We're now back from Versoix and using the evening to catch up the blog (and do all the washing).

The trip to Versoix started with a very long and drawn out tube trip, which started at 10:00am at Southfields station and ending finally at Heathrow at 11:30am. This after waiting at Southfields for 10 minutes for the tube, transferring at Earl's Court, waiting for the correct train, then catching one that then decided it wasn't going all the way through to Heathrow, so had to get off that one, wait for the next, get on that, which was full and then let others squeeze on for the last leg. A tin of sardines probably has more space than the carriages on the tube to Heathrow.

The tube aside, the flight was very pleasant, and we arrived at Geneva airport, and went through customs really quickly, found our luggage on the carousel waiting for us, and then proceeded to get the car.

We got given a nice Mazda 5 which I thought was really great, 'cause it had lots of space. Graham on the other hand, didn't like the idea of a big car: he had to drive a big car, with left hand drive, on the wrong side of the road, on little roads. Not much fun. I'm really glad that I didn't have to drive.

The B 'n B was really quaint, a lovely little house run by Claire-Lise, with three stories, and all wood with wooden stairs and old lady trinkets and things all over the house. Everybody's movements could be heard, with the creaking floor boards and stairs.

When we arrived at Russell and Jenny's house on Thursday, Russ was still at work, but it didn't take long for the kids to get re-acquainted and straight into games in the garden.

On Friday, we went down to the "beach" at Versoix, it was a small pebbled beach at the yacht club at Versoix (http://www.cnv.ch/ and click on webcam at the top menu to see what it looks like there) on the shores of Lake Geneva, which was really pretty. The kids loved playing on the beach and in the 'cold' water. We then went to the river in the forest which was really pretty. The kids sent their twig boats down the river and they played on the branches and on the banks of the river.

The kids had hot dogs for supper, we put them all to bed, and then Russ, Jenny, Graham and I sat down to a cheese fondue. I never knew you could have so much fun with stale bread.

On Saturday, we went to Signal de Bougy, a lovely park up in the mountains about 30 minutes drive away, with a view over the lake. We were high enough up that we could still see the Geneva fountain, a 140m high water fountain in Geneva. Grabbed some lunch in the restaurant there, and took the kids into the play area. They had all sorts of jungle gyms and mazes and pipes and waterparks and other stuff for the kids to play on.

After that we roamed around a bit and whilst going through their farmyard (which certainly smelt like a farmyard) found an amphitheatre where the Trio Velinos were about to perform. Enjoyed a fun filled 45 minutes watching a show of magic, monocycles and bicycles with a magician/performer and his two assistants, although didn't understand a thing that was said.

By now it was getting late, and was time to head back to Versoix for our braai, I mean barbecue, that we were having for supper. Early night, as everyone was a little tired.

Sunday morning was time to finish packing up, as we needed to get out of the B&B. Went to Russ and Jen's and then headed back to the beach again. We spent the morning there with the kids playing in the inflatable boat, building 'stone' castles, and skipping stones. We had lunch on the beach, and then headed back to the house to collect the bags, and head start the journey back to London. It only took 15 minutes from the time we left the Mackie's until we'd handed the car back at the airport. The check in and passport control was effortless, and we were transported safely back to Heathrow by a comfortable flight on BA. At least today we did not have to catch the tube all the way back to Southfields, as Darryl very kindly fetched us at the airport.

All in all the trip to Switzerland was enjoyable beside the fact that we felt very lost with the communication side of things. Au revoir, until the next update.