SARRAZ'S QB INC

Day 1.  2 May 2016

we arrived in Barcelona at 20.15 and took the aerobus from terminal 2 to Place de Catalunya.  From there we took the metro to Jonquera-Taulat and then walked to our accommodation Taulat, 44, Sant Martí, Barcelona, 08005, Spain

A couple of things should be noted here, A taxi would have been as cheap but more convenient and the accommodation was terrible.  We stayed 3 days and if I could have cancelled I would have.  I have never had to back into a toilet before, certainly not while navigating steps, nor share that same space with a shower.   The actual location was excellent though and meant we were a few minutes walk to the beaches plajta de la Mar Bella and platja del Bogatell.  My tripadvisor review is here.

I recommend having a few easy mornings to include a stroll to the beach and to one of the many little chiringuitos (beach bars).  They generally don't open until around 10am but are a great place for a coffee or snack timeout-the-best-chiringuitos-in-barcelona

Since the accommodation was so scary we immediately headed out to get a taxi to Las Ramblas, the central most boulevard in Barcelona, where we chose a random tapas bar.  I later discovered the name from the photos; Enrique Tomas, Rambla Del Poblenou, 36, so at least I can now pinpoint where we were.  It's actually a charcuterie so great place to pick up some jamon and prices were very reasonable.  

The food at Enricos was rustic but delicious. We tried the jamons amongst other things.  Interestingly, the toast was rubbed with fresh tomato, much as you might do with a raw garlic clove. The take away Jamon is served in paper cucuruchos (cones) which is novel but practical way to eat on the go.

Be careful in las Ramblas, its a great place to find a pickpocket.  We did have a teenage girl approach us a few days later to ask us an inane question, which was a distraction technique for another girl to try and snatch our bags.  We refused to stop and talk as we were aware of the ruse.  Don't feel like its impolite to ignore strangers.

Day 2

We started with coffee at a local bar, located a minute from our front door, then strolled along the beach where we stopped for drinks before jumping in a taxi for the Camp Nou experience.

Morning coffee

Posing for some photos against the street art


Enjoying one of the chiringuitos before heading out to the Tour Camp Nou Experience. 

We pre-paid for the tickets to Camp Nou. The price was 24 per adult and 19 per child (I've rounded up to nearest euro).  The tour was brilliant, even for non footy fans there was enough to make the trip interesting, but it was even better to see the happiness on the faces of the true fans.

It gets a little crowded, there is a fair bit of walking, and there is an expensive memorabilia shop on the way out!




A true fan

After Camp Nou we spent the afternoon wandering and getting pleasantly lost.  There is plenty to see in Barcelona, whatever your interests, mine, were centered on food and Ange's on Architecture.

The kids walked a fair bit but they genuinely liked the city.

Dinner was an arabic-spanish fusion restaurant that absolutely required booking if you wanted to be sure of a seat after 830pm.  We went before, because of the kids.  Fantastic experience.  My review is here.

 

Ziryab Fusion Wine and Tapas Bar, Carrer de Grunyi 4

 

Day 3

Another day, another chiringuitos.  After a quick shower at home we headed off to the Sagrada Familia for a guided tour. 

I pre-booked the tickets online with TicketBar.eu (tgi-citytours.com) and the service was excellent.  We met at the KFC opposite Place de Gaudi and the Sagrada before going inside through a separate gate that allowed much quicker access.    The tickets cost 59 per adult and 26 for kids (Euros) and the tour name is "La Sagrada Familia Guided Tour, Skip the line!" .  Highly recommended.

Tips. You cant take too many photos, so take along extra storage and spare external charger & battery.  We went in the morning and the way the sun shone through the windows was incredible. 

How could we top this experience? We tried to go to the Gaudi park, but after reaching it we decided we had walked too much and went back to town!

 Dinner was at Viana, in the Barrio Gotic. A M A Z I N G

We had booked the night before, and so could only get a table for 8-10pm.   The busiest part of the night is later, but there is always a queue for this very tiny restaurant.  We had no time to go home and change so had to go there straight from the street but it was no problem.  The atmosphere is wonderful, its a place to eat and enjoy company and there is no pretentiousness.  Kids are welcome. 

I did not take a proper photo of the interior so I've had to copy one from google to illustrate the size of this place. What you see in the photo is it. That's the size.  The queue outside can be at least as long as the length of the restaurant.  

