Author: canadaslim

The Underestimated: The Bold and the Reckless

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 7 January 2017 It is normal to underestimate the Swiss. In fact other nations generally don´t see and rarely think about the Swiss. And the Swiss themselves don´t help themselves in this regard. To the outside world, the French-speaking Swiss to the west of the country seem little different from the French of… Continue reading The Underestimated: The Bold and the Reckless

One foot down

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 6 January 2017 “An aged man is but a paltry thing, A tattered coat upon a stick, unless Soul clap its hands and sing, and louder sing For every tatter in its mortal dress.” (William Butler Yeats. “Sailing to Byzantium”, The Tower) Above: William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939) Yesterday, working at Starbucks… Continue reading One foot down

The Wolves of Washington

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 5 January 2017 Sometimes I believe that there is hope for us simple humans. Other times… I am not so sure. Been reading lately of the US Republican Party seeking to dismantle or at least disable the US House Committee on Ethics. It has many functions, but they all revolve around the standards of… Continue reading The Wolves of Washington

The Last Sigh

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 4 January 2017 Outside my window, upon the streets of this wee hamlet, the snow remains. Beneath the snow nature sleeps, awaiting the resurrection of spring. Yet life continues nonetheless… Cows and sheep graze beneath the snow for succulent grass. Birds continue their happy carefree melodies. Humans scurry and hurry about, seeking sustenance… Continue reading The Last Sigh

The fashionable dead

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 3 January 2017 The scene outside my window seems worlds apart and away for the world I am about to describe…for the streets here in this wee Swiss hamlet by the Lake of Constance are covered in snow both magical and mysterious. You could spend days explaining to me the science behind snowfall… Continue reading The fashionable dead

Take me back to Constantinople

Romanshorn, Switzerland, 2 January 2017 Slow start to the day and to the week finds us, the wife and I, having a late breakfast, then walking along the shores of the Lake of Constance. Here at least it has been a green Christmas season. In fact, yesterday´s Sonntag Zeitung remarks that Switzerland had never seen a… Continue reading Take me back to Constantinople

The Assassin´s Resolution

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 2 January 2017 “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.“(Mahatma Gandhi)(1869 – 1948) “Whatever you can do or dream, you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now.” (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)(1749 – 1832) “The best way to predict the future is… Continue reading The Assassin´s Resolution

Fireworks in the fog

Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, 1 January 2017 Fireworks in the fog. As we stood on Schlossberg overlooking the city this morning many things sprang to mind. Another year survived. Considering the grimness of 2016, to be still standing at its end feels like an accomplishment in itself.… The best barometer of a person’s alcohol consumption… Continue reading Fireworks in the fog

Canada Slim and a Matter of Perspective

Landschlacht, Switzerland, 30 December 2016 There are many things that are unpleasant about getting older: diminishing senses, unflattering changes to one´s body, memory lapses, acquisition of a world-weariness… But for myself, especially in 2016, it has been the loss of one’s heroes. Yet another musical legend passed away over Christmas: George Michael, age 53. Famous for… Continue reading Canada Slim and a Matter of Perspective