03.11.2007 - What did we do today

I decided I prefer mental work to physical work. Today it was a physical work day. This morning I was allowed out, in the company of Mr. Swiss, to do the rest of the week-end shopping. On the top of the list was a new toaster. Can't really complain. The last toaster we bought died yesterday at the age of 38 years. We bought it just after we got married and it had lived through many slices of toast in a family with four children and two adults.

Yesterday evening I had put smoked salmon on the menu with toast. These days smoked salmon is not the luxury it used to be and the fish seem to be multiplying without any problem. There was a special offer for atlantic salmon so there we were, Mr. Swiss, my No. 1 son and me, sitting down to toast and salmon. We were nearly finished when suddenly by the last piece of toast there was a sort of small explosive noise, we had a light show where the plug was and all items depending on electricity gave up. This also included Mr. Swiss computer, but luckily it was running ok afterwards. In this completely dark world Mr. Swiss went to the fuse cabinet, but before doing anything told me to pull the plug of the toaster. I was keen to oblige, but could not see a */-%&-- thing so just pulled the whole thing out. Mr. Swiss did the necessary with the fuses and there was light once again. He noticed with disappointment that when I pulled the plug out, I just pulled the whole unit out so he had to fix the time on the radio again. I mentioned to him that I couldn't see a bloody thing in the dark, and eventually things got back to normal. Needless to say the new toaster was No. 1 on the list today, especially as we still have a packet of toast bread to use up at home. We took the dead toaster back to the toaster happy hunting grounds at the shop. Very sad.

We also had a few other items to buy, but I just pushed my trolley in the supermarket (known as Migros in Switzerland - sort of Swiss Tesco) and Mr. Swiss filled it up with the necessaries. We then had to go to a second supermarket (Swiss Co-op) because it was the only place around here where they sell Kit-Bits for cats. My black cat Nera loves them. Sort of round bits cut off with a white pastry looking cover and filled with something brown. Big disappointment they had none. They did have 3 other sort of cat munchies, but our cats do not like them. Must make a complaint to the head of the co-op. They just seem to fill up the shelves with stuff that cats don't like.

That was the morning behind us, so when I got home I cooked some lunch (if you really want to know it was finely sliced veal in a cream sauce with mushrooms and rice).

In the afternoon it was time for physical training. The garden was slowly resembling the everglades so we decided to give everything a firm cut down and clear out the stuff, particularly as the gardener is coming on Monday to cut the privet down. I like a nice high privet, but the neighbours are not so keen on it (just one neighbour actually, but what you do for the neighbours). Although in Winter when the snow comes it tends to weigh down the branches and our poor neighbour cannot walk up the path without walking into a snowy branch.

I took the photo after the job was done. The white stuff on the ground is white stones that we started putting down where the lawn had disappeared at one time or another. We plan to do the rest, but unfortunately during the job Mr. Swiss got a problem with his back, so we had to postpone the rest. It all looks quite neat, but unforunately what looks now neat was up to two meters tall before I cut it down. Mr. Swiss sawed off the trunks.

This was just half of what we cut off. The rest is packed in the green container and the two green plastic bags. We will have to cut this into small pieces, but have reserved it for tomorrow afternoon. How I am looking forward to my Sunday afternoon.

We packed up around four o'clock in the afternoon, so I had a nice 30 minutes to finish off the ironing I had waiting for me. Then I got going with the evening meal and now I am relaxing with a cup of coffee at the computer. My back is aching and I will probably fall asleep in the armchair this evening in front of the tv, but as we say I am tired but happy.

