2016 photo round-up
I know we're nearly a quarter of the way through 2017, and no one is even thinking about 2016, but I've tried my best to do this photo round-up for the last three years or so, and it's pretty interesting for J and I to look back on the things we've done. 2016 was very busy and involved much travelling. We were very lucky.
January
We spend the first week of 2016 seeking sunshine and seafood in Lisbon.
After quite a lot of last-minute panic and tears, The Bun memorises two long poems
to perform at the Chinese school's Chinese New Year celebration.
I fly into London to hang out with C for 48 hours. We get a lot done in that time!
The big snow dump everyone was waiting for finally arrives.
February
Celebrating Chinese New Year at home. A simple affair as usual.
Lots and lots more snow, more in the city than the previous few years.
J cuts Bao's hair, to our simultaneous horror and delight.
We spend the half-term break in London.
J makes a solo trip to Morocco and camps in the Sahara desert.
March
Spring arrives.
Parents' Evening and World Book Day.
My birthday. We eat a lot and I get a lovely pair of earrings.
J and I spend half a day at the Geneva Auto Salon. Bao only does mornings at nursery
so it's still a novelty for us to spend time together in the day.
D comes for a work trip and hangs out with us. We take her to see Old Man Winter being burned.
D and I go to London (yes, again), check out the Harry Potter studios, and eat very indulgently.
We drive to Provence for Easter break. It's low-season and quiet but nice.
Unfortunately, the kids and I don't see much because we all get high fevers.
We spend three full days recovering in our apartment.
Feeling good enough to spend a day at the Carmargue before heading home.
April
Spring is in full swing.
We move Bao into her brother's room.
My mother and sister come to visit.
We take a big family roadtrip in two cars to Lucerne...
Lake Como...
And Chamonix.
May
The school's Kite Flying Day, organised by the headmaster as his send-off celebration.
A daytrip to Bern.
And one last big family trip to Dubrovnik.
After my mother and sister return to Singapore, we spend a long weekend in Berlin.
Strawberry season arrives.
Pirate Day in school.
June
My friend S and her daughter E come to visit; the kids enjoy each others' company.
School Sports Day.
The Bun goes on his first overnight school camp in the Jura mountains.
Celebrating The Bun's seventh birthday early with a Lego party with his friends.
That summer vibe.
The school year ends and there is a touching farewell to the headmaster.
July
Summer is for doing nothing and playing plenty.
And enjoying being wet as much as possible.
A short roadtrip to Fribourg and the Black Forest.
The Bun turns seven with a simple celebration at home.
Hot enough for blackberries and more by the end of the month.
August
We spend three weeks in the UK, in and out of London.
Mostly we try to avoid the city centre and explore other parts we've never visited before.
Seaside weekend: rock pools at Broadstairs.
And seafood in Margate.
Another weekend in Brighton.
The Bun loses his first tooth in Brighton.
More shenanigans in London.
Cardiff and the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.
Bristol and Banksy; before finally returning home to Geneva.
We also get the news that Bao will finally be able
to join her brother at his school. Full day!
A big day hike at the Creux du Van in Neuchâtel.
September
The Bun loses his second tooth.
A (belated) National Day celebration.
New school year begins. The kids (and I!!!!) are very happy.
I spend my newfound free time taking long walks and long lunches with J.
The Mid-Autumn Festival.
ASEAN Sports Day, where J gets a medal for billiards (!).
A long weekend in Turin, and the Barolo wine region.
And Aosta, a lovely little town on the Italian-French border.
October
Autumn arrives.
We are hiking nearly every weekend.
I spend a quick weekend in London with E to watch Letters Live, eat, and shop.
Half-term break in Kandersteg and Interlaken. There is a lot of hiking (and caves).
Halloween dress-up for school.
November
J celebrates his birthday with a late-night drinks party and lots of eating.
We finally stump up for a membership to the English Library and read a lot more.
I get a Fitbit and start walking everywhere, including the long trip into town for the library.
The Bun gets voted into the school council.
Bao turns four and has a great time celebrating at a party with friends.
In-between all this, we try to soak up clear weather as much as possible.
December
The kids begin counting down to Christmas.
The Bun moves up one level in judo.
The school Christmas Fair is a great success.
As are the kids' Christmas performances.
We fly to Singapore for the Christmas break and spend most of our time with family and friends.
Revisiting old stomping grounds.
And eating. Oh, the eating.
We saw in 2017 in Singapore before flying back to Geneva a few days later for the new school term. And so 2017 began, and with it more adventures ahead I'm sure.
