Hibernation

Wow. I didn't realise it had been quite that long since I'd updated!

There have been a lot of things going on that I don't want to bore anyone else with, as quite frankly they've got to the point where they bore me now. To summarise:

The MA is done! I submitted my annotated translation using using wi-fi in a hotel room in Malaga. I also had to submit two printed and bound copies, which got held up in the severe weather in the UK just before Christmas - the couriers weren't even able to pick up from the printer, let alone guarantee delivery before the university closed for Christmas and New Year. I got the call about it from the printer while lost in Granada in the rain, and it was definitely the low point of the holiday. But the university cheerfully informed me that so long as the online submission had been successful, they didn't really care when the printed copies arrived. All right then. They don't know when they'll be marked and said to ask again in a few months. People in my group graduated last week, but it'll be a while longer for me, with my two extensions.

The house move is still underway. We've booked flights to go back to the UK for a week in February to try to sort it out for once and for all. Skips and Freegle and hard decisions coming up.

I've booked a long weekend to go and see my parents, and get some stuff done in Dublin with Dad's computer and Mom's address book. Looking forward to it.

The game that consumed my last 3 months in Frankfurt finally has a release date, so I'll add it to my portfolio when it comes out. And yes, I'll buy it. I really like it, flawed though it is.

I still haven't registered in Switzerland. I finally have some work in for next week, so I really should get myself into the system asap, but there's definitely something Freudian going on. I suppose I'm not 100% sure it's the right thing to do, but I have my reasons and they've got to win in the end even if the situation isn't everything I want it to be. The UK tax system is definitely the devil I know.

Flights to Japan are booked for March 15 - 31! I've confirmed dates to stay with people for most of the trip, bar some new places to go and the usual awkward weekend around Gifu and Nagoya when I never know for sure who I'm going to be able to meet. I really hope the Yen falls before I go... Got two amazing shopping guides for Tokyo - although I've been there countless times, I've still only scratched the surface. Asking for Trouble's Tokyo Shopping Guide (bought as a PDF and printed) has got to be the best £1 I've ever spent, with Sign Says Open's Little Tokyo Shops guide coming in a close second (if not joint first - haven't tried them out on the ground yet!).

We had a great time in Malaga and Granada over Christmas, despite almost constant rain. The Alhambra is amazing. I didn't have my camera as I had no room to bring it back last time from the UK (uni books took priority) but Dad will post his. I did get some good shots of Wales at New Year in the snow, and of Adliswil on a frosty day. Hoping to use some as cards for next Xmas.

Baked another batch of Just Hungry's amazing muffins last night, this time substituting wholemeal flour for all-purpose with larger eggs to compensate, lebekuchen mix, vanilla essence and chocolate chips. Nom, as they say.

Today, I'm trying to get the washing done early so we can go and see Bodyworks before it closes next month and use up one of our 2-for-1 main meal vouchers at Wagamama. My favourite place to eat in Zurich until some kind of smoking ban comes in.

Next week - work booked all week, have to hit the town hall about registering, plotting my trip to Japan. Got to earn before I spend!