Last blog post in Switzerland!

Yesterday the removal company came to collect our things. They said they'd be with us in the afternoon and that the guys in the truck will phone to let us know when they're on their way. So we took our time getting ready in the morning thinking we still had hours to get the last few things in boxes. Well, at 8:30am Andre tells me they're here. I thought he was joking because this is exactly what happened when we left Cape Town, but he wasn't joking and I could hear the truck pulling up next to our building. 

So you can imagine how I ran around trying to get everything done! I squished our duvet and pillows in boxes and damp towels which didn't have time to dry completely after the morning shower. I was not impressed being rushed like that, but at least it was over early in the day. 

This morning we went back to the flat to finish the cleaning. We'd already done about half of what needed to be done but still spent about four hours cleaning. It's hard work. I have never cleaned like this in my life!! The owners came to check at 2pm and I was a bit nervous that they would find something not clean enough, but they were very happy and said we did a very good job. Phew! We got our deposit back :-)

Now I'm trying to recover a bit after all this physical work and then we're leaving early tomorrow morning for our flight to the UK.

I will write again soon from the UK next time! Bye bye Switzerland!

Packing continued

I was going to pack the kitchen things tomorrow so we can at least still have breakfast tomorrow morning, but then I started wrapping some things this morning and just kept going! We worked so hard all day today packing and cleaning and I am exhausted. My feet hurt. I'm so not used to being on my feet anymore. When I taught older kids I used to be standing in the classroom most of the day, but with the littlies at the play school I did more crawling around on the floor than standing.

So we have basically packed up the WHOLE house today! All that's left is the bedding and towels. We have 17 boxes plus some things like the microwave and other big things that went back in their original boxes and will just have to go like that. The company was unable to supply us with boxes. It seems they don't actually have an office here, only in the UK, and could only bring boxes when they come to collect which would be a bit pointless. Tomorrow we have to go buy a couple more boxes to fit the duvets and pillows in.

We had our last dinner in the flat tonight (I kept one pot which will be packed with the bedding tomorrow!). We have some odd plates and mugs still out which we bought when we arrived. Will see if there's space to pack them otherwise I don't know. They stay here or go to the bin. It's only 3 plates and were the cheapest at Ikea when we got here. I'll try have my yoghurt and muesli out of a mug in the morning. I have to have breakfast and yoghurt and muesli's my favourite. Then we'll have our last dinner out in Zurich tomorrow night. Well that's the plan. Hopefully there won't be any last minute things to do tomorrow night. Our last two nights here in Switzerland we will be staying with friends who were so kind to help us out. It will be hard having to stay here after our stuff is all gone. If we had bedding and towels we could do it, but I just know we wont have space in our luggage to pack that when we leave.

Oh and the cleaning!! I have been vacuuming the ceiling, washing the bathroom tiles. I have never done so much intense cleaning ever. Here in Switzerland when you move out of your flat you either pay a huge amount of money to have a cleaning company come clean your flat (and I have heard people having to pay over a thousand francs) or you do it yourself. Well I can now see why they charge so much. It's hard work. You've probably figured out which one we chose. We're doing it ourselves. And you have to do it properly or you don't get all your deposit back. Andre has been a huge help. He is actually so much better at cleaning than I am. I guess anyone can clean but when he does something he does it properly. I don't. I actually have to ask him to come and check if I'm doing ok because I know I get lazy and then do a half*** job. And then he will come and re-do it and then I get upset. So I just let him come stand behind me and check up! Andre already washed all the windows and shutters and the Wintergarten which is the enclosed balcony.

Did I tell you the new tenants have bought our bed and the two sets of drawers? That helps so we don't have to take all that apart for the move. But they didn't want the wardrobe :-( Andre is not keen on dismantling that. I mailed them again tonight to ask if they wont take it. Andre is now even happy to give it away. It's just too big and heavy to move. And apparently has loads of little screws to take out. There is no way anyone can carry this thing down three flights of stairs in one piece.

Ok, I'm going to try go to sleep now. Sorry no pictures today, we were too busy! I'm probably going to dream about packing and about boxes! On Tuesday this will all be over! Oh we're flying Thursday morning :-)

Zürich Kunsthaus

Some time ago Andre and I went to the Kunsthaus in Zürich. The art gallery. We went on a Wednesday because on Wednesdays you can see the main collection for free. Why pay when we are not working and able to go on a Wednesday. We only had to pay to see the special Bührle exhibition. These paintings belonged to Mr Bührle. He bought many many painting including paintings by Van Gogh, Monet and Cézanne. You might have heard about four of these painting that were stolen in February 2008, one of Europe's biggest art heists. Two were later found but the other two are still missing. 

My favourites were the three very big Monet paintings of water lilies. I saw paintings like these, I'm not sure but maybe it could have actually been these exact ones, in books when I was studying art history at school. I wish I could have taken pictures of these paintings, but you're not allowed to take any of the Bührle collection. Only in the main exhibition. So hurry and go see the Bührle collection. It only runs until the 16th May.

The main collection has some well known artists too.

As well as some weird artists who like to display blank canvasses.

The place is huge and I don't think we even saw everything there was to see. The wife got tired..

Oh and get an audio guide. It's free. And in English too!

