For Sharen and Terry and the Sims family, their short stay in Bern came to an end today, with Sharen and Terry heading back to the Dordogne valley in France to meet up with Glenys and Bob, while the Sims headed back to Paris. Rita and I took the opportunity to get up a bit late, and since the sun was still shining I set up the laptop in front of the window overlooking the Aare to do a bit of updating on this website. As I tapped away, Rita came out and told me that this was exactly where she used to study when she lived here 30 years ago as a young student - so some things never change.

As I worked away, I listened to the AFL Preliminary Final between the Sydney Swans and the North Melbourne Kangaroos. It seemed that the heroic efforts of the past two weeks had drained the Roos, with the Swans running out easy winners by 71 points - an awesomely easy win.

In the afternoon, Rita and I went with Doug and Lynne on the funicular railway up to Gurten (the hill/mountain overlooking Bern) for a walk. This is always one of our favourite walks (especially when the sun is shining) for the views of the Alps and across Bern. Today did not disappoint.

In the evening, we went across to Gere’s apartment for dinner with Doug and Lynne, and I got my second parking fine in three days, even though I parked in exactly the same place that Sharen and Terry had parked all week, and there were no signs or markings saying that parking was restricted. I guess we just wait and see what happens.