We finally shifted!

After the seem-forever wait to shift,
We finally collected our keys on friday!
After a quick inspection of the home,
We did found some wear and tear
That were hidden by the furniture.
But i guess we could live with it 
And it was too late to complain, haha.

After, we went to the notary to sign our life away
And became proud owners!
Although the home is quite clean,
We still did a clean up 
Because of my ocd genes from my mum.
And unload the 2 huge bags of stuff we brought along.

It was hard to tear ourselves away from the new home
And returned to our old home
For final packing and dismantling the bed frame.

The next day,
Sis in law came early to go collect the truck
Apart from the family,
Im thankful for the 3 friends that came.
I cant imagine how we can shift alone with the family.
The friends brought more carton boxes along,
Everyone seems to be surprised that all had been done
And everyone just need bring the stuff down.

Despite being on 3rd level,

With narrow staircase and no lift

We managed to shift everything!

Except for the washing machine,

Which was to be transfer to a friend's home

To exchange for another model.

In the end, the boys give up,

The owner will have a washing machine

But we still collected the new machine.

Unloading was much simpler and faster

Since we stay on the ground floor.

Everyone was praising the new home!

I guess the size was small

and photos didnt do the new home justice,

So everyone was surprised how nice it is.

I think is more of they spent 1hr+ at old home

That the new home is a nice comparison, haha.

After unloading, we had lunch

And surprised my mother in law with a cake.

I abandoned her at the supermarket

To secretly buy a cake and flowers, haha.

It was her 60th birthday! 

After everyone left,

Husband went return truck with sis in law.

I managed to unpack some stuff

And we are still trying to survive without sofa

(we only have 1 chair now) and fridge.

Yesterday, we forced ourselves 

To returned to old home to clean up

Today, im going back again for last cleaning.

After, it will be forever bye bye to that

And focus on our new home! 

Happenings in geneve

Since sis was busy with meetings,
We woke up early to breakfast together
And i spent the day wandering in geneve.
As usual, geneve to me is like a big raffles place,
nothing much to do.
                                                                             
The 2nd and 3rd day passed quickly,                   
Shopping for sis and myself              
My hair had been a crazy mess
and i have the crazy idea to grow up my white hair     
But hairsalons were crazily expensive
That i borrowed a scissor from the hotel
And snipped off my own hair!      
Haha, i think it looks decent.                  
*pardon my round face*

On the fourth day,

I googled and found the flea market was on.

Google map told me that is a 20min walk

From the train station                        

But as usual, i got lost                

And found it after 45min walk, opps

Well, at least i found it.

It was not a big flea market

But i spent 2hrs there searching for treasures

I fell in love with a "small" table

Which cost 60chf (before bargaining)

Husband was not very keen.

Sadly, i gave up to buy

Because it was too big 

Its going to be very difficult to bring it

In my train back to paris :(

Ill definitely buy it if i was in paris!

Sis was off for the evening

So i persuaded her to go for korean food!

I cant remember the last time i ate proper korean food in a restaurant.

We ended up lost again

But was glad to exercise before arriving. 

Food was expensive

Well, at least i was super happy!

The next day it was time for me to go.

Farewells are always hard.

As much as i was sad,

I was also looking forward to return

And shift to my new home!

Nevertheless,

The trip was really great!                                 

I had the alone time that i loved,          

Sisters quality time

(i think the last time we travelled alone

Was before the kids came!),                   

And the huge bag of singaporean goodies

To survive till i return next year.

Back in geneve again

So, sister is in geneve again for her company's event
Last year I came here to be babysitter for her kids.
This year, I came to visit sister
But she is busy with her meetings and dinners
That I get to roam around geneve alone.
Apart from seeing her in the mornings and nights...
We met up on sunday to spend more time together.

Basically, there's nothing much in geneve
But I enjoying roaming the streets alone
Under sister's colleague's recommendation,
I tried the mac's sundae with chocolate sauce,
And im surprised that the chocolate sauce taste better!

Is crazy how everything is so expensive
More expensive than in paris!
A mac sundae costs 3,70chf 
Or a croissant is 1,85chf!
No wonder they pay better in geneve
They need the extra income to survive here!

Although french is one of their main language,
Most speak english to me 
and not let me practice my french.
Well, is good to be able to not struggle with language.

However, unlike other french countries I have been to
I kinda feel people are cold.
The usual "bonjour" and "au revoir" don't happen
In stores, cafes and hotel! 
Maybe im too used to life in paris
Where everyone always greet everyone, haha.

One more day to go....

Day 7 - Anduze (SJDG)

HAPPY 33RD BIRTHDAY TO HUSBAND!!

We went supposed to take a bus at 835am to the nearby town for a visit and the market
Luckily, aunt decided to go with us in her car that we left home at 930am instead.
The town was more lively and bigger that Saint Jean Du Gard
that husband and i really love the atmosphere and buildings...

We had lunch at a restaurant

but was trapped indoor when a big storm and wind came

which make it unsure to drive through the mountain roads.

after some waiting, wwe managed to brave through the rain to the car

and reached home safety 

We had a small birthday celebrations at home

and husband received plenty of gifts from the family

while my gift for him was still somewhere in the shipping. Haha

In the evening, we went for the bistro again for a family dinner

to celebrate husband and mother in law birthday.

We managed to see some shooting stars as it was the period for shooting stars in the area

and then it rained through our last night in SJDG

Day 8-

We woke up really early to prepare ourselves and spend some time with the grandparents

before taking the bus at 0715 to the train station.

