Saturday 3 November 2012

A Change of Plan

The photo below shows a bundle of Swiss francs.   I think they have a really colourful and attractive design (though I'm not sure I'd want that right hand picture of architect Le Corbusier staring out at me every time I bought a cup of coffee).. 


I was due to go to Switzerland last Friday.  Although most of my expenses are paid when I'm working, I did what I usually do, and purchased a bit of local currency in case there was something I wanted to buy ....

like sweeties


Or sausages...


Or weird creepy things ...


Or wonderful things


Or naughty things....


Or things that were just a bit unusual, like these pretty little Anismodel moulds, below, for making special decorative cookies. You can buy the little biscuits ready baked in the shops, but it's more fun to make your own. (Follow the link for more information about Anismodeln)  



But actually I won't be using my Swiss currency for a while, because my trip to Switzerland last week had to be cancelled at the last minute.  My mother is not at all well and I didn't feel okay about going away.  So the Swiss currency will be going in the drawer for now.  

46 comments:

  1. Good luck to your mum. Hope all's well soon.

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  2. I just spent the week with a friend who went to a Swiss boarding school in the '80's. I asked her some questions so I could write about it, after I shake off the road noise. Hope things go well for mother.

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  3. I am so sorry that your mother is unwell and hope things improve swiftly to allow you to make your trip to Switzerland.
    I rather covet those moulds...

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  4. I am drooling over the pictures of the chocolates and sausages!

    Best wishes on a speedy recuperation for your mother.

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  5. Sorry to hear about your mother!
    I would so buy one of each thing you posted,except for the naughty. There's where I would spend the most money ;o)

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  6. I hope your mother will be feeling better.
    The Swiss francs are interestng, but Le Corbusier is rather unnerving. I love the sausages and the sweets - - and especially the weird creepy clock.

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  7. Hope your Mum's ok and the trip will soon be back on. I don't think the cuckoo clock is creepy - it's quite wonderful in a way (the guns are a bit dodgy though)

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  8. Your mother will be in my prayers for a quick recovery, and i hope you get to go to Switzerland soon.

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  9. Hello Jenny

    The images on the Swiss currency are interesting. Hope your mum is better and that you get to Switzerland shortly

    Helen xx

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  10. Sorry about your mom and the need to cancel your trip. Swiss currency? Isn't Switzerland on the Euro?

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  11. I hope your mom is feeling better soon. Nice for you to be near for her. A Swiss visit purchasing sweet Swiss chocolates . . . sounds wonderful for your future.

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  12. Sorry to hear about your mom! Odaijini! (That's Japanese for get well soon.)

    PS: I would've spent all my Swiss francs on chocolate! ^^

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  13. Here's hoping your mother will soon be better.
    As for the Swiss money - maybe the picture of Le Corbusier is there to encourage people to spend more money, so that they won't have to have him "staring" at them anymore ;-)
    The Anismodel and -cookies are called Springerle where I live. There are some very beautiful antique Springerle-Model around, so elaborate, and people sometimes paint the finished cookies (they are, as you said, for decorative use only).

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  14. I suspect you will need lots of those architect pictures when there.
    Sorry your mum's not well.

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  15. We found everything expensive in Switzerland and I would not buy these burned sausages.

    Greetings,
    Filip

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  16. I'm sorry to hear of your change of plans Jenny.Your priorities and your feeling are the right ones of course. You have my sympathy regarding your mother. I am flying to UK this week because my elderly father is in hospital after a stroke. I fear emotional times are ahead of us. I'm sure your Swiss trip will be a fruitful one when it eventually takes place.

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  17. Enjoyed your pictures, Jenny. Those sweets and chocolates are to die for.

    Hope your mother recovers quickly.

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  18. Jenny, so very sorry to hear that your mum is ill. I do hope that with a bit of tlc she will recover soon. I love the cookie moulds and funnily enough I was looking at some on the web a few days ago, there were also some fab rolling pins that you roll over your dough and it makes all the decorative patterns which you then cut out.These were from Americas though and had a different name which I forget.Lots of love to you, Linda x

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  19. Sorry to hear your mum's unwell, Jenny. I hope she gets better soon, and that your trip to the land of perfect public transport and cuckoo clocks (and other ridiculous stereotypes!) takes place soon too...

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  20. So sorry to hear about your mother, hope she gets well soon. Thank you for these sweet glimpses into Switzerland - I hope you get there soon as well.

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  21. Thank you for all the kind comments, and good wishes for my Mum. These are worrying times indeed, and I appreciate them. I do feel for you Nell and I hope your dad recovers. Strokes are terrifying but it is never entirely possible to know whether the effects will stay or simply fade away in due course - I hope with him it's the latter. As for perfect public transport, I agree that those clocks that count down the seconds till the train arrives ARE rather disconcerting.

