The Jval rock and pop music festival begins tomorrow Thursday 25th and continues until Saturday 27th August. This festival is the last of the local outdoor music festivals and take places amongst the vineyards above Begnins. It's a great venue for music lovers to end the summer season and to soak up both the lovely scenery.  There is a variety of music concerts on the programme this year including that of Lausanne funk and soul band Professor Wouassa (see Living in Nyon's review here of when they played at Paléo this year). Free transport is provided by the festival from Nyon and Gland railway station to and from the festival. For full details and programme of Jval, see site here Slow down for children.  No more free parking in central Nyon at midday. This week saw school children return to school in the public system. Most private schools open their doors next week.  Here in Switzerland, many children walk to school or take public transport and drivers may have noticed the posters along the roadside in the public information campaign "Merci de t'arrêter pour moi" - " Thankyou for stopping for me".  This is a reminder from the police to drivers to slow down and take extra caution.  On Monday in Morges, a local police officer was handing out car screen wipes to the public to remind drivers to take extra caution and to ensure they have clear visibility and to keep a safe distance from children walking and cycling to school.   Note: Parking in Nyon - From the 1st September there will be no more free parking over the lunch time period at the Place Perdtemps car park in central Nyon. Parking fees will also be increased.  Below - Interview with artist Christine Collet. Here is the first in a series of interviews with local artists who either live in the Vaud or Geneva area. These interviews are being held by Stephanie Fonteyn, an artist herself who lives in Duillier and who runs creative art classes (see previous post on Stephanie here ). Stephanie begins this series with an interview on artist Christine Collet . Christine will be exhibiting her work at the Clinique de Genolier from the 5th September to the 5th November 2011.  Christine is Swiss (born in Bern) and lives in Montreux. She lived in South Korea and Mexico before settling back down in Switzerland. She has a studio in Montreux and gives art courses to adults and children.  Christine entered the world of painting at a very young age thanks to her grandfather, a painter, who she lived with during part of her childhood. For Christine, the paintbrush is a magical tool that allows her to enter into her imaginary world. She is like a storyteller who uses a paintbrush and colour versus one who uses words. Stephanie: “Could you describe a little bit more about your work?” Christine: “ I use two different techniques; Stucco (a material made of an aggregate, a binder and water) to create organic looking coloured abstract monochromes, and acrylics to create dream-like imaginary worlds. I both mediums I am searching for a sense of harmony.” Stephanie: “How would you describe your style?” Christine: “Free, figurative versus abstract, metaphoric, expressing a personal vision that is suggestive rather than imposing.”  Stephanie:  “What made you decide to use Stucco as a medium?” Christine:  “I like the organic feel that stucco can give. I saw a painting in a gallery that used stucco and I knew that was the material I wanted to use in my paintings, and so I trained in this technique. Stephanie: “When did you decide to become an artist?” Christine: “I knew I wanted to paint at the age of 8 years. Due to various circumstances, I started painting later on in life and didn’t have the possibility to study art at school as I would have liked.” Stephanie: “When did you decide to become an artist?” Christine:  “A friend gave me my first box of paints in her garden in 1997.” Stephanie:  “What’s your strongest memory of your childhood that has influenced you as an artist?” Christine:  “My grandfather was a painter, and I was fascinated by his studio and his paintings. We were not allowed to touch anything, just watch, and for me it was a magical world. The theme of houses and imaginary worlds in my acrylic paintings are influenced by my childhood association to home; which is a place where you receive love, a place of exchange, where you can grow physically and emotionally. It’s about the heart of the home rather than the appearance of the home.” Stephanie:  “What do you like about your work?” Christine:  “It’s like a sound coming out of my mouth, I don’t know what sound is going to come out, but it comes out. There is a feeling of happiness and freedom of expression,” Stephanie:  “What do you dislike about your work?” Christine:  “The impression that I sometimes cannot transmit on canvas the feeling I want, it is as if the canvas resists. This sensation is very frustrating.” Stephanie:  “How do you overcome this? Christine:  “I put the painting aside and later on, try again and again. Using with time, or a maturation process, I can later get to the expression I was looking for.” Stephanie:  “Where do your ideas come from? Would you tell us something about your artistic process?” Christine:  “My paintings are stories, colours and imaginary worlds. My ideas come from all the things I have seen on my travels, living in different countries.” Stephanie:  “What is your greatest ambition as an artist?” Christine:  “I would like to paint an enormous painting that is bigger than me, at least two metres by two metres. It would be an abstract painting that gives me the sense of entering a story or another world.” Stephanie:  “Like Alice in Wonderland?” Christine:  “Yes!” Stephanie:  “Have you won any artistic awards?” Christine:  “Yes, I won the second prize for a metaphoric painting in May 2011 at the Forum in Hotel de Ville, Lausanne.” Stephanie:  “What are you working on at present?” Christine:  “I have two upcoming exhibitions that I am preparing a series of stucco paintings called “Aspects végétales” one of which will be at the Montreux Art Gallery in November. Stephanie: “When and where can we next see your paintings?” Christine: "At the Clinique Genolier from the 5th of September until the 5th of November 2011 or MAG (Montreux Art Gallery) from the 10th to the 14th of November 2011".

