Hair raising experience !

My hair was cut yesterday. What an experience. My friend Sabine had commented my hair cut was 'very German' (whatever that means) and that she had a good hairdresser she would like to take me to. So she picked me up at Loerrach railway station and we seemed to go halfway around the world to the hairdresser. I said to Sabine "how on earth am I going to remember how to get to the hairdresser when you're not with me?" She just commented it was more difficult to get there by car! Anyway, as we are getting nearer she is telling me that there is an American office upstairs from the hairdresser and they go to this young lady because she speaks English. Well....... as we are getting nearer I am thinking, "surely it couldn't be the hairdressers near the Missions office". (I've already visited it to get some product). Well, it was and Sabine and I were absolutely amazed. The long and short of it is, I had a great haircut and Sabine is very happy with it!!!! Will post a photo soon.

TWO disappointed Aussies ! ! ! !

Roger and I went into Basel 5pm today to watch the Soccer - Australia v's Italy. We are so proud of the way the Aussie's played. Of course we aren't very happy with the ref's giving of the game to Italy. We didn't realise it was Italy's Birthday and that the ref had a present for them in the final seconds of the game!! I think it is just reminding us what Fifa is all about and the politics involved with the game. I'd better not say any more. We are both just devastated. We are now sitting quietly at home eating TIM TAMS! (We have received a couple of calls of commiseration from our lovely American friends and then beautiful Johanna called in with some yummy cookies for us to eat).

IT'S JUST A GAME ISN'T IT?

Walking Group Drinkies!!

Roger and I headed back into Basel last night to have farewell drinks with Sue (going home to NZ for 6 weeks) and some of the other walking group ladies (and Nigel and Roger!!). We went to a very nice bar in Basel, and like everything in Basel expensive, but something we just have to get used to. It was lots of fun getting all dressed up (after our daggy walking clothes) and meeting together to chat (which we always love to do).
Sue is in the middle with Angela and Jane on either side. All the drinks belong to them!!











This is me in deep conversation with Mariel who has been living in Basel since 2001. She is originally from Argentina. (My new outfit from Milan - that's just for my girls information - Jocelyn, Glenda and Amy!!!!)








Some of the other girls in the group - Jo, Lygia, Jo, Linda and Emily. Aren't they gorgeous?  

Monday walking group

Yesterday Roger and I joined our walking group for a 3 hour walk to Grellingen near Basel. There were 17 of us altogether and the weather was inclement. We pressed ahead anyway and it was a lovely walk. 2 of our walkers had a fall, which wasn't nice, but no real harm fortunately. We went through some beautiful vegetation and I even had to cross some wooden bridges that I wouldn't normally cross (more on that in another blog!!). I hope you enjoy the photos. Roger and I were the only ones in shorts! What does that say about Aussies! Well it was 27degrees and in the end became quite humid. We left Schopfheim so early we didn't know what weather to expect!!



 

My Blog

It's good to know people are reading my blog - especially my beloved children! Thanks Tim for your great help on getting the soccer over the internet. Haven't tried it yet, but will certainly do so this afternoon. Another warm day here in Schopfheim. I went out shopping early to beat the heat. Also I wanted to get some special German biscuits which are only available at Mini Mal and that is a longer walk than the other supermarkets around here. Some of you would know that I don't really like shopping, but I actually find the supermarkets fascinating here. Maybe that's because I don't understand anything that is on the labels (that's not quite true). So, I wondered around looking at everything and seeing what is available at Mini Mal that isn't available in Neukauf where we normally shop. I know it's more expensive!!

I am going for another picnic up the hill in Schopfheim with my lovely friend Sabine. She has 1 1/2 hours for lunch. On the way up there we call in at a farm to buy ice-cream! It's SO yummy. Ah, Sabine does my heart good.

Tonight special friends are coming to dinner. I will make stir fry chicken and also a pavlova as Wirt is always teasing me about them. Hope it turns out okay. Then our lovely friend Carole is coming hopefully to stay overnight. Did I say we are never bored?

