Reflecting

I am enjoying my time in Basel in every way!  Not only do I feel very much at home here, but because I am so happy and content I have been able to take time to reflect and set some goals for the future.  I promised Christine I would do this when she left for her trip to Canada/US for a couple of weeks.  

It has been good to do some challenging reading (3 books already) and to have chats with close friends about issues that are on my heart, and especially about moving into the future.  I do have rather big decisions to make when I get back to Perth and I need to be in a good place within myself and have a peace about the decisions I make.  Of course calling on my Heavenly Father, as always, is top of the list. What does he want me to do in the days/months/years to come.

Being here has again reinforced to me the wonderful life long friendships Roger and I made in Basel and surrounds and also how much our friends have loved and cared for us.  And of course they continue to do this for me and it is very touching and at times quite emotional just thinking about it.  Again, I feel so blessed that Roger and I had the 4 1/2 years in this area of beautiful Europe and made such happy memories together.  (I am thrilled to bits that 'Men Modelling' is still going at Centrepoint).  

As I walk the streets, catch the trams/trains/buses I often just long to have my family with me to share with them how I feel when I am here.  I just feel different.  I feel like I belong here.  Even though I don't speak the language, it is all very familiar and comforting somehow.  The other amazing thing is that I keep bumping into friends in the streets of Basel!!  But don't worry my beloved family, I will not be coming back here to live.

I think I can count about 7 clocks chiming at any one time from Christine's apartment.  They chime around the clock and on the 1/4 hour!  You do get used to it.  It means I don't always have to look at the bedside clock in the middle of the night!!  Also the clocks chime extra long at 7am!!  It really is time to get up!!  But thinking about it, I don't think they do this on the weekends!!  Of course on Sundays I can hear extra chimes!

Rogers name comes up often in conversations I have with him in my head (or out loud!!), but also with friends.  Laughter and tears are often the order of the day, but in a happy way.  Of course there is sadness that he is not here with me physically, but I can feel his presence and often his advice or chiding over this and that!!  But mostly I know he is so proud of me being here again and doing what I am doing.

I was very spoilt with special gifts on my birthday.  I now have new perscription glasses, vouchers to special baths in the mountains in Scuol when I visit with Christine 9 - 15 September, Ballroom dancing lessons (I've had 2 already - and I get very nervous before I go), and dear Sabine and I spent a wonderful day at the Thermal Baths the day of my birthday, her gift to me.

I have been here 4 weeks now and the time is going so quickly.  I am so pleased I made the decision to come for a couple of months and it is thanks to Christine and her lovely apartment that I have been able to do this.  To be able to stay in the same place for the time I am here, has indeed been a blessing.  I don't think I would have coped with moving around from one friend to the other.

So, no pictures this time.  Jocelyn said you are not leaving comments because you are jealous, so I am being careful!!  I don't want to lose my blogging friends!  Thank you to those of you who have left a little comment.  I love them and I love that you take the time to say hi through my blog.  It really is good to be back blogging again.

   

A small hike in the Black Forest

Here I am with Carla at the beginning of our hike.  The green in this area is amazing and I never cease to wonder at all the different greens there are!

Carla and Harry

Along the path.  Sometimes it seemed to disappear altogether.  

We were the only ones on the path.

 A couple of fitness signs!!

Harry was amazing the way he could find pfifferlinge (special field mushrooms you

 can find during the summer months).  They are delicious.

Back to the special Italian Ice Cream Cafe for a treat.  We felt we has worked for it!!

Sunday with Carla and Harry

On Sunday I caught the train to Schopfheim and Carla and Harry met me at the Bahnhof and drove me to this gorgeous restaurant in Pfeffenberg in the Black Forest.  It was a Birthday lunch and another celebration for me.

Carla and I chose the Menu of the day with half portions.  This is the starter.  You might just be able to see a sweet corn terrain - yum

This is the view from the balcony where we had lunch.  We were certainly perched on a mountain!!

We had a small bowl of minestrone soup - very cute.  Forgot to take a photo.  So here is the mains which is beef steak with a crusted herb topping and sauce.  Cooked to perfection.

Dessert!!  My goodness it was so delicate and yummy and beautifully presented as you can see.

What an absolutely beautiful lunch with Carla and Harry.  I was meeting Harry for the first time.

CELEBRATING MY 60TH BIRTHDAY

As I thought about the way in which I wanted to celebrate my 60th Birthday, I knew whatever I did I wanted to keep it small!!  I mean, with so many friends, how was I going to do this!!  Also, the diversity of our friends, and I wanted everyone to feel comfortable.  I gave it a lot of thought. 

So, here I am at Gasthaus Zum Loewen in Schopfheim.  This was Roger and my favourite restaurant.  It is a traditional German Restaurant/Hotel owned by a family in the 3rd generation.  (Roger always enjoyed speaking to the owners in German, but I couldn't do this).  

back l-r  Mark, Kevin & Gaudenz
front l-r Christine E, Sabine, Moi and Christine A (who I am staying with)

Each one of these friends are special to me, but then, all our friends are special.  That is why they are our friends!!  All of us stayed overnight in the hotel apart from Gaudenz who had to work on Saturday.

Gaynor, Christine, Sabine & Kevvy in the garden

With my boys!!!!!

One of the entree's enjoyed by my guests!!  I had Pfifferlinge soup (a special type of tiny mushroom found in the forest for about 2 months of the year - it has a divine taste).
Obviously the evening deteriorated after this as I didn't take a photo of the other courses!!

