Hello everyone,
Here some images of underdog Jabi, Tommy "big lips" and myself. Jabi and I have just returned from a woodchopper weekend in Enfonvelle, France. There we were helping Tom to stock up his firewood by clearing his logs out of the communial forest. Click on the image below to view the album and further comments...

Woodchoppers

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.