On Saturday morning, I was up early to watch the 2nd AFL Preliminary Final between Hawthorn and Port Adelaide. Port started well and led by 12 points at quarter time, but the Hawks then got their game together over the next two quarters. When the Hawks were up by 28 points halfway through the last quarter, I finally started to relax, but unfortunately so too did the Hawks players! Port scored the last 25 points and were on a roll when the final siren sounded - talk about being saved by the bell! So now we know that the Hawks will take on the Swans in next week’s Grand Final, but given the performances by each team this weekend, it must be said that the Swans will start as deserved firm favourites.

Around midday we went over to the Panyard at Bumpliz to pick up a couple of sets of baritones that Gere was giving to Rita for any future steelband tours in France. These pans have real historical value, and one is a set made and tuned by Trinidadian legend Elle Mannette, while the other is the first set of pans made by Werner Egger (who made most of the pans already being used by our bands in Australia).

Since the Indian Summer was continuing in Bern, we decided to go for a bike ride along the Aare River with Doug and Lynne. After getting our free rental bikes near the Casino Restaurant, we headed down the hill to the river side. As we passed under the bridge near the Casino, we saw and heard people in the Worldwide Climate Change March going over the bridge. This march was not as big as in Melbourne, where 20,000 people had apparently marched earlier that day, but it did show a solidarity across national borders that something must be done to address this issue.

We then headed up the west side of the river until we reached the wooden covered bridge, where we paused for a rest (and Rita took her obligatory swim in the Aare). We then continued on the east side of the river and finally turned off and returned via Rubigen to Rita’s mum’s apartment for drinks and nibbles.

That evening, Kuno put his fabulous kitchen to work and prepared a great dinner for us all.