When I saw the German name “Schleifenblumen” in the supermarket (we are in the german speaking part of Switzerland) I had to look it up in the dictionary to see the English name. It is candytuft, a plant that brought back memories from my younger days in London. My uncle had it in his garden, it grew everywhere from its seeds and made a lovely background to the garden.
Friend? I am not so sure about that, felines do not have friends, just enemies, or others that you keep at a distance. For example our Tabby, at the front of the photo, is keeping an eye on Roschti, the neighbours cat, sitting on a pile of covering material left by the builders. Tabby is suspicious.
“What are the intentions of Roschti? Is he trying out my territory for a takeover? It was only yesterday that he left his mark on that material – I saw it and smelt it. On the other hand perhaps he is just trying to see how far he can go. He is looking in a different direction, playing cool. I will keep my eye on the situation. Never trust a feline, I should know. Mrs. Human stay here, I might need re-inforcements if he decides to attack.”
The problem is that the word “friend” does not exist in meow, just “mine”, and “I me and myself”. There is a new phrase “cats first” but they borrowed that from a human.
ä
“Where is she?”
“Inspector, I do not have a clue. She said she had an appoitment with a daily prompt. I heard nothing for an hour. As usual she had closed the door to her room, and I didn’t want to disturb her.+
“You mean you ignored Mrs. Angloswiss for an hour.”
“I was busy on my computer.”
“You left Mrs. Anglowiss on her own for an hour, you heard nothing and did not see her.”
“That is not quite true inspector. I did hear her.”
“She was talking to someone on the phone?”
“No, she usually talks to herself when she is blogging. Now and again I might hear shouts.”
“What sort of shouts, was she in pain? Someone entered her office, the window was open.”
“Not exactly shouts of pain, more perhaps annoyance, a little bit of profanity. Famous blog writers have a temprement of course. They can get frustrated with the choice of the daily prompt.”
“Yes, I understand Mr. Swiss, the local hospital is full of such cases in the emergency ward. Most of them have to be transferred to the psychiatry section for brain damage. Is her computer working?”
” I believe so.”
“You believe so?”
“Inspctor I avoid invovement in the condition of my wife’s computer, it can get very …. let us just say complicated.”
“You mean she is having an affair with her computer.”
“For many years. It all began with windows 98, progressed to XP and that was a long relationship. I was thinking about filing for divorce, but after having a relationship myself with XP, understood her situation. It was when I found her in bed with windows 7 that I got very annoyed.”
“You got violent.”
“No inspector, of course not, although I must admit I was jealous. There I was hammering away on my XP and she was having an affair with Windows 7 in the bedroom.”
“And now she has disappeared.”
“Not a trace, dissolved into thin air.”
“Of course you realise that you are the main suspect, you had good reason, although I can understand you.”
“Your wife is also an addict.”
“Not quite an addict, but she prefers telling her problems to her Facebook colleagues than confinding in me.”
“Oh inspector, I can understand you perfectly. But I can assure you that I am innocent. Just take a look in the computer room, there are no traces of blood or a weapon.”
“But there is an empty plastic container which contained coffee flavoured cream. Did you poison it.”
“Absolutely not inspector. Our last discussion was concerning the flavour of this cream. She actually wanted caramel flavour, but I had eaten the last one and so she had to make do with the coffee flavoured one. I had no idea which flavour she would choose, so could not poison the cream.”
“But if you had known?”
“I would have thought about it. But now the room is empty Inspector, only her camera, the empty cream pot and her Apple Computer are on the desk.”
“An Apple computer, you mean she is…..”
“Yes inspector, she has two lovers simultaneously. But just a moment, I can hear footsteps.
“Is that you dear?”
“Yes of course it is me, I saw an interesting theme for my next blog.”
“But you left your camera here.”
“Who needs a camera when you have a mobile phone for instant photos. What is the inspector doing here.”
“I was worried that you disappeared without a trace and called the police.”
“Don’t be ridiculous dear, now I have returned, so no problem.”
