It's not what you think ..........

Amsterdam's Restaurant is really something.


Only kidding, it's a fizzy sugar. But it can get up your nose and make you sneeze.

Winter wonderland

A view of my front door

And another - this time from my front door out onto Beacon St

Zürich

As usual, I managed to sneak a little sightseeing during my latest work excursion. This time only a Sunday outing along Lake Zürich and the Limmat.



I think this is a lovely city. Not as boring as being a Swiss city would have implied. Although everything has its place and everyone is terribly 'on time' - it's not even funny.







So my question is: 'How come there are so many Italians here?' Not that I'm complaining..............

Haute Nendaz

A pity that I didn't have any pictures of me 'tumbling' like a piece of laundry down the slopes. And there were plenty of tumbles :-)





But then again, there were plenty of sunshine, cloudless sky and warm mulled wine to unfreeze those pinkies...







Aaaahhhhhh






Cheese fondu, wine, flickering fire in the hearth, more wine, and a monster Jenga.

Roma - a gioco

Signore e signori - Benvenuti

That's just about where my Italian has got to. Not unlike Milano - Roma is full pleasurable sites, ancient history, little side streets that are full of wonderful shops.







And yes, I tell the truth !!!!!!

(me at La Bocca della Verità = mouth of truth)

In memory of the kitties I loved before....

Ollie - aka Gumby. The terror of the neighbourhood - he couldn't help it - he's blind as a bat.

And here is Stanley 'The tart" - this picture said it all......















Sir Percy sleeping on his favourite cushion. He got the name after Sir Perceval from Scarlet Pimpernel but affectionately known as Perse. Long stories


And here is Toffee, the nose.......... BTW, his full name was Travellers Fare !!!!






Young Tabsy (Tabitha) with her pal - Tom Kitten.


Lastly is Chi Chi Red Peakrush - commonly known as Red. He is wearing a fetching hat. Given a new meaning to "Red Hat"

Sailing - a new definition

After an afternoon on the water, Kamie is ready for some snack, ummm - this little thing look kinna appetizing.










Of course, it doesn't really want to be my between meal - munchies :-)

Working hard down in Miami

Once again, I've managed to bag a nice work location. This time it's a sunny but hurricane wearied, Miami. Not sure what I' was talking about but I wish my photographer - big 'L' had warned me that he was about to take my picture...


Me think that I look rather 'toasty' or should I say 'crispy'.

Here is another one of me -and yes, the bikini top was the essential 'work' clothes :-)

I looked like I'm about to cry on this one (having your mug shot taken with Leo - would do that to you too) :-) But the sky look so nice that I can't resist posting the picture.

Met up with Leo (the one in the picture), Dietrich and Christine - they were spending a long weekend down in Miami too. We ended up at Delano with a pod of Cubans girls and drank far far to0 many Mojitos.... (Alas, no photos of those debaucheries)

Work Glorious Work

A colleague took this picture (using iPhone - no less) at the end of our technical design workshop session. And yes, by the end of the day - that simple diagram (behind my head) was enough to send me over the edge and a splitting headache ensued for a while.....

Magnifico Italia

An evening rambling about the Milano Duomo Piazza and I stumbled upon a very nice shopping arcade - it reminded of a small arcade just around the corner from Piccadilly Circus. Bu then I saw this and HAD to take this picture. McDonald next to Louis Vuitton.... Talk about brand recognition !!



Dinner with friends (yes, we are all IBMers - true blue) at Formaggio Fondu.








And a few bottles of vino rosso later, this happened.....

Ok, it wasn't my idea but it seemed the most natural thing to do - at that time.

Besides, I didn't know that it was a cow - or at least that cows have horns...

Now for something more 'cultural' and morally uplifting from Venezia and Verona.

The Venezia Porto on the approach from the Ferry. Very impressive and the water is fairly clear too....


A view of Piazza San Marco - with zillions of tourists and yes, I'm one of them.







This one speaks for itself. Cute kitty in costume

The Arena in Verona - a Roman amphi-theatre. These days are the setting for the summer open air Opera.







A view from my seat at Aida Opera.






Last but definitely not least, something memorable from Verona..... Bet you didn't know that size 34 B comes in pint!!