If you are interested in all things literary, then you are spoiled for choice in the Geneva and Vaud area. Not only is the area home to a large and important writers' group (covering both fiction and non-fiction - see below), a reading group in Crans that is open to the public, but in a few weeks, the fabulous "Le Livre sur le Quais" will take place on the lake side in Morges from the 5th to the 7th September 2014. English authors such as Andy McNab - "Bravo Two Zero, Immediate Action and Seven Troop", Caroline Lawrence of "The Roman Mysteries" fame, Don Pollock - "The Devil All the Time", Nathan Filer –" The Shock of the Fall"(Overall winner Costa Book Award 2014), will all be present at the fair. The festival programme will be finalised later in August, but the weekend already looks very promising indeed. Some of the writers' events take place on the CGN ferries. Cruising up and down on the lake listening to a reading or a talk, can be a lovely way to spend a weekend! Note - La Page Cornée the French literary group based in Gland, will also be present with authors' talks and events. Photo below - Author Douglas Kennedy in conversation on a boat at the 2012 fair Below - Reading by the quayside Meanwhile over in Geneva the Geneva Writers' Group will resume its activities on September the 20th with a workshop entitled "Essay & Flash Nonfiction: Personal Narratives". Started in 1993, The Geneva Writers’ Group brings together over 200 English language writers from around 30 countries. The objective of the group is to encourage all forms of creative writing in English and to create a supportive community of both beginning and supportive writers. Meetings are held monthly, from September to June at the Geneva Press Club, with a programme of writing workshops, critiquing sessions, and master classes. Every two years the group holds the International Geneva Writers’ Conference at Webster University in Bellevue, alternating with a “Meet the Agents” weekend. The group publishes a biennial collection of prose and poetry, The group also co-ordinate small writing groups, a mentoring service, and hosts the GWG Literary Prizes. Photo below from the GWG conference in 2010 English Reading Group in Crans-pres-Celigny - Open to new members. Marilyn Packham, a British resident living in Crans près Céligny would like to let other Living in Nyon readers know about a reading group that is open to new members. Here she explains a little about the group and what it is like to live in the village of Crans près Céligny itself. "The English Reading Group in Crans-près-Céligny was formed around seven years ago. I am a member and over the seven years it has certainly widened my reading and introduced me to new authors and their work. We meet every five to six weeks between 14:30 and 17:00 in the comfortable, modern library of Crans-près-Céligny. Note - See previous Living in Nyon post here about the library and its art exhibitions. In our reading group to date, we have read 54 books, mainly fiction. We all take it in turns to propose a book and we then give a short presentation and have a relaxed discussion over a cup of tea or coffee. We are currently nine members, who almost all come to every meetings. The group is made up of all ages, from the young to the more mature! We would like to maintain the size of the group at about twelve members so we are looking for a a few more members. If you are English mother tongue, male or female and enjoy reading and sharing the enjoyment of reading, please contact me, Mally Packham, on mally.packham@bluewin.ch or call on 078 768 05 50 for more information. Photo below - The lake near the port of Crans près Céligny. Living in the village As to living in Crans-près-Céligny itself, The village itself has changed from the quiet little Vaudois village we moved to 26 years ago. Like the whole of the Lac Léman area, the village has grown, new houses and new flats have been built. The roads and pavements are being enlarged and resurfaced for the ever-mobile community. The village has lots of clubs and groups - football teams for adults and children, a gym, tennis courts (indoor courts in winter), a crèche a modern primary school, a church, a port, a sailing club, a friendly pharmacy and a village shop. The village also has two superb restaurants, ‘Le Café de l’Union’ and ‘Le Café de la Versoix’. The food is excellent in both and the service quick and friendly. They are both very popular so best to book in advance. There is a regular bus service to both Nyon and Coppet. All in all, the village has blossomed and is a vibrant place to live, yet it still maintains the calm and quiet of the countryside".