Settling in with the British soon

I've been trying to come up with a new name for my blog. I want to carry on blogging right here, but then I can't really keep calling it "Settling in with the Swiss" anymore, can I. I have less than a week to come up with a new name. In a week's time we'll be in the UK! I'm very excited! Well hopefully we'll be there then. We still haven't booked flights yet. This is the way Andre likes to do things: last minute. Not my way of doing things, but I can't organise everything so once in a while I try to just go with the way he wants to do things. And he's the one with the credit card. Anyway,  I'm trying hard to be creative  and come up with a new name, but please excuse me if it sounds like I'm still trying to settle in with the Swiss for a while when we're in England. I think I actually need to be there to come up with a good name.

We have filled about seven boxes now but I've put the packing on hold for a bit. I'm itching to start packing up the kitchen but we still have to eat. I'm happy with yoghurt or ice cream for dinner but I don't think Andre will be.

The removal company will be here on Tuesday. I hope the date won't change. First it was Monday, then Wednesday and now they have promised me it will be Tuesday. We'll see. That's sort of why we're not sure about booking flights yet. Obviously it will be a bit hard staying on in the flat with no furniture, but we need a day to get the flat spotless before we can move out.

Andre and I both went to the hairdresser this morning. Me to stay blond and Andre for a cut. He ended up getting some highlights too when there were some of my bleach left.

We'll have a last day in Zürich tomorrow with maybe a dinner there too. And after that it's packing up the rest of the house, cleaning up and getting out of here!

Zebra Box

We were lucky to have lots of storage space here at our apartment and kept all the boxes from when we moved here from South Africa. But over the past 11 months we've obviously accumulated quite a bit more.

A friend told me about Zebra Box. It's a self storage place where you can store anything from your bicycle in a small storage locker to all your furniture in a bigger storage room. They also sell boxes and packing materials and can organise your move for you. We didn't know about this part and already booked another company to do our move but we needed more boxes. We went to their offices where they have a display of all the boxes they sell. We got what we needed as well as one very big one for my yukka plant and a small one for my orchid. I hope they will survive the trip! We got some packing tape, bubble wrap and tissue paper too. 

Then we started chatting to the owner who was there. I've hardly said two words wen he asked me if we're from South Africa. It turns out he lived there for a while (he's Swiss) and still has family there. That's where he got the name "Zebra Box" for his company from. Him and the other lady who works there speaks perfect English and were very friendly and helpful. 

Now I just need to fill those new boxes we bought... I'm sitting around waiting for it to get a bit closer to the moving date before I can pack the rest like the kitchen things. I've already worked out a menu of things to make with only a pot and a pan which I'll then pack after dinner the night before the movers come!

February long weekend in Germany.

Wow, I'm getting very behind with blogging! On Monday we got back from a lovely long weekend with my mom and Jürgen in Germany. We left early on Thursday and I was excited to arrive before dark for the first time. But then of course I forgot my passport at home and an hour into the journey we had to turn back, adding an extra two hours to our journey. And so again we arrived late.

But we had a great time. It's always just so relaxing being there and being away from home and spending time with my mom and Jürgen. Friday evening our friends from Switzerland arrived to spend the weekend with us.

Saturday we went on a bit of a tour of Münich, starting with a walk though the Englischer Garten. It was the most perfect sunny day. Hardly even cold. We've had beautiful sunny weather for about a week and today everything's covered in snow again!

The surfers were at it again, riding the only wave in München.

In the city people were soaking up the sun, all chairs turned to face the sun.

We took our friends for a walk through the Hofbrauhaus

but had lunch at Augustiner instead.

And later dinner at the same Afghan restaurant we went to for my birthday two months ago.

Saying good byes

André has now got a 6 months entry clearance visa to the UK. It came much sooner than we expected. They said minimum 5 working days and it took only 3! Once we're there we have to apply for the actual 5 year EEA family permit.

On Tuesday I went out for drinks with the girls I've worked with at the play school. It's sad to have to say good bye to all of them. I had such a great time working with them all. I got this cute cute card which they helped the kids make for me.

They drew around the kids' hands and then the kids stuck bits on to decorate it.

Very special. I have already packed it in a box to take with to the UK.

And flower seeds! Pink ones! I love that it's called 'Cupid Pink'. I'm looking forward to starting a bit of a garden once we're settled in our new home. (And this card makes me look forward to spring!) I will miss these little ones.

Then yesterday was the first week back after the holiday for my English class. The new teacher took over yesterday and I was there to introduce everyone and help the kids get to know their new teacher. We did some fun songs together which we all love doing. Not only them. I love doing really funny silly action songs! But after that I had to leave... The new teacher showed me all the lovely and exciting things she had planned for them for the lesson. I just wanted to stay. And join in and watch them. But I had to go. I had to allow her to now teach them. It was quite sad to have to get onto the train and come home while they were all still there having fun. I knew they were having fun so that was one good thing!

A sweet sweet boy gave me these flowers.

Aren't they just beautiful? So colourful! And each one different.

I love this pink one.

And this big white one.

While I now have colourful flowers in my kitchen, this is what it looks like upstairs. Very much the same as it looked a year ago before leaving South Africa! The removal company should be here on the 16th to pick up our things and then we're planning to fly to the UK very soon after that. Can't wait!