After another long absence, it’s time to update the blog again. As many of you may know, we have decided that it’s time for another change of location, this time to Basel, Switzerland. It’s goodbye to croissants, velibs, Gitanes and dog poop and hello to fondue, trams, yodelling and cows. We have been looking forward to the move for some time now, and we are both excited that it’s finally happening.

The last few weeks have been taken up with all of the administration required to get ready for an international move. I am busy tying up the last loose ends at work, and looking forward to taking the month of August as holiday. The movers have been to inspect the apartment (and concluded what we already knew – that we have a lot of stuff!). The cats have their passports, complete with photographs, although disappointingly not with little paw-prints. Work permits have been applied for and the efficient Swiss administration machine has swung into action.

Aude starts her new job at the beginning of August, so we will travel out to Basel this weekend to get settled into our temporary accommodation. We will arrive just in time to celebrate Swiss National Day, a fitting introduction to our new home.

We have both taken jobs with pharmaceutical companies. For Aude, the work is largely the same as what she was doing in Paris, but for me the role is quite a departure. I will still be working in Finance, but this time I will be sitting on the other side of the fence, as advisee instead of advisor. My responsibilities include all of Asia (except Japan) so I will be spending a lot of time on planes. Still, it brings me back to the original mission of this blog from four years ago – to let friends and family know where I am in the world.

Despite taking August as holiday, there is a lot going on this month. I will be shuttling back-and-forth between Paris and Basel, and Aude’s brother is getting married in the middle of August in the south of France. We have the house to pack, I have vaccinations that need to be updated before I hit Asia again, and doctor / dentist / optometrist appoints to attend to. I intend to squeeze every penny I can out of the French medical system – it seems only fair, given the amount I’ve paid into the system!

September and October look like busy travel months for me, with trips already scheduled to India, Thailand, China, the Philippines and Australia. I have at least one weekend in Asia, so I may try either to visit friends or find a beach where I can relax for a few days. Otherwise, it is a lot of back-and-forth travel between Europe and Asia.