Better than 14th July!

Yesterday, our 36* weather exploded into a huge thunderstorm - complete with hailstones. The result was quite spectacular... as the road just infront of our apartment flooded with water. Thankfully, the water didn't come much closer to our walls than 50 yards because it really was quite deep and ugly looking. Amazingly enough, the water did drain away quite quickly because after only 30 minutes the road was relatively dry again.

So, once again, our living room windows provided ringside seats...especially as this guy's car broke down only a few seconds later and he had to borrow our mobile to call his dad (which also provided excellent entertainment as he tried to explain exactly why he had driven through the water rather than waiting...).

hugs n smiles,

Robyn

Israel - Lebanon conflict

Hello,

I received this thought-provoking email from a friend today, and thought you might like to share in her message.

Alena, is someone for whom I have the utmost respect. She has traveled to and lived in destinations around the world. She wrote her email as one of her friends is living in Lebabon. Now, I simply cannot take sides in the Israel-Lebanon conflict. However, what I can say is that I often forget the faces we see on the news are real people, with lives like you and I.

So, here's Alena's email:

Dear Friends,

I have been extremely lucky in this life that in every country I've lived in I have known so many generous and enormously talented women. I am in awe ofall of you and I thank you for even tolerating me. Right now, a woman very like you - fun-loving, kind to an astonishing degree, very very smart, and a friend of mine - is in Beirut as the bombs drop continuously around her.

She is Lebanese, educated in Canada, a Christian (like 40% of her country) andno cruise ship is coming to rescue her from the danger, nor would she boardit if it were.The tragedy in the Lebanon is one that you should hear from her- a message I think she wants heard- so please let me share the email I received fromLaurice this morning:

"Alena, Thank you, I've been in Beirut since yesterday, I haven't slept asecond from all the bombardments. I'm a little tired but running on pure adrenaline. I'm scared for myself and scared for not being able to see myfamily and even more scared for the people here. We're holding ademonstration tomorrow for Israel to stop bombing us, I might be in that onebut I will for sure be in the demonstration that will happen either thisFriday or this Saturday promoting peace. Help is always needed, ALWAYS!! There is absolutely no way anything can getinto Lebanon, no food, no medical supplies, no nothing! And we're slowly running out and all prices have increased ridiculously with whatever is leftand no one can afford to buy anything since most people lost everythingthey've ever had. The situation is bad, it's horrible but we are hoping forthe best by demonstrating that we, as Lebanese Citizens, DO NOT WANT thiswar. Contrary to many others opinion, we don't want to fight, we want peaceand we want to eat, drink, breath and live just like anyone. You can send that message across to any officials who are interested in helping Lebanesecitizens and the best way and the only way to do so at the moment is to make our voices heard. [...]as for me leaving, they will have to drag me out of my own home before I take this decision. Just hope it wont get tothat, I'm not ready to leave. "

Laurice is a Project Coordinator for an NGO in Beirut that teaches youngpeople about entrepreneurship - the same people that will be rebuildingLebanon yet again when the bombs finish grinding this beautifulMediterranean country between the teeth of its two giant neighbours. You cansee the work they do at www.jalebanon.org.

I hope it will show that this country is - and should be allowed to be- more than just a war zone.Thank you, and As-salaamu Alaikum

(Peace be upon you.)-Alena

July 14th 2006

Last night, at ten o'clock sharp and to the explosion of three fired guns, the parade of the 14th July started right outside our window. So, we had ringside seats as the folks of Alsace - disguised as the rich, poor, and revolutionary of the 1700's - filed past with firey torches held aloft.

celebrating the new apartment

A couple of weeks ago, Ben's folks drove up from Nice to Alsace to visit and to help us settle in... and they helped us they did for soon both the washing machine and the stove top were installed and the old apartment was cleaned and ready to hand back!! Thankfully, we also had some time to relax and to enjoy each other's company.

Here we are celebrating both the new apartment our 2nd wedding anniversary... but definitely not the yellow paint in the living room (which will be changed asap!!).

After their visit with us, they drove through to see 'the Derimays' in Germany.. and we followed them at the weekend to enjoy time together and to watch some world cup football. Now, what was Zidane thinking....

It's a boy!!

It's true!

We had our latest scan on Saturday morning and it appears 'the wee boy' is in perfect working order. As you can see from the photo, this scan is really different from the others as you can see the details of the face, the backbone, and both the stomach and the heart. As he's now he's five months old, most of his body has already developed and now only has to grow and grow!

Meanwhile, as he's been developing, our lives have been evloving as well!

