A fascinating insight into the life and work of artisans in Egypt Screening today -Tuesday 21st April at 18:30 at the Grande Salle Colombière and Wednesday 22nd April at 12:00 at the Salle Communale.Tickets and info here"You can't buy thousands of dollars of fabric and give a needle and thread to anyone", opines a UPS delivery guy whilst picking up a parcel from a shopkeeper in Cairo. The shop in question, sells beautiful hand sewn designs which have been made on the premises by extremely skilled artisans. The designs are now works of art which are hung on walls of homes but traditionally they were used to line and decorate the inside of tents. However, the quote is an analogy for what's going on in the country at the time, the delivery guy is bemoaning the lack of skill and expertise in Mohamed Morsi, the country's new leader. For over three years, Kim Beamish the director of "The Tent Makers of Cairo" followed a community of artisans whose craft has remained largely unchanged for centuries, and in this film, not only do we see the rich, complex colours and intricate work of their designs, but we hear them discussing the current and complex political situation going on in Egypt. Discussions continue during power cuts and involve lots of smoking and lots of coffee. Breaking news happens and they continue sewing and giving their opinion. A heated argument happen in the street over a traffic issue and a tent maker watches with interest, only to leave his needle and thread aside to try and calm the situation down. There are some lovely, touching scenes when we see the artisans at home with their families. Yet despite the turmoil outside and the long hours of work, there is also laughter, jokes are made about the government from both sides, about each other and a joint bemoaning that times are tough. The artisan's work is invited to be shown at a quilting exhibition in Pennsylvania and we see them preparing for the trip. Once in the U.S. A , their work is greatly admired and in demand. Here we see not only the visual contrast between the sights and sounds of Cairo to the sights of Pennsylvania, but also a contrast of how their work is cherished. Back in Egypt, the skilled tent makers reflect on how lovely it was to be appreciated for their work in America "unlike in this country". When they are then invited to Paris to a sewing fair, they are again valued for their skills. Although some worry that the trade will die out, there are others who are teaching the art to their sons in the hope that it will continue. This film is a fascinating insight into the life and work not only of the artisans, but also an interesting perspective of the political situation in Egypt during the time of filming. A perspective through the eyes of Egyptians themselves, not through news anchors or "experts". A country of complex colours of different designs. Just like the artisan's thread, the country travels in different directions throughout the film resulting in a rich and interesting work of art for the viewer.

Nyon Tourism has recently added a new tour to its list of guided tours of the town and surrounding area. The "Gourmet Tour" aims to introduce visitors and newly arrived residents to locally produced food. The tour begins with a couple of "taster" stops at local businesses followed by a light meal with wine at a typical Vaudois restaurant. The tour begins with an explanation by a tourist guide of the different varieties of fish that can be found in the lake and that can be consumed. This is then followed by a stop in a local butcher for a taste of dried meats and an explanation of the produce on offer, followed by a trip to the local cheesemonger with a tasting of a selection of local cheeses. The trip then moves through the town with a short stop by the statue of Julius Caesar where you can hear about the kind of food that was eaten in Nyon during Roman times! The end of the tour finishes in a local restaurant for a light meal and wine and a convivial atmosphere! The tour runs every Thursday at 18:00 during May, June and September, reservations necessary (two days in advance). The tour costs 38 CHF and last approximately two hours and can be conducted in French, English, German, Swiss German, Italian and Spanish. This tour is one of many others that Nyon tourism has on its itinerary, others include "Julius Caesar in Nyon", "In the Traces of Tin Tin" tour, and more. For more information, contact Heidi Müller at Nyon Tourism via email - info@nrt.ch. You can contact her in English in your email.

The wonderful gardens of the Château de Vuillerens are now open until the 14th June. These private gardens (just near Aubonne) are famous for their collection of irises and day lilies and for the modern sculptures that are scattered among the grounds. There are some lovely walks to be had amongst the grounds including a walk through an alley of tall trees which were planted in 1785. This year there are two new sculptures dedicated to women - My Twist by artist Beverly Pepper and Paradigme, by Mireille Fulpius (see photos below). The gardens are family friendly, there is lots of space for children to run around and there is a lovely outdoor café too, with a daily menu and Brunch served on a Sunday (must be reserved). Living in Nyon is offering 4 pairs of tickets to readers for entry to the gardens (normal adult entry price is CHF 15). To be in with a chance of winning, email info@livinginynon.com by Monday 18th May. Please title the email "Vullierens Gardens" and provide your full name and address with post/zipcode. Winners will be informed by email on Tuesday 19th and entry tickets will be posted out to them. To celebrate the garden's 60th anniversary, there will be two unique nights "Les Jardin sous les Etoiles" on June 4th and 11th when you can visit the garden at night (when the rest of the public have gone). The evening will begin with a special supper at the Café des Jardins, and then when the moon is up you’re set for an hour and a half of wandering around in the dark, listening to stories and discovering the flowers and sculpture with a flashlight. Full details here

New Year Swim in the Lake anyone? For the past few years, the Bains des 3 jetées (the association responsible for various events: the outdoor sauna, full moon parties, rejuvenation of the lake area near the three jettys etc) holds a new year lake swim. This year it will be on Sunday 10th January, the party kicks off at 12:00, there will be food and drink to buy on the day to help raise funds for the association and the actual swim will take place at 13:00. If you think you are brave enough to dip into the icy waters and want to take part, register here. Many participants dress up in costume for the swim, so the event can often also be a great photo opportunity. See pic below from one of the very first swims in 2011.

