Montreaux

We returned home for the festive period but managed a trip to the Christmas Market in Montreaux with our lovely friends Lynda and Allan. They arrived at the airport with minutes to spare before the check in gate closed Lynda clutching a Christmas Tree? (which was immediately taken off her as it wouldn't fit in the hand luggage thingy that they have to measure your hand luggage). Allan clutching a bag full of tissues as he had a heavy cold. On arrival at the flat in Montreaux Al went to bed and we went out to eat and drink, we didn't want to be near him and his germs. As the week progressed he got no better so me Mick and Lynda partied without him. There was no point spoiling our week as well, also, as we all know girls, men get flu we get colds, so he was safer with me out of his way, those of you who know me well know, I am a loss to the nursing profession :-) (Any comments received regarding my nursing skills will not be printed, those of you that live or have lived with me and are still alive, just be thankful). We also went to a Michelin starred restaurant which was very different. You just decided how much you wanted to spend and then the chef decided what you were having to eat!! Actually it was good if not a bit weird. We did give the chef a list of stuff we didn't eat. For those of you who are asking how much? £100 a head including wine, but at least when I am old and demented I will be able to tell my great grandchildren that we did it, including eating venison tartare. Some may question the wisdom of going to a hugely expensive restaurant accompanied by the most expensive woman we know with the pound/swiss franc exchange rate at its lowest ever in 50 years, however....



Picture of said restaurant plus cold man digging the car out of the snow and then me at the little train station over the road from the flat.





So, snotty Al went back home on Wednesday and me and My Honey went off to Geneva. Montreaux had lots of snow which was a bit early but a welcome surprise and Geneva was snowless. We had a couple of nice days aided by the Swiss version of Night Nurse as Allan had managed to pass his germs on to me, I never kissed him once so was a bit miffed. Anyway as it was Swiss Night Nurse and cost £14!! I expected miracles but received none. It was useless and was like drinking petrol. Anyway as I am famous for being a hob nob biscuit (Peter Kay, dunking biscuits in tea sketch) I soldiered on bravely, unlike some. On this visit to Geneva I saw the Jet de L'eau which I hadn't seen from the ground before.

Every time I have been to Geneva in the past they have switched it off?? I was very pleased that they had chosen to switch it on for me this visit.

The Late Return

After an unscheduled extended visit home courtesy of an abscess on my tooth which is now no more thankfully, we returned to the Emerald Isle. Our first weekend back has been quite a busy time. Friday we went into Belfast to eat our way round the Christmas Market.

Saturday was a visit to Armagh City. Armagh is the religious capital of NI and boasts two Cathedrals both called St Patrick's just to make sure you don't get confused, one for the Proddys and one for the Rice Crispies.

Saturday night was a visit to Clenaghans restaurant up the road http://www.clenaghans.com/ Sunday was very interesting, we nipped into Lisburn to find a gym for us to frequent after Christmas then went to explore Malone, an area just outside Belfast. Malone is full of massive victorian houses so a walk round the area was most interesting. Then we walked down onto the trendy Lisburn Road for a late breakfast (after all we had visited the gym!) Our Lisburn Road favourite is Beanies currently. We have various favourites relating to food, for example our coffee haunt in Belfast is Equinox http://www.equinoxshop.com/ this if a fabulous shop which sells lovely things and has a wonderful cafe hidden at the back. Our lunch venue is Avoca http://www.avoca.com/ For cocktails we like to go to The Merchants Hotel in Belfast http://www.themerchanthotel.com/.

Later in the week we went a walk into our local park.

I expect you will all be downloading these pictures and popping them on your mantlepieces won't you?

On Tuesday we ambled round the streets to judge the Chrissy decorations. There is not as much decorating of rooftops goes on over here and surprisingly few Christmas trees on display?? After the disappointment of having nothing to judge we nipped into the local for a small sherry where I met many inebriated Irishmen all of whom wanted to kiss me? Because My Honey is the shy retiring type who doesn't talk about me they didn't really believe I existed so to see me in the flesh was a real joy to them.