First weekend away this year

Chris and I spent the past weekend in Antwerp. This was the first time this year we're away from home - which, in itself, is great because then we don't have to hear the loud noise of our neighbors of nr. 16 (they have moved in last year in January, and they especially make a lot of noise in the weekend, we can only hope they'll split up and have to sell the house). We have been asking them (politely) to try and be somewhat quieter, but gave up when they once gave us the anwer 'Then you just have to buy earplugs!'

The weekend was great. We had a nice suite at the hotel and we warmly welcomed. January is the month for sales, so we did some shopping as well. On Saturday night we went to see a show in a smaller theater (Elckerlyc). It was a revue, full of great music and stand-up comedy. It was well worth it's money, because it lasted until 11.30 pm and our ticket gave us a good seat, plus drinks before, during the break, and after the show. The artists joined the foyer after the show and you could have a chat with them.

We were glad to have such a relaxing weekend, because we have a busy week ahead. Chris is still working full time (until June 30th). I have to run the errands, do the washing and ironing and some cleaning. On Wednesday, a representative of an interior design company is coming in for measurements and making up a price estimate for some changes we want to make inside the house. By the way, I received the estimate for the new doors and windows and I really was surprised at the price. By far lower than I had expected! On Thursday Dylanco is coming to work in the kitchen. Also there are going to be some changes. That same day, another company is coming to fix my heating system (I have to add water every day, and that's not normal). Also on Friday there'll be workers over the floor.

The week after, we are going to finalise the project for the new doors and windows. This means front of the house, and back, downstairs and first level. 

Strenghtening mountain air

We spent our Christmas holidays travelling. First to Milan, then to Switzerland. We stayed in a small village in Unterengadin (region Graubunden) named Scuol. The weather was rather fine (most of the days, we had some sunshine, and the temperature circled around the zero degrees Celsius). Each day, we made a walk to either another village or came down the Motta Naluns, which is the mountain on which the village is built. 

Mountain air became me. Each night, at the hotel, we had a 5-course dinner ... and I could finish every course! At home, for the last two years or so, I haven't been able to eat bigger portions and certainly not more than one course. 

Even now, when back home, I still eat better than before and have already gained some weight. For me that's important. Before the holidays I weighed less that 47 kilo. My sister says I'm a walking skeleton. But yesterday I weighed already 49 kilo, so that's good. I hope to reach 50 soon. 

I suppose I should spent some time in Switzerland every year! Unfortunately, it's quite an expensive country. Our euro is worth less than their Swiss frank. It used to be the way around, one euro worth about 1,50 Swiss frank. 

Switzerland is well-known to be good for people who need to build up strenght. My mother was sent to Switzerland during World War II. That was a program from the Red Cross for children of prisoners of war (granddad was taken prisoner after the Battle for Britain, but he escaped the prisoner camp in Germany and went into hiding in France). As my mother was the only girl, with three brothers, grandma decided to avoid problems between the boys and chose my mother. She would originally go for three weeks or such, but ended up spending 4, 5 months in Switzerland as the Germans blew up railway bridges and the trains could not run. She was there in a nunnery, who also had an old people's home. She had the time of her life there. She was pampered by all the inhabitants, learned to ski and even did her Holy Communion when she became 12 years old. When she finally returned home, she could not close her coat anymore, so much weight she had gained!

It's thanks to mum that Chris and I also love the mountains. We went every winter when we were kids and teenagers. We also learned to ski and Scuol became the place to which we always returned. 

Nowadays it's become a question of making choices. We want to see something of the world, and then you can't go every winter skiing. But perhaps we can return to Scuol next year in summer. That would be great.