Day in Bern, Switzerland

Roger and I went to Bern last Saturday to catch up/encourage friends down there. We had rather an adventure on the train (with the conductor no less) but all turned out okay in the end. We can't believe we didn't take a photo of Ueli and Teresa, but here are some other pictures of Bern, and the Bern Bear!!

A blog for Jocelyn

Darling Jocelyn. Now you will understand when I talk about 'the bottle'. Just can't bring myself to throw it away!

I took these photo's of Jakob on Monday when I went to Solothurn to spend the day/night with the Weibel family. Jakob will be 8 months old on 5 October. Now doubt there will be many more photo's to follow when we spend time with the family on holiday in Ticcino from next Friday.

MY COOL MAN

A great advertisement for "Coopers" wouldn't you say?

Hike on Monday 8 September

There were 12 of us on last week's walk. It was the most magnificent weather and the walk lasted 3 hours. Roger and I caught the train into Basel, met the group at the top of the escalators at Basel SBB and then back on a train to Gelterkinden, then Post Bus to just past Buus. Quite a journey. We didn't have time to buy a roll at our local Bahnhof (or we would have missed the train) so we went to a country supermarket! It advertised itself as a friendly supermarket and they were not wrong. As we walked through the ailes, the 5 people that worked there greeted us warmly (you know those little warm feelings you get in your tummy when nice things happen - well, we got that!!!).

And you guessed it, we had lunch at the top of a hill (what Aussies would call a mountain). All very delightful I must say.

Fingers crossed for fine weather this Monday as the walk looks good. (As I write this blog it is raining rather heavily and has been doing so all day).

Castle Haut-Koenigsbourg

We had a lovely visit to the Alsace in France last Saturday with English friends Lesley and Neil. Here are some happy shots to make you feel jealous!

Lesley, Neil & Gaynor at the French village Saint-Hippolyte

William 11 entrusted the restoration of the Castle to architect Bodo Ebhardt from Berlin between 1900 and 1908. Under the Treaty of Versailles (1919), France became the owner of the assets of the German crown and obtained Haut-Koenigsbourg.

Today it is in magnificent condition and is well worth the 7.50 euro for a visit. Afterwards we had lunch at the restaurant in the castle (surprisingly very cheap).

The castle is a very popular place to visit and it was rather crowded with people.

MY FRIEND WIRT

It is Wirt's birthday today - H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y W I R T

I've been thinking about you and Linda all day. You are such special friends, and even though you are now all the way over the ocean in Texas, you are never far from my thoughts.

Why do you think this might be?

1. I miss your teasing terribly

2. I miss 'chewing the fat' with you both

3. I miss the dinners we had together

4. I miss our disagreements

5. I miss beating you in Chinese Checkers

6. I miss your spoiling (and you were very good at that)

7. I miss our drives together and sometimes being naughty!

8. I miss your shoes (very Texan!!!)

9. I miss your silly jokes

10. I MISS YOU

I do hope you have a great Birthday and I am sure you will be spoilt rotten by the lovely Linda, who's just perfect when it comes to spoiling.

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY DARLING FRIEND WIRT.

With my love, Gaynor xo xo xo xo xo

MY PAVLOVA

I was giving my Aussie blogging friend Lou a rather lengthy reply to her comment and decided to transfer it to the blog instead!

Oh thanks Lou, would love the chocolate pavlova recipe.

But I have a sad face on at the moment. The Pavlova went into the oven looking FANTASTIC, (using my new whizz bang Sunbeam mixmaster for the FIRST time), but oh dear it's nothing like the ones I used to make. It must be the ingredients. Just can't work it out. I will smother it in cream, fresh strawberries and kiwi fruit and only Roger and I will know it isn't up to my usual standard. I AM going to get it right, even if I have to make one every day until it's perfect!!

Sugar is from sugar beet here in Europe! Maybe that's the problem.
Eggs are from haenchen!
Cornflour is rare!
Vanilla essence is non existent
Vinegar - now that's an interesting ingredient
Hot water - maybe that's the problem (but never has been before)

AFTERNOON ON BODENSEE

We had a 3 day conference near the Bodensee from Sunday 31 August - 3 September. We had Tuesday afternoon for tourism so 5 of us spent the afternoon travelling to Meersburg then went on a ferry to Mainau Island which always has beautiful displays of flowers, depending on the season. Tulips during Spring, Roses for Summer and now Dahlia's which were absolutely spectacular. Here is a small taste of what we saw.

MY NEW MIXMASTER

My most absolutely wonderful husband has organized to buy me a new Sunbeam mixmaster (with the help of our kids - thanks kids!!). There has been so much secrecy about all of this with phone calls, skype, emails, etc going back and forth for several months - I think. I had absolutely no idea about any of this.

Last night was the big delivery! Our Aussie friend Stewart rang up and invited us out to our favourite Korean restaurant near Loerrach. He had been in Cairns for a month so wanted to catch up! I didn't want to go, having just got back from a 3 day conference. I told him I had 'brain fag' and was having a rest day. BUT then Roger talked me into going and said he would make it worth my while!! (Hummmmm, what does that mean?!!).

So, here's all the pictures to help you understand exactly how the evening went.

The huge 8 kilo package beautifully wrapped by Katja (Stewart's Swiss girlfriend)

Couldn't get the paper off quickly enough!

Don't you just love that face (had to put this one in)

Unbelievable ! ! !

Big hug for Stewart who was so willing to co-operate with Roger's BIG scheme (and of course cart the big box in his suitcase (we owe him BIG TIME)

Now, am I not one hugely spoilt lady. Look at this wonder. I LOVE IT and can't wait to put it to good use. My old one (33 years old) will go to Africa probably.