There are two Anglophone churches in the Nyon area, below is a list of  their services over the Christmas week. Firstly, La Côte Church in the pretty village of Gingins (near Nyon)  Gingins 19th December 16.00 Christingle Family Service, Gingins. Followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Stand de Tir. 23rd Dec. 20.00 Service of Nine Lessons and Carols, Genolier. 24th Dec. 15.00 Crib Service for children, Gingins 24th Dec. 17.00 Christmas Eve Communion, Gingins 25th Dec. 10.00 Christmas Day Family Communion, Divonne For more info see  La Côte Church or contact the Chaplain, Revd Carolyn Cooke: tel: +41 22 364 0030, e-mail carolyn.cooke@lacotechurch.ch or Revd Julia Chambeyron: tel: +33 450 20 1937, e-mail julia.chambeyron@orange.fr Nyon Alternatively  Westlake Church in Nyon (Rue Juste Olivier) has an English service every Sunday at 17:00 . Services below   19 Dec - 4th Advent 24 Dec – Christmas Eve with a Drama  There is also an English Speaking  Westlake Church in Lausanne , see website for further info. Holy Trinity Church Geneva In Geneva on Christmas Eve at 17:30 there will be a service of nine lessons and carols in the Cathedral St Pierre preceded by an organ recital  at 17:00.  Get there early! This service is very popular.  See website

On the 22nd May at 19:30 the "Ansermet Ensemble" will be performing at the Salle de la Colombière in Nyon. This chamber orchestra is comprised of four students who have recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in London. They will play works by Franz Joseph Haydn, Jean Sibelius, Claude Debussy and Ernest Bloch. For tickets CHF 20/CHF 15 email ansermet.ensemble@gmail.com  Tel 079 575 4210.   Click here for Facebook page "The "Ansermet Ensemble" takes its name from the Swiss conductor Ernest Ansermet (1883-1969 - see more info below) The four members of the ensemble are; Hoei Lien The, Liam Brolly, Auriol Evans and Theodor Küng. Ernest Ansermet was founder of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande and a contemporary of Furtwängler and Klemperer.  Following several years teaching mathematics at the University of Lausanne he went on to have an extremely distinguished career that included several international tours, the directorship of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russe, and worldwide recognition from both his audiences and his peers. A champion of 20th century contemporary music - notably that of his compatriots Frank Martin and Arthur Honegger - he is perhaps most famous for conducting several notable premieres for Stravinsky, including 'Histoire d'un Soldat' (1918), Pulcinella (1920), and Les Noces (1923), and for his book Les Fondements de la Musique dans la Conscience Humaine. Written with great care over the course of 50 years, it examines the origins, meanings, and perception of music by the human mind. The great detail and intricacy of thought in this work makes it less a career memoir and more a philosophical treatise. A passionate though occasionally severe conductor, his letters reveal a personality that is intimate, friendly, and marvellously sincere. Amongst his correspondents and frequent collaborators on stage, one finds many great names of his time, including Pablo Casals, Alfred Cortot, Joseph Szigeti, Carl Flesch, and Kathleen Ferrier. The ensemble is named after him in order to honour his achievements and commemorate his contribution to music.

This Saturday from 10:00 - 16:00 there will be a Big Spring Fair held in the the salle communale in the pretty village of Gingins, just a short drive from Nyon. There will be a variety of stalls at the fair, garden plants, arts and crafts,  bric a brac, cakes, childrens toys and games, books, bottle stall tombola, a green and white stall, a cake stall and lots more!   Don't miss the Ploughman's Lunch being served from 12:00-14:00 and the English Afternoon Tea (14:30 -16:00), accompanied by a live jazz duo!  If you are new to the area why not go along to the fair and say hello to the friendlÿ folk  behind the stalls, it's a good  opportunity to meet other expatriates and pick up a bargain or two at the same time! This fair is being organised by La Côte Anglican Church. More events this weekend coming up on this site.

