Summer is here- the fifth Test starts tomorrow

so I guess that summer will come to an end very soon :-) Although the Australians only need to draw the Match to retain The Ashes, I believe (and certainly hope) that they will be out for some English blood and to win the last Test.
Catherine has already been at the new job for a couple of days and is appropriately tired. It will take a while to get right back into the swing of things- I guess that after the weekend things will be back to normal.
Tomorrow evening I have a small get-together with les Chefs Tomaso & Enzo in order that we can decide upon a menu for our next Cook Club extravaganza. I have a few ideas and with luck the others do as well- I'm confident that we will get something sorted.

Thank you

to all those who kept my spirits up during my recent unemployment and to those who have congratulated me on my new possie. Thanks to mum, in Chewton, who called me this morning wishing me well for my first day tomorrow and to family Moose, who sent a congratulatory SMS last week. Too bad I couldn't start on 1st September, the weather this week is going to be spectacular.

Thanks also to Eleanor for coming to visit recently. We had lots of fun, including a quick hop to France (Alsace) for the day for lunch in Riquewihr at Le Sarment d'Or, yummmmm. We also fitted in a trip to a health resort to bathe in the natural brine, at the spa center Rheinfelden.

Love to you all xxxxxxxx

BTW- thanks to all for crossing their fingers

Catherine has had some interviews in the last couple of weeks and starts in a new position at UBS tomorrow!

Summertime...... and the livin' is easy

Although you can't compare a central European summer with the Australian version, the sun has returned with a vengeance here and we are looking forward to an uninterrupted week of warm weather. Yesterday was beautiful- walking around in town, shopping and taking photos and then a quick visit to The Chief's Summer Party in the evening. Great food, cold beer and good company- could we ask for anything more?

It was with some relief that I saw Australia

win the Cricket Test to level the Series at 1-1. Now, at least, both teams have plenty to play for in the last Match and hopefully we won't have any weather interruptions.
Not a lot of news from here at the moment....... the Limmatswim is taking place without me on Saturday but I do plan on attending The Chief's summer party. It is always nice to be able to eat the best sushi in town as a guest of the house and it will be good to catch up with all of the gang.
Catherine has signed up and starts a new job next week- with a little luck, that will be a step in the right direction.

I don't think that Australia have played that badly

and I really don't understand why they are 1-0 down in the Ashes Series at the moment, however they seem to be trying to make amends in Leeds. After a sparkling innings from Mr Ponting and able support from Messrs Watson, Clarke and North things are looking somewhat brighter. A first innings lead of over 260, wickets in hand and it not yet tea time on Day 2- hopefully we will have a result.
Some people call me old-fashioned (others just call me old) but I love mechanical watches, fountain pens (which I carry and use every day) and pocketknives (one of which I also carry with me every day). It is hard to believe that the weather is good in the north of England while it is raining here- that was enough to stop me from trying to take photos of the Street Parade today and drive me to the desktop to shoot a few frames

It doesn't matter why.....

it really doesn't matter why....... but you do all need to cross your fingers....

Welcome to Swiss National Day

also known as Rockford Day in certain parts of the world. It probably doesn't mean as much to most of the population this year because it falls on a Saturday and therefore doesn't involve an extra holiday, but to me it is a day off and a chance to take it easy. I was too tired to go to a party last night and came home, processed a couple of photos and tried to get some sleep. Stupid! Every local kid was out letting off fireworks in practice for today and tonight! Eventually managed to get to sleep and enjoyed not having to get up this morning for anything in particular.
We have guests coming for a bbq this evening and with a good weather report, we should be able to watch the fireworks from the balcony after the sun has disappeared. Bottoms up!

Angus is a happy camper

and so would most almost 7 year olds be when receiving early birthday gifts. He is now officially a "Freitag" dude and I can hardly wait to see photos. Glad that you like it, mate and I will see you soon!
My photo project is coming to an end- I will be happy to see the end of this month from a business point-of-view and it will also mark the end of the July One Prime Challenge. I think that my photos have been OK- it is always easy to look back and bash yourself for not doing well enough, but at the time there were other things going on and one doesn't always have as much time as one would like.
Saturday is August 1st which is Swiss National Day and we hope to celebrate with a bbq if the weather plays along.....