Photo above: First early concert of the evening at 17:30  by Swiss Band Mama Rosin performing on the new "Les Arches" stage Here are few images of the first night at Paléo. A reminder to those that have children that you can bring them along to the festival, it's a festival for all ages! Children under the age of 12 are admitted free to the festival, provided they are accompanied by an adult. You can read all about the facilities for babies, children and teenagers here . Also, see a 2009 Living in Nyon article about the special  children's area here.  Check out the Paléo website for up to date info on this area. Reviews of last night's concerts coming up soon.  The spectator profile at the festival is the following Age Under 20 years - 17% Between 20 and 29 years - 43% Between 30 and 39 years - 15% , Between 40 and 49 years - 10%, Over 50 years - 15%

There will be a Winter Fair on Friday 7th November and Saturday 8th November at the Hotel Beau Rivage in Nyon from 10:00-17:00 Free entry  - Winter gifts galore, tombola, homemade gifts, food and more.

Here is a selection of films showing at Nyon cinema from the 2nd - 8th November 2016. "I, Daniel Blake" screening in English (subtitles in French) every day at 18.30.  This film, directed by Ken Loach, won the prestigious Palme d'Or award at the Cannes film festival in 2016. See trailer below. "Girl on the Train" screening in English on Wednesday and Sunday at 18:15  (French version Saturday and Monday) starring Emily Blunt. See trailer below "My Life as a Courgette " screening Weds, Saturday and Sunday at 13:00, 14:45 and 16:30 and also Thursday at 16:30. Note: this animated film directed by Claude Barras (who works in Geneva) will represent Switzerland at the Oscars. Details here The trailer below is in English, however the film will be screened in French in Nyon.

On Sunday November 1, the 9th edition of the Léman International Fair organised by Léman Events will open its doors to the public from 11:00 -17:00 with free entrance. This annual event, with over 100 exhibitors and around 2,000 visitors offers a large scale of products and services in English. Nine years ago this “international” day started in Morges in order to help the expats with their integration. The Fair expanded each year, moved to the Beaulieu Exhibition Centre and evolved into an informative day for the entire international community with the aim to connect people and businesses. Each year a new focus is added to the initial setup to keep the fair interesting and fun. In addition to the annual setup, this year an “Excellence Area” offers a choice in financial services, watches, real estate, skin care, interior design, special sports, clinics, etc. The Beau Rivage Palace will host a free champagne bar and a café area. A book exchange will also be organised by the Scots Kirk to finance one of its charities. Treasure or Trinket? Another special novelty at the fair this year. Visitors can bring their Art items, jewellery and other objets d’art to the Fair and have them valued by specialists of Bonhams Auction House Geneva. They will answer the question: Is it a Treasure or a Trinket? Note: Living in Nyon will not be at the fair this year, however " Know-it-all passport" will be there on stand number 67.   Why not go along and say "Hello" to friendly, fellow podcaster Lisa Cirieco, founder of the Know-it-all-passport book and website?

