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The weekend so far
Dec. 19th, 2010 06:42 amFirst, a random observation (didn't choose the icon for nothing): When at home and dressed in comfy stuff -- the first thing I do when I get home, after saying hello to ze boyz, is getting into my comfy clothes -- I don't exactly sport a look of enticing beauty and elegance. I still have some of my Ankara stuff, especially the old jumpers and t-shirts (not the comfy pants, because they fall off me), and I wear them. Also, my favourite nightwear would probably kill the most rampant of libidos: giant, old-but-oh-so-comfy cotton knickers and giant, worn-out t-shirt. Right now I'm wearing a particularly interesting combo of nightwear and giant jumper. Fortunately ze boyz don't mind.
Embassy Christmas Do on Friday at the residence went well. Boss had recovered from his sulky mood, and we got to meet the dog they've had since October. It's a 4-month-old Golden Retriever girl, and she's of course adorable. What made my heart melt was the sight of boss cuddling the dog with absolutely no regard for his suit.
Dog was very enthusiastic, and I wasn't quick enough, so she licked my face. (I absolutely can't stand that. I can't stand people touching my face in general, and while ze boyz rubbing their heads against my face isn't a problem, a dog licking it is) Yuckyuck. But she's very sweet anyway. Due to canine exuberance, boss kept her on a leash, which was a bit of a problem when he actually wanted to eat. So I took her for a tour of the garden, not a long one, because it was around -5°. When we came back, boss's wife -- The Frozen One -- asked me (in English, WTF????) "Is it not a problem for you?" To which I replied, very politely, that it wasn't a problem and, if it was, I certainly wouldn't do it.
Strange, strange woman. Maybe she's terribly insecure, but unfortunately her behaviour rather comes across as frozen arrogance.
Yesterday started out promisingly, with cold, sun and snow. I went to see Lola first and stayed with her for about 1,5 hrs, and then walked to tennis. Playing with Stefanie is fun, and we'll be doing that a lot I think. Then I went to the gym, intending to pay Lola another visit after that. Only when I came out of the gym, it was snowing. The temperature had risen to around zero, so it was ghastly, icy snow, and the roads didn't look too good. So I decided, very much against my heart, to go straight home -- getting a taxi in this weather would've been impossible, and walking home after an hour or so of being inside and getting tired would've been a nightmare. So as not to feel too bad for neglecting Lola for my own comfort's sake, I walked home. Let me tell you that a total of 1 hour walking, mostly uphill, in heavy army boots does make you feel your muscles. But I was well bundled up (t-shirt, fleece sweatshirt, fleece jacket, sleeveless down anorak) and thoroughly warm. The shower I took after getting home was sheer paradise.
And then I prepared something very Austrian for dinner. Vlatko the driver had given me some home-smoked meat, which I put into a pot with barley, potatoes, carrots, celery, caraway seeds and onion and let simmer for about two hours. Due to the barley the final product is closer to a stew than to soup, but it's glorious winter food. When I did the final tasting, something was lacking. So I put three raw garlic cloves into the still-hot soup and left them in for about half an hour. That did the trick.
Of course I fell asleep on the couch around 9, but then I was really, really, tired. Slept till 5 a.m., which was enough, especially since I'd slept 10hrs from Friday to yesterday.
Today, tennis, then 2 hrs with poor, neglected Lola, then more tennis and another short visit with Lola. More tennis will be a double with Valentina, Pinar and Stefanie (*blows raspberry at Mr H*), and therefore certainly good fun.
There's dense fog outside, so dense that the trees standing maybe 20 metres from th building are nothing more than uncertain shadows. I pity the people who booked today's 6 a.m. flights to Zagreb, Belgrade or Ljubljana -- Skopje Airport isn't equipped for foggy conditions, i.e. those poor souls got up at 3.30 or 4 and are stuck at the airport. On the plus side, the severe cold is over now; the forecast promises temperatures up to plus 8 till Wednesday.
And now, coffee. Have to leave at 8 for tennis at 8.30, so a certain amount of caffeine is required.
Embassy Christmas Do on Friday at the residence went well. Boss had recovered from his sulky mood, and we got to meet the dog they've had since October. It's a 4-month-old Golden Retriever girl, and she's of course adorable. What made my heart melt was the sight of boss cuddling the dog with absolutely no regard for his suit.
Dog was very enthusiastic, and I wasn't quick enough, so she licked my face. (I absolutely can't stand that. I can't stand people touching my face in general, and while ze boyz rubbing their heads against my face isn't a problem, a dog licking it is) Yuckyuck. But she's very sweet anyway. Due to canine exuberance, boss kept her on a leash, which was a bit of a problem when he actually wanted to eat. So I took her for a tour of the garden, not a long one, because it was around -5°. When we came back, boss's wife -- The Frozen One -- asked me (in English, WTF????) "Is it not a problem for you?" To which I replied, very politely, that it wasn't a problem and, if it was, I certainly wouldn't do it.
Strange, strange woman. Maybe she's terribly insecure, but unfortunately her behaviour rather comes across as frozen arrogance.
Yesterday started out promisingly, with cold, sun and snow. I went to see Lola first and stayed with her for about 1,5 hrs, and then walked to tennis. Playing with Stefanie is fun, and we'll be doing that a lot I think. Then I went to the gym, intending to pay Lola another visit after that. Only when I came out of the gym, it was snowing. The temperature had risen to around zero, so it was ghastly, icy snow, and the roads didn't look too good. So I decided, very much against my heart, to go straight home -- getting a taxi in this weather would've been impossible, and walking home after an hour or so of being inside and getting tired would've been a nightmare. So as not to feel too bad for neglecting Lola for my own comfort's sake, I walked home. Let me tell you that a total of 1 hour walking, mostly uphill, in heavy army boots does make you feel your muscles. But I was well bundled up (t-shirt, fleece sweatshirt, fleece jacket, sleeveless down anorak) and thoroughly warm. The shower I took after getting home was sheer paradise.
And then I prepared something very Austrian for dinner. Vlatko the driver had given me some home-smoked meat, which I put into a pot with barley, potatoes, carrots, celery, caraway seeds and onion and let simmer for about two hours. Due to the barley the final product is closer to a stew than to soup, but it's glorious winter food. When I did the final tasting, something was lacking. So I put three raw garlic cloves into the still-hot soup and left them in for about half an hour. That did the trick.
Of course I fell asleep on the couch around 9, but then I was really, really, tired. Slept till 5 a.m., which was enough, especially since I'd slept 10hrs from Friday to yesterday.
Today, tennis, then 2 hrs with poor, neglected Lola, then more tennis and another short visit with Lola. More tennis will be a double with Valentina, Pinar and Stefanie (*blows raspberry at Mr H*), and therefore certainly good fun.
There's dense fog outside, so dense that the trees standing maybe 20 metres from th building are nothing more than uncertain shadows. I pity the people who booked today's 6 a.m. flights to Zagreb, Belgrade or Ljubljana -- Skopje Airport isn't equipped for foggy conditions, i.e. those poor souls got up at 3.30 or 4 and are stuck at the airport. On the plus side, the severe cold is over now; the forecast promises temperatures up to plus 8 till Wednesday.
And now, coffee. Have to leave at 8 for tennis at 8.30, so a certain amount of caffeine is required.
