To all Irish teachers

To all Irish teachers, who are in charge of approving school leave for ski holidays to Irish children. If you ski yourself, you will of course know that February and early March are the weeks to go for. Neither Christmas nor Easter can match as an alternative. Too many skiers on the slopes, queues in front of the lifts, packed restaurants, stressed and unfriendly staff and all this for rip-off prices. However, if you are not a skier yourself, you may need for some assistance – which I am happy to provide here.

Please consider your options. You can say “no”, this will guarantee that the pupil along with his or her parents and friends will have to stick to the high season. By doing so, the risk of ski accidents will be higher due to the crowds on the slopes. From a macro economical point of view, a concentration to a few hi-season weeks is non-sense (demand vs. room capacity, costs of infrastructure vs. number of hi-season days etc. …should you require details on this, please let me know). Or you could agree to the school leave. Generate happy smiles, lower the risk of accidents, level off the economical impacts of hi-season disadvantages and collect credits for your brave action :-)

I am sure you do the right thing!

Creative break - author on holis

Dear blirish (blogging-irish) and all other friends,
The author of this blog is tired of working his a** off and has decided to join his princess on a holiday to Namibia. Meanwhile our sleepy king of the house is being looked after by Reto and a bunch of other lovely friends and neighbours. Thank you guys! Anyway, that's that. No new post for another three weeks, by now you should almost be used to re-reading the same old posts again and again :-)

Euro 2008 - Switzerland and Austria

Yep, that's the E.E.C. (east corner crew) at Talackerstrasse Stadium (screen only). Rules are strict. Red and white only, no access otherwise. Can't wait for the European Championships 2008. Berne will be host city for 2 or 3 games - remember the Stadium's name? Wankdorf :-))

Biking on Mars

...almost. It's Sue on Slick Rock Trail near Moab, Utah. The best mountain bike park you could imagine. Some day we need to go back. Let's wait a couple of years, so Ryan can join us. You guys would love it!

Been to the dongeons, returned with a dragon

Oh Ted! I can't believe how brave I am. Didn't I tell you, I would dive into the deepest corner of my hard disk to look for more dramatic images than the romantic snail couple? Here we go. Homaard has returned with a dragon, still alive (...but no mint tea yet). However, talking about the romantic snails. Hey, the only reason why this male Galapagos sea dragon is red, are the ladies! Guys, isn't it incredible how much effort this creature puts in finding someone to go out with?! I might just test that myself, paint my face - red - and see if Sue goes really reeeeeeeeeally mad :-)

Snail Romance

No! Sue and I did not really disturb them, don't worry, we stand in for the rights of free love among snails. Peace. But I couldn't help taking a picture. As much as we proclaim free snail love, I am a supporter of the artists' freedom of photography. Well anyway, there is not much more to say to this scene. Let me dive back into the dungeons of my hard disk, maybe there are some more pic with more potential for a story. And I need to quickly go outside to pick some fresh mint. Nothing is more relaxing than a fresh mint tea in the evening.
Hasta luego. Homaard

Crossing River Simme

Hey, this is freezing cold glacier water. No way that I would actually stand hip-deep in there, I was just on my knees for a few secs, so that Sue managed to take a nice shot. And yes, there would be a bridge crossing this river just a few minutes away, but hey, how boring would it be to read about a river crossing on a regular bridge :-)

My new toy

Well, not exactly. This is the Swiss Army ground reconn vehicle. Same as the U.S. one, simply at another 2 tons of steal and that's it :-). Not that I was an Army freak, it's just that I have to spend another 3 weeks of my annual repetition training. And these pics are about the only ones I manage to take during this all-inclusive adventure holiday :-)

That's just a tiny test...

just showing Philipp, how great that blogger tool is :-)

My superpowers

Found out that there are magical spots where i get some strange powers, here an example of last weekend! :)

Trüttlisberg near gstaad

Sat. 26 may. Scottish weather meets swiss alps.

Manarola

... well, it is now already one month since we spent a great week in manarola and and other beautiful towns. Only 1 or 2 hours south of genova but enough to feel 50 back in time.

