Learning French and taking the time to attend classes can often be quite difficult for expatriates with busy schedules. For those who have to travel for business purposes and can’t commit to a fixed language-learning timetable, or for those who are simply busy with family activities, it’s tricky to fit in fixed time language lessons. Which is why learning French by Skype can really help. The Alteralingua school offers lessons that are completely geared to the needs of both adults and children. The head office of Alteralingua is situated in Chavannes-de-Bogis near Nyon. Language classes are held here for those who prefer to learn outside the home (there is free and unlimited parking just three minutes from the school). The school offers a completely flexible approach to its teaching and its teachers will also travel to the client’s home or office to teach if required. However, it’s the Skype option that has proven to be very popular for those with busy schedules who need to fit in classes around work and family. To make things even easier, if a client has to cancel a class, they just need to give 24 hours notice and they can rearrange a new class directly with their teacher. From help with official documents to discussing current affairs It is important to keep the learning relevant, so if a client is learning French and also needs a bit of help with official enquiries and documents (such as a letter from the "contrôle des habitantes") teachers can help with this. If the client simply wants to practice their French through conversation such as a talk about current affairs, or a film or play they have recently enjoyed, teachers can focus on this too. Alteralingua can also help with French for children who are in the Swiss education system, as the teachers know what is required of a student in Swiss schooling. Francoise Pasteau, the director and owner of the school worked in various roles for international organisations and companies before deciding to change her career and to re-train as a language teacher. She worked at ASC International House, and Tutors Plus, which gave her a good background to be aware of what clients really need when learning a language. The school offers seven languages of instruction: French, English as a foreign language, Spanish, Portugese, German, Russian Mandarin and Italian. For more information on learning with Alterlingua click here or contact Francoise Pasteau Email - francoise@alteralingua.ch Telephone 022 776 64 81 or +41 78 860 36 00

On the 2nd and 3rd of June, it's the Intercultural weekend in Nyon. On Saturday night at 21:00 there will be Afro funk by Les Mambas de Bayou, followed by Cuban Fusion music with Sin Craneo at 22:45. Bar and food from 19:00. On Sunday from 11:30 there will be music, dance and international food provided by various clubs and associations of the town ending with capoeira group Massaranduba. Both events take place at the Place des Fêtes Rive (by the lakeside).

The Usine à Gaz will hold a big closing party this Saturday the 2nd June 2018. Nyon's cultural and permanent music venue will then be closed for two years due to the renovation of the building and the construction of a second performance space. The closing party promises to be a fun (but sad affair!) with three bands on the line up: Tweek, Elvett, Polar Circles, plus DJ Bigstone. Free entry. Doors open at 20:30

A new co-working space called Atelier 9 is due to open up in September in the centre of Nyon. This space is currently being built and created, but when it officially opens in four months, it will be a great place for the self-employed, entrepreneurs, startups and employees. The building itself is an old painter and decorators' workshop (next to Café Ex Machina) and will be able to accommodate 40 co-workers. There will be meeting rooms, lockers, a kitchenette and more and it will have a very flexible pricing plan for co-workers. There are rates for those who will attend regularly, to those who need flexibility with their working days. More info to follow on Living in Nyon when the co-working space opens, however Atelier 9 is now taking enquiries from those interested in taking out a desk/space in September. Check out the website out which has info in English. Contact - info@atelier9.work

Five and a half tons of rubbish/garbage, 18 kilos of cigarettes, a bomb, bikes, shopping trolleys, tyres, plastic items, corks, plastic straws, yoghurt pots and finally, an urn! were all found in lac léman last weekend. They were all discovered during a big clean up along the lake (from Geneva to Villeneuve) which was carried out by 840 volunteers and 310 professional divers. This event was organised by ASL and Net'Léman The bomb (obus) was actually found near Nyon and the plage area was temporarily closed off to the public on Saturday afternoon until it was ascertained that the bomb no longer had its detonator and was declared safe. You can see the result of the big clean up in this video below produced by RTS (Radio Television Switzerland).

