Daily Archives: 08/02/2017

Flower of the Day: 08.02.2017 Bromelia

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Bromelia

I know, I seem to have a thing for bromelias, but each time I visit the supermarket they have yet another new variety. Perhaps it was the angle because it was on the bottom shelf and I was looking downwards, but somehow this one reminded me of a parrot with its wonderful bright colours on the tail feathers.

Flower of the Day: 08.02.2017 Bromelia

Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge – February 8, 2017

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Feldbrunnen to Langendorf 06.02 (155)

The private road leading from our local castle Waldegg on the top of a hill to our village. As we live in the village, we have a permit to drive on the road. If you look through the trees at the end of the path, you will see a white building peeping through which is the beginning of our estate. On the right are the local stables.

Feldbrunnen to Langendorf 06.02 (147)

The steps leading to our village church. around the church are various grave markers of well known and prominent people from the village.

Feldbrunnen to Langendorf 06.02 (111)

The paths through the forests are still covered with snow, but now and again someone dares to take a walk.

Cee’s Which Way Photo Challenge – February 8, 2017

Colour Your World: Olive Green

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Olives

I quite like an olive now and again, mainly the greek ones, as they are bigger and more tasty. They sell them in the local supermarket packed in plastic bags in their salty juice, or otherwise you can buy them open. One thing you can be sure of, is that the green ones are definitely olive green in colour.

Colour Your World: Olive Green

Daily Prompt: I heard it on the first Wednesday in February

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Feldbrunnen to Langendorf 12.10 (16)

They are positioned on the roof of most buildings in Switzerland, but to be quite honest I am not really sure if what you see here are the actual sirens. We are always prepared in Switzerland, you never know, although I am not really sure what we are prepred for. It can happen any time anywhere. Perhaps there might  be an industrial accident and we will hae to shut all windows and doors and lock yourself in the cellar. Of course we Swiss are informed that we should have an emergency supply of food in the cellar in case we would be under attack. The idea is to have some oil, pasta, beans: stuff that you can keep for unlimited time, although our government does warn us that we should check on the best before dates now and again.

Mr. Swiss was once in the civil defence for a few years, just a couple of weeks in the year. He had to inspect the various rooms in the buildings necessary for defence purposes where there was always a housewife happy to show him around and of course learn how to rescue people from damaged buildings. He was even given an overall for the job. If anything would happen, like being attacked from martians or other extra terrestrials, we all have to have our safe places. I was not very happy about this because it meant that I would be separated from Mr. Swiss, as he would be with the organisers. However, these days are now gone, he is now too old for such exercises.

I do not really think that there is a danger of being attacked in Switzerland, although you never know. We are prepared, we have sirens positioned to make a noise. The idea is that when a siren alarm is activated to turn on the radio and listen.

This is all very nicely organised of course, in the Swiss way of things, but these alarms have to be used now and again to see if they are really working. You never know if one of our many bank vaults might be under attack.  For this purpose on the first Wednesday of every year in February, they are switched on. We are warned  before it happens, and they take no consideration to the public. It usually happens around 1.30 on and off until 4.00  in the afternoon when I am enjoying my after lunch golden oldie sleep. The sound is throughout the country. On every mountain, every hill and in every dale, as well as the towns you can hear the sirens.

The last alarm was last week and I was rudely awakened, Mr. Swiss did not even notice it. He was probably listening to music thorugh his earphones. I hope he will not be listening when there is an emergency situation.

We are so well prepared that we even have a video to show how it all happens.

Daily Prompt: I heard it on the first Wednesday in February

Good Morning, Sawatdee

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My language greeting today is one that I have used now and again when I meet collegues from this country when we are shopping. It was from them that I learnt how to greet in this language.

Feldbrunnen to Langendorf 06.02 (80)

Since I took this photo 2 days ago on the way home from shopping, when Mr. Swiss took the scenic route, the snow has disappeared from the lowlands, but still remains on the mountain slopes. However, today the prognosis is snow down to 500 meters which is about the altitude of our area, so be prepared. It is not so cold and it will probably be big flakes falling that will not freeze on the roads.

After my absence yesterday morning I am back to more or less normal. I was already on the road with Mr.Swiss at 8.00 in the morning on the way to the doctor. Mr. Swiss dropped me off and enjoyed a free morning in town, drinking coffee and generally having fun. I managed to clear up a few open questions with the doc and we discussed the renewal of my driving licence, which it seems will be no big problem for everyone, except for me. I will renew it, but I really do not enjoy driving. I drove for many years, even took my own little Fiat on holiday to the Bernese Overland , Mr. Swiss driving his car. There was no problem. We were not a car family. Although dad worked most of his working life for Ford Motor Company in Dagenham, London, he never owned a car and never even learnt to drive one. Mum thought they were dangerous objects in any case, and for her it was an adventure to sit in a car as a passenger.  She was a worrier, and was convinced something might happen. Is it a wonder that I never actually enjoyed owning and driving a car, it was more a matter of convenience. When you have four kids  it is a necessitiy, especially if one is handicapped and you have to take him to various special places for therapy.

When I think of the days in Winter when I dragged the Volvo S90 over ice fields to work, taking twice as long as usual, I never had a problem. Now reflecting on it all I realise I only drove because I had to. I never really enjoyed driving. Everyone is now telling me it would definitely be a good thing if I kept my driving licence. Even my doctors are showing encouragement. I have problem with my left leg, as I tend to drag my left foot after walking for some time (MS). but the doc found that I drive an automatic and it will be no problem, as I do not need my left foot – great.

It is no big deal to keep the licence so I will go for it, because everyone tells me to. I am so much more happier sitting next to the chauffeur and taking photos on the way. Today might be the big day when I am let loose again on the road on the way back from shopping. On the other hand they have reported snow and I will definitely not drive if it is snowing.

Otherwise things are again back to normal. I hate those interruptions in my routine with early morning visits to doctors on days when I have a different programme. Actually I was quite astonished to discover that I managed to fit everything in yesterday morning, including a full bathroom cleaning session, although I left my bed 45 minutes earlier than usual.

I now have a nice clean shiny computer. Mr. Swiss found that if I insist on taking photos of my workplace, I should at least have a clean computer, so yesterday I went into action with a damp cloth and tea towel for the shiny effect afterwards. I first of all cleaned up my Apple Macbook. Afterwards I attacked my Acer Aspire. I was having problems with the keyboard on the Acer as the space key was not spacing. However, after a removal of the remains of the jam from breakfast, it is now working perfectly. It even looks better. So is life when you are a stressed out blogger, no time for the necessities of the day.

And now to move on, I have other things to do – like driving a car?

Feldbrunnen to Langendorf 06.02 (135)