    At first, Linda, I thought they were little candy moulds, for fondants or similar. In fact, I didn't really think WHAT they were for, I just thought they were cute. But then I saw some little packs of fancy biscuits (cookies) for sale in the supermarket with wonderful little scenes embossed on them - swans, or the Zurich skyline, etc. - and I made the connection. Though as Meike says many of the finished items are of plaster, purely for decoration and not edible. Maryom, the clocks were really strange, that was one of the biggest but quite a lot were bristling with weapons! Admittedly not the Swiss ones - the really belligerent ones seem to be the Bavarian ones! There again, the Swiss have their knives, and I went to a whole exhibition on every imaginable variety of Swiss army knife last time I was there, as well as buying one made out of finest chocolate. Stephen, Switzerland has stayed out of the Euro. One thing I feel is that they really are VERY sensible people who are not often caught on the hop! As for Le Corbusier, I suppose there is something to be said for getting rid of the notes quickly. By the way other famous people on Swiss banknotes include Honegger (not bad looking actually) Alberto Giacometti (interestingly tormented-looking, though I could never love his creepy sculptures)and Sophie Taeuber-Arp who was a very interesting and talented woman.


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  22. Sorry to hear your Mom is ill...I hope she is feeling better soon!

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  23. Jenny, I am so sorry to hear your mother is not well. I am holding you both in my thoughts and prayers for healing. Bonnie

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  24. that is pretty cool currency...its always neat to see currency from other countries to me...ha, sounds like you had some fun planned along the way...hope it gets rescheduled for you...

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  25. Yenny, I hope that improves your mother and you can make your trip and buy all those things, including poor, jajajaj. A hug and good week.

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  26. The Swiss bank notes look quite attractive. So do those cookie molds. Hope your Mum is well soon - Dave

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  27. Switzerland will be there for a long time. Right now you need to be here for your mum.

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  28. I hope your mom is better and that you get to visit again soon :)

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  29. Hello Jenny:
    we have never been to Switzerland but do so hope to get there one day. As you hint at here, we think that it is a fascinating country with so many intriguing and beautiful places to visit.

    In Budapest, the Swiss Franc is a currency which has unfortunate associations. Many people were encouraged to take out mortgages and loans in Swiss Francs [and, amazingly, Japanese Yen!!!]rather than the Hungarian currency of the Forint as it was thought to be more stable. However, the exchange rate has, over the last two years exploded and many people as a result are in serious debt.

    We are sad to hear of your mother's illness and do trust that by now she is making a good recovery.Perhaps some Swiss biscuits in those delightful moulds could be just what the doctor ordered?!!!

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  30. Hi Jenny, many thanks for your visit and comments. I think perhaps it's time to start wearing and using lavender! Thinking of you at this difficult time. Love Linda x

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  31. I would be open-mouthed at everyting in Switzerland, it all looks so lovely.
    Even the naughty things are artfully arranged!
    I did not know they still used Swiss Francs!
    Hope your mother is doing better now.xx

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  32. Sorry your Mother isn't well, hope she is better soon. Enjoyed the photos and will look forward to more when you are able to take your trip.

    Darla

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  33. Jenny, I'm so sorry your Mom is ill. I will keep her and you in my thoughts. And, oh....what lovely photos you've posted! I would love to see Switzerland....ahhh...someday!

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  34. Hugs to you and best wishes for a speedy recovery for your mother.

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  35. Travel can be a little sweeter when expenses are being paid. There is something a bit startling, though, about that face looking at everyone beneath his glasses. It’s as if he is asking, “Are you sure you are spending correctly?” I sincerely hope your mom is feeling better soon!

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  36. I hope that your Mother is doing better. Take care of her and yourself. :)
    I like the sweets and the wonderful things. The naughty things and the decorative cookies seem a little too complicated for me. ;p

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  37. A shame you had to cancel your trip. Looks like there were so many irresistible temptations awaiting you on arrival! Hope your mum is feeling better.

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  38. As an 11 year old Canadian girl, way back when, touring through Switzerland I was very impressed with its cleanliness. I bought myself a Swiss watch. I liked the cows in the mountain fields and their large bells. Thanks for prompting these memories with your almost-trip to Switzerland. I hope your mum recovers well and you're good to pull the money out to go buy her some Swiss chocolate.

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  39. I hope your Mum feels much better very soon. Sorry to hear the trip was shelved. Perhaps, when you do go, we'll find out just exactly what penis pasta is (???)

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  40. Fabulous little journey there! I loved those little insects! I take it their chocolate covered? You can't beat Swiss chocolate! Hope mum's better soon!

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  41. So sorry to hear about your Mum's ill health and the postponement of your Swiss trip. We love Switzerland and it is our first choice when it comes to ski holidays.

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  42. I'm sorry to hear about your Mother. I hope that she is improving.

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  43. Hope your Mom wil be OK soon.

    Those items you mentioned you might buy there - I'd buy them too! :)

    Take care.

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  44. I wish you and your mother the best. I'm sure she is glad to have you close by. Switzerland, and its strange, wonderful and naughty things can wait.

    - Jenny

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  45. Nice you can go later...I hope mum is fine.

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