“In that case we will go Mrs. Angloswiss, the case is solved, but you should really be careful when you disappear Mrs. Angloswiss. You should leave a note for Mr. Swiss to tell him where you are going, he was very worried to see an empty computer room.”
“Ok, inspector, I have now learned my lesson and will now never leave my computer unattended.”
The first notable insects I usually see in my garden, usually already in April, are the fire bugs. This year there were none, so I decided it was because the noise of the builders kept them away. Yesterday I was pottering around on my garen bed where a few bulbs were now dwindling, having served their time as flowers, and noticed that they were back. Tiny little fire bugs scuttering around in the earth, thinking about their purpose in life. I believe these are the so called nymphs, the babies, with a few adults in between, taking their first steps. These insects have never bothered me. They do no great damage, and I believe their main diet is based on seeds and perhaps a few roots. When the mating season begins you see them walking around as pairs attached at the tail end for a week or so – what a life.
Otherwise life goes on. We thought there would be storms and rain yesterday, but only some noise in the mountains, although one part of Switzerland did get a flood, but no big deal to make the international news.
Life goes on in our world of building, but not as noisy as it was. I could just hear light tapping yesterday and a little bit of drill in between, but nothing worth mentioning. I went on a photo safari to see if there was anything worth a photo and discovered that the buiders were now working on the small tunnel on the path next to our part of the block. They had already begun to stick the next layer on the now bare brick walls so things are progressing. They are probably finishing this part first of all as it is the path most people use to get to the other side, just like the chicken that crossed the road.
I mentioned to one of the builders yesterday about the pile of felt covers still laying on the meadow opposite and added that one particular cat uses it as a marking ground and otherwise insects are finding it a very good breeding place. If it would rain then who knows what might develop. However it seems I was speaking to the wrong person as this material belonged to the people working on the roof. I had not seen a roof worker for at least two days, but he assured me they are still alive somewhere. However, he will pass on my words to his chief. I also added that it seems wasps were taking an interest in our window frames and hopping in and out of the places where there were once screws. He assured me that would be dealt with today.
Otherwise life goes on. Today is a shopping day, a change of scenery is always positive, even if it is a supermarket.
My usual finish to my supermarket visit is to take a few photos of the newest plant arrivals in the gardening department. Yesterday I noticed they were watering their plants.
They have a very good system. There is a trolley with a connection to the water so they can push it to the plants (and do not have to carry the plants to a sink separately), put the plants into the water and the job is done. I could do with something like that at home. It is very practical. In the background you can see part of the department with part of their selection. It at the entrance/exit to the mall and outside they also have some plants. Mr. Swiss patiently waits whilst I take a few photos.
May your day be a good one.
I only know curcuma as a spice used in Indian curries. When I saw this flower in the local store, I was astonished to find what it was. I did not realise it was such a beautiful plant, something really special. I had to check in Internet to make sure I was on the right path, but yes, this is a flower of the curcuma, also known as Siam Tulip.
Another builer’s photo with the blow lamp melting plastic.
An icy layer
Cold weather in Winter
Oh come on WordPress Daily Prompt people, are you serious? Do you really think I can write an epic blogging entry all about “buff”. I have a feeling that someone was sleeping on the one word job today, like not really knowing what button to press . Ok, he got a result “buff”, or perhaps it was a she. After searching in Internet I found the meaning of the word. I know I am stupid, a golden oldie, the brain cells are dying and not being replaced. That is what happens at a certain time in life and definitely in death. They say the brain cells are the only cells that cannot be replaced, but they are wrong. What about my action cells, the ones that help me to move. They stopped being replaced a long while ago. However as long as I can get to my computer and apply my fingers to the keyboard, all is not lost.
So what are we actually talking about?
We can have a garment made of buff leather. I think this must be uncomfortable in the hot summer weather, sticking to the skin. Perhaps we could begin a new fashion, but I am sure we will be scratching in all the wrong places.
