There will be various parking restrictions implemented in Nyon on Thursday 17 December due to the official ceremony in the centre of town to welcome Mr Guy Parmelin, the new elected member of the Federal Cabinet. Mr Parmelin lives in Bursins. There are various events planned from approximately 15:30 onwards. Mr Parmelin will arrive by train in Nyon at 15:42. The Place de Perdtemps car parking will be closed from Thursday 17th at 05:00 until Friday 18th at 06:00, the car park at Place de la Gare will be closed on Thursday from 15:00 until 16:30, the parking at the place du Château (and the castle itself) will be closed from Wednesday 05:00 until Friday 06:00 and part of the Rue des Marchandises will be closed from 05:00 until Friday 06:00.  The offices of the council's administration will also be closed on Thursday afternoon. There will be a free navette bus in operation from the Colovray parking from 14:30 until 22:30 on Thursday. It is advised to avoid driving near the centre of the town on Thursday between 15:00 and 16:30.  For more details of the event and other restrictions that will be put in place -  click here.

In March 2011 the the internet club of Nyon “ Club Soft ” ( S ociété pour l' O rdinateur et les F érus de T echnique) will celebrate its 20th year anniversary. The club was originally founded by Jean-Paul Henet, a French expatriate now living in Nyon. Mr Henet  previously worked with  IBM , Univac , Leasco, Itel, and was both European President of Greyhound Computer and CMI Corp. Mr Jean-Paul Henet Mr Henet says: " The premise of Club Soft is to quite simple -  to help all users of PC and Mac computers. The club now has over 500 members to date and we organise several activities such as running courses on Windows , to the use of the Internet, how to use Word , Excel  and we even give help on choosing a computer.  Club courses are usually held in Trelex. Members come not only from Nyon but from many surrounding towns and villages from Gland to Gingins to Grand Lancy .  Check out the courses they have run this year . There is one remaining  course on December 16th on "emails, trucs and astuces".   In addition, the club also hold mini conferences and once or twice a month invite experts to give presentations on subjects such as Windows, “cleaning your PC”, “viruses” etc. These presentations are followed by a question and answer session. The club provides a permanent (free!) hot line for those who have a problem with their computer or an application and the club's technicians can visit private homes  too (all at a reasonable price).  The club also has members who can provide assistance in English. For further information check out Club Soft's website

Foreign Affairs - Screening Sunday 12:00 at the Usine a Gaz - 12:00. Tickets here Fascinating insight into the world of diplomacy and foreign affairs Hotel rooms in India, Israel, Iran, Russia and many other countries around the world. Boarding and disembarking endless planes and interviews, shaking hands and making small talk with world leaders. Such is the life of Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs. Photos above and below -  Pasha Rafiy courtesy Visions du Réel This film goes behinds the scenes of the Minister, following him wherever he goes, from his political world with an entourage and cavalcade of cars and red carpet life, to him eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast at home whilst catching up on the news on his iPad. We see him in shorts mowing the lawn and battling with a recalcitrant lawnmower, and then on the phone (still in shorts) talking strategy with some other diplomat before a round of negotiations. The film is a fascinating insight into the world of a diplomat. Asselborn is a cyclist and passionate about cycling. He uses the subject of cycling in his small talk with other diplomats and you can see his excitement when he is in the Elysée Palace as he gets to have his photo taken next to the Tour de France porcelain bowl before President Hollande hands it out to a winner. You also see the diplomat on holiday cycling up a very steep hill in Switzerland. Much of Asselborn's job seems to be an uphill struggle, battling jetlag and continuous rounds of negotiations through various world crises, but he does it with equanimity and humour. Foreign Affairs is the first film by director Pasha Rafiy.  At the question and answer session after the film on the Saturday night at the festival, he revealed that he works as a picture editor for a publication in Vienna. He said that out of the hundreds of photos he works with, he has to choose just one, a main photo that tells the story. But, he said, he is also interested in the photos that don't get shown, the "B" side of the story and this is what he aimed to show in this film, the "B" side of the life of a diplomat. Rafiy does this superbly.  The affable Minister Jean Asselborn was also at the screening in Nyon last night and he too took questions from the audience, which inevitably turned towards the political. He answered as politely and as best he could, a diplomat to the end. Photos below - Living in Nyon - apologies for poor quality photos (taken at a distance on an iPhone)

Lots of children waited in the crisp, cold sunshine on Saturday to run in the first of many races in Noviodurun. There was a fun atmosphere in the town coinciding with the usual bustle of the Saturday market. Here are the children setting off in Grand Rue accompanied by Centurion football players. Meanwhile over at the local elections the race was also on this weekend to elect the mayor of Nyon. With result of Rossellat 2,888 votes, Freymond Cantone 1,306 and Dupertuis 556, Daniel Rossellat won hands down. The results were announced over at the Rocher school around 14:30 on Sunday and the celebrations started the same night. A short speech was made by Mr Rossellat in which he commented on his joy at winning, he thanked his supporters , he recognised the reponsibility and the enormity of the task in hand and he also praised the sense of fair play amongst the other candidates. There was a convivial atmosphere at the celebratory drinks party, with the ex mayor Monsieur Poitry, and one of the another rival candidates (Fabienne Freymond Cantone) present to congratulate the winner. The atmosphere was warm and the ambience friendly. The badges worn that night said "Salut Syndic" ("Hello Mayor"). So the campaigning is over and the work now begins. We will keep you posted as to what's next on the Nyon political agenda.

