Cruise along the lake listening to writers talk about their work Photo above: Le livre sur les quais 2012 From Victoria Hislop to Douglas Kennedy to John Boyne, there will be over 20 English speaking authors and almost 300 writers in total at "Le livre sur les quais" this weekend the 6th to 8th September. This book fair and literary event takes place in Morges and last year's fair attracted more than 40,000 visitors.  Tents are situated along the lakeside with authors all on hand to sell their books and to talk to members of the public. Literary events are held around the festival area  including literary cruises. These cruises are a great opportunity to relax on one of the belle epoque CGN ferry boats while listening to debates among authors and to hear about their work. There will be dedicated events in English, including a discussion and screening of the film of  The Boy in Striped Pyjamas  in the presence of the author, John Boyne.  Photo above: Douglas Kennedy in conversation on board a CGN ferry at the fair 2012 Entry is free of charge.   Easy access to Morges by train from Geneva and Lausanne, by car by autoroute A1 or by a festival boat from Geneva. The Geneva Writers' Group will be hosting a cruise on the Henri Dunant Boat which will leave Geneva on Sunday 8 September at 09:45, it will stop in Nyon at 10:50 and return again to Geneva at 10:55. For the  full programme of the festival see here    For a list of the English authors see here   For the literary cruises see here .

Trish Thalman reviews "Ivan and Ivana" and says; " this was a really interesting film with no romantic illusions about how a couple escaped from Kosovo in 1999, then moved to the U.S and wound up living the American Dream". The film directed by Jeff Silva was shown on Friday and Saturday at the film festival. “The American Dream is where you can ‘get-it-all’, very fast”. But, “I’m not sure it’s worth it”, declares Ivan while walking along the Southern California beach in 2006. “We are slaves to buying things, paying loans, working seven days a week, and we are $1.5million in debt”.   Ah, the days of ‘easy money’ for Ivan and Ivana, a young, enthusiastic, “in-love-forever” couple from Serbia, who immigrated to the US in 2000. The new millennium had just begun. Everything is possible in the US. Rather than stay in bombed-out Belgrade, they chose the warmest place with the best beaches in the US. California, here we come!  It’s all working a charm, for the most part. They own a house in an older, well-kept, middle class suburb of San Diego, have other mortgages on rental properties (based on ‘free’ mortgages!), a Porsche, a classic MG convertible, and a 3 rd ‘practical’ car. The kitchen is new, fancy and top-quality. Ivana is working as a real estate agent and Ivan works as a mechanic, when he can find jobs, even if his real dream is to be a blues guitarist. They cannot believe their ‘luck’….regarding all the material things.  On the social side, Ivan behaves in a rather ‘crazy manner’ (“that’s how I am”), so people are afraid of him, and they don’t have any friends. They are ‘chain-smokers’.  With Ivan’s creeping disillusion about ‘ the American dream’, he dreams of selling everything and packing off to South America “where we can be free and nobody tells you how to live your life”. Otherwise, things are good right now.  Now it is 2008, and the US property crash and credit crunch is a full-blown disaster for real estate agents and people with $1.5million in debt.  Ivan and Ivana have separated. Ivana moves out of the house, Ivan stays. The rental properties are gone.  Ivan is doing drugs and  “plans to survive, make lots of money”, but doesn’t have any specifics about how that will happen.  Ivana has a new American boyfriend, also in real estate, who drives a Mercedes.  The following year 2009, Ivan has returned to Belgrade and is living off US unemployment, but intends to make a lot of money ‘very fast’. He plays blues guitar in a band, is doing lines of cocaine and dealing drugs.  Divorced Ivana, closes a few house sales as business starts to ‘pick up’, and becomes a US citizen. She celebrates the occasion with new friends who insist that she not make a toast in Serbian, “because you are an American now”.  2010 – it is ten years since filmmaker Jeff Silva first met Ivan in Kosovo.  Ivan played blues guitar at that initial meeting. Ivan’s comment was “the Balkans are a sick place. It’s time to find a better life”. He’s still in Belgrade dealing drugs.   Ivana is on the beach in Stoj, Montenegro with her American boyfriend, visiting family and friends. They take great delight watching the orange, red sun set on the Adriatic Sea while holding smoking cigarettes in their hands.  Jeff Silva presents an extraordinary, delicious and colourful, bittersweet tale that covers 10 years in the life of two European immigrants who truly believed they were going to live “The American Dream” - easy and fast,  whatever it is. The film presents, with "in-your-face" clarity, the truth and false illusions about the former ‘Eastern Europe’ and the myth of ‘California Dreamin’.   Trish Thalman is an American originally from California who lives in Gland.

