Already

Thankfully, I have been able to visit Sus yesterday and today, and I am pretty sure I was thus able to help her feel better, even if only by keeping her company, making her think about something else or making her laugh. She's the one who made me realize I should be slowly but surely starting to make some decisions, such as choosing my midwife and registering for the classes I want to take. She made the mistake to wait until late in her pregnancy, and she thus was quite limited in her choices. Indeed, by the time I come back from the Christmas holidays in Switzerland, it will be January, and I will be in the 20th week, so if I want to take the yoga class for pregnant women for example, I should at least find out when the classes begin and register before the class is full.

As for the midwife, I really hope I find one who speaks either english, french or spanish, which would make me much more comfortable. But another wish I have, is that she can be present during the birth, as here in Germany your gynecologist is not in charge of the delivery. You choose the hospital, and pray that you'll like the gynecologist in charge that day/night when the baby decides to come. So if at least the midwife would be there, I think I'd feel better about having that familiar face around, other than my husband of course. Meaning I would need to choose a midwife who works at the hospital where I want to give birth. Meaning I need to be choosing the hospital... already!?!?

... three important decisions I need to be taking very soon, although I thought I had all the time in the world ahead of me. Any advice is more than welcome.

Troublesome phone call

I don't know if it is because I'm pregnant and am therefore maybe more sensitive to bad news these days, but the phone call of Sus' husband today really affected me. He began by canceling our dinner plans and proceeded to explain that Sus is in the hospital, being operated as we spoke, due to a pneumothorax (collapsed lung.)

It's not a big operation, although we all know that any operation implies risk, and she'll be fine. She will have to stay for at least a week in the hospital however, and they have therefore canceled their trip to Italy this weekend, and called Sus' mother to take care of Gabriel in the meantime. I might not even be able to visit her as apparently Sus might still be contagious from her intestinal flu, so the doctor said. But it is just shocking me how quick things can happen, how our lives can change in seconds, maybe more so knowing that I will soon be a mother. Sus is always so healthy and so full of positive energy. I wish I could be there for her.

The BIG news

I can finally say it. It's official at last. I am 12 weeks pregnant. I feel great. I feel happy. I feel zen. I feel eager. The due date is June 3rd, and I cannot express how much I look forward to these 6 months.

More than a thousand words

Pictures are worth more than a thousand words, right? Well, supposedly. Therefore, here are some of our new flat, one project that's been keeping me so busy lately...

Americans are NOT stupid

too much

Too much is going on in my life right now to be writing it about it here. I would not even know where to start, even if I wanted to.

I need some time to take it all in, to take care of it all. Then we'll see. But the move being one of them, I probably won't have the time or the internet connection working to update Lovely Planète until a couple of weeks. Bare with me. I'll be back.

Another red balloon

Despite our weak health condition, Saturday was a beautiful day. M's uncle and aunt took us to the Deister for a 15km walk in the forest, stopping here and there at the different towers and cabins converted into little cafés. We could not have been luckier with the weather: blue sky and ideal Fall temperatures. In the evening, they invited us to have dinner at their house, and were quite surprised to hear that their balloon was the fifth and last one we had gotten back. We were actually quite happy to have gotten five red balloons back at all, as we truly did not expect so many people to participate and send it back to us. Besides, as we said jokingly, since theirs was found in the south of France, we did not expect Northern Africa to play the game!

But to our very big surprise and joy, we got another card yesterday in the post. The sixth red balloon was found, this time near Geneva, approximately 150km away from where our wedding took place. Our present this time is a dinner with the friends of M's parents.

So, bets are now open: considering approximately 70-75 balloons were released, was this the last balloon we'll get back, or do you think we'll receive others back and how many?

