Back from Japan

A sample of papa's trip to Japan. . .

Frantic Friday

Ili and I headed into the city for some shopping for the new apartment ('window' variety only), and Bea had his visit to the woods with Kindergarten this morning. We met with Vincent and his mother for our regular Friday football after lunch and were joined by a few others. It was definitely the mums that did most of the running around today —Bea found it too hot in the sun to run. We had a party this evening to celebrate the completion, after seven years, of our neighbour's PhD. It was held at the Scandinavian rowing club by the lakeside—he never rows, just enjoys the venue for the party potential. It's a great spot with private lawn, nice boathouse and today there were some crystal clear views of the mountains beyond. Finished off with a big Smörgasbord, including moose meat — wish I hadn't told Bea was it was—before we headed home exhausted . . .  and a tad tipsy. 

Ili sitting by the Limmat.

Ili with the strength of a Viking, and Majalis helping with party preparations.

Moose meat!!! Yuk.

Tokyo night sky

Wow, so many lights. I wonder if you can you ever see the stars?

A tale of two cities

While papa has his head on the dizzy heights of Tokyo, we are still heads down suffering from severe nausea in Zurich. Ili missed Spielgruppe due to sickness, and Bea very sweetly made her a present of picked flowers in a decorated giftwrap in his afternoon Kindergarten. Very sweet indeed. Have received a couple of pics of Tokyo, including one where you can see the Tokyo tower, and thanks papa — some delicious looking food. Bea was at football this afternoon, and this time came home to tell me he had scored TWO goals. As the story unfolded, it turned out they were both own goals, and one was mistakenly kicked backwards while he was goalie. Funny!

Papa off to Japan

Papa flew off to Tokyo today, and the kids wanted to see him off from the airport. Poor Ili has a tummy bug—and I'll spare the details, but it was the first time I felt the need to apologise and explain all to the tram driver as we got off! Ooops. Hopefully papa will be spared during his 12 hour flight (good luck)! Bea was interested to hear that papa will take the Shinkansen 'bullet' train in a few days time, and I'll post pics as I get them. Tokyo skyline pics please papa!!

New apartment update

We all went window shopping today for the new apartment in the hissing rain. Bea and Ili will have their own little rooms when we move, so they are very excited about that. Here's a picture of how the renovations are coming along (it's in it's final stages of painting).

Lunch on the roof

A beautiful day, and perhaps one of the last sunny lunches on this terrace before we move. The new terrace is smaller, but has great views of the lake and the river!

After piano

No change on the piano front, he's still doing well. His lesson is in the school building at the back (Rösli), which is our local district's central music hub.

Tennis in the park

Before Malika's music and dance sessions we managed to play around with the rackets in the park opposite. I've also found a good place now where we can have a game of tennis in one of the local school playgrounds. When papa is back from Japan, hopefully they can start together.

Ili (holding her ankles), next to friend Miya (left).

Second school football trial

Viktor is in possession of the ball for the greens, he passes to Beathan, Beathan shoots through the middle of the goalkeepers legs and he SCOOOORESS! The team go wild! Teammate Vincent's mother who is on the sideline sends a text to Beathan's mother telling her the result, who then wings it back inside where the referee tells her with joyous surprise that "he made a goal!" Beathan is still beaming from ear to ear. The greens end up winning three to one. . . .  I was sad to miss the goal, but I've since heard the story over and over I feel I was there. After his last attempt in the school group two weeks ago, we've had many chats about Bea and football (Juan thinks as he's such a people person he'll enjoy the spirit of large teamgames). Anyhow, funny how things turn around—no ball in the face, no tears—he had fun today.

Bea is to the left of the boy in green (Viktor).

Farms, bikes and party.

