Getting off the Merry-go-round

Before one is spinning so fast that one flies off and shatters.

I have had tough periods in my life, I have had stress, illness and death, but in general I enjoy a wonderful one.

These past few weeks have been no exception other than too much of a good thing stops being a good thing.  I would not have not met any of the people I did, I would not have not gone on any of my trips, nor not attended any of my concerts, lunches, dinners or coffees.

However thanks to (or rather due to) a couple of sleepless nights and others that were more agitated than normal, I finally hit the wall – and was very fortunate in that stopping happened naturally.

This morning at my usual coffee, one of the others at the table handed me an article on a lunch concert in the MAH – Museum of Art and History – scheduled for 12:30. I had been supposed to be going out for lunch, but the other friend was amenable to a change in the schedule so I had the very rare privilege of discovering this “Concert Pliant” (now why they call a concert a folding one I haven’t a clue nor was I able to gather any other information).

Today’s was played on a Jacob Stirnemann fecit 1777 by Jovanka Marville in the historical Conseil d’Etat (the executive power of the state) room. This Salon got its name from the fact that the woodwork on the walls, cornices, etc. were taken from the original Conseil d’Etat room: all of the furniture dates back to the 18^th century thus permitting the audience to be in the same atmosphere and listening conditions that were typical of this period. The piano itself is composed of two key board of 61 keys, but its’ builder used a Southern German technic to link the two keyboards. The concert was Baroque and fabulous.  Leaving the concert at 13:45 one was very hungry so chose to go to the closest restaurant available. They still had the lunch menu – the crowds were fairly non-existent and the meal delightful.

Front of the piano

Cover when lifted

I then topped all that off with a trip to the Bains Bleues – our local spa, leaving my cell phone in the car!

Relaxed, mellow, ready to return to the carousel tomorrow, I will no go up, turn on my cell phone and pick up on “real” life – although somehow the day I just had seems much to be emulated more often.

I let go…

And floated free.

 

I finally found a whole week in my busy life where I could disappear to the mountains! Younger son is home for a couple of weeks and I am taking advantage of his presence to not have to organize the cats, but to take a true vacation: one made all the sweeter by the fact that I have filed my taxes, sent in on-line the FBARs and in general am caught up – perhaps not with all that needs doing, that’s an ongoing challenge, but at least with the urgent.

This time as I wasn’t in a rush I also decided to stop by my favorite water complex Lavey-les-Bains on the way http://www.lavey-les-bains.ch/en.  Left home slightly later than planned so grabbed a sandwich at one stop in order to not have a heavy stomach in the water then spent almost three hours just relaxing. Totally unusual for me, I didn’t even push myself to do laps, but simply wandered around through the various hot pools, the against-the-current-circle (although I did go against the current, I did so slowly and on the inner wall – not much of a challenge).

One of my favorite things there is to do the quarter of an hour floating on a mattress and listening to either classical music or whales underwater. As there were not many people on this Thursday afternoon during the school year I finally unhooked my feet from the metal railing around the pool and floated free! What a feeling as eyes closed I listened to classical music as transmitted through the water – talk about surround sound!

I even took in the sensorial experience, which I have never done before: green light, an aroma meant to be soothing and the twitter of birds did give me the advertised serenity: off to the hamman and some warmth followed by the “silent” room to interiorize all the relaxing experiences.

Talk about “letting go” – if I got any further released I’d probably float away into the clouds some of which are looking pretty dark up here as the light fades on a wonderful day.

Spa… ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

How to describe the luxury of an “after work” massage at the Spa des Grangettes in Geneva other than ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

A friend’s youngest son had given both her and myself coupons for this “after work” massage for Christmas and since we are all of a sudden in March, we decided that perhaps a Friday afternoon together would be just fine.

She came and parked her car here, we drove in mine into town and by the time we

had to head home I was so relaxed that driving home (note it was a gloriously sunny day as well with our cold wind on its last legs) seemed to take forever: I was glad that I needn’t cross the bridge.

Note to all sons and husbands everywhere: give your mothers, wives, girlfriends coupons for massages – it makes them so mellow you would hardly recognize them!

www.spagrangettes.ch

very welcome Christmas present

My hair needed washing, so I went to the spa!

Well, that was one of the excuses: truth be known, it was looking out the window when I wanted to go for a walk and seeing it drizzly and misty yet again this morning that made me think of pampering and warmer waters. One of my favourite water facilities/spas/whatever is under a half hour down the road: http://www.lavey-les-bains.ch/en

Lavey-les-Bains, a thermal spa

They use a water fall and river to cool and take out the chlorine from the water before it goes into the Rhone River

part of the river used to cool the waters

 

It is true though that I don’t like to go when I have just washed my hair because then I have already done the work and will need to re-do it (I am not one who can swim with her head gracefully above water: either I swim properly or not at all). I also like to take advantage of having to wash my hair as they have much more powerful hairdryers than I in my chalet.

Another justification (I do tend to have to do that) if one was needed is that I am supposedly (anyone who ever worked for themselves will more than understand) on vacation – that vague term that theoretically allows one to do what one wants (as if I didn’t usually anyway!).

Interesting how quickly I can find reasons to do something should I need them: exercise, wash hair, relax because I’m on vacation.

In the end though I did just that, swam a bit, listened to the music and whale calls underwater used the various spouts and jets for massaging my shoulders, back bones, etc.; lay in the “bubble” chairs (in the pool lounging spots to lay in where the water bubbles up around one alternating cold jets with the warmth of the pool itself), and finally the “quiet” room, where I finally finished Alexandra Fuller’s “Scribbling the cat”, Travels with an African soldier.

A "must read" as are all her books!

So well written, so all encompassing of the mental state of those who fought in what was known as the “Rhodesian” war. Her descriptions of landscapes, humans and animals drag you into the African world – a world far from that of a peaceful Swiss village. Highly recommended reading: but not for the faint of heart.