Photo above: The Big "Luna" Tent in St Prex  - now moving to Nyon -  all photos below courtesy "Luna Classics" "Luna Classics", the festival of music, dance and theatre is moving to Nyon!  This festival which began in the small village of St Prex has grown in size and in reputation will now take place under a big "Luna" tent in the Place du Chateau  of  Nyon from the 19th to the 31st August.  The festival will include a series of  "Grandes Rencontres".  This is when prestigious artists and musicians from different artistic genres pair up with each other. Photo above - Dee Dee Bridgewater This year some of the "big encounters" will be between Jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater & Opera baritone Ruggero Raimondi –  with a programme entitled "Broadway meets Italia"   See more here   Another encounter will be  between violinist Nigel Kennedy and Jean Luc Ponty  read more about this event here . Photo above - Nigel Kennedy performing at a previous "St Prex Classics" (as the festival was previously known) On Monday the 25th and Tuesday 26th August, three young artists, all under 30 and internationally renowned – dancer Steven McRae, a principal with the Royal Ballet of London, pianist Yuja Wang and percussionist Martin Grubinger will join up to perform at the festival in a "percussion encounter".    Prix de Lausanne winner Steven McRae is not only a classical dancer, he is also a tap dancer. The Guardian has called him the "modern-day Fred Astaire".  Every year the festival dedicates an evening entitled "100% Jazz". This evening will be on the 24th August with  Gary Burton and the Dizzy Gillespie Afro-Cuban Experience. Details here VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! There are lots more concerts planned under the big tent, in the Temple of Nyon and there will be free "off festival" concerts in the old town of Nyon. There will be local food stalls and side events as well. Tickets are now on sale for all concerts.   See site here Note: The festival is looking for volunteer s to help during the festival period. If you are interested in helping as a driver to escort the musicians around, to help as an usher or help possibly backstage, then contact Désirée at  operations@luna-classics.com