This Sunday 2nd November, there will be a classical afternoon concert (17:00) at the Conservatoire of Nyon by "Quator Baggi" with Felix Froschhammer on Violin, Andrea Baggi on clarinette, Nico Prinz on violoncelle and Virginie Falquet on piano. These classical concerts have become a tradition at the prestigious Conservatoire along Nyon's lake side and are a lovely way to end the weekend! Ticket prices Adults - CHF 20 , Students A.V.S CH 15 Children and members of COV, CHF 10. To reserve a seat call TEL. 022 994 23 60, or email info.nyon@cov-vd.chSee COV for details. Evening with Bertil Galland On Wednesday 29th October at 19:00 La Page Cornée the local French literary association will host an "Evening with Bertil Galland". Photo above - courtesy La Page Cornée. Mr Galland is a renowned name in the world of literature in French Romandie. He will recount stories and impressions from his long career, from that of editor, essayist and journalist. The event will take place place in the foyer of the Grand-Champ Théâtre in Gland. Tickets CHF 15 including a glass of wine and snacks. More details see La Page Cornée. No reservations needed.

Author event in English followed by an aperitif in the presence of the author. Photo above - courtesy Jan Michalksi foundation © Mirabella Balaciut The British novelist and writer Jonathan Coe will be in conversation with Lisbeth Koutchoumoff, journalist of Le Temps, at the Jan Michalski Foundation in Montricher (above Morges) on Saturday, 18th October at 16.00 This event coincides with the publication of his latest novel, "Expo 58". Expo 58 is a comic spy and international love story. A perfect evocation of a moment in the history of the Cold War, the novel looks at Europe as a place of shifting and clashing political interests. The event will be held at the Fondation Jan Michalski in Montricher, at the foot of the Vaudois Jura. The building that houses the foundation (in banner heading above - is famed for its interesting design. More info about concept and aim of the building here Entrance to the event is CHF 10 -Reservations required reservation-coe@fondation-janmichalski.chHere's a quote from Expo 58“He waited in silence for the blindfold to be tied firmly at the back of his head. ‘Right,’ said Wilkins, emphatically. ‘That should do. How many fingers am I holding up?’ ‘Three,’ said Thomas. ‘God damn it to hell, how did you know that? Can you see through the cloth?’ ‘No. It was a guess.’ ‘Well you’re not supposed to guess. For crying out loud, I’m trying to make sure that you can’t see where we’re going. We’re not here to play guessing games. How many fingers am I holding up?’ ‘I’ve no idea. I can’t see a bloody thing.’ ‘Good. It was four, by the way. Not that it matters. Now shut up.” — ‘

If you want to take part in the 1st August (Swiss National Day) festivities in Nyon, the celebrations start at 19:45 with an apéro offered by the town council at the ’Esplanade des Marronniers" (by the Roman Columns) This will be followed by an official ceremony at 20:30 followed by a parade at 21:15 which will wind its way through the old town (this is where the children carry lit paper lanterns in the parade as in the photo). At 22:15 there will be a firework display by the lake. This year the château of Nyon will be lit up red to celebrate the national day! For full details see link here

