Can't make it but the wish to you is still the same:

Joyeux anniversaire à mon ami ~ mai et dieu bénisse et répondre à toutes vos rêves

From past experience in Suisse Romande, the birthday boy buys right ?

How young will you turn, Monsieur Bertrand?

He's kiddin', Bertrand, not to worry!

So, whatcha want for bday?

It's too far from up on the Jura Bertrand, but hope that you have a great day and evening

No drinks. Sorry.

Bernie, why don't you plan a drinks event on a weekend. Judging from the positive feedback you received, I'm certain that some of us would make it down there.

I'm sure too, but I can't make it with people speaking English. It's just too scary. That's why I cancelled it even if I would love to do it....

We understand...if you change your mind, though, let us know.

We speak French, by the why. Or could teach you Czech!
I think weekend would be better, for the rest of the folks, yeah.

Your English is good! (and I speak French too by the way )

thanks, but my English on this forum and the one I speak are totally different....

Got no problem to meet people speaking French, I do it at least once a week.

It's with English speakers I have problems....

Just to say, it makes more or less three 3 years I participate to forums in English (from Glocals to EF). In this lapse of time, I've met only 4 people in Geneva with one coming especially from Germany to visit me and my town.
And when I say meet, I mean spending time together.

I certainly have some stuff to dig up there....

And my participation to such forums was mainly to meet you, folks.

Bertrand man, people manage to communicate with very few words, and people aren't coming with expectations, just to sit and buy you a beer for your birthday. Go, meet people and be happy.

That's what I will do.

OK, how about this. I understand the pressure and all...Don't panic. We could meet you earlier just for the meal, what do you think. If somebody else wants to come, cool, if not, also cool. We speak French, and most of the Geneva folks speak French. If you signed up here in the forum to meet people and you know them from posting, it's not like it will be a huge adjustment..Do it on the weekend, more people will come. If you are disappointed that somebody you had in mind when you announced this and this person is not coming, I understand. That's life. But birthdays are to be celebrated. Let us know how warm/cold your feet are about this.

__________________
"L'homme ne peut pas remplacer son coeur avec sa tete, ni sa tete avec ses mains." J.H. Pestalozzi

“The only difference between a rut and a grave is a matter of depth.” S.P. Cadman

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." A. Einstein

and speaking is overrated anyway.

Joyeux anniversaire - one year older and yet so much wiser!

Hope you had a happy day, SB

I think we scared him...

You think? Why did he organise it if he had little intention of going ahead with it?
I'll not say any more for fear of causing offense.

anticipatory anxiety