Thursday 15 September 2016

Heidi or Ursli?

With regret, I am coming to the conclusion that our imminent trip to Switzerland is making Gail go a bit funny in the head. Over-excitement can do that to a grown woman, I believe.

Apparently, at six and a half years old, I am now exactly the same age as Gail was when she first went to stay with her godmother Doris in Luzern.

On that rather flimsy pretext, Gail decided last night to read to me from the books Doris gave her on that first Swiss holiday.

You have to humour them sometimes, don't you? 


We started with 'Heidi'.

Well, this Heidi, also six years old, is a cute little Swiss girl, and she prefers mountains to towns, which I guess is something in her favour. But really. Heidi?! It's a girl's book, isn't it? What else do you have there Gail? 

So Gail sighs, mutters something about insidious gender stereotyping even influencing dogs' taste in classic children's literature, and reaches for 'A Bell for Ursli'.

Now that's more like it!

This Ursli fellow has some excellent adventures, of the sort I am hoping for in October. Maybe I shall get a chance to cross a perilous bridge?

Or run up and down a snowy mountain and dive through the window of an Alpine chalet?

Well I am beginning to understand why Gail is getting so excited.

Is it really still three weeks before we leave?

19 comments:

  1. We'd go for Ursli. Reread Heidi last year and really didn't enjoy it. Shirley Temple was better...BOL! How exciting. Can't wait to see all the photos.

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  2. What great drawings!!!!
    Are you practicing your yodelling Bertie???
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  3. Ursli. My human was given the same book when she was a child (and kept it for many many years) but it took her until she was 27 years old to find her way from New Zealand actroos the big oceans to Luzern.

    Bertie, you are going to have so much fun you will need to write your own picture book when you get home!

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  4. Hari OM
    Oh my word Bertie lad, definitely worth getting excited about I'd say - though maybe the head-butting chalets is not something to go looking for... Hugs and wags, YAM-aunty xxx

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  5. Bertie - Leave perilous bridges to humans. Stick with fondue.

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  6. the mama loved the book of Heidi, think she read it 87 times :o) and her bestest gift was the heidi video what she watched in an endless loop :o)

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  7. OMD, you're going to have such grreat adventures!! I wish I could go with you.

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  8. What gorgeous vintage books you will have lots of fun

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  9. we are sure you are going to have the best ever adventures

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  10. Always humor the hand that feeds you
    Lily & Edward

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  11. Mimi says she loved Heidi when she was a kid, but Mimi is as old as the alps.

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  12. We know it will be a wonderful trip! Our mom read Heidi and now thinks she should read it to us!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

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  13. Oh my...we are sooooo excited for you!! Mama is a big Heidi fan...we will have to have her look for the Ursli books!
    Smileys!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

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  14. Bertie!
    Oh my...does Gail have different voices for all the characters when she reads to you? Mom loved Heidi when she was a wee girl.
    Hugs Madi your bffff

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  15. We do have to humor them sometimes! But the pictures in the second book look pretty cool and I'm sure you will have a fabulous time!

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  16. Those look like wonderful books and a great segue for your upcoming adventure.
    Wyatt and Tegan

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