Ahhhhhhh, Suisse

You know you're getting on a bit when you are so glad to be in a country because the airport loos are so clean. But that's what happened to me. I resisted going on the French side of Geneva airport because it looked a bit tired, but I relented and they were spotless and shiny and Swiss-like. Happy days. Ah well, we can't all be exciting types. How will I ever survive Morocco? I shall just have to reabsorb.

Anyway, I digress. We've had such a nice week here on the Swiss Riviera. It has been wonderful catching up with my aunt and uncle Ann and Berny. We've been fed and ferried and guided - they have been stars. And not just fed, but fed fondue and filets de perche. My boss Craig back in Welllington made me promise I would eat filets de perche here, and so my uncle took us to a result to a posh hotel in Vevey where we ate what felt like bucketloads of the lovely little fillets. They were in a sinful buttery garlicky sauce with delightful veges and fries that even I couldn't waste my appetite on, but the children enjoyed. It was so yummy that even Mr "I DON'T WANT FISH" Henry polished off his before I could get back from the loo and was begging for mine! And the fondue, mmm - delicious, tasty, rich. We have been fasting on veges the last two days and walking the mountains to recover. Yes, the dairy products are spectacular here - think pear and chocolate yoghurts, nutty raclette to melt on potatoes, coffee with cream. Lucky we leave tomorrow! Conrad has written plenty about the last few days so I will leave it to his witty self to fill in the gaps.

Tomorrow we pick up a car back in Geneva and head by Monday to Strasbourg - looks like a very interesting area of France, which we are looking forward to exploring. Not quite the breakneck Nice-Chamonix-Geneva in a day like last week.

We've stayed in a fabulous studio apartment for the last three days, in Montreux. It has been an excellent home base and great to be able to make our own funny meals. The children have been relaxed and happy, with plenty of outside time, delicious food, playgrounds and fauna. Just the right balance.

On the family news front, Henry lost both his top front teeth this week and looks like he's been in many a bar-room brawl. He's done pretty well out of it though, scored a few Swiss francs from the tooth fairy and has taken it all in his stride. My wee boy is growing up. *sigh* how fast time flies.