How Lavaux wine smart are you? Answer the questions below before Tuesday 31st March. If you get all of them correct you will receive a gift voucher by email to go along to Terres de Lavaux in Lutry to try a selection of 3 glasses of their fine wines and receive a 10% discount on […]
Archives for March 2015
Geneva-based author Paulo Coelho slams Swisscom on Facebook
What can you do when you have a nasty experience with a phone company and can’t get things fixed? If you are the world famous Geneva-based Brazilian author Paulo Coelho with over 26 million Facebook followers you can do quite a lot! Early this morning he took to Facebook to vent his frustration at the […]
Discover the mysteries of the Humagne rouge grape
The Humagne red grape variety is believed to have come from Val d’Aosta in Italy. Although its exact origins are still not yet fully known. What we do know is that it is widely planted in Valais, it is a late ripener, has soft subtle tannin a type of savage wildness about it and is […]
Swiss landlords stop smoking at home
In Switzerland the communal areas of most apartment buildings were declared smoke-free about five years ago, so the present debate has moved to the inconvenient ‘neighbourhood effects’ of cigarette smoke from those who puff away on thier balconies or at an open window. Since the prohibition on smoking in public places, more and more smokers […]
No French please. We’re Swiss…..
Two recent stories are reminders of the cultural and political importance of language in Switzerland. Choosing to learn English as a second language makes sound practical sense in an increasingly global world, however in Switzerland it is not that simple. Switzerland, a country with four national languages (German, French, Italian and Romanche), has to juggle […]
#sweaselpecker?
A scene captured by photographer Martin Le-May in a London park has taken off on the internet (#weaselpecker) at a rate much faster than any woodpecker with a weasel on its back ever could. The world soon started photoshopping all kinds on things onto the woodpecker’s back. John Travolta, Madonna, My Ray Cyrus, even a […]
The most popular men’s make-up
Johnny Depp, Pete Wentz, Russell Brand and Adam Lambert are all known for wearing heavy make-up on the red carpet. But don’t be fooled. These are far from the only Hollywood men who get a little help in the looks department before appearing in public. You may not be able to spot it, but virtually […]
An expat’s view: let it snow. In Happy Valley.
“C’est pire qu’au Canada, non? Faut trouver une meilleure fraise!” – I’d expect a Canadian to have better tools! So called out my neighbour the other day, as the snow continued to fall over the heights of Lake Léman, Switzerland. And so goes another day in a place that might be best, with its many […]
First solar-powered world flight imminent
Solar impulse, the 100% sun-powered Swiss aircraft, is nearing the starting blocks of its around the world flight. After recently completing three training flights in Abu Dhabi, the start point, the team is ready and predicts take-off on 7 March 2015. Back in 2014 the Solar Impulse team, after demonstrating that they could fly their […]
Swiss vote: tax break for kids – Yes or No?
It is Swiss referendum time again this coming Sunday 8 March 2015. Some think that child allowances paid by the state to those with children should not be taxed. Currently they are taxed in the same way as any other taxable income. This vote entitled “Help Families” was launched by the Democratic Christian Party (PDC/CVP). […]
