The luck of the Irish?

Well, I'm sorry to say, the same thing has happened again- my Sunday entry appears to only be being published on a Monday- I am terrible! Let's just say, I'll post up whenever I get time. I don't want you all to get your hopes up and then have them dashed when there's nothing for you to read!

To be fair, though, I have a really good excuse for not writing last night. I spent literally 11.30 to 11.30 with the Basel Irish Club yesterday because, when we do BBQs they are whole day things. I can't even begin to tell you how unbelievably glad I was to go to the event, because I had been worrying a fair bit about it and for a while it looked like I might have not gone. Talk about the luck of the Irish...they got my company...ooooh, I'm terrible!!

More of the Amazeballs Sunday in a smidge...but first, as with the best of aything, there has to be worse moments, doesn't there? These weekend has been a bit of a sandwich situation. Friday was great, Saturday a bit crap, Sunday brilliant. Because everybody loves that second piece of bread, right? ;)
Friday, I went into town with a friend. We did some Zentastic shopping and bought matching Zen-looking t-shirts for 3 francs in Chicories- a bit like a friendship bracelet, we'll always be Zen buddies when we wear those tops! Next we went to dinner at Mister Wong's chinese buffet sort of thing. It was weird, because the Chinese restaurant I always got food from at uni was also Mr Wong- ahh memories! Mostly of eating huge plates of food and watching reality tv...

Having a teddy bear's picnic in the forest

Unfortunately there was a wee tad of misunderstanding with me and the women cooking the food. I ordered two chicken satays as I was getting food for two of us. She misunderstood and just brought me two miniscule kebabs. I just looked at her and thought 'What? Do I really look like the sort of person who would only eat two kebabs?? I'm blatantly a big eater...LOOK AT ME!' Anyway, she slags me off to the other workers and they all have a good laugh and I'm just thinking 'I just want some satay, without the side order of snark thanks!' Later on, I tried to go to the bathroom. You needed a password to get in. As if I'd ask the bitchy workers! Luckily another girl came and unlocked it. Phew!

The view from the BBQ

There were some weird sights to be seen from our perch outside the restaurant. A gang of upwards of 20 men in lime green mankinis, stormed past us, singing loudly and vulgarly. 
A man walked past, wearing a knee length kilt and a t-shirt saying 'Pure F*ing Meth'...alright. Advertising your drug preferences. Smaaaart.

On Saturday, the out of date Tuna filling of my weekend sandwich, saw me deciding to be brave, mostly because it's on my bucket list, and going to Paddy's alone, because I wanted to watch some rugby. I showed up, Craig the bartender remembered me, which was (I think) flattering. He put on the rugby for me on a separate screen from the football, but of course, the only tables in the rugby area were big four seater upwards tables. So there I perched, completely alone, sipping a Magners, the only person watching the match. I tried despondently to get some conversation from the waiter. He didn't buy it! And then, just because things were bad enough, a couple came and joined me at their table for a date. There we were, the three of us enjoying some awkward date small talk, the man talked to me about rugby. I was trapped in from leaving in every direction. They were directly in my line of vision for watching the match so it always looked like I was staring at them, even if I was just checking out a particularly fine Springbok in action. All I could think was 'My life is a George Michael music video. Great.'

Luckily, the Sunday horizon was bright and clear and at 11.30, I was illegally dropped off at the BBQ site, my driver having to pretend someone had collapsed and needed picked up quickly in the car. Crazy lady! I was the first one there, and was responsible for that whopping big fire that cooked everyone's meat. Not that I told anyone that. Who likes a girl who can build fires? Nobody! Unless they're very cold.

The BBQ site before everybody else arrived

It was all worth it. I had the best time. I didn't want the day to end. And it didn't. For 12 hours. I met such a great variety of people of all ages and interests and I flitted from one group to the other and had easy chat with everybody. I can't believe how lucky I felt to get to meet such lovely people. And to be able to talk as broadly and slang-ily as I wanted. Knowing nobody would say 'What was that?' They all knew! Plus, I couldn't believe that my pronunciation of my home county would have provided such fascination and delight with the rest all day. A group of us went on to Paddy's from the BBQ to continue the good craic we were having and the craic really did continue on. Of course, by the evening, it was just men and me left. As all the women were wives and mothers and therefore had to look after the children. Although I was the youngest of the group by quite a margin, I still hope I've made some really good friends who genuinely want to keep in touch with me. Maybe. You never can tell when people are all talk though. A lesson I'm quickly learning.

The best part of the day? I have so many favourite parts...

Instead, I'll tell you the worst bit. Not being able to get a tram home. Getting a bus that dropped me in the middle of nowhere in pitch black nighttime. Finding my way home was a wee bit tricky. But I did it.

I'd love to have done Sunday all over again another time. Not to change anything. Just because it was so nice to feel included and liked. And I'd like to feel that again soon.

P.s. I managed to pee in the forest...in literal nature...for the first time in my life...and I feel liberated!!

The hills are alive, with the sound of....cows with bells??

The view of my private bedroom balcony.