The gothic quarter is very pretty and nice to stroll around if you have time before or after.

My review here.

my blackberry mojito

beef cheeks

suckling pig

Day 4

You cannot go to Barcelona without visiting elMercado de la Boqueria, whch is the main market of Barcelona, situated off Las Ramblas near the gothic quarter.

A riot of colour and very very busy, you could pick up supplies to have a picnic on the beach or cook at home but either way you should  try sampling one of the many delicious bars.

We chose Pinotxo, for its legendary status and although not as flashy as some of the seafood bars, we had excellent rustic food served by Juanito Bayén. 

There will most probably be a wait as there are only 14 or so stools, but all the bars at the market are like this and its worth the wait.    There is no menu and no English, so just sit back and enjoy the suggestions. 

 

Pinotxos

Like I said, there are things to see for every taste...

We wandered around the docklands and finished with a paella at one of the restaurants there.

Day 5

Time to go.  We finally got to eat at Can Dende, Carrer Ciutat de Granada, 44,, a brunch place I had my eye on but which had been closed for most of our stay. Its well worth a visit for brunch.

 

Unfortunately we did not have time to do everything we wanted, but this could easily be achieved over a series of weekends if you are in Europe.

 

If you are there on a Fri night try to see the magic fountain

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g187497-d501696-Reviews-Magic_Fountain_Font_Magica-Barcelona_Catalonia.html

Chocolate

I have a confession to make.  I work one minute away from a real live Suisse chocolate factory.

At certain times during the day the smell of chocolate overpowers the street and immerses whoever is there in a lovely scent, inside and out. 

This is the chocolate truck

and here are bags of sugar being delivered

And the finished product

 

A few weeks after the big freeze

After the big freeze _ Port d'Ouchy, Lausanne to Lutry, 9km walk, Saturday

 

A refreshing change

While I have been watching Oz as closely as I can from here its the little details that either capture my imagination or escape me.  The weather, for instance. 

I know its been hot at times, but not how much or how long, and for all/any of those sweaty, overheated moments I give you a little screen by screen shot of yesterday in Versoix, Geneva.

 

Bear with me; there are a few photos.

Felix, I hope you are AMAZED

(I was!).

 

Take a closer look at the alps in the background

Disregard the deflated Santa in the background

 

 

Crazy insurance scheme?

 

 

Merry Christmas to you

By now you are probably all emeshed in the wonderful business of Christmas.

The meaning, the holidays, those family reunions, the perfect gift for that hard to buy for friend and that famous Christmas menu.

We miss you all and wish we had even a few hours to spend with each and everyone one of you.  Not the least because we could simply have a bbq in  Oz or a few drinks at a cosy pub in London with our family and friends with very little stress. 

Instead we have moved (again, you cry!); we have started new jobs and new schools and now (being tomorrow), move into a new house and out of the pleasant but expensive long term hotel accomodations.

How many challenges have we faced in the last 8 months?  Weekends spent in transit, then in DIY.  Sundays being torn from each other to go back to the awful job.

You will be happy to know the attic is looking more like a room again, after its almost total destruction.   I have a new and happier job situation and have passed the first hurdle of the dreaded Christmas Party (where I was forced to dance to bad 70s music).  We all live together under the same roof and the entry to the new schools has been pretty seamless.  Ange has had his debut in working in Switzerland and it has been great to finally tick the boxes that need ticking and have a bit of FUN.

Whew.

Heres the deal.  The kids got early Chrissy presents and are spending the week learning to Ski while Ange ferries them to and fro and gets to alternatively freeze his bollocks off or go inside and drink hot chocolates.   Meanwhile I am learning more than I ever thought possible about sap projects.  Its been fun for all!  The ski field is 15 minutes away by car in the Jura, a little place called Crozet, the advantage being its cheap, not swamped by tourists and an easy commute.  Yes, we have snow tyres.

The kids have taken top the snow like ducks to water and after two days of the softest, featheriest snow falls I have ever seen, can turn, stop, grab the rope to pull themselves up and pick themselves up when they fall.

