Tuesday 25 December 2012

Merry Christmas

Seasons greetings my dear Blog friends.

Hope you all have a wonderful holiday.

Much Ginger love to you all.

Mwah xxx

Monday 17 December 2012

The Upward Assent

We finally went up a mountain; couldn't see nothing!

Husband's mother and aunt came to visit so we decided to take the cable car up the peak Pilatus in Lucern.

It was a breathtaking experience but due to the very cloudy and snowy weather could not see much in front of us when we finally made to the top. It's not really a ski peak so at the top there is really just a couple of restaurants and a hotel. Great place to good all you want to do is eat and have sex I reckon (and confirmed by a friend who spent a night there ;-)

I'd would like to go up again maybe on a day guaranteed with views.

Fantastic.

GBM





Tuesday 4 December 2012

The Back of Beyond

I'm am trying to work on a solution for my lack of time for Blogging. I hope you guys have not given up on me yet. I reckon it will be the new year before I'm fully set up and settled. I was hoping to do a little on my trip back to Ireland but wouldn't ya know the hotel we stayed in (which was fab by the way) only had Wifi at reception. Ah well, time was spent connecting with Husband and Family.

The place had a few nature walks set up around the hotel so Husband and I decided to jog them together. It made for some interesting and beautiful photos. Talk a look at Husband below.

Talk soon

GBM

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Away we go

Off to Ireland for the weekend to celebrate my parents 40th wedding anniversary. Wow so many years together. They are an inspiration. Off to some lovely hotel for the weekend and I hope I get some time to write and catch up with all my Blogger friends. I've missed your stories.

Talk soon

GbM

Tuesday 27 November 2012

The Second Best Thing I saw in Milan

Amazing floating Swami lady. Took my breath away. Having had time to mull over it we think we have figured out how she did it but still this is probably the best one of those motionless street performers I have ever seen.

Standing ovation.

GBM



Sunday 25 November 2012

Our visit to Milan

So Husband and I were in Milan at the weekend and possibly the best moment of the weekend came when we were in a department store near the Duomo.

GBM: Jeez love, look at yer one over there, she's got fierce bad Donatella Versace face on her!

Husband: That's because that is Donatella Versace

Oh er....

GBM


Tuesday 20 November 2012

Photoshopped Awesomeness

Stumbled upon this bad photoshop used to promote a pizzeria. I think if you have do something like this to promote your business you either need to make it really good or really terrible to get my attention.

Attention grabbed good sirs, attention grabbed.

Sunday 11 November 2012

We Made an Art


Look what Husband and I made today. Our very own piece of artwork to hang above our couch. Finally our living room is complete. Now we only need to finalise the hall and our bedroom (Husband has plans). Gotta say we were inspired by Mynx who is always out creating great paintings and encouraging her fellow bloggers to release their inner artist. Thanks a mill Mynx.


Husband and I, over the years seem to becoming more and more crafty and creative. In fact we realised all the framed pieces on our wall are our own creations, be it a triage of sun light themed photos or a tasteful nudie men collage.

Yay. Go art go!


Hope you guys like it.

GBM

Monday 5 November 2012

Oh Joy

Three days in to my new job and I've already  created and edited my first communication video. It's such a big change to be doing a job you truly enjoy. So I shall give myself and you guys too, a celebratory Tommy Bowe (attractive Irish Rugby player for those not in the know) as a reward. Yay work!



So far so awesome :-D

GBM

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Happy Halloween Everybody


So this is the bad boy I am reusing this year. I may have peaked with this creation.

Now to find a party.

GBM

Monday 29 October 2012

Reusing Last Years Halloween Costume...

...because I can't afford a new one.

New country so it shouldn't get noticed so much.

GBM

The Art of the Pumpkin Carve

So yesterday we turned these


Into these.

 

Bloody fantastic.

GBM


Sunday 28 October 2012

What a Difference a Week Makes


This was the scene last weekend, 24 degrees Celsius in Lucerne (75F), the sun blaring down from the a top the Alps.  Sitting out on a swimbad with my sister and her husband who were over visiting, enjoying one last Aperol Spritz (tastes like summer). It was like an Indian summer last weekend.

