More Snow!

Just as we thought the snow might start to disappear here in Kaiseraugst we've got another day of snow showers! Here's our station this morning as I went into town...

This all augurs well for our ski trip at the New Year in Champery!

A Quiet Sunday

Yesterday evening was another wonderful experience at our good American friends, Jim & Beth. As usual the food was superb and too much beer, wine and strange liqueurs were drunk. As a result it has been a very lazy day for me and would have been for Claire if she hadn't realised that she needed to go into work for a couple of hours. She's far too conscientious for her own good sometimes.

Never Leave A Man Alone Near Technology

So we needed to get a little late Christmas shopping in Basel and we managed to buy shoes for ourselves and whilst Claire was sorting out a pair if boots....

I said I would meet her near Barfusserplatz which just so happens to contain a rather nice shop INGENODATA that houses the Apple store in central Basel. Suddenly out of nowhere I had purchased a brand new iMac!! No idea how that happened.... :-)

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

As soon as Monica and Peter had left it pretty much started snowing and it hasn't stopped for over two days now! I expect the trains to the mountains will be packed this weekend as the first powder has really arrived. The weather forecast isn't too good though and due to the fact we need to prepare for the Christmas holiday our skiing will need to wait until the new year. :-(

Wet & Crowded in Colmar plus the Niggi-Näggi

We set off for the Christmas Markets in Colmar today and though the markets are probably pretty good the persistent rain and large crowds made it not quite as enjoyable as we would have wished. However, we enjoyed some rather nice Vin Chaud (see photo) and cheesy food (unfortunately for Claire most of the hot food had some cheese content!). After the markets we got back to Basel in time for the Santas on Harley-Davidsons who always drive round the town at this time of year before enjoying a meal at the Ueli Brauerei!

Car Trouble again..

It was a good arrangement whilst it lasted but our friends' Alfa Romeo has yet again failed to co-operate when required! Its battery was flat this morning as I was due to go to the shops to get some bits & bobs for our weekend guests. Oh well, never mind, it's back to the bike & trailer along with our good old trams, buses and trains. Luckily I didn't need the car for meeting Monica & Peter who arrived from Bristol via Geneva this evening.

Today is the day before.......

.....my parents-in-law arrive here in Switzerland. So that means that it's a weekend of Weihnachsmarkt (in Colmar) and mince pies with mulled wine, so very seasonal. The Christmas season over here (and in Germany) starts around the end of November (so not quite as bad as the UK). So just need to get in the kitchen and make those pies!

Discovering your past...

At my Dad's 70th birthday my Aunt Sue produced some photos and information on my family tree. She had been really busy and has gone back as far as my great-great grandparents. I now know that I have some Gypsy blood in me!! My grandad was imprisoned in a stalag and here's a photo of my grandparents' wedding!

Back Home for the Weekend

We've just got back from a hectic weekend in England where we managed to see our Swiss friends in St Albans, celebrate my Dad's 70th birthday, clean his house and see Gillian & Chris to share some memories of Judith :-(

It was one of those when you get on the plane home and think you've been away for weeks but it's only been a couple of days - but you've seen so many people and done so much.