The Botanical Gardens in Geneva  are particularly lovely at this time of year as the autumn colours begin to take over.  With over 16,000 species of plants, trees and shrubs it is a complete gem and one of the finest gardens in Switzerland. We are privileged to have Hester Macdonald, garden designer and horticultural expert to lead us on a fascinating hour-long tour of the garden, explaining some of its treasures and surprises. Many of you may know Hester from her radio broadcasts on World Radio Switzerland, as well as her books about gardens to visit in Switzerland and France. If the weather permits, we plan to have an informal lunch afterwards in the Pyramus Restaurant in the middle of the gardens.   The tour is limited to 10 people and will be socially distanced so please bring your masks and book early to be sure of your place. Meet at: The entrance to the Botanical Gardens opposite Gare Sécheron on Ave de la Paix. Cost: CHF: 10.- for guided tour  CHF: 20.- for the Plât de Jour Reservations to: Jan Powell on janpowell.info@gmail.com and Pam Walsh on pam@pr-walsh.ch by 1 October please. If the weather is really atrocious, we will send out […]

Do not miss this chance to catch up with old and new friends. It has proven to be a real backbone event for the North-West Region and is well attended with always a lot to discuss! Restaurant just opposite to the Swiss railway station. Cost: Pay for what you consume Reservations: Not required  

On the 11th of each month, the BRA Central Region members meet up to have a drink and a chat. We look forward to catching up with old friends and meeting new people. Please feel free to join us and bring along other British, Commonwealth and Irish people you know.   Cost: Pay for what you consume Reservations: Not required – just turn up but it would be helpful to know if you intend to come Contact: Joy Sandoz, E-mail: joy.sandoz@gmail.com or Tel: 032 7531139    

Have you ever had falcons, eagles and owls fly really close over your head so you can actually feel the wind from their wings??? Why not come along with us at the falconeria in Locarno? It is well worth a visit and we hope many of you will be interested in coming along on a ‘different’ sort of day away!!  We will see the birds in flight at 11h00 – a show that lasts 45 minutes which literally ‘flies’ by. Then we will have a light lunch in a restaurant nearby. We are looking into a restaurant and will let you know later on near the date. Time: 9.30am meet up in Lugano for car sharing to go to 11.00am show. Cost: CHF: 18.- (for a group of 10 over 65’s for the show) otherwise CHF: 22.- CHF: 25.- for younger members Plus the cost of the lunch you choose Reservations to: Mrs Patty Pellegrini, Via Baroffio 1, 6850 Mendrisio, tel: 091 646 5352, or Mrs Penny Osti, tel/fax: 091 970 1654 Email: p.osti@bluewin.ch or Mrs Beverly Ortelli, tel: 091 630 0086 Email: 1superspider@bluemail.ch 

Local Valisanne Bakery/Tea-Room, Zenhäusern in Sierre “Chez Zen” have agreed to prepare for us a full English breakfast consisting of :- Fresh orange juice 2 slices of bacon, 2 sausages, 2 eggs, tomato (2 halves), Baked beans, mushrooms, toast & butter Coffee or tea, for the price of CHF: 19.90.- pp Vegetarian option also available 🙂 There is also a huge selection of food and drink to choose from on their regular menu. Come along and join us for just a drink or something to eat, it’s your choice…. Cost: Pay for what you consume Reservations to: diane.moretti@gmail.com by the Wednesday before the event. When reserving please let me know if you wish to eat an English breakfast or not.  

We meet the last Tuesday of each month, but please phone or e-mail to be sure it is taking place. We have been delighted to know that some members, not in our book club, have also been reading the books we have recommended. Please note we are now meeting at the Restaurant Murano. Reservations: If you are interested please contact: Angie Meier-Jones at: angiemeier@gmx.ch or 079 322 44 52 TO BE READ AND DISCUSSED BOOK                                         AUTHOR                                To be discussed One Day                                     by David Nicholls                      28 July 2020 One of us is Lying                      by Karen M. McManus              25 August 2020 The Family Upstairs                   by Lisa Jewell                        […]

Remember, remember the 5th of November! No, we are not going to blow up the houses of Parliament in Neuchâtel: we are just going to enjoy a delicious raclette served in the cozy carnotzet which is in the cellars of the Hotel – Restaurant Vignoble. Cost: Raclette à discretion CHF: 23.- (drinks not included) Reservations to: Joy Sandoz on 032 153 11 39 or email joy.sandoz@gmail.com by Thursday 29 October please  