Local NewsNew Post Office for Nyon On the 12th September 2104 the post office in the centre of Nyon (at Place Bel -Air 5 ) will close its doors for the final time. The new office will open on Monday 15th September in Rue de la Morâche 9 in Nyon. Opening hours will remain the same. Monday-Friday 09:00-18:00 and Saturday 09:00-12:00. Proposal of increase in local taxes The municipality of Nyon is proposing a 5 point rise in local taxes beginning 2015 to help finance Le Reposoir, a new primary school which will be situated to the north of the town. The school will accommodate 450 pupils, will have a large gymnasium and a new indoor swimming pool which will be open to the public. Estimated at around 70 million CHF, the school should be finished by 2017. Nyon's current local tax rate of 61% is lower than other surrounding towns (Lausanne 79%, Renens 78.5% Morges 68.5% ) For more details of this potential tax hike, see article on the Nyontown site here Upcoming events The summer season of activities in Nyon is now coming to an end, (the outdoor pool will close on the 7th September), however there are lots of Autumn events on the local calendar to look forward to, from Autumn fairs, to sports, theatre, cultural and music events. Here are a selection, including the 1st La Côte Women's Fair in Nyon. There will be experts on hand at this fair to answer questions on education in Switzerland to expat parenting and more. More details belowSaturday 30 August Vintage Rock Night in Gland featuring Australian band The Stiletto Groove. Time 19.30 at the Dinemec Recording Studios, Rue de la Paix 3, 1196 Gland. Tickets are CHF 20 and all proceeds will benefit the charity Kids with a Cause Europe . The band have toured with Santana, Bob Marley, Men at Work and many more top flight international performers. This venue has been the chosenrecording facility for Lenny Kravitz, Phil Collins, Jermaine Jackson and other artistsrecording facility for Lenny Kravitz, Phil Collins, Jermaine Jackson and other artists. 5th and 6th September - Livre sur les Quais in Morges - English authors present. See previous post here for details.News! Author Douglas Kennedy will be at the château of Nyon on Saturday 6th at 11:00 as part of the book festival weekend. Details here Also on Saturday the 6th September, it's the 1stLa Côte Womens' Expat Fair in Nyon at the Beau Rivage Hotel from 09:00 - 19:00. Speakers - International Education 15:00 – Denise Nickerson Along with exhibitors selling original or handmade products, there will also be opportunities to chat to experts including Denise Nickerson, an educational consultant who co-created theEducation Guide Switzerland Denise Nickerson will be sharing valuable advice for anyone wanting to know more about the education options in Switzerland. She'll give an overview of the French, Swiss, and international school systems and answer attendees' education questions. E-mail your education questions inadvance to lacotewomensfair@gmail.com Global Nomads 14:00 - Susanne Mühlhaus Susanne will be discussing what she calls ‘Modern Nomads’ and how those who come to Switzerland (or move to other countries) can integrate and build an independent existence with limited financial resources. Expat Parenting 16:00 – Rosalind CutlerFamily Matters Coaching owner Rosalind Cutler is an experienced life coach who specialises in working with expat families. She will talk about transitions: new job, new country, new school, new identity and how expats can help themselves and other members of the family prepare for, and cope with the many changes and challenges that expat life brings. Learning French 17:00 - Véronique Guillaume-Genti A language teacher from Etudes Modernes in Morges, Véronique will be sharing tips and advice on how to tackle the French language. If you have been here a while or are new to the region, don't miss this opportunity to gain confidence as you improve your French. On Sunday 14th September it's "Heritage Day" - Journées du Patrimoine across the canton This year the theme is "A table" and there will be a special day at the Musée du Léman in Nyon on the evolution of fishing on Lake Geneva. The fishermens' huts in Nyon will be one of the focus points of this special day. See here for details Also on the 14th September, it's the new Semi-Marathon of La Côte. This race will run from Aubonne to Nyon. See previous Living in Nyon article about this race and our interview with Olympic athlete Lea Sprunger, the founder of this new lakeside race. On Saturday 27th September it's the La Côte Autumn Fair in Founex - Line Dancing, Jazz, BBQ, Stalls and more! 4th October - UEFA Open Day On Saturday the 4th October, UEFA will be holding an open day from 09:00-16:00 for the general public. This open day is a chance to see inside the building, to take part in competitions, and see the exhibitions about the beautiful game. Details here

Started in 1994 by François and nini Pythoud, Nyon's circus school has grown to become an important part of the cultural life in Nyon and the region. Over 300 children take circus classes there every week, and out of those half a dozen have continued to become professional circus artists. To celebrate their 20th, they have decided to re-imagine their first show ever with these professional artists and their partners. The show Rouge, will be played seven times at the théâtre de Marens in Nyon. The première is on Thursday the 25th and the show is on until Thursday 2nd of October, building up to the weekend of the 3rd-5th of October, which will be a weekend of celebration at the Caserne, next to the Perdtemps square. Four different shows will be played by the different troups of the artists who started of at l'Elastique Citrique, as well as a disco party on Saturday the 5th with Time Machine, an 70's-80's disco and funk cover band. There will also be an open stage showcasing acts from some of the younger members of the school, and a big brunch on Sunday morning, followed by a ballon release to celebrate in style. Food and drinks will be catered by the team from "La Roulotte". L'Elastique citrique also created an act which was performed at the beginning of the Knie show which was in Nyon last week. For the whole program and to book tickets for the shows and for the brunch, head to their website. You can check out some of the artists performing in the show hereVaud athletics championship The cantonal athletics championships take place on Saturday the 27th at Colovray stadium. Athletes will compete from 8:00 to 18:00, and the entrance is free La Côte Church Autumn fair As a reminder, this Saturday, La Côte Anglican church is holding its Autumn Fair in Founex. Check previous post for more information on the event. Annual exhibition and music L'alpage, an artist's studio cum art school is holding it's annual exhibition. Paintings made during lessons will be exhibited and there will be music and rock showcases. Sunday the 28th, from 14:00 to 18:30, at 4, ch. de Bonmont. More info about l'Alpage here New Paléo poster out! Paléo has brought out next year's poster. Created by an agency from Geneva, it's actually three different posters, which link up as a big one, showcasing some weird creatures inspired by the wacky Paléo crowd. The line-up won't be released until early April 2015, but week-long tickets will be on sale in December, and are a perfect Christmas gift.

