A new initiative begins in Nyon on Wednesday the 25th October with an inaugural networking lunch of the Nyon Business Forum. This lunch will take place at Café Ex Machina in Nyon from 12:00 -14:00 Read our previous article about this café which opened in the centre of Nyon in April 2017. A series of lunchtime talks is planned by the Nyon Business Forum for 2017/2018 and these will take place in English or French. At this first lunch Rolf Olsen, CEO of Leidar will talk about "Finding Your North Star". The Nyon Business Forum is for business owners, artisans and professionals to help them develop their professional network in the Nyon area and to expand their personal horizons. The cost of this first lunch is CHF 40 including lunch which is payable at the door. Registration required by Monday 23rd October. SMS to 079 202 50 14 or register via the Nyon Business Forum website

The Autumn colours of the trees around Nyon are particularly lovely at the moment although the golden browns and yellows of the ground leaves can make it tricky to see the lynx at La Garenne as they are very well camouflaged. However, if you look carefully you can spot them and they are a delight to see, particularly the two young lynx (born in May this year) as they romp around and play in the woods. Living in Nyon visited La Garenne in Le Vaud yesterday, just a 20-25 minute drive from Nyon. There is also a bus stop nearby making it possible to visit via public transport. Check out some of the animals at this wildlife care centre in the photos below. The signs around the centre are clearly marked with explanations in English. Living in Nyon discovered that the Bearded Vulture wears make-up! There is a play centre for children at the centre and you can walk through the trees by a wooden walkway. More details here The Wolves at the Wildlife Centre A Wild Boar Let Sleeping Foxes lie Play area for children and restaurant/café

Skating rink opens, Raclette a Gogo, Second-hand Toy sale, Film in English with launch party of book Nyon is experiencing some lovely warm weather at the moment, however, the autumn timetable of the CGN ferries is due to end on the 22nd October and clocks will be turned back for daylight saving on the 29th October. The good news is that the schedule of local winter activities will begin starting with the opening of Nyon skating rink on the 21st October. Along with ice skating, ice hockey and other events at the rink, members of the public can also hire this venue by the lakeside for private occasions (details here) The cave of the château of Nyon has started its "Raclette a Gogo" (all you can eat) evenings and there are three planned for Saturday 14th, Sat 21st and Thursday 26th October (details here) On Saturday 14th October there will be a "Troc" - a second hand toy sale at the Salle Communale in Nyon from 09:00 -13:00 This event is organised by the Union des Femmes de Nyon. On Monday 16th October at 20:30, the Monday night movie in English will be "Mrs Henderson Presents" starring Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins. The film will be followed by a launch party (with apéro) of the book "Secrets of a Dancing Girl" by Cecily Riley. Lucy Hall is a dancer at the Black Cat Theatre in 1930's London who gets herself into all kinds of adventures. This novel is all about chess: on stage, a tableau of exotic chess pieces and, on the streets, the murder of a chess player's wife as Lucy is drawn into bizarre and dangerous encounters.

Two recently published books on Switzerland that have landed on Living in Nyon's desk are: "99.9 Ways to Travel - Live like a Local" by Chantal Panozzo, and "Glimpses of Medieval Switzerland" by A.S Bhalla. The first, is "one part travel book, one part culture guide, and total bucket list enjoyment", and it provides lots of inspiration on places to travel in Switzerland, from the more well known and obvious places such as the Château-d'Oex balloon festival in January, visiting the Parliament building in Berne, to day trips and overnight stays in places that most travellers will never have heard of. How about bathing in a church in a vertical built spa in the Engadine valley or visiting the camellia gardens of Locarno? Photo above -the view from the spa at the Hotel Therme in Vals, one of the spas mentioned in travel suggestion number 42. You could go and watch (or take part in) the Monday Night Skate in summer when more than twelve Swiss towns and villages close off roads for inline skating pleasure, you could go and learn to play the Alphorn at an Alphorn school near Gstaad or how about walking in snowy, candlelit woods in Baden? This is a useful, handy sized book with some fun and interesting travel suggestions in it, definitely one to look out for if you are planning holidays and trips in Switzerland in 2018. Details on how to order here. The second book, by local author A.S Bhalla also offers a journey through this country but in this case, through medieval Switzerland. It describes and illustrates Swiss history and art in its towns and villages which are full of cathedrals, towns halls, castles and fountains. Decorative fountains are often the centrepieces of many towns and Nyon features in the book as the Maitre Jacques statue and fountain in the Rue de Rive area of town is mentioned in its pages. These decorative fountains are often the centrepieces of many towns and Nyon features in the book as the Maitre Jacques statue and fountain in the Rue de Rive area is mentioned in its pages. This much-photographed statue (near the all-seeing "eye" fresco on the wall nearby) is a copy of the original which was known to have been built between 1545 and 1547 and was first mentioned in 1696 in the archives of the commune of Nyon. The book also asks why there are no decorative fountains in some old cantons of Switzerland such as in Geneva, the Grisons and the Valais, and there are some interesting named fountains in this book, check out the Samson and Delila fountain, the Monkey Fountain or the Bagpiper fountain in Basel! A4 sized, this hardbacked book can be purchased through Payot, Rive Gauche, Rue de la Confederation 7 in Geneva or through the book's own publishers - link here

