Wednesday, August 22, 2007

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.

Monday, July 30, 2007

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!

Thursday, July 26, 2007

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 =)

Friday, July 20, 2007

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...

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

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.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

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.

Monday, June 25, 2007

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.