Bad luck

The weather has been horrible these past weeks here up North. They had announced good summery days for a few days and they were right. Today the sun is shining and it's above 20 degrees. Just my luck, I cannot enjoy it as I have come down with a pretty nasty cold. The first of the year, and to think it's only early September... Pour couronner le tout, the long planned surprise day with M's uncle and aunt, wedding present to us because their red balloon was found 500 km away from its release point, is to happen tomorrow. Hiking, biking, and activities in swimming suit are on the program, and I truly don't know how I'm going to survive with my continuous sneezing and dizzy stuffed head!

the Einschülung tradition

I remember perfectly well my first school day back in 1980, probably because of the picture taken that day. I was four years old and starting the Kindergarten in Switzerland on a sunny Monday morning in September. Those two first years in Kindergarten are obligatory in Switzerland, as they prepare the kids for school, by teaching them how to write the alphabet, the numbers, as well as other very practical things such as tying your shoes and setting the table. My mother had brought me there, and took a picture of me in my beige divided skirt and matching sweater, which thankfully made me look like a girl, as I had a very boyish bowl haircut back then. My new Mickey Mouse orange school bag completed the look. I shyly wave to the camera on this historical picture, my smile giving away my nervosity.

I was at my nephew’s first school day the other day and cannot help but being stunned at how things have changed since then. And at how different things are in Germany in that respect. First of all, although he has been going to Kindergarten for the past two years, he has not learned anything really useful there. Other than arts and crafts, singing and playing. Kindergarten is not obligatory here, so the first school day is the first 1st grade day with almost seven years old. And it is a BIG deal. It is called Einschülung.

Now, Einschülung takes place on a Saturday morning. It started at 9h30 in a protestant church, although the school is public and not religious. Even though it was a very big church, it was completely full, as all forty 1st graders were accompanied by gazillion family members. Not only parents, but grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name it, everyone is present! The priest tried to make an interesting sermon for the kids and their families, talking about colors and races, but I have to say it was pretty bad and boring. Considering it was mostly a marketing action to get all those families back to going to church every weekend, I seriously think it was a failure. Then, after a one hour sermon, during which the kids were so bored some started playing football, others hide and seek in the nave behind the priest (no joke), we all went back to our cars and drove to the school. There, in a big hall, two classes of 4th graders had prepared a little show, which consisted in 4 songs welcoming the new students. That was actually very cute. Then the teachers for both 1st grade classes were introduced, and kids of both classes were called on the stage to follow their teacher to their classroom. The teachers took the opportunity to explain some things about the school to the parents and mob of family members during this time, who were then offered to walk around the school and get a coffee, while waiting for their kids to finish their first 45 minute class. All kids then posed together for the family cameras with their flamboyant school bags and Schultüte, which are huge paper cones made or bought by the parents and filled with sweets.

Follows the family lunch, which each family organizes either at home or in a restaurant, the traditional German coffee and cake two hours later and then of course the present giving session, where the 1st grader receives an incredible amount of presents. And I cannot help but wonder, what does all this have to do with the first day of school? Sure, on one side it is nice to make it an unforgettable day for the child, to celebrate it in family, but is it not a bit too much? Why is the kid getting rotten spoiled with presents just for beginning school? Ça me dépasse. I personally think the focus is being lost. And I won't even get started on the fact that school hours are so reduced (only mornings) it is just not feasible for German kids to learn as much as other European kids, who spend their entire day in school. I'll keep that to myself. Along with my refusal to letting my own kids getting their education here.

brilliant once again

He did it again. Khaled Hosseini wrote a beautiful touching second novel and I devoured it and loved it just as much as "The Kite Runner." Or maybe even more so, as I felt very close to the women he portrays this time around. The lifes of Mariam and Laila could seem crude and exageratedly melodramatic, as one horror succeeds the other; it is however a sadly accurate version of what many Afghan women have experienced. Except for some of the unrealistic romantic and fairy-tale turns that is, but they make the novel enjoyable and readable. Call me naive, but I enjoyed its happy twists!