Elderberry Blossom Sirup

The elderberry flowers are back! That's the sirup season for Sue and Omar's prime flower juice. 2007 has been a great elderberry vintage so far. And yes, it's all super natural organic and home-grown with love. I wonder, why we have not become professional elderberry farmers yet :-)

Simmental Mountain Bike Tour

...currently on single trails where the rivers Kander and Simme meet. It has been our backyard mountain bike eldorado since we were kids and it is still one of the best areas we know (well, apart from Moab, but off-continent destinations don't count here).

If you see me...

...it means that i managed to redirect my mobile-to-blog service. And yes, they dont censor big green hats. 2nd finding!

European.ch car

Got the european.ch ad on our car now. The guys from European Business School, seem to be happy as well. By the way, that's the school we attended for our business adimistration studies. Good quality, great atmosphere between students and staff. So no problem for us to drive around with the yellow star.

Don't forget the pill!

May 10, 11.47AM just received the following sms from a total stranger by mistake: "anja, dont forget to your pill 2. got in vacuum cleaner. kiss". Well, sounds quite adventurous, don't worry, I have replied. But hey, isn't that a nice little fragment for your imagination :-)

Cubical

Have you ever wondered, how a toblerone would look like if the alps were cube shaped? Just an thought on a packed train home, jaaaaaysus, commuting by train is not my favorite past time...

Grand Prix of Berne, Switzerland

Hi Running World
Only 72 hours to go for Mizz Sue to impress the runners world at the Grand Prix of Bern. She will hate me for this post but at least the Swirish Connection should know about her plan to run 10 miles (...yep, ten miles in a row without a break). Guys, please cross yer fingers for the light feeted gazelle. Unfortunately, no bets are taken for this event. Good day to everyone.

New pedestrian bridge

Last Sunday, we came across this new bridge between Frutigen and Adelboden. A flood had washed away the old bridge. The issue: children need to cross this canyon to go to school. The solution: hey, simply build a monster bridge. Side effect: ...realise, that you have just created a tourist attraction. It really is worth a stop on your way to Adelboden.

Splash Contest at Grindelwald First

Guys, remember the first day skiing at Schreckfeld? That's were the annual Splash festival takes place. 150 yards' run into a freeeeeezing cold water pool. Freaky vehicles, brave souls, live music and great atmosphere. Here the link to the pictures we took.

Grindelwald Splash 2007

just bought two mountain bikes today

'intended to buy plates and bowls today until we came across a winter sale of last year's bikes. mhh, and we couldn't resist. got ourselves two fullies, front and rear suspencions adjustable. like a mix between a tornado fighter jet and a harley really. all we need is spring and summer now! cant wait to rock n' roll.

# 1 car dealer

Joe Drumstick Darcy's new favorite and it could become his all time favorite. Deutsche Qualitätsarbeit, 7.5 horsepower (if your place 6 horses in the front), comes with free steering wheel (self-attachment kit included), all wheel drive (only downhill), even with a rear gear. a great 0.678 mile to the gallon (only if the six horses mentioned above move forward). come on, what else do you want. that is pure style, forget about all these shiny mass product cars, city off-roaders and turbo smarts, that is the reeeeeal vehicle for reeeeeal men. hey, that car was invented way before Ireland had its first double lane road. that car survives fashion trends!

for more information , price details and road assistance service call 1-800-are-those-my-feet or Joe Darcy on his mobile!

Enfonvelle February 2007

our last visit to tom and fränzi in france. once again, we spent a very relaxing weekend in enfonvelle.

Enfonvelle February 2007

Thun by day ...coz u only saw it by night

to our grindelwald crew,
you guys only saw thun by night last thursday, that's why sue and i took a few daytime shots today, so that you have a better idea on how it looks like. ciao, sue & omar

Von thun

Swirish ConConference in Grindelwald

hi guys, was a lovely week, sue and i enjoyed it very much and we hope that all of you had a fab time over here as well. here some pics, more will follow soon...

grindelwald_2007