Jammie Dodgers!

We had a very stressful week last week, sorting out finances and finalising the Contract for the purchase of our new house. Toni managed to lose a “few” thousand Swiss Francs in cyber space during an e-banking transaction. Thankfully he managed to retrieve it from wherever it went to. As if that wasn’t enough, he transferred money into a holding account and by mistake added an extra “0”, not in our favour. It took half an hour to get back into the system to change the amount again.

On Friday morning we signed for the house with the Solicitor. In Switzerland the sellers and the buyers are required to be present at the Solicitors. It was a very formal affair whereby all parties had to identify themselves by producing ID/Passports. The Solicitor went through the Contract point by point, and each party had to answer that they understood. It concluded by all parties signing the Contract. The whole procedure took 13 minutes and I dread to think about how many 0’s this will cost in Solicitors fees.

Our bank requested a copy of the signed Contract and rather than send a copy in the post I decided to hand deliver it. I was in turn handed a nicely wrapped jam filled biscuit. Whilst interest rates in Switzerland are low, house prices are not! In return for borrowing a large sum from the bank, we got a biscuit.

It reminded me of the time that we bought our car in Switzerland. The owner of the garage spent some time explaining the buttons and gadgets in the car before handing over the keys. Then he disappeared into the back office and produced a loaf of bread for us to take home.

I've heard moving house is wee buns* as long as no one takes the biscuit!

* in Northern Ireland wee buns means, easy.

Well trained.

We are going for a week’s winter break to Saas Fee this Saturday. It is our eighth year in the same resort. Rory was three years old when he first started ski school, I wish I’d started ski school at this age, but that’s another story. In the earlier years we drove our car, the necessary four hours, sometimes it took longer if we were delayed due to the volume of traffic. But, not any more.

For the third year in succession we will travel by train. Swiss trains, efficient, punctual, reliable, fast, clean and safe. Travelling on a Saturday means that you can drop your labelled baggage at any train station within Switzerland before 6pm on Thursday and they will be waiting for you at your chosen destination when you arrive on Saturday.

As instructed we brought our luggage to our local train station and all that was left to do was was to buy six bag tags and attach them to each piece of luggage. The price is 10 francs per bag,(about £7.00) Today, like previous years, we had six bags, I know it sounds a lot. But, for four people on a ski holiday you need a lot. Two bags consisted of skis and poles, two bags with helmets and ski boots and two bags with clothes. All you have to do is leave the labelled and tagged luggage at the back of the office, on the platform. Simple.

11.30am

5.30pm

7.30pm, simple!

I tried to imagine this service in Belfast. Dropping your luggage at the back of a train station, unchecked, unsupervised and trusting it will arrive at the correct destination on Saturday morning? I don’t think so! Never mind, worrying which destination it would end up in, more importantly I'd wonder if I would EVER see my belongings again!

With all the packing done, theoretically, on Saturday morning, we should simply set off with our toothbrushes, train tickets and a few personal belongings. HA! You must be joking. What ever happened to roughing it? Travelling light? Nowadays, going on holiday means creating an extension of your home elsewhere.

No holiday is ever complete without Toni’s trusty lap top, well you never know, he may want to work on holiday and a Blackberry is simply not enough to keep in close contact with the office. I kid you not! And we haven’t had a holiday yet without Conor’s teddy!

On Saturday we will be travelling with the following: Nintendo DS x 2, IPod x 3, (I don’t need mine on holiday!) chargers for the latter, books, magazines, sun tan cream (I forgot to pack it in advance), medication for adults, medication for children, toiletries (I couldn’t quite part with my shampoo, conditioner etc, for two whole days), sweets, croissants, bottle of water x 2. Finally, in Basel train station, we will buy take away coffee x 2 for the whopping two hour train journey.

Now, I wonder if I’ve forgotten anything.

Sledging on Sunday

Last weekend the temperatures plummeted to a freezing minus 20 degrees! We had two decisions, stay at home or brave the elements. We chose the latter, as did a whole host of others and together we caught the Post Auto (local bus) to Gempen to go sledging. Gempen is a “hill” situated nearby which is just under 900M, it is equivalent in height to Slieve Donard in the Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland. It is a route which is well known to us and I have no idea how many Sundays have been spent hiking up, down and in and around Gempen.

The Swiss being the Swiss, that is, extremely organised on the transport front! Had of course, put extra buses on to cater for the mass numbers. The most difficult bit to master is trying to get on the bus without losing members of your family. A queue means nothing. You learn to push in an aggressive manner; it’s the only way! Incidentally the German word for queue is “Schlange” which also means snake/serpent!

View from the back of the bus!

Once the bus arrived at Gempen village, everyone departed and went off in different directions, by foot or by sledge. We decided to take the route which would bring us back down to our village. Here are some of our photos taken en route from Gempen down to the village.

Sunday wouldn’t be Sunday if you didn't see a cyclist on the road! Even the snow doesn't deter them. Incidentally my brother, who moved to Canada last year, himself a very keen cyclist, bought a pair of bike chains so he too could brave the harsh winter conditions of Canada and cycle to work!

Once down in the village you can hop on the bus again and repeat the whole experience!

The oldest boy band in town!

It’s a year since I (sounds like I’m in the confession box, have to say that would be a lot longer than a year….!) updated my blog.

On Thursday evening, Toni and I went to see The Dubliners playing in the Stadt Casino in Basel. They were celebrating 50 years on stage! We were surrounded by Swiss, Germans and French, who clearly all enjoyed Irish Folk Music.

The band members were greeted on stage with a big round of applause and that was just me! The first song was a jig, the second song was Seven Drunken Nights, the third song was a song about drinking, and the fifth song was an Australian song about drinking…..

