Sorry guys - did not get access to wifi.
Please see tomorrow's post for your dose of Graceness.
Grace xx
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
Happy 75th Birthday Dalai Lama
Today marks the Dalai Lama's 75th birthday.
You know when you're asked "If there's anybody in the world, dead or alive, that you could have dinner with - who would it be?"?
More often than not, I'll answer "The Dalai Lama".
I don't know what I'd say to his holiness face to face as I had a hard enough time signing his birthday global tribute.
His balding head, square glasses and warming smile reminds me of my late grandfather - though I'm not so sure that's appropriate dinner conversation.
What I'd like to know is how he feels. What's it like to be a world spiritual leader. Did he graciously accept his destiny or were there times when he questioned it. I'd like to know the human being behind the smile and the words of wisdom.
In the meantime, I'll keep feeling all warm and fuzzy over his likeness to my beloved Nonno. That'll be our secret.
Until tomorrow, is there someone in the world that you'd like to have dinner with? If so, who and why?
Grace xx
PS. Back in France on day one of our pre-tour reconnaissance. The tour starts in one week and we have a LOT of work to do - yikes!
If you a. love me, b. love my blog, c. love this post or d. all of the above - please SHARE
Monday, 5 July 2010
Milder Dick-Jogurt
One thing I love about travelling is discovering all the little nuances in languages.
Everything from funny road signs to a-la-carte menu items, there are words to be learned (if not chuckled at) all around.
My last night in Germany culminated in an apres-concert dinner. It was a farewell to those leaving the Darmstadt Staatsoper company and a 'woohoo, it's summer holidays' for the remainder of the performers.
As I sat down to peruse the menu, I noticed a rather interesting dessert. Milder Dick-Jogurt (the Germans pronounce 'j' as 'y' for example 'ja' is pronounced 'ya').
"Hmmmm... " I wondered what Dick Yoghurt was, and what made it milder (obviously NOT asparagus).
Unable to contain my amusement, I chuckled aloud and photographed the menu for your delight.
I learned that 'dick' means 'thick' and so the yoghurt in question had nothing to do with the male anatomy and all to do with its consistency.
Until tomorrow, celebrate international nuances by realising that there ought be no barriers to humour and laughter. It unites us all, irrespective of language.
Grace xx
PS. Congratulations Germany to your 4 - nil win over Argentina at this year's soccer World Cup. You guys sure know how to celebrate. I've never seen live car-surfing before. Makes my couch-surfing look positively lame.
Sunday, 4 July 2010
Sunday Sentence
"Life is a highway, I wanna ride it all night long"
- Tom Cochran(Inspired by the last three days, where I drove just under 1,000km in Switzerland and Germany reaching speeds in excess of 160km+ per hour in a little Fiat that rattled over 140km per hour. Hilarious.)
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Confessions of a shoe addict
I have a deep dark secret that I've been trying to hide for way too long - especially from my husband (though I think he's figured it out by now).
It's an illness.
I have an addiction and a somewhat bizarre affection for decorative inanimate objects that are designed to house one's feet.
Here is my confession... I am completely and utterly in love with shoes - the quirkier the better.
Is that wrong?
It is unhealthy?
How many shoes can one own?
Is this affliction only confined to females or do men suffer it too?
I am well aware that I only have two feet, thus find my obsession quite perplexing. Perhaps in a former life I was a barefooted millipede and my mission in this life is to find a unique abode for each of my thousand tootsies. Could that be it?
Yesterday I stumbled upon the most beautiful pair of retro-style aqua heeled sandals (pictured above right). It was lust at first sight, however I reluctantly decided to leave them behind because the heels were covered in woven raffia (paper) rendering them too fragile pour moi. And they were a tad pricey.
The following 24 hours were torturous. I've been tossing and turning, completely obsessing about them. I imagined what I would wear them with, how fabulous they would look and how gorgeous I would feel. Agony.
Today I could stand it no more. I HAD to go back and see them again. Though there was an equally gorgeous yet far more practical sister model in fuscia (the heels were covered in fabric instead of paper), my heart was yearning for the more fragile turquoise sibling.
This was a classic tug of war between my head and heart. Torn between two lovers, feeling like a fool.
Thanks to a bit of coaching from Margaret, my heart won the day. I am now the proud owner of the most gorgeous, comfortable and somewhat impractical retro heeled sandals. I feel like Samantha from Bewitched when they're on my feet. They are without a doubt, magic.
However it ponders a question. Is it wise to enter a love affair, knowing that it's destined to end prematurely and that I'm likely to be broken hearted at the inevitable end? No, it's not wise. But sometimes lust and pleasure is no match for wisdom.
Until tomorrow, be sure to allow your heart to indulge in pleasures despite being void of wisdom.
Grace xx
PS. Saturday Quiz No.4 is still up for grabs. The clue is a Scottish lock (AKA loch), which forms the first syllable of the four syllable word.
Friday, 2 July 2010
Hi Jacked
Tonight I have Hi Jacked Grace's blog.
Why have I Hi Jacked my own wife's blog I hear you ask?
Well, the short version is that Grace, as you already know is in Coburg Germany.
So I thought it might be a good time for me to get in on this blogging thingy and hi jack Grace's blog prior to her coming on line to do a post apres Opera.
Yep you heard right. Grace is off for more cultural adventures this evening in the beautiful town of Coburg in Germany to watch 'Top Gun Tenor' Garrie Davis Lim. Toi Toi Toi Gaz ;-)
Right nuff of that.
What have I been up to the past few days I hear you ask?
Well, I am glad you asked. Because I have been in the north west of Switzerland in Grenchen. For those of you that don't know Grenchen is famous for a few things, but mostly famous for the watches that come out of this region. Think of an exclusive watch brand made in Switzerland and it's probably made here. Think Rolex, Tissot, Breitling and many many more.
The other thing this area is famous for is bikes and component manufacturing. Yep you heard right they still make stuff up here in Switzerland and are exceptionally proud of what they make.
We have been at the launch of the BMC bikes 2011 range release these past few days. It has been an educational, informative and fun few days. Yesterday we watched the brand new process that BMC uses to make carbon fibre bikes, raced go carts with 30 other journalist from all parts of the world and met a very inspirational guy called Andy Rees.
Andy just happens to one of those inspirational serial entrepreneur types who has his finger in so many pie's it is incredible. Everything from vineyards, Phonak hearing aids and BMC bikes to name a few. BMC is the race team that Cadel Evans will race for in the tour de france which starts tomorrow in Rotterdam.
Until tomorrow.
I trust you find the serial entrepreneur in yourself today ;-)
Go Cadel
Big Love
PaT
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Hand delivered prize in Germany
What do you do when you get an opportunity to drive to Germany and hand deliver a Saturday Quiz prize?
Go for it!
Turns out the my husband's bike launch was a mere three and a half hours drive (that turned into five) from Top Gun Tenor, Garrie - who lives in Germany... and yes, he is a top gun tenor.
Garrie correctly guessed Saturday Quiz No.3 and I couldn't resist the temptation to personally deliver the Eiffel Tower key ring.
So here I am, on his couch (which I'll be surfing later on), writing this to you.
Now I'd love to sit and chat some more, but I have to get ready to indulge in a very cultural evening of German opera. I'm seeing Mozart's Die Zauberfloete (The Magic Flute), featuring the very gorgeous Margaret Koenn (Gazza's missus).
So I have to dash.
Until tomorrow, find ways to get more culture than a tub of yoghurt.
Grace xx
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