What have we been up to?

Exploring! That's what.

We visited Yvoire & Messery, both on Lake Geneva on the French side, and also Veyrier-du-Lac and Menthon-Saint-Bernard, both on Lake Annecy, France.

Not much to report other than that it is beautiful, but I'll let the photos speak for themselves...

We hired a little car and drove to Annecy. First we visited Veyrier-du-Lac

the 'beach' area 

no beach, but a great big 'pool'

view from the lake

Next, we drove a bit further along the lake and stopped in Menthon-Saint-Bernard

The next day we drove north along Lake Geneva and over the border to Messery

Last but not least, we spent most of the day in Yvoire, 5 minutes north of Messery.

Yvoire is a medieval town on the lake, and simply stunning.

very yummy, according to Mr Fluff

the coolest cool

pretzel gobbler

we had pizza for lunch here somewhere, and a yummy ice-cream in front of the antique shop

Phew, it's a hard life.

xx

Je suis désolé; Je ne parle pas français (encore)

translates to:
I'm sorry; I don't speak French (yet)

This is probably the most important phrase, EVER! hahahaha

Actually, I can think of a few others I might use often over the coming weeks, for example:
Je ne comprends pas - I do not understand
Voulez vous coucher avec moi ce soir? - Do you want to sleep with me tonight? (Reserved for Mr Fluff, obviously *rolls eyes*, and borrowed from the Moulin Rouge song. Thanks Y for making me aware of the meaning. Now I can't get that bloody line out of my head!!)

A-n-y-way, we've been in our temporary accommodation in Geneva for just over a week now.
The drive over was horrible. I was sick with flu and poor Mr Fluff did most of the driving. We were dog tired driving through the night, and Jetje-cat tried to claw her way out of her cage all the way, even after we gave her a sedative. The dogs were fine. They just slept, jumped up with excitement every time we stopped, then slept again, and on it went. We arrived at Geneva airport at about midday, collected our keys and info and drove to our new 'home', bought a few groceries and crashed. The next day was also a complete write-off.

Our villa is small and a bit quirky, but perfectly formed. Klein aber fein! as they say in German. A bit like holiday accommodation, but it suits us fine. It is only a seven minute walk to Mr Fluff's new office, and a block away from a large park with a dedicated doggy area. The park also stretches all the way to the lake and a swimming beach.

Mr Fluff drove back to England on Friday night to sell our beloved Golf, and flew back to Geneva Saturday afternoon. That means we are currently car-less, but don't worry, we are walking distance from shopping, and they do have buses here too.

We have looked at two houses so far. One was small, not very nice and on a busy street. The other ticked all the boxes, but is expensive and seriously pompous. What were the owners thinking when they renovated the place? Marble & pillars everywhere. wtf? BUT, it does have a jacuzzi (hot tub) and a pool! and a huge, safe garden with stunning views.

I'll be looking at several more houses this week before we make our final decision. I just can't wait to have a longer term address, and get our stuff trucked over and to book French classes and to settle into this beautiful place and to get to grips with our new life here.

Mr Fluff started his new job this week, excited as a puppy with a bone. He had a good first day. Long and busy, but good. We are guessing that the first weeks or months will be a bit hectic, but it shouldn't last forever.

During our first week while we still had our car we drove around a bit, to Bonneville and further on to Chamonix (world famous French ski resort). We also opened our Swiss bank accounts and went for a cocktail and dinner in Geneva to celebrate our 'wedding day' anniversary.

Here are a few snaps

the Jet d'Eau fountain in Lake Geneva

Blommie Bank! Just for moi!

valley near Bonneville looking west towards Geneva

Bonneville valley

Mont Blanc (4810m) where Chamonix is

happy Kaya after a long day in the car

We also took some more pics of the areas around Lake Annecy when we were house viewing with our lovely French guide from the relocation company.

This is Sevrier (on the north-western bank of the lake) with magnificent views (and where I would LOVE to live)

And this is lovely Veyrier-du-Lac on the eastern bank, opposite Sevrier

Fingers crossed we find a house near Annecy. It is such a great place to live, and a top holiday destination loved by the French and everyone who has ever been there. The lake is pure and clean, and gets very warm in summer. The climate is great. There are mountains to climb and/or to ski and snowboard, right on the doorstep. Countless summer activities, from paragliding to swimming, climbing, hiking and boating, and there are miles of paths to run, roller-blade walk or cycle on around the lake. Paradise.


If we can't live there, we will still be within 30 minute's drive away, surrounded by ski resorts, vineyards and plenty more awesomeness. OK, I'm sold. Who wouldn't want to live here?


xx

parlez-vous français?

Me neither, but I'll have to learn, and FAST!

