Big Bang Event! This Thursday 13th January and Friday 14th at the Usine a Gaz there will be a performance by Nyon artist Bernard Garo and the Collectif la Derniere Tangente called "Première détection certaine. " .This is a show based on the artist's interpretation of the Big Bang. The show will be a mixture of theatre, dance, video and music and has been many months in preparation. There is a website with more information on the production and you can read (in French) the background behind it all here. You can buy or reserve tickets on line from the Usine a Gaz link here or from Migros Nyon in La Combe shopping centre. The performance is at 19:30, doors are open at 18:30. Tickets can also be bought at the box office on the night (according to availability).

Ticket opportunity- Don't let the sun go down on you....... A reader has contacted Living in Nyon to say she has two spare tickets for the Elton John and Ray Cooper concert on Thursday 3rd February at Geneva Arena. Original price CHF 150 per ticket. Make her an offer! For more details please contact celiamarsh@gmail.com

Photo above: - passengers waiting for the evening ferry from Nyon to Yvoire. The Usine a Gaz2010/2011 programme is now out and as usual there is a wide variety of theatrical and musical acts for both adults on children in the upcoming months. The season begins on the 10th September with Jacka Youth and the Botanical Roots Band (reggae). As this is on the first Friday of the month, the concert is free, (they have been free the first Friday of the month for the past 10 years). On Saturday 11th September at 13:00 in the Place du Chateau, the Usine a Gaz is joining up with the Bains des 3 Jetees,L'ADAC the new arts association (more on these in a later post) and Focale the photography group. They will all be hosting a day called "En Septembre deviens membre" (in September become a member), this in an opportunity to find out more about each group and sign up to one of their courses or become a member should you wish. At 17:00 there will be a small concert in the courtyard of the castle and from 17:00- 21:00 there will be a projection of photos from Focale followed by a rock concert down at the Usine. The Usine a Gaz is a town council arts sponsored facility so it is always looking for volunteers to help in various activities whether it is working at the bar, selling tickets, helping backstage etc. In return for a certain amount of volunteering you then get free entry to the concerts. For more information contact the main office on 022 361 4404. Other events in the Nyon area this coming weekend. Wine tasting, art exhibition, jazz performance Saturday 4th September Caves Ouvertes at the Château de Crans - Wine tasting throughout the day, visit of the cellars, walk among the vines, exhibitions of art by local artist Gérard Liardon and ceramist Véronique Bobesto Firiona. Music 11:00- 15:30 "Geneva Brass Quintet" and 16:30 to 20:00 "Vufflens Jazz Band". Also on Saturday 4th September down at the small private 1306 club in the old town, the American Jazz accordonist Kenny Kotwitz will be playing from 20:30 onwards. Kenny has worked with Michel Legrand, Johnny Mercer, Dave Grusin etc. See the 1306 club for more details. Finally this weekend up in the village of Buchillon there will be over 80 artists exhibiting their work in small formats (30cm x30cm!) in an exhibition called Buchillons au Carré. ("Buchillon Squared"). This will take place in the Grande Salle in Buchillon. Launch of exhibition Friday 17:00 -20:00 Saturday 10:00- 19:00 and Sunday 10:00- 17:00.

. Living in Nyon was very sorry to read in this week's La Côte newspaper that "Disque Service" the music and instrument shop in Nyon is to close. The shop which has been a mainstay in the town for thirty years (and the editor's shop source for buying Paléo tickets!) will close its doors next week. The reason for closure is due to various factors, one of them being that more and customers are buying their music through online sources. A sad sign of the times. However, on a more positive note several new clothes and apparel shops have just opened up in the same street (Rue Juste Olivier). There is also a notice in Place du Marché that there will be an Indian restaurant bar and lounge opening up on the site of the old Café de la Banque.

