SOLOTHURN, SWITZERLAND

WATCHING THE WORLD GO BY!

Great past-time, especially if you like each other.

GIRL'S NIGHT - 8 MAY 2009

Life couldn't be better. I have a wonderful husband, a family that delights me, a lovely place in which to live, a community of friendly and helpful people, great next door neighbours, the best friends from all different countries of the world, good health and the sun is shining!!

Angela has been here from Adelaide, Australia for 2 weeks and we have enjoyed having her come with us to meet friends and to see what we do here in Basel. We've had a great time together and tomorrow we say goodbye.

Before Angela came I made sure I organized my next Girl's Night (for my Germany girlfriends to practise their English) whilst she was here. I also organized for her to bring a pair of stainless steel tongs for each of them. You just can't buy them here in Europe. Funny isn't it?

We had traditional German food and the most delightful and fun evening together. Here are some photo's of us enjoying ourselves. This is the first time there have been 3 Aussie girls on the night. What a scream! We are much louder than our German friends and they had a good laugh at our antics!

l-r: Marianne, Renate, Angela, Lisa, Anke, Johanna, Carla and Gaynor

Outing to Mainau with Angela

We have been enjoying Angela's visit with us. She is staying in a small bed sit about 1 km from our place here in Schopfheim and it seems to be working out well for us all. We used a convenient "Baden-Wuerttemberg" ticket for 5 people to travel together to go to Mainau Island. It was not a good day weather wise, but didn't stop Roger from taking some lovely pictures. We were just saying tonight over tea how we'd love to go back there, just the 2 of us and spend THE WHOLE day there enjoying all the beautiful flowers, butterflies, etc and having a picnic.

ANZAC DAY DINNER IN SCHOPFHEIM

A group of 14 Aussies and New Zealanders got together for an Anzac Day Dinner last Saturday 25 April at one of the Schopfheim's Gasthauses. The food was magnificent and we enjoyed just catching up and also meeting new friends.
Here are a few piccies of us all.

In the garden having a drink before dinner

Katja, Stewart and Roger


3 Aussie girls - Lisa, Angela (just arrived from Oz) and Gaynor

2 of the yummy desserts

The place where I live

We have woken up to the most glorious Anzac Day here in Schopfheim. Today we remember those soldiers in Australia and New Zealand who have given their lives for our freedom. We will gather for dinner tonight with other Aussies/New Zealanders. Pictures to follow.

Also I am looking forward to the visit of Angela from Adelaide who arrives this afternoon. I will head into Basel to meet her. She will be staying in a little bedsit quite close to our place. I am looking forward to some lovely girlie times together.

I've just come back from a quick shop at Aldi. Wish I'd had the camera. Must remember to take it with me everywhere! As I left the store there was an old man getting into his OLDER tractor (after doing a bit of shopping). As he headed out of the carpark and looked with amazement and a big smile on my face to see his dog standing in the tiny open cabin on the wheel hub. This is where I live! I hope you can picture it a little.


Now for some photo's of our Spring. Roger has been out and about with the camera. ENJOY.

Covered foot bridge in Wehr a short bike ride (up hill) from our place

HIKE and BBQ Easter Monday

I decided to send out an email inviting friends to join us for a Hike and BBQ on Easter Monday. I knew there would be a lot of people away, but also that there must be people with nothing to do.

I didn't want an early morning hike, like we usually do on a Monday morning, hence the BBQ! Good idea I thought.

Roger met people at Schopfheim station and then Lisa and I met them as they started to climb the hill up near our place. We went past the horse stables and up, up, up!! Nice walk actually, but some of us needed a few stops!

We finished the hike at our place for coffee and cake/biscuits, etc!!!

We had a 'downtime' Tuesday. We were both rather exhausted and in need of some recovery time from a wonderful Easter weekend. We both had 'leg/foot' problems. Me with blisters still not recovered and Roger with badly strained calf muscles on his left leg. He ran up an embankment on our Monday hike and he said it felt as if someone had thrown a rock at his leg! Poor darling. He needed to be transported back by car from the hike! Not nice.

EASTER DAY

Apologies that I'm a bit slow with this post. Have been thinking about downloading the photo's all week and posting them on my blog!!

We very much enjoyed the Easter service at our German Church and there was good translastion from our young friend Peter. The music was great so enjoyed a good sing, but nothing in English! Sometimes there is.

'Our' boys then came back for lunch. I had made Lasagne / Salad / Trifle and there was certainly nothing left!

Matthias, Reuben and Joshua 'chewing the fat!'

Peter, Johnny and Roger

Squeezed around the kitchen table !

Johnny, Reuben and Matthias left around 3.30pm and then Peter, Joshua, Roger and I played a game of Wizard. It went on for so long we decided to give the boys a light tea (scrambled eggs) made by Roger - yum. Peter left just after 8.30pm and Joshua an hour later.

We feel these are special times as Peter, Reuben and Joshua are all asking God to direct their future and they could be on the move in the Autumn. So we want to make the most of time spent together to encourage them in their journey.