A scent of Indian pine

Landschlacht, Switzerland: 30 January 2016 As I age I am beginning to notice my mind functioning increasingly odd. I can be at home or work and be walking from one room to another and forget why I made that decision to change rooms. Yet I can be doing a normal, average activity and something or… Continue reading A scent of Indian pine

Timely sensations of sex in the city

Winterthur, Switzerland: 26 January 2016 I have very little experience of Winterthur as a tourist as I work as a teacher here twice a week. Ute, my wife, is constantly complaining that I need to get out more and acquire some culture in my life. And whenever she is at home I allow her to drag… Continue reading Timely sensations of sex in the city

Utopia unrealised

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope some day you’ll join us And the world will be as one. Imagine no possessions. I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people sharing all the world. (John Lennon, “Imagine”)… Continue reading Utopia unrealised

Konstanz: City of Shattered Dreams?

In the two years just passed and in the two years that follow, multitudes of people around the globe commemorate the events of World War 1 (1914 – 1918) that involved 70 million soldiers – 9 million of them killed in action, 7 million civilian casualities, and a conflict that lasted 4 years, 3 months and… Continue reading Konstanz: City of Shattered Dreams?

Where I am

“Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot Wouldn’t you like to get away? Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name And they’re always glad you came You wanna be where you can see our troubles are… Continue reading Where I am

Sick daze

Landschlacht, 22 January 2016 Being married to a German doctor has its advantages and its disadvantages. Because Europeans and their higher educational standards are very demanding and extensive, one can visit a physician in Germany and Switzerland in complete confidence that they probably know what they are talking about should you ever have occasion to need… Continue reading Sick daze

Unforgettable

Landschlacht, The Ides of January 2016 “Ignorance is bliss.” A commonly-used phrase which has its positive and its negative sides. In the minus column, ignorance has led people to do violence against one´s fellow man or to commit acts of sheer stupidity. In the plus column, not knowing sometimes can be a blessing. For example,… Continue reading Unforgettable

The artistic criminal

Zürich, 30 December 2015: We have all seen them. Scribblings, scratchings, stencils, murals up, down, over and under in public places. Simple messages to elaborate street-long paintings. This is nothing new under the sun. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans knew them. Today, spray paint and markers and what has been wrought from them are part and parcel of… Continue reading The artistic criminal

Remembering Marilyn / Plastered with Paris

Vaduz, Liechtenstein: 3 January 2016 Ute (my wife) and I visit the Liechtenstein National Museum to see a special exhibit on the life and times of American movie star, model and singer Marilyn Monroe, entitled “The stength behind the legend”. “Famous for playing “dumb blonde” characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of… Continue reading Remembering Marilyn / Plastered with Paris

Of men and merit

Landschlacht, 9 January 2016 It is 0430 in the morning and in an hour´s time I shall dash off to the station, grab a train to St. Gallen and once again assist the world´s largest coffeehouse increase its profit margin. The past few days I have had travels and discussions and thoughts about what is… Continue reading Of men and merit