The Fed Cuts Again

and I guess that Ben and the guys are trying to get in front of the curve. With more unpleasant rumours and disappointing results coming to the fore each day, this has certainly been a tough couple of weeks for the markets.

Where it all stops, nobody yet knows (in spite of what they may tell you) and there has certainly been a lot of wealth destroyed in a very short period of time. Good luck and happy hunting out there- I guess that there will be a few bargains about.

My month-long photo project draws to a close tomorrow- can anybody tell me where I can find a suitable Number "31" to take a picture of? I thought that this would make a good finish to the 31 days of January................ I'll keep my eyes open.

Happy Singapore Noodles!

Dear Jenaya,

best wishes for a very Happy Birthday! We hope that you have a great time and look forward to seeing you all again soon. Much love, David and Catherine xxxx

A great weekend away

and I returned home to a delicious lamb curry for early dinner. Thanks Catherine xx Arosa was a lot of fun again- good snow and plenty of people out partying too. The skiers were all happy and I am sure that the barkeepers and restauranteurs would be pleased as well.

I managed to take a few photos and sadly also lost the small remote release for my camera. Not an expensive item, but a pain in the butt to lose it nonetheless. I only have 5 more photos to publish for my January Madness Challenge and I am wracking my brain at the moment to come up with a suitable subject for today....... still thinking :-(

Ben Bernanke blinked!

It must have been tough sitting in the offices of the Fed Reserve on Martin Luther King Day and watching the markets around the world plummeting. The "pre-emptive" rate cut from the Fed probably won't stop the US economy from entering a recession, but hopefully it will lessen the severity and length of the downturn. Many expect a further cut next week after the meeting- me included. I have enjoyed reading commentaries in the last 36 hours about the situation and opinion is divided...... "should he have kept his powder dry?" "what is plan B?" "where is the central bank's credibility if this doesn't work?" "too little, too late". One way or another there is going to be a lot of pain before the world markets return to being sunny, kind and friendly again.

Arosa- we are coming!!

P.S. thanks for the input, Catherine xxx

G'day

A beautiful sunny Sunday

and it was wonderful to get out for a walk after being in the office all week. We went to visit Walter & Masi (who had a birthday during the week) to say hello and catch up over a coffee. They are enjoying the weekend after a few busy days looking after their darling grand-daughter and taking it easy.

I took my camera with me when we went out and managed to shoot a few frames- it was a nice change to be out in good daylight and hopefully a few of the pics will turn out to be OK. My January project is going well and I am looking forward to the company weekend in Arosa next weekend- that will be a chance to take some really different shots (as well as drinking too much and not getting enough sleep).

Thus far in 2008 my New Year's Resolutions have been going well- I have been able to get some exercise, am already feeling a little fitter and my letter-writing has been much more regular.

Henry Rollins was in great form last night

and I really enjoyed his spoken word performance. He covered topics ranging from George W Bush and the internets to travel in the world's political hotspots and then on to growing up in Washington DC and attending Ted Nugent concerts in outdoor arenas.

Feeling a little left out at the moment as Steven is down on the south coast with the family this week and Gary is heading off fishing with the kids this weekend...... I am here in the rain (and certainly not catching any fish).

How Green is my Valley?

I am just back this afternoon from a terrific weekend in Vallee Verte in France with les Hodges. We had a good snow fall, a nice Saturday in Geneva, a very pleasant birthday dinner with Bettina and family and a wonderful time catching up with Stephen, Adrienne and the "dots". Thanks again for Saturday lunch- it was a lot of fun and many thanks to Stephen for the ride into Geneva today! It sounds as if their European Vacation has been lots of fun and they still have a little time to take it easy before heading off towards Hong Kong.

Safe travels, have fun in the Far East and love and kisses to everyone in Australia xxx

I have made it through the first week of 2008

and so far, things seem to be going according to plan. I have made a few visits to the gym, written a letter, taken photos every day and am still looking forward to our weekend in the French hills. Hopefully things will continue in the same vein for a while and I can manage to lose a bit of weight- although I do need to get my boots and pack out and get hiking (or out on the snowshoes).

Gary has moved house, the Moose bbq is hooked up to the gas and running and sadly Jacqueline's Christmas present is still caught up in the postal system..............

Happy Moose Day

Hi Marty, Nicole, Jenaya and Kai- best wishes to you all for a very happy Moose Day 2008! Hope that you are all well and can really enjoy the day together. If anybody happens to spot this mighty Moose in Singapore today, please give him a big birthday kiss on our behalf (after all it is not every day that the Moose turns 40).

We are looking forward very much to speaking with you a little later.

Happy New Year - Very best wishes for a happy and healthy 2008

As with every new year, this one starts with me being overweight and tired and trying to make my life better and healthier in the coming months. My New Year's Resolutions are; to write at least one letter per week, lose some weight and get fitter, take more (and better) photos and to visit more countries in Europe.

I have a new photo project starting today which runs for the month of January and will hopefully fit in with all of the other activities that we have planned for the month. We are both looking forward to catching up with some Australian friends over in France in 10 days time, seeing other friends around Zürich and I have a company ski weekend towards the end of the month as well.

Wine of the week

Catherine and I have had an enjoyable week and have eaten and drunk very well. I have sampled a variety of red wines from Spain and Australia, but the highlight for me this week was this one. A terrific Cabernet Sauvignon from Western Australia and luckily we have a few more bottles in the cellar!

I have just committed to doing another photography challenge in January which will mean (for me) shooting pics every day but only being able to use two of my fixed focal length lenses during the month. It has been a great learning experience in the past and I expect January to be the same, although it might be difficult as there are not a lot of daylight hours available.

Christmas is over for another year

and a very enjoyable time it was. We were lucky enough to receive some wonderful gifts and spent time with lots of good friends. Less than a week now until the start of 2008 and I am still working on that list of New Year's Resolutions.............. anybody care to make a suggestion? Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy and successful New Year.

After a most enjoyable Christmas Dinner with good friends

last evening, it is now time to relax and enjoy the weekend. We have shopped for food, collected parcels from the Post Office and had an exciting phone call from friends who are coming to visit in the New Year and this afternoon will be a quick trip to the city and then an easy afternoon at home. Our Christmas menu has been decided so now we just have to sort out the wine!

I am looking forward to properly testing the new sofa later on today :-)

Christmas is rapidly approaching

and I am already fearful of the bathroom scales...... What, with business drinking and eating as well as social eating and drinking, one can only gain weight in December. I have tried to keep up my programme at the gym but the nights out have left me too tired to get in there and do something worthwhile- look out January! If it weren't for a visit from Australian friends, a company ski weekend, a Henry Rollins show and a few other events it would be easy to take the month off the booze and get on with the dieting- maybe February will be the time.

New Year's Resolutions, anybody? I will endeavour to take more (and better) photos and try to get back to my fighting weight by the end of February. Get fitter and get out and do more miles on my bikes. Sounds like enough to keep me busy.

After a relaxing weekend

we have made it to Sunday evening- dinner guest arriving in 45 minutes! Looking forward to meeting one of Catherine's new work colleagues and enjoying a bottle of wine (or two). I head back to the office in the morning, but I don't know how much we will get done there between now and the end of the year.

I wanted to get some more photos sorted out today and finish off my one week project at nikoncafe.com, but there has been a big problem with the pbase hosting service so I am hoping that it will all be resolved soon.

Well, I guess we are in the 21st Century>>>

and that means that it must be time for us to start a blog as well. We will try to let you know what we are up to and what is happening in our part of the world.