This week the Happy Valley correspondent makes solemn predictions for 2016. 1. More departures. Expect more multinationals to depart or trim staff as the franc remains strong, and company tax deals come closer to their end dates. Add to that the possibility of further own-goals relating to all things foreign. 2. More damaging referendum outcomes. […]
Is This the World’s Dullest Election?
Elections are always fun events in Happy Valley. Think splendid, colourful posters plastered on our streets. Think informed debate and discussion at every street corner. And think intriguing flyers left in our mailboxes. And while an unfortunate court ruling in my native land has reduced my electoral rights to voting only vicariously, what could be […]
Happy Valley – and the real reasons behind VW’s Dieselgate
Autumn has always been a wonderful time to be in Happy Valley. The leaves are changing, and chasse is on the menu at the local auberge. So imagine my anger when I learned that the crisp, pure autumn air I’ve been breathing is perhaps not as crisp and pure as I had thought. I’m speaking […]
Happiness comes to Happy Valley
As colder weather starts to descend on Happy Valley — the bise earlier this week was a rude taste of things to come — your loyal correspondent is pleased to report some interesting developments relating to topics touched on over the past few months. To wit: Back in March, I commented on plans being reviewed […]
A gloomy start to the school year
Few things get the heart pumping of your Happy Valley correspondent more than la rentrée…that splendid combination of the first whiffs of fall air, and the return of horrendous traffic, as la Suisse Romande re awakes from its summer slumber. But this year, the rentrée in Happy Valley somehow feels…well, rather different. Rather morose, in […]
Is Lausanne One of The World’s Top Cities?
While perusing the racks at the local magazine shop, your loyal Happy Valley Correspondent was delighted to come across the latest edition of Monocle magazine. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Monocle, it’s a very glossy periodical, with many nice pictures. It describes itself as “a briefing on global affairs, business, culture and […]
Festivities, song and fire strikes Happy Valley
June is a particularly important month in Happy Valley. It’s more than just the month that signals the arrival of wonderful festivals in the area, ranging from classics in Cully, to flamenco in Renens. And it’s more than simply the month that kicks off clearance sales at Movenpick Wine. (Check out the marked down Albarino. […]
First impressions: Switzerland at Milan Expo 2015
Here in an unseasonably chilly Happy Valley, this has been a week of fulfilling one’s national duty. I am talking about visiting Expo 2015 — and seeing how the Swiss pavilion stacks up against the parade of great nations eager to showcase their wares a few kilometres outside of Milan. (I also could throw in […]
Swiss Rail “doesn’t like its customers”
Feeling Unloved by Swiss Railways? It’s been a week of shattered illusions in Happy Valley. As if the Swiss National Bank‘s unexpected, abrupt ending of the Swiss franc 1.2 floor in January 2015 was not enough to disillusion your correspondent, now comes the humbling of yet another pillar of Swiss predictability and reliability. I am […]
Switzerland – Home of the World’s Best Festival?
Cully Jazz, errant bachelors, and the only way to travel to Frankfurt… Your loyal Happy Valley correspondent is sitting on a Kuwait Airways flight from Geneva to Frankfurt. It’s civilized, quick — and amazingly inexpensive. The wide-bodied plane is at best 10% full, which means extra-attentive service, plentiful leg-room and a level of overhead storage […]
