Swiss Families Robinson? - Not so much

Okay, at the outset, I have to confess I never read Swiss Family Robinson and I don't really know much about the story.  My only exposure to it was the attraction at Disneyland in 1958 which may not even be there anymore!  However, I was struggling to come up with a catchy title for today's blog and, as I spent yesterday afternoon and evening with two Swiss families, it is the best I can come up with.  Apologies to the original story and the two families the blog is about.

Since last Friday, I have been staying with a family whom I have known for quite a long time.  I first met Roger about 25 years ago when I was living with his cousin.  He stayed with us several times, once for six weeks.  I met his girlfriend (now wife) Kathrin later and she stayed with me in 2001 while she was studying English in Victoria.  While the relationship with the cousin "went south" over 20 years ago, my friendship with them both has become closer.  I went to their wedding 10 years ago and I have visited them many times since.  I have also gotten to know their two children (Tim and Alana) - well, as much as you can when you don't speak Swiss German!  

 

The other family I know here I met through knowing my friends in Alsace and their connection with curling.  Oli played for the German national team (which Keith was coaching at the time) and I met him in 1998 when they did their pre-Olympic training for Nagano in Victoria.  Later, I met Andrea, now his wife.  They have also stayed with me in Victoria and I went to their wedding in Rapperswil about 10 years ago.  They too have two children, Tim and Lucy. 

Saturday evening, we were invited to Oli and Andrea's for dinner in Volketswil about 30 minutes from here.  It was the first time I had seen the home they moved to about 7 years ago.  The weather was fabulous and the kids all played together happily; well, at least most of the time.

 

 

 

 

Their home is very close to an award-winning park which had been transformed from a gravel pit into ponds, streams, play areas, little bridges and plenty of benches to sit on to contemplate the peaceful surroundings.  The ponds have attracted many kinds of birds, a few fish and frogs. 

 

 
 

Oli and Andrea's apartment is in the building on the right

While we were sitting in their yard sipping our late afternoon drinks, I noticed something odd moving around on the grass in the yard next door.  Everyone laughed when I asked them what it was.  I still don't know the exact name for it but picture a "Roomba" for the lawn and you have it!  What a concept and, aside from cutting the lawn, it also fertilizes it while it is doing its thing!  I could use one of those but haven't seen them in Canada (or maybe my gardener is keeping it a secret from me!)

This is Oli's robot mower; the one next door is turquoise.  No wonder I thought it was some sort of weird animal.
I found the following video on YouTube of one mowing a lawn.  Fascinating!

YouTube video of the Swiss robot mower!

The kids watched a movie for a while giving the adults a chance to visit and then, just like that, it was 11:30 and long past the time we should have gone home.  It was a great evening and a lot of fun!

 

Sunday was a very hot and sunny day.  Kathrin, Roger and the kids went to some fair in a nearby facility.  I decided to stay home and cool by avoiding the heat.  Later, two other friends of theirs I have gotten to know (who have also visited me in Victoria) Reto and Sascha came for dinner.  Sascha had just returned from Italy and brought with her some Italian goodies.  So, we spent the evening on the terrace sipping Alsatian wine, eating tarte flambee (lots of them!) and chatting.  Again, the next thing we knew, it was midnight.  I felt some sympathy for them all as they had to work in the morning!
 

Tim with his heavily decorated glass!

 

 

 

 
Tuesday, I leave here and drive to Frankfurt airport where I will drop the car off and stay overnight before flying to London Wednesday morning where the next stage of this trip begins.  Sure hope the UK weather is as cooperative has it has been on the continent!