Fund raising event on 24th March in Nyon for reconstruction of schools in Haiti Fund raising "Raclette Evening"  at 18:30 with wine, a live band (jazz and rock), good food and a tombola.  The event is being held  in Nyon on the 24th March at the Uni Global building on avenue Reverdil 8-10 (very near Nyon railway station).  Entry is CHF 50 to  include an apéritif, raclette, à volonté and a dessert buffet. For those who just want to go for a drink  there will be a bar open until midnght. All the benefits are going to the charitable group called Save It . The group of students from Nyon gymnase who are behind this event ( in photo above) have been organising  T-shirt sales, cake sales and other events for the last two years since the earthquake in Haiti. To find out more about the group click here (info is in English)  . To reserve for the raclette evening  click here  or call Anabel Suter on 078 930 5906  (she speaks fluent English).    Poetry Reading on Friday 30th March with Carol Ann Duffy (details below).  Event: 19.30 Tickets: CHF 30 Bookings: info@theglas.org    Geneva Literary Aid Society click here for site .  Info below taken from GLAS site. Carol Ann Duffy is Britain's greatest living poet and certainly one of the most popular and entertaining. Her work is studied at schools and universities throughout the English-speaking world. She has been producing poems from the age of 11. When one of her English teachers died, she wrote: "You sat on your desk,/ swinging your legs, reading a poem by Yeats/ to the bored girls, except my heart stumbled and blushed/ as it fell in love with the words and I saw the tree/ in the scratched old desk under my hands, heard the bird in the oak outside scribble itself on the air." In May 2009, she became the first woman and the first Scot to be appointed poet laureate in the UK. In her first poem as poet laureate, Duffy tackled the scandal over British MPs expenses in the format of a sonnet. Her second, "Last Post", was commissioned by the BBC to mark the deaths of Henry Allingham and Harry Patch, the last two British soldiers to fight in World War I. In March 2010, she wrote "Achilles (for David Beckham)" about the Achilles tendon injury that left England Footballer David Beckham out of the 2010 FIFA World Cup; the poem was published in The Daily Mirror and treats modern celebrity culture as a kind of mythicisation. Duffy wrote a 46 line poem Rings for the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton. The poem celebrates the rings found in nature and does not specifically mention the couple's names. In a Stylist magazine, Duffy said of becoming poet laureate "There’s no requirement. I do get asked to do things and so far I’ve been happy to do them." Her poems are studied in British schools at GCSE, A-level, and Higher levels. The Aula, College des Coudriers, 15a Avenue Joli Mont, (Opposite Balexert on Avenue Louis Casai.) Parking available in Balexert or in the school grounds or in College des Coudriers. Doors open: 18.30 for ticket collection and refreshments Date: All proceeds channeled to the Furaha Orphanage through the Geneva- based Solidarité Pour les Enfants du Kenya.

Masts blown up in Prangins The photos on this page were taken yesterday near the village of Prangins.  The two radio masts (each weighing 70 tonnes!),  have been a landmark in the area for many years and were blown up on Thursday by a special explosives team.  You can read all about the masts' history here .  Alistair Scott, a professional photographer living in Gland was there to capture all the action. Alistair is the author of ' The Greatest Guide to Photography ' and runs photography courses in English for beginner/intermediate photographers. Further details click here September is a busy time of year in the Nyon, Vaud and Geneva region and there is lots going on this month with events  for expatriates and locals alike. Here are a small selection of some of these - more to follow. Firstly, this weekend it's the Morges Book Fair which takes place along  (and on!) Morges lake side. There will be English authors present, readings, and more, see below, details here Job hunting?  If you are job hunting or your partner is job hunting, then the International Career Fair, taking place on Tuesday 11th September in Lausanne will be a good place to start. This Career Fair is for everyone, but it is particularly aimed at the spouses and partners of relocated employees here in Switzerland.  It's an opportunity to take along a CV, meet potential employers and learn about the local business environment. Entry is free however registration is required.   Click here for more information . You can also hear more about the fair and its aims in a radio interview with Laetitia Tierny, head of International Link (the organisation organising the fair)  on World Radio Switzerland.   Click here Independent Schools Fair There will be an Independent Schools Fair in Geneva on the 13th and 14th September. See below