Reservoir Cats - 10

Romeo: Buona sera Big Tom. I have brought Nera, Bobinette and Tabby – they have some not so good news
Big Tom: Ok, let’s hear what they have to say. I heard that there is something uneasy going on, seems that Long Tail Al is getting big ideas again.
Romeo: Si, and how. Mr. Grey certainly didn’t take too kindly to being thrown out as number one son – so it seems he has paid Al a visit.
Big Tom: I had my eye on him for some time. He was playing up too much down in his part of the country. I should have pulled him out a long while ago. So Nera, what’s the news.
Nera: It seems that the town cats are getting ready to invade our territory and take over. Tabby followed Grey one evening and overheard a conversation between Grey and Long Tail Al.
Big Tom: Ok, Tabby, let’s have the news – and stop shaking, I’m not going to eat you.
Tabby: Well Mr. Big Tom, gatto di tutti gatti, er – Sir, I overheard that Mr. Grey will give the plans of your villa to Long Tail Al to make it easier to sleek in and in return he expects to take over your section. I think Grey has other plans and would like to move in here himself.
Big Tom: Consigliere Romeo – any ideas.
Romeo: To be quite honest, we are a bit outnumbered. The sky’s the limit for those town cats when it comes to a population explosion. For every one of us there are two of them.
Big Tom: Looks like I will have to call for help from outside in that case. I have a few good connections with the Kitty Kat Club. That’s international. I remember my uncle Lucky Catiano in Chicago. If it hadn’t been for the Kitty Kat Club his whole territory would have been taken over by the Siamese.
Bobinette: I ‘ave ‘eard of this club. They ‘ave a good section in the roast beef country over the channel. They even ‘ave a cat that owns a ‘uman and tells ‘im what to do.
Big Tom: Yes, such cats are to be held in honour – even with my talents, I have never been able to attain his level in intelligence.
Tabby: Please sir, permission to speak.
Big Tom: Tabby you are one of the bravest cats I have, venturing into town amidst Long Tail Al’s hideaway, so speak up and let us have your ideas.
Tabby: Well it seems that the town cats are very partial to the lady cats. If our ladies could perhaps gather together and meet the town cats when they approach, it might be that the town cats forget their mission. While they are busy trying to get friendly with our ladies, the tom cats (sorry Big Tom, but I don’t know another word for it) could pounce on the town cats and attack. Their defences would be down and it would be easier for us to chase them away.
Big Tom: A good idea Tabby, but we tom cats would still not be powerful enough as we are just too few.
Bobinette: Tabby said they plan to attack in two days, so we ‘ave time to think out a plan.
Big Tom: In the meanwhile I will connect up by cat signal to the Kitty Kat club and see if they have any agents near us. Lucky Catiano did say that he did them a favour by rescuing one of their agents from the hands of the Siamese so they do owe us something. I will have to make contact with him. In the meanwhile we will have to be careful, especially if Mr. Grey is near.

