Switzerland September 2013

We have just returned form a spectacular trip to Switzerland.....in the heart of the Swiss Alps the Bernese Oberland must be one of the prettiest spots. We went with Andy's fungi enthusiast friends, Jen, Keir, Mark, Al & David. I must admit I adored the walks in the moutains, the breathtaking mountains capped in snow, massive pine forests and alpine flowers...I also enjoyed the mushrooms for the first few days.....then I became 'fungied out'. The walks were not the problem but the evenings with six people scrutinizing all of the finds started to get on my nerves so I hdd to drag Andy out of our small village chalet and in to one of two watering holes opposite. The mountain hostel and restaurant also served a piping hot cheese fondue!

I am not exagerating when I say the village was small...170 residents..many with the same surname!!!! And the village was only accessible by cable car....not for the faint hearted!

The village makes it own cheese and butter. Alpine cheese is absolutely delicious and we learned from the farmer it can only be made three months of the year - June to September as it is dependant on the rich pasture for the cows. The higher the pasture, the richer the pasture but before June and after September it is too cold for the cows to graze. Apparently the Alpine cheese has four times more Omega 3 so it is very healthy.

 

One of my favourite days was spent at Lake Brienz....an azure, glass lake surrounded by mountains and pine. Absolutely breathtaking........the spent seevral hours walking from one village to another taking an obscene number of photos.

 

We were only there for a week but were thrilled to wake up to a shallow blanket of snow one morning....not enough to stop the day's activities but enough to provide some more great photo opportunties.

 

I am so glad I took lots of pictures because as beautiful as it was I will not be returning the next fungi focused holiday that they are planning for next year. One can only take so much mush!



Summer UK

What a summer it has been. No sooner than we arrived back from Florida, we were immersed in a wonderful hot summer......and it was well and truly due as 2012 offered no more than one hot week in May!

The highlight was Tom's visit...a whole week! We spent time exploring London, perusing guitars on Tin Pan Alley, listening to Bach being performed at St. Martins-in-the Field Church and watching the Mongol Rally set off from Bodiam Castle in East Sussex.  Definiitely on the TO DO list!!! Must assemble a team of four insane females.....ready why http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_Rally

 

The highlight was scoring two open mike gigs for Tom in Shoreditch and Islington...the two hottest spots to play in London. His performances were extremely well received as he crooned out three brilliant solos at each...on top of that he had them recorded which can now be heard on Sound Cloud. https://soundcloud.com/#tommy_tu_shoes  He also picked up some fans on the way. Cannot wait for him to come back in December.

The other highlight of the summer has been the garden. Anita's dad kindly entrusted us with two tomoto plants which we bestowed with love like a first born. They have thrived and given us a tomato feast. On top of that, our long suffering potatos have finally yeilded and provided a harvest....not bad considering!!!! As we headed in to Autumn the apple and pear trees have littered the lawn with fruit which I am churning in to pies and cakes at the speed of knots. Great for the pallette but not for the waistline!