BODY WORKOUT ! ! !

Well, I've certainly put my body through its paces this week. Roger and I went hiking with the Basel hikers last Monday (our usual routine). We knew the hike was going to be challenging but......

We arrived at Dornach station at 9.20am and waited for the rest of the group to arrive. It was going to be a warm 35C so walking was actually not going to be a lot of fun in the heat. We also knew the height difference was about 500+ metres. We were walking from Dornach to Gempen and back to Dornach (a round trip). Well, up, up, up we went. My goodness. But we had good breaks and lots of water. Once we got to the top, we realized it was worth it! The view was spectacular over Baselland. No pictures (sorry). The walk took 3 1/2 hours and we were all pooped at the end of it. We left home just after 8am and arrived back home at 2.20pm. And yes, we were couch potatoes for (almost) the rest of the day. I did have to do some baking in the evening as I wanted to make something special for Fritz Weibels birthday on Tuesday.

Wednesday I decided to head up the hill for my usual walk and did it without any problems. Next time I go I am going to take my camera and take photo's along the way so you can see what a beautiful walk it is and why I don't hesitate going walking!

TODAY (Saturday) we received a phone call from our Aussie friend Lisa who lives in Basel. She wanted Roger to go bike riding with her. Well, I decided to tag along as well. We had a good wind to help us along the way and road from Schopfheim to Weil am Rhein - 20km's. It was a fantastic ride and none of us felt tired at the end of it. Roger and I did catch the train home though, but got off at Schopfheim West and rode the 2km's home! Not bad for a Saturday. I enjoyed it so much I think I might do another one on Monday. We have another holiday coming up, which is Pentecost. Just can't get used to all these holidays around this time in Europe. I thought we could cycle to France, but Lisa said they have the holiday there as well.

So, I'm feeling rather good for my nearly 57 years! Seeing the sunshine sure does make a difference to the way we all feel.

HAPPY SUNNY SUNDAY

We've had a great day. Had to catch the train to Church this morning as our Ghanan friend Johnny has gone back to Ghana for 4 weeks holiday. So, this was an experience in itself. We haven't had to do this for many years!

We had to make sure we caught the 12 noon train back to Schopfheim or we would be hanging around the station for 1 hour. Didn't want that. But this meant we couldn't catch up with some friends we wanted to chat to. Oh well.

Roger invited Stefan to come and have lunch with us. He arrived around 1.30pm and we had lunch together. Roger and Stefan had a great afternoon 'chewing the fat' together! Stefan has his own investment banking business and is also dabbling in other things very successfully. He's such a great guy and we do enjoy spending time with him. He was actually wanting to get our views on German politics, etc. Just up Roger's alley so I was able to excuse myself!

I got the 'speakies' SMS from my sister Irene in Perth, Australia so I lay on the bed and we had a good natter for one half hours!! What a luxury. We sure can talk, but also have a good laugh about ourselves. She is taking off for 12 days in Bali at the end of this week. She sure does need a holiday and Bali is so close to Western Australia. I think it only takes 3 hours to get there, so it is closer than a flight to Melbourne.

The weather is hot at the moment. Fancy 30C in May. Amazing. Of course it is lovely and cool in our home, and with the shutters halfway down, even better.

Have a reasonably busy week coming up, but nothing that I can't handle!!

This photo was taken on our visit to Solothurn. Also a warm day and you could say I was a little 'over dressed!'. A wonderful day with Angela though. We must go back there again sometime.

Surprises

So, Roger's birthday has been and gone. What a lovely day it was for us both. I had written an email to his Choir mates to make sure they sang Happy Birthday to him at Choir. Well, he was sung to twice actually. So Roger was very touched by that. No photo of that unfortunately.

I had sent Roger on a little buying spree in Loerrach just to delay him for a little longer! This meant I could work a little longer in the kitchen making a Lumberjack cake without him becoming suspicious! When he arrived home he was happy to relax in the loungeroom, but I eventually had to ask him to stay out of the kitchen as I wanted to set the table for 4 and he wasn't expecting any visitors!! I made a beef roast and yummy vegetables. We had cheese, pate, grapes and nuts to begin with and the surprise visitors (below) Kevin and Mark, brought a very nice bottle of champagne. Kevin also brought a cake (which he is still holding in the picture). Yes you're right, we ate too much cake!!

Kevin arriving - surprise !!!

Mark arriving with the champagne !!

Then on Friday afternoon/evening we had Andy and Angela over here for a walk up the hill and a very yummy vegetarian dinner. I had never made these 2 recipes (Punjab before and I was very pleased with the result, as were Roger, Andy and Angela. Here is Angela with a Cafe Mocchiato that Roger made (his first attempt). Angela and Andy were most impressed as it swished around in the glass!!

THE MAN I LOVE

A WONDERFUL HAPPY BIRTHDAY

TO MY BELOVED ROGER

What an adventure we are both on and what a joy it is to share this adventure with the man I have been married to for 33 years.

Roger is:

An amazing husband

A loving father

A great friend

Thoughtful

Considerate

Very loving

Easy going

Dreamy

Suave

A good cook

Quite adventurous

A lover of all things 'train'

An avid reader

An avid TV watcher

Much more ! ! !

All those that know Roger love the way he is. Sometimes I would like to change things, but then I realise I'm far from perfect myself!!

My Darling, may you have a day FULL OF SURPRISES. They're coming and you don't know anything about them!! (More to follow for my blog readers!! - photo's too I hope!)

SOLOTHURN, SWITZERLAND

WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY!

Great past-time, especially if you like each other.

GIRL'S NIGHT - 8 MAY 2009

Life couldn't be better. I have a wonderful husband, a family that delights me, a lovely place in which to live, a community of friendly and helpful people, great next door neighbours, the best friends from all different countries of the world, good health and the sun is shining!!

Angela has been here from Adelaide, Australia for 2 weeks and we have enjoyed having her come with us to meet friends and to see what we do here in Basel. We've had a great time together and tomorrow we say goodbye.

Before Angela came I made sure I organized my next Girl's Night (for my Germany girlfriends to practise their English) whilst she was here. I also organized for her to bring a pair of stainless steel tongs for each of them. You just can't buy them here in Europe. Funny isn't it?

We had traditional German food and the most delightful and fun evening together. Here are some photo's of us enjoying ourselves. This is the first time there have been 3 Aussie girls on the night. What a scream! We are much louder than our German friends and they had a good laugh at our antics!

l-r: Marianne, Renate, Angela, Lisa, Anke, Johanna, Carla and Gaynor

Outing to Mainau with Angela

We have been enjoying Angela's visit with us. She is staying in a small bed sit about 1 km from our place here in Schopfheim and it seems to be working out well for us all. We used a convenient "Baden-Wuerttemberg" ticket for 5 people to travel together to go to Mainau Island. It was not a good day weather wise, but didn't stop Roger from taking some lovely pictures. We were just saying tonight over tea how we'd love to go back there, just the 2 of us and spend THE WHOLE day there enjoying all the beautiful flowers, butterflies, etc and having a picnic.

ANZAC DAY DINNER IN SCHOPFHEIM

A group of 14 Aussies and New Zealanders got together for an Anzac Day Dinner last Saturday 25 April at one of the Schopfheim's Gasthauses. The food was magnificent and we enjoyed just catching up and also meeting new friends.
Here are a few piccies of us all.

In the garden having a drink before dinner

Katja, Stewart and Roger


3 Aussie girls - Lisa, Angela (just arrived from Oz) and Gaynor

2 of the yummy desserts