For those of us who are lucky enough to live in this area we know how beautiful Lac Léman can be. Throughout the seasons it remains a source of inspiration to writers, photographers and artists.Not only is Lac Léman the deepest lake in Switzerland but Nyon even has a museum dedicated to it. For walkers there are many paths along its shores or above it to enjoy its beauty. Erik Chrispeels is a local author who loves Lac Léman with a passion and has written and compiled various books about it, one of them a book for walkers and another a collection of paintings by local artists. His book "Regards sur le Léman -75 promenades pour toute la famille" (Views over the lake - 75 walks for all  the family) is a handy pocket sized book which features circular walks of various lengths and difficulties, but all with one thing in common: a view of the lake. Erik originally from Belgium, has been living in  Switzerland for 40 years, he worked for the UN as a legal counsel and now lives in Prangins . Living in Nyon met Erik down by the lake (where else?) to talk about his various publications and to ask him what inspired him to write and compile them. "When I first starting walking in this area I followed other hiking books but I often became disappointed as not all of them had a view of the lake. Where it did, there were often electricity pylons spoiling the view, the walk wasn't interesting or it led you to an area at a ski station which out of season, looked a bit forlorn. I also wanted a circular walk that did not involve complicated logistics in getting back to the start point. So I decided to write my own book which not only had good walks but included interesting perspectives. I tried out each walk on average at least four times, it took me around three years to get to the stage where I felt I knew them well enough to recommend them. Once the book was published, 30 of the walks were then reproduced in La Côte newspaper and they seemed to be very popular. Ed's note: Even if you are not fluent in French, this book it easy to understand, and if you translate a few words before you set off walking, you should not have any problems. The maps are clearly laid out and there are practical tips such as where to park, the length and difficulty of the walk, which maps cover the particular walk, and suggested places to eat along the way. All the walks are circular. Erik continued, "Although the title of the book means "views of the lake" it can also means "perspective" of the lake, and the book is essentially my perspective of it". "Through this book of walks I then became interested in other peoples' perspectives of the lake: in this case, those of local artists. I come from Belgium where the landscape is basically flat, whereas here the topography is so varied and the different landscapes around the lake can produce many emotions. I was keen too see how others felt and interpreted it through their art. So that is how the next project came about. I visited artists in the Léman area and I asked fifteen of them to each submit five paintings for a book on art of the lake. One of the criteria in choosing the artists was that they must  have been living here for at least twenty years, so they must really know the area. What resulted was "Le Léman - Regards de peintres contemporains", a collection of panitings from watercolours to oils, all painted by very different artists with their unique style. Some of them were happy to talk about their work and explain how they had  interperated the lake, others were reticent to talk, believing the art spoke for itself.  Some of the artists have been painting all their life. One of them, Walter Mafli is now in his 90s. Some artists are famous and their work sells for a considerable sum - others maybe not as well known but what they all have achieved is bringing the lake to life in a lovely art collection. Ed's note: This book would make an ideal Christmas present. Erik Chrispeel's books sell in the Libraire du Château in Rolle, in La Combe shopping centre in Nyon, in La Librairie in rue des Fossés in Morges.  See Erik's own website, for details of his publications and names of all the artists in the book.

It's both the Autumn fair and the the Fête de al Vigne (Wine festival) in Nyon this weekend, so there will be  lots going on in the centre of town. There are usually many   stands at the Autumn fair, all selling colourful autumn produce. This year, the theme of the fair is "Octoberfest"  so there will be Bavarian bands playing in the town! See here for more details. The Fête de la Vigne is only in its third year but it's becoming a big affair in Nyon. It officially opens tonight Friday at 17:00 followed by a concert, tomorrow Saturday the 5th October there a whole range of activities planned around this festival. See details here on the official website Photo below - Putting up the tents in the Place du Chateau in Nyon  on Friday  Getting ready for the Wine Festival  A reminder that UK artist Wayne Paul   (electro jazz hip hop dub) will be playing at the Usine A  Gaz tonight Friday 4th October.  Free entry!

New Market in Gland. From the 22nd April until November there will be a weekly outdoor fresh produce market situated next to the railway station in Gland. This market, is scheduled to be open every Wednesday from 16:00 - 20:00. This schedule has been timed to coincide with rail commuters returning home after work. Initially there will be around 12 stands, including a fishmonger, a butcher, a baker and a market gardener. Other fresh produce businesses will be invited to join the market in the future. Visions du Réel film shown in Gland this year Other good news for residents of Gland is that this year, Visions du Réel , the annual documentary film festival in Nyon (17th April -25th April), will screen some  of the fesitval's films in Gland. All films under the section "Grand Angle" at the festival, will be shown not only in Nyon, but also at the Théatre de Grand-Champs in Gland. Free "navette" buses will shuttle between Gland and the Village du Réel central area in a new partnership between the two towns. The shops and commerces of Gland will also participate in the festival's annual competition for the best "film related" decorated window. Members of the public and festival goers are invited to participate in the competition. Decorated fountains in Nyon Meanwhile, over in Nyon, check out some of the town's fountains which have been decorated for the Easter season by volunteer groups and local associations. At the moment, there is no water in the fountains and sadly one of the fountains has already been vandalised, however there are still a few around the town to see!