If you want to work for yourself here in Switzerland, how do you go about it? There are various rules and regulations that you need to comply with and so to help you understand a bit more about it all below is a short summary of the process. This is followed by an alternative solution for entrepreneurs written for Living in Nyon by Gina Empson, Director of Swiss Labour Contractors. "Setting up and operating as an “independent” in Switzerland can be a complicated affair. In countries such as England or France, labour leasing is well known and straight forward, but in Switzerland you can have only one work status. You are either an employee or an independent - there is nothing in between. To get that “independent” status you firstly have to go to the social security office and show that you have at least three clients and that you are carrying the economic risk yourself. This can mean that if the work goes badly you are responsible, unlike an employee where the employer takes the economic risk. You also need to register with the tax authorities and the “Registre du Commerce”. An alternative way of effectively operating as an independent while being technically an employee could be to go through a company such as Swiss Labour Contractors. This arrangement allows people the flexibility of an independent working when they want, while having the administration burden and hassle taken care of. At the same time they are fully legal and can maintain pension and unemployment benefits. An example of this could be if someone has recently arrived in the region having left a job to follow a partner. They want to work but not necessarily full time or all year. They have experience and can find international mandates or local companies who could benefit from their skills, but the individual knows nothing of local legislation, work permits, social security requirements and income tax. In this situation Swiss Labour Contractors can act as their employer and accept the mandate. This is a three way relationship, the individual finds the work, Swiss Labour Contractors invoice the company or person on the individual's behalf and pay them a salary less social deductions and an administration fee. They also offer tax planning and pension advice. This kind of service benefits anyone; IT consultants, marketing, teachers, part-time secretaries, communications, trainers etc. This can help particularly for individuals who want to validate the market or their business plan before spending money on company formation. It also benefits secondary income jobs, ex-UN and NGO staff working for commercial enterprises, and people taking early retirement. It should also be noted how important it is to maintain employee status in the years before retirement in order to continue pension plan (LPP) and social security (AVS) contributions. Swiss Labour Contractors is a subsidiary of International Corporate Services S.A., a fiduciary accounting company created ten years ago by Gina Empson. The company has authorisations for labour leasing both at Cantonal and Federal Level. For further information see Swiss Labour Contractors or telephone 022 908 02 45

Divonne les Bains in France (just a few miles from Nyon) is famous for its Sunday morning market. Locals and visitors alike, come from far and wide for the wide selection of fresh food, spices, household goods, bread, French cheeses and a little bit of French ambiance (accordion player included!) However, the town of Divonne (population 8,000) is also home to many expatriates. Living in Nyon is delighted that Celia Marsh, a British expatriate living in Divonnne for many years, has written about what it is like to live in the town. Updated 4th November 2014 The Spa and a bit of history of the town. "Like Nyon, Divonne was appreciated by the Romans for its water, an underground aqueduct used to link Divonne to Nyon to supply it with ‘l’eau divine’ hence the name (apparently). The bust of Dr Paul Vidart is mounted on a pedestal in the park in the centre of town as he recognised the quality of the water from the source. This water is rich in calcium and magnesium and thus led to the birth of the spa which originally made the town wealthy. Situated by the side of the large art deco, four star hotel, called the Domaine de Divonne the ‘Thermes de Divonne’ building houses a gym, fitness classes, pool, beauty treatment rooms - in short, all sorts of ways to pamper and preen yourself. Leisure facilities For such a small town Divonne has an incredible offering of leisure and tourist facilities which make it such a great place to live. There is a 50 metre heated outdoor pool with accompanying paddling pool, a baby pool, a pool with a long slide and a diving pool, all surrounded by large lawns and a café serving a range of snacks. Only a few metres away lies a sandy beach which was constructed on the edge of lake Divonne. This lake was made by filling the hole left by the gravel which was taken out to