Long Tail Al: Slimy go and get One Eye Fred. ‘im and ‘is moll seem to be the biggest family around ‘ere. You can always count on numbers when there is a fight to be won.
Fred: I’m ‘ere boss – ‘eard you need some ‘elp.
Long Tail Al: Yea – gonna fight the daylights out of them country cats tomorrow evening, but need some ‘elp from your kids, I mean you got enough ain’t ya.
Fred: No problem, boss, but I’ll ‘ave to ask Gladys wot she finks.
Long Tail Al: Wot’s Gladys got to do wiv it. We men make the decisions and the women do wot we say
Fred: Yea, well as I said fings just don’t work that way any more wiv them lady cats. They all been emancicatted these days.
Long Tail Al: All been wot? Speak miaow, don’t understand a word you say.
Fred: Well you know, they’re everywhere and take the kittens wiv them and sometimes they ‘ang around at the local parliament building – ‘ave some smashing grub there when they ‘ave a reception. Smoked salmon, roast beef and all that sort of fing. Those political ‘umans really know ‘ow to eat. Anyhow as I was saying, if you listen to some of that political stuff you get ideas and they have some lady ‘umans there that always want the same treatment as the man ‘umans and even get it, like same earnings, free time when they’re expecting and baby rest..
Long Tail Al: And wot ‘as that got to do wiv our ladies? I don’t fink I am ‘earing right some’ow.
Fred: Well, like my missus says it’s all finished wiv leaving ‘er alone wiv the kittens. These days when they’re born, she looks after them for the first couple of weeks, and when they start walking around I ‘ave to keep an eye on ‘em when she goes to the lady cat meetings.
Long Tail Al: Slimy – go and get Gladys I wanna ‘ave a few words wiv ‘er.
Fred: Gladys ain’t got time at the moment. She’s doing muvver duty so that the other ladies can go out for a walk together or take a rest. Tomorrow she can oblige as it will be Mabel’s turn to look after the kittens and Gladys will ‘ave time. Gladys says because she is expecting again, she needs a bit more rest. Do you need me much longer boss, I ‘ave to go a catch a few mice for dinner for the family.
Long Tail Al: Can someone tell me what is going on in my section of town. I’m finking about waging a war, risking my life and I find out I am leading a bunch of sissies that do wot their women say.
Slimy: Mr. Grey is ‘ere again. ‘E ‘as some news.
Mr. Grey: Good evening Long Tail Al, I now have a plan for the attack tomorrow evening.
Long Tail Al: Yea, well, I am all ‘ears. Fred don’t go too far our conversation ain’t finished yet.
Fred: Ok, boss, see ya later.
Mr. Grey: I thought we would take about 100 cats tomorrow evening and sleak along the river banks. The country cats don’t like river banks because of the water.
Long Tail Al: My cats don’t like water either Grey.
Mr. Grey: You don’t have to go through the water, but walk along the banks. That way you won’t be noticed and you can take them by surprise.
Long Tail Al: Yeah, sounds good. What do we do when we are there
Mr. Grey: You have to go up the slope – the country cats will be expecting you to come from the direction of the town and we will take them by surprise by coming from behind.
Long Tail Al: And wot about Big Tom’s villa. ‘Ave you got the plan.
Mr. Grey: First of all you take over the territory and then the cats will retreat to the villa. I will then let you have the plan of the villa.
Long Tail Al: You’re a sly one Grey, don’t trust me eh.
Mr. Grey: I trust you as much as you trust me.

1st November, the day after halloween and All Saints Day

Autumn is here, the garden is full of leaves which I should start clearing away, but have postponed the job for the week-end. I would have to wear a miner's helmut with a lamp on it at the moment if I wanted to work in the garden when I am home from work. The sycamore plant above just sort of growing on its own in the garden a couple of years ago, so I just keep cutting it down, otherwise we wouldn't have much light in the windows.

Actually today was a holiday for the people living in our Kanton of Solothurn. The day after halloween is All Saints Day and one of the catholic holidays. Most companies are closed as well as the shops. As our company relies on orders from parts of Switzerland which are not catholic and other countries, we stayed open with a skeleton staff. I was part of the staff, working in the export department on my own. I didn't mind working the day as I am on holiday from next week on Thursday and can add the day onto my holiday.

We were 3 girls in the office and each one of us had put their favourite radio programme on the computer. A luxury which we cannot have otherwise, but being a quiet day we made the most of it. I chose the local radio station Radio 32 which brings a mixture of pop music all day and local news. I like the bit where they tell you where the police have got their speed traps. Always useful when driving home from work. The roads were nice and empty today, no traffic jams. I didn't actually work as many hours as usual as it wasn't necessary. I had enough time to go home at lunch time and cook a meal for the hungry two that were waiting - my son and Mr. Swiss.

Had a bit of a problem with the printer this evening. We have a network printer and it just didn't want to print. However, with the help of a few negative remarks in Swiss German it started working again - amazing what a bit of swearing can do to a defect electronic machine. The cats spent the day sleeping but are now outside causing a few mice a few problems. The one I found lunch time outside already had riger mortis, so I don't know how long he had been laying around. It's now time to curl up with a good book and see what the tv has to offer.