This weekend on the other hand looks a bit like this...


Gotta love Zurich. I do feel slightly discombobulated, I mean Winter Wonderland before Halloween has even been and gone. Well it's probably for the best that I got this job. Money so I can begin another new adventure, one that involves winter sports. Yes, I will be learning to ski and/or snowboard this winter.

Bring it on Switzerland. I am ready for it.

GBM

Hot Ginger of the Week: Alicia Witt


What ever happen to Alicia Witt? Why does she not grace us with her presence anymore? I remember in the late 90's it appeared her star was on the rise with big TV roles such as Zoey in Cybil and Hope in Ally McBeal and even a lead role in slasher movie Urban Legend (I know people think this is a terrible movie but I kinda have a soft spot for it).

Then what happened? She has since seemed to be relegated to supporting and walk on roles on television  I don't understand really but I guess it's just the way Hollywood can go sometimes.

Here's hoping she has something up her sleeve for the future to bounce back onto our radar.


GBM

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Best Friends with the Best Hands


Listen up all you readers situated in West Cork Ireland (of which I probably have none, haha), I got something to say to y'all. Now this is probably gonna come off like a sponsored post but I assure you nothing was exchanged for the promotion of this service I'm about to tell you all about. At least nothing other than this person being the most awesome spectacular friend any little Irish guy (or big and awkward in my case) could ask for and fantastic at her job.

So context people, the little lady in this pic is Carol and she is my oldest, closest and dearest friend for neigh on nearly 24 years now. We've known each other other most of our lives, she grew up in the neighbourhood right beside mine in our tiny town, she is the Joey Potter to my gay Dawson Leary (we all know he was probably gay, come on no real 15 year old straight male goes on like that, no wonder she ended up with Pacey, I mean subtext people ;-P). No but seriously, she is awesome!

So over the last few years my bestie has been making the move to make Massage her career, she took a course in Dublin (came out top in her class even) and has been my personal masseuse for the last two years before I packed up everything and moved all the way to Zurich. Seriously I do miss it, if you are reading this Caroly I would gladly use my first paycheque to fly you over, I need one after all this running I've been doing this last while.

Carol has a similar story to mine to tell as she recently packed in her life in Dublin to move to a new location. Where as my move brought, Swiss-German and the financial capital of Switzerland, Carol's repositioning saw her end up in a tiny town in the south of Ireland called Drimoleague (in West Cork, beautiful area) and whilst not technically a new language to learn, Cork people have been at times known to speak in a tongue not quite discernible to our outsider ears. It was an opportunity to grow her own business as a masseuse in a new state of the art fitness centre that took my bestie to this new location.



My loss is their gain as I have to say she is the best masseuse I ever had. Now I know you all think I am probably bias but when you think about it it's kinda a weird situation to strip down and get up on a table to allow your best friend to touch you up. Yet through it all she always made sure I was relaxed and didn't feel weird. We'd shoot the shit and catch up whilst she worked my muscles or if I wanted total relaxation both be quiet and I'd be known to fall asleep with relaxation.

You don't have to take it from me though as she was also Husband's masseuse and well he did not have the same loyalty to her as I did. Known to prefer only male masseuses (as in his opinion no female was able to apply the right amount of pressure he needed). That was until my bestie and he had nothing but praise for her and her work.

So now she's off, trying to make a name for herself in well, the countryside and I have every faith she will be a rip roaring success. Though I am sure many big successes have had help over the years ergo the point of my little post.

She has a business Blog where you can find details of her rates and massage offered. You can check that out here and on my Blogroll at the side too.

You can also find her on Facebook too (please like and share) and on Twitter (follow, follow, follow). I  do know my readers and a lot of you are mainly from the States and Oz but if you know anyone in the area or if any one who reads knows anyone in need of a excellent massage check out her pages.

Finally I'd like you all to help me wish her the very best in her new career.