If you are looking for a school for your child or want to know more about the educational opportunities available in Switzerland, then the Léman Expat Student Fair is a "must visit" event which will take place next week in Lausanne on Wednesday 13th and  Thursday 14th March. Free entry by registering online in advance! (or pay CHF 10 on the day)  Wednesday 13 March from 11:00 - 18:15  will be specific to the youngest students in kindergarten to pre-teen age. Thursday 14 March from 10:00 - 20:00 will be for students from teen-age up to university and graduate age. There will be information, presentations and informal discussions on international schools, local school system, academic support, all forms of special needs, education (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, intellectually gifted children, etc)  during this one event.  Discover and learn what's in store for students in Switzerland.  Click here for the full programme  and further details

Saturday night at Paléo was another night for music nostalgia with Joan Baez, Patti Smith and Robert Plant part of the line up. Despite the early time slot of 19:00, Joan Baez attracted a large crowd in front of the main stage and they were treated to a mixture of classic songs from her own repertoire and from other artists. She sang songs by Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, she addressed the crowd in French, sang in French and in Spanish, and her clear voice rang out across the grounds. She later went on to duet with Patti Smith on the the Arches stage. Above - Joan Baez in concert However, Paléo is not just about bringing the big, well known names to the L'Asse grounds, it also encourages new and upcoming artists and in particular, it likes to showcase Swiss artists. Tiziano Zandonella alias "Yellowteeth"  (originally from Sion), played the club tent with a mixture of folk, blues and country and a slightly melancholic sound to an appreciative audience. An artist to watch out for. A complete contrast over in the Detour tent was the rap and freestyle of 20 year old French star Sianna, who got the tent jumping early on in her set. Robert Plant is an established name and part of the Rock and Roll hall of fame yet is still experimenting with new music, and like Joan Baez before him he attracted a massive crowd with his band the Sensational Space Shifters in front of the Grande Scène. He gave an eclectic set from blues to rock, including the sound of the riti, a one stringed fiddle from the Gambia played by artist Juldeh Camara. Scenes below from the Paléo grounds, a festival goer sketching the Joan Baez concert, the street theatre musicians in the sunflower field, a mechanical bird moving around the crowd and surprising some of them! Also, away from the main stages if you want to see and hear a radio star in his own country broadcasting live, head off to the area where "Dynacord" (the most listened to presenter on Radio Ndeke Luka Radio in the Central African Republic), will be broadcasting live from the Fondation Hirondelle Tent  at Paléo. This association is a Swiss non-governmental organization of journalists and humanitarian aid professionals which since 1995 has been creating or supporting independent, civic-minded news media and radio stations in conflict, post-conflict and crisis zones. The tent can be found amongst the other NGO associations tents near the Forum (see map here) Finally, if you haven't got tickets for tonight's Paléo and maybe just want to experience a bit of the atmosphere and watch the fireworks, why not head off to the Pl'Asse?  It's a halfway house between the festival proper and the campsite, and is a free festive area open to the public every day. In addition to craft and food stalls, there are a variety of forms of entertainment on site and it is open from 11:00. to 04:00 the following morning. If you fancy a cup of tea and some Welsh cakes while you are up there, check out stand number 832 ! All photos above and below - C Nelson-Pollard

The latest news from Paléo  is that the music festival will run over seven days in 2015 to celebrate 40 years of the festival! To those new to Nyon and who have never heard of Paléo, it's an annual event for the town and is one of the biggest rock, pop and music festivals in Europe.  Normally, for six days, the Paléo fields (just above Nyon) are rocking to the sound of music. Next year they will rocking for seven! There are lots of surprises planned for the celebratory year and they will be revealed at the line up on Tuesday April 14 2015. More details to follow

On Saturday 3rd May it's the annual Journée du Velo (Day of the Bike)  and there will be a second hand bike sale in Nyon. This is a chance to either sell your old bike or pick up a new second hand bike. If you are selling, take your bike along to the Place du Château in Nyon from 09:00 to be assessed and priced. Sales are then open for those who want to buy at 10:00 and payment is from 11:00 (- 10 % to the organisers). See here for full details. If you missed seeing any films at the Visions du Reél film festival, there is a chance to watch a selection of them on Saturday 3rd May. These are films which have been awarded prizes in the festival. These films will be screened from 14:00 onwards.    See listing here