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 two years the Geneva Writers' Group hosts a writers' conference at Webster University in Bellevue (approximately nine miles from Nyon).  In 2012  the 8th Geneva Writers' Conference will take place from February 3- 5 2 and will welcome over two hundred writers from around the world to a weekend of workshops, panels, readings and networking. This conference is led by well-known authors, editors, literary agents, and editors from the UK, France, Italy, Switzerland, and the USA.  The faculty Patricia Duncker, Brett Lott, Sheila Kohler, Dinty W. Moore, Jonathan Lorie, Susan Tiberghien, Naomi Shihab Nye, Wallis Wilde Menozzi and Steven Atkinson are all widely published writers and experienced teachers committed to sharing their knowledge and perspectives on writing as both an art and a profession. The programme opens on Friday, February 3 with a welcome dinner and readings. Saturday and Sunday will include workshops in fiction, nonfiction, playwriting and poetry, as well as panel discussions on the business of writing. Literary agents (Sam Copeland from the agency Rogers Coleridge and White (See their list of published authors here) and Miriam Goderich  from Dystel and Goderich , Literary Management, editors and publishers (David Applefield, Colin Harrison) will offer their professional advice. Above tutors and  editors at the 2010 conference. From left to right: Jane Dystel, David Applefield, Lorella Belli and Robert Stewart Organised by the Geneva Writers’ Group, the Conference is non-profit and made possible through registration fees and the generous support of sponsors. Registration is now open for this conference. Book early as places fill up fast!  See the full programme here  To find out more about the Writers Group see their site here

On September 4th 2016 a special season of Classic films will shown at Nyon cinema and will run right through to May 2017 . Films include classics such as "All about Eve", "Strangers on a Train",  "Miracle on 34th Street" and many more. See full programme here .  All films will be in English  with the exception of the film "Last Chance" (to be screened in January) which will have English subtitles . This is a great opportunity to watch films you have always wanted to see but never got round to it, or to watch a film you love and want to see again!  There will be an avant-première screening of the film season during the "Day of the Cinema" on the 4th of September with the film "Laura" starring Gene Tierney. Living in Nyon is delighted to announce that it has partnered with Nyon cinema to offer readers a chance to win pairs of tickets (there are 8 in total up for grabs: 4x2 tickets for each film) throughout the season.  To be in with a chance to win tickets for films being screened in 2016 , simply email  info@capitole-nyon.ch  giving your name, email address, stating the film and the date you would like 2 tickets. You will be informed if you have won a pair of tickets. There will be a second competition later on in the year to win tickets for films screened in 2017. Photo above - a scene from "Laura" Photo above - a scene from "All about Eve" Photo above - a scene from "Sunrise" Photo above - a scene from "Strangers on a Train" Photo above - a scene from "Miracle on 34th Street"

To all who came to the Living in Nyon drinks evening last night. It was the fourth drinks evening and there was a record turn out of people and it was lovely to meet you all. Sometime in the late summer, I will organise another drinks at a "buvette" by the lakeside so keep checking on here for news. This weekend there are few events going on in the area. On Saturday 6th in Gland, between 12:30 and 16:30 in the Salle Communale there will be a "Discover China" afternoon with the opportunity to try out Chinese arts such as dance, calligraphy, Tai Chi, taste Chinese food. Entry is free. On Sunday 7th in Nyon from 11:00- 17:00 its "The Interculturelle Fête of Nyon" at the Place des Fêtes down by the lake. Different communities and nationalities of Nyon will get together to celebrate their traditions and cultures. From 11:30 there will be food on offer and folkloric dancing from Switzerland, Kosovo, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Tunisia, Iraq and Senegal. There will be face painting on offer for the children and an apero offered to the public by the Commune of Nyon at 11:00

If you haven't done your Christmas shopping yet, then you can take advantage of "Les Nocturnes" late night shopping in Nyon tonight (the 20th December) until 22:00.   Plus on Sunday, small family shops will be open in the town between 10:00 and 18:00.

It's the Spring market in Nyon on Saturday 24th May, stalls, food and more from early morning until late afternoon. This year, the market has a Caribbean theme! Also on Saturday, it's "Nature in the Town" Day. Lots of activities going at various venues around the town - full programme below. The COV ( Conservatoire de l'Ouest Vaudois ) the music school is now taking registrations for its summer courses, piano, flute, saxophone, harp and more. A reminder that on Thursday 29th May, it's the Ascension public holiday. Most local shops and businesses will be closed on that day.

