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My favourite colours!

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The view from the station in Lugano as I left yesterday - shame about the crane!

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Lugano as I left the hotel this morning to do some iPad training at TASIS. So pretty!

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WOW! This is the view from my balcony on Collina d'oro in Montagnolo, Lugano. Beautiful!

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Flowers from John's cycle ride. Very pretty.

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Sunday afternoon duck - relaxing with a glass of iced tea and enjoying the sunshine. Me that is, not the duck!

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I often run past this building as I head off past the Spital and up the hill into the woods, and today I stopped to take a photo. It's the Münzkabinett und Antikensammlung, one of the many museums in Winterthur. One day I'll visit them all - done three so far!

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Another highlight of the Winterthurer Musikfest - a grotesque comedy trio from St Gallen.  

John and I especially enjoyed the 'poesie in English' called "I luuve too-nels" recited in an exaggerated SwissGerman-English accent and extolling the virtues of loving tunnels in a country with so many mountains and therefore tunnels! (You had to be there really...)

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Back to the Spital today.
Good news!y My kidneys are clear of stones and no longer inflamed and blocked. Yeah!

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This is Rusconi on stage at the Winterthur Musikfest which I have to say is brilliant!
Jude (having had a crepe) enjoyed Rusconi's funky and very novel jazz improvisation, and was particularly taken with the 'grandad dancing' of man in the front row!

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Another scorcher! And look at the sun light! So beautiful!

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Apfelsaft and Apfelschorle in the shade on Oberen Graben in Winterthur. Both are fizzy - the former has more apple juice in it!

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Bit frustrated that the Winterthur Musikfest has just begun and I can't really enjoy it as I'm not well - standing up for long periods is not easy! However, I managed a quick circuit this evening to hear music from the two stages and see a few minutes of the famous film, Metropolis being projected at the "outdoor cinema with live musical accompaniment".
Here's the logo projected on Winterthur Kirche. Love the note as the tail!

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TipTopSwiss has been missing for a few days as I have been unexpectedly spending time in hospital. And I have to say that I have absolutely nothing but praise for Kanton Spital Winterthur. The staff were lovely, the food delicious and my stay made as comfortable as it could possibly be. People apologized for keeping me waiting when I didn't even know I was waiting and at no point was I made to feel unwelcome or a nuisance. And the cleanliness! My room was properly cleaned more than once a day and smelt clean too. Compared to other hospitals I've experienced, it was a revelation. I know - this is Switzerland and things are different here. But what a difference!
I'm home now, with a review appointment next week, but if I ever need to go back, I won't be scared or worried. Which is how it should be when you're feeling ill and vulnerable.

My room had a balcony! Couldn't get out there thanks to my drip but it was there!

Bouillon, tomato risotto and fish, and apricot mousse!

The view out of the window at night.

More delicious food!

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The day after the night before! I had a few minutes to spare before music rehearsal at church so I thought I'd go and have a look at the See. Looks beautiful but the smell in front of the Opera and on the See side! Oh boy, the smell was disgusting. Saturday was the annual Parade and there had obviously been plenty of beer (and other resulting fluids) flowing in Bellevue. And, it being a very hot day, it was rather...ripe! Most unlike Zürich and I'm sure a very short lived situation.

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Reading in the park which I had completely to myself, bar a rat-like dog and owner!

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Gutsy Smurf came from a cycle ride with us this evening.
Here, the Smurfs are called Die Schlümpfe.

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I was looking at Google Doodles yesterday - the hurdler was causing no end of fun according to  Twitter! I saw that there was a doodle for the National Day in a variety of countries and was a bit bothered that Swiss National Day hadn't been graced with a doodle this year. So I looked back and sure enough, it has in previous years. And here they are. My favourite is the bottom right with the mountains and flag.

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To balance the list of things you can't do in Switzerland (flushing your toilet after 9pm in a block of flats; put paper and cardboard together in the recycling etc) there are many things you can do and lighting a fire in the woods is one of them.
This was on 1. August when we toasted marshmallows. John was very proud of his fire and was sad to have to quench it when we left. perhaps we'll build another one when it's not quite so hot next time...?

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It's been too long - time for another beautiful Swiss cow, complete with bell donging in the stillness of the mountain. This one was at Atzmännig on Saturday.

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I was torn today as I watched the Olympics. I am British but I live in Switzerland so who to support in the tennis? In the end I was glad to see Murray win, but pleased that Federer won silver.
Same problem with the cycling timetrail - so wanted Fabian 'Spartacus' Cancellara to win but pleased that Wiggins did!

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I went on a chairlift today.
For most of you, that's nothing. For me it's a big deal as I have really bad vertigo and go dizzy standing on a chair let alone when my legs are waving in the air above the ground.
I did it however, and am very pleased that I did as I had a marvellous time coming back down the mountain at Atzmännig on a toboggan on the Rodelbahn.
Perhaps I might be able to ski after all...

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Wurst and rösti - John's favourite!

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We went to Zürich Zoo today - lots of lovely animals and birds to see, but I took a photograph of this 'dummy tree' on which children hang their dummies or comforters.
There's a similar thing near our home in England at a children's farm where children leave their dummies for the pigs. I prefer the tree!

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1. August - Happy birthday Switzerland!

We celebrated with Swiss food, flags and fireworks, and finished the day with sparklers in the park.