1260+ (1260 is the post code of Nyon)  is a  selection of interesting articles chosen from other English information sites and blogs here in Switzerland.  Some articles feature places around the Nyon area, some are on places or events to be found further afield. We have also chosen a selection of articles commenting on Sunday's recent vote here in Switzerland. Musée du Léman in Nyon, Winter Sledging and a review of the restaurant La Nautique We begin by pointing you to an informative article on visiting the Musée du Léman here in Nyon. This museum which has recently been renovated is situated on Nyon's lake side and is well worth a visit.  This article with photos, on the excellent  Geneva Family Diaries site, focusses on visiting the museum with young children, however Living in Nyon can also recommend  this museum for  adults too!   Read here to find out how you can step inside a submarine, take your own picnic to the café, listen to the audio instruction in English and French, let the children take part in interactive activities, and watch the fish up close in the museum's aquarium. Also, on the same website, there is an article on winter sledging with children and eating at the restaurant La Nautique in Nyon (also, one of Living in Nyon's favourite restaurants !) Swiss Wine News including latest on wine fraud in Vaud The website Geneva Lunch provides daily news on all things Swiss, including a section called  "Among the Vines" devoted to Swiss wine. Ellen Wallace the founder of the site is a wine connoisseur and posts regularly on the site on the subject. Read here to find out about the recent wine fraud currently under investigation in the canton of Vaud. Competition on "Know it All" for theatre tickets Not only is the website Know it All  jam packed with useful and fabulous information on living in Geneva, Vaud and neighbouring France, but the site often runs special offers on Swiss products and runs competitions for tickets to local events. Know it All's latest competition is to win free tickets for the upcoming production of   the Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) in France.   Read here to find out how to enter the competition. Commentary on last Sunday's vote on immigration to Switzerland Here is a round up of news articles analysing and commenting on the recent immigration vote in Switzerland. from Swiss Info - Newspapers Stress Significance of Immigration vote    and   Cautious Reaction to Swiss vote from Diccon Bewes, author and commentator on all things Swiss,  read his latest article called  The Swiss Boat is Full from Le News,  Foreigners: Bane or Boon?    This article was written before Sunday's vote, the next print edition of Le News is due out on Thursday 13th February. Le News is also available online. Other useful info The new issue of Hello Switzerland magazine now out The latest edition of "Hello Switzerland" is now out, both in print and online. The print version is available free and can be delivered to your home by subscribing on the site or you can read the magazine here   The latest issue has articles on the battle of the hamburger restaurants in Lausanne, a review of a talk called the "Business of the Beautiful Game" given by Gianni Infantino, General Secretary of UEFA   to upcoming Spring events in the Vaud region and much more.

There are a lot of Christmas markets taking place around Switzerland at the moment. For the full list of all the local ones, check out the "Agenda" page in Friday's/Weekend edition of La Côte newspaper (you can also read the Living in Nyon column on a Friday too, this week's column is entitled 'Tis the season to be Jolly) If you want to check out the Christmas markets in other parts of the country including the whole of Vaud then the site  My Switzerland has a comprehensive list under "events". Other news, there will be a torchlight swim  in the lake on Saturday the 12th December (for those courageous souls) organised by the association of the Trois Jetées from 18:00 .21:00. Hot tea and Brisolee on offer too. English speaking church services. La Côte Church Nativity Service on Sunday 13th December at 16:00 in the village of Gingins. Children's family service in Westlake Church in Nyon at 17:00 on Sundays 13th Christmas tree sale On the 12th, there's a Christmas tree market in Duillier in the Salle Communale from 08:30 -12:30. Mulled wine served. Christmas trees are on sale in many outlets from the car park in Nyon, to shopping and garden centres, to many local villages. Next Saturday the 19th the shops will stay open in Nyon until the 18:00 for the "Nocturnes".

