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...and it might not be the oncoming train going faster.
The Ministry is currently trying to persuade my successor to go to Ankara a bit sooner, maybe already in May. That would mean I could leave sometime in April, for my well-deserved holiday. Keep your fingers crossed, flist, because that really would be an unexpected bonus.
There's more good news: The colleague I'll be replacing in Skopje is single too, and she lives within 5 minutes' walking distance of the Embassy. Single is important, because if she had a family, the flat would probably be too big, and I'd have either to find another one or pay part of the rent out of my own pocket. As things are, I'll be able to take this one, provided I like it and the landlord is amenable.
I also got to see pictures of Embassy and Ambassador's residence - both quite new, so there won't be much to be done in the way of renovation, and also quite nice. It's a very small Embassy of course, with only four expats. That's nice though, if people don't quarrel about holidays.
Janine had guests last night, just a few friends, and we jointly cooked a turkey dinner - first turkey ever to be tackled. Successfully though. I also made my first cranberry sauce, which isn't that much of an achievement, but still it's nice to get something right at first try. No pumpkin-based side dishes, though, we made red cabbage (yum!), ratatouille (yum, though not really a turkey-side-dish), mashed potatoes, potato dumplings, and there also was stuffing, made by yours truly. And gravy... It was all against health and safety regulations, but thoroughly enjoyable, as was the company.
For those of you who don't detest alcohol: Have you ever tried mixing Grand Marnier and espresso at a 1:1 ratio? It's a bit sweet, and quite powerful, but very good.
The Ministry is currently trying to persuade my successor to go to Ankara a bit sooner, maybe already in May. That would mean I could leave sometime in April, for my well-deserved holiday. Keep your fingers crossed, flist, because that really would be an unexpected bonus.
There's more good news: The colleague I'll be replacing in Skopje is single too, and she lives within 5 minutes' walking distance of the Embassy. Single is important, because if she had a family, the flat would probably be too big, and I'd have either to find another one or pay part of the rent out of my own pocket. As things are, I'll be able to take this one, provided I like it and the landlord is amenable.
I also got to see pictures of Embassy and Ambassador's residence - both quite new, so there won't be much to be done in the way of renovation, and also quite nice. It's a very small Embassy of course, with only four expats. That's nice though, if people don't quarrel about holidays.
Janine had guests last night, just a few friends, and we jointly cooked a turkey dinner - first turkey ever to be tackled. Successfully though. I also made my first cranberry sauce, which isn't that much of an achievement, but still it's nice to get something right at first try. No pumpkin-based side dishes, though, we made red cabbage (yum!), ratatouille (yum, though not really a turkey-side-dish), mashed potatoes, potato dumplings, and there also was stuffing, made by yours truly. And gravy... It was all against health and safety regulations, but thoroughly enjoyable, as was the company.
For those of you who don't detest alcohol: Have you ever tried mixing Grand Marnier and espresso at a 1:1 ratio? It's a bit sweet, and quite powerful, but very good.