The March Living in the Know podcast is out and can now be heard online. These podcasts are a collaboration between the website Know it All Passport and Living in Nyon. In this month's recording, Lisa and Catherine do a quick analysis of the customs allowances for shopping over the border in France, and discuss how the rules and regulations have changed over the past couple of years. Lisa also takes a look at discount shops in France, while Catherine talks about a great App that lets you send FREE printed postcards within Switzerland. There will be a classical music concert tonight, Friday the 4th March at the Conservatoire of Western Vaud . To reserve a ticket call 022 994 2360 between 15:00 to 17:00 Details in poster below

There is no doubt that when many expatriates arrive here they are amazed by some of the prices of goods and services. However not everything is expensive, chocolate, wine and petrol are cheaper (than in the UK), but after a few years of living here I have learned that it is not worth comparing prices with whichever country you have come from. This really doesn't get you anywhere. Its best to grin and bear it and remember you will still have a very good quality of life here, which, of course is priceless. Having said that, if you are on a budget, here are a few tips to help. If you know of any more then let me know and I will add them. 1. Shopping in France Some products are much cheaper over in France, particularly foodstuffs so many people drive over the border to go to stock up on certain items. This is perfectly legal but there is a fixed amount of goods you can bring back. Don't be tempted to go over the amount stated as the border guards do make spot checks and will fine you if you have gone over your allowance. 2. Swimming Pool Passes. lf you are a resident of Nyon you can get entrance to the pool at a reduced price. Either take some form of proof of identity (with your Nyon) address on when you go to the pool, or go the Controles des Habitantes and get a special pass (carte de légitimation pour la piscine et la plage) 3. Second Hand Stuff For second hand furniture there are a few places to go to such as The Salvation Army (Armeé du Salut) in Nyon - a good place to pick up some bargains. 4. Buy and Exchange radio programme World Radio Switzerland the English speaking radio station, has a programme most Fridays mornings between 09:00- 10:00 (though not always during the summer), called "The Classifieds." Here you can buy and exchange second hand goods. Many a bargain has been picked up this way.There are always lots of expats on the move so its a very useful resource.

The Luna Tent has now been installed alongside the château of Nyon and the stage is set for the start of Luna Classics, the prestigious classical music and arts festival which will run from the 19th - 31st August in the town. The opening night's performance under the big "moon" tent will be Nelson Goerner on piano, Paul Meyer on clarinette with the Menuhin academy soloists and young talents of 2013 . There are still tickets available  for some of the main events and for performances in the Temple of Nyon. Tickets for concerts in the Temple start at just 30 CHF. Meanwhile, the annual festival of living arts (FAR) began in Nyon on the 13th August and continues until the 23rd at different venues around the town.  This year the festival celebrates its 30th anniversary. For the full programme see here Photo below  - FAR parade in the old town of Nyon. Next week the last of the local summer music festivals, the "Jval" Open Air rock and music festival will take place on the 28, 29 and 30th of August in the lovely setting of the vineyards in Les Serraux Dessus (near Begnins). Free navettes (buses) will be provided from both Gland and Nyon to this festival,  parking at the festival is restricted and car sharing is encouraged!  See here for map and times of buses.   A variety of acts are on the line up from the rock of Belgian band BRNS to Polar. See full programme here. Video below - Polar with " I want your soul"