help construct the autoroute - the mayor wisely asked that in return for this excavation, that an exit off the motorway be created for Divonne. The beach has a wide but shallow swimming area, which is roped off from the rest of the lake; there is a strip of lawn to laze on, a café and shower facilities. Just along from the lake there is a small port area from which you can hire small sail boats and canoes and a place to launch for windsurfers, there is also a sailing school. Around the lake there are lanes marked off for cyclists and walkers. These are very popular indeed, recent additions to the grassy banks are monkey bars & parallel bars to do various exercises on. Newly installed lighting means the whole of the walking area (which is about 3 km in length) is lit at night. You can often see fishermen around the lake too, (note: a permit is required which can be obtained from the Office de Tourisme). On the north side of the lake there is ‘Forestland’, a leisure park for children of all ages (I'm sure some adults will enjoy it too!) –activities include going from tree to tree on wires and bridges, ping pong, trampolining as well as organised activities for groups and parties such as treasure hunts and laser games etc. Next door to Forestland there is a crazy golf, mini go kart track, and a place to hire cycle cars which can be pedalled round the lake. Divonne also has a tennis club offering 8 tennis courts, 4 indoor and 4 outdoor and an active club. Two of the courts were added in 2013 and are on ‘terre battu’ – (clay courts) Cultural activities The Esplanade has an active programme of cultural events includes plays and classical concerts (amongst other shows) throughout the year. There is a music school in town too which promotes a jazz band and gives concerts from time to time. There is a also a printed programme of events (published monthly) around the town including those at the esplanade called ‘ Je vie à Divonne’ (I live in Divonne) which can be found in most of the shops, banks and Office de tourism. Another way to spend your money in Divonne is to gamble it away: Divonne has a successful Casino attached to the Domaine de Divonne Hotel, which has slot machines, black jack, poker, roulettes… if you are over 18 and come dressed smartly with your passport you too can end up with a small fortune (as long as you started with a very big one). Eating out/ Restaurants in Divonne. There are a dozen or so restaurants catering for all budgets; There is an Indian restaurant called The Rajhastan which can be found in the courtyard opposite Credit Agricole on the main street. For more expensive, elegant dining there is La Terrasse (part of the Domaine) - classic sophistication, and also Le Rectiligne – modern chic by the lake, (opposite the port). There is now a Thai restaurant called Kamiko (updated November 2014) For very simple fare in a fantastic setting (but only open in the summer months), you must try the restaurant La ferme de Mont Mussy, up on the hill leading out of Divonne towards Gex. It has no electricity, but offers simple but delicious salads and delicious tarte aux myrtilles ( necessary to book at week- ends). The view of the lake and Alps from the restaurant is panoramic and can be enjoyed from the outdoor terrace which has plenty of space for children to play and there is even a swing provided. Education There are primary 3 schools in Divonne - one newly opened in 2013, the other two refurbished and extended in the last three years. There is also a ‘college’ for years 7 to 10 inclusive. My daughter went to the primary school in Arbere, and was also able to attend lessons in the English National Programme at Ferney Lycée, one afternoon a week , to continue her education in Maths, History/geography, English Language and English Literature. The programme has an excellent reputation and is inspected to UK standards. The schools in Divonne are used to welcoming children of all nationalities, there are many expatriates that live in Divonne. My daughter attended the English programme with three others in her class. There are also National Programmes in German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch and Swedish. Note: if you have any questions on Schooling/ Education anywhere in Switzerland, Living in Nyon can highly recommend the book called "Education Guide Switzerland". This is a comprehensive catalogue of all English language schools and academic programmes in Switzerland. Cafés and Cooking Classes For a nice cup of coffee or tea in Divonne the Comptoir du Chocolat is a must, it has a few tables both inside and out, when the weather permits, try their hot chocolate on a cold winter's day, it’s pure velvety chocolate heaven! The chocolates there are divine too. For those of you wishing to improve on your own culinary skills, there is a successful cookery school the "Coulisses Gourmandes" this offers daytime and evening courses for small groups –for adults or children, with