I am back in Paris after a weekend in Basel, helping Aude to get settled into our new place. They’ve put us in a nice apartment, very close to the main train station and right behind the zoo. Our very friendly relocation agent even came to the station to meet us and gave us a detailed rundown of the flat…including the infamous rules for the shared washing room!

Aude in front of our apartment in Basel

Our apartment in Basel, near the train station and just behind the zoo

The very red couch in our apartment — something to get us into the Swiss spirit?

Looks like someone found a sale at Ikea

We arrived on Saturday, which was the Swiss National Day holiday. The fireworks in Basel are supposed to be spectacular, but they also take place at midnight on the day before, so we missed them. From what I could tell, celebrations on the day itself were limited to all the shops being closed and a few children setting off small fireworks in the neighbourhood. I expected bands, costumes, and flag-waving, but it wasn’t to be…

We were lucky with the weather on Saturday – a glorious day of sunshine and temperatures of 29C. Our luck wasn’t to last, though – Sunday was overcast and drizzly all day. We took the chance to grab a tram to some of the neighbourhoods that we’re considering for a permanent place, but given the weather, we decided to explore from the tram rather than on foot.

Good to know that there is a French restaurant around the corner, in case Aude gets cravings for home

The Basel Rathaus (Town Hall) in the centre of the city

Aude enjoys a cold beer on a hot summer day

Matt is relieved to be back in a city where he can afford to drink a beer.

I have no idea what this is, but it’s a little scary, no?

Moo. Lots of cows in Switzerland.

Are these frogs a little creepy, or is it just me?

Basel street scene

Caught these two women walking down the street, presumably to some sort of celebration for Swiss National Day.

Aude along the banks of the Rhine

Matt along the banks of the Rhine

Aude is settled in, and I packed her off to work on Monday morning for her first day, then caught the train back home. She’s been home before 7pm each evening (a real change from Paris!) and reports that the other children are playing nicely with her. I’m back in Paris trying to get the flat ready and tying up loose ends, plus looking after our little four-legged friends…

We’re off to the south of France for Jerome’s wedding this weekend – and crossing our fingers for some sunshine for a change!

After another long absence, it’s time to update the blog again. As many of you may know, we have decided that it’s time for another change of location, this time to Basel, Switzerland. It’s goodbye to croissants, velibs, Gitanes and dog poop and hello to fondue, trams, yodelling and cows. We have been looking forward to the move for some time now, and we are both excited that it’s finally happening.

The last few weeks have been taken up with all of the administration required to get ready for an international move. I am busy tying up the last loose ends at work, and looking forward to taking the month of August as holiday. The movers have been to inspect the apartment (and concluded what we already knew – that we have a lot of stuff!). The cats have their passports, complete with photographs, although disappointingly not with little paw-prints. Work permits have been applied for and the efficient Swiss administration machine has swung into action.

Aude starts her new job at the beginning of August, so we will travel out to Basel this weekend to get settled into our temporary accommodation. We will arrive just in time to celebrate Swiss National Day, a fitting introduction to our new home.

We have both taken jobs with pharmaceutical companies. For Aude, the work is largely the same as what she was doing in Paris, but for me the role is quite a departure. I will still be working in Finance, but this time I will be sitting on the other side of the fence, as advisee instead of advisor. My responsibilities include all of Asia (except Japan) so I will be spending a lot of time on planes. Still, it brings me back to the original mission of this blog from four years ago – to let friends and family know where I am in the world.

Despite taking August as holiday, there is a lot going on this month. I will be shuttling back-and-forth between Paris and Basel, and Aude’s brother is getting married in the middle of August in the south of France. We have the house to pack, I have vaccinations that need to be updated before I hit Asia again, and doctor / dentist / optometrist appoints to attend to. I intend to squeeze every penny I can out of the French medical system – it seems only fair, given the amount I’ve paid into the system!

September and October look like busy travel months for me, with trips already scheduled to India, Thailand, China, the Philippines and Australia. I have at least one weekend in Asia, so I may try either to visit friends or find a beach where I can relax for a few days. Otherwise, it is a lot of back-and-forth travel between Europe and Asia.