The first month has been lunacy - the legal importation of our furniture - the rebuilding of most of it - the registration as legal aliens - the licences, TV, Radio, Bicycle etc.. - the obtaining of official rubbish bags. The list seems endless.

Although this all takes a little getting used to I actually think this last one is a good idea. The people with the most rubbish pay the most toward it's disposal, and it very quickly makes you aware of how much rubbish you produce. This is in addition to the recycled paper, plastics, card, bottles, aluminium, glass and tins, which is dealt with for free. If you have a new washing machine delivered than the company will unpack it, install it and remove all the rubbish it generates together with the old machine to be properly disposed of. Even Junk mail takes on a whole new perspective, it becomes so much more of an imposition on you life.

One of the other things it takes a little getting used to is the Switzerland closes 5 p.m. Saturday evening and doesn't open again until midday Monday. Except for the shops in major railway stations, guess which day of the week is busiest in Zurich's main station. The underground shopping complex – which boasts over 200 shops - is packed on Sundays.

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