the bonus that you get to eat the products of your labour after your cooking. The school is run by Dominique Roué who has been chef at several Michelin starred restaurants. Golfing in Divonne Divonne also boasts a superb golf course, (I have been told it is one of the oldest in Europe), it has 60 hectares of greens, a driving range and is a par 72, although I am not a golfer I can recommend the 19 th hole which is the Pavillon du Golf, this has a lovely shady terrace with views to the Alps, to sit out on in summer and it does a very nice lunch! The Chateau Just opposite the Pavillon is the Chateau de Divonne a magnificent 19 th century classical building which is a luxury hotel. It’s worth checking out their web site as they offer some interesting entertainment including wine tasting evenings, jazz on the terrace overlooking Mont Blanc and musical evenings offered with cocktails and/or gourmet meals. If you want to explore the town there are bikes for hire from the tourist office, and they also offer a wide range of organised walks and outings in Divonne and elsewhere - day trips to the French and Swiss Alps and other beauty spots. You can find out about these in the publication ‘Divonne Animation’ our very own version of what’s on, available from shops and the tourist office! Update November 4th 2014 The cost of living in Divonne, and those French taxes! Cost of Living Celia Marsh says - Since I first wrote this section below I have since received a lot of questions on this subject! Divonne is a very attractive alternative to living just over the border in Switzerland, and apart from nearby Nyon, it is the only town to offer the wide range of facilities I have described. Since the change of government to President Hollande it appears that prices are even more attractive than they were to the Swiss and many have been buying property on this side of the border. Fortunately, key infrastructure such as new schools and a crèche is keeping pace. Here is the current situation as I know it General living costs Petrol and food, and eating out are about 30 % cheaper in France-and the further away from Divonne the cheaper it gets- Gex, St Genis as examples of neighbouring towns, offer much cheaper housing and eating out. A cinema ticket in Ferney (for example) costs 9 euros (11 CHF), whilst in Geneva is around 18 CHF Taxes -as a ‘frontalier’ ie someone who works in Switzerland but lives in France If you work in Geneva, all taxes are paid as if you were living in CH, (you pay no French tax), there is some arrangement between France and Switzerland to allow this. If you work in Vaud canton, you pay Swiss Social taxes of about 7 %, and French income taxes (impot sur le revenue) see current tax bands for 2014 and how these are applied here:. As a family we have experienced three scenarios- we have lived and worked in Geneva canton, lived in Divonne and worked in Geneva and lived in Divonne and worked in Vaud. In all three scenarios our experience is that we are paying similar tax levels. Healthcare charges If you work in Switzerland you can opt to be in the Swiss Healthcare system called LaMal when you start work. You choose an approved insurance scheme and pay your subscription fees. As a frontalier the other option you have is to choose to be insured by the French state healthcare, for those lucky enough to be on a high salary you will pay according to a % of your salary. The more you earn the worse the second option is. BEWARE, once you have turned down the Swiss option, they don’t let you reapply, so this is to be considered carefully. Living this side of the border is definitely cheaper than in Switzerland. Although house prices in Divonne are higher than in the neighbouring villages, they are considerably less than over the border-probably by about 30-40 %. For example a nice 180 m2 house for rent in central Divonne is around 3000-3500 Euros (Oct 2010). There are always discussions and questions about high French taxes, but if you work in Geneva you don’t pay French tax, if you work in Vaud you only pay French income tax, all social charges (the expensive part of French taxation) are paid in Switzerland. In our family we had a tax advisor calculate the sums for us and we were much better off in France- as living here means we don’t have to pay Swiss health insurance. (for example I have an international health insurance policy which covers me (100% cover) for the whole of Europe, this costs about a fifth of what a friend pays in Switzerland). There are many reasons why I like living in Divonne, it's a super place to be and as a bonus we are only 15 minutes from the airport and not much more to get into Geneva. The only thing we miss is a direct train link, but handily there is a bus which links to the train from Coppet or from Nyon- after all you can’t have it all!" All Photos C. Marsh Celia Marsh - Update 1st June 2017 - Celia no longer lives in Divonne and is unable to answer any more reader enquiries.