Post diet

I am very happy to tell you that M and I are done with the Max Planck diet. We followed the two week plan, M hardly survived the very hard first week (unlike me, he had never followed a strict diet before and lacked his carbs for lunch and dinner), but the second week went by much better. I on the other hand have to say that I found the diet quite easy and was rarely hungry in between meals. But although I ate and suffered less, I of course also lost less: M lost 5 kg and I lost 4.

All in all a successful and quite interesting experience. We are now back to a normal balanced diet and of course regular sports. The last thing we'd want want is to gain all that weight back! Unless of course we weigh ourselves up side down from now on ;-)

Summer holidays

As Rancho Chico has been demolished and is no longer an option, we decided to spend an active and cultural vacation this year. And we certainly did a lot and saw a lot. We spent a few days in Switzerland, then drove down to Tuscany, where we had rented an apartment from an adorable old italian couple in lost crossroads Poggio Cuculo. M did not know the region, so my mother and I showed him Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and the lovely villages of the chiantigiana. We also drove down to Umbria and discovered beautiful places such as Assisi and Perugia. M and I then took the train down to Rome, where we spent 6 days walking the city under Ferragosto circumstances: no Romans, thousands of tourists, and 80% of its restaurants and shops closed. However, Rome still won me over again, and made of M one of its biggest fans. A long weekend at the Dottore's flat in the nearby future is already planned! All in all a wonderful vacation, although I have to say I miss our usual two weeks of relaxing and sunbathing in our lost haven in the south of Spain...

After 2 weeks spent in Italy eating la buona pasta and drinking wine every day, we are on a strict diet since our return home. A two week diet, which should enable us to lose the few kilos overweight, and look as good as the day we met. That's right, it's not because we're married that we don't want to look good for each other! So we're trying the Max Planck diet. Today's our 4th day.... 10 days to go! The hardest thing on this diet is the lack of any spices for me... without mentioning the lack of sleep. I toss and turn every night and all night long since Sunday. But being able to reach my ideal weight of 50 kg in just 2 weeks is definitely worth the suffering.

signed and confirmed

It is signed. It is confirmed. We will be moving to a bigger nicer apartment on the 1st of November. We'll be gaining an extra room, 20m3, a balcony, the charm of Altbau with 3m high ceilings and Dielenboden, and last but certainly not least, 10 steps up instead of the actual 93 to enter our soon-to-be new home. I am delighted, as this also means that I will finally be surrounded by all my furniture and personal belongings very soon. They have been in storage in Madrid since December 2005, but it's time to send them to Hannover at last! Now, don't jump to conclusions though, Hannover is still a temporary solution, i.e. the plan of leaving to Godknowswhere asap remains. The wait will nevertheless be much more pleasant. Of that I am convinced.

See you upon our return from our swiss-italian Summer vacation in two weeks!

Projecting

I am getting fed up of so much procrastination and inaction. Waiting around for the right job is obviously not bringing me anywhere. Having decided to stay close to my husband, and therefore Hannover for the time being, means that I need to recycle myself. Doing what was the big question mark. Yes, was. Two projects, which are still at the pre-developpment phase, might change all that soon. I'll probably go ahead with both of them after the Summer holidays. Never know which one will pick up... Besides, one thing is for sure, I'll be able to work very well on both of these in my new office set up in our new bigger appartment =)

The secret of the Spaniards

I am back from my one-week-family-holiday with my mother and grandmother. All the efforts we made spoiling and taking care of Yaya were absolutely worth it. She was in heaven and enjoyed this week like a little girl on a rollercoaster ride!

As for the island, it was a big discovery, with its turquese fresh waters, virgin beaches, small houses, and charming ports. "The secret of the Spaniards" as Uma b.'s mother put it; "don't pass it on."

We certainly loved it, despite its unfriendly and inhospitable inhabitants, and will probably go back next Summer; my mother is already talking about renting a house for a month, which will be a big improvement from the hotel we stayed in, with its all you can eat buffet, and bingo animators dignes des Bronzés. So, if house it is, ¡me apunto! Hopefully M. will also come along this time around...