There was a supreme irony to the scheduling of Visions Du Réel Film " Super Mom ". The 16:00 Monday screening (and the only one that week and on a school day) could possibly not have been a worse time for any mothers interested in watching it. Despite this, I sent a quick email to the mothers that I knew, telling them about the documentary. However it led to the unsurprising fact that most of them couldn't make it. They were too busy being super moms themselves either helping children with homework, picking children up from school or driving them to sports practices, or they were at work. Those that did make it, were a mum who had sneaked a guilty "hour away", a mum who had teenagers who could look after themselves and an American friend interested in the portrayal of her country. Nevertheless there was a full audience at the Salle de Colombière on Monday afternoon, all interested in director Sarah Klein's movie. The premise; candidates from different states in the U.S.A in preparation for the national final round of "Young Mother of the Year". Criteria for eligibility stated that they must be "married to a man, belong to a religious community and demonstrate a heightened commitment to her children". Hillary Clinton was once Super Mother of Arkansas. The film charted the progress of each contestant and filmed their story. We saw them preparing food for their children, praying with their children, looking after them, organising a complicated schedule of after school activities. Tonia, a contestant for the title of "Super Mom"- Photo Visions du Réel 2009 All of the mothers took the application process very seriously. We saw them getting their husbands to time their competition speeches down to the last second, to carefully packing their suitcases to attend the final in Nebraska. Some packed with elegant clothes, " I don't like to wear sweats unless I'm going to the gym." Others were more casual. There were some superb close up shots on detail, the fridge magnets in one home with photos of each child and the slogan "Look at me, I'm drug free!" The camera panning in on a calorie laden meal of fried chicken in one house to preparation of elegant Chicken Piccata in another. There were some great quotes too, on asked why she was entering the contest, one mum said "How often do you get a pat on the back for just being a mom?". And then they went to Nebraska. The competition loomed and these mothers, although they were looking forward to a few nights of uninterrupted sleep - a bit of "me" time, they couldn't relax. They were being judged by anonymous judges, they were being tested on their speaking skills, they were on show. During these three days they were also "entertained", by mature women in leotards high kicking and dancing, by the singing of State songs, and for some bizarre reason, by an inflatable doll dressed in dungarees. When it came to the final I imagine the whole audience wanted Tonia, the working class mother to win. The one who opened her heart to the camera, the one who had had a child when she was young and had to let own her mother bring her up. She was the underdog in class sense but she shone through top of her class in her sincerity. The woman who did win from New Hampshire was smooth, polished, and efficient. She also smiled very little, so little, a member of the jury had to ask her "Aren't you happy you won ?" The jury implied they had chosen her because she had made the momentous and admirable decision to leave a high powered job to look after her children (she had previously worked in Human Resources responsible for 1,000 people) so she really deserved the "supermom" prize. One of the contestants: Photo Visions du Reél 2009 Yet this film made one wonder if the winner's new title wasn't just a substitute position for the top job she had left. By the end of the film she was talking about possibly putting herself foward for public office. It's the discussions held after these films that can often prove to be the most interesting part of this festival. There were members of the audience who said they felt guilty at laughing at the perfect, middle class mothers because after all "we are probably all middle class here". No sex and bad food. There were others who were horrified at the food some of the mothers cooked for their family, "how can they be a supermom when they serve such disgusting food?", and one man in the audience bemoaned the fact that not once in the film was sex mentioned by any of the mothers. How on earth this could have been part of the judging process or qualifying criteria beggars belief. The same people who were complaining about the stereotypes of American women were playing up to their own European stereo-types. I was suprised no-one expressed shock at the mother who had all her children safetly strapped in car seats but continued to use her mobile phone phone while driving. Some in the audience were surprised that that at no stage did the judges see these women in-situ in their own home and with their children, surely a crucial part of any judging process. The music and sound on this film were excellent, other touches such as the credits and explanatory titles against a backround of flowery, homely wall paper were sublime. It must be hard for a director to sit in a room and face criticism after a film, one comment made from the discussion panel was that the film was "too polished". I disagree entirely. Having sat though many good films this week, but also some that were a) far too long b) far too pretentious or c) the subject matter not being evident until until half way though the documentary, it was refreshing to watch a film that was clear, concise and had a definite beginning, middle and end. An old fashioned concept perhaps, but so welcome. Even more so for a busy mother who loves documentaries, but is very short on time.