Looking back on previous years' round-ups: 2015, 2014, and 2012. Too bad I missed 2013 out!
January
We spend the first week of 2016 seeking sunshine and seafood in Lisbon.
After quite a lot of last-minute panic and tears, The Bun memorises two long poems
to perform at the Chinese school's Chinese New Year celebration.
I fly into London to hang out with C for 48 hours. We get a lot done in that time!
The big snow dump everyone was waiting for finally arrives.
February
Celebrating Chinese New Year at home. A simple affair as usual.
Lots and lots more snow, more in the city than the previous few years.
J cuts Bao's hair, to our simultaneous horror and delight.
We spend the half-term break in London.
J makes a solo trip to Morocco and camps in the Sahara desert.
March
Spring arrives.
Parents' Evening and World Book Day.
My birthday. We eat a lot and I get a lovely pair of earrings.
J and I spend half a day at the Geneva Auto Salon. Bao only does mornings at nursery
so it's still a novelty for us to spend time together in the day.
D comes for a work trip and hangs out with us. We take her to see Old Man Winter being burned.
D and I go to London (yes, again), check out the Harry Potter studios, and eat very indulgently.
We drive to Provence for Easter break. It's low-season and quiet but nice.
Unfortunately, the kids and I don't see much because we all get high fevers.
We spend three full days recovering in our apartment.
Feeling good enough to spend a day at the Carmargue before heading home.
April
Spring is in full swing.
We move Bao into her brother's room.
My mother and sister come to visit.
We take a big family roadtrip in two cars to Lucerne...
Lake Como...
And Chamonix.
May
The school's Kite Flying Day, organised by the headmaster as his send-off celebration.
A daytrip to Bern.
And one last big family trip to Dubrovnik.
After my mother and sister return to Singapore, we spend a long weekend in Berlin.
Strawberry season arrives.
Pirate Day in school.
June
My friend S and her daughter E come to visit; the kids enjoy each others' company.
School Sports Day.
The Bun goes on his first overnight school camp in the Jura mountains.
Celebrating The Bun's seventh birthday early with a Lego party with his friends.
That summer vibe.
The school year ends and there is a touching farewell to the headmaster.
July
Summer is for doing nothing and playing plenty.
And enjoying being wet as much as possible.
A short roadtrip to Fribourg and the Black Forest.
The Bun turns seven with a simple celebration at home.
Hot enough for blackberries and more by the end of the month.
August
We spend three weeks in the UK, in and out of London.
Mostly we try to avoid the city centre and explore other parts we've never visited before.
Seaside weekend: rock pools at Broadstairs.
And seafood in Margate.
Another weekend in Brighton.
The Bun loses his first tooth in Brighton.
More shenanigans in London.
Cardiff and the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales.
Bristol and Banksy; before finally returning home to Geneva.
We also get the news that Bao will finally be able
to join her brother at his school. Full day!
A big day hike at the Creux du Van in Neuchâtel.
September
The Bun loses his second tooth.
A (belated) National Day celebration.
New school year begins. The kids (and I!!!!) are very happy.
I spend my newfound free time taking long walks and long lunches with J.
The Mid-Autumn Festival.
ASEAN Sports Day, where J gets a medal for billiards (!).
A long weekend in Turin, and the Barolo wine region.
And Aosta, a lovely little town on the Italian-French border.
October
Autumn arrives.
We are hiking nearly every weekend.
I spend a quick weekend in London with E to watch Letters Live, eat, and shop.
Half-term break in Kandersteg and Interlaken. There is a lot of hiking (and caves).
Halloween dress-up for school.
November
J celebrates his birthday with a late-night drinks party and lots of eating.
We finally stump up for a membership to the English Library and read a lot more.
I get a Fitbit and start walking everywhere, including the long trip into town for the library.
The Bun gets voted into the school council.
Bao turns four and has a great time celebrating at a party with friends.
In-between all this, we try to soak up clear weather as much as possible.
December
The kids begin counting down to Christmas.
The Bun moves up one level in judo.
The school Christmas Fair is a great success.
As are the kids' Christmas performances.
We fly to Singapore for the Christmas break and spend most of our time with family and friends.
Revisiting old stomping grounds.
And eating. Oh, the eating.
We saw in 2017 in Singapore before flying back to Geneva a few days later for the new school term. And so 2017 began, and with it more adventures ahead I'm sure.
Looking back on previous years' round-ups: 2015, 2014, and 2012. Too bad I missed 2013 out!