Just chillin'

Well, hello again!

We decided today would be pretty relaxed as we all need a rest from the last few days' activities. If anyone has been following the weather forecast, you'll know that today has been wet, and not getting any better. Apparently tomorrow is supposed to be improving but forecasting in the Alps is notoriously difficult.

We headed up the road to the Gemmi Hotel to use their swimming pool this morning. I think we must have frightened off all the locals (although Kandersteg is actually pretty quiet from the middle of August since the Europeans all go back to school much earlier than us). The pool was only about 10m square but provided plenty of entertainment for an hour, until the chilly water and empty stomachs forced an exit.

This afternoon we did chores (yes, you'll all be amazed to hear your sons have been taking turns in washing up, cleaning the dining room, cleaning the showers and cleaning the toilets, as well as being responsible for their own rooms - don't let them off the hook once they get home!). We then strolled down into Kandersteg town - about 25 minutes' stroll down the river - to let them spend the cash that is burning holes in pockets. Many wanted to come home tooled up like ninjas but you may not be surprised to learn that Swiss Army knives were popular.

Back to the chalet and we played a fair bit of Tonga, a pretty noisy and fast moving card game. Indeed, this is the reason why I am alone this evening in the IT room.

Tomorrow should be fun! We are off to a place near Thun for dragon boating (it was advertised as canoeing, so it could turn out to be anything!) followed by a trip on a 1960's racing yacht. After that, it'll be a final clear up and trying to repatriate all those dirty clothes with the kids - maybe they could even learn how to use the washing machines? We're out of here at 9.30am on Wednesday so there won't be time to do much then.

I'm not sure yet about taking the camera on the lake day tomorrow (might be an expensive error, as per the white water rafting) but we'll see! Apologies there are no pics today but I am having more IT grief.

Anyway, back to the hot chocolate...

Dave

Just as a post script, the leaders played a bit of Tonga later on, and Mr Mott took Mr Brown's crown, literally and metaphorically. Thought you might like the pic, although the full hilarity of the situation cannot be described to anyone who wasn't there...