Why? Because ten days ago we moved into our new apartment and so we have been busy unpacking boxes and rearranging things. It's great/amazing/superb to have our own place - and I'll post photos just as soon as things have settled down. For the moment, though, we've only had the internet since last night.. and we're still not sure if our 'international phone line' is set up (so, for all those who have called -thank you- and, trust me! I'll call you back once everything is in working order..ps/just to say that our phone number hasn't changed!).

So, phew, that's how things are going at the moment!
much love n many hugs,
Robyn

heart beats

I'm smiling.

We returned to the doctor today and got to hear the heart beat of the 'wee one'. It sounded just like a train. You know like 'the little train that knew it could'? - schtacoo, schtacoo, schtacoo - but really fast! It was great.

Now we've our next appointment scheduled for the end of June and at the point we'll have our next echography/scan and so know if its a 'fille ou garçon' or its a 'girl or a boy'!

Cool stuff, huh?

storks

On the ground, storks are long, spindly, elegant birds that strut about like they have understand and disdained the world.

Then, their vulture-like wings haul their bodies into flight and - for that second between ground and air - they become cumbersome and almost shocking.

Once in flight, they transform again as the deep bow of their chests plough through the air like a boats sailing deeply through the water.

friends

Our friends - Lynsey and Eric - from Cagnes sur mer came to visit for the weekend. After a rainy start walking around Molsheim, we headed to Strasbourg to visit the cathedral and 'la petite France.' Strasbourg really is such a pleasant place as its riddled with canals and traditional houses. In the evening, we ate the Alsatian equivalent of pizza - tarte flambé - before trundling home to bed!

On Sunday we followed the 'route de vins' down through the vineyards to Ribeauville - where we saw loads of storks while we walked through the town. As you might be able to see in the photo, my tummy is beginning to get a bit bigger (though with all the food we've eaten recently that's probably no real surprise!).

More seriously, things are going well - as I'm around the 15th week, have loads of energy, and am looking forward to my next meeting with the doctor this Saturday.

hugs to all,
Robyn

day at the farm

Hello,

A couple of weeks ago Ben and I joined Muriel and her niece, Virginie and her daughter Margo, and walked through the vineyards connecting Ribeauville and Riquewihr. Then we had lunch at a traditional Alsatian restaurant before going to the farm to play with the animals (cows, sheep, horses). It was really great day out and was a superb alternative to my usual position at the moment (alseep on the couch!).

hugs to all,
Robyn

ps/The photo shows the farm we visited with the Vosges hills behind and, if you look closely, you can see the château du Haut Koenigsburg sitting on top of the tallest of the hills.

I have legs!

See my two legs, my teddy-bear bum, and then my big head!

This is just a short, jubuliant message to say that our wee baby has legs that we saw wriggling and jiggling about this morning!

The doctor seems happy with the progress (s)he is making and we've scheduled the next scan for two months time!!

:-)

okay, so I should clarify..

okay, so I should clarify..
... Spring in Alsace still means, from time to time, you can find snow to play in!

...and, yes, Mr Snowman was pleased to have the chance to 'come to life'.

walking in the woods

To create a break in all the full-time sleeping that I'm doing at the moment, Ben and I headed out yesterday for a 'walk in the woods.'
We began at the chapel de Dabo, which is a small chapel perched on top of a hill that surveys the plateau d'Alsace from on high. Then we descended back down towards Molsheim and stopped off at a small wooded trail for an hour long wander through the trees. The weather was wonderfully sunny and the woods were alive with the sounds of Spring: the shushing of the wind, the chuckles of the birds, and silence. It felt really good to be outside and to feel winter drawing to a close.

So, here's hoping -wherever this blog finds you in the world - that the seasons are turning in your favour!

hugs,
Robyn

Spring is in the air!

I've been wondering how to announce this on the blog, but I guess the above picture already speaks more than a thousand words.

Benoit and I are about 8 weeks pregnant and are already counting down the days until November 3rd.

We had our second ultrascan yesterday ( we had the first three weeks ago but all we could see at that point was a little 'chick pea' that was 'tellement petit' that it wasn't worth announcing). Yesterday's scan was much better, as the wee creature measured about 2.5cm (yes, that's still petit!) and was wriggling and jiggling about as though he was very much happy to be alive!!

The funny thing was that yesterday was April 1st - and so for the moment he's our little 'poisson d'avril' and our little 'april fool'. The date of the scan is April 22nd....

So watch this space for more news... and know that I'm thinking of you all!
best regards,
Robyn
ps/we are still moving ahead with the apartment and should be moving in around the end of May.

We've found a place to live!!

To find our new home? walk through this gate...


Hello,

I know I haven't blogged recently but things have been so busy! And, not least, because we've found an apartment to buy.