Reservoir Cats - 9

Tabby: Nera, I think Grey is going, I just saw him sleek past the wall of his house.
Nera: Ok, Tabby, then follow him, but at a distance and make no noise.
Bobinette: And don’t sniff any catnip if your find some on the way
Tabby: This is a secret mission and I will stay clean. To be quite honest, I had my fair share last week.
Nera: Good luck Tabby, and be careful

Tabby: Well it looks like that Grey is moving towards town, so I will just keep up at a distance.

Mr. Grey: I think I have made quite an impression on Long Tail Al. If I do things properly I can take over Big Tom’s revier. I will let Long Tail Al have the part down by the river and I will live up on the hill in Big Tom’s villa.

Tabby: Looks like I am not the only cat on the road tonight. What’s that big black cat doing on the other side of the path sleeking along through the bushes. He smell’s different to our pack, more like a town cat. I sense trouble. I will send a cat signal to Nera that trouble might be coming.

Nera: I have just received a signal from Tabby. Seems that there is a big black cat on its way from town.
Bobinette: This is getting very risky. Ask Tabby how far away he is.
Nera: Now Tabby is out of cat signal range, so we will have to keep an eye on the situation ourselves.

Charlie: To think I let a good opportunity go by to get to know a nice lady cat this evening, to take a walk to the country. Walking through those bushes doesn’t do much good to my fur, full of twigs and leaves now. What do I see there, two cats. Now one looks like a nice lady companion. She miaows with a foreign accent. Let’s get a bit closer to have a sniff.

Bobinette: Nera, there is that black cat and ‘e is coming in my direction.
Nera: What does he want?
Charlie: Good evening ladies. I was just taking a walk in the fresh country air. Didn’t think that I would find such beautiful ladies in this part of the woods.
Nera: Hisssss stranger, go back to where you came from.
Charlie: Now that’s no nice is it. I make you ladies compliments and all I get is a hiss and told to clear out.
Bobinette: We don’t know you, and don’t want to know you. You smell different.
Charlie: Of course I smell different. I am one of the special cats. The ladies are proud to be seen with me. You look like a nice bit of female fur. How about us two
Nera: Leave Bobinette alone, otherwise you will have to deal with me as well.
Bobinette: Nera, ‘e is coming closer. I don’t like this big black cat.
Charlie: Awwww – you country bumpkin, don’t attack me otherwise you will be sorry.
Nera: Bobinette run away and send a signal to Romeo to come and help.
Charlie: Who’s Romeo? The latin lover around here? Needs more than that to push me away.
Nera: So big black smelly cat now you can take it out with me.
Charlie: No problem, hissss. I like a taste of black cats like me. What do they call you Nery Fairy – that’s a good name.
Nera: Hissss, take your paws off of me and keep your mouth shut – you have bad breath.
Charlie: I can paw a scrawny cat like you any time and I have to open my mouth to take a bite. Awwww what’s that.
Romeo: That was a scratch on the nose from me, Romeo, consigliere to Big Tom and if you touch one of my cats again you will regret it. Capisci.
Charlie: I ain’t taking any orders from an Italian gigolo.
Romeo: I have had enough of his insults. Nera, Bobinette let’s chase this no-good smelly cat away. Big Tom certainly won’t allow him to hang around in our part of the world.
Bobinette: Go back to the place you come from, we do not want you here.
Nera: Otherwise we will make catmeat out of you. Hisssss
Charlie: Ok, Ok One cat against 3 is not fair. I am off.
Romeo: And don’t forget to lick your wounds on the way.
Bobinette: Thank goodness he is gone. What an ugly cat he was.
Nera: I am glad you managed to get Romeo here so quickly.
Romeo: I was already on my way. With my cat signal system I know when two lady cats are in distress. You know in Italy I was the best bodyguard the ladies could wish for.
Bobinette: Yes Romeo, but sometimes you were more than just a bodyguard. Remember.
Romeo: It didn’t seem to bother you Bobinette, did it.
Nera: So you two turtle cats, I think we have other things to do than to start going over old times.