"Another successful Paléo", was the summing up of this year's festival at Sunday's press conference. Jacques Monnier the festival's programmer, announced that on the whole they were pleased with the quality of the music on offer and this year they found the sound was particularly good in the "Chapiteau". Some bands proved to be very popular with the public, Two Door Cinema Club, Foals, Crosby Stills and Nash, My Heart belongs to Celia Winter, Filewile etc and they were pleased that the music of Hugues Dufray crossed generations (echoed by Jonas's post from Thursday ) Meanwhile over in the Village du Monde the Mohatella Queens and Mozulart were also big hits. Daniel Rossellat the festival director said that the festival had evolved over the years and now had a winning formula which worked. When talking about the Village du Monde-Afrique Australe area, Rossellat recounted his experience of seeing Nelsons Mandela's cell on Robben Island in South Africa. "For the first 17 years (out of 27) when Mandela was incarcerated the cell was so dark and small he couldn0t see outside and he didn't even know what the seasons were." Rosselllat said; " to come out of that and still forgive is an amazing and incredible thing" and shows what a wonderful person he is and he went on to say how he met many similar people on his travels. "Here at Paléo we hope we have given a small glimpse of the wonderful spirit that is in the African people". There were questions from the press on the implementation of the new smoking laws inside the tents and the fact that the laws were being flouted. Rossellat said they had decided to take a "softly softly" approach this year as many of the public were unaware of the rules at rock festivals. As to why at Paléo bags aren't checked at the entry gates for bottles, cameras etc (as in other festivals ), Rossellat said "We like to think as Paléo as a small town " when you visit a town you aren't checked when you walk around the town so we don't do that here either, it keeps the atmosphere friendly. In fact our security people are there for security and welcome - the two things go hand in hand. Below is Jonas's final report from Saturday's night at Paléo. Photos throughout this post are from Saturday and Sunday's final day. Dates for your diary: Paléo next year is on The line up is announced on April and tickets go on sale at and The theme for the Village du Monde will be music from the Caribbean. As the end of the festival approaches and that the lack of sleep builds up, we can be grateful for another wonderful evening. Thanks to the weather, which spared us rain, and to some really good musicians, Saturday night was another great success. As I’m involved a lot in the circus, it was normal for me to go and watch some of the shows at the Ruche, the area devoted to street performance and circus. I went to watch la cie les Arrosés. They’re three jugglers and acrobats, and they do quite a few impressive things. Their show was interesting, not so as such as as a means of getting to find out new tricks to do. The cie les Arrosés are typically street performers, with a rather “trash” repertoire, with jokes that made adults and children laugh alike, though not really for the same reasons… It’s interesting to see how adults react to hearing sometimes quite crude jokes in front of a show full of small children, sometimes not really knowing what to do. It was fast-paced and full of energy, and I had a good laugh watching them. I then watched the last five minutes of Mozuluart (a mix between Mozart and Zulu), a band whose idea was to mix Mozart’s music with Zulu music. It works, and quite well too, African rythms and singing giving Mozart a refreshing burst of energy. The layout of the band is three Africans, who sing, play percussions and dance, with a pianist (on a grand piano), and a string quartet. It was quite funny to see them playing again in one of the strange brown structures in the village du Monde a bit later on, reduced to the three singers and the pianist playing on a keyboard balanced on his knees… Mozuluart It was then off to the main stage for the best concert of the evening, John Butler and his wonderful mind-blowing guitar. The Australian guitar player is a genius, playing the guitar like a god. He made sounds come out of his guitar that you would never think was possible and playing beautiful but extremely complicated melodies. Switching between banjo, guitar and another strangely shaped guitar I don’t know the name of, he subjugated the whole crowd with his talent. Another memorable moment of the concert was when the drummer told everybody to turn round and face the Jura, then jump round and start dancing like mad. It was quite a sight to see a few thousand people showing their backside to the musicians, with their hands up in the air! Da silva, a French singer was playing under the chapiteau, so I went to have a look. Some of his songs were quite good, even thought his voice rather irritated me, and the violinist was excellent. It lacked (according to me) some accordion and some more wind instruments (saxophone, or more clarinet, we could barely hear the man playing the clarinet and the trumpet ), in a configuration which was too rock for that sort of music. Later on, it was time for Paolo Nutini to jazz up Paleo with his fresh pop-rock. The 23 year old singer was right up to the (sometimes) difficult and intimidating task of playing on the Grande Scène in front of about 30’000 people. But he managed extremely well, and delivered a concert where everybody danced to the sound of his highly energetic melodies. Even if Jacques Ductronc does not figure in my favourite singers, and that I rather dislike the man himself, I went to see a bit of his concert, listening to some of his now cult songs, sometimes even discovering that a song I knew was actually by him… His show was rather strange, involving at one point an extremely tall man and a dwarf lady, for some reason that I didn’t understand… As always, the evening finished by the fires, before a short visit to the Pl’Asse, the off festival, where a DJ was mixing gipsy and balkanic music with quite some success.

