OMG!

OMG. What's going on with the weather??? Can't believe this is the Zürich forecast for the week. We might need to stay close to the water. . . 

Summer birthday child

I was in with Kindergarden most of the morning today as it was the seasonal celebration for all children with a summer birthday. Ili is so very shy in Kindergarten and seems to spend most time drawing, but I'm sure she'll be more comfortable next year when her language continues to improve — I remember Bea was also very shy in school and isn't at all now! Then I took a group of kids for lunch in the park. . .  but was very hot. Afternoon was spent at the garden which needs some serious work!!

Sunday on the lake

Joined up with friends for a paddle on the lake together today. Did the same trip we've done a few times now, up the lake to a favourite lunch spot. We're ready for a different route now. . . . 

A little fish the kids caught
(it was floating on the water!)

Birthday lunch in town

After a late night last night (we had an "Apero" for the parents after the theatre), we had a lazy day out in town ambling around and a spot of birthday lunch in the old town.

Pirate theatre

Bea's class have been working on a Pirate-themed theatre over the last month or so, and on Friday night it was the turn of the parents to watch (the other school kids and Ili's kindergarten saw it earlier this week). Bea was a fab Captain Hook. Pictures are a little bit fuzzy, but I'll try and post some video later this week.

This is Ili (in the middle) with friend awaiting the show!

Piano Concert - Zizou Blues, Westerminster Chimes

Another piano practice for Bea playing in front of the proud parents and fidgeting children awaiting their turn. He was really tired for this one, but he still did very well.
A link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeRZ_to5XFc

Salad sunhat

Bea goes to the school gardening group every Tuesday afternoon, and brings home a bag of goodies that he's grown. Quite frankly, they are far superior to what we've grown on the "lotty" this year. So, well done Bea. Really yummy! xx

Proud of his greens!!

Up the lake with a paddle.

Too hot for the garden today, so headed down to the lake early for another day out on water.

Papa and Bea's paddle boards ready to go!

Kids were watching dragonflies shed their skin.
They were fascinated.

Watching the dragonflies.

Taking a dip at Wollishofen.

The little boat leaving the harbour is ours — with Bea!

Pump. Paddle. Pizza. (aka Friday night)

It was a nice warm evening, so we had a Friday night paddle and dinner out by the harbour at Mönchof near Kilchberg with the SUP. Here it is being prepared.

Pump it up!

And finally, on the water!

Feeding the ducks.

Friday afternoon dip

We had four-wheeeeels today (hired a car to pick-up some garden furniture). So Frith and I managed to grab a swim alone further down the lake at lunchtime. 

Sunday trip down the lake to Kilchberg

It's great how differently you see the area from the water. We wanted to try and explore further up the lake on Sunday — Ili and I in the kayak, and Bea and Papa sharing the SUP — and found some different swimming spots and harbours and had lunch in a sweet little restaurant by the harbour in Kilchberg, only an hours paddle away from the city.

Hot weekend on the lake — with new Stand Up Paddleboard

It was steaming hot this weekend (some amazing electrical storms at night), so it was best to be near water to keep cool. As we can't all fit in the kayak now, we rented a couple of SUPs (stand-up paddleboards) for the boys and they liked them so much we decided to buy one (an inflatable one that fits in a rucksack) as they can be used on rivers and the sea too, and I'm sure we'll get very good use from it! Some pics from the weekend again on the water. . . .

Bea trying the SUP

Bea and Papa on the Stand up Paddleboards

Bea getting his balance.

Friday night paddle

Bea discovered just how sensitive some of his parts are with the jump from the 5m board! Ouuwwchh. And after our time at the Lido, Bea and Papa paddled back right into the city.

Kayaking on Lake Zurich

It was a teacher training day at school (so school free!), and being what must have been the hottest day of the year so far, we headed to the lake with some friends early this morning. While the morning was beautiful, the afternoon was heaving with crowds!! For the first time this year we took our inflatable kayak on the lake and paddled around with the kids — and Chris joined us straight back from Davos. Bea was able to go out with his mates on the kayak alone, and I took Ili and friend out chasing ducklings. Bea was also jumping off the high (5m) diving board into the lake. I didn't see, thankfully!

Can just about see the little ducklings!

Bea and kayak are just to the right
of the yellow buoy (close to the center).

Was peaceful early in the morning.

Swimming

Swimming season is here, so after school was out we headed to the pool. This is a bit of a cheat blog post as I didn't take any pics today, but these ones were taken a couple of weeks ago, when the water was cooler and hence a lot less people! But it's the same place, and the kids did the same thing — Bea spend hours going up and down the water slide, and Ili had a friend with her, so she was happy just splashing around. Next time I'll remember to take some pictures!!