So we shift to the next meaning: the state of being nude. Of course I am nude beneath my clothing, buff all over, but sun worshipping by golden oldies is not really wished for and we do not want the vice squad invading the offices of WordPress for the application of the word “buff”.
It can also be a moderate orange yellow colour.
However, let us not forget a device having a soft absorbent surface (as of cloth) by which polishing material is applied. I do not even buff up my shoes today, they are all sneakers made of fabric. I remember in the far away days when Mr. Swiss was a tie person in the office (actually he kept the tie in the desk in case he might need it), he always cleaned his own leather shoes for the office and I am sure he “buffed” them up before wearing them.
And let us not forget the volunteer firefighters in New York City around 1820 that always wore buff overcoats. For this reason a person that loved to go to fires was known as a buff.
Ok, I got all my information from the Miriam Webster dictionary, because I was too lazy to think up something myself. Really WordPress, you can do better. I think the only reason I am bothering today, is because I do not have anything better to do with my time.
Oh, and have you noticed? The grid was not working for this unforgettable word, although I just had a check and discovered that there are three brave pingbacks showing, The usual suspects, and now including me – have nothing better to do with my time.
This chicken is definitely looking for a “buff”.
Start the day with a view of the Bernese Alps from where I live, actually just up the road. To get this view from my garden I would have to stand on a chair and it is not always so perfectly clear. I shot this photo from the local castle.
Yesterday evening we had dark clouds and were expecting rain, we even heard thunder in the distance, but it did not happen. There were a few drips of rain but nothing more and this morning we have a clear morning. A different troop of buiders have just arrived, with a lady, but they are still playing around with the balconies where they removed the railings yesterday. I said to Mr. Swiss we see more and more ladies on the building sights today.
What disturbs me at the moment is this mound of fabric in front of my garden. They are brown thick felt covers, used to cover the garden when the builders are throwing the discarded pieces of material from the top floors. This is OK, but that part of the work is long finished. Since one of the local cats has adopted it as a place to mark his territory. It has been rained on after the intense sun and I am wondering what sort of insect life is now developing in this mound. I have a feeling this has been forgotten and I will mention it.
Of course in Summer you see more flies and other insects flying around with striped pullovers, probably wasps. It is normal, but this year they seem to be bigger and more developed. Yesterday whilst I was working on one of my prize suspicious blogs a wasp flew into the room and buzzed around and he was big. I managed to manoever him out of the room to be replaced with something else that buzzed. This was a large fly, probably known as bluebottle. Alas he lives no more – had a meeting with a fly swatter and the swatter won the battle.
Just to show that this is a live report from our place somewhere on a building site in Switzerland, here you see an action photo. Mr. Swiss was sitting outside enjoying the morning air and suddenly a builder appeared and called to his colleague on a top floor. It was then that this object arrived. The builder upstairs on the balcony was holding this metal part of the above balcony to steady it for his colleague below. At least they were not throwing this down from the top floor. The builder in our garden was very careful not to harm any of our plants. Every day a new experience from the building site. This front protection of the balconies has to be replaced, as according to the new norms, they are not high enough.
And now to move on. There is a bathroom to be cleaned and I am also still dressed in my Maroccan kaftan which is very useful as a dressing gown.
See you around, there might be a few more photos to take in the meanwhile.
I will leave you with a photo of our house mountain, Weissenstein, complete with it restaurant at the top.
I thought let’s have a good old fashioned rose for a change, nothing special or dramatical, just a rose – you have to love them.
What is the most famous landmark or building you have ever seen?
That is really a difficult one, because most famous is relative.
This was 24 years ago, a 46 year old me, on my trip to New York with Mr. Swiss for a week and never to be forgotton. I have seen the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the colosseum in Rome, and of course all the London famous monuments, but for New York I had to cross an ocean knowing it would probably be the only time that I would ever be in the States. I was going to show a photo of me standing in front of Lady Liberty, but on this photo taken on Ellis Island, you see the complete New York skyline, what could be better? And the twin towers were still standing – I even got to the top of one of them.