Tabby: Mr. Grey is keeping up a good pace, but I can see the church from here, so we are nearly there. He has now disappeared into a window of the cellar of the church. Must keep close to see where he is going. I love churches, they smell so nice and mousy in the cellars.
Now where is he going, through a gap in that big wooden door and I can hear other cat voices, all speaking with a cockney accent. They must be town cats.

Long Tail Al: Well, well if it ain’t that scrawny grey cat again. ‘ow’s fings in the country? Keeping everyfing under control.
Mr. Grey: I think the other cats in my area are feeling a bit uneasy. I don’t talk to them any more and just keep away from them.
Long Tail Al: Yea, well that’s ok. A good fing to make ‘em a bit nervous before we attack. Makes the take over a lot better.
Mr. Grey: You want to attack?
Long Tail Al: Well we ain’t a group of choir boys ‘ere, even if we do live in a church. That’s just a nice cosy place to be, although a bit cold sometimes. Looking forward to warming me paws on a nice patch of country grass as soon as we take over.
Mr. Grey: Yes, well about taking over. I thought we would split the territory up when I am in charge.
Long Tail Al: You in charge, I fink we ‘ave ‘ad a misunderstanding somewhere. I am the boss and you just deliver the inside information so that we know ‘ow the land lies. Understand?
Mr. Grey: And how do you know how to get into their territory and chase Big Tom away if I don’t let you have the plans of his villa?
Slimy: ‘es got a point their Al.
Long Tail Al: What’s that just come in like a Whirlwind and making muddy footprints on me floor. Charlie what’s the ‘urry.
Charlie: Well it’s like this boss. I went out to the country like you said and met a couple of them cats that live there.
Long Tail Al: I thought I told you to be discrete. So tell me, ‘ow many ladies were there?
Charlie: Well, I mean, you know ‘ow things are when you’re a real tom cat. If ladies are around then you ‘ave to ‘ave a sniff at their fur.
Long Tail Al: And what ‘appened.
Charlie: Well I mean there were two ladies and one spoke with such a romantic French accent that I got a bit pally with her. Then suddenly this big tom appeared speaking with an Italian accent and ‘ad a go at me.
Long Tail Al: One cat ‘ad a go at you. And don’t tell me you ran away from one cat.
Charlie: Well not exactly, cause the ladies joined in as well – look at that scratch on me nose
Long Tail Al: It seems that you didn’t exactly ‘ave success in the country and if you don’t disappear from my sight at once, you’ll ‘ave another scratch to match it behind the ears. D’ya get me Charlie.
Charlie: Sorry boss, but you know…..
Long Tail Al: Clear out, disappear. Charlie is useless. A bit of fur under ‘is nose and ‘e forgets everything. Seems to me that there is a new smell around ‘ere. Go and ‘ave a look Slimy outside the door.

Tabby: Time for me to go. I have heard enough. Must warn the others an attack is being planned.

Slimy: Well, boss I didn’t see anything, but could swear I saw the tip of a tabby cat’s tail jumping out the window.

Mr. Grey: Tabby!
Long Tail Al: Who’s Tabby? Another one of those country bumpkins.
Mr. Grey: Yes, she must have followed me.
Long Tail Al: Now this is getting serious. I ain’t waiting much longer, in 2 nights we attack.

4 days in Marrakesh, Morocco - 1990

Did I ever mention that I spent a few days in Marrakesh once - probably not, but here I am standing outside of the hotel. My husband was working for a company at that time where we were invited once a year somewhere special. It was mainly done as goodwill for the salesmen. In 1990 we went to Marrakesh. I had never been to Africa and I was wondering how it would be. Morocco at that time was under King Hassan. We flew from Zürich to Casablance and arrived at Casablanca in the early evening. The only thing I actually saw was the airport. I remember having to go to the toilet. When we women went in there was a lady standing there with a toilet roll in her hand asking if we needed paper. Something that we in our "luxury" life in the West gave us something to think about. We all naturally said yes and we were handed out 3 pieces of paper each. I suppose they were saving at the time.