The weather has finally turned colder and the ski season is just around the corner. Whether you intend to ski locally up in the Jura, or further afield in the Alps, it helps if you are fit to enjoy the sport. Take a look at this article here w ritten by Dr Michelle Wright of "Health First" on preparing yourself for the ski season. You might also want to refresh your first aid skills as well. Here is a list of first aid courses run by Dr Michelle and Dr Penny Fraser, two British trained doctors living in Switzerland. Events coming up  15 years of Friends of India - a Nyon based charity. The deadline to register for the Friends of India event has been extended for a few more days until Saturday 8th November. Friends of India is a local charity and has its head office in Nyon. The charity fights poverty and creates opportunities for women and children in South India.  The charity will be celebrating its 15th birthday on Friday 14th November at 19:15 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Geneva for an evening of entertainment and memories including an authentic Indian three course meal. Price CHF 120 or CHF 100 for members; CHF 800 for block bookings of 8. Contact info@friends-of-india.org to book or for more information. Classical Music in Nyon The Da Capo Orchestra in Nyon will be giving a classical concert in Nyon in Friday 21 November at the Salle Communale in Place Perdtemps. Details on poster below. Note, this orchestra is always looking to recruit new musicians, including expats! See article here  from 2013. Monday Movie in English in Aubonne  Aubonne - The next Monday movie (10th November) in English will be "The Judge" starring Robert Downey Jr and Robert Duvall. Screening time 20:30. See trailer below.   Aubonne Rex cinema site here Latin Rhythms in Nyon Saturday 8th November It's Tropical Night at the Usine a Gaz on Saturday with the evening at the "Coquillages et Crustacés" evening. There will be DJ sets, latin rhythms from 22:00 onwards. CHF 5 entry. Free entry for those who come in costume!  More details here

There are two films (documentaries) which will be shown in English in Nyon this weekend as part of the Green Film Festival (Festival du Film Vert). The first is "How to change the World"   - synopsis below taken from the film's own website. This will be shown in English on Saturday 12th March at 16:00 at the Ferme du Manoir Place du Château in Nyon in the Salle de Conference 1. Note: this building is the council building near the castle. Ticket details here   Entry CHF 10  Synopsis In 1971 a small group of activists set sail from Vancouver, Canada in an old fishing boat. Their mission was to stop Nixon’s atomic test bomb in Amchitka, Alaska. Chronicling this untold story at the birth of the modern environmental movement and with access to dramatic archive footage unseen for over 40 years, the film centres on eco-hero Robert Hunter and his part in the creation of the global organisation we now know as Greenpeace . See trailer below. The second film in English "Bikes versus Cars" will also be screened in the Ferme du Manoir on Sunday 13th March at 16:00 This film  highlights the conflict in town and city planning between bikes and cars. Note: there are other films being screened in Nyon at the Green Film festival between the 10th and 13th March, many are in French and there are some subtitled in English including Autrement (avec les légumes) and Krill, le secret de la Banquise. See programme here Bikes vs Cars from WG Film on Vimeo .

Each July and August, the "Association Pleine Lune" ( full moon" association ) organises musical concerts in the lovely courtyard setting of  Nyon's château. These concerts include performances of classic works, with new interpretations and new musical arrangements. This weekend there are three evenings on the agenda in the company of flautist, composer, arranger and musician Julien Monti. Friday August 5  20:30 "Bach in the East," Cantata 35 by JS Bach for solo viola with oriental colours, plus a string quartet and the voice of mezzo-soprano Brigitte Ravenel. Saturday - August 6  20:30 Rendezvous with Claude Thébert". Accompanied by improvisations from Julien Monti. Sunday - August 7  18:00 Ethno-Jazz Trio and a surprise guest. Julien Monti flute, Alain Tissot drums, Olivier Nussbaum bass and electric bass Thank you to the following readers who sent in their photos of the 1st August. The banner photo in this post is of a solitary Alphorn player in Oeschinensee above Kandersteg in the German speaking part of Switzerland.  This was sent in by Diccon Bewes, author of the very popular book Swiss Watching. Check out his blog here. Photo below of children at a 1st August ceremony in Nyon, with soldiers in traditional dress and muskets! Photo sent in by Trish Thalman. Photos below - August 1st ceremony in Rolle by Catherine Nelson-Pollard

Despite it being wet and miserable today, there will be a tropical feel to Nyon tonight (16th January) as "Nolosé " a salsa/ latin  band will be playing at the Usine a Gaz and bringing the sounds of Cuba and Puerto Rico to the town. Free entry  - doors open at 2100. See here     See their video below. If you prefer your live music to be less energetic (and to sit down to listen to it!) there will be ballad/ guitar music at the 1306 club in the old town of Nyon. See here If you prefer your music in the style of 80's electronic/ pop, then check out British artist C.A.R. playing at the Parenthese tonight See here For those who like classical music, there will be a Sunday afternoon piano recital at the Conservatoire next weekend (25th  January) See here  Finally, take a look at this video of the Flow Movement Crew, "Free Running" around Nyon.  Living in Nyon will be interviewing these guys at some stage in the future, they obviously don't let the dark winter days stop them from getting out and about!  You will see some familiar local sights in the video.