The weather forecast isn't looking so good for the next few days but there are still plenty of activities going on in the area over the weekend to keep you entertained. Living in Nyon has selected a few of these activities for you here but for a full listing you can check the "Agende section on the Nyon official site. The first activity is the classical music concert at 17:00 on Sunday at the Conservatoire. Brodziak, Bettens, and Zimmerman. Suites and sonatas (English and French pieces). See the Conservatoire's website for more details. Friday the 24th September at the Usine a Gaz there will be a Blues and Cajun music evening with two bands playing on the night: Hell's Kitchen and Mama Rosin. Doors open at 21:00 concerts start at 22:00 Living in Nyon has often written about the band Mama Rosin (when they perform there is usually a good night guaranteed!) See the site for more details. Over in Morges this Saturday there will be an Autumn market in Rue Louis de Savoie from 08:00-17:00 with bio produce on sale. Also in Morges on Sunday there will be a "Vide Grenier" in the Halles CFF from 08:00- 18:00. If you enjoy Rugby you might like to know that on Sunday there is a Rugby match going on at the Stade de Colovray in Nyon between Nyon Rugby Club and the Rugby Club of Avusy. Match starts at 15:00. See Nyon rugby club site On Sunday back in Nyon it's the weekly flea market along the lake side during the day. Big Australian Festival in Gex (just over the border in France past Divonne) Finally, over the next eight days there is a massive Australian festival going on over in Gex. This festival is the first of a kind with an excting agenda planned from family fun days, to an Australian film festival, to an exhibition of work by Australian artists and photographers to professional storytellers. Audiences will have an opportunity to share their own experience of Australia and learn about the role and form story telling takes in indigeneous Australian culture. There will be an Australian comedy night, and dinner and on Sat 25th Sept at the Vesancy Chateau there will be a Grand Final Breakfast at 08:00 with an opportunity to watch the Grand Final of Australian Rules football with (according to the website) Australians attempting to explain the game's finer points... Vegemite on toast plus a full Australian style breakfast. More details here Full listing of events of the Australian festival on the site here

This Saturday 21st August it's the "Samedi des Mômes". This is children's/kids day with events going on around the town. Children's market in Place St- Martin from 10:00. Paper aeroplane making competition, balloon sculpting, face painting in Place Bel-Air from 10:00- 15:00. Pony rides in Place St-Martin from 13:00 -15:00 followed by tea time at 15:30 for children offered by Nyon bakeries. Boum (mini disco!) at 15:30 until 17:00. Also on Saturday for children, a new children's clothes shop will be launched in Nyon. La Halle Kids! will open in 5 Rue de la Morache with a wide range of clothes for children aged 0-16 years old, for both boys and girls. See their website for their full range of clothes. Antiques market Also over the weekend in Nyon, it's the big brocante/ antiques fair. Over 80 stands will be down at the Rive. This year there will be a special area for children's tables at the market. This brocante is a good opportunity to maybe find a bargain or maybe an undiscovered rarity or a priceless work of art. It is possible, one lucky antique hunter found a painting in the Geneva plainpalais market that is thought to be a self portrait by Vincent Van Gogh....

