The Old and the Restless

Brandon has two weeks holiday in October. To get him off to an enjoyable start, Sandra Brandon and I decided to bicycle across the Thielle to the German side of the canal and continue to Erlach. While Brandon had often bicycled on the canal before, he had always stayed to the French speaking side. Near the north end of the canal, we detoured into a woods and emerged on Lake Bienne at a camping ground / playground. The park contained a huge "wooden sailing ship" jungle gym for kids to play on. Here Brandon has climbed up to the "crow's nest". After leaving the camping park we pushed our bicycles up into the partly fortified Erlach "old town" to have a look from our favorite vantage point. [Unfortunately, that day was the Erlach "harvest festival" and a big pizza serving operation had been set up at the look out. Every town in the wine growing region of Switzerland seems to have its own "harvest festival". Erlach is small enough not ...

For Hervé's 40th birthday weekend, Mother Nature gave him the gift of perfect weather. Notice the clear blue sky behind the clock tower at the fortified village of Le Landeron. Notice, also, that the clock shows 7 o'clock, the time for our dinner reservation. There is a reason the punctual Swiss refer to "L'heure suisse" (Swiss time). Just at the entrance to Le Landeron is a flowered fountain. Pictured are Bryn and Alicia. Not pictured is Brandon, who ducked down behind the fountain just before the picture was to be taken. The family version of the birthday dinner took place Friday night at L'escarbot (The Scarab Beetle), a restaurant that is recognized in the Michelin Red Guide to fine eating in Switzerland. [Brandon still would not cooperate for a family picture!] Everyone chose filet of sanglier (wild pig) as the main course. The presentation was very artistic (clockwise from the bottom left, chestnuts, fruit, fois grasse, gourd filled with cooked squash, ...

The three day fete starts with fireworks, eating and drinking on Friday night. Sandra and I babysat Brandon and Alicia while Bryn and Herve had the evening (and early morning) out on the town. In the two previous years that Sandra and I have been at the fete, we have gone on Saturday to see the parade of the various classes of children in the canton dressed in costume. This year, we chose to go to the Sunday official parade (which normally costs money to watch) but (luckily for us) we were so slow getting to the parade that the official route with chairs for rent by the side of the road on which to sit was almost fully occupied. We did find a (non-paying) place to stand 10 meters before the official route where the participants in the parade form up the procession. Here the riders at the head of the parade ride around a roundabout in the cold west wind trying to keep their horses calm. The cool wind was blowing so strongly from the west that the flags blew in the wrong direction. The ...

We arrived in Switzerland in the ~30 C heat. With no cool clothes to wear we chose to try out the new swimming pool. The grimace is because the water is only 28 C and felt cold in the heat of the day. We invited this nearly bald guy to swim with us! He does a decent side stroke. :-) The following day was also sunny and warm. We decided to tour the estate with Brandon and Zucco (!). Notice Hervé's huge herb garden behind the house, just over Sandra's shoulder. :-) The next day started to cloud over and get cool. Alicia played on the slide in the back yard while Herve opened up the door into the swimming pool. It rained during our swim but the covering kept us dry (at least as dry as one can be in the pool). On Saturday, Bryn rode Billy on the path over to the house. She then gave Alicia a ride - but Alicia dropped the riding crop and Grandma had to run to get it. So, Alicia wasn't allowed to hold it herself. Break a little girl's heart and the result is as...

We will be away for Thomas's first birthday, but we were able to celebrate it early. He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum... And said "Oooo" He liked the fresh picked raspberries too. Only one left.

At long last we were able to arrange a time when Daryl and Jane were able to come to the cottage... and we were able to be there. Retirement is VERY busy. In late August it is very weedy in our bay. Unfortunately the weeds did not deter the hundreds of Canada geese which not only stayed for the night, but honked at each other throughout the night and then had a rousing party at dawn. Jane did NOT sleep at all.

The keys taste good. Grandma should try them!