29th July Home Sweet Home!

We left Hotel Interlaken yesterday and the manager gave us first a jar of honey, and then a lift to the station. Changed trains at Berne, a great bore, lugging suitcases down and up ramps, only just enough time for the connection. At Geneva airport the heavens opened, but we managed to find the lift and get checked in for assistance at 18.20. This gave us time to meet first Lyndon Evans and then Robert and Arline and then Lynda joined us. Had a good chat with Lyn, he retired two days ago. Has a viviting professorship at Imperial, a nuber of committees to look after, in fact just enough work to keep him happy. He is very proud that Linac 4 will be an H- injector. Also told of the nervous signing the FRS book with a quill pen, terrified of making a blot. Linda very charming, had been playing golf with Eileen Jones, Eiffyon's widow. One son in Marseiiles, sound specialist, one daughter working for the UN in Haiti. Lyn doesn't know aout Linux or Eldy, I told him!

They came with only one wheelchair and I took it. Ursula had to walk beside me. They took my half bottle of Dole but let me drink a glass before consigning it to the poubelle, (Thanks Bin-Laden). Seats kept for us on the plane.

At Gatwick two wheelchairs but only one man to push them. Nice chap, took us to the taxi. Home about 10 pm. Phoned Christina, e-mailed Nell. Garden is a desert!

I very much doubt that we will ever travel by air again.

Tuesday 27th July 2010

Our last day.Mercifully Diverticulus eased and we sallied forth to go to the Rothorn with the steam tran from Brienz. We had to wait an hour so had a coffee and a beer in the cafe and We shared a Wesh Rabbit cooked in a frying pan. It called something else in Swiss German but I now it now.

We went on the train up to 7.500 feet and it was very cold. We both had warm clothes but decided not to stay very long. The views were marvellous, and we were very pleased with our effort!

Back to Interlaken to buy a few bits from the coop and then tea in our room!

Still sore with the dreaded Diverticulitis but much relieved!!

26th July

A very nice e-mai from Amy! A lazy day after yesterday's marathon. Posted cards, paid most of hotel bill. Diverticulus not letting up, carrying on as if normal. Rain tonight, tomorrow is our last full day. The manager chatted us up, he appeared a few days ago and was pleasant to us.

On dir rien a dir et meme rien a ecrire, ceci le manager a dit a nous!

Sunday 25th July

We might have gone to Church at11.15 but decided to follow the advice of one of the girls at the reception desk. Bus to Iselwalt where we founf a fair in progress and some nice hotels. One such had rognons au riz! I just put it into memory. Then we had coffee and a look round at the Hotel Bellvue Iseltwald. It looks very nice.

It was rather a long walk, no walking oots and no sticks alas! Had lnch on a bench with a Swiss family and on to Giessach. Up in a tram to the top and then a long walk to the bus stop where the bus had alresady left. So all the wsay down again and then the boat back to Interlaken.

Happy hour, small supper and that was today.

Spoke to Brian and Jim from the hotel in Iselwalt, rian in NZ Jim in California and then a quick hallo to Amy in the bug hutch.

Diverticulitis worrying me today, hope it passes off in the night.

Kovely to have sunshineaagain after the two wet days

Saturday 24th at Hotel Interlaken

Sad news of the Glacier Express train crash. We have been on it years ago but not yesterday. My cousin David James has a birthday today. Facebook reminded me so we exchanged messages. A nasty day, but we don't mind too much. Must get our pictures from the shop today.

Will add to this if something interesting turns up.

Looking at this on the room TV using a cable supplied by the hotel technician!

Friday

Wet weather, many people have left the hotel so breakfast less congested. We went y bus to Interlaken West and took Ursula's film to be developed and printed. I took some from my camera too They will be done for tomorrow, we must be there before 4 pm as the shop shuts. We had a snack and coffee in Untersee
In the afternoon Ursula bought new shoes at the Coop.

Thursday 22nd July

Not quite sure what to do today! So took the train to Brientz and then went on the bus to Ballenberg. A crowded bus with standing room only. At Ballenberg we rode in a horse drawn cart, so saved our legs. We are becoming very lazy!!