Along the Route de L'Etraz in Nyon lies a set of ateliers (workshops) and at number 20 A (5) is the studio of renowned Nyon artist Bernard Garo. Garo is well known in Switzerland for his art, photography and installations and although he lives and works in Nyon, his eye is firmly on the rest of the world. His global vision inspires him to travel to other countries not only for his art, but also to bring back materials to create it. Ash from Stromboli, Red Earth from Tarragona - all inspiration for Garo's creations. Whether it is using volcanic ash that he collected from Stromboli (the Italian volcano), red earth from Tarragona in Spain, crushed black glass or sand from beaches across Europe, all are used in his art and literally onhis art. Much of his work is textured, inviting the viewer to feel it, look at it close, but then to step back and look at it again from afar. Photo below: The Workshops in Route de l'Etraz in Nyon. These will be open next weekend (see below). Which the viewer must do to appreciate it all as like the man himself, his art is big, (Bernard is over 2 metres tall). Massive canvasses grace the walls of his workshop, canvasses with work in progress, canvasses finished and ready to be shipped to a client, canvasses with just a gem of an idea on them. Garo can be working on over 20 paintings at one time, such is his enthusiasm and passion. "Sometimes I drive myself crazy with all the ideas I have in my head for a new painting, I can't stop" . Helped by an art student he is constantly working in his studio. "I have to be an artist, it's not a career choice, it's something I have to do, it is in my soul". Garo urges the viewer to look up or down at his art, not always straight on; "it makes it far more interesting to look at it from a different angle. Many people just see what is in only in front of them, they forget to look up at the sky or down at the ground. They miss a lot if they do this. I am trying to encourage us all to think differently". Garo has been commissioned to produce pieces for various private clients and public institutions. His "M20" installation is in the metro underground station in Lausanne, he has an outdoor installation called "Waterproof" in the Piscine de Monthey, a work in the private collection of the research centre of Nestlé. He has also won many artistic prizes including winning the Artistic prize of Nyon back in 1994. You can read more about the man and his work on his own site. Bernard admires the works of other artists and sculptors such as Anthony Cragg (UK) and Anish Kapoor (India), Anselm Kiefer (Germany), Miguel Barcelo (Spain) and many more. Photo above - Ash and other natural materials from the earth are used in his art. Workshop open next weekend You can visit Garo's workshop and see it all for yourself at an "open house" on Saturday 30th October from 11:00 to 20:00 and on Sunday 31 October from 11:00 to 17:00 at Route de L'Etraz 20 A in Nyon Look out for the red sign on the roadside (see photo at end of this article) . Bernard speaks English and he will be more than happy to chat to Living in Nyon readers about his work. There is also an exhibition of his work entitled "Lisboa the unquiet" at the Galerie d'art Junod in Grand Rue in Nyon. Opening times here Footnote: Encouraged by the artist to look at objects, paintings and the world from a different angle, Living in Nyon did just did this and took a photo of the shoes and the tools he uses while at work - a work of art in themselves.

There was the sound of Spanish music near Nyon railway station last Saturday night as a flamenco dancer entertained a group of customers outside "La Roulotte". This temporary café set up just behind la gare seems to have been a success over the summer months, with people stopping to have a drink on their way home from work, an early breakfast (they open at 06:30!) or to meet other friends for lunch. With reasonable prices and a varied choice of food on the menu let's hope this initiative will continue next year (the café will be closing soon for winter). It has certainly made a difference to this area which is normally just a throughfare for commuters. First Aid Courses for Parents and Carers If you are interested in learning first aid in English then you might like to know about two courses taking place in September in Lausanne and in Vevey in November. These courses will be taught in small groups by two British doctors, Dr Michelle Wright and Dr Penny Fraser, in a friendly, relaxed English-speaking setting. These courses are designed to provide practical advice and information for the expat community, away from their usual support networks of family, friends, GPs and other healthcare professionals. Note, if you would be interested in attending a course like this in the Nyon area then please email Dr Michelle Wright If enough readers are interested then there is a good possibility that this can be arranged. E-mail drmichellewright@gmail. Course 1: Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for Babies and Children This course is a hands-on workshop during which you can expect to: Understand the principles of infant and child CPR