The Chef/Owner came out to the 2 groups in our dining room and wished myself and the man on the other table a Happy Birthday.  I was given some Faller Quince Jam by his wife (gave it to Kevin & Mark).  Then at 11pm he came back with his piano accordian and played Happy Birthday first to me and then the other gentleman.  Then he played quite a few traditional songs and we had so much fun.  Gaudenz and I did a little dance together.  What a perfect way to end my birthday celebrations.

Blessed, blessed, oh so blessed and I know my darling Roger was smiling down at me and us all.

BASEL

My arrival in Basel has given me so much joy.  It is so good to be back here and in such beautiful and familiar surroundings.  I can hardly believe it.  To know so many of our friends are here and ready to welcome me back is so lovely and warms my heart.  In some ways it really is like coming home as Roger and I spent 4 1/2 very happy years together in this area from March 2006 - September 2010.

This is where I have truly felt Roger is with me in spirit.  As I walk along the Rhein, travel on the tram, go to Centrepoint, see interesting new building developments, travel on the S6 train - I am conscious of Roger being with me and making little comments like "what a mess, how long is it going to take them to finish this"..... speaking about the building works going on at Messeplatz where all the big conferences are held here in Basel e.g. Art Basel and Jewellery and Watch Show.  

Being right in the heart of Basel is quite fantastic, but it has taken some little time to get used to the evening noises!!  Buskers begin playing outside the open window around 7pm and can go till 10pm.  But I think the Swiss laws have this in hand.  Even at lunchtime they seem to disappear for siesta!!  There is no traffic noise but lots of pedestrians walking back and forth to early hours of the morning (especially on weekends) and the talking carries up to the apartment 4th floor window.

I took myself off to our German Church (FeG Loerrach) Sunday morning and it was good to be back there.  Of course I didn't understand a lot of the service but that didn't worry me one little bit.  It was wonderful to see special friends again.  Then Johnny and Bettina (Ghanian friends) took me to their apartment in Zell for an African lunch of Black Eyed Bean Stew (my favourite and request).

Sunday 6pm I went to the Anglican Evensong in a small chapel off the Munster and a short walk from where I am staying.  I had arranged to meet one of Roger's friends there.  Talk about an Evensong totally out of date.  My goodness I didn't even understand some of the language.  A very well attended service with everyone obviously living in the past.  Definitely King James english!!  I won't be going back, just wasn't my style, though I did enjoy singing the hymns and the organist was very accomplished.

Today I treated myself to a pedicure and I was very, very pleased with the result and price, especially as it took 2 hours.

I will be having dinner with my lovely Swiss friend Christine and her partner Gaudenz this evening.  They have a beautiful apartment on the Rhein, so I am going to enjoy myself.  We won't be sitting outside though as it is rather nippy today.

My Kiwi friend Christine, who I am staying with, is currently in England and will be back on Thursday night, so I have the apartment to myself.  I've been enjoying watching the Olympics, even though the commentary is very GB one sided!! 

Dining in Rome

Carla and I really did have some experiences dining in Rome.  Our first breakfast together was an advertised "English Breakfast" at a small cafe.  Lots of meat on the plate which was a bit of a shock!!


After our siesta on Saturday we had a late lunch at a restaurant opposite our hotel.  We decided we wanted Preseco (Champagne), but when it came out, it definitely lacked bubbles!!  Carla asked if it was a fresh bottle, but that was lost in translation!!  Our main meal was 7euro each - the bill came to 37euro!!  We still can't work this out!!  Very expensive Preseco!!!  We made up for the cost by making our own dinner that night on the balcony at the hotel.

Sunday morning we decided to go local and just have tea and coffee!  We ended up having an omelette each and then became a little wary of the very attentive waiter (we were the only ones in the cafe).  Goodness we did have to laugh when we were well away from the cafe.  What were we thinking!!

Our next dining experience was in the evening.  We had been shopping and decided to try a cafe close to a train station before we headed back to our hotel.  There were several different menu combinations at set prices.  We asked the waiter what was the mains and he very rudely gave us the 3 choices quickly so we couldn't understand what he said!!  Carla asked him to repeat and he did the same thing.  We almost got up and walked off!!  (Why can't I do this?!!)  But we stayed and the meal was very nice BUT the waiter did not get a tip from us!!  We don't like rude people who should be there to serve us.

Again we were looking for somewhere a little bit special to have a tea/coffee.  The place above was decorated in orange with pictures of Roman Holiday on the walls.  They were great and it had a nice atmosphere and very friendly staff.  I wanted gelato (3 SCOOPS) but I did share with Carla.  We bought a very nice sandwich from this place to have later for our lunch.


We kept our Monday breakfast very local, going just down the street BUT were certainly invaded by locals on their way to work for their expresso.  A lovely small clean place and friendly staff.

As we were visiting the Vatican Monday morning I wanted to find the Cafe Roger, Jocelyn & I had found in July 2010.  I had their card with the address on it and I can't believe I took Carla straight to it.  Carla loved the place and we had a yummy lunch together then headed back to our hotel for a siesta.

We had a great dining experience on our last night in Rome.  It was a set menu with pasta, salmon and vegetables, bread, coffee.  We ordered Preseco and red wine to celebrate our last evening together.  Our waiter had a great sense of humour and it was our best dining experience.  We wished we'd discovered this place at the beginning of our stay!