Jucker Farm Again!

For the last two years I have gone to Jucker farm to see the pumpkin exhibition with Alessio, but this year I was unable to take Alessio. So I went with the children in my class, usually I have been on a Sunday and a sunny day. This time it was a Wednesday and a cold day, but lots less people than usual which was good with 14 kids around.

Jucker farm is situated in Seegräben(on Lake Pfàffikon) not reachable by train itself but a short (20mins) and pleasant walk from Aathal train station. There is hardly any parking at Jucker farm so most folk park at Aathal station and walk or sometimes there is a shuttle bus.

Each year there is theme for the exhibits and this year was the Olympics, I think the photos are self explanatory as to which sports they represent.

There is a playground, a giant haystack, a petting zoo, a old tractor and some hammocks which all our kids really enjoyed.

We all looked at the different variety of pumpkins, squashes and other strange looking but very colourful veg. As it was nearing Halloween we bought a pumpkin and saw four huge ones which had been entered into the competiton for the heaviest pumpkin.

There is lots of yummy food to eat, in the past I have had the pumpkin soup there is even pumpkin prosecco, have not tasted that yet!

On the 24/25th November it is the Christmas market at the farm, Alessio and I went last year, as predicted it was really busy but nice. Alessio and I will be there again, hopefully it will not rain, see you there!

Scone Palace

Scone Palace was a place I had been waiting to visit for a long time on my trips back to Scotland and finally managed it this October. The whole family went, first we walked around part of the grounds and we went to an adventure playground to keep the boys happy.

A small Presbyterian chapel stands on Moot Hill where all the Kings of Scotland were crowned seated on the Stone of Scone. For those of you who like a bit of history Robert the Bruce was crowned here in 1306 and the last coronation was in 1651 of King Charles II as King of Scots. The real Stone of Scone is no longer here, it is in Edinburgh Castle, the one in front of the chapel is a replica

Roaming the grounds were lots of peacocks including white ones, which we had never seen before. Inside the palace we walked through the rooms, sadly it is not allowed to take photos, but I sneaked some anyway. There were guides in each room to inform the visitors of the history of the palace, it was all very interesting.

We descended to the cafe for some refreshments, the usual scones with cream and jam (getting to be a habit). Then we walked around the grounds some more lots of trees, plants and flowers to look and also there is the Murray Star Maze. You are able to get an overall view of the maze climbing up the stairs and then we decided how best to get to the middle and the fountain.

So off we went trying to get to the middle, trying not to lose any of our party especially the wee ones. Round and round we went, then it started to rain, we started to get annoyed so we cheated and went in the exit way to get to the middle.

If the weather had been nicer we would have spent longer in the grounds, but as it was raining we left. I would definitely recommend a visit if in the area.

Chamonix

Chamonix in September was really nice, I visited there with my parents and Alessio for a long weekend. We could not have asked for a better time weather wise, it was sunny and bright and when we went up the mountain to see Mont Blanc it was lovely.

The town itself is not really big, we walked around each evening picked different restaurants to dine in. We took the typical tourist train which pleased Alessio no end, and got see more bits of the town plus we also find out more information about Chamonix.

There was a German band visiting, playing music all week outside our hotel which was quite pleasant. We also did a hike which I will post about later on, that was also really nice. We found an area with  cool bars, we picked one and had a glass of champagne in it, where Alessio is wrapped in a purple blanket.

If you have not been to Chamonix when it is well worth a visit, not being a winter sport person much prefer it in the summer months.

Happy Weekend!

Photo of the Week - Lots of Chimneys!

This week the photo comes from Berwick upon Tweed which I visited with my sister in October when I was in Scotland. This was part of the view which included the river, sea and bridges of Berwick, which I have already posted about.

I just liked seeing all these chimneys, it is something you do not see in Switzerland at all and it does remind me of the UK, not to mention Mary Poppins too! I wonder who lives in these houses and are they all for the same house or different ones.

Alyth Hill in Scotland

Taking a break!

Wind Turbines

Millennium Beacon

For the October holidays Alessio and I went to Scotland to visit my family and as always we try to do as much as possible weather permitting. This time we were lucky with the first 5 days being lovely and therefore on the Sunday we set off for a hike. Alessio was very happy to be with his cousins Jamie and Liam during this holiday.

We drove to the small village of Alyth in Perthshire parked the car and started our hike, passing the stone bridge in the first photo. The trail then rises quite steeply out of the village and up we went, stopping every now and then to catch our breath and take off a few layers of clothing.

The views of Strathmore and the Sidlaw hills are very impressive and we could see for miles. The summit is 966ft, only 300m so not very high. As a detour you could also climb the Hill of Loyal which we did not do. Once at the top we could see lots of wind turbines in the distance after a short break to take in the views, we walked down past the Alyth millennium beacon. Then back in the village along the burn that passes through the village and into a hotel for a coffee and yummy scones with clotted cream and jam.

A nice to way to end our short walk and then back home!

Art and the City

Oscar Tuazon (A Lamp, 2012)

Not Vital (The No Problem Sculpture, 2012)

Paul MccCarthy (Apple Tree Boy, Apple Tree Girl, 2010)

Yona Friedman (Metropole Europe, 2012)

Thomas Houseago (Hands & Feet 111, 2011)

Alex Hanimann (Vanessa, 2012)

Arcangelo Sassolino (Elisa, 2012)

Vanessa Billy (Lifting the Earth. 2012)

Saadane Afif (Soap box of Schiffbauplatz, 2012)

Bettina Pousttchi (Aheads Only, 2012)

Subodh Gupta (Untitled, 2008)

Los Carpinteros (Catedrales. 2012)

During the summer months mid June to the end of September there was an project running called Art in the City, where dotted around areas of Zurich were pieces of Art. I decided to go and check out some of them, as you can see from the photos some were large works of Art and some were small ones.

Everyone has there own opinions of what they like and not like, what some people call art others do not think it is. I like the sculpture by Swiss Artist Alex Hanimann called Vanessa and the huge water bucket by Subodh Gupta also stands out. Some I found quite strange and was not sure what to think of them.

Also what was good about this project was that most of the art works were outdoors and everyone could look at them and that is was free too. I wish now I had gone and visited some more of the art works.