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Jude has new glasses. I've been trying them on for size and pulling silly faces too! Isn't that what everyone does in Nandos when waiting for food?

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Alles Gute zum Geburtstag Jot!

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The number 12 tram from Stettbach to Glatt via Dübendorf. Jude's a happy boy. That tram will always be his favourite!

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Jude's 11th birthday party this afternoon. You can tell he's getting more Swiss - he was concerned about his friends making noise during 'quiet time' so scheduled it for the end of said period then got worried when people were early!

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PYP Mums' breakfast this morning at school. Even if I'm not a big fan of maple syrup in close proximity to my scrambled eggs, it was good to have a cooked breakfast with Jude who certainly ate his fair share!!

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Happy Halloween!
I know, Jude - it's last year's costume and photograph but I didn't take one this year ;o(

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A visit to Rapperswil and Knie Kinderzoo today. A lovely little zoo that houses the animals from Knie Circus. Highlights included elephant bath time and an elephant ride for the boys. Jude was certain he was going to fall off so Isaac is holding onto him for dear life!

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Stein am Rhein is soo beautiful! There are so many photographs I could have chosen for today but I chose this one as it features my boys and the lovely painted buildings and a fountain.

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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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Once more the boys are making use of the many sporting facilities in Winterthur. Another football pitch, another kick about!

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Oh the fun to be had with huge water jets at the Badi!!

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A lovely evening and thanks to a toe injury for John (typical English footballer!), no kick about tonight so back to the old favourite, table tennis. Public table tennis tables all over the place in Switzerland. And we love it!

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This brought back memories today of 2003 when we came to Switzerland and travelled from Zürich to Interlaken on a train. Jude was a toddler and Isaac only 4, and we were delighted to find a playground on the train complete with slide and climbing frame. So unlike the UK! So you know where the playground is situated, there's a mural on the side of the train.
As an aside, good to be back in Switzerland with efficient transport!

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 Three pics today! Whilst I was working hard in London, the boys were enjoying a Swiss Bank Holiday at the WildnisPark, talking to the bears. Last time we went, it was sub zero, icy and wet. Much better this time, I understand! And there was still half a goat in the lynx's cage.

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Whiskers aka Wifkaas has come home!
Jude left him in England at Easter and his beloved seal has finally made it home to him in Switzerland. There are some very happy boys in my house today!

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I sometimes wonder about the sanity of my family but I'm the loopiest of us all so what do I expect?

We went to Amden to visit some friends and we all went on a long walk down the mountain to the lake. It was a warm day and we were rather hot so paddling seemed in order. Jude on the other hand decided to jump into the lake. As you can see from his face, it was rather cold, but he enjoyed it!

un lac - a lake

une montagne - a mountain

Jude nage dans le lac - Jude swims in the lake

C'est un peu froid! - It's a bit cold!

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Whilst I was in Geneva, the boys were in Sion watching the Tour of Romandie. Having collected lots of freebies, they watched the peleton pass through a first time then saw the finish. They also found the Team Sky caravan and met their cycling heroes Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas who kindly signed autographs and GT even posed for the photo below. Jude is SOO proud!

This photo of Bradley Wiggins was taken yesterday I know, which explains his look of pain as he lost his lead. However, today he won the stage (despite a mechanical issue) and Tour of Romandie with an exceptional TT. Bradley Wiggins, we salute you!

Bravo! - Well done
Bon effort! - Good effort
Félicitations - Congratulations
Bien fait - well done

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We were waiting at the bus stop for the Töss bus (still love that rhyme!) when there was a thud noise on the shelter, and then another. Jude went to investigate and found this huuuuge seed pod. Never seen anything like it!

a leaf - une feuille
a seed - une graine
a pod - une cosse

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Wandering in the woods near Bruderhaus Tierpark today, the boys spied a partially built shelter and set off to investigate. They were quite impressed with the shelter, especially when they discovered it has every 'convenience'. As Jude is indicating, the architect has his priorities right and fitted a toilet even before the walls are up.

The boys then proceeded to use it for pinecone throwing target practice!

to throw - werfen - rüärä

to play in the dirt - im Dreck spielen - dräcklä

toilet - die Toilette - Aabee, Hüüsli, Abtritt, WC, Oertli

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Jude needed a haircut so I took my life in my hands and took him. A dangerous thing as he is very attached to his incredible mop of hair, I was not taught much 'hairdressing' vocabulary on my German course and phrase books do not think to supply any such useful phrases.
Armed with a photo as back up, off we popped and this was the result with which Jude was and is very happy and relieved.
Jude ist sehr glücklich, weil seine Haare nicht zu kurz ist 😃

An interesting word I learned today from my Büechli - Tschuupi means hair above the ear!