Autumn

Here every day is an autumn day, with leaves falling from trees and fog in the mornings obscuring faraway places. These are both obsessions of Bluet's (along with convertible cars not having roofs, where the petrol goes in cars, and whether cars have run out of petrol or not, or if the bus/tram has broken down (usually no, it is just stopped to let people on and off). Every day we talk of these things.

We also got Bluet her first duvet, which she loved so much she got into bed during the day. Several times. With dirty feet.

Here, Bluet waits for the tram in a most sensible fashion

And we found that if we walk up the hill from our house, and to the right a bit, you can see cows, and then if you go a little further there is a restaurant with a spectacular view of Zurich (if it isn't too foggy). We have now been twice, once with fog, once without.

We also found some new playgrounds - one with a 'death slide' for beginners, and a swing which had Ilona on it first, and then Bluet asked to join her.

There is also, across the other side of the river, the biggest, fanciest model railway you have ever seen. Sadly it has never been running when we have walked past, but Bluet loves to look at the bridges, tracks and the engine shed where the trains sleep at night. She even asked whether the trains needed to keep the doors open at night to let in a little light, just how she likes it.

Then there is the park by the river, where we have been many times. The other day Ilona practiced for when she owns her first motorcycle, whilst Bluet watched the ducks

Or sometimes we play in the garden. Here Bluet is playing with her wheelbarrow under the quince tree

And finally today we went to a park by the side of the river that turned out to have wild animals, like pigs and chickens and goats, and plenty of places for Ilona to stand.

And then we go home

Ilona time

At last, Ilona and Bluet are (almost/sometimes) playing with each other. Admittedly it usually involves Ilona finding something of Bluet's, putting it in her mouth and then Bluet notices and pulls it out. Or they are both in the same vicinity, with Bluet ignoring Ilona - But sometimes Bluet gives Ilona a replacement toy. And occasionally Ilona makes Bluet laugh, or even asks to do the same thing as Ilona. This is progress.

Ilona at the slide, Bluet somewhere else in playground

Ilona standing and smiling; Bluet still in bed

Ilona and Bluet amusing themselves independently in the same sand

Here it looks like they are playing happily, but actually I think Bluet is about to 'rescue' one of her toys from Ilona's grasp

Ilona playing with Bluet's tea set. Bluet must be far away

Bluet in her tent. 

Ilona standing

At different ends of the playground

Ilona alone

And not alone

More fun from Zurich

Here are some other places we have been. Zurichorn park can be reached by water taxi, and has a Henry Moore sculpture which Bluet likes very much.

As does Ilona.

Meanwhile, Ilona now pulls herself up to stand anywhere and everywhere - here she is at a playground down by the river, which is known as the bird playground (by us) because there is a big bird cage of tropical birds there. Today she was standing in the living room and lifted her hands for half a second, standing free. She also takes steps if we hold her hands. Walking cannot be far off. She can also crawl very fast, and is interested in learning to go up (but not necessarily down) stairs. This is not my favourite game.

And then at the end of a long day of standing and crawling, eating and napping, nothing makes Ilona happier than the bath, because she knows shortly after that she will be able to go to bed, which is her favourite time of day.

She Bangs The Drums

A bright musical future is surely ahead

Mountaineering

Surprisingly Zurich is remarkably close to very big mountains. Even the smallest ones almost certainly dwarf Ben Nevis. So we took the train last weekend (for an hour) to some mountains so big they need a cable car to take you up them. Of course, the hour long train ride is a bit boring, so it is probably best to pass the time sticking Peppa Pig stickers on your face.

Cable cars go up very steep, very high slopes. Bluet has become very interested in cable cars, although she claims they are aeroplanes because they fly in the air and don't have wheels.

Like all good mountains, this mountain had a trampoline. Bluet waited patiently for the kid before her to finish, took of her shoes, and then....

Like all good mountains, this mountain also came with fires which were burning with wood kindly provided so that we were able to BBQ food and eat lunch in the woods. As you can see, there were many other people on the mountain, which was good because our fire was already burning and ready for cooking when we got there, but it was not exactly the unspoilt wilderness, no matter how spectacular the views. Ideal for kids though.

In the next picture there is a wild animal. Can you see it?