"This is bowling. There are rules!"

At least the lads from across the way enjoyed "The Big Lebowski" on Wednesday night..... they even managed to squeeze in a few White Russians to make the experience that much more authentic!
The sun has finally come out again here after a stormy, wet time and I plan on heading out later to take some photos. My project for the month is coming along and with only a few more days to go, I would really like to get a few quality shots to round things off.
Saw a photo earlier of a Moose trying to eat a bowling pin...... someone talk me through that one?!? :-)

I really should be watching "The Big Lebowski" down by the lake

but a wonderful combination of "couldn't be bothered's" and the weather looks a bit dodgy means that I am not. :-( Gee thanks.

It is Saturday and surprise, surprise.....

I woke this morning to grey skies and rain :-( We are having guests for dinner this evening and then I have an early start tomorrow morning to meet up with a friend and head off to watch the Tour de France whizz by. Fingers crossed that the weather is a little kinder in the morning- I will have my camera with me and hope to take plenty of photos.
In any case, it is a change of scenery from the office.
The British Open is looking good after 36 holes- some of the stars have drifted to the top of the Leaderboard and some of the stars are packing bags and heading home. At least they were blessed with wind and rain on day 2. Long may it continue!
How are all of the Mooses doing out there?

"They hung a sign up in our town

If you live it up, you won't live it down
So she left Monte Rio, son
Just like a bullet leaves a gun
With her charcoal eyes and Monroe hips
She went and took that California trip
Oh, the moon was gold, her hair like wind
Said {Don't look back, just come on, Jim}"


Did I tell you lately just how good Tom Waits really is? :-)

BTW- thanks Steve for entertaining Selina and Justus- I'm sure that they appreciated it very much (as I did) and I am looking forward to the jar of Vegemite too!

Skype is such a cool thing......

with a little Moose conference this morning to sort out Niccos photo-hosting queries and then a quick TdF conference with les Hodges later in the day to discuss the goings on in le Grand Boucle. It was a tough day over the top of the Tourmalet but luckily the 2-man break stayed out and the Frogs will be happy that another one of theirs has claimed a stage victory.
I have been keeping an eye on the cricket from Cardiff (????) too and it looks as if the Australians should be able to wrap that up this evening too. They are putting plenty of pressure on (as they should) and only need 3 more wickets to finish up.
Back to work tomorrow- wow, that will be a lot of fun :-)

I'm glad that the week is over....

now just bring on the weekend! I have been caught in the rain a couple of times, struggled to take enough photos because of the rainstorms and generally just had a lousy week. Hopefully the weekend will be a bit brighter and I can take a few extra pics and get my project back on its feet.
Mooooo!

I love your work, big guy

and I hope that all of you Mooses have another great week together. Thanks for the call and the little report on Bali. Don't forget...... it don't mean a thing until the pictures are up!! :-) Love to the gang

I collected my favourite old fountain pen this evening

after having to send it in for service. After 18+ years it needed a couple of parts replaced but now looks and functions like new....... and it was a lot cheaper than having a watch serviced!! We have had a summer week- warm weather and a couple of thunderstorms but it looks like the rain may come back just in time for the weekend.
Tomorrow promises to be a boring day in the office- the Americans are sort of on holiday and with the Non-Farm Payroll numbers already having seen the light of day, it might be a good day for lunch. If only I had a couple of local customers.....
I believe that the Goodies are due back in Singapore tomorrow- thanks for the postcard guys and I hope that you had a great time.
July is another month for a photo project and hopefully with long days I will be able to get enough shots in the bag to make it all worthwhile. Only early days yet but I have my fingers crossed to be able to do plenty of shooting.
Welcome to the second half of the year!!