From Casasblanca we flew to Marrakesh and remember being astonished at how green the country looked from above, probably I was expecting more desert. We arrived at the hotel late in the evening, but in the coach on the way from the airport everything looked so different as we are used to it in Europe.

The hotel looked quite impressive from the inside. It was a congress hotel, so made to European tastes. Naturally it was covered with oriental carpets on the floors - most impressive. Marrakesh is an interesting town, surrounded by the town walls. One of the first visits we made was to the gardens of Menara, where the town water supply is kept.

The water flows down from the Atlas mountains and is collected in this enormous reservoir. The houses in Marrakesh were built to suit the hot climates. Very thik walls and small slits to keep the heat out. Of course we made a tour of the town and saw many sites. If anyone remembers the Alfred Hitchcock film "The man who knew too much" with James Stuart and Doris Day, then the first scenes may be familiar. They were filmed in Marrakesh and showed the main square Jemal-El-Fna. There is a café at the end of the square which is the best place for tourists like ourselves to take a photo overlooking the square.

We also visited the souks, which are the market bazaars. The "shops" are very close together and very small, usually just one room but you could buy everything. We visited a carpet shop. This was a lot bigger and for the tourists. We were surprised how cheap the carpets were and they even accepted credit cards, which was surprising, but I suppose modern days were slowly moving into Marrakesh at the time. I remember seeing a shop selling fish. He had an enormous fish on the counter, which was black with flies. I was just wondering where he got the fish from as there is no sea or river in the area, and whether anyone actually bought it.

In the evening we visited a restaurant in Marrakesh. There was entertainment provided - something for the men

and naturally for the women as well?

We went on an excursion towards the Atlas mountains. This part of the country is very popular in Summer as it is sheltered from the mountains and a bit cooler. We visited a Moroccan village. It was a sort of tourist thing, and I think the lady of the village was used to receiving visitors and handing out her hand afterwards, but it did give an insight into life in Morroco.

On the way back from this village we were again invited by a village chieftern as he would be honoured to offer his hospitality. We all entered his home which was mainly one very large room. The usual pile of many carpets were in the corner and we were told that at night they were spread on the floor for the family to sleep on. We were surprised to see he had electricity. From where the electricty came we couldn't see, but the installations were very obvious and put me remind of our old house in Bethnal Green, East London in the 1950's. He had a television in the corner of the room on a shelf high up. It just seemed as if nothing really fit in. Here is his village.

Back in Marrakesh we spent the last couple of days touring the town. The King had his summer palace in Marrakesh, as the temperatures are not so hot as at his other palast. We drove past it. Of course, his place was a bit more better looking than that of the other buildings.

One evening we had a local show time. We were invited to a large arena where the Moroccans showed their talents at horseriding. We had the evening meal in a sort of large Bedouin tent. On the menu was lamb, but sort of half a lamb on a large plate. You dived in with your hands and tore pieces off. It was naturally served with couscous. I quite like lamb, so enjoyed the meal.

Eventually it was time to leave Marrakesh. I enjoyed my visit to this land of so many contrasts to our way of life. The people were very friendly, but sort of if I don't come today, then I will probably come tomorrow. National dress was quite interesting. The men wore long coats, something like a long kasak, with hoods on and there were some women that were masked, but not all. At that time King Hassan was quite liberal with the women and as his own daughter never wore a veil, he didn't make it law to wear one. I don't know the situation today, but this was almost 20 years ago.