Home at Schopfheim

It has been a particularly warm week with most days in the 30's. Fortunately we are on the ground floor of a 2 storey house AND we have the canal in the back garden. I went down there this morning to wash out a garden container and the water was beautiful. The canal babbles along quickly so it is lovely and clear and clean. Roger and I didn't go for our usual Monday walk with the walking group as it was going to be hot and the walk was quite long. We need to do other things during the day as well as walking. Next Monday will be shorter and we look forward to catching up with all our friends again then.

Roger has been busy unpacking all his books. He found a very nice cupboard in the garage (we have just received the key from Frau Betting). So he emptied it, cleaned it up and we brought it inside. I think it looks very impressive where Roger has placed it. Now we just need another one to put the rest of Roger's books in!!

What about the soccer!! GO AUSSIES!!! (That's said very quietly..... we are completely outnumbered here....not a good feeling). Now our TV is kaput. What a tragedy. What are our options. Our Tim used to watch TV on his computer. We need to try and do this, but so far, no luck. Any one out there got any suggestions? We also need to find some Aussies near us so we can all shout together ON SUNDAY.

Last weekend we had a great time entertaining both on Saturday and Sunday. Those who know us well know we love having people in our home. So we were both happy come Sunday night and we had great food and stimulating conversation with new friends.

More photos

I'm really a novice at this. Someone is going to come along and show me how to do this properly. But Jocelyn wanted photos, so at least they are here! This is an Arcade near the Duomo in Milano. Magnificent indeed.


















This is the Duomo and is an amazing structure. And guess what? It's free to get in! Most of them cost money.














This is just one of the wonderful views we had from the train on the way home. Hard to take it all in really. "Pinch me, I can't believe we are travelling through such a beautiful part of God's creation" 

Our trip to Milano

There's nothing like a daughter to remind you that your blog is not up-to-date AND once you start something you have to continue with it..... Thanks darling Jocelyn for the reminder! SO.... here I am again with some beautiful photos of our trip to Milano last week. We went there to celebrate our 30th Wedding Anniversary. The train trip from Zurich was magnificent, as was the trip from Milano to Basel.




We were amazed to see snow still on the Alps. What a beautiful sight. But we were glad we were on the train.















Here I am talking to Nadia who sat next to me on the train. Obviously this is a candid shot!! We are both not looking our best (thanks Roger!!). She is a lively Christian young lady of Swiss parents but brought up in Sicily, Italy. Completely gorgeous.
This is the Central Railway Station in Milano. A very impressive looking building. We stayed in a Hotel very close to here, and as we didn't have a lot of luggage, we didn't have a problem walking. Mind you, on the way home, we had a little more luggage (do I really have to go into detail????).
After other Italian cities we have visited, Milan was disappointing. It was noisy, dirty and not pedestrian friendly (we have been spoilt in Germany). Needless to say we were happy to come home to Schopfheim and our little haven. 

What a week !

Roger and I started the week meeting our walking group at the Ettingen tram stop just out of Basel. The rain was falling steadily, but we decided to 'press forward'. There were 8 of us gallant walkers (GO GIRLS - and Roger of course!!). The rain didn't ease and we squelched and sweltched (I don't think that's a word but it looks good) and 3 hours later returned on the tram to Basel. Nothing that a good bath couldn't cure Monday!

The rest of the week we have been applying for an extention to our stay here in Germany and putting in our Visa application. It has been all consuming and we have had to have patience and lots of time to do this.

Friday we are off to Winterthur in Switzerland (near Zurich) for a Seed Conference led by Derek Webster. We are really looking forward to getting to know lots of people.

Sunday we will travel from Winterthur to Milano by train and spend a few days there as a treat for our 30th Wedding Anniversary. It will be good to spend time together in a new place just enjoying the surrounds (and maybe just a little shopping).

What a life. We have so much to be thankful for as we travel around, meet interesting people and make many new friends.