Is this a WRINKLE…

So this Saturday was my birthday.  Do I feel older – not really!  Do I look older – well...maybe, there are some signs of wrinkle development (note to self, buy some ridiculously expensive face cream that promises eternal youth to make me feel better J ) but on the up side no sign of grey hairs yet! Plus I am remaining positive because this is the last year I can say I am in my 20’s.

To be honest I did not have time to think of or plan anything for my birthday as we moved into our new apartment on Saturday morning.  The move already started on Thursday with a friend offering her car to drive 1 load to the apartment for us. Then on Saturday morning we got moving very early and packed like oxen we made our way to the bus stop.  Two bus trips later and feeling exhausted we made it to our local sports pub in time to watch the second half of the England versus Argentina Rugby World Cup match.  We enjoyed a full English breakfast and after the rugby headed home for a well deserved nap.

In the new apartment I was surprised by a lovely gift from Hubby, my Parents, Sister and Brother-in-law.  Hubby had dropped off my gift the day before so it was waiting for me on the dining room table – it was a lovely welcome to our new apartment.

Hubby took me for a lovely romantic dinner.  It was a beautiful evening so we walked across the lake to the restaurant Le Perron. 



On our way to dinner

We arrived as the sun was setting and we sat outside under the awning enjoying the warm evening by candle light.  

Romantic atmosphere

We started by ordering a bottle of Recorba red wine from Spain. Hubby ordered the Steak Tartare (a meat dish made from finely chopped raw beef marinated and spiced and served chilled) which was served with fries and warmly toasted bread.  It was the first time Hubby (or I) tried Steak Tartare and he really enjoyed it.  The steak nicely spiced and was very tasty.  The warm bread was a nice side however the fries were nothing special.



Hubby's Steak Tartare

I ordered the lamb dish served with the chef’s salad.  I loved this dish!  The lamb tasted like slices of roast leg of lamb, cooked medium rare with a flavoursome gravy.  The lamb was melt in the mouth tender.  The salad was a good light accompaniment for the meat.  A nice addition to the salad was crushed walnuts.  I think this was my best dish in Genève so far and I would definitely have it again. 

My delicious lamb

We ended off with a portion of profiteroles to share and luckily we shared because it was a huge portion.  They were served with vanilla ice-cream in the centre and loads of warm chocolate sauce...YUM! 

Dessert

After dinner we took a slow stroll back along the lake to spend our first night in our new apartment.



Lights under some bricks in the town centre



The bricks light up in the evening to highlight words in different languages

  

Lights reflecting on the lake

Then on Sunday South Africa were playing their first Rugby World Cup match so we met up with some friends (4 South Africans and 1 Canadian) and headed by train to a South African bar in the nearby town of Gland.  

The pub is across the road from the station and is called Bull’s Pub (The owner is from Pretoria and supports the Blue Bulls so I asked him why the sign was red and he said it was because it was easier to see from far – fair enough!).  It is quite a small pub but it was not that busy that early in the morning so we managed to find a seat. 

Bull's Pub in Gland

Enjoying the rugby

We enjoyed the rugby but it was a tighter match than we would have liked, which of course had most of us stressed until the final whistle.

We ordered some food which included a bacon and sausage roll and traditional South African Bunny Chow, which was delicious!

Bunny Chow

All in all it was an eventful and busy weekend with the move, my birthday and the rugby.  And then it was Monday...