Last Friday marked the end of the academic year for local primary schools and with it came the Nyon's children's parade through the town. This event is an annual tradition, each year children (and even some of the teachers!) dress up in themed costumes and walk though the town accompanied by brass bands, Nyon's local councillors and acts provided for the crowd's entertainment. It's the 4th July!  Living in Nyon wishes all its American readers (of which there are many), a "Happy 4th July"!   Star gazing in Signal de Bougy On the 9th/10th July up at Signal de Bougy it's the "Féerie d'une Nuit" . This is a night for all those interested in astronomy and the event bills itself as the "biggest astronomical" event in Swiss Romande.  Everyone is welcome, both adults and children. The day begins at 15:00 on the 9th and goes all the way through until 02:00 on Sunday morning the 10th.  The programme includes a visit to a temporary planetarium, face painting for children (designs on a planetary theme!) observations of the sun between 15:00 -17:00, and observations of the night sky from 22:00. 02:00. There will also be an opportunity to buy second hand astronomical equipment between 17:15 and 17:45  (on the football field).  The restaurant will remain open until 22:00 on the Saturday for all star gazers.  The site has an Information Pratique section  with a map and full details for the full programme of events see  here.  Visiting UEFA One of the many questions asked on this site is: How can I visit the headquarters of UEFA, (the union of European Football Associations)?  which is situated just on the outskirts of Nyon. The answer is, it is not officially open to the public , however if you would like to visit, you can email visites@uefa.ch , where a member of staff will consider your request and will try to arrange a visit for those interested.  Note: UEFA usually organises an "Open Day" once a year so keep checking this site for details of  the next one coming up.  In the interim check out this report and photos of behind the  scenes of UEFA when Living in Nyon visited in 2009.

From time to time,  Living in Nyon takes a look at other English websites in Switzerland and chooses a selection of useful, informative and fun articles for readers. Beware of the Marching Caterpillars The first article - "Watch out for the Marching Caterpillars!"  comes from the website   "Mothering Matters (and Fathering too)" . This website has been providing parenting information to the English-speaking families in Switzerland since 1994.  This article on these marching caterpillars that can be found here in Switzerland provides lots of useful advice on what you should do if you see them or if you come into  contact with them. The article was written b y Dr Michelle Wright , a British - trained general practitioner.  "What's On" in the world of Swiss Wine Ellen's Wine World is a great blog all about Swiss wine. Take a look at the "What's On"  section in this blog that lists upcoming wine events in the area and further afield. Note the open house wine day in Geneva on Saturday the 24th May. Interview with the Directors of Manor Geneva  Take a look at this interview published on the " Know it All Passport" website with HR Director, Magdalena Boos and Jean-Louis Bornet, Assistant Director of Manor Geneva. Read about  Manor, the brand, the present and the future. Neighbourhood Exchange Boxes We love this idea of the "neighbourhood exchange" boxes and hope that one day they come to Nyon! There are already 12 boxes in Geneva and 28 scheduled by the year end.  Read the article about them here on the "Newly Swissed" site , scroll down on this link to the end of the article. We are all going to the Zoo  Lausanne Mom has written an interesting post about a visit to Servion Zoo and the Tropiquarium. The zoo is open every day of the year! Google must respect people’s “right to be forgotten" Read this article about  Google and Switzerland on Swiss Info. Swissinfo.ch is the international branch of the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. Its role is to report on Switzerland and to provide a Swiss perspective on international events. Travelling in Switzerland -  Regional Passes Diccon Bewes (author of "Swiss Watching", "Slow Train to Switzerland") has written useful post on his own blog about the regional train passes here in Switzerland.

On Saturday 29 September it's the Désalpe in St Cergue. This annual ceremony is a tradition in Switzerland and marks the start of Autumn.  The "Désalpe" means the descent of the cows from the hills down to the lower pastures so they can be wintered inside.  During the descent, the cows are decorated with flowery head dresses and they are paraded through the village to the delight of an onlooking crowd.  This year will be the 25th  Désalpe and there's lots on the programme for the celebration. Traditional folk music, flag twirling, stands with food and wine are all on offer including artisanal products. Note:  this is a very popular day out for many, so parking can be tricky, it's best to take the St Cergue train up to the event. There are extra trains arranged for this day. The first train leaves Nyon at 07:01 arriving St  Cergue  at 07:34. The parade begins at 08:30. Don't arrive   late or you will miss the spectacle! It's a fun day out for all the family. Also this weekend, there are plenty of music concerts on the agenda in Nyon. There will be a classical music concert on Sunday 30th September at 17:00 at the Conservatoire of Nyon. See poster below. On Saturday there will be rock at the Usine a Gaz with bands " Widdershins" and the "Deadline Experience" playing at 21:30. Doors open at 21:00. Over at the Parenthese  on Saturday, band Alvin Zealot are on the line up. Doors open from 20:00