Film in English "The Big Short" will be shown in English at the Capitole Cinema on Monday 8th February in Nyon at 20:30. This film, starring Christian Bale, Ryan Goslin, Steve Carell and Brad Pitt, centres around the financial crisis of 2007 -2008. See trailer below.

Last chance to visit the zoo this weekend before it closes for two months. Photo above:courtesy @zoo de la Garenne The Zoo de la Garenne in the pretty village of Le Vaud will close on Saturday 31st January and re-open in a brand new building on the 19th March. The zoo rescues and helps injured wild animals, is used to educate the general public (particularly school groups) about the biodiversity of the region. It houses many varieties of European animals and birds. Animals include wolves, lynx and foxes, and many reptiles. There is a cafeteria on site and a play area. Opening times and ticket prices hereDirections here

Every two years the Geneva Writers’ Group hosts a writers’ conference at Webster University in Bellevue (approximately nine miles from Nyon). This conference is open to members of the public and its aim is to bring together English-language writers for instruction, support, and discussion. This year (the 10th!) Geneva Writers' Conference is from March 18-20, 2016 and the registration deadline is March 11, 2016. Over two hundred writers from around the world are welcomed to a weekend of workshops, panels, readings and networking, led by well-known authors, agents (see photo at end of this post), editors and publishers. For registration and more information click here Instructors include: Tessa Hadley, Frederick Reiken, Ann Hood, Liz Jenson, Shaun McCarthy, Andrea Stuart, Susan Tiberghien, Carmen Bugan, and Wallis Wilde-Menozzi. Photo above: Conference in 2014 Above tutors and editors at the 2010 conference. From left to right: Jane Dystel ( President Barack Obama’s first literary agent in the early 1990s), David Applefield, Lorella Belli and Robert Stewart.

The February "Living in the Know podcast" is now out! This monthly podcast is a joint collaboration between Know-it-all Passport and Living in Nyon. On this podcast Lisa gives you insider tips on bargain shopping and eating out in the Geneva and Lausanne area. Catherine contributes her insider tip about a consumer product comparison magazine. Lisa explain the different meanings of the verb “claquer” in French. There is a full list of activities and events on the Events Calendar of Know-it-all

Merry Christmas from Living in Nyon! This Christmas message was photographed by the lake in Prangins, however, two swans in the water became very curious to know what was going on. The Christmas message was trampled on somewhat. So it's Merry "Christas" to all Living in Nyon readers! n Th

Consumer issues in Switzerland - from head lice lotion to chicken nuggets. Plus, an appeal for winter clothes for asylum seekers, drop off in Nyon and Gland. If you are interested in consumer issues here in French speaking Switzerland and want to know more about the products and services you buy and use, then Living in Nyon can recommend two excellent sources of information. The first is "Bon A Savoir" (Good to Know) - a monthly magazine which can be found in many newsagents including Naville. At just CHF 4.50 it's packed with info and tests on products. November's issue tested 8 different bottles of head lice lotion and produced a graph with its results. See here. Also in this month's issue are tests on the dried fruit that can be found for sale in main supermarkets. These fruits were checked for their pesticide and preservative content, provenance, cost per 100g etc. The results are surprising! Not all of the tests are not available online, you have to subscribe or buy the magazine to see all the results. However the savings to be found in some of the magazine's comparative testings on products such as health insurance premiums, and telephone charges more than make up for the purchase price! Even if your French is quite basic, you should be able to understand the tests and their results. A Bon Entendeur (ABE) is a television programme produced by RTS TV and broadcast on a Tuesday night and this also covers consumer issues ranging from an analysis of the actual meat content in the chicken nuggets that are sold in shops and fast food outlets, to the maze of "packages" offered by telephone and internet companies to consumers. See a programme from the 14th October here Mens clothing and toiletries required for asylum seekers in Gland EVAM, the (Etablissement Vaudois D'accueil des Migrants) in Gland has put out an urgent appeal for warm coats, jackets, jeans, trousers , belts, shoes (all kinds), socks, gloves, woolly hats, scarves, back-packs, hold-alls, bath towels (all sizes) and toiletries for the male asylum seekers currently in the Gland reception centre and waiting a decision on their future. At this stage of their asylum application, the men are not allowed to work unless their application status changes. Further info here Clothes can be dropped off at the following places. 1. Nyon: Centre Horizons, Maison de Paroisse, ch. des Eules. Bin at door. 2. Gland: Chapelle Catholique, chemin de l'Abbaye, go down steps on left - bin For further info on the work of EVAM see their frequently asked questions page on their website here.

Every year on the 6th January, there is a "Galette des Rois" parade through Nyon to celebrate Three Kings Day. The parade start outside La Combe shopping centre and follows the "Three Kings" through the top end of the old town in Nyon, finishing in the Place du Château. Children carry lanterns or candles, and the parade is accompanied by a "Fanfare" (brass band music). At the end of the parade, children and adults will find an enormous cake (the Galette des Rois), waiting for them in the castle square. This has been baked and donated by the bakers of the region and is then served up to members of the public. It's a fun thing to experience, but wrap up well! The parade starts at 18:30 and can take a while to get going sometimes, however, hot drinks are often available at the end of the parade!

The annual Triathlon of Nyon will take place on Sunday 8th August, consequently there will be traffic restrictions between 08:30 and 17:00 across the town. The following maps explain the restrictions for Nyon, Eysins-Arnex and Crans-Céligny. For further info click here