Mwah sweetie, love you loads

GBM

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Slut-O-Ween Girls Listen Up


I saw this today on Entertainment.ie, great website FYI, even if you are not from Ireland, top notch hilarious insights on the celeb world and great music and film reviews (I cut my teeth submitting a few member reviews on it back in the day).

Anywho they posted this vid below and I just thought it was pretty spot on and had to share. It's nice that someone is speaking up for my favourite holiday. Girls honestly it has gotten out of hand.


Now I am not saying no to slutty, should the costume call for it then by all means but I agree with Emotistyle here and won't be endorsing unnecessary skankiness for the sake of Halloween.

Who thought that a sexy
Nemo was a good idea?
Childhood memories ruined
What do all of you think? Happy to let all slut it up for Halloween (gay men are equally as guilty) or time to put this fad in the ground?

GBM

I Am Job: Updated


After almost 6 months I finally did it, I got a job! This is a game changer, it will be a few months before it all settles and Husband and I can see where we stand but it is unlikely you will hear anymore posts about being poor in the world's most expensive city any more. I may need to find a new angle.

I am over the moon, I did enjoy my run as a 'Hausmann' but as I said in my first ever post, complete and total dependance is not something that I would ever truly feel comfortable with (it felt nice and weird like a foot rub from a monkey). I will soon be joining the ranks of all my fellow ex-patriates and begin contributing to this society who has more money than sense (and I will be one of them now, mwah ha ha).

Not going into to details on the job and company as its not very professional but I have managed to achieve a few things career-wise by moving to this new country where I do not even speak the local language.

  •  I changed my industry. My previous experience was very much in Administration and Customer Services yet I have managed to walk into a job in a completely different area which I have been trying to do for years
  •  I will be writing for a living. Corporate writing but as I said before writing has rejuvenated my soul so to be able to say this is my job is fantastic
  • We won't go without. I've heard about these crazy Swiss salaries but it was not until I held my contract in my hand that I realised how much mine and Husbands life was going to change
What does this mean for my Blog, well I am not going anywhere, I love hanging out with all you guys and I think this bug has bitten me badly. It may become less but I definitely won't but switching off for good. 

So if any of you are around in Zurich this Friday come join me for a celebratory drink. Soon they will all be on me. 

GBM

Friday 19 October 2012

Hot Ginger of the Week: Greg Rutherford


There is always something sexy about a winner, isn't there? In this years Olympic games Rutherford grabbed everyones attention as the Gold Medal winner in the Long Jump athletic event. Doing us gingers proud.


I recently saw him appear on the Million Pound Drop and it reaffirmed my beleif that I needed to include him in my little auld list of attractive redheads. He's has got the boyish good looks akin to a redhead Neil Patrick Harris and Husband and I sure do love us a bit of NPH (FYI Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog needs to be seen by all or it is a travesty).

Oh yes we all know which redhead we will be cheering on in Rio in 2016.


GBM

Wednesday 17 October 2012

Oh Mein Arsch

I saw this today and could not stop laughing at it.


I'm not exactly sure why, I think it could be because pain sounds so much funnier in German.

GBM

That Feeling...

...ever get that feeling that everything you have been doing for the last while has been building up to this very moment, a make or break moment. Here I stand on the precipice of a big change in mine and Husbands life and all I can do is play the waiting game...

...the waiting games sucks lets play Hungry Hungry Hippos instead.

GBM

Monday 15 October 2012

I Did It!

I appear to be going the wrong way

Okay I may have had a mild over dramatic freakout the night before my race, apologies but you guys know what I am like. In actual fact the race went really well and my time was not too bad and a personal best for me.

Finished the 10K in 1:01 and 410th in my category. Not too shabby especially for one who never jogged until a few months ago. I think I will do the half next year.

Also special congratulations to my hubby who successfully completed the half marathon with an amazing time of 1:58. I am so proud of you and you did fantastic.

Great day, great craic and the celebratory beer tasted amazing.

GBM

Friday 12 October 2012

Preempting my Jogging Failcess

Actual representation
I'm coining the word Failcess as this 10K I am about to do, could go either way and I am preparing for the worst. Here I sit now on this eve of jogging, about to embark on my biggest running milestone, nay sporting milestone even and I feel well, tired really.