Mr Fluff accepted a fabulous job offer in Geneva, and starts the last week of March. Unbelievable! I guess we're going to Switzerland/France!!

Who could have predicted that this will happen? The world works in mysterious ways, that's for sure.

We don't have much time to organise everything, so we better get cracking. And we must plan a trip to Canada to activate our residency. You never know what the future holds, as I've so spectacularly proved.

So,what next?
Our plan is to find accommodation in France, where I will learn French and try to take over the world, but first we'll live in Geneva for a few weeks until we find a suitable spot to plant our feet.

If you had asked us ten years ago where we would picture ourselves in 2011, we would never, ever have said France or Geneva. Never. German-speaking Switzerland? Maybe. New Zealand? Probably. Canada? Why not. THAT is what is going to make this so exciting. It will certainly be an adventure.

This time will also be a tad different to previous moves that we made to England, Germany, and back to England, because this time it is meant to be forever. Unless we hate it. Which I doubt, very much. But if we do, we'll head straight for Canada.

I don't want to jinx it or anything, I think it will be great and that we will be ecstatic and happy so near the Swiss/French/Italian Alps, but obviously we are both sad that our path is not taking us to Canada now. At least we can visit, eh? Woo-Hoo!! And visit we will!

Europe is a fantastic place to live. We are so lucky to have this opportunity, and we are very excited. Bubbling over. Summer is going to be mind-blowing. Phew, lucky indeed.

The only thing that is trying to kill the excitement is the French thing. I can't even pretend to know how to pronounce a word, never mind spell it, but I will learn. That's my job. I just wish I could insert a little French chip into my brain and be fluent in a day. HAHAHA Wouldn't that be fun! What is that thing they say? Patience is a virtue. Mmmmm.

Anyway, I have already bought French lessons for home learning, and Mr Fluff copied it to his phone this morning, so I better get learning! I don't want to fall behind now...

One more thought before I go... don't expect me to ever support France in any sporting event. I just can't do it. Sorry.

Or can I?

Au Revoir till next time *huge grin*
xx

ding-a-ling-ling

I hear the sound of wedding bells.

Wait, I'm getting way ahead of myself. Let me start at the beginning...

I got an email from my sister telling me to call my Mom. That sent me into panic mode because I spoke to my Mom the day before, so why call again? Something must be wrong.
My sister told me that nothing was wrong, she just thought I should call. So I did.

Mom answered and I casually asked her what was news, and then she blew my mind.
She said "I'm getting married!"

WOW. Universal shift. Seriously, hold onto your seats! This is a very big deal. Life as we know it will never be the same again. My Mom is getting married!!! She said YES! Little Miss Sunshine will soon become Little Mrs Happy.

We are so excited! Her big day has finally arrived. Well, it will in October (Mommy's favourite month), only seven short months away.

Let me tell you, romance is SO not dead. Mommy's  partner in crime proposed on Valentine's day. How adorable is that?

Now I can't wait to book our flights to South Africa! Woo-hoo!! I still can't believe I'm going to be at my Mommy's wedding. It's surreal.

First things first though. The wedding Invitation.

I'm going to frame mine as soon as I get it in the post :0)

And so a new chapter begins...

Before I sign off I wanted to share a pic of the coolest wedding car (in my opinion)

and the cutest wedding cars I've ever seen *grin*

Ding-a-ling-ling... Hear the bells sing... Ding-a-long-long... a wedding song.

Congrats you crazy kids. May you have a magical life together. Love you xx

fish footsie

Have you ever been eaten alive? We have! Or at least nibbled on :0)

We went to Jack's Fish Foot Spa on Sunday to experience the little Garra Rufa (or Doctor Fish) nibbling on the dead skin of our feet, giving us a pedicure and massage and leaving us with feet so soft and radiant, it would make more sense to put our footsies on display for everyone to stroke and admire rather than have to cover them up in socks and boots. Sacrilege I say!

This is what the little fish look like

These cute little fish occur in the river basins of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. They feed only on dead skin, just like combfish, leaving the healthy skin behind to grow.

When we first put our feet into the small tanks (each with over 200 fish), the Gurra Rufa immediately swarmed our feet. It was so ticklish! We couldn't stop grinning with delight. After a while we got more used to the soft sucking of their mouths and the gentle tickling of their (pectoral?) fins. Each little fish came in for a nibble, then swam off and returned a bit later. With so many fish coming and going it felt like our feet were vibrating - tiny little electrical currents running through our feet. It felt amazing, almost like when you hold your feet over the bubbles in a jacuzzi.

This is Mr Fluff, served up as breakfast

I hope that one day we will be able to go for a full body treatment, just like this

It was an amazing, fun experience, and I highly recommend it!