As usual, i took the carsick pills and remained sleepy through the bus and train ride,

we reached home at around 1300.

And that was the end of our summer holiday 2015...

Day 4, 5 & 6 (SJDG)

Day 4 
was the best day of the trip because i did nothing
After the previous days of mountain and river,
i rested the day at home to nurse my muscle aches
while husband, his sis and bf  went to climb a more difficult mountain.

Day 5 
In the morning, we went to the market of the town
Which is supposed to be the most happening event of the village.
There was plenty of food, clothes and items 
Just that we didnt had enough time to explore all the market before lunch.
Anyway, i wasnt feeling too well from the heat and crowd...

we went back to the river but this time was to nua
We didnt walked too far into the river
and found a point to just lie and relax.
I think this is more my type of river exploration.
Lying around, do nothing, occassion into the water...
and finally i have the time and attention to look around,
instead of focusing on my feel in fear of falling in the river

Day 6  

In the morning, his sis and boyf went leaving for their 7hrs drive home

While the rest of the husband and i spent the day at home

and i managed to finished my book in a day.

Crazy how i left this book unread for 1yr+ and only ended up to be super interested in it

to finished it within 24 hours.

In the evening, we went for a show on the history of Catholics vs Protestants with mother in law

Again, my limited french did not help me to understand it

And that ends the slacking period of our holiday...

Day 3 - My first river (SJDG)

We went for a family lunch at a nearby bistro.
After lunch, we accompanied the sis and bf to buy the region's famous vase.
We thought to buy something for the new home,
but couldnt really think of what to buy.

Since sis and boyf went for canyoning at the river nearby the previous week.
We decided to go to the same river to explore.
Canyoning was basically going through the river, sliding down small riverfalls 
and jumping from the edges:

It was my first river exploration and i thought it would be an easy walk.

With my limited swimming skills and not loving water,

it ended up to be a very difficult river walk for me.

Husband assured me that it was a difficult route for canyoning

so it was normal for me to find it hard and suffer cuts on my the other leg

Yes, Saint Jean Du gard is dangerous for me, haha

I did tried my first jump from a 3m cliff

I think fear of bad swimming stopped me from trying other jumps

or going further into the river

that i just find a spot to relay and wait for them to return

We spent about 3 hours at the river and went back for dinner.

After dinner, we went for a theatre play with mother in law.

Sadly, my level of french is insufficient to understand the play

but its my first theatre experience in France.

With body and mind totally tired,

we knocked out early and fast that night...

Day 2 - My first mountain (SJDG)

We woke up early and had breakfast by 0845
Husband decided he want to come up a simple mountain
But first,
We are to visit the small local produce market,
Take a small walk around the village, 
And visit his uncle's grave.

Im not a big mountain fan,
So I suggested to do the above except the mountain.
In the end, I ended up accompanying the husband
To go up the "simple" mountain.

Rule no 1:
-Never trust the husband's memory
Husband been up the same mountain xyz times
He assured me is the smallest and easiler mountain
There are markers to follow and a path
In the end, we managed to fall of the trail
And end up really climbing the mountain.
There was no proper path for us
we went through scrubs, trees, rocks and slopes
Halfway, I was cut on the calf and fingee by a thorn
Crazily bothered by bees and some sort of mosquitoes 
flying around me and near my ears
That I wanted to give up
But realises the way backdown is as bad as how we came
And only can look forward to reach the top
Where a normal road will lead us down.

Rule no 2:
- When you are dressed for a walk, 
Dont go up a mountain.
I was dressed in shorts and a tshirt
I didnt even tied up my hair
And the worst, I put perfume!
I was totally unprepared to go through scrubs and trees
And insects loving my perfume.
At one moment, I was so desparate
That I tried to use husband's smelly tshirt as a hair wrap
But decided I cant stand the smell, haha
At least, I managed to reach the top 
Looking like a crazy woman
With cuts on my legs.

Rule no 3:
- Dont try to do so much, when you know grandparents are very particular about meal times.
The climb took far more time as expected
That we didnt really had time to rest on top
And even nees to do brisk walk
To be in time for lunch at 12pm

Thankfully, husband stayed calm despite my panic eps
And managed to calm me down
To survive to the top
I still got chased by few insects on the way down
But I was so glad to be on the road.
So much that I could kiss the road.

The rest of the day, I was just so tired
That I slept while husband went to the river
With sis and boyf.
The night, everyone was exploring the house
Digging old cupboards for books etcs
And we ended the day...

Day 1 - Saint Jean Du Gard

So, like typical french, 
We took another summer holiday!
This time, we went to Saint jean du gard
A small village amidst the river and mountains,
Near nimes (south of france)
Since husband and I are not great fan of sun,
It seems strange to be in the south
Where is hotter than in paris.
But the family house is here
And we get to spend a really wonderful time
With his mum, aunt, grandparents,
Sister and her boyfriend :)

Husband was happy that I came
To tell me stories of his childhood holidays here
I appreciate the opportunity to know the family better.
So, last friday, 
I woke up at 530am to make sandwiches 
For the 3hr-ish train ride.

There was a 50min train delay 
We reached nimes later and missed the direct bus
In the end, we took another bus to a nearby village
And aunt picked us all.
As usual, I was knocked out by the carsick pills
To survive the winding roads.
And I spent the rest of the day sleepy and eating. 

We managed to take a walk around
And a drink after dinner
And I drift to lalaland.
Sometimes, im amazed why carsick pills 
are sleeping pills to me
-,-"