These last few days have seen me busy, up ridiculously early in the mornings and not sleeping at night, maybe it's a bit of pre-race jitters, I do not know but what I do know is that I want my leaba (thats Irish for my bed).

So plenty of rest and relaxation is the order of today and it couldn't come sooner. Yesterday was a bit of a terrifying eye opener that made me realise how easily my 10k could turn into a jogging nightmare. I think I had maybe only slept about 3 hours on Wednesday night, a weird mixture of Husband and I being a bit giddy, staying up messing around way past our bedtimes, restless stirring in ones sleep after finally conking out and how the wet weather is making the cars and trucks that pass the road in front of our apartment sound ever so louder. Then to makes matters worse I suddenly  awoke with an overreactive gasp and the thought that I had left my umbrella in the entrance of our local convient store.

Similar example of my overreactive gasp 


So I spent the morning lying in bed trying to salvage my last chance saloon of a few more hours sleep lamenting umbrellas lost only for when my alarm finally goes off and I sleepily shuffle to the front door to see said umbrella waiting for me, safe and sound. What unnecessary nonsense, why didn't I just get up and check, instead of incessantly flustering about my bed in a state of bother and unease? Oh what brolly folly!

Needless to say this lead to a day of wanderment surrounded in a sleepy haze, I was the 'Walking Unslept' but still had important things to do despite my zombification so had no time to rest all day. Yet when Husband arrived home from work and egged me on to do one last pre-race 5K, I foolishly went along with him. Oh dear, 1.5K in I realised that all figures in the distance were looking rather foggy and blurry to me, the only way to get my vision back was to walk slowly. This was worrisome.  Then the inside of my mouth began to feel weird, kind of metallic, like it was full of blood yet also completely dry at the same time, I tried to spit to be sure there was no blood in my mouth but nothing came fort (sorry guys, this is kinda disgusting).  

When I reached a fountain I gargled some water and spat it out to check and it came out clear, no blood. My exhausted mind was playing tricks on me but at this point I decided it was time to go home. Walked home, felt weird, slightly worried about the race now. Grr, why did I not trust my gut to not go out yesterday, this setback has sent me into a state of flux. 

So today rest, relax, nada, bupkiss, I will veg on couch and to bed early. No worrisome brollies, no more terrible pre-race runs, just a whole lot of nothing. Tomorrow will come and go and whatever way I look at it there will be a good story to tell. The weather promises to be better and the town of Hallwill where the run is located is apparently beautiful. So whatever way it goes it will be worth the experience.

And finally the idea of failceeding is starting to seem more interesting to me than success or failure ever did. Three cheers for mediocrity and one bump to averageness.

All I ever wanted to say was that I did it anyway.

GBM 

Tuesday 9 October 2012

I Need to go Dark


I need to go dark for the next few days. I think I probably won't or at least shouldn't post until Friday as there are a lot of potential things happening this week that could see me in full time employment and my focus needs to be on them.

Please don't think I have forsaken you, it's just Papa wants his own money again.

Talk soon

GBM

Monday 8 October 2012

One Step to Stepford



Sunday came along yesterday with zero plans and a grandiose amount of free time, so I took it upon myself to get my inner Martha Stewart on and bake for the second time in my life. There is something about kneading dough that is thoroughly relaxing especially if everything is going your way. I decided to use the Gino D'Acampo's 'Italian Home Baking' book that my two best girlies from my previous job in Ireland, got for me as a going away present (ladies I think I might make the baking a regular thing on Sundays so top marks on the gift). So it was to be Filone All'Arrabbiata or for those who don't Italian, a  spicy rustic loaf with chilli and cayenne pepper. 

The book itself has some great tips for the wannabe baker, things I would never have thought about like how to knead correctly, how to make sure the dough does not stick to your hands or how to get that wonderful brown crisp texture to your bread. I was worried that it it would be a bit of a disaster given my being a newb and all but apart from a few niggly things my second foray in to the world of flour and yeast was a rip-roaring success. One hot n' spicy rip-roaring success even if I do say so myself. 