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There were big crowds in both Place du Château and in Place Perdtemps in Nyon on Saturday night with people waiting in the sticky heat to see the spectacle on show for Paléo's  40th birthday. The theatre troup "Danbor Talka" entertained the crowds with loud drumming and co-ordinated fireworks to the beat of their drums. Here is a small selection of photos from the evening. Paléo begins on Monday night 20th and contunues until the 26th July this year. Living in Nyon will be reporting back from the festival each day. Z

Here's a round up of some of the Jazz events that are taking place around the area this month. Plus an update on movies in V.O (English) at local cinemas. Photos below taken from the Salsa Boat 2007 and Jazz Train 2008 at Montreux Jazz Festival (held in July) The Cully Jazz Festival will take place from 27th March to 4th April. I have never been to this festival but I have it on good authority that it's a great event to go to, held in the lovely lakeside village. A quick look at the very full programme shows there's Brazilian and Cape Verde music on the first night, Blues on the afternoon of the 28th and Afro -Funk later on in the week along with lots of other performances. The site has an English translation. Nyon 13th March 20:30 down at the 1306 Club in Nyon (this is a lovely small private venue in the old town) "Le Trio Pursuite". See Site for details Morges 13th -19:00 Jazz Concert/ New Orleans Jazz "Jacky Milliet et his Jazz Band" Apero and Wine from Chexbres 20th - 19:00 Vufflens Jazz Band Apero and wine from the Domaine du Marcelin More details see La Longeraie Reservations (for both above) 021 804 6400 Lully 26th - 19:30 Jazz evening with the Tolojazzduo in the cave of the Girardet vineyard Reservations 021 8010156 La Chaux 27th - 19:00 Jazz Manouche with Gadjo Combo in the village hall. Reservations Tel 021 862 1973 Films/Movies There is no Monday night English movie next week in Nyon but over in Divonne Cinema Slumdog Millionaire is playing on Friday at 20:30, Saturday at 21:00, Sunday at 18:30 Monday at 16:30 and Tuesday at 17:45. and also in Morges World Dreams Cinema every day at 21:00. The film Frost Nixon is playing every day (except Weds) at 20:45 in Lausanne Bellevaux Cinema

If you fancy  relieving a bit of stress at this busy time of year, then the Nyon centre for the Grinberg method may be able to help you, as this coming Saturday the centre is inviting locals to experience their work. They will be giving free relaxation sessions on the neck and shoulders and for 20 minutes, you will learn how to reduce excess effort through touch, and breathing exercises.  The Grinberg method also helps those who suffer from back pain. The centre can be found at 38, Rue de la Gare ( just opposite the railway station - walk past the flower shop and turn left into a small side street). This Saturday 18th December, sessions will be from 11:00 – 13:00  and mince pies will be offered! Registraton required by emailing  mail@jennieklein.com or by calling Stéfanie Gétaz on 078 699 7125. To find out more about the Grinberg method see the site

The main event of course is Caribana down by the lake at Crans. Tickets are still available for tonight. The line up on the main stage is Oi va Voi at 19:45 Micky Green at 21:45, Faithless at 24:00. Over at the Scene du Lac is Yodelice at 20:45 and the Asterix Galaxy tour at 23:00. On the new small stage (for a quieter type of accoustic music) Lei Lu is due to perform at 19:15 followed by Thomas Dybdahl at 21:45. Caribana is one of the main music festivals to start the summer season here in Vaud and even if you are not sure who all the perfomers are, it's worth going along to check out the bands, have dinner from the many international food stands, browse the stalls and soak up the atmosphere. Also on Saturday and Sunday its the Interculturelle weekend (see previous post ) with a pot luck supper and its also Biodiversity day, there is a description on the Nyon website about the activities around this day. For those who like Brocante sales  there is a sale today and tomorrow over in Gex The Brocante Sale at L’Ancienne Ferme, 485 rue de l’Etraz, Gex, France Friday 11 June 09:00 to 7pm, Saturday 12 June  09:00 to 15:00 Furniture, pictures, mirrors, ceramics, collectables, decorative things for the house and garden. Phoenix greetings cards ; coffee, cake and chat. Invite a friend. For directions contact Sian Sibley on +33 6 81 36 67 23 or by email s.sibley@orange.fr

Great news for film fans! From Tuesday 5th June and from every Tuesday evening onwards  there will be  English speaking movies shown in Nyon!  This has been made possible by the recent installation of new digital screening technology at the cinema which will enable film fans to see recent releases without having to travel to Geneva  Morges or further afield. Some films will also also be shown in 3D  (the next one shown in 3D will be "Men in Black").   Mr Jean-Pierre Grey who is responsible for the programming of films at the Nyon cinema and the luxury Astor cinema in Geneva, told La Côte newspaper that this "new technology will ensure a more diversifed programme of films to be shown in the cinema in the future".  See list of upcoming films below and the cinema's own website here.

