A very Swiss Sunday walk

My Mum was visiting over the weekend. We went to my favourite cafe "Wolfisberg" on Saturday morning to have a coffee - I still don't have my beloved possession here, my coffee machine, life's hard without her - and let Max run around the playroom there. I burst into tears (blame the pregnancy hormones) when he came running out with the biggest smile on his face announcing "Mummy, it's a GREAT day!". Bless him. Then we walked around the Saturday market. It's so lovely. Now the weather is warmer it seems like all the Carougeois are coming out to buy their fruit and veg on the market. I want to do that too on a Saturday morning, what a lovely thing to do. A bit ironic when we used to live next to Borough Market for so long, but that was such a tourist attraction and so expensive that we never really went on a regular basis to actually buy stuff. But here it's another good opportunity to practice my French skills!
So. We went on to this big sports centre area where there are football fields, tennis courts and a big playground and Max and Rick played football - with the pink Hello Kitty ball. Much to my Mum and my amusement :-) Rick told Max to kick the ball into the goal. Which he did, cleverly, after walking all the way up to the goal and placing the ball right in front of it.

We revived an old Decaillet Saturday tradition by buying a roasted chicken off a market stall which we devoured for lunch. My Mum and Dad used to do that when I was little and it makes me feel all homey and nostalgic. Oh and those chickens are so yummy!


Rick and I went out for dinner in the evening which was lovely. It was the first time the two of us were having a night off in our new neighbourhood. We went to a lovely, local French restaurant called "L'Olivier du Provence" (http://www.olivierdeprovence.ch/maison.html). Great food and great company and conversation. Felt like I suddenly met my husband again after a long spell of stresses and responsibilities. It was good to have time to talk about all that's gone on in the past couple of months because you do end up just focusing on your thing and getting on with it. And of course Rick has been really focused on his work and I with setting up a life for our family here - oh and trying not to go mad during the first few weeks of "relocation depression"... There are lots of lovely restaurants in Carouge to explore so we'll have to start eating our way through the town!
This morning (Sunday) we went for a long and lovely walk through the woods up on the little hill five minutes behind our house. It was great, Rick had found a little farm with chicken, horses and sheep on one of his runs. There's a picnic area with a big BBQ for everyone to use so it's the perfect place for an Easter outing with the Stones! Max walked all the way without any (ok, almost no) moaning. It was a good two miles, that's a long way for a little man! I made a mean stir fry for lunch and then we all had to have a lie down.



I get so tired these days. I guess the pregnancy is not to be underestimated. That second pregnancy that just happens while no one is looking or noticing. There's definitely a sense of guilt, neglect (too strong a word really) and favouritism towards this little unborn child, in comparison of the fuss made the first time around.
So there's an account of a normal weekend in Carouge. During our walk I felt so happy to be here. It's just brilliant to explore new places that excite you, where you can go in the summer to enjoy the outdoors and bring your friends and family. There's a sense of being home, having arrived, even if Geneva is not at all home to me. But there's no denying that it is Switzerland after all, my roots, and there's a subtle feeling that I can't quite put my finger on that makes me feel like I somewhat belong here, more than I did in London.
Anyway. Better get some dinner under way, put an exhausted Max to bed and enjoy a quiet evening before a new week. Much love to all!