Reservoir Cats - 8

Reservoir Cats - 1
Reservoir Cats - 2
Reservoir Cats - 3
Reservoir Cats - 4
Reservoir Cats - 5
Reservoir Cats - 6
Reservoir Cats - 7

Long Tail Al: Well, Slimy what do you fink of that? I must say a bit of Big Tom’s property would do me fine. Spending me old age out in the country wiv a laid table every day. At least 3 kinds of mouse to choose from. Reckon we can trust that Grey yobbo?
Slimy: Dunno boss, might be an idea to have a rekky down in his part of the woods, just to see the lay of the land.
Long Tail Al: Now you’re talking Slimy, one of the reasons I ‘ave you around, ain’t for your scent in any case.
Slimy: I take a lick at least once a week boss.
Long Tail Al: Now that’s wot I mean. We can smell you coming before you arrive. That’s one of the reasons why I’ll be sending Charlie out to the country just to ‘ave a look around. ‘E’s at least a bit on the discrete side, don’t talk a lot, ‘ardly notice ‘e’s ‘ere. One of the reasons he nicks me mice when I ain’t looking. Go and get ‘im will ya Slimy.
Slimy: Will do, boss. Probably down in the sewers looking for a rat.
Long Tail Al: Where you been, Charlie. Bin looking all over the place for ya.
Charlie: About that mouse Al, it weren’t my fault. ‘e wasn’t even proper dead, still breaving, so I had to finish the job off properly. Didn’t know you’d already had a sniff of ‘im.
Long Tail Al: Well, you got plenty of opportunity to make fings right again. I got a job for ya.
Charlie: Anything for you boss. Want me to catch a few rats?
Long Tail Al: Not this time, just a bit of a recky down in the country.
Charlie: Reconaissence was me speciality when I was younger. I was always the one with the soft paws, no bird could hear me coming even when I was sitting under the tree.
Long Tail Al: That why I reckon you’re the cat for the job. Want you to take a walk in the country. Down the road to the first village.
Charlie: You mean big Tom’s patch.
Long Tail Al: Yea, that’s the one. Just ‘ave a look around. I wanna know ‘ow many cats he got in the troop, ‘ow big and what sort. And keep your eyes open for a scrawny grey cat there. Let me know what ‘es up to, ‘e turned up ‘ere last night with a proposition and I’m not sure if ‘e really means wot ‘e says, or just wants to line ‘is own fur coat. Oh, and Charlie, do a bit of a posh miaow like they do down in the village. We don’t want them getting suspicious. And ‘ave a good lick before you go, diving around in those sewers ain’t the best smell for a cat to ‘ave.
Charlie: Will do boss, and I will be so quiet that they won’t even know I’m there. When do I ‘ave to go, I’ve got some lady business to deal with this evening.
Long Tail Al: I’m afraid your lady friend will ‘ave to wait until tomorrow evening. And if she can’t wait until tomorrow evening, I am sure there will be another one waiting for yer. ‘Ave I made myself clear Charlie.
Charlie: Ok boss, in that case this evening. Perhaps I might find a bit of fur on the way.
Long Tail Al: Charlie, you are on a secret mission for me, forget the fur on the way, otherwise your fur will be flying tomorrow.