Papa took the children out towards Lake Griefensee and just over city limits this morning where the fields open up, and the sunflower fields are still in bloom. They found a great little farm with a very Swiss-style market shop—all nicely packaged goods within a swish vending machine dispensing honey, eggs, spuds, apples and fresh milk. Is this only in Switzerland? This afternoon, we took Ili on the 'Like-a-bike' for the first time to the Polyterrase. She was so determined to bike, and wanted to do timed laps like Bea does, although was more walking with the bike than scooting it. She took ages to 'almost' get to one end of the Polyterrace before she started to come back again. Then she must have realised she didn't quite make it to the end and had all of us in complete hysterics as she decided to try and cycle backwards the last few meters. And boy, it took her some time but she did it right to the end, backwards step by step before coming back again! The evening we were at the new apartment roof terrace party. Everyone was very friendly, so I think we'll fit in just fine.

Chocolate mousse

A day at home. Bea is now taking Ili out in the Hof (we can now trust her not to wander off) and she is looked after by Bea and the older children. Very sweet seeing him take her under his wing. Lots of cooking today as we're going to the roof terrace party in the new apartment building tomorrow evening. Here's Bea helping with the scrummy chocolate mousse.

Juan visits Zürich

Juan is staying for a couple of nights. As he speaks fluent German (high) it's great for Bea to practice his Deutsch. Mama and papa are getting left behind, so it's just as well our private German lessons start this week. Weather weird—freezing in the morning then blue skies and I got a sunburnt nose from being on the roof in the afternoon. In the piccy Bea is stringing up one of the first of this years' conkers. 

Ears of corn

Another load of veggies from the garden this morning and our largest sweetcorn yet, and we picked more raspberries! After digging up spuds in the dripping rain this morning Bea had his piano lesson this afternoon. They are still on H, C and D (not a typo, H exists in Germanic parts of Europe), and practicing reading the notes. Frau Sulliman said he did really well. 

Knabenschiessen holiday

"Knabenschiessen" today, which is of the oldest Swiss festivals and is basically a shooting competition for young boys. So it was a holiday in Zurich and we met with Hil and Ryan and lazed around by the lake. Bea was feeling exhausted after the weekend, so took it easy in the shade. Beautiful day, but forgot to take any piccies!

Sunday in the mountains

Headed up in the hills in glorious sunshine today around Tschiertschen. Bea and Ili had fun playing with Jaboury's children. Walking back down there were lots of activities set up along the path the entertain the children (including cow bells 'glockenspiel').

Viktor's party then off to the mountains

Bea went to Viktor's 6th birthday party in the Zoological museum this afternoon, then we picked him up and headed to the mountains to meet with our boss, his family and a few other friends for a night in the cute mountain village of Tschiertschen near the Arosa valley. We stayed in the Alpina hotel which had no doubt been fairly grand in its heyday, but was now fairly run down and managed by an eccentric Dutch family. It was child-friendly though which was just as well as between us there were eight children let loose. 

Piano progress

Second piano lesson today, and two new notes to learn (D and H) and Frau Suliman starting introducing Bea to reading rhythm from the notes. He's been practicing his drill without prompting since his first lesson which is a great sign.

Gentle activities

A distinct lack of footballs (see yesterday's post), just lots of wholesome singing, dancing and prancing around. The bigger brothers (Bea and Nico), joined Ili and Miya in Malika's group this afternoon. No injuries or tears to report!

Bea starts football at school

Bea wanted to join the school football group on a Monday afternoon, so today was his first try after finally getting a place. Poor Bea didn't have much fun! He loved the warm-up where the ball was  being knocked about, but as soon as the game started he was rooted to the spot (he didn't fully understand what was happening I think). So much so that the poor wee fellow had a ball kicked right in his face and he burst into tears. After finally getting his strength back to try again (and very brave to do so), it wasn't long before he had another one land in his stomach. And it hurt! So that was it. He tells me he wants to try again next week, but I'm not convinced it's a game for Bea yet as the other boys were playing as if their life depended on it and were quite mean!

Active Sunday

We went with Tipje—who will be one of our new neighbours after we've moved—and her little girl who is now in Bea's Kindergarden, to ETH's Active Sunday and the Science Festival. The Active Sunday is great, and runs once a month throughout the winter and is essentially a well-equipped ETH gym for the kids to jump, swing, and climb. After we went to the children's events in Scientifica, one was about the body and food, and the other about the arctic and icebergs. 

Learning how icebergs float at Scientifica.

Learning how much sugar you can find in different foods at Scientifica.