Husband, beautiful flower that he is, made some broccoli and blue cheese soup for accompaniment (Gino recommends that the bread be eaten with soup or cheese so we decided 'hey, why not both'). All in all it made for a delicious Sunday afternoon dinner. 

Honestly though I am at a point now where this House Husband malark would be preferable as something to do in my downtime and I am getting the itch to get back to work. I'm getting there, it's been slow and hard but I am getting there.

GBM
        

Thursday 4 October 2012

Admitting your Limitations


Remember a while back I told you all I was taking on a Mystery Undertaking? Well now I think it's time for it to be revealed (even though most of you guessed it correctly anyways).

Husband and I were planning on doing a half marathon here in Switzerland on the 13th of October and have been training for it since August. My training has come along in leaps and bounds and was getting there in terms of distance but I was having trouble pushing past 18K in a realistic time (there could have  been a possibility it would take me over 3.5 hours to complete, eek).  So I decided not to apply for the half in the end. The decision was a hard one as I was really hoping to do it but I am just not ready.

Yet all is not lost as on the day I will be doing a 10K run, it's not my original goal but it is still something. I can get to be proud of myself for getting that far, I mean I only took up jogging 5 months ago so I have come a long way since then.

Husband on the other hand has made jogging his bitch and will be doing the half and is going to kick some marathon ass. Bravo, bravo. I take solace from the fact that my original reasoning for taking up jogging in the first place was on a purely shallow desire to look better in the nip and well at least I can say mission accomplished on that goal.

I have grown accustomed to joggings face though so I will continue down this path of foot bounce and hopefully next year I will get all up on this half marathon.

Oh yes, you watch this space jogging, you won't know what hit you.

GBM

Tuesday 2 October 2012

Things Learned Yesterday....


....Rapperswill is a really cute little village but nothing seems to be opened on Mondays.

Okay guys last of my lazy posts as my parents leave today so I should be to regular programming tomorrow.

Love y'all loads

GBM

Sunday 30 September 2012

Things Learned Yesterday.....



....watching Doctor Who from your couch bed makes for an altogether more comfortable viewing experience.


GBM

Saturday 29 September 2012

Things Learned Yesterday.....


.....people will queue for hours to get the new iPhone from the Zurich Apple store.

Could ya be arsed? 

GBM

Friday 28 September 2012

Teary Tuneage: Airplanes by Local Natives


I've heard this song countless times and I've always known it was about the passing of band member's Kelcey Ayer's grandfather who he never really got to know. His father used to tell him many stories about his grandfather hence the lyric 'I did not know you as well as my father knew you'. Then after what must have been the 100th or so listen whilst travelling on a bus around Ireland, I started to cry. I don't know why, maybe it was being around my family, maybe it was thinking of the people we have lost over the years or maybe I was just hungover and emotional but the lyrics finally clicked in for me and set me off.


It's a really beautiful song and I hope you guys like it.

GBM



Thursday 27 September 2012

Blogging may be Intermittent or even Nonexistent...


... because Ginger Blog Mammy and Ginger Blog Daddy are coming to stay with us until Tuesday. So Husband and I will be taking them out and showing them what Zurich and Switzerland have to offer (my mother has made it pretty clear that fondue is not on the menu, ha ha).

So I may not be around you guys.

Talk to you all soon

GBM

Hot Ginger of the Week: Amy Adams


Is Amy Adams hot? Maybe this weeks post should be renamed cute ginger of the week or well, maybe not. She is a beautiful redheaded woman and yes is worth of the label of Hot Ginger of the Week.

Amy first grabbed my attention in the 2005 indie movie 'Junebug' playing the ever bubbly and heavily pregnant Ashley Johnson, a role in which she received her first ever Oscar nomination (she now has had three). After this she became a household name and one of the first ever live action Disney princesses in 'Enchanted'.

She's gone on to have huge success in a long string of movies including last years 'The Muppets' in which she performed this hilarious song.


