Fete des vendanges, 2006

Ahhh we plunge deeper into the culture of Neuchatel! Fete des vendanges (as I may have discussed this time last year) is the high point on the Neuchatel calendar. It's 2 days and 3 nights of partying, Neuch. style. A few months ago we decided we'd like to sample the night life, sans children, so I started asking around about baby sitters. A couple of times people honestly laughed in my face! Apparently, everyone over the age of 16 is at the Fete, and if they're not then they're babysitting their grandchildren. We did find a good babysitter who we use regularly now, but she flat out refused to do anything for the Fete. She did recommend a friend's sister who's 14... and really quiet. She saved our A@#*s, and we went out on the Friday night (last weekend). This is supposed to be the best night. Everything's fresh and only the Neuchatelois go. Saturday, everyone from every other canton comes, and Sunday night is somewhat the same. The whole of the center of town was closed to traffic. The bus lines were re-routed, and according to Walter the CSEM bulding was completely empty by 4 pm. We got the bus at about 7 and it was packed with jolly people who all knew each other. There was a lot of Swiss kissing all round. When the bus got to the end of the line, we all got out and headed towards the "thumpthump" noise. People were streaming into the center(rather like rats) to where all the stands were. Just before that was the fair ground, which we didn't feel up to trying. The Fete is all about the grape harvest and the beginning of wine season, so there were plenty of wine stands. We've been there and done that, so we headed to the (one on every corner) Brazilian booze stands, and sampled all those easy on the gullet coconut and lime drinks. We then started ambling around the streets, sampling some Thai food and pork (straight from the pig which was just sitting there...). Somehow, we ran into every one of our neighbours and some parents form Allie's school. There were pleasantries exchanged and quizzical looks when we tried to reply in French after a Caipirinha, then we would move on. The atmosphere has got to be one of the nicest, least tense that I have ever encountered in a street fair. Supposedly, there were ~250,000 people there over the weekend, and only a couple of minor fights! Another big thing of the Fete is confetti. Unbelievable amounts of milticoloured confetti gets thrown around all weekend. They were lucky it didn't rain till the Sunday night. In the big parades on Saturday and Sunday, large trucks with manned confetti canons trundle along, blasting it at people. They also aim for open windows in the apartments along the way. Children are given free reign to throw it in one's face also. Anyhoo, on the Friday night the "Guggenmusik" bands parade along for a practice run... interspersed with the 'canon trucks'. As parades do when there are loads of people around, it stopped. Right in front of me. I was fired upon and am still finding confetti in my clothes. That's supposed to be a sign that one has been "Neuchatelised" or something. Finding confetti in your house for 6 months after Fete des vendanges. We moved slowly through the heaving crowd once more, listening to all the different types of music coming from all the stands (representing every small club and business in the canton) and made our way back to the bus. Here's happy Walter ;)


On the Sunday, we ventured in with the wee boys. Allie had been going on about trying candyfloss (or Barbe a papa), so what better way to get it. They were allowed a bag of confetti each to throw at anyone they wanted. Allie meted out conservative handfuls at people's bottoms and Toby threw gobs of it everywhere. Lucky for him his brother has a kind heart and gave him some of his.



They consumed some candyfloss and then decided it was too much, leaving me and Walter to try and finish it... with no luck. I seem to remember gulping the lot down as a child and enjoying it!



We also saw the grand parade from afar (as we didn't buy tickets). I do believe I saw a Loch Ness Monster float and a bunch of kilted men. I certainly heard piped Scotland the Brave! This is the only pic we have of the floats. I'm sure the rest were lovely too.




After some more walking, the crowds were getting a bit too much for the boys, so we went home. It was a smashing fete, though. I've booked the babysitter for next year.

Ferry Ridin'

After a few days of Blogger not allowing me to upload my pics, here we are!