Time: 12h15 drinks for lunch at 13h00 Cost: CHF: 65.- BRA Members CHF: 70.- Non Members Reservations to: Mrs Patty Pellegrini, Via Baroffio 1, 6850 Mendrisio, tel: 091 646 5352, or Mrs Penny Osti, tel/fax: 091 970 1654 Email:p.osti@bluewin.ch or Mrs Beverly Ortelli, tel: 091 630 0086 Email: 1superspider@bluemail.ch  Please let us know in good time, and also advise us if you need transport. Parking: Is available at the restaurant with additional parking just past the entrance. Transport: The ARL bus leaves from the main bus stop in the centre of Lugano at 12h00 precisely, arriving at the bus stop just past the Osteria at 12h15. Information Centre of ARL: tel: 091-973-31-31.

BRA Members meetup every 2nd Thursday of the month at the Bowling Alley in Conthey (Valais). Thursday night special: Pizza and 2 games of Bowling for CHF: 22.-pp (not during bank & school holidays) If you don’t fancy pizza there are also other items on the menu. This is a lively family place where you can also play other games, such as: Pool Darts Table Football Table Air Hockey and other games. Be sure to bring some 2 franc pieces with you for the slot machines. Cost: Pay for what you consume Reservations to: diane.moretti@gmail.com by the Monday before the event please.  

We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. Please feel free to share with anyone interested in a monthly book discussion in English. Books can be read in any language but the group discussion will be in English. We hope that you can join us! Cost: Pay for what you consume. We will be discussing the following books on the following dates: BOOK TITLE                                        AUTHOR                          To be discussed The Garden of Lost and Found            Harriet Evans                    16 September 2020   The Salt Path                                       Raynor Wynn                      21 October 2020   Watermelon                                         Marion Keyes                      18 November 2020   The […]

This pre Christmas aperitivo for members and their guests would mean booking well in advance; we would need to know the numbers, in order to comply with the regulations and have the space to keep the required distance.      Cost: TBC Reservations to: Mrs Patty Pellegrini, Via Baroffio 1, 6850 Mendrisio, tel: 091 646 5352, or Mrs Penny Osti, tel/fax: 091 970 1654 Email: p.osti@bluewin.ch or Mrs Beverly Ortelli, tel: 091 630 0086 Email: 1superspider@bluemail.ch       

Do not miss this chance to catch up with old and new friends. It has proven to be a real backbone event for the North-West Region and is well attended with always a lot to discuss! Restaurant just opposite to the Swiss railway station. Cost: Pay for what you consume Reservations: Not required  

BRA Members meetup every 2nd Thursday of the month at the Bowling Alley in Conthey (Valais). Thursday night special: Pizza and 2 games of Bowling for CHF: 22.-pp (not during bank & school holidays) If you don’t fancy pizza there are also other items on the menu. This is a lively family place where you can also play other games, such as: Pool Darts Table Football Table Air Hockey and other games. Be sure to bring some 2 franc pieces with you for the slot machines. Cost: Pay for what you consume Reservations to: diane.moretti@gmail.com by the Monday before the event please.  

Hopefully we will be able to enjoy our annual Christmas luncheon this year and that by December things will be improving for us all. Naturally we will be making sure that we will have social distancing. The Hotel Merian has now been taken over by the Sorell Group hence the new name. For Christmas shoppers an ideal choice of hotel as it is in the middle of the shopping area. As soon as we can arrange the menu and price we will send out the details. Transport: The restaurant is just over the middle bridge and the tram numbers 6 ,8 and 14 stop almost at the door. Reservations to:  Angela Meier-Jones on e-mail: angiemeier@gmx.ch or tel: 079-322-4452 by the 1 December 2020 please

Local Valisanne Bakery/Tea-Room, Zenhäusern in Sierre “Chez Zen” have agreed to prepare for us a full English breakfast consisting of :- Fresh orange juice 2 slices of bacon, 2 sausages, 2 eggs, tomato (2 halves), Baked beans, mushrooms, toast & butter Coffee or tea, for the price of CHF: 19.90.- pp Vegetarian option also available 🙂 There is also a huge selection of food and drink to choose from on their regular menu. Come along and join us for just a drink or something to eat, it’s your choice…. Cost: Pay for what you consume Reservations to: diane.moretti@gmail.com by the Wednesday before the event. When reserving please let me know if you wish to eat an English breakfast or not.