Girl knows how to have a laugh. Next up for Amy is no doubt another Oscar nom for Paul W Anderson's 'The Master' and in 2013 we will see her grace our screens as Lois Lane. And you know what dear readers she kept the red hair for the role.


GBM

Tuesday 25 September 2012

I Couldn't Have Done This Without Being Blessed by the Almighty Dog


I won an award. Becca over at Everyday Life  has given me the honor of a Liebster Award. Looks like a 'My Little Pony' cutie mark. Tis Fagulous, why thank you Becca.

But I can't just take the award, no that would be too easy. I have a few things to do before I'm honored fully with the Liebster.

So here's the science part:
  • Each person must post 11 things about themselves
  • Answer 11 questions the person giving the award has set for you
  • Create 11 questions for the people you will be giving the award to (Warning: I may take the piss)
  • Choose 11 people to give the award to and send them a link to your post. Go to their page and tell them
  • No tag backs
It's a great way to connect with my Blog friends, especially since I've been neglecting them after my little trip to Ireland. So here goes:

11 things about me:
  1. I'm a redhead (duh) and proud of it
  2. I still have the same group of friends that I hung out with in secondary school (unusual)
  3. I'm a house husband (looking for employment in Switzerland tho)
  4. I'm obsessed with Music 
  5. I am a giant Man-boy
  6. I have a great relationship with my family and love them dearly
  7. I follow everyone back on Twitter because I just think it's a nice gesture (there are a lot of people on Twitter who follow me that just Tweet pics of their junk, have I set a president for this on my Blog?)
  8. I love fancy dress and Husband hates it
  9. I like to make fun of myself
  10. Blogging has rejuvenated my soul
  11. I'm incredibly happy right now
My 11 questions to answer:

  1. what are you currently reading or would like to read? I'm alternating between 'Brilliant: Memory Training' and Stephen Fry's autobiography. 
  2. If you could have dinner with one person living or dead who would it be? John Lassater of Pixar fame because no other string of movies have bought so much joy into my life
  3. If you could go back in time to one day in your life which day would it be and why? I would go back in time to a day when I was feeling incredibly low and anxious as a teenager coming to terms with his sexuality, not to change anything because it made me who I am today but just to let my then self know that one day everything will be fine and he(I) will be incredibly happy.
  4. Long or Short hair? Short, I did long and it was not a good look for me
  5. Favorite cartoon as a kid? X-Men, I loved Rogue.
  6. Morning or night person? Morning
  7. If your life was a movie what would it be a comedy, drama, horror? Dramedy 
  8. If you found yourself pregnant at this moment would you want a boy or girl? Becca are you serious? A girl I suppose but really how would this work?
  9. Hit shuffle on your iPod or if you don't own one turn on the radio and name the first song that plays? C'est La Mort by The Civil Wars
  10. If you were a singer and had to pick a duet partner who would it be and why? Jeff Buckley because Eternal Life would be my karaoke song if it was ever in the karaoke database (grr yet to find it) and I'd love to have met him 
  11. name the last movie you watched be it on TV or in the theater? Headhunters, batshit crazy movie

My 11 questions:
  1. What is your preferred method of birth control? (for example own face, coke douche?)
  2. If you could have any super power what would it be and why? 
  3. What is your favourite music album of all time?
  4. Do redheads have souls?
  5. If you were on death-row (I'm sorry about this) what would you order as your last meal?
  6. PC or Mac?
  7. Who is the most influential person in your life and why? 
  8. What is your favorite cartoon as an adult?
  9. Do you have any regrets? 
  10. Would you like to own a monkey butler (assuming no animal rights were violated, leave me be PETA)?
  11. How do you feel right now?
My 11 nominees: 
  1. Mynx @ Lizard Happy
  2. Laura @ Real Momma
  3. Terese @ You'll be Fine. I Promise
  4. Roisin @ Somewhereyonder's Blog
  5. Cecily @ Cycling in Paris
  6. Monkey Butt @ What's on your mind Monkey Butt
  7. Rafa @ Ramblings from my Typer
  8. Pickleope
  9. Emma, Belle and Erin @30's and just begining
  10. J.Day @ The Ramblings of Charlie Brown
  11. And last but definitely not least I'd like to nominate Liane Greathead for this also. Liane I know you yourself do not Blog but I just wanted you to be involved and get this award for being the best Twitter follower any Blogger could ask for. You don't need to nominate anyone back and you can respond in the comments section or send me a private email if you want to get involved.
So thats it my little Ginger Blog Readers. If anyone else not nominated wants to get involved you can take the award and post it but you need to follow these rules also (that said I probably won't be policing this or anything cuz I hate telling anyone they have to do anything, except maybe Husband).

