This morning I took myself to the local show on in Bern for all things household. It is on all week, and I got there before it even opened!!
anyway, i was on the search for a new sofa bed. Ours is 16 years old, and getting rather worn out.
But can I find a new one? "can I 'eckers like", as they say up north.
All the sofas on display are basically the same; leather, uniform shape and uniform colour. I want pattern, I want more than one colour on it, and i want it to turn into a bed.
There was not a sofa bed there, although i did get directed to a shop in town that had two. Uni-colour, but good quality.
Not at all inspiring though, and despite the salesman being very charming, and giving me his life story practically, i think I may revert to option a, which is to have the original re-upholstered. That way I get to choose more than one colour, and keep the original patterned cushions. Now that I have seen the price of new ones, the quote to reupholster seems very reasonable
Another alternative is to start importing British sofas to Switzerland, as they seem much more up my street.

you can tell I have too much time today

Your Personality at 35,000 Says...

Deep down, you prefer spending time alone to spending time with others. You enjoy thinking more than talking. You are good with your place in the world. You are confident and comfortable with who you are. Your gift is having a way with words. You know how to express yourself well. You are inspired by what is possible. Real life is often too ordinary for you. You are happy as long as you are given some personal space. It's important for you to have your own private life.

This picture was taken on our wedding anniversary, and actually is not too bad for me. The new header  was also taken on Sunday, all on the lake of Geneva.  But now the glasses are gone, as I did have my eye laser op yesterday. It went really well, and  now I can see almost 100% The first time without glasses since I was 8!!
I feel really chuffed. okay my eyes are still bloodshot, but that will wear off, and I am not allowed to touch them for  a month, but it will be worth it.
My husband did tell me though that maybe I need to get some plain glass ones to look intelligent!!!! I don't think so

looks amazing, and they are looking for a Financial Analyst

Pick me, Pick me !!!

updated link ( sorry)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7292600.stm

I have just read the story about the Austrian woman kept in a cellar for 24 years by her father, continuously abused, and who bore him 7 children, 3 of whom were kept in the cellar with her!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7369851.stm

Her mother, living in the house above, apparently knew nothing, and she and the girls father bought up 3 of the children themselves.

This is the most amazing case. He was obviously a monster, and presumably his wife knew better than to question him, or to go in the cellar - ever, but I still can't believe she knew nothing.

Those poor kids must have had no education, never saw daylight, or breathed fresh air, and presumably the 19 year old, who is seriously ill was also abused.
Absolutely unbelievable

yep, that is how long I have been married now, and to the same man
So in lieu of a medal, we decided to take off for the weekend, without children, to Montreux on Lake Geneva, not all that far from Sminchin probably.
We stayed in a four star hotel, which was nice, but they messed up our booking ( twin beds, instead of a double )
But the sun shone, the lake was lovely, the flowers gorgeous along the lake side, a mix of tulips and many coloured poppies. Today we took a trip or two on the lake of Geneva, and drank champagne on the boat. We visited Vevey, where there were a bunch of singing chefs for some reason, and then Lausanne from where we got the train back home. All that travel for free, cos we have year tickets. Just great
Next year, we might try Berlin, I reckon that should be interesting.

Thanks to all of you who sent me a birthday message today, that is great. I even got a poem from Uncle Frank which is lovely.

The day has been fun. I got some nice gifts - Grumpy old women handbook from my youngest brother - thank you Philip for that!
Life on mars 2 series Dvd set from my other brother, which is just what I wanted. The first series was great.
Some flowers, ceramic cats and a mug from my youngest- who knows my love of cats very well, and some nice smellies from my eldest daughter. And they paid for them all themselves
From my husband I got roses, which smell wonderful, and a smart pen that writes like a fountain pen but does not get ink everywhere.
From his brother and family I got a lovely handbag. Bit small for everyday, but fine for when I don't need to take everything with me.
The I got lots of cards as well from friends.
At lunch we ate in, then went to the Circus. Circus's are still very popular here, but without lots of animals anymore. They did have goats, lamas, camels and buffalo! Plus some football playing dogs, but also acrobatics, dance and clowns.
The circus we went to has a very small company, but they put on a good show. We were right on the front row, so did get rather sprayed by water, and glared at by a camel. All in all, a good afternoons fun.
And now we have chocolate cake to eat, and then I will definately give up chocolate for a month, just to see if it makes any difference.

This morning i was at the beauty salon, having my eyelashes dyed and my feet buffed up to a slightly smoother state than before.
I have never done either before, but I am going through with the eye laser operation, in one weeks time, and as they said no eye make up for a month after, I decided that the eyelashes would have to be dyed. It stings a bit, but they look good, even though I say so myself.
To smooth my feet, the girl got out what looked like a sanding disc!!!!!
It tickled like crazy, and did create rather a lot of dust but I do have nice smooth feet now. I have stocked up on creams to keep them that way.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and the forecast is not at all great. I was going to do lunch with the family, but Laura, who turned 13 on Wednesday, felt that it was a shame, and that I should celebrate. So I reckon a trip to the Circus will be fun. It is on in the town up the road, so I have reserved tickets for the 3pm performance tomorrow. My hubbie is not that keen on Circuses, but tough, it is my birthday after all.
And I have decided to give up chocolate, just as soon as my birthday is over ( just in case I receive any ) and now I am going to the Gym to burn some of the calories I consumed from eating some more of the chocolate bunny earlier today.

remember the kilo choccie rabbit I won last month. I had an earful of it today. Now that is a lot of chocolate
Probably a session at the gym is on the cards for tomorrow

It has been an incredibly busy week I have barely had time to look at blogland, especially from work. I am glad it is the weekend, I can tell you.
Yesterday one of my employees left, he is flying across the pond on Sunday to Toronto, to transfer to our company over there. Lucky guy.
it is what he wanted since last year, a transfer to Canada, with his girlfriend. It was not easy to arrange however, as they don^t have so many employees there either. In February this year, he was told there was no chance, and he should look elsewhere. 2 weeks later an opening came up, exactly what he was doing here. The job was his.
As a leaving gift we gave him a Canada survival kit. A box crammed full of Swiss products, that he is bound to miss He told me that he will be spending today skiing, the last time of the season. It won't be on the doorstep in quite the same way in Toronto.

I also took my youngest to the hospital for a ultrasound scan to see if they could find anything physical causing these stomach aches. It is fascinating what the inside of our bodies look like in black and white and 3 dimensions. it looked like a huge swamp, with animals rearing up. The kidney also resembled the head of a sleeping monster. maybe it is just my imagination
Anyway, not surprisingly, they didn't really find anything wrong. A couple of lymph nodes that may indicate a past infection, which could explain it, but as she has been having these pains so long now, both laura and I are skeptical.
Stress reduction is next to try I reckon.

our youngest has been complaining for a long time now of stomach cramps. Sometimes it is so bad she has to stay off school. The doctor can find nothing wrong, and of course she never has an attack when we are there.
2 years ago, we were on a visit to the Uk, and it was so bad, we took her to the emergency doctor. Trouble is, by the time we saw him, the pain had gone.
So today I took her to be tested for lactose intolerance, as she used to have that as a child. The tests proved negative. So next week I have to take her for an ultraschall to see if they can find any problems. I am not hopeful.
Sometimes she claims the cramps are spreading up to her chest, like a spiking pain. This happened this afternoon, despite her being off school all day, so no stress from that ( put paid to one of my theories)
Maybe I need to try Kinesologie, a friend is just qualified, so maybe that can help.
anyone any similar experience with unidentified pain?