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It’s a cool, cloudy day, but the forecast is dry so we make our sandwiches and head up to Männlichen. Work on the new gondola station is still in progress so the place is a construction site. On the ski pistes between here and Scheidegg more work is underway, this is for snow making. The pipes are laid in 2 metre deep trenches. At one point we have to make a diversion to get around one.

Once we pass Arven things get a bit quieter. Below about 1750 metres it’s warm enough for livestock.

Every so often we see a big scar on the mountain created by diggers. This is where the pylons will be built for the new Eiger Express lift. It’s not due to open until 2020 so there’s still plenty to do.

Eventually we reach Alpiglen, where the train picks us up for the ride home. Football again tonight.

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Blazing sunshine today, and temperatures in the high twenties. The hills along the valley are less severe than the ones on the run from Mürren, but of course it’s a lot warmer down there. I decided to run from Lauterbrunnen to the Schilthornbahn. Boy was it hot, so hot in fact that there weren’t many other runners on the path. Still, I completed the run and we had lunch at the snack van before getting the bus back. We’d planned to go to Interlaken for some shopping, but instead we retreated to Wengen and the cool of our flat.

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Busy afternoon and evening yesterday, first was the football of course and we all know what happened there. Jack and Erin came over from Zurich so it was nice to catch up. After the game we went down to Sandro and Beanie’s for a barbecue. Kids having fun.

And what a barbecue. Tiger prawns to start, followed by a lovely joint of pork. After eating we went back to Rocks for the Croatia vs Russia game.

This morning we went on a circular walk around Innerwengen. Looking down the slalom run.

And this is the last part of the downhill course.

Innerwengen, with Wengen in the distance.

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High above Wengen is a rocky outcrop called the Leiterhorn. It marks the point where our valley meets the next one, immediately above Zweilütchinen. On the way up we get some amazing views towards Wilderswil and Interlaken. This viewpoint is called Hunnefluh.

We continue upwards towards the top – it’s a tough climb. Eventually we emerge at the summit. Oddly the views aren’t quite as spectacular from here, but they’re still pretty good.

Next up, football.

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Yesterday’s rain still hasn’t stopped, and it’s pretty cold at just 12 degrees. I’m off down to Lauterbrunnen for the final run in my 8th week of training. Just one week to go. Down in the valley it was a bit warmer and the rain was merely drizzle – I enjoy running in this sort of weather.

More football tonight, looking forward to watching Brazil play Belgium.

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Angela had a barbecue in the garden – we all mucked in. Pity it was pouring with rain, but the terrace is under the first floor balcony so I didn’t get too wet while I was cooking.

The weather meant we had to eat indoors. Ang has bought a new sofa. It’s absolutely enormous.

Anyhow, a good time was had by all, and we’ll reconvene in Rocks later.

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Yesterday we spent a long time in Rocks. At 4pm we had Switzerland vs Sweden. The result was a disappointment but it was an entertaining game. Val and Ali in their Swiss tops.

After the game I popped to Santos and got a huge order of fish and chips to sustain us through the main event, which was of course England vs Columbia. Didn’t expect to see any Columbians in the bar, but then these girls came in.

I’m sure you know how the game went, but here we are after the last penalty went in.

This morning it’s time for another run, and once again we head over to Mürren. A good run, if a little tough after the excitement of yesterday, and a nice lunch at Winteregg.