Offline

I have no desire to update my blog lately. Not that I have nothing to say, or that I feel bad/sad/depressed or what not. No, life continues with its daily events, joys and frustrations, and I am fine. I could write about our apartment search, or about our busy social life, about our Summer plans that finally turned concrete, about the wedding thank you cards, or even about my upcoming trip to Spain. But I have decided that I am offline for now. Which does not mean that I am thinking about closing Lovely Planète either. I simply need some time off. Maybe when I return on the 18th I'll be in the mood to post again.

Deceitful feeling

Sometimes you think you know. You feel it. Call it gut feeling, call it 6th sense. I was so sure of it. I was so certain, j'en aurais mis ma main au feu... But I found out today that I was wrong. Disappointing.

I love presents

Today I picked up my costum made presents for a baby girl and a baby boy. Lucia and Aedan.

They are now ready to be mailed tomorrow. They are so adorable, I love them and am almost sure the new parents will too. I just love giving presents.

Daydreaming

I am still daydreaming. About our perfect wedding. About our fabulous honeymoon in paradise...

Honeymoon Baby!

Time to leave on our honeymoon! Mauritius it is, spending 7 nights in a small charming romantic hotel. No program except rest, sun, ocean, watersports, and loads of romance... See ya!

VT hilarity

As you might already know, I "met" my husband on VT a long long time ago. Although it is supposed to be a travel-tip-sharing site, many of its members use it as a dating/networking service. I still log on from time to time, to read the new messages in my inbox, and to have some fun reading them. And God did I laugh hard today. So hard that I decided to share here the content of the message I got, as it is without a doubt, in the top5 I ever received!

"Hi V. If your not doing anything around Summer Time (Europe) in 2007, you could always join my friends and I in the Algarve Portugal. We are staying there for 2 weeks of sun, sea, drinks, clubs, pubs, party, party and then some more. I am just trying to make European friends so that there are some great contacts out there to share life experiences with. By the way we are Aussie guys living in Australia who regularly travel to Europe. anyway - it's a long shot but hope to speak to you soon.Cheers,M"

All set

We are all set now. Our kitchen that is. Boxes and boxes of tableware invaded our small flat. Big plates, small plates, pasta plates, bigger small plates, bowls, serving plates, martini glasses, bordeaux glasses, white wine glasses, whisky glasses, OJ glasses, shot glasses. You name it, we have it. And 12 of each.

Meaning if you've already seen my petite basic kitchen, you are now asking yourself where on earth I will fit it all. Right. Absolutely right. On a un problème Françoise. For now, part of it has been stored in the cellar. But we will soon have to face a move to a bigger apartment, with a bigger kitchen, a guest room, big closets, and room for all my furniture and boxes that are still stored in Madrid. Sooner than later. Because after 17 months of temporariness, I need long-term.

Es una gran putada

The headhunter called me today. As soon as she asked me what I thought about the interview on Monday, I knew. Indeed, she soon confirmed that the company had chosen the other candidate. One that already knows the swiss market and has an address book.

The truth is es una gran putada. But the truth also is, I know I did not get it because it was not meant to be. It was not the perfect job after all. There's something better for me out there.

Whether we'll move on to the baby project instead - or not, still has to be decided. For now, we will go on a nice sunny romantic honeymoon. Asap.

News briefs

It's been 10 days since the wedding. My feet still have blisters from it.
Not even kidding.

I had my 4th interview for theperfectzurichjob yesterday. It was the hardest and most stressful interview in my life. Overall positive. Me thinks.
No no, I did not apply for the position of President of the company.

A third balloon was found. We received the card per post yesterday. This one traveled approx.120km (found in Martigny Valais).
Truly amazing. Maybe miracles do happen sometimes.

My grandmother has finally forgiven me on Mother's day. Thanks to flowers and a phone call.
I did not apologize, not seeing a ground for it, not wanting to enter her stupid game.

Planning a trip to Ikea today. Looking forward to it.
Which will hopefully not become one of my famous ikea shopping crazes.