The menu is this year is inspired from our local market.  Held every Wednesday and Saturday, we took a stroll last weekend and tried the local cheese (Tomme) from the Haute Savoie in all its different guises, stood in awe at the seafood stall and got a bit grossed out a the poultry and game where whole rabbits were displayed dangling from ropes by a hind leg, staring glassy eyed at the hapless crowd, while fowl were presented with a ruff of feathers complete with head and feet. 

We will start with some seafood starters of oysters, spider crab, cooked langoustines,  gambas and whole calamari, followed by Pintarde (Guinea fowl) pre-stuffed with homemade cepes with seasonal veges.  Ange will pick the wine so I have no idea what that will be yet.  Dessert, I hope, will be a Christmas pudding.

I hope we will get to have a traditional soupe de chalet or fondue at one of the chalets in the alps and maybe I will be brave enough to try the racket skis which are a little more stable.

 

Amby is a very enthusiastic learner Skier

Alex skiing

Alex again

Amby, at the back in the blue

 

The kids limbering up in the hotel.

Geneve - Pont de Mont Blanc at night

Christmas lights in Geneva and the the tents where they serve cheese fondu (raising money and creating jobs for the disabled)

 

The chair at Nations

Ugg boots for sale in Geneves trendy  district

 

 

A pretty window in Ferney Voltaire (our new town).

 

 

Meanwhile the house progresses:

 

Fireplace (poele)

The beams have been treated and the ceiling insulation has been added.  The plasterboard is cut to size.

 

We have decided to keep the high slope to the ceiling.

 

      

Cutting the  insulated plaster board to size

 

 

Before;

          

     

 

 

Still have 5 mins for some Chrissy crafts 

 

Lil Jonnys latest artwork

 

Well done for another year, for great families and great kids who do them proud and for steadfast friends and just everything you have all achieved on a personal level this year:

 

Have  safe, merry, wonderful, amazing and happy Christmas for 2011 

xxx

 

Times fly

This is a favourite saying of my husband which used to annoy me, but hey, now, not only do I now sound foreign in French...I sound even weirder in English...and even worse, I understand why he says it.  Forgive me, therefore, if this blog makes no sense whatsoever,....Ive turned.

There has been sooooo much going on that I would need to be wonderwoman to explain everything.  Also it just sounds  a bit weird because I have been working with an italian boss, a french collegue or two and a chinese uberboss.  I will freely admit I can no longer spell in English.  Nor can I express in normal english without very hard thoughts about what I am trying to say.  It comes out a bit obeoneconnobe. (obiwan)

It affects my spelling, my grammer, my memory.   You know the times you search for the word and almost get it, but then the french-ness intrudes and you get really, really lost. A bit like using a french keyboard.  I look down atxhat I typoe =anf think what the hell?

What the hell?

Comments people!

Where else but Europe (or Asia, or the Middle East,  or various other chunks of the world now I come to think of it) can you start a day trip speaking one language (in this case French) to order your coffee and croissants, then have to change to another language (German) within the demi hour (30mins) to buy the next coffee and a magazine, then English to ask directions then back to to French for.......................an interview!

Well I lie - the French was for the Starbucks (gorgeous, non PC chai latte - you know who you are!) and the interview was in English.

I thought it went well...despite spending A LONG TIME looking for a hole in the wall to spit me out some money (I knew I was in Switzerland when it asked for a minimum withdrawal of 200chf - this was further reinforced when I asked someone for directions to a 'cheaper' ATM, and no one else in the que seemed put out by the minimum withdrawal). I felt really bad as well as I kept passing the gypsy beggar outside in my rather memorable full length puffa jacket (no hiding behing a casual annonymity there then - you could practically feel me before I got near... "quick, hide, here comes that mad half woman half human marshmallow again"), up and down the long shopping strip selling very expensive stuff, up the stairs because the escalator was being fixed, through to the left, to the right, arrrggggggh, everywhere except where I needed to be.

I finally got my wits about me and jumped on a train to the airport to ensure (good word for the CV that...ensure) I arrived at a good time.  Seven minutes later I'm there. I kid you not; the office is 2 minutes away and I simply have too much time on my hands (damn Swiss and their perchant for timeliness).  Even after getting changed into my interview clothes (not a bad idea, having just spent 4 hours getting there), I still had loads of time left.  I went to the self service baggage area to put my plasticky and very non professional shopping bag away - complete with snow boots and said puffy jacket.  All full.  I did a double take and then panicked slightly.  This can't be happening.  Que visions of me arriving at interview looking like a bag lady.

