Home again

On our last night in Luzern, we booked a table on the "Raclette boat" and enjoyed melting cheese whilst sailing around the lake - more fun than it sounds, I assure you! This morning was my first day in the office since mid-December and I think tomorrow just has to be spent sorting out some of the piles which have arisen about the place.

I guess life is getting back to normal.

It's good.

In answer to Phil's question, below, the raclette pans we used were small, individual ones, shown in the photo above, which were placed one per table. They were "fired" by three nightlights underneath the pan, and we soon realised that it would have been better to have it all lit and hot well before starting. Being non-smokers, however, the lack of a light on our table meant we had to rely upon our waitress to light it for us, and I think we must have been the last on her circuit. The first few slices of Kaltbach cheese melted very slowly indeed, so as there were four on our table, we asked for a second pan. There was an ample buffet table with constantly replenished supplies of potatoes, mini corn, tomatoes, pickles and cheese In no time at all, we were melting cheese faster than we could eat! We drank Fendant wine, from Valais (delicious), enjoyed the "Gemuetlichkeit" of our fellow diners very much indeed and very much recommend these "Fondue- u. Raclette- Schiff" trips as a great way to spend an evening.

Hotel Art 9

The walls of our hotel room here are simply painted white and have no further adornment. There is plenty of hotel art, however, shared with the whole world as it's out there on the walls of the building. We like to think our home from home here is the prettiest of them all, of course, though there is competition a-plenty.

Another foodie post

Oh dear. Anyone would think I was focused on food these days. But yesterday we got together with a bunch of longstanding Swiss friends and with their encouragement, tried a "local speciality". There can be few less risky places in the world to order such an unknown dish - certainly years ago, whilst travelling through the Caucasus and stopping by a restaurant in Shemakha, Georgia (or is it Azerbaijan?) the "local speciality" was not exactly what we might have chosen! But Luzerner Chuegelipastetli turned out to be delicious, and not only did I get to eat it, I was taught to say it as well!

Wool shopping

It's great to be in a place where sock wool is so commonplace that it's available in any of the small or medium-sized stores around here. Needless to say, I made on and restocked with a few balls. Some of it I've had before - the Blauband yarn in the slim balls is very good to use and comes in some delightful tweeds and mixtures - above there's a couple of balls of navy blue flecked with rainbow colours and some fairly plain bottle green (which is intended to become a lace shawl). But I've not used the 6-ply Regia and will be pleased of any advice re size of needles/pointers to a good pattern for it. I also found the two brightly coloured cottons, labelled "Potholder yarn". Perhaps a couple of dishcloths a la Mason-Dixon will appear shortly?

I also found a bag of cream/white buttons for just SFR5 (about £2.50). Don't know what will become of those but it seemed like too good a bargain to pass by.

Socks Away!

 

Just finished my socks tonight. Plain old Angel Yarns free pattern with Opal Yarn - they fit well, though they are a little snug until they've been washed.

Restocked with new yarn in the Luzern Co-op today - bought a few balls, in fact, which I'll photograph and blog tomorrow. Next pair on the needles will be for Mark and they'll be red. His choice!