The first month in the new year. The first month in a new century!
It’s kind of a weird month. It’s the time after a wonderful (Christmas) vacation and started actually quite busy. Work already became somehow crazy. The weather was odd (cold, warm, plenty of rain, grey and still no snow…). Christmas is over and spring seems again far away.
Besides that:
Studying (for an exam I failed today…).
Hubby on business trip(s).
Corona virus (my trip to China has been canceled).
Started fasting. Changed fasting method. But still fasting.
Miss my social life because of studying.
Cooking & eating healthy.
Good long walks with Charlie.
It’s time for February: the crazy 5th season of the year, a surprise in the snow, Valentine’s Day, friends nights, girls nights, family nights. More free time due to canceled business trip to China.
Oh, February, I love you already. Not only because yesterday was an odd date: 02.02.2020 (you can read it backwards as well, isn’t that cool?).
Today is the day. You reached the point of no return! That sounds final. Final, after many years of discussions and fights…
Still many things remain unclear (hubby still waiting fir his German driver license). Let’s see if and how I can make it to N. Ireland in April… hubby is fine with 2 passports.
Sad but what can you do? We are going to celebrate (or get wasted) in the Irish ☘️ Pub tonight.
@Scotland: keeping my fingers crossed. Keep fighting for independence!
Winter is back. Grey, cold and wet. And needed a distraction from studying.
Finish work a little earlier. Meet your bestie. Choose great colors and some cups and off you go: coloring (or bubbling) for a couple of hours! So much fun. Looking forward to see the final result next week.
We got so inspired. It was so much fun. I am sure we will be back soon. Those espresso cups and salad bowls are waiting to be painted…
China is currently celebrating the spring festival. Chinese New Year, the biggest event being celebrated in China. And the new year is the “year of the rat” – the year I am born in… (I should be wearing red underwear… because the year you are born in is supposed to not be your lucky year, that is when the color red comes in… forcing the luckiness).
When Chinese friends & family see each other these days they first wish each other “gong xi fa cai” – “hope you get rich”! Followed by “Xīnnián kuàilè” or “happy new year”.
This years focus might be more on staying healthy… the corona virus (or Wuhan virus) is getting seriously spread. My Chinese colleagues keep me updated about the local status. Daily. And it doesn’t look so good at the moment.
I already started my obligatory preparation for the planned business trip in 2 weeks:
masks are sold out in China, but even the delivery time on Amazon took a while…
Now waiting to see if this trip is going to happen… or better to be postponed…
It’s January. The birds are back and beautifully singing. The sun is shining. The sky is blue. It’s too warm for winter coats. And there is tulips on my table (next to the honey wax winter candle). Is it already spring?
Zermatt, the heart of the Swiss Alps. Taking the train to the snowy village is already a true fairytale. Zermatt is nestled at the foot of the mighty Toblerone mountain, the Matterhorn. For the last days we truly enjoyed the Matterhorn in front of us. Next to us. Below us. On top of us. Big, proud & dominant. Legendary.
Zermatt is love at first sight. A village where the only traffic noise you’ll hear comes from cable cars, electric taxis, and the mountain train. It’s a place where you can ski & hike above the clouds, soak away your troubles in a hot tub with a majestic view, step right into the highest glacier palace in the world or enjoy rustic food at a cozy mountain restaurant.
It’s a true Alpine paradise: my husband refreshing his snowboard skills on YouTube… The snow is amazing and skiing is excellent. I wondered if I would ever reach the bottom of the run. It is a skiers dream with so many freeride possibilities and pistes (you could Ski to Italy if you wish). All of this unfolds under the watchful gaze of the Matterhorn that dominates the landscape. And those lunch breaks: chilling at 3000m, sun bathing and majestic views inclusive… that blue sky… amazing!
Food and travel go hand in hand, and when it’s cold you’re totally entitled to eat more indulgently (haha!). From rich cheese fondue (or meat fondue), to raclette, and rostis as big as your face, the restaurant experience is fantastic. We discovered wonderful hidden “Hütt’n” on our hikes into the mountains. And they are packed (not so hidden after all)! And delicious!
Our New Year’s Eve dinner (the grocery shopping was fun, so much choice of Raclette cheeses!!!): Raclette (probably forbidden) in our hotel room with smoke detectors. The solution: grilling with open balcony door at minus 3C degrees (gloves and hats are not only for skiing!). A dinner to remember (paper plates and plastic forks).
Skiing. Jacuzzi. Snowboarding. Spa. Cheese fondue. Ski in/out hotel. Hiking. Sauna. Meat fondue. Cross-country skiing (the only thing for free in Zermatt I think). Raclette. Sleeping in. Viewing the Matterhorn. Relaxing. Naps with a view. Winter. Wonder. Land. The Matterhorn. Zermatt. Switzerland.
In spite of traveling so much of the world, there are those moments that still make us go “whoa!”. A wonderful white vacation. It’s fantastic to be back in the mountains and the snow. You only know what you missed when you get it back… It feels great to be back home in Europe!
Seeing enough of the Matterhorn? It’s not possible! Breathtaking views. Everywhere.
so far only fake snow… it feels more like spring outside…
A cake for daddy’s birthday tomorrow. A bit of a challenge I have to say (not the baking itself but connecting all the electronics…): How do I notice that we have been abroad? Because of our different plugs and devices with different voltage. “A house doesn’t loose anything…” I made it (on time)!
American plug in Chinese connector trying to get Germany electricity to work…
our transformer to make the US devices work in Germany
some last leftovers: vanilla from Japan
voila! worked out: a Christmas winter cake: Spekulatius-Mascarpone-Sahne. mmmmhhh.
I love wrapping gifts… all ready for next week 🙂
It’s so wonderful to be back in a country that loves to celebrate Christmas.