Important info for festival-goers -  Due to heavy rain many of the car-parks will be closed today (Tuesday 21 July). It is advised to take public transport to the festival.    The following post has been written by Jonas Parson. Jonas is a student at the university of Lausanne and has been covering the Paléo festival for this site for the past four years. Here he reports from the Paléo press conference and gives us a flavour of what's to come over the next six days.  As ever, there's an exciting programme of music, entertainment and great food on the line up. Both Jonas and the Living in Nyon editor will be there every night to report on it all. Paléo Press conference and what's new up at the grounds this year -  by Jonas Parson The rather miserable weather was on everyone's mind at the opening press conference for the 39 th edition of Paléo Festival on Monday. Daniel Rossellat, captain of the mighty ship Paléo (the weather allows cheesy water-related metaphors) addressed the difficult conditions of hosting an open-air festival when the weather is bad, thanking the brave and diligent volunteers who have been working in very difficult conditions over the past few weeks to have everything up to scratch for Tuesday at 16:00 when the first festival-goers will walk (or squelch) onto the grounds. Sporting a pair of flashy green wellies, Rossellat explained that he preferred bad weather during the press conference and good weather during the festival rather than the other way round, saying that you “had to be philosophical about the rain”. But as most people who have come to Paléo have been at at least once before, so the mud and rain is all part of the fun during the festival- as long as we get some sun somewhere along the way! The Andes at the Village du Monde Speaking of the sun, the Andes - home to the sun-worshipping Incas - are this year's destination for the Village du Monde . This festival-in-the-festival is dedicated to a different part of the world each year, bringing a mix of traditional and contemporary culture to l'Asse. Colourful Andean summits have been installed in the village, made of an impressive 47 km of nylon string (that's the distance between Nyon and Yverdon!). A reference to the massive mountain chain that streaks through South America, and the colourful visual identity of today's South American bands, these constructions decorate this area where you will be able to listen to a mix of cumbia and electronic music, whilst eating an empanada or some guacamole (we will definitely be writing some more about the amazing food at Paléo later during the week!) Despite the wet weather, the morale is high for Rossellat and his team, who have been hosting a sold-out festival for the last fifteen years. This year, the rush to the tickets beat new records, with the Wednesday night selling out in 8 minutes! Stromae will be bringing his beats and deep lyrics to make the whole of l'Asse dance, and a crowd of a younger age is expected for the concert of the Belgian phenomenon, who is very popular with young kids. Paléo is all about collaboration This year's edition marks the tenth year of collaboration between Paleo and the HES-SO, and to celebrate they have brought a giant Ferris wheel ready to take festival-goers to new heights, and discover the grounds from the sky. A series of 70's caravans will also showcase the student's different projects, as each year. Another regular collaboration, Monic La Mouche are back for the fourth year with their poetic and rugged structures, their new sculptures incorporating live plants in them. Paléo supports associations and NGOs who do good work helping people in different ways, and this year they have decided to highlight the efforts of Terre des Hommes in Latin America, as well as the great work of ARFEC , who accompany children with cancer. Both will be on site and you can go and talk to them if their projects interest you. Roussel Concert cancelled Tuesday Due to injuries after falling of a stage last week, Gaetan Roussel will be unable to perform on the main stage tomorrow. His concert has been replaced by young national star Bastian Baker, who played last year at Paléo (also under the rain...). A note on getting to the festival Transport-wise, the Festival encourages people to use public transport to and from the site . They aim for at least half the festival goers to come by train or bus, reducing the carbon footprint of the festival, and making it all much easier and enjoyable for everyone. So if you plan on coming to Paléo, think of checking the timetables, as the trains and buses run for most of the day and night, making it a hassle-free way of getting there.(It also means you get to drink more beer or wine, if that's what you like doing!)  This is even more important for tomorrow, as the heavy rain protocol has been put in place and many of the car-parks on site will be closed, to make sure cars do not get swamped due to the mud and rain. People coming by car will be redirected towards Nyon, and extra buses have been put in place. So if you plan on coming on Tuesday, use public transport!

Next week Shakespeare comes to Coppet with a production of "As you like it" by GEDS, (Geneva English Drama Society)    at the Thèatre de Terre Sainte. This is a lovely theatre with a nice bar for that pre-theatre drink ! Read on for a description of the play and for booking details. As You Like It  is one of Shakespeare’s light-hearted comedies -- a real fairy-tale (though without the fairies!). There is the expected well-stirred mix of poetry and philosophy in this much-loved play and everyone lives happily ever after, but not before going through a bit of mild torment. There is sibling rivalry, betrayal and banishment — but song and laughter too — and over all the dappled sunlight of the Forest of Arden…where things are not always what they seem. Frances Favre has assembled a strong cast of newcomers and familiar faces to bring this delightful play to life — a great start to GEDS’ 80th anniversary year — don’t miss it! Tickets:  CHF 30 (seats numbered) Students CHF 20, ONLY at the theatre on the evening of the performance, subject to seat availability and on presentation of student card. Book now at Theatre in English,  choose your own seats, pay by credit card or bulletin de versement or e-banking and print your own tickets. Special school group prices Wed. & Thurs. contact: webmaster@theatreinenglish.ch Book at a Swiss post offic e using a red bulletin de versement payable to Theatre in English,1214 Vernier CCP 12-20568-3. Give in the ‘motif de payment’ box the date and number of tickets required and your daytime phone number or email.  Call from 29th Oct.  on +41 22 341 51 92. Weekdays between 11.00 and 12.30. Buy tickets at the theatre  (CASH ONLY) on the night from 60 minutes before the show (check seat availability by phone or on the website). Tickets neither changed nor refunded .

