How’s that for a sunrise. At last we are getting somewhere, although the reward was temperatures of 0°C through the night. Really time to clear the deck of sensitive plants. I do not have a deck, at least I do not think so, but a porch. I still have two pots out in the garden, not yet dead, but now wilting leaves and son No. 1 will have to shift them today to a more sheltered place.

Today will be a day of isolation, I have decided. I really do not have to go anywhere. All I need is a pair of cervelat (Swiss sausage) and my son can pick them up at the store when he is in town today, so no problem. You can eat them cold or fried, and they keep nicely in the fridge for a week. I just need them for our help-yourself tea on Sunday – choisi de frigidaire.

I did my walkabout in town yesterday, but really no great action. I stopped at one of the stores (Mr. Swiss cigarette supplier) and had a look around for something necessary. All I got was some chocolate as they have a good selection. Otherwise it was back home again through the cold. I really did need my gloves this time.

Even the pigeons were sheltering beneath one of the old town arches, opposite our town hall entrance.

I got my delivery from the online store yesterday and it was perfect. I got a message on the computer telling me that Jürgen, the chauffeur, was already on his way at 11.00 a.m. and at 11.30 he had arrived. He was a nice guy and I discovered he had a wonderful accent in German. I though he might be a Bavarian, but no, he was an Austrian from the German border. I am really become an expert in German dialects.

Christmas is approaching. Although I am not a Christmas person and hate the stress of it all, I have discovered that organisation and logistics is a great help. You can organise so much with a computer. I am originally a Brit, been living in Switzerland 52 years, but I do still miss the British food at Christmas: mince pies, Christmas pudding and cakes flavoured with our special mixed spices. I decided to do something about it, so in one of my surfing iPad moments (in bed this morning) I visited the British Shop web site in Switzerland. I discovered they have really improved and it is now online big business for us ex pats. I will be placing my online order this week.

They even have self-raising flour. In England a normal flour for baking, but in Switzerland not available and every time you bake something you have to add the baking powder. In self-raising flour it is already included. They even have english sausages, although not a Mr. Swiss choice. He prefers the bratwurst, but I so miss the english pork sausages, although Mr. Swiss calls them “sawdust” sausages. The Swiss really have no food appreciation. That Swiss shop is really good. Perhaps a little more expensive than in Britain, but reasonable. I even found maple syrup, which is not really British, more American, but they had Golden Syrup – now I have not seen or tasted that since my childhood years. It looks like it will be a British Christmas this year.

On the way into town I passed by our museum which is now surround by almost naked trees.

And now to get down to some serious work. I decided on a meat loaf for dinner today, meaning mixing the mincemeat with the additional ingredients and getting it generally ready for the oven. How easy it was shopping this week, online life is wonderful.

Unfortunately online hoovering and ironing has not yet been discovered, but even that one day might become a reality. And now to wish you all a good week-end, enjoy it, and stay safe. Isolation also has its advantages. I will be baking a cake today, but not a banana cake which seems to have become fashionable in our pandemic times. I think I will attempt a chocolate cake.

See you around-