Amazing?

Posted on July 5, 2025 by Mike

Way back in April I started my traditional annual running programme. It’s called Couch to 5k, and it builds you up from running for just a minute, to a full half-hour. It’s supposed to take 9 weeks, but a combination of travelling and heatwaves in Switzerland and the UK meant it took me about 12. It doesn’t really matter. Anyhow, I finished the programme today, and was rewarded with my virtual medal from the app which has been coaching me along since I started.

So apparently I am amazing. That’s the eighth time I’ve done Couch to 5k, and while it doesn’t get any easier as I get older, having confidence in the programme certainly helps.

Europop

Posted on July 1, 2025 by Mike

Way back in the 1970s we had to endure a genre of music which is now known as Europop. It was bland and soulless. Except when it wasn’t. Search your favourite music provider for Robin Scott / M and have a listen.

This was peak Cold War Europop, and I remember dancing to ‘M’s Pop Music in a disco in Austria back in the day. It’s still good.

Wengen escapees

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Mike

We’ve had a busy few days back in the UK seeing friends and family. Then Emily messaged to say she’d be in Birmingham today seeing her folks, and would we like lunch. Of course we would!

We had some lovely tapas, and a nice walk along the canal and more drinks. Em has her driving test on Tuesday – good luck!

Auf Wiedersehen

Posted on June 24, 2025 by Mike

For now, anyway.

Cows and coffee

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Mike

It’s another very hot day. We’d like to have a walk, but the weather really isn’t helping. There was an article in the newspaper yesterday recommending walking in the forest when it’s hot, so we’ll give that a try. But first, we have coffee at Allmend above the village.

The scaffolding has been removed from the church steeple, so we can take photos of the village again.

Cattle are grazing in the meadow. Cows are noisy – press play!

We set off downhill towards the forest. Cows are placid animals but they do take an interest in passers-by.

Youngsters.

After a few minutes walk we reach the forest. The newspaper was correct. Apparently on a hot day the temperature will be about 5 degrees cooler under the foliage, and it certainly feels more comfortable. Every so often we get a glimpse of the village.

Some of the chalets in Wengen are looking really good now that the geraniums are flowering.

We treated ourselves to lunch at the Crystal bar. Colin’s playing in Rocks tonight, so it should be a good party.

Alpine botany

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Mike

It’s another very warm day, so as usual when the weather’s like this we make some sandwiches and head up to Männlichen. It’s much fresher up here – just right for a walk. There’s still masses of snow in Tschuggen bowl.

Down in the valley most of the wildflowers have gone, but up here they’re everywhere. European Globeflowers.

Those globeflowers are a protected species in some countries, but there are masses of them up here. Val crosses a stream.

This vivid blue flower is a Gentian.

Rhododendrons. They’re just coming into flower.

We emerge from the forest and are confronted with the Eiger.

And to the west, the Jungfrau.

At this point our walk turns east and we head down the mountain in the direction of Grindelwald. These purple flowers are Wood Cranesbill. It’s a type of geranium.

Eventually we reach the end of our walk at a railway halt called Alpiglen, and a train takes us up to Kleine Scheidegg. We’d heard reports of a big crack in the glacier on the Silberhorn, and sure enough it’s almost the full width of the ice sheet just below the summit.