Zurich family club offers 'time out' for mums

It's always difficult when you move to a city to find like-minded people to mingle with as there is no easy central point for your community.

However, in Zurich, Wild Tiere Family Club aims to bridge that communal gap by providing a gorgeously designed place for the kiddies to play and for mums to bond over a coffee or glass of wine.

The club has recently been launched by Stephanie, from England, and Irene from Zurich. They are very enthusiastic about their venture and keen to create a home from home for families with as many services as they can under one roof. With German classes and creche facilities available, it is especially helpful for English speaking mums who have just moved to the city with their tots (the club caters for babies and children up to 5 years) and need help getting to grips with their new lives.

The central location (on the No. 6 'Zurich Zoo' tramline, right next to Kirche Fluntern stop but there is plenty of room for parking nearby) means costs are high for the owners so members will need to pay an annual membership fee of Chf 1,200 (Chf100 per month)

This brings unlimited access to the club which is open every day - even on Sundays from 10am to 2pm - and discounts on a variety of services, such as hair cuts for kids (with Pingu on TV!) manicures, pedicures, waxing and massage, Pilates, in specially dedicated rooms. There is a free kids disco on Wednesday afternoons and kids ballet and yoga sessions and lots of special events throughout the year – next up is an Easter Brunch & Easter Egg Hunt on Easter Monday.

In addition, the stylish cafe provides locally sourced healthy food and a wide selection of tea, coffee and wine.

And you get to try it all out for free! To book your day's trial call Stephanie on: 078 740 0337 (email stephanie@wilde-tiere.com) or Irene on: 076 564 4936 (irene@wilde-tiere.com)

www.wilde-tiere.com

How I got my daughter to eat beetroot

I love beetroot. I especially love eating it pretty nude apart from a smidgen of feta cheese crumbled over the top (left)

Unfortunately my children don’t like beetroot. They used to. They used to gobble it down just like they used to gobble everything else from between their beautifully pudgy little fingers when they started eating. But between then and now they’ve got a whole lot fussier about what they eat (she says through gritted teeth)

So I’m reduced to using various strategies to get them to eat things like beetroot. My first strategy, recommended by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to tell them it makes their wee pink, failed miserably. All my eldest daughter said was ‘Eeeew’ (although I’m with Hugh here – how cool is that?!)

But thankfully Hugh (I'm just a big fan, don't worry, there are no affiliated links here) has come up with the goods in his latest ‘Love Your Leftovers’ book (a surprise Christmas present) with his vegetable peel crisps. As I was cooking some spicy potato chips for the girls last night, I threw in a handful of beetroot, carrot and potato peelings (beetroot always seems to come with its skin on here in Switzerland) mixed in with a slug of olive oil and a good grinding of salt and pepper. And 15 minutes later my eldest daughter was eating beetroot skin crisps (despite the potential for pink wee) Big result for mummy day J