26th Swiss Classic British Car Meeting along the quayside in Morges on Saturday 7 October 2017. Full details here

The Living in the Know podcast October is now out On this podcast, we talk about English-speaking films, Ladies' Night at the cinema, as well as English-speaking drama and musical productions. Lisa’s French minute holds the secret between a quiche and a ramekin! The podcast is kindly sponsored by Music Homère Geneva.Film tonight at Nyon cinema "Lucky" will be the English speaking film at Nyon cinema at 20:00 tonight Monday 2nd as part of the Cineclub Nyon programme. Variety called the film "Outstanding Dramedy", Hollywood reporter said; "Philosophical and funny, the film is a swan song any actor would be proud of". Also, in the October podcast, Lisa mentions Ladies' Night at the Pathé cinema in Balexert, however, Ladies' Night cinema has also arrived in Nyon! There will be a Ladies' Night on Thursday 5th October at 19:30 with the screening of "Victoria and Abdul" at the Capitole cinema in Nyon Organisations mentioned in podcast GEDSGAOSThe Village Players

Local artist Rita Mancesti celebrates 30 years of work at an exhibition of her paintings in Nyon. This current exhibition is being held at the Murandaz Gallery (just below the La Combe shopping centre) and continues until Friday 6th October.

New opening times at Nyon Post Office From Monday 2nd October Nyon Post Office will open from 08:00 -18:00 Monday - Friday 09:00 -12:00 on Saturday Exchange boxes now in Nyon Several "exchange boxes" can now be found around the Nyon area: in Tattes d'Oie, the Parc de la Morâche, in Begnins, Céligny, Arzier and further afield. To find out if there is one near you, see map here Find out more about the exchange box concept here. The Living in Nyon editor found some great magazines in one of these boxes! Extended deadline for Know-it-all Market Place The deadline has been extended to midnight on 30th September for vendors/craft makers wanting to sell their wares at a Pop-Up shop in Geneva. Details hereAnother Intensive Weekend of French classes, including winemaking and glassmaking. New dates 9th - 10th September. Details here

There are lots of events coming up in Nyon and the surrounding area in the final week of September. Cow Parades, Nyon's wine festival, Autumn Fair, a massive (free) family spectacle in Geneva and a Venetian Carnival in Coppet! On Saturday 30th September it's the Désalpe in St-Cergue. This annual ceremony is a tradition in Switzerland and marks the start of Autumn. The “Désalpe” means the descent of the cows from the hills down to the lower pastures to be wintered inside barns. Traditional folk music, flag twirling, stands with food and wine are all on offer including artisanal products. This is a must-see event if you are new to the region. Cows are decorated with flowers and headdresses and paraded through the village, note the first herd of cows comes through the village at 08:30! On Friday the 29th September, the Wine Festival begins in Nyon and continues until Saturday the 30th in the Place du Château.There's lots on the programme for both days. Note - the picking and pressing of the grapes from the vines near to the château takes place around 15:00 (after the official ceremony at 14:30). Also on Saturday the 30th, it's the Autumn Fair/ Octoberfest in Place Bel-Air in Nyon. Stalls, markets and autumn produce. Market open from 08:00 -18:00 Bars open until 22:00 (depending on the météo!) There will be a Venetian Carnival in Coppet from the 30th October- 1st September. More info here Further afield in Geneva this weekend there will be a massive spectacle in Geneva called "Saga of the Giants". Enormous puppets over seven metres tall will walk through the town on the 29th, 30th and 1st October. What's it all about? There is an excellent explanation here and more details on the Know-it-all passport site

The first Fête des Vendages (wine harvest festival) will take place in Founex on Friday 22nd and Sat 23rd September. Music, wine, food from 18:00 on Friday 22nd and from 10:00 on Saturday morning. The CHF 15 festival wine glass entitles you to have a glass of wine in each of the seven different winemakers in the Founex region! Fête des Vendanges

The weather looks set to improve over the next few days and it is forecast to be sunny at the weekend - perfect for a picnic on the grass at the annual "Déjeuner sur L'Herbe" event at the Château de Prangins. This will take place on Sunday 24th September from 10:00 -17:00. There will be events going on in (free entry) and outside the castle, and for those who like to dress up, there will be an opportunity to do so in 19th-century costume! There will be a costume competition for both young and old (register by 13:00 on the day) and judging will take place in a fashion parade at 15:00. Website here. Photos above and below, taken Sept 2015 - C.Nelson-Pollard

Know-it-all passport® is currently seeking vendors for Know-it-all Marketplace. This will be a pop-up shop in a central Geneva location from 1-30 November, 2017. If you make any of the handcrafted goods listed below, or anything unusual that is not on the list, please contact shop@knowitall.ch to sell your wares (note: you do not need to be present during the month). Jewellery, quilts, fabric items, mosaic, stained glass, painted furniture, painted items, paper items, metal items, handmade candles, ceramics, porcelain, perfume, soap, Advent wreaths, Christmas decorations, leather items for men, upcycled items. Commission will not be charged on items and rental space will start at CHF 100 for the month. This works out at CHF 3.85 per day over 26 days in November when the shop will be open! APPLY Visit www.knowitall.ch/marketplace or send an email directly to shop@knowitall.ch to request an application form. DEADLINE Applications are accepted until midnight, 20 September 2017,