Down by the river

This Sunday we took a walk down to the river as it appears to be summer. The kids did paddling for a long time, despite the lack of actual swimming costumes. We also enjoyed some coffee and croissiants

British Visitors

Last weekend Gran Helen and Uncle Nick came to stay with us for a few days. We went a few nearby places with them and one long excursion (see next blog). Here are some pics from their visit:


Choosing what to wear


Ilona down by the river



& showing Bluet the photos she'd taken there



Taking Bluet to walk to school


Dinner in the garden



On the porch with gifts from the UK



Sushi for lunch

Tired on the tram

Bus home

River walk

This is what our kids wear to go throw stones in the river.

Also today we discovered that Wagamamma in Zurich has a children's play area (as well as good Japanese food), so that was good. And then right next door to it is a botanical garden.

(pictures from our York trip last weekend coming soon...

A walk down the river

A couple of Sundays ago, we went to the playground by the river with animals; sadly most of  the animals (chickens, goats and rabbits) had gone away for the winter, but we still enjoyed the pigs. You may recognize it from last year - we haven't been there for a while. As you can see it is beginning to get cold, and as it was 9AM, we had the whole place to ourselves for a while

Compare and contrast, the same swing (at the flag playground) today and September last year

Throwing Rocks and Stones

Last Sunday we went for a walk. First we went to where Bluet's kindergarten will be in August.

Then on down to the river, for something to do. We found a place where there were lots of stones to be thrown into the river. This made Ilona and Bluet very happy.




Note: Bluet lent Ilona one of her numerous tutus.

Some stones are bigger than others. Some stones are rocks

On the other side of the river there is a wooden walkway to run on, with beams to practise balancing

Later, Ilona pushed Bluet on the swing

Forgotten Lizards

I just found these photos from 2-3 weeks ago (just after we returned from the UK) of an afternoon trip we took walking down the river - back then, it was still sunny in the afternoon, sunny enough for all the lizards to be out basking on the rocks. The trip down the river we did several times because there are many playgrounds along the way.

This particular day we ended up at the Wipkingen GZ, where they have a 'farm' for kids with rabbits, pigs, goats, and of particular fascination to Bluet and Ilona on this day, chickens. I remember Bluet saying "that chicken is looking at me because she loves me". No idea where that one came from.

Another day we went to the river playground, where Bluet found chalk and wrote her name on the paddling pool that has been drained for winter

Of course, now it is cold so when we go out we wrap up warm, and the lizards are nowhere to be seen