Yes, I know that originally we were looking for a house but in the end we decided that an apartment was the simpler solution. Why? Because most of the houses in our price range would require some renovation work and Ben and I both realised what we're looking for at this point is simplicity.

So, we've found a quite adorable apartment at the entrance to Mutzig, a small town of 5000 people about 5 minutes drive from Molsheim. The apartment is part of an old house that has been subdivided into 8 sections and encircles a large court with parking places. The living room is large, has a wooden floor, and a lovely fireplace. The two bedrooms are comfortable and the kitchen is fully equiped. Also, there's a large cellar for the washing machine, bikes, and boxes. As with our current apartment, we can walk into town and to the train station. Photos will follow :-)

If everything goes okay, we should move in on May 25th 2006! So, watch this space for more news....

Hoping all is well,
love,
Robynx

My friend Jane, who has recently moved to the Ukraine has compiled some great “blue lists” - travel-related lists. Here are her entries:

An eclectic collection of Kyiv restaurants - Bluelist - Lonely Planet

Photographing Kyiv - some lesser known spots for snaps - Bluelist - Lonely Planet

Perfect Places to Pop the Question - Bluelist - Lonely Planet

Why not go along and have a look - you never know you might be tempted to visit someplace new after reading the first two, or you might be tempted to ask someone to marry you by the time you've read the last one!

hugs,
Robyn

How to be paid to trave!

Hello again,

Just to let you know that I've adapted a newspaper article I'm working on (for the P&J) into a bluelist entry.

It's called 'How to be paid to travel' and can be found by plugging 'money' into the search function.

See:
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bluelist/index.cfm?fa=main.viewList&list_id=4077

Meanwhile, though, a HUGE THANK YOU to all those who have already voted for me! Both entries and now within the 'most popular entries' list... which can surely only be a good thing!

hugs,
Robynx

House Hunting

I've been a bit quiet for the last few weeks because things have been busy. Why? Well, work is keeping both Ben and I busy. Ben is traveling a lot and keeping up with his reports while the start of the year is always busy for Linguissimo. In addition, we're in the process of finding a house to buy - and are actually at the point of proposing a price for a house (or will be in ten days time, when the agent returns from holiday). It's a really cute house, with a garden and even a vegetable patch! We both really like it but are in no rush to buy something, so if our proposal works - great - if not, we'll just keep looking :-)

So, hoping alls well at your side,
love Robynx

Blue-Lists

If you're reading this and have some time to spare, why not consider entering the latest
Lonely Planet competition?

Here's the idea:

Write a list of things to do in an exotic place and win the chance to write for the Lonely Planet!
How? Well, after you publish your list all the other readers of the Bluelist 'vote' to say if it's any good. The lists with the most votes catch the eye of the judge and 'bingo' you're on your way to China for your first assignment!!

My first submission can be found under 'browse all keywords' and then the word 'swimming'.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bluelist/index.cfm?fa=main.viewList&list_id=3274

My second submission can be found under 'browse all keywords' and then the word 'paradise'.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/bluelist/index.cfm?fa=main.viewList&list_id=3732

Have a look and then enter your own list!

hugs n smiles,
Robyn

Skiing!

Big smiles! Ben and I have just returned from a weekend in the mountains! Living just beside the Vosges hills, the recent low temperatures and snowy days have made me yearn for the slopes. When I was younger I went skiing all the time with my family and so winter has become connected with the desire to drink hot chocolate while talking about the latest run and snow conditions :-) Listening to my heart, Ben booked us into the 'Auberge du Lac Blanc' on Friday night. The only thing was, as soon as we arrived we knew we wanted to stay longer... and so quickly reserved for Saturday night as well. Which meant, after a great day's skiing on Saturday we came off the piste and then had the luxury of reheating at the hotel- (hot chocolate for me and coffee for Ben) . Which in turn meant that we could go for a snowy walk and enjoy the evening and all before dinner! Really, it was just ideal and only and hour and a bit's drive from the house. Hopefully, this'll mark the first of many weekends :-)

Returning home today we found a parcel from Sam containing... freshly caught.. wonderfully vegetarian... haggis! So tomorrow night - with neeps and tatties - we'll enjoy a feast fit for Scottish poets :-) Thanks girl!

my sweater

Hello,

A big thanks to Mum, Annette, and Juliette for helping me with not only this sweater but also with the couple of scarfs I've knitted/am in the process of knitting. Heaven knows I wasn't born a natural knitter, but that just makes me all the happier to have finished my first sweater. Next task? a woolen poncho! Here goes.....

ps/for those interested (Jane, Mary, Alena, Melanie etc) you can see my rather cluttered writing space behind - filled with photos and memories and, of course, empty cups of tea.