Pneu Claude, Our Friend Claude

I'm sorry if I'm not very detailed here, but I have a lot of work to do -- and I'm not a big car person, let's be honest.

All I want to tell you guys is that it's really really worth your while to check out PneuClaude if you need your tyres changed. I didn't cost a lot, but the experience was so much nicer than what we're used to.

When One is more than 3...

I've touched it, for the first time in my life. And I can't stop dreaming about it.

I'd heard about it, yes, but I never thought it would be so... breathtaking. And, contrary to all my general qualms, size was not an issue. I guess I'm in love.

Antipollution Test: No Longer Obligatory for All

Hi there

This is just a quick note for those of you who, like us, were going to take your car for a check any time soon. Or ever.

Because aas of January 1, some cars have been exempt from this test.

Check out the link below to see if yours qualifies.

The Most Amazing Widgets On My SGS 3

This has been due for a while now but I've just been superbusy with my studies. (Yes, finally my PhD seems to fill my life, well, the part of it that needs filling, anyway.) Now a new little gem prompts me to take a couple of minutes and list my favs for you guys.

I must admit I've been such a transparent widget junkie lately, I've scoured all sources for these bad boys. But heck they look amazing! Read on for the whole list. (;

Tangled in the language question, Part I

Oh, this is such an intriguing topic! I wish I could spend more time journaling about languages and language learning. I've started a blog like that, but I find it difficult to find the appropriate level of formality. Of course, I could write a second dissertation, in the form of blog posts, but I don't really feel that would help a lot of people. I could, on the other hand, go completely anecdotal, but then again, I'm afraid much of my professional insights would be lost. Not to say that I know everything about language learning. But I do know a great deal, and linking theory to the marvels I see around me is one of the main reasons behind me choosing this profession.

So, I've decided to try my hand at something very informal, writing first about my own experience as a language learner and teacher, and adding whatever thoughts I have about it as an applied linguist. The key here is fun, and I intend to omit all the boring jargon and psychoanalytic blabla. All that matters is that I have fun writing about it and my readers have fun reading.

Then let's plunge into it! ;)

[A Geek Girl's] Christmas Wishlist // Karácsonyi Kívánságlista [ egy "Kockalány" Tollából]

Intro.

Dear Angels. All this rubbish about Santa climbing down chimneys on Christmas Eve! Such superstitions! Everyone in Hungary knows that the jolly old man is responsible for some December 6 boot-filling, but it's you guys that decorate trees and take care of the logistics behind all those marvelous packets and parcels under the tree. And I know my friends and family might slip away on secret missions claiming to be Christmas shopping (what a thought!), I've long suspected that they actually leave you the dirty work. So, I thought I'd help them out and post you the list directly. It's not exclusive, but because you know my heart a lot better than I do and I'm sure whatever else you come up with is jut as nice. These are only a couple of ideas, so that you can help those relatives of mine out that come to you for help.

All right, Angels, take care and try to relax. I know these are hectic times but once it's over and done with, I'm sure you'll grab one of those last minutes and hang out at one of the beaches. And we're always so grateful and overjoyed about your help! ;)

Kisses and hugs sweet little angels.

xoxox

Little Fleur

Bevezető.

Kedves Angyalok! Micsoda sok butaság a Mikulásról meg a karácsony esti kéményen való közlekedésről! Mennyi babona! Pedig Magyarországon mindenki tudja, hogy a jó öreg szakállas bár megtöm pár csizmát december 6-án, a fadíszítésért és a fa alá kerülő kisebb-nagyobb csomagok logisztikájáért bizony Ti vagytok felelősek. és habár tudom, hogy sok családtagom és barátom hivatkozik mostanában a karácsonyi vásárlásra (micsoda ötlet!), én mindigis gyanítottam, hogy a piszkos munkát valójában meghagyják Nektek.  Ezért úgy gondoltam, hogy egy kicsit segítek nekik, és helyből el is küldöm nektek a listát. Természetesen nem teljes, de mivel Ti még nálam is jobban ismeritek a vágyaim, tudom, hogy akármi másra esik is a választásotok, annak ugyanúgy fogok örülni. Ez épp csak egy pár ötlet, azon rokonaim számára, akik Hozzátok fordulnak segítségért.

Nos, kedves Angyalok, vigyázzatok magatokra, és próbáljatok azért kicsit pihenni. Tudom, hogy ez egy igen hektikus időszak, de abban is biztos vagyok, hogyha mindezzel megvagytok, megkaparintotok majd egy last-minute utat valamelyik napfényes tengerpartra. És persze mi mindig nagyon hálásak vagyunk a segítségetekért, ami annyi örömet okoz! ;)

Sok-sok puszi kedves kis angyalkák!

<3

Kisvirág

The List // A Lista

Samsung Galaxy S III Brushed Metal Back Covers

[Disclaimer: Sadly I'm not affiliated with any of the vendors or manufacturers mentioned, all I get for this post is some grumbling from my husband.]

