Swim, Cycle, Run ...

The Zuerich Triathlon..

I'm keen to enter this year - although I swim like an anvil, so I'll enter the short distance and see how it goes... I still will need to get training a little, though ... Perhaps cycling and running in the mornings before work isn't such a bad idea, and this may be the motivation I've been looking for. Moreover, I'll have to find a swimming pool where I can train a bit, either at lunchtimes or (more realistically), a couple of times a week after work ...

I'm so excited ... I hope this isn't another pipedream!
I really need to get exercising again.

Switzerland to vote on Schengen

On 5th June, the Swiss will cast their ballots on whether to join the Schengen agreement or not. If I was Swiss, I'd likely vote no ... as I don't see a net benefit to opening borders to neighbouring countries. As a South African passport holder, however, it would mean I would not need a visa to visit most of the rest of Europe. As it is, I currently need a visa just to drive 40mins away to do some shopping in Germany!

Strangely enough, the local free newspaper 20min did a survey, and 61% of the respondents (4004 votes) plan to vote Yes!

Of course, Switzerland being the democracy that it is, not only does a countrywide majority of people voting yes need to be reached, but also a majority in number of kantons voting yes, too... so let's see what happens.

Hot Town, Summer In The City

When people think of Switzerland, somehow they picture snowy alpine peaks and icy rivers of chocolate and gold...
However, it's not at all like that - and not only because of the lack of chocolate rivers. We just had four consecutive days reaching 30 degrees (86F) or higher - and it was great. Zurich managed 26 or 27 degrees on Thursday and Friday, but the weekend was at least 30.

On Friday night we went to a community synagogue service, followed by a dinner [it takes place approximately every 6 weeks] - great social event, and we've met quite a few new people.
Saturday we went browsing baby strollers, and I popped in to Media Markt to enquire about features of a specific digital video camera. Saturday evening, once it cooled down a little, I went for my first cycle of the season - once around the Greifensee. You'll see "Binz" in the top-left of the pic - that's where we live.
I hope to get back in the saddle properly this year (after a break of many many years) and get out there at least 2 or 3 times per week, if the weather permits.

Yesterday, we loafed at home. I got the home PC working [it died on Wednesday last week - hard drive melted a chip (literally), but surprisingly I got it to work again after a few resets! :-o].

No more Mr Nice Guy ...

After we moved out of our apartment, we received the bill for "damages" totalling CHF1700. They wanted me to sign a declaration of acceptance of these costs, to receive the remaining CHF2300 from my deposit.
I contested most of the contents as being unsubstantiated, and wanted proof that things were new when I moved in ... I also challenged the heating costs as being a "convenient round number" (CHF350), and considerably more than previous heating cost reconciliations for similar periods of time.
They acknowledged that the heating cost reconciliation amount was "a mistake", and lowered it - however they then dredged up a plumbers invoice for a replaced faulty tap from over two years ago, totalling over 900 francs, and added it to our amount, bringing the total in demand to CHF2700 ... and if we didn't accede within 5 working days, they'd pursue legal action against us, and we'd be liable for their costs.

Yesterday evening, we went to the Mieterverband (renters association) to seek legal counsel regarding this matter.
We joined the Mieterverband on arrival (95 franc membership gets us unlimited free consultations until the end of the calendar year), and waited about an hour-and-a-half until we were called (there are no pre-bookings .... simply arrive during consultation hours, and you'll be helped in turn). After showing the paper trail I've kept, the consultant immediately said that WE should sue THEM (first round is free - simply lay a dispute claim and they'll receive a summons to appear). He said that legally they CANNOT charge us the full amounts for certain things (for eg, painting - they wanted to charge 100% costs for repainting the bathroom, whereas legally they cannot charge more than 45% of costs... moreover, I indicated in my response to their original letter that the bathroom was not designed with adequate airflow [no extractor, window must be shut while showering else neighbours can see in], thus I don't accept the costs at all... He said we should have a case there.

So - he gave us a "klage" (grievance) form, filled out most of it for us (indicating that we're pushing for our deposit to be returned, with interest!) and we signed and dated it. I'm sending it registered-mail to the court today, and let's see what happens...

This is so exciting! :D

After the meeting, we went to a community barbeque held at the lake, which was also a nice social event. Got home late, as usual ...I need to catch up some sleep this weekend.

what's in a name?

Just for interest-sake ...
Pronuncation of the name of the blog is "bloggary" ... like "buggery", only it references my name :-P

The Weekend That Was

Saturday we went browsing at the myriad variety of strollers around. There's far too much choice available for my liking ... and whatever we buy, it'll be unsuitable for certain situations.

