Switzerland & Pete's 30th Birthday

We planned a Birthday trip to Switzerland for Pete's 30th. We landed in Zurich on the Friday night after work, with enough time to have a look around the old town. It's a great city, centred around Lake Zurich and the Limmat River.

On Saturday morning, after some shopping for chocolate along Bahnhofstrasse (a must when in Switzerland), we took the train to Lake Lucerne. The famous covered bridge (Kapellbrucke, built over 300yrs ago) was very beautiful, with flowers along the side.


It was a warm day so we went for a stroll around the lake.

We met some friends, who kept us entertained for a while with their synchronised diving

There were flowers everywhere, including this great patch.

The river runs through the town and over a weir, where there are some serious rapids. We found a place to park ourselves for the evening and try the local beer, wine and flat tarts (really just a pizza).

The next day we headed up Mount Pilatus on a big red dragon...

No... actually we rode the steepest railway in the world!

The view below says it all (you can see the next train below us on the bottom right)

There was an impressive alpenhorn player (very Swiss!)

We really were up amongst the clouds - there is a cliff on the other side!

The whole valley was full of Swiss sounds: the alpenhorn, a random local who decided to practise her yodelling and heaps of cow bells!

Sarah took a particular liking to this cow

Back to Zurich for Sunday afternoon by the river. The atmosphere was great - blue sky, 30deg, bands playing and people jumping off the bridge into the river (behind Sarah in the photo below). Pete tried a somersault (which didn't turn out that great!) but unfortunately it was not captured on camera.

The local trend is to jump in off the bridge and bob down the river (for about 1km) to the party out of town - it was awesome!

It was a fantastic trip in Switzerland.

We went for a tasty dinner in London for Pete's birthday and organised an evening of drinking and dancing with our friends. No photos (which is probably for the best!), but here is one with Pete and his new Birthday watch. Thankyou to everyone for their Birthday wishes.

More adventures in London with Jenny

We went for a day trip to Windsor castle...



Pete took us by surprise in the photo below, so we're not posing very well, but it is a good one of the castle!

The State rooms inside were all very impressive - lots of china dinner settings and royal armour.



Unfortunately the outside of our flat is being repainted at the moment, so we are surrounded by scaffolding. We've decided to make the most of it and dine out on our new balcony...


It felt a bit like camping...

Pete and I had tickets to the Queens Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. It was a lovely afternoon with tea and treats in the back garden (not a single Hills Hoist in sight though!). We got very close to Charles and Camila, but didn't get to talk to them. Luckily the Queen didn't notice that Sarah had on the same dress she wore to Royal Ascot last year!

After a successful day shopping in Harrods, we had dinner at the Rooftop Gardens in Kensington and then on to Royal Albert Hall for Proms. Nigel Kennedy was playing (Pete's favourite violinist).

Pete and I took a canal boat from little Venice to Camden. It runs through a few tunnels (the one below is about 200m long) and then up alongside Regents Park passed all the big mansions!

And finally, a photo of our street.... for those of you who are yet to visit!

Brittany, France (and a few other things...)

Mum / Jenny arrived two weeks ago for a 3 week visit. We picked her up from the airport and then spent the day in London.


We picked up a few of the familiar London sights...


Like St Pauls, the Thames, Horse Guards, etc. (it was a long walk!!)

The following day we headed off for a 5 day holiday in France. We started in Dinard, a cute town on the north coast of Brittany.

We sampled as many of the local specialities as we could, including Moules (musssels) and Frites.

Then to the walled city of St Malo, which was established hundreds of years ago in the middle ages .

The tide was high when we arrived and made the path along the seaside difficult to negotiate without getting wet. There were lots of wet people from the unexpected waves crashing over the walkway.



But we persisted, as coincidently the Tour de France was starting the 3rd Stage from St Malo. The "caravans" were very entertaining...

We waited at the start line and saw the riders speed passed!

After lunch we headed to St Jacut de la Mer where the tides run as fast as a "horse can run". It was a really windy day!

The tide was not quite out, so some long jump skills were required.





Pete at the spot where he remembered his family holidays, and where Soph learnt to walk (does that sound right?).






Then we headed west to Cap Frehel - no that was REALLY windy!

Spectacular coastline...

We then stopped in Morlaix at a beautiful guesthouse, Coate Armour (built in the 15 century).

The town's viaduct...

Pete managed to walk across the viaduct, Jenny and Sarah were too busy shopping!




We found the markets in Roscoff

... and had a picnic by the water

Some great flowers were on display

and more local dishes....crepes, galetters, cider, moules, etc

Pete found a banana split on the menu. (Soph, he was expecting the usual design but maybe the French don't have the same sense of humour as the Seligmans

The traditional Brittany artwork was on everything and reminded us of Clare's kitchen. They even painted the train!

We stopped at a winery in the Loire valley. A very friendly french wine maker showed us around. The celar was decorated in the theme of 7 sins and 7 virtues.

Back in London, and down to Thakeham to enjoy a Seligman garden party.

A bit of stilt walking (as you do...)

And a mandatory visit to the Hampsted Heath Lido for a swim. After the swim we headed to Kenwood House for a coffee. The garden is also the set for a scene in the movie Nottinghill.

Sarah and Jenny wating for Hugh Grant to stroll by...