There are lots of different ferry rides to take around the "Three Lakes". We started with an easy one- Saint Blaise to Neuchatel. It had been quite a blustery weekend, so the ferry was very quiet. The ride took 20 mins with stops at the Latenium and Hauterive. In town, we played at a park, consumed some tasty, weird Falafels and took the bus home. Speaking of Falafels, if you're acquainted with them you'll know that the tasty weee gems, veg and sauce are all wrapped in pita bread. Not so in the Twilight Zone of Neuchatel. They load all of the stuff into a giant, soft roll thing. It's a meal in itself!

The ferry pulls up as we run to catch it.

Wind blown Walter :)

The 3 most handsome men in Neuchatel.

Allie enjoyed the trip... I think. At least no-one threw up!

The view from the back of the ferry as we left Hauterive.

The view of Areuse (where the cool gorge is).


Next time we'll go through the canal in Marin to Lac Morat (Murten) for a day trip. Toby is giving up his naps now, so we're a little more mobile. And harried.

Hooray for Jamie and Susan !!!! 9th September 2006

What a busy few days. We arrived in Edinburgh last Weds morning. Easyjet somehow managed to get us there on time, with bags. Thursday was the wedding rehearsal, where Allie (or Alasdair, as he now wants to be called... in a French accent!) met one of the lovely ladies who would be holding his hand down the aisle.

Friday, Walter and I went out for dinner with my brothers, girlfriends, and friends.
Robert, Jamie, John on the night before the 2nd one gets hitched.

Saturday, we spent most of the day getting ready for the wedding. All the men wore kilts (including the wee men) and I wore the stupid dress that I finally fininshed. It was quite comfortable ;) The wedding was in the Glasgow University Chapel. It's a beautiful, nicely designed chapel with lovely stained glass depicting the faculties of the university. The pews had all kinds of carving of animals, faces and celtic knots. It also sits in the middle of the historic part of the university. We arrived and parked wee, bamboozled Allie with his G'parents to wait for the bride. Susan looked absolutely stunning and her dress was indescribably lovely. Her mum walked her down the aisle to Jamie, who was handsomely bekilted ;) Allie followed at the back, holding hands with the bridesmaids. He seemed very happy! The ceremony was performed by the minister who married Susan's parents and buried her father. It was a really nice service. Walter got to see a wee bit from the back, then had to take Tobe outside to release energy. They had fun running around the quads!
Susan, looking emotional and beautiful, and her mum, looking radiant and happy. Just above Allie's head, you can see Walter and Toby just before they depart.


Signing the register... it's a done deal.


The happy couple!!!



After the ceremony, it seemed like the photos took hardly any time at all, hence my inability to take any of us (that's my excuse). We were then bussed down the road to the Oran Mor. What a venue. It's a rennovated church, with the artwork of one of our most favourite artists and writers Alasdair Gray (guess where the inspiration for Allie's name came from). The boys had 2 other wee boys of about the same age to play with, so they all ran around and had a good time.
Far away glimpses of Allie and Toby.


By the time the speeches came round, Walter had to take crazy Toby off to bed. The plan was for me to bring Allie up after the speeches and settle the babysitter in. She never showed up! If anyone is ever thinking of hiring a babysitter in the UK, DON'T use SafeHandsNetwork. Every time I've spoken to them on the phone, all they've done is make a lot of defensive sounding excuses. By the time we had explored all the other options (using hotel staff- the head receptionist that night was very helpful, and others) we were knackered and went to bed. IT would have been nice to see Walter and have a wee dance...
The next morning we met up with my parents in the Botanic Gardens just around the corner. I remember it from many trips as a child. The boys were especially interested in the banana trees ;) Jamie and Susan made it too, and it was agreed that everyone "needed" an ice cream ;)



Somehow, in the mayhem of the wedding I ended up with no photos of us the Stockwell clan! I'm really kicking myself, but there should be some from the professional photographer... at some point. If anyone who attended, and is reading this, can they email me something.... please!

Now we're home and recovered, and Jamie and Susan are tooling around parts of Asia :)