Enjoy (or not, lol this took me ages to do Becca!)

GBM

Monday 24 September 2012

Guest Post: Blog Bomb: Plugging out

This shit be happening!

Myself and my housemates are saying goodbye to electricity and electronics (on our own time and outside of work) from midnight tonight til Friday midnight.. This will involve light and heat, including hot water; phones and computers and anything you pretty much need to plug in.

No music, aagh!

All the oul lads in the pub, ever, always often say the
like of 'Back in my day.. when I was a young lad.. Sure I
had no toys! I made me own fun outta a stick and
an ol' pot.. Sure we didn't have a toilet 'til 1994''.

Cannot wait to see how it goes :)

Hopefully we can start a mini movement.

Anyway, I'll not be contactable unless I bump into people the old fashion way.. aggressively and by chance.

Woo!!


I blame the equinox!

BB xxo

Fantastische Wunder Eichhörnchen


Or fantastic wonder squirrel for those who don't Deutsch. He truly is like a boss.

GBM

Fondue or Fondon't?


The weather has turned and the temperature has dipped here in Switzerland and for most Swiss people this usually means one thing. It's Fondue time (actually in reality they usually wait for snow but I am inpatient). 

Husband took me out to the Fribourg Fondue Stubli for my first ever fondue. All in all it was a really pleasurable experience at the time, the taste; delicious, the process; fun, the long tiny forks, super cute. At the time I say because when we got home later that night and I tried sleep it was an altogether different experience indeed but I will come back to that in a minute.

Whilst it was just the two of us and a little bit of a 'date night', I truly warmed to the overall fondue dining delight and loved the comunal aspect of this Swiss staple. I definitely want to return again with a large group of friends in tow and try a few of those great fondue games and forfeits (first person to drop their bread into the pot has to buy a round of drinks or take a shot). Sounds like a blast. 

The staff at the restaurant were incredibly friendly and it worked out at about 100 francs in total which is not too pricy and left two very full Irish bellies. 

Then when we got home, the horror began. They say that during dipping you shouldn't drink any water as it's said to coagulate the warm cheese inside your stomach (said by in the know Swissians but not proven by any such actual science). Mistake Number 1.

They also say (don't ask me who they are) that if you are feeling stuffed that you should down what is called a 'Norman Hole' (I swear I did not make this up) which is a shot of high octane liquor, often an apple brandy and it's said to burn a hole in your stomach. I did not do this. Mistake Number 2.

It was lying on my stomach, overheating, unable to sleep at 3:00 am that I began to realise that I might not have put in the proper research and preparation into my first fondue. For I as an Irish, believed I had the stomach of an ox. I've polished of whole bottles of whiskey and have trouble even remembering the last time I threw up. But my iron stomach was turned to rust by this pot of bubbling cheese. Oh folly!

The next day saw me wondering aimlessly about the apartment in a sort of cheese hangover. There really is no poignant or eloquent way of saying this so I will just say it in over exaggerated vulgarity. 

FARTS!

This cheese makes one cut some serious cheese the day following. Your lingering cloud of fondue follows you where ever you go. And I thought the after effects of a night on the Guinness was bad.     

Husband was fine and worries that I am now a 'Fondon't' but in reality the good way outweighed the bad for me (I mean it's a pot of melted cheese, it's like it was made for me). So I will fondue again. Just don't be offended if I don't want to hang the day after. 
  

GBM