachers and school mates are made of sterner stuff: this morning LE joined them for his weekly activities in the forest.  

Where am I again? I'm jet lagged. This time I'm not only feeling disoriented but also achy, like I've caught a bug from my fellow passengers. Dangdamnit. I know I'm back in Basel now (and not Singapore or KL or Spain or HK or Copenhagen) but still I'm not feeling entirely settled: we are making trips to and fro our old house and new apartment as the latter is still missing many things including much needed wifi.