Here are a few images of the second night of Paléo.  Full report on the evening, Angus and Julia Stone, Portishead, etc coming up soon. Above - Los de Abajo performing in the Dome tent last night All photos - Catherine Nelson-Pollard

Photo above - Broukar - copyright Paléo/ Lionel Flusin . Review of  Wednesday's night Paléo by Jonas Parson. After a great start on Tuesday, the weather and the bands were there again on Wednesday to make sure everybody enjoyed their evening. The weather was even warmer, the bands even crazier and people everywhere seemed like they were spending a nice evening. A good place to start the evening at Paléo is the Nyon-St-Cergue train station in Nyon, as not only does it make you leave your car behind and take the train up to the festival, but someone has set up a beer stall there, selling local beer from the Brasserie de la Côte . If you've had enough of drinking industrial tasteless lager on the grounds, then go and discover a local beer! Continuing on the same topic, note that you can find Guinness on tap at certain bars in the festival, like the one situated to left of the main stage and held by the fc Gingins. After jumping off my giraffe unicycle (towering at approx. 2.3 metres high), happy with another day of exploring the festival site with the circus (more on that tomorrow!), I headed off to catch a glimpse of the Cure. After nearly 40 years of music, Robert Smith still seemed to manage to get the crowd going, and the main stage was packed out. I then went on my way - Paleo's big tragedy, you can only be at one concert at a time,and with so many bands playing each day, it's impossible to see everything you want, forcing you to run from one stage to another to see different concerts. Going via the Village du Monde, I stopped to watch a very modern looking Whirling Dervish, dancing to the music of Broukar , a Syrian Sufi band. Moving on to the Détour After watching him dance until I started feeling dizzy, it was time to head off to the Détour for the Deadline Experience (read more about the band here ). Although they were playing at the same time as the Cure, the tent was pretty full, and the band was really up to it. Expressing their regret for playing at the same time as the aforementioned band, they promised the audience a surprise for the end of the set. With the help of an never-tiring drummer who looked like he was going to break a drumstick judging by how hard he was banging on his drum-kit, the bass and guitar merging to form a psychedelic flow of sound, they created a slightly unearthly ambiance, switching from melancholic songs to to merrier stuff. Near to the end of the concert, the three musicians were joined on stage by a very famous guest, who you might have seen flying around on a magic carpet in the Village du Monde video teaser. Wearing his traditional headdress and sunglasses, he contributed with a bell for a song. After a very nice concert, it was time to catch a glimpse of Bon Iver, while in the distance the Cure were still playing- before walking back up to the Dôme for a taste of oriental music with Natacha Atlas. Switching from wall of sound type effects with quite a high-pitched voice and strange violin sounds, to folkier songs on his guitar, Bon Iver was an interesting experience, at some moments quite similar to Beirut 's festive melodic music. Cutting across the grounds past the main stage, where the crowd was slowly drifting apart after the end of the Cure (quite the night for "spot the Goth!"), past the dozens of dedicated “Aspirator” (Paléo's voluntary cleaning crew) clearing the mess and making specially sure no glass bottles were left lying about before the next concert, I headed towards the Village du Monde. Photo above - Natacha Atlas - Copyright Paléo/Boris Soula The atmosphere there is calmer, people sitting down for a middle-eastern delicacy, chilling under the tea tent and listening to the concert going on under the Dôme. Lying down in the grass near the edge of the tent, giving my legs a well-deserved rest, I listened to the mix of piano and the distinctive sound of the darbouka, the middle-eastern drum. Mixing occidental and oriental influences, Natacha Atlas led the audience with her beautiful voice on a musical trip to Egypt and North Africa. But Paléo is not the place to have a nap, and it was time to go back to the main stage for Justice . The two French DJs turned the area in front of the main stage into an open air disco, with an impressive lights show. The crowd danced in a frenzy to hits like "D.A.N.C.E" and "We are your friends", everybody jumping up and down and waving their arms to the music. After more than an hour of disco, it was time to end the night with Christine  - no, Christine is not a lonely girl I picked up at Paléo, but an electro-trash duo. Mixing their music with video samples from movies like Clockwork Orange and Mad Max projected onto a screen behind them, they made sure nobody fell asleep under the Club Tent, their wicked explosive beats working up a frenzy, and people kept on dancing, summoning up the last of their energy, the music carrying the crowd and giving a bit of life to otherwise exhausted limbs. The two DJs were really warm and close to the audience, and climbed off the stage for a round of high-fives at the end of the show.

It's Neighbour's Day today in Nyon. Time to share a glass of something with neighbours and perhaps a piece of "Pain Surprise". Let's hope the rain holds off! Bonne Fete!