Your eyes are not mistaken. You are not hallucinating. The time of this post is correct.
Big time insomnia.

Wedding report

Everything happened as planned. And what was not planned by us, such as surprises from friends, was absolutely adorable. We certainly had a blast, M and I, and so far everyone's feedback has been extremely positive. We also feel spoiled by all the presents and love our guests have shown to us. All in all a lovely fun harmonious international wedding. Except for a misfortunate incident at the end of the evening, and my grandmother now being upset at me (I did not take care of her according to her) we could not be happier. We cannot wait to see the pictures!

We actually created a website where all pics, stories and comments can be posted by our guests right here.

Disturbed

The last days have been flying by. I felt wonderful, although stressed, completely absorbed in the big day's organization, solving every little detail like a breeze. Maybe that is why the news last night hit me so hard. But probably not. They would have disturbed me anyway, in any other circumstance, given what they entail. I learned last night that my grandmother is a member of Exit. And I cannot understand it or accept it. Although my mother insists that she won't ever use it as we give her plenty of reasons to live, I am deeply disturbed. I cried last night. I cried today. Tears fill my eyes every time I think about it.

I need to put that thought aside until after the wedding and cope with it afterwards by talking to Yaya. I cannot think about it now as I need to be enjoying our big celebration.

Hello nerves!

They have hit me at last. The pre-wedding nerves. People have been asking me for months now, whether I was nervous for the big day, and did not understand my lack thereof. I can reassure all these people today. I am fucking nervous! With all the little and big details still to solve, with the supposed and planned relaxing next week, which has turned into one of the most stressful weeks in the history of V's life, all this stress has indeed awaken the pre-wedding nerves.

I have said goodbye to a good night sleep and hello to the lack of appetite this week, which should theoretically make me a typical shiningly beautiful bride in 7 days. Thanks to the make-up classes that taught me how to look fresh despite the exhaustion, and the kilos I am loosing effortlessly that is. My only worry at this point being, how is a bride so... bride? Which and how many pills are recommended for me to get that placid happy angelic look on my face on the big day???

Good Karma

Good Karma

I really feel like I hit a strike of luck lately. The perfect Zurich job opportunity is moving forward: I will have my 3rd and last interview next Thursday. I feel really good, especially after the perfect weekend with the girls. My wedding dress is getting its retro 50s look with the last touches and I love it. With such good karma, maybe I should play the lottery!

Perfection

It is imho extremely hard to achieve perfection. Do-able, but oh so hard. With the help of my girlfriends, I have however achieved the perfect bachelorette party weekend. Correction. I have not achieved anything, they have, as they were the ones organising everything, thinking of every little detail, location, guest, etc. The only thing I did was to show up when and where I was told. No merit in that. The special thanks actually go to Beanie and Nat, the event managers of this perfect bachelorette party.

The weekend was really the perfect combination of hard core party and relaxed quality moments with all my favourite girls in the world. Well, some were actually missing, but the majority did make it, and I enjoyed every single second with them. And I enjoyed oh so very much to see them all getting along so well together. I had no doubt it would happen. They are all smart cool good-looking girls with many points in common. But it was great to see it and live it.

I therefore have a big challenge on my plate now. Strike that. Two challenges. 1. Trying to pay them back by organising a wonderful wedding, where they will all have a blast. 2. Trying to repeat this kind of girly weekend more often, such as for example once a year. For although I am completely exhausted from so much action, I feel more energised than ever!

Acing and racing

For those of you who wonder, the perfect job opportunity in Zurich still exists. As a matter of fact, I have my second interview with them today. I am a bit nervous as it will take place with a HR VP, and I must honestly say I hate the typical HR interviews. Hopefully I'll ace this one as well and remain in the race.

A good day

Today is a good day. Many phone calls from friends and family members. Many emails. A very positive phone interview for what could be the perfect job in Zurich. A meeting with the dressmaker this afternoon. A nice dinner at a Lebanese restaurant tonight with M.