Here is Part 2 as part of the Living in Nyon spotlight on schools in the Lac Léman area  Missed part one on Brillantmont school? You can read it here Today we focus on Oak Hill school in Nyon. Oak Hill’s mission statement is ‘ Making life changes for students with learning differences.’ Oak Hill is a unique half-day programme for students who have diagnosed learning differences, such as dyslexia or problems with attention (AD/HD). These are children who often miss-out first time round in the mainstream classroom and, although they are bright and clever, they begin to struggle with reading, written language (especially spelling) and/or maths. The Oak Hill programme provides three hours of intensive, highly structured, multi-sensory instructions every day in these three subjects. Maximum of four students in each group There are a maximum of four students in each group, which is taught by an experienced, highly qualified teacher. Students return to their regular school for the remainder of the day, allowing them to participate in the mainstream curriculum and extra-curricular activities – as well as maintain their normal social network. Oak Hill is modeled on the highly successful Hill Center in Durham, North Carolina, USA, which was established in 1977. Its creation in Nyon in 2006, was sponsored by the Oak Foundation, a Geneva-based charitable and philanthropic organization, whose resources originated from an interest in the Duty Free Shoppers business, which Mr. Alan M. Parker helped to develop.  The Oak Foundation continues to subsidize the cost of each Oak Hill student by a substantial amount. The school works closely with the Anglophone International schools in the Lac Léman region Now in its fifth year, Oak Hill continues to work closely with the Anglophone International Schools in the Lac Léman region.  Housed in a modern building in a quiet location on the outskirts of Nyon, Oak Hill affords an airy and spacious environment in which students feel secure and motivated. After an in-depth assessment, an individualized programme is created for each student. Being research-based, the Oak Hill programme is tried-and-tested, and students steadily gain the academic skills they need to work independently in a main stream classroom. Achievements are celebrated on a daily basis and, through success, students begin to believe in themselves as learners, their self-esteem improves and their self-confidence grows. Many Oak Hill students have now returned to their mainstream school full-time, equipped with the knowledge and skills to cope successfully with the demands of their normal school day. They are able to work at a level commensurate with their ability and have the confidence to tackle all aspects of their work as well, or better, than their class-mates – thanks to the time they spent at Oak Hill. These students, and their families, will all tell you that Oak Hill really did make a huge difference in their lives. For more information  or click here or on the advert on the sidebar of this site.

It's the annual big Brocante this  Saturday and Sunday in Nyon and it's also the Fête des Pirates! Take a free trip on the lake on the piarate's Nyolue boat! Stands, food and fun. Details here Note it is also the last few days of the open air cinema in Nyon. The film showing tonight Friday 22nd August is "The Giver" starring Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges. Details here On the 29th -31st August the Really Youthful Group's production of "Hairspray" will be performed in Nyon. "Hairspray" is a social commentary on the injustices of American society in the 1960s. Plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on a local TV dance programme. When our unlikely heroine wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity  overnight and meets a colourful array of characters. She then  launches a campaign  to  break down the rules of segregation in force in American society at that time. At the heart of the struggle for civil rights is a black family who play a central role in the story and sing one of its most famous songs. Traditionally, Tracy's mother, Edna Turnblad, is portrayed by a male actor. The Broadway production won eight Tony Awards in 2003 and  ran for  over 2,500  performances.  In 2007 it was adapted as a musical film, starring Zac Efron and Michelle  Pfeifer, and in 2010 commenced a successful run on London's West End. The  production is acted and directed entirely by the GAOS Really Youthful Group. More details here  The first night of Luna Classics saw almost a full house to hear pianist Nelson Goerner, and clarinettist and conductor Paul Meyer, perform under the big Luna tent in Nyon. Founder and director of the festival Hazeline Van Swaay Hoog, began the evening by thanking the town of Nyon for agreeing to host the prestigious festival. She also remarked that even though there had been a few teething problems (getting the whole event set up in the transition between St Prex and Nyon), she felt they had pulled it off and she was looking forward to the next 12 days of music, dance and theatre.   See here for the full programme and for ticket details. Helpful tip for those going to Luna Classics. It can be a little chilly towards the end of the evening under the tent, take a wrap, sweater or jacket to be comfortable. Photos below scenes form the 1st night under the tent!  Photo above - director Hazeline Van Sway Hoog welcoming the audience Paul Meyer and Pedro Franco-Lopez Elisabeth Meyer - Soprano Argentinian pianist, Nelson Goerner

The annual fondue for newly arrived expatriates to the Nyon area will take place at 19:00 on the 11th February 2014 in the cave of Nyon's chateau. This is a fun event, where newcomers can meet each other, can learn about making (and eating) a fondue at the same time!   This event is jointly organised by Nyon Tourism, Ecole Club Migros and Living in Nyon.  There will be a small charge to cover costs. Reserve your place by emailing michael.moret@nrt.ch at Nyon tourism office.  Please book before the 3rd of February. More information on flyer below.