Use mannequins to practice the skills of opening an airway, giving rescue breaths and performing chest compressions Learn how to help a choking or drowned child Practice the safe positioning of an unconscious child Learn about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (cot death) and how to reduce the risk Course 2: First Aid for Child Injuries This course is packed with practical advice, hands on training, lively discussions and lots of information. Along with other topics, you can expect to: Learn how to deal with burns, scalds and electrocution Understand the importance of head injuries and what to do Practice how to deal with major bleeding, cuts, bites, broken bones and sprains Get advice on what you should have in your first aid kit and how to use it Course 3: Childhood Illnesses: What You Need To Know Whenever we look after children, our own or someone else’s, it is helpful to know what important illnesses can affect them. Children can become sick quite quickly and if we learn how to recognise the early signs of some important illnesses, we will be best placed to help them. Amongst other topics, you can expect to: Learn about the danger of fevers and what to do about them Understand how to recognise an ill child and know when to call the doctor Recognise the warning signs of meningitis Get advice about how to deal with everyday common problems including diarrhoea, rashes, coughs and colds Lausanne, Saturday 25th September 2010Vevey, Saturday 20th November 2010Le Cazard, 15 Pré du Marché, 1004 LausanneRue des Bosquets 9, 1800 VeveyCourse 1: 9am – 12.30pm or 2pm – 5.30pmCourse 1: 9am – 12.30pm or 2pm – 5.30pmCourse 2: 9am – 12.30pmCourse 2: 9am – 12.30pmCourse 3: 2pm – 5.30pmCourse 3: 2pm – 5.30pm Cost: Each course is 3½ hours long and costs 100 CHF per person. This includes a comprehensive course booklet. For more information and to register: E-mail drmichellewright@gmail.com or call 079 821 8027 Historic buildings weekend This weekend it's the "Journées Européennes du Patrimoines". On these two days many museums and buildings of historical significance throw open their doors to the public. In Nyon the Château, the Roman Museum, the Musée du Leman and the Clinique la Métairie will all be participating in this weekend. Opening times and more details here Other towns and villages across Switzerland will be taking part too and you can see the full list of places here. Brocante Sale in Gex in France. Tomorrow Saturday 18th September 09:00 to 12:00 Huge selection of brocante for sale in a French farmhouse setting in Gex. Small items of furniture, paintings, mirrors, kitchenalia, ceramics, rugs, collectables; something for every taste - antique, vintage, shabby chic and contemporary must-haves - both useful and decorative for inside and out. Bring a friend and enjoy the occasion with coffee and cake. Contact Sian Sibley for directions on tel +33 6 81 36 67 23 or +33 4 50 41 92 30 at 485 Rue de l'Etraz 01170 Gex Email s.sibley@orange.fr Parking: on the road to avoid being blocked in and wear sensible shoes if muddy

August 1st is Swiss National day across the country and tomorrow you will see flags and bunting hung from balconies and windows to celebrate the occasion. Locally there is lots going, in many places when it gets dark you will see children walking in a procession carrying lit paper lanterns as part of the celebration. You can buy these lanterns in the major shops. Just put a candle inside them and the children will be ready to take part. There are celebrations arranged for Gland, St Cergue, Morges, Rolle etc. Look out for the posters in your village or town. Tommorrow's programme for Nyon in French followed by approximate translation On the l'Esplanade des Marronniers (the square by the Roman columns) 19:45 Apéritif en musique avec la Fanfare municipale - Brass band and official apéro 20h20 Sonnerie de cloches - Rassemblement - Bell ringing 20h25 Présentation des drapeaux - Salve d'honneur de l'Abbaye de Nyon Presentation of the flags 20h30 Partie officielle, sous la présidence M. le Municipal Claude Uldry : Official ceremony Lecture du pacte de 1291 par Mme Rita Murekatete, candidate à la naturalisation. Reading of the pact of 1291 Prière patriotique - Patriotic prayer Message des églises chrétiennes par M. Blaise Rochat, Président du Conseil paroissial - Message from the Chritian churches Allocutions de M. Guy Mettan, Président du Grand Conseil du canton de Genève et de M. Robert Borrel, Président d’Annemasse Agglo Salve de clôture The procession leaves (this is where the children take part) Formation et départ du cortège (itinéraire : place des Marronniers - Grand-Rue - rue St-Jean - rue de la Colombière - quai des Alpes en direction de Lausanne jusqu'à la place des fêtes de Rive) The procession leaves Other celebrations down at the rive 14h30-17h Animation musicale "Daniel thentz Swing Machine" (Jazz), buvette Dès 19h Bal avec "Nelly Olson Group" 22h30 Firework display by the travelling group "Percutant" drummers and fireworks . This year the show looks to be a bit different than usual, take a look at the Percutant websiteMinuit 1h Fin de la manifestation