Autumn is back, which means going back to school for the young ones (not much fun), but also the new cultural season for all venues in Nyon (loads more fun). We are lucky to have a rich cultural offer in Nyon, between the theatre and concerts at l'Usine à Gaz, the Conservatoire's classical concerts and La Parenthèse's edgy musical discoveries. Here are a few shows coming up in Nyon. Usine à Gaz Swiss band Adieu Gary Cooper Friday the 12th, Saturday 13th 20th, Motel TourUS Car Show. La Parenthèse The venue located in a reconverted wine cellar hosts free concerts twice a week. Their program is eclectic and made of the best of the new bands on the independent scene, from rock to psych-pop and folk. A lot of the bands who play in this venue then go on to play at Paléo and get quite famous. Look out for a number of collaborations with festivals and other venues during the year, which will bring some diversity and fun to the town. You can get a taste of the first of these collaborations on Thursday the 11th of september with American band Quilt's psychedelic grooves and pop harmonies, presented by La Batie festival, a contemporary music and theatre festival taking place until the 13th of September. Le Pulse Saturday 13th, 18th Dan Sartain, DJ-set on the 19th. The Besnard Lakes, Godspeed You Black Emperor among others, are on on Saturday the 20th. 26th of SeptemberZatar, at 20:30.

There will be a Winter Fair on Friday 7th November and Saturday 8th November at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Nyon from 10:00-17:00 Free entry - Winter gifts galore, tombola, homemade gifts, food and more.

