Ups and downs

Woke up feeling a little bit blue this morning. Not sure why, really - probably just me still being tired from all the travelling yesterday (oh how I hate going on aeroplanes!). And I got home to a seriously messy house. How come I’m apparently the only member of the household who is capable of carrying a mug into the kitchen, putting anything back into a cupboard, or pulling a flush? And I’ve got my mother and stepfather coming to stay this weekend, so the place has to be spotless by Friday afternoon. *sigh*

< / rant>

However, things have improved. Went for a checkup this morning, and my blood pressure is back down to being that of a 20-year-old once more. So that’s good. Plus, in the 3 days I’ve been away Spring has obviously arrived - we now have violets, Aubretia, grape hyacinths and peach blossom out in our garden. All very lovely.

Good and bad

Bad things about this Swiss business trip:

• Flying there and back. I loath it. My palms sweat during take off and landing, however calm I try to be. But I will not let this fear stop me from going places.
  
• The hours and hours in transit. Although at least I get to read books pretty much undisturbed while I travel.
  
• Long and tedious business meetings about staggeringly boring subjects with clients who take themselves far too seriously (however nice they are).

Good things about this Swiss business trip:

• Getting to read all of The Thirteen-Gun Salute and half of The Nutmeg of Consolation.
  
• Having a couple of hours off on a beautifully sunny afternoon to wander around the old streets of Basel, then sit on the banks of the Rhine and read my book. That was really very pleasant indeed.
  
• Dinner on Monday night. We tried a new restaurant, and the herb-crusted lamb cutlets I had for my main course were absolutely sublime, delicately flavoured with tarragon and cooked to just the right pinkness. Heaven on a plate, one of the best things I’ve eaten for ages. (And yes, I did send my compliments to the chef, because he seriously deserved them for creating such perfection.)
  
• My run along the banks of the Rhine before breakfast on Tuesday morning. No wind, cool but not too fresh, and the rising sun painting everything golden. Worth getting up for. I love cities early in the morning, when they’re mostly deserted so you have the streets to yourself. One of my joys.