April 18, 2014 by wendnharls

A Manor Wedding

Wedding Day!

A leisurely morning walk into the shopping malls of Crawley was a great start to the day for Wendy and myself. We were searching for a bakery breakfast to take back to the boys who had remained in the hotel. Gregg’s Bakery found, we returned with bacon rolls with brown sauce (pommy for BBQ or HP sauce!).

Once we were all spruced up, we checked out of the hotel, packed up the car, and headed as directed by our much-loved satnav to Ockendon Manor in Cuckfield. The village is quaint and very old. The Manor itself was built in 1851, relatively recent over here! It has been added to and has a Spa Retreat on the property. Our accommodation was in this new 5 star section and it was very, very nice!

The wedding was magnificent! Most of Ange’s family are from Scotland and a lot of them came down for the occasion. They are a great bunch of fun people and free accommodation offers we’re flowing freely in both directions! I can’t wait to one day explore my family roots in what sounds like a great part of the world.

Angela was less than 10 minutes late, only allowing Chris to experience mild anxiety! She was, as expected, absolutely gorgeous! They say a picture speaks a thousand words, so here is a literary masterpiece!

Angela and her Dad, Steve, now to be known as Stevo! [/caption]

Bridesmaid Rachel Moore

The new Mr and Mrs Christopher Moore. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

Our fine lads and their Scottish-appropriate paisley ties!

Presenting the Duke and Duchess of Hilton!

The boys with Rach and her partner Sam

Nan Moore and Chris’s Auntie Christina

A dashing Chris with a very proud Nan and Pop Moore

The Moore Clan (no kilts there!)

That’s a lot of sporrans!

Moore women than you can poke a stick at!

The cuz shot!

For the mantle piece!

April 13, 2014 by wendnharls

A Swiss Tale

Once upon a time, in a country far, far away, lived a tribe of kindly people who were creative inventors, skilled in various crafts. Their watchmakers were the world’s finest, their engineers the world’s most ingenious, their cheese and chocolate makers the world’s most desired.

One day, a family of travelers from a foreign and strange land across many seas, walked through the land. They climbed snow covered mountains, slayed giant gold rabbits, and ate the fat of the land! The local people loved the family and gave gifts of fine cheese and wine, free lodging and transport, and at night, much merriment was shared!
The family were astounded at the richness of the country, exclaiming “Surely this is the land flowing with milk and chocolate! We will tell all of our friends back in our country about this place and it’s people. They will also want to visit!”

So, after the merriment of wine and rich food, the family scribe took a writing tablet and waxed lyrically of the wonders experienced and of the generosity of all the people in the small land of majestic mountains, medieval castles, autobahn tunnels, and golden rabbits!

To this day, travelers from both countries enjoy each other’s hospitality, entreating their friends and family to continually strengthen the bond of friendship and generosity established so long ago.

The family returned often to their friends in the mountains, and hosted them also in their own sunburnt country girt by sea.

And they all lived happily ever after!

Mountain stream near Laax

View of the Rhein Valley from Falera

Battlement and tower of Sargens Castle dating back to the 13th Century

Battlement and tower of Sargans Castle dating back to the 13th Century

Commanding view from Sargans Castle over the Rhine Valley

Waiting for St. Peter at the Pearly Gates!

A quick photo before we killed it and fed a small village!

Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!

For the sake of art!

In the market for a Swiss miss…? A great catch!

Springtime in the hills of Zürich

A twilight trek up the Üertliberg, the highest ‘hill’ around Zürich at 2851ft!

April 12, 2014 by wendnharls

Snow Pics

The local language in this part of Switzerland is Romansh, a derivative of Latin. Unfortunately the word for mountain is crap. No, not that! It is ‘crap’ as in Crap Masegn, or as the boys called it, Crap Mountain! Easier!
Falera is part of one of the largest ski fields in Switzerland, so when in the Crap….!

Here we go, here we go, here we go….

Aaron is in green…

Nathan is in tan and blue….

…and Harley is is grey, and often in the snow…literally IN the snow!

Waiting for the gondola above the clouds

Snow selfie!

Feeling on top of the world!

April 9, 2014 by wendnharls

Grüezi Switzerland!

Us Aussies all know about Lindt, Toblerone and Nestlé chocolate, Gruyère cheese, Rolex, and the Victorinox Swiss Army knife. But what would you say is the largest export earning product of Switzerland? Not chocolate, not watches, cheese or pharmaceuticals. It’s coffee! All of you that enjoy the Nespresso pods are part of the largest modern revolution in ‘kaffee’ that has addicted the world! That is what the Swiss are so good at: inventions that addict! So for every meal since arriving we have had chocolate and cheese. That’s why, in preparation, I lost 6kgs in the last 5 weeks!!!

We arrived from Dubai on Sunday afternoon and were warmly welcomed by our friends Kathrin and Werni (pronounced Kat-rin and Verni). Elijah had arrived from Shanghai just before us (he is a Swiss International Airlines Flight Attendant) but had to go home and pack for his departure to a flight school for 2 weeks as part of his application process to become a pilot for Swiss. So we went straight from the airport to see him for 15 mins before he left. It was so nice to give him a hug and wish him well. We will see him again on the weekend.

Jet-lag is a curious thing! The boys and I landed with 2.5hrs sleep in 36hrs. Wendy had enjoyed the amazing hospitality of Emirates Business Class from Perth to Dubai. Her lay-flat seat meant she had slept for 6hrs and was relatively perky! So after dinner, in order to remain awake until a normal Swiss bedtime, we went for a walk as the sun was setting. Zürich is a beautiful small city on a lake. We walked up a hill and overlooked most of the city and part of the lake. The hills opposite caught the golden light of the setting sun and made a really nice photo with Kathrin and Werni. Our reward for the walk was amazing Swiss icecream! Then we succumbed to overwhelming tiredness….

Us and Werni

Aaron in a Magnolia tree

Falera is a village in the Rhein Valley about 90mins drive southwest of Zürich next to the world famous ski town of Laax. Kathrin’s sister has a unit there and she kindly let us stay there for 4 nights this week. Such an amazing blessing! It is very quiet here as the ski season has officially finished. However most of the lifts and slopes are still open with good spring snow cover. The scenery is spectacular, as you can see by the photos! I’ll let them do the talking….