Swissoddities

It’s been a while since my last post, and I’m afraid that the blog has turned into Natasha’s personal edition of “The Antique Road Show”. There’s so much to say… here’s a collection of things that have surprised and amused me. I received mail from my Canadian bank, but the address listed my country as [...]

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From Shabby to Chic

If you followed my previous blog, you may recall my love for thrifting. It’s a beautiful marriage between good deals and one-of-a-kind finds that keeps you coming back for more, even if it’s mainly the same junk nine times out of ten.  But that one time…oh that one glorious time…when you find that stunning Shaker-style [...]

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Will the Real Mom Please Stand Up?

The other day I attended a Swiss School information night for expat parents. There are many options for schooling here and Switzerland is known to have some of the finest International (i.e. English-speaking) schools in the world.  But unless you’re willing to fork out up to CHF 30,000 per child every year, the public system [...]

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Going Black

“Lo, and then did the Black Death (influenza) descend upon us, and all was quiet (except for frequent coughing) for a long, long time.”

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Review: McFondue Burger

McDonald’s. That perfect engine of convenience, addiction, child-marketing, and … regional specialty foods? We’re in Switzerland, but McDonald’s is universal. They are everywhere. As we walked by a local joint, I noticed a strange advert outside, featuring three “Swiss-style” burgers on sale for a limited time only. The McFondue, the McRaclette and the McRösti. These [...]

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One Man’s Junk

As a child, I hated to shop. Get me in, get me out. But slowly, through much training and exercise, I have developed the necessary muscles for marathon expeditions and as my sisters can attest, currently hold the world record for Highest Volume per Hundred Dollars Spent — nothing beats finding something you love AND on sale.

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Pwnd by Mistress Irony

Last week I posted a note about cycling in Basel, about how safe and enjoyable it is. I included a video of my morning commute to work. Well, the very next morning, I got hit by a car during my morning commute. If you watch the video, the section around minute 1:50 is where a [...]

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