Butterfly Ball

The weather was really really horrible this Saturday, it poured down all day. Unfortunately it was our work's family day out at Signal de Bougy. Malc was away and I was in two minds as to whether to go. However I did and it was fun, albeit inddors. Bella had her face painted. Sebastian is in full on crawl mode nowadays so he kept the crowds entertained with his cheeky grin.

A weekend pad...

I mentioned we stayed with friends in their apartment in a place called Siviez or Super-Nendaz. Not a very pretty building and no nightlife (what is that anyway?) but incredibly well connected for skiing, hiking and mountain biking, at 1730metres with 3 ski lifts right outside the front door connecting you into the 4 valleys (Verbier at one end). Also has a kiddies ski-school/creche in the building. Well during that trip we walked past an estate agents and noticed an apartment for sale for the price of a top-end car (European one that is) so we bought it. As it turns out it was even easier than buying a car. So as of Octopber the 1st we'll be the proud owners of an apartment ready for renovation in a disused 1970s hotel. How lovely. We have plans to make it in to a designer two bedroom apartment. Michie who is an architect by trade has been helping us redesign it, not to mention supportive Nick locking her in the computer room dreaming of his future holiday home in the Alpes. Here are a few photos of the building and surrounding area last weekend when we went up to get some renovation quotes - oh yes my French language skills know no bounds. It was beautiful and we went up to about 3500 metres in the cable car hence the fleeces. Bella continues to impress with her hiking. She even helped me up the summit as I have a bad back (see ealier post on slugging a stroller around Venice). Good news is I actually got round to seeing a doctor today so will get some physio and start the training plan to actually enable me to benefit from the ski pad this season.

Happy 3rd Birthday Bella

It was Bella's 3rd Birthday mid August. Now being the newbies in town we don't exactly have a wide circle of friends suitable for inviting to 3rd birthday parties. So it was a great excuse to head home for the weekend and catch up with family and friends. The weather held out and the sun even managed to come out in the afternoon and we had lots of fun, with the entertainment being provided by Nanna and Granny. Bella got lots of lovely presents (the thank you cards are in the post...) of particular note the fabulous electric piano, so small and compact for transporting back home...from Uncle Nick and Michie.

Picture montages courtesy of Nanna.

Geneva for the Weekend

Just to prove that we do actually live near Geneva we went in for the day, had a tour on the little train, and took in a few of the sights in the Summer sun

Holiday Part 3 - Out and About

Lots of things to do near Lake Garda, including Gardaland - a bit like Disneyland without MickeyMouse and the queues; seawords or something a bit everage really; Sirmione lovely old castle thing going on; beach resorts and lots more. Bella found it a little wierd as everyone seemed to know her name "Ciao Bella" and she even got her personalised T-shirt... Also lots of admiring for blondie cherubic Sebastian.

Holiday Part 2 - Anyone for Venice

One day I'm thinking of publishing a book, of "10 great things to do with 2 small children". My first entry will be visiting the Grands Magasins of Paris the Saturday before Christmas. My second entry will be visiting Venice in the first week of August....
Goodness knows what possessed us, as we'd convinced ourselves this was a very silly idea, despite only being an hour or so's drive from Lake Garda. However we woke up one day, chnaged our minds, and set off for (the ferry to) Venice. What can I say? Who knew that every bridge in Venice (of which there are many) would have steps up and down. Malc had been before but I guess this wasn't a detail he noticed, not having had a stroller with him. Who knew it would be 35 degrees (errm actually we did). Who knew thousands of people would be visiting that day..ha.ha. As it happens, after nearly having a major sense of humour failure about lunch time, that through all the above I could see what a beautiful place it was, and maybe one day we'll go back without kids and I'll appreciate it even more.