While stuck in busy traffic due to construction, I passed the workmen on the street busy digging away. One man had a Santa hat on under his hardhat. He raised his head and from inside my car, I gave him the 'thumbs up' to which he stopped working and removed his hardhat while bowing low at the waist. Really made my day and maybe I made him smile, too!

... got a phone call today, from an old boyfriend from when I was 14 who'd heard from another friend that I am back in CH. Not seen since the Isle of Wight festival 1970, lol- who lives in Vaud.

man, now they gotta edit the ending....

Were festivals invented then?

Yes! Woodstock! Summer of 69!

Of course but that was stateside.

Ah, if you have not heard of Woodstock and Isle of Wight 1970 - wow.

We were only over half a million there ...

The 1970 version, following Woodstock in the previous year, set out to move one step forward and enlisted Jimi Hendrix. With Hendrix confirmed, artists such as Cactus, Chicago, The Doors, Lighthouse, The Moody Blues, The Who, Leonard Cohen, Miles Davis, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Jethro Tull, Sly and the Family Stone, Ten Years After, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Free also took part, and many more.

The event had a magnificent but impractical site, since the prevailing wind blew the sound sideways across the venue, and the sound system had to be augmented by The Who's PA. Organizers also faced the logistical problems involved in of transporting some 600,000 people onto an island with a population of fewer than 100,000.

...I've just stumbled upon a beautiful set of photos of Mohammed Ali in Zurich back in the day.

https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/multime...rland/41207422

Because yesterday I bought a used bike, SPECIALIZED CROSSOVER, NCX lite for sfr 450.00. Listed new for sfr 1200.00. The bike is practically new, used only for a few days till previous owner decided to get a E-bike.
I live in Locarno and there are great bike routes. Never seen so many bikes since Amsterdam.

Because we were filmed today by the local TV. Making Bach. And making the camera lady giggle all the time

Santa has gone on strike.

He is not French.

the sun came over the mountain and hit the fresh snow- and turned everything into a twinkling winter wonderland

All the sun does here is display that three days of storm and rain mucked up each and every window.
I'm planning to ignore it for as long as I can.

ah shame - it is gorgeous here- as said, winterwonderland. Young friend from Neuch coming up to sledge with the kids, behind the house, in a minute. Hoar frost falling from the trees in the warm(ish) winter sunshine.

I got recruited for Messiah.

And I got 4 weeks to cram it, before it is delivered it in the LS cathedral. Wowza.

all the chamois by the Castle sunbathing on the slope


and last night was 'proper' cold - minus 20C in Little Siberia up the road can't wait for the Lac des Taillères to freeze, the skaters, vin chaud and hot chestnuts ...

Is there any webpage that says if its frozen or not? Its a bit of a shame to come over from Geneva for nothing

it's not at the moment, But yes, I think there is a website- will check for you.

Or you can just ask me ... meet up for a vin chaud.

Just phone the Commune:

Administration communale

2406 La Brévine

Tél +41 32 935 11 15

Can do mates' rates b&b, kids and pets welcome.

took doglet Emma to our French vet for pre UK trip check and worming. She was as good as gold. Got wormer tabs for Minou too. Charge 9 Euros- when querying - oh no charge for visit, just for the tabs- always a joy to see the lovely Emma <3- after the appalling way her previous owners treated her.

Bon Voyage.