Adventfenster is launched

Brütten Library is launching the village's Adventfenster event tonight between 5pm and 7pm. The public is welcome to go along and say hello and share a glass of Wunsch Punsch. I think there may be an activity available for the little ones too. There are also lots of new books and films on offer, many of them very up-to-date. I've just taken out Whiplash and The Imitation Game. Oh, and all films taken out in December are gratis! Enjoy.

Brütten Church in watercolour

I've taken on the task of teaching myself watercolours. Very tricky for me, being an artist far more comfortable with pastels and oil paints! So after a series of paintings, some better than others, I've produced my first painting which I am pretty proud of. Brütten Church is very pretty and a prominent feature of the village, peeking out across the vista from miles around. I am planning a collection of pictures focusing on views of the church from many different viewpoints - some rather unusual! So please enjoy Brütten Kirche No.1 :)

Brütten Library refurb

The fantastic village library is going to be improved even further with a big refurb for the October holiday. There will be a staircase added to the main room, leading to the first floor level which will be kitted out especially for the teens. The children's space on the ground floor will also be expanded and enhanced. I can't wait to see the improvements. And better still, we are all invited along to an apero to view the work on Monday, 19th October between 3pm and 7pm. See you there!

Free travel on 31st May!

Fancy taking a trip to somewhere new? Then do it next Sunday, 31^st May, as travel is FREE on any ZVV transport right across Zurich. This amazing event forms part of ZVV's 25 year celebrations.

On May 27, 1990 at 4.58am the very first train of the Zurich S-Bahn left Rapperswil in the direction of Zurich, heralding a new era of public transport in the Zurich area. The Canton of Zurich had invested almost one billion francs in the first commuter train system in Switzerland which included two new underground tunnels from Zurich HB across the city, new double lane routes and almost 80 stations. The new S-Bahn a timetable was tighter, with new trains, more seats and and more efficient with an optimal link to the rest of the transport supply. (And this is what sets the Swiss travel system far apart from many countries – that confidence that you can disembark from a train and step onto a bus going home just 3 minutes later)

So whether it’s the train, the tram, the bus, the boat or even a cable car, you can travel for free on them all within the ZVV Zurich network from midnight on the morning of 31^st May until 5am on 1^st June. For journeys which go beyond the ZVV perimeters you will need a valid ticket or connection ticket (Anschlussbillet) from the last stop within Zurich.

www.zvv.ch

Summer is coming

We greatly enjoyed last week's Ascension Holiday, making the most of the stunning barbecue facilities around the village, as well as the opening of our favourite outdoor pools. I love this photograph of my daughter enjoying the glorious Winterthur backdrop while she waits patiently for her al fresco dinner - the flavour of frankfurters cooked on the barbie never ceases to amaze me...

Story time at Brütten Library

Brütten Library will be holding story time sessions for children aged between 2 and 4 years. Springtime stories will take place at 10-11am on Tuesday 14th April and summer time stories will take place at 10-11am on Tuesday 30th June.

Regular opening times for the library are 3-7pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 10am-12pm on Saturday morning.

For further information call the library on: 052 345 1037.

Fleamarket on Saturday

There will be a lovely community buzz at the Gemeindesaal on Saturday between 9am and 11am as the village's residents flog off their surplus clothes and games for children after having their spring clear outs. Many of the children are encouraged to clear out their unwanted toys and earn pocket money at this annual event. There are usually bargains aplenty! If you want to hire a table you can contact Sylvie Kessler on 052 345 0811 or email: sylviet@gmx.ch

Festive pics from across Brütten

I've joined Brütten Choir!

I've somehow allowed myself be talked into joining the local choir. Now, I love singing - especially in the shower and the kitchen - but I'm not sure how this actually translates to singing in public. I am also pretty used to my wonderfully musical husband describing me as tone deaf! Nice, huh?

But I have never agreed with him. And now I have recovered from the shock of suddenly having to sing in tune, with others, and sometimes with an audience :-O I am determined to prove him wrong.

There has been lots written about the benefits of singing in a choir and the BBC's amazing Gareth Malone has made it a pretty funky and very accessible thing in his series of addictive programmes. So I'm smitten. And I hope the reality of it all doesn't disappoint. 

Brütten Choir gathers at the village Gemeindesaal each Tuesday evening from 8pm.