Hey readers! So, here I am, a weary traveller returned from my weekend adventure. And, oh my goodness, what STUNNING scenery have I seen. For any of you who haven't been, the lake of Thun in the region of Interlaken is absolutely breath-taking. The huge Toblerone-esque moutains touch base with gorgeous water so clear and clean you can drink it, where luxury yachts and old fashion steam boats rub shoulders, where hikers and divers are one. And where I called home for a few days.

To start with, it's REALLY hot here at the minute- like over 30 degrees even until you go to sleep at night. So imagine my delight to arrive to such a glorious view after a long journey in a car, squished between to baby car seats, with a nagging cramp the whole way along my leg.On my journey up, we followed twisty roads through the glorious snow-capped mountains and delightful egg-rolling perfect green hills, where literal cows with literal bells literally...walked. Roaming free: every which colour of cow, all together as a group- it was beautiful to behold!

The view off my balcony

My room  was a thing of beauty. The lovely generations old house we stayed in had lovely wood-pannelled walls. I could have sat all day, watching the water sway and the delightful sounds of Pitbull booming from a luxury yacht zooming past. Bliss!

On Saturday we headed off towards the mountains, to tackle the Sheynige Platte: a lovely moutainous walk only reached by an hour long open top moutain train. There were some really funny highlights of this trip.

While we waited for the next mountain train, Cece the dog quickly established herself as a national emblem: revelling in the glory of herds of children and adults alike fawning around her. She lay down on her back and just let them go to town tickling her. Little minx!

It was quite hilarious to see literally tourists on a train sticking their cameras out to snap pictures of us on the platform. It must have looked a quintessentially Swiss picture: lovely dog, cute blonde child in a sunhat, blonde woman in hiking boots, they were all lapping it up. Oh well, when they're showing those holiday snaps to their families and saying 'Look how SWISS they are!' that's when I'll get my laugh. The woman in hiking boots was ME! The only thing Swiss about me is my Swatch watch and the constant amount of Gruyere cheese digesting in my stomach (I eat a lot of it here, so gooood!) The joke is well and truly on them. 

BAM!

Anywho, when we reached the top it was amazing!!! Just look at my pictures!!! Of course, I wanted to get a shot of me with all of this magic, just to prove I was there and luckily an obliging Spanish woman offered to take several for me at different angles. You know, I love the Spanish people: they're kind, thoughtful...and complimentary! While she took my picture, her friend shouted to me 'Beautiful Smile!' It was fantastic!

BEAUTIFUL SMILE!

Whilst climbing up, it was shouted over to me 'I think those two girls are Irish!' So I set my clover emblem to stun...and had a nice chat with the two girls when they confirmed they were in fact part of my crowd and we did the secret handshake. Oh...do you not KNOW the secret handshake?? Well....this is kind of awkward! It was lush to get to slur my words a little and sound just a bit more casual for a change and we had a few laughs so we did.

Another hilarious incident...when we stopped for our picnic, Cece thought she'd go lie down as well. Unfortunately, as she tried to roll into a more comfortable position, she continued to roll. And roll. And roll. She rolled down half a mountain with a terribly funny scared expression....

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Seriously, Piz Buin??

 ...she was fine though, see?? Happy as...well, happy as a dog who didnt just roll off the entire thing!!

Anywho, after we all baked for a few hours of lovely climbing, we made our way back down the mountain and towards the lovely lake house...where, WE WENT SWIMMING!!! IN THE LAKE!! It was AWESOME! I was feeling really quite frolicsome in the water so was doing lots of floating and I even attempted a few back flips- woop! Much to my amusement, when I finished doing a rather mangled back flip, I was asked 'Did you used to be a synchronised swimmer?' Ha, nah mate, you're mistaken, I'm a TERRIBLE swimmer! Obviously I covered my frantic coughing and goggle removal maneouvre well!

Last night, I realised that I was in fact incredibly burnt...woops! I was really annoyed, because I'd worn cream all over as well, it just didn't last like it should have! This would not be an exaggeration if I likened myself to...say...the red M+M- shocking!!! In fact, as I have no shame anymore, here's some evidential proof...bearing in mind, the camera was in beauty mode and has therefore severely improved my colour to less red!
I almost had a Nervy B when I saw myself in the mirror last night, I looked like an IMBECILE! Luckily, this morning I noticed that some of it had already morphed into tan and the rest will hopefully fade soon as I'm now covered in Aloe Vera- hello! (sorry if you got that)- and nicely soothed. Just wish my face hadn't got burnt, it looks like I'm just really embarassed all the time *sigh* Well, this is gonna help with making friends! Thanks defective sun cream!! :D

I'll leave you with one last funny incident of the weekend. This morning, the little boy said to me 'Why do you always have these?' *Gestures to my chest*
Me: Well, I can't really help it, they're just there...Are you just jealous because you can't be as good a drag queen without them?
Little boy: *Nods*
Me: You'll just have to get really fat to get some of your own.
LB: But you're not fat at all!  Day. Made.
I proceed to squeeze him in a hug of gratitude and say 'You're so sweet!'

On a plus, I seem to be losing weight despite eating like a pig, must be due to all of the schwitz-ing (sweating) I've been doing in this heat- ah well, more cheese please! :D

QOTR