Here are a few events taking place over the next week in the area.Following up on the "Dieudonné" affair, Nyon council has decided to allow the infamous show to take place in the name of freedom of speech, warning that if racist speeches did take place there would be consequences. The French comic whose show was banned in France last week will be coming in February and March to Nyon. Further along the lakeside, Cully Jazz Festival revealed its lineup for April 2014. You can check it here . Music Pony Del Sol- Friday 24th Pop Folk, Usine A Gaz (free concert) Pony Del Sol delivered her great pop songs this summer at Paléo for an amazing live performance. Discover her own musical world and peppy songs this Friday at the Usine à Gaz. Concert at 21:30 , doors open 21:00 www.ponydelsol.ch Viaggio Quartet- Friday 24 th Jazz, Klezmer, Tango... Part of the concerts organised by the Nyon Music Conservatory. Clarinet, Accordeon, Double Bass and Drums. Concert starts at 20:30 . More information here Fanfare Gilly Bursinel- Tuesday 28 th , Arzier The Vaud Champions, third category Brass Band will be playing in Arzier next Tuesday. You can also catch them on the 1 st of February in Gilly and on the 2 nd of February in Bursins, for a musical start to 2014. More information about the band here Art Photography: Afterglow, Jerome Muller- La Focale Gallery La Focale, Nyon's photo gallery and shop situated just next to the Castle is hosting an exhibition by Jerome Muller, entitled Afterglow. Exploring the social and economical desolation of Andalusia, Jerome Muller presents nearly monochromatic photos,, extremely underexposed. As if the desolation leaked into the camera. The subject of the photo slowly unfolds in front of the viewer, showing him the results of excessive industrialisation and the disaster of ultra-liberalism. 26.01.2014- 02.03.2014 http://www.focale.ch/exposition/remanences/ Local Art: Association La Levratte Work from the the lace-makers of Coppet and Nyon will be displayed in the community centre in La Levratte. Paintings by Claudine Boissard will also be shown. Saturday and Sunday 25-26 January, 1-2 February, 11:00-18:00 Nyon Flea Market 26 th January Browse through the stalls along the lakeside with the dramatic backdrop of the Alps across the lake. The flea market takes place every last Sunday.   Cinemas Here are the timetables for films screened in English in local cinemas this week.   Nyon- Cinéma le Capitole Philomena By Stephen Frears, With Judi Dench, Steve Coogan Aubonne -Cinema Rex Philomena 20:30 Thursday 17:30 Saturday 20:30 Sunday The secret life of Walter Mitty By Ben Stiller, With Ben Stiller, Sean Penn Part of the “English Movie” program: 20:30 , Monday 27 th The Lunchbox 20:30 , Tuesday 28 th , part of the “Les toiles du Mardi”   Geneva- Ciné 17 All the films at Ciné 17, situated in the centre of Geneva, are screened in the original language. You can find the whole program on their website, www.cine17.ch

There is a new brochure out on Nyon (many residents received this in their mail box over the Christmas period - photo of cover above). This 70 + page brochure published by Inedit publications includes lots of  information on the town, from useful addresses in the administration, to the services offered by the Canton.  It has a map of the centre of Nyon,   sections on schooling and working in the area,  health services and many other useful sections. Anglophones will be pleased to know that the brochure also has a four page English Corner!  This section was provided by Living in Nyon and includes an introduction from the site's editor, a chapter on the  English speaking community of  Nyon, it lists useful websites, news sites, busness networking groups, and useful publications, English clubs,  there is also a full page on learning French as an adult and  for children. Also today 14th January, the English speaking column in La Côte newspaper begins again after the Christmas holidays. This column is a light hearted look at living in this area from the view of an expatriate. It is written in English and published each Friday. If you have never read La Côte , buy a copy today at any newsagent, not only does it keep you up to date with local news and help if you are learning French, but it also has useful listings such what's on at the cinema, sports and music events. The title of today's column is called "Fondue Fuddle".

The gates have now closed at Paléo and the music has stopped. Although there will undoubtedly be some campers who will stay on site for a few more days to savour the last moments of the festival, it all officially ended on Sunday night. Next year's festival will take place from 18th to 23rd July 2017. The line-up will be announced on Tuesday 28 March and tickets will go on sale on 5th April. The theme of the music in the Village du Monde will be from Central America. At Sunday's press conference, Daniel Rossellat said that many people had commented on how they liked the two pubs (the Voyager's bar and the L'Escale in the Village du Monde) this year and asked if they could be recreated in 2017. He wasn't sure whether they would but said "Watch this space!" He also was pleased that the festival went off this year without any major incidents or accidents. This year there were many more children at the event and although they didn't contribute to the budget itself (children under 12 go free), they would hopefully be the paying Paléo fans of the future!