It was time for three of the band to take a break. That left Barney and Eamon alone on stage.

Seventy three year old Barney spoke to the audience first in Irish, then in German and lastly in English. “If I’m talking too fast for you” he said “then you need to listen quickly”.

“Eamon and I are going to perform a solo for you!” Not a lot of laughter, more explanation clearly needed, “it is an Irish solo” as there are two of us. Laughter followed. "The other three band members have gone to put the kettle on for a cup of coffee, Irish coffee, without the coffee.” Once the solo finished and the audience quietened down, Barney spoke again, “we are going for a break now, it will last either a quarter of an hour or 15 minutes.”

The Dubliners chatted in between songs, and tributes were made to band members who had passed away. Tales were told about growing up in Ireland in the 1940’s and 1950’s, and how music and stories were passed on through families. It was Sean’s turn to play a solo and before he started, he explained a little about the song, which was created whilst he was in Norway at the time of the shootings of 85 young people in July last year.

It was great performance and I had a strange feeling when it was over as I walked out onto the streets of Basel. Shouldn’t I be in Ireland? Looking forward to going home at Easter.

Testing, testing…..

Today, 2 February 2011, is air raid testing day throughout Switzerland. Every year on the second Wednesday in February, the sirens are systematically tested in all counties. This is the sound we would hear in the event of a National Disaster e.g. air raid attack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBNKnSMmjVE&feature=related

It is very eerie and makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. Let’s hope we never have to experience this.

Further information taken from the following website: www.ch.ch

Alerting the population in the event of a disaster

Disasters can happen with little or no warning; it is therefore all the more important for information to flow quickly so as to alert the population in good time.

Alarm systems

Switzerland currently has around 7500 (stationary and mobile) civil defence sirens distributed throughout the country that can reach over 99 per cent of the population. Sirens are increasingly activated by remote control. An additional 750 water alert sirens are located near dams.

Siren test

The annual siren test takes place in Switzerland on the first Wednesday of February. It is organised by the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP) in cooperation with the cantons, communes and dam operators. At this time, not only general alert sirens but also water alert sirens are tested to see if they are in working order. People are given advance notice about the siren test on television broadcasts as well as in the newspapers. The siren tests do not require the population to take any special measures.

Who alerts the population?

The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) coordinates activities during a state of emergency (e.g. in the event of increased radioactivity, chemical accidents, dam breaks, satellite crashes, natural disasters etc.). MeteoSwiss becomes involved in the event of dangerous weather developments and the Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in the event of avalanche danger. In principle, every competent authority is able and has the authority to sound their sirens when they deem it to be necessary. The NEOC also takes on the role of a national reporting and assessment centre for all Natural hazards and technical incidents.

Alarm signals: General alert and flood alert

A description of the two alarm signals is provided on the last page of all phone books as well as on the Internet.

· The general alert is sounded when there is a possible threat to the population. Sirens for this alert have a regularly ascending and descending tone lasting a minute and repeated after a two-minute interval. If you hear this alarm signal, you should turn on the radio (DRS or a local radio station), follow instructions from the authorities and alert your neighbours.

· A flood alert has twelve low continuous tones each lasting 20 seconds. It is activated once the general alert is already sounding. This alarm signal indicates you need to leave the area at risk immediately.

Have your Cake and Eat It!

Today, 6^th January , it is the Three Kings Day. This marks the final days of Christmas and celebrates the Kings who brought the gifts to the manger on the first night of Christmas, over 2000 years ago.

Now, down to business! There is great excitement among all children, as every household today has bought a Three Kings Cake, called in German, “Dreikönigskuchen”, included with every cake is just one gold crown and hidden inside each cake is just one King! Whoever gets the piece of cake with the King inside, gets to wear the gold crown. The cake is eaten with anticipation, the next bite determines, whether you will be the winner or indeed the loser. Even if you buy two cakes, which I’ve done in the past, there is still no guarantee, you will win second time round!

This brings a huge amount of competition between two boys, as of course, both want to win the King! My six year old son told me to guard the cake, incase his brother rummages through it when no one is looking and finds the King!

In keeping with tradition, today I cleared away the Christmas tree, the Christmas decorations and Christmas cards, and as I did so I thought to myself, it's a wonder there is not war among siblings on this day!

The culprit, a minute white plastic King, shown alongside a normal sized teaspoon!

And the winner this year was:

Happy New Year!

Vielen Dank Noemi für das schöne Bild! A friend’s eight year old daughter drew this lovely picture for me today. Have no idea why she associates me with wine, prosecco and champagne!

Christmas Day was spent at home surrounded by all the new toys. We cooked the traditional Turkey, despite its extortionate price of 60 francs (over £40!) and Toni’s brother Karl joined us for dinner. Our starter consisted of Smoked Salmon with Prawns, horseradish cream and lime vinaigrette, followed by Turkey and all the trimmings. By this stage it was time for a walk in the snow to work off a few of the calories! Then back home for dessert, Tiramisu and Christmas Pudding!

Who needs to go to Australia for a BBQ over the Christmas period?! On Boxing Day we met with a number of families and their relatives who were visiting Switzerland and had a BBQ in the forest! Swiss Cervelas (sausages), Paprika Crisps and Swiss beer. The weather was fantastic, very cold but with glorious blue sky.

Whilst we grabbed a few knives and forks from the kitchen, some people really did come prepared....check this out for a complete set!

On 27^th December we travelled to Rigi for 3 days http://www.rigi.ch/ where we walked, sledged and skied above the clouds!

And now it’s all over, back to school and work tomorrow morning. And more importantly back to the gym!

Happy New Year, may it be full of peace, health, and happiness!