1st Day at School

Face Painting

I recently suggested to Mini Limey that we could do some face painting during the weekend.
Well the old Chinese saying of "be careful what you wish for" holds true here.

See contained within the evidence of what can happen when a small child takes up her paints.......

A good day

It is with a huge sigh of relief that I finally secured an apartment in Geneva for the Limey clan.

The process has been long and complicated.
First there is the requirement for a residents permit ( takes at least 2 months). Without this you cant open bank accounts or rent anywhere.
Second you have to find somewhere suitable within your price range.
Third you then have to apply for the flat and hope you are selected. This is because demand far outstrips supply here in Geneva.

I have gone through this process of application already and missed out on one place.

So yesterday I saw another place, near the French border, views of Mt Blanc, top floor, huge balcony all around the apartment - and best of all elevator direct to the front door. Perfect location and abolutely huge. This morning I heard from the registrar that we had been accepted as tenants!

So finally I have a move in date of 16th March. Which now means that there is an end date in sight for the Limeys to be back together again full time.

Now all that remains is to arrange a relocation date with our selected movers and then actually drive the family over.

I couldn't be much happier if I tried.

Pictures to follow

Important message to all Women

Now pay attention now this is vital information for ANY woman with a man in their life...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o60GRjZXW6Q

Lazy Sundays

I'm home after 12 days aways from home.
I have just enjoyed a really nice long lay in. Despite the fact that I am now dressed - one of the cats is still in the place I want to be.


Oh to be a pampered kitty........

The Good and the Bad

I have now been away from home for 9 days and am missing Mini Limey in particular.

The good news is that my permanant job offer and relocation package is now arranged, the bad news is that without my residence permit I can't do anything about renting somewhere so that the Limeys can join me here.

So tonight I sit here with mixed emotions. Happy that everything is coming together, sad and a bit frustrated that I still cant get an end date for the time apart.

The new role is fun, demanding, frustrating and challenging - so professionally I am feeling fulfilled. I just need to get my personal life sorted out with some concrete end dates.

Then I will be happy.

Mrs Limey Visits Geneva

I have been looking forward to this moment for a long time. We have finally managed to arrange for Mini Limey to stay with a grandparent so that Mrs Limey can come over and take a look at Geneva too.

Its all very well me taking a job here, but if the boss doesn't approve then the whole thing is an aborted mission.

So with some excitement I met her at the airport on Friday and we have spent the weekend doing tourist stuff and examining suitable areas to live.

The verdict is good - as Geneva is just like most of the other European cities we have visited or lived in, so the mission is still a go.

Its Sunday morning now and she is packing for the airport and I feel deflated and sad that its over so quickly.

The family out to be here by April time - and I for one can't wait. In the mean time here is a picture of Mrs Limey in front of the inevitable Geneva Fountain shot.

Talk about getting started young.

Mini Limey got a Fisher Price Kids Tough camera for Christmas.
Its only a low spec digital camera in a really tough body... See attached results from our outing today into the hills.

These images are a huge improvement on the usual ones. Since Christmas we have had about 3000 pictures of the TV showing her favourite cartoons from Nick Jr (R)!

The Christmas Fairy

Festive Look

Attached is Mini Limey's favourite toy in his most festive attire.

His look just sums it all up for me. Utter contentment mixed with a large measure of sleepiness,

Thanks go to Bunny C for posing for this entry.

Happy New Year to all my friends and Family where ever you all are in the world.

Mini Limey Tree

This is Mini Limey's own creation. You may notice in the badly shaken picture (no flash so the lights would shine through) a ChristMouse and a Christmas Komodo Dragon at the base!

Oh Christmas Tree - Oh Christmas Tree!

Whilst it is traditional for trees to be put up on December 12th, there is no point whatsoever in having an almost four year old if you cant get the tree up early.

Now whilst we may be telling all the relatives that its for the benefit of Mini Limey - the truth is that its actually to indulge ourselves.

Every year it kills me waiting for the supposedly proper time.

So this year - we have raced ahead.

Note the seasonal 'Roger the Racoon' atop our tree.

The tree to the bottom is Mini Limey's own creation. You may notice in the badly shaken picture (no flash so the lights would shine through) a ChristMouse and a Christmas Komodo Dragon at the base!

Krankenhaus

As those of you who know me will be aware I am a robust, strong and resilient individual that never ever, ever gets so much as a cold.

It is therefore with some surprise that I find myself with the worst bout of Man Flu known to man - or woman.

I would suspect that no one else has EVER had anything quite this bad in the history of mankind.

Mini Limey is fairly bad too, having turned into a human sleeping and vomiting machine.
Mrs Limey's minor sickness earlier is nothing compared - which is good really - as women folk are really not strong enough to deal with this sort of sickness.

Seriously - I do feel a little under the weather.

I'm just surprised that science has not isolated this unusually debilitating strain of flu. Could I possibly have bird flu already ?

Mrs Limey has just advised me that if I don't put the record straight then - she will cease mopping my brow!

So for the record - she was ALMOST this bad.

House of the Krank

Mini Limey was throwing up last night, I have a Man Cold and Mrs Limey is getting over a tiny inconsequential cold. Nothing like my Man Cold!

Its strange how men get such severe colds and flu and just somehow cope.

There again I'm playing with fire now as Mrs Limey is looking over my ssoulder as I make up this tissue of lies and exagerations.

We all feel very sorry for ourselves. I'm thinking of posting a biohazard symbol on the front door.

Thar be Dragons II

Thar be Dragons

Over the weekend I had my first application of colour and shading to my dragon .

I am feeling quite pleased with the results, and the arm itself is not too sore either.
Just need the final colours (green and yellow) to be applied on the 15th December now.

On a family note Mrs Limey and Mini Limey are both busy coughing up a lung like TB patients... Its not a pretty sight I can assure you.

Geneva is a confirmed start date of Monday 10th December 2007.
Cover for me in my existing role has finally been located.

I now need to do a lot of background reading on my new role and new location.

I do actually have a friend who already lives out there - so he is being 'pumped' for advice and support as you can imagine.

Geneva Pt II

My current boss and my new boss can't come to an agreement for me to start early in the new position so it looks like it will be December 10th that I first travel out to my new job.

I will be commuting weekly (Mon / Fri) to Geneva for the first 3 months to find a suitable permanent address out there to move the rest of the family to0.

Once upon a time when I had no kids this was simple. These days the choices and decisions seem a lot more daunting.

Let the adventure commence!

Playing

After a long rainy day, with Mini Limey feeling tired I finally agreed to read her favourite book....

Im so blessed.

Geek Alert

Mulder 2002 - 2007 RIP

It is with enormous sadness that I report the death of Mulder at the hands of a speeding car. Aged 5 he was my best loved, most loving and attentive cat.

The constant catching of inappropriate rare birds, the fighting with your sister, your willingness to sit on the most tricky of laps at the most inconvenient times - all made you my favourite.

I will miss you my friend - life will not be the same without you.