No problems, I soon discover another self serve baggage area, only this one is outside at the taxi rank, costs 8chf instead of 5 (several taxi men even counseled me against it - must have been the give away puffa jacket), and I get busy stuffing it full of crap (as one might say), proudly inserting my 2,1 or 0.50 chf coins as instructed, before closing the locker and pocketing the key.  Course I did!   Left all my papers in the locker - references, CV, job description complete with handwritten notes.  There was nothing for it but to try not to cry like a big girl's blouse and reopen the locker, having squandered my precious coinage.   I had more coins but they were 5chf and therefore not valid.  Of course!  Fool!

Trying hard not to focus on the stress of the interview I stopped rooting through my purse and grabbed my stuff and slunk away.  Rather like a puffy bag lady. ...

I looked at the time and of course it was right on 2pm, interview time.  Luckily I mangaged to get the right exit and arrived at the offices pretty much at 2.01pm.  The nice girl on reception hid my bag lady status and I presented a rather better vision at the interview.  Whew.  No French.  Whew.

The interview itself was fantastic, I was interview by global heads of this and that and came away with a great feeling inititally, to be replaced by nagging doubt as time went on.

I had plenty of time to get depresssed - another 4 hours train trip alone. The another hour in the car.

On the journey home my phone began to bleep sadly.  I had been told to expect a call today or tomorrow via the agency.   I had been asked if I could start work tomorrow.  I was most anxious to get to grips with everything asap so I could arrange my life and the next possile huge 4 hour train journey. 

My phone bleeped again and I realised the battery had gone from full to nothing in about 10 minutes. WTF!!!!!  I am already stressed out.  After several train changes, explaining why I had no ticket to the ticket controller and buying a new one (in French - bonsoir!) and going from, frankly a rather pleasant day, to full on snow, I arrived on the border at Le Locle (read: in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE),  standing in the snow and waiting for the autocar (bus) to collect me - which it didn't - instead being a very tiny train that I had simply not seen and therefore missed.    It's quite frightening to realise you are in the A-hole of the world, with hypothermia, absolutely NO mobile phone signal and no battery, a public phone that only takes charge cards from a non-existant shop,  and of course no station master (the station office having been converted to a not very often used ballet studio).  There were several moments when the urge to cry was almost overwhelming, and was only abated by the fact that I had seen a real live badger that very morning.  Ange, sitting in a truck in Besancon at 6pm wouldn't mind me being 3 hours late, would he?

To explain the Swiss mentality - despite living 'presque' (near enough to fart from Switzerland to France without straining) the border, there was no one who had any information on how I could get over the border. It was like a bloody black hole.  Very uncouth.  It's just as bad on the other side.

I eventually found an A4 laminated sign declaring a bus time table (yes, you guessed it  - just the one bus per day) at 18.31.  That's 1.5 hour wait.   I ate a packet of MnM's (in stress) before finding a set of stairs that descended into the village proper. Aha, not a bad village after all (despite the lack of transport to France).  Very cool, in fact.  I went around the village trying to find the mobile phone signal that was so unobtainable 'up high' at the gare (station).  You will be happy to know that I finally found it in time to discover 2 voice mails waiting - no doubt about the job - yay! - I didn't bloody know because that was the moment my phone battery died.

Sigh @~#!

I finally resorted to the following;

A  - climbing back up the moutnain to the gare (FFS I nearly had a heart attack it was so high - why don't we ever realise these things halfway down)

B - calling the Swiss operator to beg for a free 'phone home'.  She had no authourisation to call France ( a 15min car journey away) but instead called Ange for me and asked him to call me back.  Restored completely my faith in fellow mankind.  If I had been forced to go back down and up those stairs again I would have lost it).

C  - waiting to hear my destiny when my phone could be plugged in and charged up.

 

So - do you wanna know the good news?  Ruth has a JOB.

 

This is for you Anna - I hope you get a few good laughs from it. X

 

Job search

Many of you will know that I am currently looking for employment.  A  big thanks to all my referees should be added at this point!

So it should be fairly easy, right?