Do you like long vacation or lots of mini-vacations?
Today I don’t like any sort of vacation, for me it only means stress. I live on holiday and no longer need to go places and see things. I prefer to visit local places and as long as I have a camera with me I am content.
What is your favorite natural or state park?
I live in a natural park, surrounded by wild meadows, trees, and a river runs near it all, not quite through it, but only a few minutes away. It is teaming with wild life and I love it.
What is your fantasy vacation?
I have been blogging for many years, 9 in WordPress. My fantasy vacation would be one day to travel and visit all those wonderful friends I have found on this site (yes Cee, you are also on the list). I know it is no longer possible, but it would be a dream come true. I met one of them last year, when she was passing through Switzerland, and all being well will probably meet another next year. I just wish it does not remain a fantasy.
What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I am grateful that last week has come and gone. There were noise emissions from the builders renovating our block that reached the borders on the ear drums. The grand finale was last week on Wednesday and now the worst is behind us. We had four days without builders due to Ascension day and the Friday afterwards and then came the week-end. Today they have returned, but the drilling an destruction is now finished. Painting and insulation does not make noise thank goodness.
This week I have really hoping for peace returning to our daily lives.
All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain!
My "bump" was in 2016 when, aged 48, I suffered a stroke. This blog charts my recovery. (Header clipart licensed by pngguru.com.)
Retired and Enjoying Every Minute of It
I am Ahmed Abdi, a Wordpress blogger and storyteller who searches for stories that inspire people. I love writing because it’s a reflection of how I perceive the world around me. Lost in a world of endless chaos in my childhood, Unforgettable moments of tragedy and triumphs taught me the art of storytelling where I found myself through letter writing and then turned into stories but then sadly had lost everything I wrote for years. In 2018, I decided to create a Wordpress blog site that would allow me to store and retrieve every piece. Stories from my community, city and people are what make my writing so interesting and inspiring! I’m a tea lover so a cup of tea sometimes makes my blog.
Dil se Dil tak...
Travels around the world and daily life
Je crie, donc je suis
photography, poetry, paintings
It's just banter
This site focuses mainly on photography, but also discusses just about any topic.
One Day at a Time
Beauty is everywhere waiting to be captured
There are 11,507 stories in Haddonfield; this is one of them.
Everyday Thoughts and Musings
My writing and photo journey of inspiration and discovery
Dreamer, believer and a curious folk
A QUIRKY LOOK AT MODERN LIFE
I set up a blog that no one will read where I can talk about movies.
A garden for birds, bees, bats, flowers, fruit and beauty!
Enjoy Photography and sometimes Writings 😋
"Summer is the Season of Inferior Sledding" -- Inuit Proverb. Martha Ann Kennedy's Blog, Copyright 2013-into perpetuity, all rights reserved to the author/artist.
Welcome to the Anglo Swiss World
Lets Go Nuts Together
NO LONGER ENCUMBERED BY ANY SENSE OF FAIR PLAY, EX-JOURNALISTS RETURN TO ACTIVE DUTY TO FIGHT THE TRUMPIAN MENACE!
Mississippi life culture lifestyles inspiration
To participate in the Ragtag Daily Prompt, create a Pingback to your post, or copy and paste the link to your post into the comments. And while you’re there, why not check out some of the other posts too!
Playing with dolls is not just for kids.
To See a World in a Grain of Sand...
Places in Australia waiting for your "G'day"
The Art and Craft of Blogging
All the Blogging That's Fit To Print
It will all be the same in a hundred years.
explorations on the journey of living
Journey Of A Travel Blogger To Live the Travel Life
Creating & Capturing Life's Precious Moments
.... my journey to a healthy life, making new memories and so much more
Because everyone knows who the pet is
imperfect pictures
In pursuit of discovering beauty in my daily adventure of being a mom of nine
Getting through the frustrations and celebrating the elations
Stock images and prints from Yorkshire landscape and travel photographer Mark Sunderland
Chronicles of an Anglo Swiss 