The Good Ol' Days again

When we came to Switzerland 7 years ago, we were introduced to Nikki and Stuart, a couple who had made the big move just a few months before we did. They took us under their wing and showed us the do's and don'ts of living here. The four of us slipped into an easy friendship that felt so comfortable, I like to think of it as "friends at first sight". The Good Ol' Days were good. Mah jong, beer, fondue, mah jong, port, fondue, mah jong, champagne, you get the idea... After having their first son in 2005, they decided to move back to the UK. I knew that we would always be friends but it was a time that I shall describe simply as 'sad'. Since they left there has been a Byfield shaped hole in my life.

We spent a Christmas with them and they spent spring break with us and then, fast forward to summer 2009...joy and bliss the Byfield family came to visit us! If not for the four children running about around us, it would be as though time had stood still. The only difference is that we are now better looking, smarter and much, much funnier. The three weeks flew by and, although we are left with lots of fun memories, I am more sure now than ever that life is definitely BWB (better with Byfields:-)

When they are here I revisit old doubts about why I am here, so far away from my family. Am I doing the right thing? It feels right to me. I wake up feeling that I am in the right place but life is not all about feelings. SHOULD I be somewhere else? Have I got obligations and responsibilities that I have pushed aside? Did Mum and Dad think these thoughts each year they stayed in Canada? When, if ever, does a foreign country feel like home? Is home where you grew up, where your family is originally from or where you choose to live? Am I Canadian, Scottish or both? Does it even matter? If we stay for ages, will my children feel like they belong somewhere? Can, and should, you ever go back? Where is 'back'?

My head spins with these questions that plague me from time to time. I take small comfort in the knowledge that if my Dad were still alive, he would like where I am and what I am doing. It would bring him joy.

Living here brings me joy but it brings me sadness too. If I had to be a flavour of ice cream, I think I would be bittersweet. Bittersweet is the flavour of my life.

It is like being a parent. With each new stage of my naughties lives, I mourn the stage they have left behind. I rejoice each milestone but inside I am crying. Crazy, I know. Similarly, with each adventure I have here in Switzerland, I think about what I am missing at home. I know you can't have it all and I know too that the grass is NEVER greener but still...I am always, always wondering.

Camping in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland

Ever since I began living in Switzerland, I have wanted to visit the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It has been circled in my guidebook for 7 years. This year, I realized the dream! We just got back from 3 days camping in the Valley. It was very very beautiful and was better than I could ever have imagined.

We arrived on Thursday afternoon and set up camp. The sky was grey but the people in the campsite were confident the sun would shine Friday and Saturday. (I have learned that Swiss people are NEVER wrong about the weather!) Now, my Canadian friends need to understand that European camping and Canadian camping are two very very different things. Canadian camping is really roughing it. You are out in the middle of nowhere with a fire and an outhouse (if you're lucky), you have to tie up your food, or hide it in your car so that the animals aren't attracted to camp and you spend your evenings around the fire, laughing and telling stories until the wee hours. European camping, on the other hand is (sadly) more civilized. The campgrounds are right next to the roads and towns. There is a shop, restaurant, bathroom, laundry room and sink room on site. There is a quiet time (from 10pm - 7am) that you must adhere to and there is absolutely no threat of wild animals anywhere! I must admit that the older I get, the happier I am that there are proper toilets and a room to wash my dishes in. The thing I don't like is the 'no fire' rule. What is camping without sitting around a cozy fire? Sadly lacking.

The Pros and Cons of European Camping:

Pro: The scenery and its accessibility and real (clean) toilets.

Con: No campfires allowed and it is all a bit too easy;-)

Friday morning seemed to arrive very, very early. I forgot how early kids get up when camping. The sky was blue and the views were amazing. We had breakfast and set off on a walk down the valley towards Tremmelbach falls. It is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site and was incredible! 10 glacier-waterfalls inside the mountain that you get to by tunnel elevator. It is now the only glacier-waterfalls in Europe that you can visit that are inside the mountain. The water has carved beautiful shapes in the rocks and Josh and I loved it. Max spent the whole time with his hands over his ears, saying it was too loud.

Saturday was Swiss National Day. We got an early start and took the gondola up to the car free village of Murren. From the gondola station, we took a mountain train along the ridge to the village. From there, we hiked down to Gimmelwald. At Gimmelwald, we took another gondola down a very steep section and then a bus back to Lauterbrunnen. It was a small circular route but perfect with small children. That night there were fireworks which lit up the surrounding rock walls and the echo was fantastic!

We'll definitely go back as there is so so so much more to do in this beautiful valley.

Lx