Wednesday night was probably the most sought after night this year, with Belgian pop phenomenon Stromae finishing the evening on the main stage. All the tickets for the night sold out in a record 8 minutes in April. Paléo boss Daniel Rossellat said they could easily have sold another 25'000 tickets that day and the remaining 1,500 that went on sale at 9:00 Wednesday morning sold out in a another record-breaking 2 minutes, with more than 15,000 people desperately trying to log in to the site. The weather continued on its streak of greyishness with no rain, the grounds slowly drying up (and it is set to stay this way for the next few days). Spirits were high on this second night, everyone eagerly anticipating Stromae's catchy hits. But Wednesday was not a one-hit act, and the line-up was again varied and incredible. Adieu Gary Cooper, a Swiss garage folk band whose music is heavily influenced by the gritty music of the west-coast,but who sing in French, started the evening with just enough style and grit, with some haunting riffs on the lap steel guitar. At the Dôme, Meridian Brothers -one of my favourites from Tuesday night were playing again, and it was a pleasure to delve even deeper into their complex tunes. Needless to say that I was also present later on for a second helping of La Chiva Gantiva's boisterous tunes. Before the young Stromae, and his crowd of even younger fans gathered in front of the main stage, it was time for blues legend Seasick Steve, who brought with him some of the sun of his native Tennessee. Living In Nyon managed to catch up with the 70 year old musician after his concert, read about it here. Paléo isn't all about the music, and one of the charms of the festival is its amazing street performers. Whether you see them performing through the grounds, such as this very special string trio, who play on custom made instruments. Shy yet mischievous, they play their way through the crowd, stopping to give some lucky soul a private concert. A variety of different artists can be seen across the grounds throughout the week, so keep an eye out for a magical encounter! But the real magic goes on at La Ruche, where the circus and street theatre takes place. This year, la Cie 2Rien Merci is back with a beautiful and poetic love declaration to the magic lantern and its first uses in fair grounds. The show, that goes on for about an hour, takes you through different installations, plunging you in the wacky and rusty universe of 2 Rien Merci, one of the best street theatre collectives that I know of. I won't tell you more about the show, so as to leave the magic of the discovery, but note that as it takes place partly in a small caravan, the seats are limited- tickets are handed out 10 minutes before each show, which take place about 5 times a day, so if you want to see the show, make sure to get there in time! Reggae at Les Arches The night had a roots tinge to it, with Naâman playing earlier in the evening at Les Arches. This young musician from Normandie is one of the rising stars of the roots reggae scene in France. Once you get over the irritation caused by a young white French guy trying to sing in Jamaican patois, and saying “Jah” every other word, the music is actually really great, and he communicated his energy with the crowd. Later on, Ky-Mani Marley, a member of the great Marley tribe was on on the same stage. His hybrid mix of reggae, electro and hip-hop pleased the crowd, everyone moving their body to the reggae-man's riddims. "Alors l'Asse dance" Coming up to 11:30, everybody started drifting towards the Grande Scène for Stromae, including a lot of family with kids. Anticipating the high demand for this concert, additional screens had been set up to let everybody enjoy the concert. Intent on getting to the middle of the crowd, I engaged in one of the national Paléo sports, weaving through the crowd to get to the right spot. AN interesting fact about big crowds, is that although the edges seem packed out, and it looks like there is no way to get in, once you get yourself past the first few meters, the crowd loosens up, giving you more space, a better spot for the concert, and usually slightly less cross people (there is something about people who make a fuss about being touched in the middle of a crowd which always confounds me) Stromae delivered a memorable concert, in front of a amazing crowd, who danced and sang along with him. Full of energy, he delivered some of his finest dance moves, dressed in the geek-chic outfits he is known for. The music was accompanied by an impressive visual show on a huge screen behind him, whether it was a squadron of dancing men mimicking Stromae's choreographies, or rather disturbing insect legs crawling across the screen, covering it up with darkness during the song about cancer, making for a really intense moment. Really humble and chatty, the Belgian pop star thanked the crowd for being “so many, so fast”, before going off on a rant about “frites” being called French fries instead of Belgian fries in English an outrage he compared to calling Lake Leman “Lake Geneva”, or saying that wine was a Belgian drink. His first big hit “Alors on Dance” had everyone dancing to series of sample from 90's disco music, and he pleased the crowd with all the favourites, from his song on gender stereotypes “Tous les mêmes” to his touching tribute to Cesaria Evoria. He finished his concert by thanking his entire crew individually, before a last a capella version of “Tous les mêmes”, for the greatest pleasure of the crowd.Remember you can watch some concerts live via the website, as well as check some full concerts and "best-of"s of the night before here.

Caribana was packed on Friday night with a mixed crowd of reggae and rap and hip-hop lovers (there to see Ska Nerf, Rootwords, Naughty Boy and IAM), plus a host of Jessie J fans, to see her pop show (and listen to some of her philosophising). Tonight Saturday 7th promises to be equally an interesting mix of fans from those that will be there to see Swiss heart throb Bastian Baker, to listen to the more contemplative and indie tones of Tom Odell and Passenger, to hear the roots and reggae beat of Max Romeo or to the pop and alternative sound of Swiss band Kadebostany. Note: Tickets for Saturday are now sold out, the crowds can be very busy at the weekend and although it's good to wear sandal or flip flops in the hot weather, toes can get trampled on, so shoes or boots are recommended for the Caribana grounds! Above - scene from the crowd Friday night Caribana Photos above - Jessie J and Rootwords in Concert. All photos C.Nelson-Pollard/ Living in Nyon .