For eg:- it's recommended to get something light, and easily collapsible for lifting into the boot of a car (by someone other than a former member of the East-German womens powerlifting team ...). It should fold like a sock, able to be tucked away into a small crevice within the mighty boots that our cars have.
However, in addition to being of the antigravitation persuasion, it needs to be sturdy and rugged, conquerer of rough terrain, impervious to the elements [all 103+ of them?]...
It also needs to be visually appealing, maneuverable with one finger through insane rush-hour pedestrian traffic, and affordable.

Yes, that last word there kinda slows down the whole momentum, doesn't it ?
No more aircraft-grade anti-matter that can leap tall buildings in a single bound.
After talking to friends with 4-wheel strollers, many indicate that they work perfectly-well on dodgy surfaces, and that a jogging-stroller may only be necessary if you actually do run with it..

So we're still undecided about what we need.

Sunday we went to friends for lunch, and then popped over to Germany to buy some meat with them. MUCH cheaper than buying here in Switzerland. We bought close to 7kg of chicken and chicken pieces for about CHF95 (EUR61).

Sunday night we watched "Spanglish"... it's pretty good.

let there be light!

Last night I finally (we were waiting for the painter to finish doing his thing) installed a light on our stairway [looks great .... pics to follow], and I just installed a light on the upstairs landing.

I got sneaky and managed to organise a wifi hotspot installation at 15h30 near where I live, so I got home before 5pm today ... YAY - long weekend ... :-)
(beat the rushhour traffic, too).

I got tagged by Ash for a book-related survey ...
Let's see whether I even have answers for any:

1. Total number of books I've owned.
Does this include school books???
I guess, excluding prescribed reading, I've owned fewer than 100 books.

2. Last book I bought.
jeez, how'm I supposed to remember that?!
Could it be the map book I bought a year ago when I was lost on the highway leaving Munich?
Do the manuals that arrived with my appliances count ?
I suppose it's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, last year.

3. The last book I read.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - but I haven't finished yet.
I've taken a sabbatical for a while, and will resume in due course.

4. 5 books that mean a lot to me.
I share no kinship with my books... they are simply printed words. But, depending on how far I may stretch this definition, I suppose my matric yearbook has some sentimental value in a weird kinda way. And ... ummm... I enjoy my cookery books, although I need to haul them out from the cellar sometime and make space for them downstairs near the kitchen.
So that's two so far ... *scratches head*

I used to be SUCH a bookworm in junior school ... wonder what happened.. Shakespeare and Bronte, perhaps?
but I digress...

My Passport! woohoo.. that's three..

and I'll use poetic licence and pretend that I've listed five :-)
So, moving on...


5. Which 5 people would you most like to see fill this out in their blog?
Saddam Hussein, Dalai Lama, George W. Bush, whoever the most recent nobel literature prize winner is, and Oprah (not that I care about her, but she apparently has a book club and I wonder if she has some financial interest in everyone buying the book she recommends ... so if I knew what she read in her spare time, I'd buy shares in the printing companies of whatever may be announced next. HA!)

Phew ... that was arduous!

Sign here, Mister Jones ....

I've now added comments to the blog...
So feel free to leave your John Hancock if you want to heckle...

rock paper scissors .... metal glass!

Painter and kitchen chaps came over at 8am today to fix some defects.
Painter spent about 4 minutes scraping and replastering what he'd already scraped and plastered, and then left ... he'll be back either tomorrow morning or Friday morning to paint over all the sections that need it.

The kitchen chaps were sent back here because of the bad job the did initially, installing our mirror backsplash... the one piece of glass had a scratch, and the silicon work was appalling.
They replaced the damaged glass, and re-siliconed (marginally better than before, but still not brilliant IMHO)... and hottailed outta there, leaving a nice visible scratch on our fancy glass hob!
When I brought it to their attention, they chuckled and said it must have been there before they came. Funny how it looked so fresh and deep.

Paper beats Rock
Rock beats Scissors
Scissors beats Paper

and Metal beats Glass ... I suspect it was their tools that left a lovely indelible reminder of their handywork.
Pity Gary didn't beat workmen with a clue...

Builders are the same the world over ...

weather check: still a bit overcast, and it was cold this morning, but the outlook is for 21 and 24 degrees on Friday and Saturday resp... followed by massive showers ...ugh!


I promised myself that this summer I'd get back in the saddle and get properly fit again .. (ie, cycling 3x/week as I did way back when ...).
Now if only summer would play along so I can get started.

It's alive!

Well, I've finally joined the '90s .... except it's 2005!

More as and when I have time,and when I remember to update here..

:D

G