We alighted from the cart, had our snack and then found ourselves at the other entrance, close to the chocolate factory where we saw chocolate being stirred. Had a coffee and caught the 3 pm bus back to Brienze. Did a bit of coop shopping and then walked back to the hotel. Mum's shoes are foutu so she will have to buy another pair tomorrow.

Now enjoying tea and some of Arline's lemon cake.

The picture is of the altar in a little roadside chapel moved to Ballenberg many years ago. Tried to skype home but no one there, will try again tonight! Later had e-mails explaining things. Skyped Amy and had a little chat.

Wednesday 21st

Another lazy day. walked to town, visited Migros. Sold an old gold filling for 42 Fr.S and came back by bus Then we had a violent storm and a leisurely supper. The photo is of the Castle garden and house nearby.

Tuesday

Had breakfast a bit late. All india and Arabia came down at the same time. A bit like a "dress" show. A Fin whose motor bike and side car we admired remarked that these arab are ordinary people, not the richest. Quite an interesting comment.

We went by train to Lucerne, made friends with a German couple from Essen who have a son in Interlaken Hospital, he may be a max fax also. Another one in Geneva. We forgot the war and I gave him a piece of my apple.

We walked on "The Bridge", picnicked by the lake and then went to see the Ramparts and the the Lion Memorial. I saw it once before and also in a dream. Read a bit from Google 600 Swiss mercenaries were slaughtered by the French Revolutionaries. Also 200 died in prison. One or two made it back to tell the tale. Dreadful story....


Back at 7 pm and now going for supper!

Sunday 18th July

Weather better again after the rain, Just had breakfast and tried for Saturday's Telegraph which was promised for today but will come tomorrow we are now told.

Here is a picture of Ursula with Robert and Arline at the chateau that we visited after lunch at Marianne's flat.

After we returned we went out for a snack rather than face supper and drank tap water!! It was a big mistake.

Still trying to decide what to do today. We are spoilt for choice!

We rested in the garden, and then walked to town, Had a a snack and the took the boat to Spiez. Visited the castle and the beautiful garden and then came back by train. We had to reorganise our tickets and pay extra for the trip from Interlaken West to Ost, but of course no ticket inspector appeared! Supper in the hotel and that's that.

Saturday 17th Hotel Interlaken

Getting ready to visit Marianne Simon. We will rendez-vous with Arline and Robert on the platform of the railway station at Gumligen at 11.33

Tried to buy tain tickets last night but the ticket office was shut. Was caught in a thunderstorm, but with a hotel umbrella and my anorak I was quite dry. New sandals on and no socks so all OK.

Had an enjoyable trip, a nice lunch and a visit to a chateau and back by 5 pm.

Interlaken

Continuing from the last blog, we had lunch at an Italian restaurant which had lots of seating outside, we preferred inside because of the heat. We sat close to the man making the pizzas. He said that he made 2 or 3 hundred a day. The waiters dashed past with plates of food and drink for the al fresco customers. Their shirts were damp with perspiration!

Afterwards back to the Suite Hotel where Ursula rested. I went to cern to meet up with Han. It was a difficult journey with change of bus and then going to the main entrance instead of the visitors entrance. I walked back 50 yards and then got in unofficially and had a telling off from the
security man.

Han fetched me and we did a little tour. Everyone seemed to be at a computer and all my old haunts just had that type of "work" going on. Linac 4 will be a monumental challenge, I am glad not to have to face it!

Han took me almost to the hotel where I was soundly chastised for being so late back. We went to town and after a walk about had supper at the Swiss Chalet. Strangly enough we had the Swiss equivalent of Welsh Rarebit.

Return to Geneva !

About 25 years ago I left Cern for the second time and entered my period of retirement.

Now on 13th July 2010 we returned for a few days to Geneva. Th easy jet plane was a bit late but we were met by Arline and Roert Simon and taken first to our hotel, the Suite, and then to supper at a restaurant just up the road. They insisted on paying the bill despite my futile attempts to settle it myself

It was very warm, ut tired as we were we enjoyed a reasonable night's sleep.!
Next morning , breakfast in our room and then off to town. We found our way to the Cathedral and enjoyed looking at the ruiins underground until we felt a bit lost and emerged having purchased a ook to understand a bit of what we had seen!

Next a visit to the Reformation wall in the Jardins des Bastion