Bobinette: Nera, did you notice that grey was not ‘ere last night. I sink ‘e went into the town.
Nera: Yes, I wonder what he’s up to. I have a feeling that he paid a visit to Long Tail Al which disturbs me a bit.
Bobinette: I ‘ave ‘eard of Long Tail Al. ‘e is the big red tom cat that leads the cat pack in town. Some say he grew up in a church.
Nera: There are a lot of stories going around about Long Tail Al, but it is true that he lives in the cellars of the church, where most of his pack live. I think one of us should follow Grey the next time he goes out in the evening to see what is happening. I will ask Tabby to go.
Bobinette: Tabby? Do you think that’s a good idea, after his catnip addiction problems. He will have to concentrate.
Nera: The only catnip in town is probably the catnip Grey took with him and if he gave it to Long Tail Al and his gang, there there is certainly none left now.
Bobinette: But why Tabby, I am sure Romeo could do that job.
Nera: There are a few reasons. Just look at Tabby, an unimpressive Tabby cat that looks like any other Tabby cat. No-one would notice her and she doesn’t miaow a lot, so her country accent wouldn’t be noticed. There is also another reason, but that must remain as our secret.
Bobinette: You are making things very mysterious Nera.
Nera: As you know Tabby is my sister, she was the second born and doesn’t look like me at all. Our mother told me why. After she said goodbye to my father on that evening – he was a black Norwegian cat that belonged to the neighbour – she was on her way home and met a large red impressive cat that did her a favour.
Bobinette: You don’t mean Long Tail Al.
Nera: Yes, Bobinette. You know how we female cats can be, and Long Tail Al is Tabby’s dad, although I am sure Tabby will not notice the connection. I mean let’s be honest, how many of us cats really remember our parents.
Bobinette: And you sink that it would be a good idea to send Tabby into town in that case.
Nera: I am sure, Tabby does have something unknown in her character. Apart from catnip sniffing, she is the best mouse catcher that we have here, and has even brought home a few birds almost as big as she is. She just doesn’t know any fear.
Tabby: Hello Nera, Hissssss Bobinette, What’s the conversation about. You both look quite serious.
Nera: We are a bit worried about the way Grey is carrying on. Mysterious visits into town in the evening and it looks like he is going again this evening.
Bobinette: Hisssssssss Tabby. Yes, we must do something about it.
Tabby: So what are we going to do about it?
Nera: I was wondering what you could do about it.
Tabby: Me?
Nera. Yes you, The next time we notice that Grey is going to town you can follow him and find out what he is planning. Those town cats can be very sly. We think that you should follow Grey and let us know what’s happening.
Tabby: Well I don’t mind going to town, I feel quite at home there. You just have to know where to go and what to say. No problem.
Bobinette: I am impressed. I would be too frightened to go to town.
Tabby: It’s just a feeling I have when I am there, that it is no more dangerous than in the country. I will keep an eye on the Grey movements and when I notice he is getting ready to disappear in the evening I will follow him.

Cooking with Tabbynera - Rösti and Kalbsbratwürst with chicory

Yesterday morning I was on my own. My Mr. Swiss had gone shopping in town and I was cooking lunch. I then had the "brilliant" idea to photograph what I was doing and here is the result. Rösti is basically a Swiss fried potato dish. The genuine recipe is made with potatoes that have been cooked in their skins 24 hours before frying. Somehow the texture of the potato develops better for frying. The potato sticks together better. There is the variation of frying raw potato, which I often do and which is being cooked here. "Kalbsbratwurst" is a Swiss veal sausage, but basically any sausage would do - I could imagine a good old Irish pork sausage would do the trick. Anyhow her I go.

First of all I grate the potato. Either by hand or in the machine. I prefer the machine - goes quicker and I don't end up with grated hands.

I fry most everything in cooking butter, so I get the butter ready

I then take a large frying pan and melt the butter. A teflon pan is the best, so that the potato does not stick to the base of the pan.

When the butter is sizzling I put the grated potato into the frying pan and put some salt on it

I then mix it around from time to time to get it evenly brown

Then form the potato into a flat cake in the pan and cook further on a low to medium heat so that it gets a nice brown crust on one side.

I have a big flat plate on the photo. I now have to turn the potato "cake" in the pan so that the other side will also form a brown crust and here are the illustrations to show how I do it.

And now you can slide the turned potato back into the pan to let it fry, again low to medium heat, on the other side.

And now for the sausages. I cut them diagonally to make sure they don't burst when cooking. You can also prod them with a fork, but the Swiss way is diagonal cuts.

I then heat butter in a pan and put the sausages in the pan to fry.

Take two onions and slice them finely in rings.

Then fry with the sausages, still on a low to medium heat.

And now for the chicory. The washed chicory should be halved.

I then take a small frying pan, melt butter and put the chicory in. A small pan, because I had already used the big frying pans. This doesn't matter as the chicory gets softer as it cooks.

I now put a lid on the frying pan for about five minutes to let is cook in its own juice. Temperature again low to medium.

After five minutes with the lid on, remove the lid and just turn it from time to time. Takes about 20 minutes to cook through. The sausages also need about 20 minutes and the potato cake - rösti - should also now be ready.

And now you can serve the meal. En guete as we say before each meal in Switzerland.