Happy Birthday to Campbell and Angus

I am looking forward to having dinner with you both this evening. Have a great day guys!

I'm appalled that RM Williams has become

a high street fashion label..... I went into one of their stores today and was terribly disheartened to hear that they only carry a very limited range of boots but "we also have seasonal specials which change on a regular basis". What the heck is that supposed to mean?? Sad to say, but I am sure that Reg would turn in his grave. Luckily I found a pair of boots that were a leftover from some season past and was able to exit the store having spent worthwhile time- it might be difficult to drag me in there again though.

Only a couple of days until les Chefs take over

the kitchen and turn on another extravaganza in our dining room  :-) I'm really looking forward to getting together with the guys and having a glass of wine or two while we do the prep work and start cooking. It might not be as much fun as Chef Enzo's in the winter (where the guests can sit in the hot tub) but I'm sure that we will all have a good time.

I'm not sure if my almost 24 hour flight the next day will be quite so much fun.......

London was good

and will hopefully prove to be successful over the next couple of months. After arriving home today, I am really looking forward to having a sleep in my own bed. Had a great night at the Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine concert on Wednesday night.

Oh Lord

won't you buy me a big diamond ring... I like pink, gorgeous darling man.

Hehehehehe xxxxxxxx

This is a busy week

I am off to a concert tomorrow night here in Zürich and then heading to London for a little business on Thursday and Friday before flying back on Saturday morning. Looking forward to London as the people that I am due to meet are all pleasant so it should be enjoyable.

As always there might be a small (maybe 10 minute long) window to do some personal shopping. What do I need to buy?  :-)

Well, the Poms are rubbish

but at the moment the Australians are even worse :-( After hearing bits and pieces from the first two days of the fifth Test it is hard not to start looking for that raindance again.
I had an enjoyable meeting with the lads on Thursday evening- I think that we have come up with a good plan for our next Cook Club meeting (one way or another, we will have a good time). Chef Giorgio was out of the country and couldn't join us but I feel sure that he would agree with our decisions and it will be good to catch up with him.
After being very tired on Friday night, I am up early and ready to attack the weekend. Gentle rain at the moment, which makes a nice noise on our roof and windows and will help to build an appetite for Schuppi's zopf!

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?!? :-)