It feels like if my luck could be turning at last with my 33rd birthday.

Long due

I have been pondering about writing a new post for days now. I know it's long due. I should have written about my trip to the south of Germany. I should have told you how I very much liked Nürnberg and the bavarian countryside; how Munich was a bit of a disappointment, maybe because we only spent there a few hours, but also because I had high expectations.

The truth is I have been procrastinating about what to write next. The endless and frustrating decision making of our honeymoon? My neverending and disencouraging job search? The wedding organization? Nothing sounds appealing. Haven't I already written about all that a gazillion times?

No. Today, instead of writing a long due post, I am heading to the gym and will start at last the long due getting-in-shape-to-look-beautiful-for-my-wedding process.

Resolution

I had many resolutions when I left Madrid and moved to Germany. One of them was to take advantage of being up here to visit the neighboring countries and regions. Copenhaguen, Budapest, Amsterdam (where Uma b. and I had said we would meet but of course never did), Bavaria, Dresden, Berlin, and many more. The reality is that I haven't seen much in the past year, except for Berlin and our neighbor cities of Hamburg and Bremen.

But I am doing something about it this weekend: M and I are driving down to Bavaria today. We plan to visit Nuernberg (and seeing some friends of M), Munich, Fulda, Wuerzenburg, and many other charming bavarian villages. It will be a short 4 day trip, but we'll definitely make the most out of it. Ich freue mich wahnsinnig!

L'Art de la Beauté

Last week was all about solving our welcome get-together for our guests on the eve of our wedding day. All is now set, location, catering, and all other details.

This week is about finding a solution for my make-up for the big day. I obviously need to look my best, and therefore need to find someone who will make me look naturally beautiful. I considered the obvious solution of doing it with the hairdresser in the village itself. However, I stumbled on an article and found out that Shu Uemura has opened a Beauty School in Paris, l'Art de la Beauté, to teach us women how to do our make-up for our wedding day, adapted to our face shape, eye/skin/hair color, and of course wedding dress and party. This concept already exists in Japan apparently. I'd learn how to do my make-up (something I wanted to do forever), I'd spend a weekend in Paris with my mother (who immediately agreed to meet me there), I'd do the course with Nat, I'd be away from Hannover just when M has his bachelor party (did I mention the boys are going to Amsterdam?), and of course I'd solve the make-up issue for the wedding. Wow. Don't think it work out any better actually.

Wait & see

I had my Berlin interview today. It went very well, although I don't think I will get the job. Maybe another one in the same company if lucky. Maybe not if also lucky. Nothing sounds perfect for the time being, although I must admit I would immediately say yes if given the opportunity. Wait and see.

Latest

Some of the latest news, some funny/good/positive (circle which fits best), some not...

• -remember two years ago, when I had asked for a transfer from Madrid to Zurich? I had to reject their offer, as it was clearly miserable. Well guess what? They are now looking to fill in the Zurich position and are asking me my conditions. Clearly hilarious if that ends up working out!
• -I finally received my salary for my two-week-record-job in January. Only that he only paid me for the two weeks and not for the entire month like he legally has to. I now need to inform myself whether it is worth pursuing this issue with a lawyer...
• -My gastro is finally receeding. I'll be able to eat normal food very soon, hopefully even tonight =)
• -We reserved the apartment we like yesterday. It's an altbau building, where all 11 apartments will be completely renovated. If it all works out (mainly financially) we'll have a beautiful 130 m2 flat, with high ceilings, 3 bedrooms, and a small balcony. The best of it all: we can choose all the finitions, layout, etc. =D

Sick

My gastroenteritis became official late last night. I thus had to cancel my job interview and stay home today. Thankfully, the Berlin based company was understanding and has postponed my appointment to March 2nd. Plenty of time to get better, and fly to Switzerland as planned in order to help my mother with her move. The weather could not be more adapted to the circumstances: it's snowing non-stop.