Welcome, welcome. If this is your first visit to my blog, you most probably got here through a search engine or some such. In that case, I guess, all you want to know is whether those covers you've seen all around the web are any good, and if it's worth spending all that money on them. So I suggest you skip and hit the break to see for yourself. ;)

But if you're a regular and have been wondering what the heck was up with my previously diligent blogging, well, I have a confession to make. I've been busier than ever in my whole life. You know, as a university student, earning a living and managing a household, I always thought I was pretty busy. Then I came to Switzerland and started building a life here. For a while I was suffering from the lack of any respectable job: managing the move and keeping the home afloat felt kind of demeaning. I look up to those girls immensely who are good at being a stay at home mum or a full time wife. I'm not. I blotch things without remorse and get itchy and frustrated. Then I blotch things up even more, sort of destroying the cage, so that people can see I'm no good at home.

So long story short, I've managed to get myself a couple of jobs, piling on till I was satisfied. Problem was they soon started to grow on me and this summer had me fully exhausted and thinking about quitting some of them. It seems that by the end of the year I should be done with everything but my university duties, which is good. The only thing is that I started to reduce my other responsibilities only to reach the busiest period in my PhD project. So basically it was good timing, otherwise I'd be dead. But this also meant that I had to put everything else on hold.

But don't worry, I have a couple of posts in the brewing, so keep an eye out for those. Also, if you're looking for some good deals on ski holidays and the like in/around good old Switzerland, check out etravel.ch. And now, let's see those shiny back covers!

Geek Joy -- My Galaxy S III [Updated]

We've finally cracked. I mean our resolve did. And we ordered a Galaxy S III. In fact it was really a no brainer, since orange actually paid us a frank to do so. Keep reading to find out how you can get a SGS3 free now from orange. Hurry, you only have a few days left. ;)

Driver's Licence Timeline :) [Updated]

It took me some time to figure out what to do when, so I thought I'd try and help out those of you thinking about getting a driver's licence in Geneva. I'll also be uploading some reviews of the places and teachers I've tried, to make that choice easier (or harder =D). I've already 'passed' first aid and am currently preparing for the test. So let's see the steps...

Bernese Overland, Knee surgery, and more...

Hi folks. I hope you're all having an awesome summer and enjoying one type of holiday or another.

I have to admit I'm in no form to be writing posts these days. =) I'll jot down a few things, nonetheless, to keep you updated. Not because I'm so conceited as to think you can't do without me, but I just can't bear the guilt of letting any of my loyal readers down. ;)

The reason why I've been so wasted recently is ... well ... manifold. First off, I'm at stage 3 in my PhD project, which means I'm perfecting my questionnaire, which stresses me out quite a lot. You see I have to get it perfect, because I can't very well just go back and ask around five hundred people to fill it out again. Secondly, I've been having a really tough time at the language school, because I just can't stand the fact that I'm doing ALL the admin on my courses, much more than a teacher's ever supposed to do. The moodle we have is a pain in the a and I'm honestly suffering under the stress of it all. I'm still wondering how I could make myself more effective but I'm a teacher not a secretary, no wonder I never became one.

But there are good exhausting things as well. =) Fortunately. We've just spent a week in the Bernese Overland, a post is coming up on that for sure! It was amazing, very very tiring but in an awesome way. For the first time in my whole life I was totally devastated to be back in the city. Those mountains just gave me such a sense of freedom that it's become so difficult to climb back into my cage... But having some friends over from Hungary for a couple of days changed my mind a little. We had a cool hike yesterday, and today we did a little tour of the town, and I got to rediscover the cute side of Geneva. Yes, it is very cute. The fact that it's made me an emotional wreck doesn't quite take away all the fun. I guess I'm to blame for that, as much as all the external factor. People say I just have to learn not to give a d, but I'm starting to think it's something I'm scattering around as I walk.

To be honest, I'm starting to feel as if I was 16 again, dissatisfied, rebelling, unsure of myself... And I think it's stupid, because I'm almost twice as old and have all the assets I need to change my life. I wonder how long this phase will go on, hopefully I grow out of it quite soon. Otherwise I might bore you guys to death. =)

Oh, I almost forgot -- as I often do nowadays -- the other thing I wanted to tell you about. It's my upcoming (or not?) knee surgery. Yes, folks, it seems that sudden jab of pain I felt one sunny morning on the slopes of the Portes du Soleil was actually my knee ligament snapping. The fact that I skied quite a couple of full days after that, hiked a couple of weeks and have generally been walking around, several hours a day, doesn't change that fact one bit. I saw a doctor in Hungary and their (very unprofessional) X-ray confirmed my hidden and well denied suspicions. I'm past all the why mes and well I deserved its, and am looking forward to the adventure. Crazy, right? I know. But if I start to think of it as anything else than courageous and sportsmanlike and cool, I might just break down in tears and act like a child. So I won't be a ninny about it, I'll be cool and ask the kind Swiss knee specialist to make it awesome and better than it was. I was seriously considering getting one of those sci-fi robotic things that buzz and toss you meters into the air, but I guess they don't do those around here. (Would be cool, though, I could ski on one leg, pivot around, jump and have a little engine push me higher... But, yeah, maybe next time...) So I'll just follow the cues (I already have a couple of addresses) and write posts about my journey so that all those looking for some good knee surgeons in Geneva can have something to help them. =)

So I'll stop my ramblings here and I promise you guys I'll be back soon with some more helpful (and interesting) stuff. Till then,

Enjoy the summer and your holidays,

Feel happy and free and healthy and inspired,

And see you very soon! ;)

Yours truly

Fleur