There will be a classical music concert with "Kaleidoscope pour 55 Cordes" at the Conservatoire de L'Ouest Vaudois in Nyon on Sunday 27 May. This Sunday concert will take place at 17:00 at the Conservatoire by the lakeside. These concerts are a lovely way to end the weekend! Details in the poster below.

Saturday brunch on 26 May with local farm produce, music, bouncy castles and a puppet show for children. Take rugs and cushions to chill on the lawn in the sunshine with a view of the Alps whilst listening to jazz and pop. Bar on site. From 10:00 -15:00 at the Château Blanc in Gingins

As Summer is around the corner, it’s a good time for both children and adults to learn how to swim. The friendly swimming instructors in Clinique la Lignière speak English and they will be giving classes during the school summer holidaysranging from complete beginner to advanced stages of swimming. This indoor pool with warm water is in the Acquaforme centre in the clinic which is set in lovely grounds near the town of Gland (just a few miles from Nyon). Contact Sarah Lailler, manager of the swimming school on 022 999 65 81 email natation@la-ligniere.ch. Note: Inscriptions are also open for the swimming school sessions

It's Caves Ouvertes this weekend, the 19th and 20th May from 10:00 -18:00. It's a great opportunity to taste the wine from this region and further afield. For just CHF 20 customers receive a wine "open cellars" passport (you can buy this passport in the first cellar/cave that you visit) and a souvenir glass “caves ouvertes” which then entitles you to visit the cellars and taste the wine for free. There are free shuttle buses in operation between the "caves" during this weekend and a discount if you travel by public transport to the wine caves. Full details here with a list of all the wine producers participating in the event.

There are still tickets available for Caribana, the five day, lakeside music festival inCrans-près-Céligny near Nyon which will take place from the 5th - 9th June 2018. On the line-up are The Script, Status Quo, Simple Minds, Passenger, Protoje & The Indiggnation, Petit Biscuit and more. See programme here. Photo above Caribana - C. Nelson-Pollard

On Friday 25th May, James Fry, Managing Director of the Base Nyon hotel will give a short talk about this successful hotel concept which has recently been expanded to include a Base hotel and restaurant in Vevey. This talk is a networking event organised by the Nyon Business Forum. W eather permitting, the talk will finish with a lunch on the rooftop terrace. Please register by May 23 via SMS to 079 202 50 14 or by e-mail to info@nyonbusinessforum.ch CHF 40 including lunch (non-members) The Nyon Business Forum is a non-profit, non-political, non-denominational association linking entrepreneurs, business owners and professionals of all ages in and around Nyon for the purpose of networking and professional/personal development. English and French are the official languages of NBF. One specific objective of NBF is to facilitate contacts between “expats” and “locals” and contribute to developing a thriving business community in Nyon.

Prints for Sale and Photography Classes These two fabulous photos of a barn swallow hovering above the waters of Lake Geneva, and a chamois looking down from La Dôle, were taken by Jonathan Guillot, a local professional photographer. Jonathan has a magnificent online gallery of nature photographs which are all available to purchase (prices start at just CHF 80 for limited edition prints). These photographs would make an excellent birthday present or perhaps a present for a colleague or friend leaving Switzerland as a reminder of the wonderful wildlife this region has to offer. If you are a keen photographer yourself and would like to know how to take great photographs and to take photos of local nature and wildlife, including sharp images of birds in flight, Jonathan also offers private photography classes. Classes are private with 2 participants maximum (no group tuition) and are taken outside in nature itself (not in a classroom). Jonathan will happily teach in Vaud, Geneva, Valais, Jura, Fribourg or Neuchâtel and classes can be given in English or French. These also would make a perfect gift for someone. Jonathan has been a photographer since he was first given a camera as a child and loves being out in nature. He also offers weekend wildlife watching tours in both France and Switzerland. Previous customers have given these tours much praise on Trip Advisor. Jonathan speaks fluent English and French. To find out more about his photography classes, or wildlife tours contact Jonathan at jg@jonathanguillot.com Telephone +41 788 979 434 or via his website click here.