Bad timing

I woke up today feeling sick and weak. M came home at noon, sick as a dog. I am afraid we're both suffering from a viral gastric flu. Talk about bad timing: tomorrow is my job interview in Berlin. I truly hope:

a) I feel better tomorrow
b) my interview will be postponed if a) is not the case.

Ironically stressed

I have been going through a bit of a rough time lately. Leaving the job after two weeks was the right decision, but it has affected me more than I thought it would. The first ten days went by like a breeze, and then it caught up with me. Stress. Purely mental of course. Desillusion. Too many thoughts fighting in my head. Too much pressure to take decisions, to know where to now.

Although I feel better now, and I am more less letting myself grow with the flow, my body is telling me otherwise. I have physical reactions to my mental state. Naturally. Skin problems, backache, etc. Additionally, I am not part of the fortunates who loose weight with stress. Quite the opposite. I eat more. I also suddenly find myself being unable to take any decision whatsoever. Instead of doing and thinking afterwards, i.e. being my normal Aries self, I simply have stopped doing. And thinking.

Ironical if you ask me. I have always worked well under stress/pressure. But I don't seem to be doing so well under no pressure. Correction: under the high pressure I put on myself.

Apaguemos todo - On éteint tout

APAGUEMOS TODO: Jueves, 1 de febrero, de las 19h55 a las 20h00 Participa en a la mayor movilización ciudadana contra el cambio climático! La alianza para el planeta, agrupación de asociaciones medioambientales, hace un llamamiento sencillo a todos los ciudadanos, 5 minutos de descanso-tregua para el planeta: todos apagaremos nuestras velas y luces el 1 de Febrero, de 19h55 a 20h00.

No se trata solo de ahorrar 5 minutos de electricidad este día sino de llamar la atención de los ciudadanos, de los medias y de aquellos que toman las decisiones sobre el despilfarro de energía y lo urgente que es pasar a la acción! 5 minutos de descanso-tregua para el planeta: no es mucho tiempo, no cuesta nada y eso mostrará a los candidatos políticos a las próximas elecciones de 2007 (en Francia y en España) que el cambio climático es un tema que debe tener peso en el debate político.

Porque este día 1 de Febrero? Ese día se publicará en Paris el nuevo informe del grupo de expertos en cambios climáticos de las naciones unidas. Aunque este acontecimiento tendrá lugar en el país vecino, no debemos dejar pasar esta ocasión de poner el foco sobre la urgencia de la situación climática mundial.

Si participamos todos, esta acción tendrá peso mediático y político, ¡apenas unos meses antes de las elecciones!

Contacto / Información: Les Amis de la Terre (los amigos de la tierra): Tel. 00 33 1 48 51 18 95 o en internet: http://www.amisdelaterre.org/Participez-a-la-plus-grande.html

ON ETEINT TOUT : jeudi 1er février de 19h55 à 20h00 participez à la plus grande mobilisation des citoyens contre le Changement Climatique ! L'Alliance pour la Planète (groupement d'associations environnementales) lance un appel simple à tous les citoyens, 5 minutes de répit pour la planète : tout le monde éteint ses veilles et lumières le 1er février 2007 entre 19h55 et 20h00.

Il ne s'agit pas d'économiser 5 minutes d'électricité uniquement ce jour-là, mais d'attirer l'attention des citoyens, des médias et des décideurs sur le gaspillage d'énergie et l'urgence de passer à l'action ! 5 minutes de répit pour la planète : ça ne prend pas longtemps, ça ne coûte rien, et ça montrera aux candidats aux élections législatives de juin 2007 que le changement climatique est un sujet qui doit peser dans le débat politique.

Pourquoi le 1er février? Ce jour là sortira, à Paris, le nouveau rapport du groupe d'experts climatiques des Nations Unies. Cet événement aura lieu chez nos voisins : il ne faut pas laisser passer cette occasion de braquer les projecteurs sur l'urgence de la situation climatique mondiale. Si nous y participons tous, cette action aura un réel poids médiatique et politique, quelques mois avant les élections !