Friday's line-up was a perfect example of Paléo's eclecticism and tendency towards pleasing various tastes. The main stage saw a trio of explosive and chaotic punk-rock bands deliver their crazy show, starting with the French Skip The Use and Shaka Ponk, before The Prodigy. At Les Arches on the other hand, the crowd was a few generations older, as Maxime Le Forestier and Bernard Lavilliers sang all of their old classics. The first concert of the evening was-according to this Living In Nyon reporter- the best concert of the year. Musical geniuses and incidentally brothers and sisters, Les Ogres de Barback enchanted the crowd at Les Arches with their amazing mix of touching lyrics (written by Freddo, the singer) and beautiful music. Celebrating the 20th year of the band this year – when they started, the twin sisters were 16 years old, playing in venues they were technically not allowed into- they decided to bring along some of their friends, the Fanfare Eyonlé, a brass band from Benin. Most of their songs were rearranged to be played with 10 African musicians, and the additional oomph was great. It is always a great pleasure to see Les Ogres, as they really look like they're happy to be here with the crowd, sharing a moment of musical bliss and joyous dancing. They finished the concert in style, coming down from the stage and playing acoustically through the whole crowd before disappearing down a side-entrance. Just as the concert finished and the crowd started drifting apart, it started pouring with rain, taking the festival-goers by surprise. Rain at Paléo always makes for funny sights, as you can see people running through the mud bare-chested, or huddled together under one of the tents. One of the bars became the scene of an impromptu concert, as one of the troupes from La Ruche, a brass band, took refuge under the cover of the tent and played standing on the bar, for the pleasure of the dozens of bedraggled onlookers. The morale was high, the rain failing to dampen the spirits. Skip The Use did most of their concert in the rain, but the die-hard fans and intrepid festival-goers stayed and pogoed despite the apocalyptic weather. The band's high-voltage music made it impossible to stay still in front of their enthusiasm. They finished with a reference to the political situation in France, chanting”La jeunesse emmerde le Front National”, the crowd following with passion. Later on on the main stage, Shaka Ponk's outrageous show rocked the Asse, as the extravagant singer played with the crowd and made everyone forget the shitty weather. Their delirious mix of punk, electro, pop and rock was accompanied by an impressive visual show. This is another band that the Front National dislikes, calling their music “degenerate”. All in all, I agree with that labelling. But what's the problem with that, right? Meanwhile, Fills Monkey delivered their weel-crafted mix of comedy and impressive drumming skills. The two members of the band are both professional drummers, and their show is really impressive. You can see them again tonight (Saturday, 21:30) at the Détour. After the warm-up, it was time for The Prodigy on the main stage. It was packed, and people were jumping around to the onslaught of sound from the cult band. Pogoing in front of the main stage is part of the Paléo experience, and I would not have missed it for the world. It is always a very interesting place to be, and it is nice to see people show solidarity with one another, picking each other up, or creating a space to help someone try and find their glasses (they did, and in one piece however improbable that seems). Mustering the remaining energy left over from Prodigy, part of the crowd headed to Les Arches, to check out Carbon Airways. A brother and a sister from France, these two kids (they are 17 and 18 years old!) do an amazing trashy electro, electrifying the crowd with their powerful music. Curious at first, I was very quickly impressed by the show, both of them completely at ease and exploding with energy on stage. Paléo doesn't necessarily finish after the last concert, and the camp-site is a good place to continue partying until dawn. A group of punks had brought a guitar and drum-set, and played through a good part of the night, finishing things off in beauty, with an authentic punk feel. If you want to see what's going on at anytime of the festival but can't be bothered to get off your couch (especially with this weather), Paleo has installed a webcam with a live feed on the main stage. (You can currently enjoy watching a few wet volunteers run through the rain to get to shelter) Due to Yesterday's heavy rain, ALL the car-parks are closed today. The cars will be redirected to Nyon, where buses will take everyone up to the grounds.

House for sale Beautiful house for sale just a short walk from central Divonne. This house set in a quiet and private location and just 10 minutes drive from the International School of Geneva (La Châtaigneraie campus) and 15 minutes from Geneva Airport. This 350 m2 house (over three floors) has two large balconies facing South and West which have panoramic views of Mont Blanc, the Alps and Salève. There is also a small balcony to the rear overlooking a very private back garden and a 2000 m2 well maintained garden with panoramic views of Mont Blanc, the Alps and the Salève. The house has five double bedrooms all with fitted wardrobe and cupboard space and five bathrooms. There are also two reception rooms and a separate dining room. The large kitchen has recently been refurbished with a Siemens double oven and induction hob, solar panels (on the roof) supplying hot water, large double garage, parking for several cars and electrically operated gates to the long private drive. This lovely house is ideal for families, for entertaining and for fabulous views! Price: 1,700,000 euros. For more information please contact Celia Marsh on celiamarsh@gmail.com Photos above - two of the five bathrooms.