Well in France I have a snowflakes chance in hell; the obvious giveaway being my terrible French and foreign accent.   Anyway, I'm not sure, after everything the Frenchies have put me through, whether I can stand to have to go through the whole job fiasco with them - and then the akwardness around the water cooler.  Bugger that!  They have had enough chances (que the boulangerie, gym, post office, learn to drive...).  I am tired and in need of a rest of sorts.

So my first break came from the neighbour teling me about the Swiss Factories and how they recruit in neighbouring departments of France and even put on buses (if you live closely enough). Then I had a look on line and my eyes nearly popped out at the sums they offered for even simple office work.  Cool.  Then the fact that English is a main business language (unlike France where, if your English is not spoken with a French accent, the French will simply say they don't understand).

All bright and perhaps things are looking up. I went on a jaunt or two to Switzerland to meet the agencies that were going to help me into my new life...

Um, first you need to find someone sympatheic enough to put you on the agency books, then kind enough to offer you feedback when you call to ask where the job offers are. It's a really tight market in Switzerland but they don't tell you until they have added you to their books and nabbed your referees for future contact.  After that, if you have the indecency to call they are most put out by your over-eagerness to work.  I've finally figured out the equation!  Work + Switzerland = an absolute privilege.

Of course there are some great job boards out there and as with anywhere in the world you need to suss out the genuine jobs from those designed to suck you into an agency (see above).

Last but not least, the perfect job when it finally comes along has the following 'necessary skill' at the bottom of the job description:

Trilingual, French, English and German a must

Arrrggggh

Celebrations

Well, everybody, after countless months of cramming with my poor French I have managed to pass the code de la route (que celebrations on an epic scale).

Of course Ange had to go and pass as well, on the same day, with little to no study!  

However I can tell you many peope did not pass so I feel lucky and blessed.

This has been a huge achievement for me - it was one of the first challenges I set myself here - that and getting Amby up to speed at school.

Two days later I got the call I had been holding my breath for and went on an all day jaunt to Geneva, Switzerland for a job interview.  No news yet. Still.

Two days after that we signed the mortgage for the house.  We see the Notaire this Friday and then on y va for the renovations.

In the course of clearing out the attic we came across a (thankfully) dead guepe.  Apparently a sting can send you to hospital.  I just hope we dont unearth a nest when we remove the old insulation.  Seriously big beast - much bigger than it looks in the photo.

No old house is perfect and we have discovered active woodworm in the main beams supporting the roof structure.
There is also evidence downstairs in the basement of the common furniture beetle ...upstairs the holes are large though with fresh sawdust and may be the deathwatch beetle.

 

this is a photo I found on the net of the little luvlies

and this is the poisonous gel we need to paint on the beams to eradicate em. 

The French are actually pretty laid back about these infestations, I on the otherhand will be covered top to toe, with breathing mask and whatever other precautions I can think of. 

This is our electrical board.  The house used to be split into 2 residences which is why we have the 2 counters.

This will need to be moved and updated and oh, I think we may need a bit of earthing here or there!

I have 2 very restless kids on school holidays for the fortnight so that's all for now.  Thinking of you all. x

Mid winter blues

We have the mid winter blues.  By this I mean we are blue with the cold. 

Our central heating has packed up during a period of freezing temperatures and lost us about 400€ worth of fioul in the bargain (heating oil).  We'd normally be ok for about 3 months but I guess merde happens.

It would be ok if we weren't in the middle of buying half a bloody house.

Luckily Ange managed to procure some space heaters from work.

So far we have only managed to blow our paltry french circuits 4 times -  3 times via the fuse that controls the power plugs upstairs and once via all the fuses - i.e. the entire house.  The kids think it's really exciting, especially as mum and dad get to cuddle them all night. 

We have also been running our oven at 220 deg C which normally works a treat (when supplemented by central heating I normally have to open the kitchen window while running the oven) but of course the gain is now almost worthless for the cost of electricity when the house is as stone cold as this.

Could it get any worse?

Well, seeing as the oven was already on, and seeing as we had too much food in the fridge, I decided to cook a chook.  

Unfortunately I think my sunflower oil had been in the sun's rays a few too many days.  The smell of rancid, burning oil and chook was almost too much to bear, stinging my eyes and poor suffering sinuses. 

In the end I was forced to open all the windows.  Arrrgh.

<no chook picture - I am too peeved with the chook>