Contact / information : Cyrielle, Les Amis de la Terre : 00 33 1 48 51 18 95

Lost

I need to make choices. I simply cannot go on like this, waiting for it to happen, it being anything that will take me to the next phase of my life. Where to next? My choices are limited and none of them is perfect.

Should I focus on my career and look for a new interesting challenging job? Even if that means moving again, going back to a situation similar to Madrid, seeing M only on the weekends? Not exactly how I had envisioned my married life. And it does feel a bit like going backwards, throwing away what was achieved in the last year. Should I then prioritize my couple, stay in Hanover and recycle professionally, i.e. forget about my career, my experience, and do something totally new? Or should I rather fulfill my desire to have a child, although being in Hanover and living only on one salary is far from the perfect setting? Ni puta idea. I feel completely lost.

New Record

I am quite sure I broke a new record here. 12 days. Not a record to be proud of, certainly not, but it is actually better this way. It did not work out and it would have never worked out with his unrealistic expectations: 4 days to come up with a full market study and 10 for a full company strategy. Who is he kidding besides himself? There is only one thing we agreed on. Today. Ça ne colle pas. And so off I am, in the search of a job again.

Don't worry, I'll be fine. It's not a little gallego machista who is going to destroy my self-confidence and make me doubt about my skills. I know what I am worth and I will find something worth of me.

Prayer

It is happening

My intention was to write about the alarming global warming of our planet. But I've decided to share this article sent to me by Uma b. instead. Yo, estoy acojonada. It is happening. Now. And we better all react and do something about it. Now. For those interested in the topic, do watch Al Gore's film "An inconvenient Truth".

Getting old

We were invited to dinner at my friend's Sus last night, to finally meet the four of us and se mettre à la page after the holidays, my new job and what not. Of course baby Gabriel was also present, although he only participated by sitting on his daddy´s laps and emitting a few iamworkinghardonmydigestion sounds from time to time. He is, thankfully for my friends, a very good and quiet baby boy and we were therefore able to dine and chat at our leisure. The delicious Portuguese red wine kept flowing generously, proud Daddy F wanting to celebrate his son´s 2 month birthday como Dios manda. Even his best Grappa ended on the table at coffee time, but for the record, only our men touched it.

The evening was lovely, and we headed home at a decent hour, or so I thought. Going to bed at one in the morning and working the next day had indeed never been a problem in the past. But it was today, as I suffered from a hungover and lack of sleep at the office. I clearly remember drinking much more, sleeping much less and being absolutely fine the next day not so long ago. My alcohol tolerance has definitely diminished consequently. I am getting old.

Research baby!

My first "project" at work consist in researching the mobile market. I am therefore spending my days on the web - returning home with cube eyes as my hubby loves to say- searching for all kind of reports, studies, products, and services. Ideas if you will. And sometimes, I also stumble on something which completely grabs my full attention although having nothing to do with my research, thus providing me with a few minutes of break. Among my many discoveries today, I would like to share with you the chalkboard fridge, the catwalk, and the litter box hider. Simply because I will paint/build/purchase all those three items for the new apartment we are inches away to buy!

Oh, and if you wonder how on earth I landed on those webpages during my mobile market research, well, better don't ask! ;-)

New year new outlook

It has been way too long since my last post, but what can I say: did not have the time nor the desire to write until today. Simply because I did not know where to start, as so many things have happened in the last month. So in as few words as possible: my Cuban trip was good but Cuba itself highly disappointing since my last visit, I spent Christmas in Switzerland and the equation lack of snow+ holiday crowd made skiing hard impossible to enjoy. Yup, that's all I want to say about it for now. Because my brain is slightly drunk with new everythings (ideas, names, people, projects, passwords, responsibilities, and I could go and on for paragraphs) as I sit in my office on my second day of work. I think am pretty sure I will love my new job.

PS: Happy New Year 2007!!!!!