The euro-winter

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I've managed to fit a bit of snowboarding around a lot of working since I've been back. at the moment I'm sitting on a train to Zurich, full from dinner, and feeling pretty well worn after joining a few other ex-T&Ters for a weekend on the slopes of Lenzerheide. It's pretty good, but I'm still without a solid source of funding for work, so despite the full stomach and tired legs I'm still a bit stressed.

You can only do so much though. Of the 6 weeks i've been back I've spent 2.5weekends working (a conference, and a huge EU proposal), and 3.5 weekends at least partly on the slopes. Flimserberg, Brigels, Andermatt, Lenzerheide, I'm yet to go back to the same field.. or with the same people come to think of it - hopefully not a reflection of my company 😊 By some extremely good fortune, and despite many forecasts, we've spent a good chunk of our days scouting fresh powder runs under blue mountain skies.

Not much to say about work, it's winter - I'm stuck at my desk. It's pretty interesting research, but confusing at the same time. And of course there's the uncertainty floating round in the background - maybe i'll be packing my rapidly accumulating toys and moving on again in 6 months time... I've collected a lot - best not think about it 😉 We've just submitted a proposal to the EU as part of a consortium from Germany, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy... Iraq(!).. the list goes on. We're asking for 8mil Euro, the process has been pretty enlightening to say the least, but I'm not counting on seeing the money. I much prefer being on the other side, getting other peoples tenders to evaluate - rather than seeing how much work and stress goes into them.

I'm off to Poland for a week at Easter.. 15hrs on a bus each way, but it'll be great to get back - and to be in Eastern Europe again. I'm finding it much harder to write while either home alone, or travelling with others - so to those of you who've been on tenderhooks since my last drivel - apologies. Hopefully with 30hrs bustime, the next ones won't be so generously spaced.

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Photos

Day-end
The view toward Anja's place at the base of Brigels

Hongg
A pretty typical view of the Zurich suburb

Hasliberg
My favourite field to date

A Swiss ski lodge accross the lake
Flimserberg

Hiking wth Al and Bill
Flimserberg

Twins
Anja and I strike matching poses at Brigels