Hi all,

I have just arrived from SW London in Winterthur with wife and family (two boys, one pre-school the other year 1) for a minimum three year stint. I spent ten years in Vienna in a previous life (so fluent German) and thought "it can't be that much different". Wrong!!! It is (different) but mostly in a good way.

We love Winterthur, pretty, walkable Altstadt and delightful surroundings. Like all mitteleuropa countries there are rules and regs for everything but talk to the right people in the right way, show a bit of respect and toss in a smidgen of "uninformed foreigner" and the fog miraculously lifts.

For now I am mostly on childcare while the missus brings home the bacon but would love to network a bit and look for opportunities for my architectural / interior design / photographic skills. Not to mention hints and tips on "things to do with a three year old in those few odd hours when the school system is taking care of the other one"

This site is a great resource, well done to the founders and operators, I am sure you'll find me doing the odd late night rant... watch this space.

CHPAddy