The Garden

This was our garden until Friday morning at 8 o'clock. Actually it was a nice garden with bushes and shrubs and flowers. We cut most of it down last Autumn due to one of our neighbours that reminded us that we all have to look alike. At least that is his idea of doing it. He likes to take charge and organise things, and he dreamt that we would all have nice green laws with a hedge measuring up to his standards. We bought our flat on the ground floor and more or less we all do our own thing, but it seems that our own thing has limits. If anyone complains then you have to follow.

Most of the neighbours could not care less and let you get on with it, but there are always exceptions. This particular neighbour does not only get on my nerves, but on the nerves of most of the people living here. When his wife was looking at my garden eight years ago and saw I was planting things in the lawn (terrible crime) she did not say anything to me that it could bring problems, but said it to other neighbours. Now eight years later her husband decided to make an example at one of our meetings. He did not mention us by name, but my husband told him to say who he meant and he did.

Anyhow, I am not getting younger and to be quite honest it was getting a bit much for me, so what we used to have in Summer

we removed from the garden. Most of the plants I managed to save by planting them in my other garden behind the house. And no matter what Mr. Big Mouth says about that garden, it will be ignored. I had been talking to a few neighbours and they are all gradually getting to the same opinion as us, that he should keep his big mouth shut. Anyhow, in a way he did us a favour as we ordered the gardner and this is the result

It is amazing what you can do today. The gardener started at eight in the morning and was finished by twelve lunchtime. The lawn was delivered like a fitted carpet. I have to give it water enough for the next two weeks, a bit of fertiliser and then it should be ok for the first mow. I do hope that Mr. Big Mouth can now look through his curtains and his wife and are happy with the result. Note I have left a wide enough flower bed around the lawn to plant flowers.

In a way I am glad, it will be much easier to look after, but I just sometimes wonder why someone who has a country house a couple of hundred kilometers away and spends more than half a year there, has to act as if he owned the place when he is here.

I have been busy since yesterday evening. Our neighbours upstairs invited us for the evening meal and this evening we were invited for an aperitif with our next door neighbours, just to show that we do have some nice people living here. Actually this afternoon I was engaged in an hours conversation with another neighbour, whilst my other half was talking to her other half about lawn mowers. We have nice weather at the moment and everyone seemed to be outdoors in their gardens catching up on the work to be done and we were all meeting up again after a long Winter. Except for Mr. Big Mouth - I think he was busy on his balcony cleaning it up - might have been some weeds growing their from some stray seeds that landed there from my garden. Isn't life wonderful!

Tuna Fish Wednesday

Yes, it's Wednesday when me and my husband make a tuna fish salad for tea and the cats get their portion of tuna fish as well. I unpacked the tins and Fluffy was already having a sniff. He looked around for the tin opener but as he couldn't find one he jumped off the table and with Nera waited eagerly for the fish to be served.

They were not disappointed and soon all three were munching away at their feline portions. Tabby said she was so photogenic today and wouldn't let herself be photographed.

Otherwise one of those days at work where a new, fantastic, most modern and wonderful computer programme was introduced. It was so good, that after an hour or so we started realising that it didn't work as it should. Why do these things always have teething troubles. I won't go into details, but we were all in the office 30 minutes longer today until we more or less got everything done. I am sure tomorrow will be better (I hope). And this is a short blog this evening, there is another match on the tv. This time Barcelona v Manchester United. I am getting quite spoilt this week, 2 matches in one week, and thanks to a Liverpool player that is probably feeling very sad at the moment, Liverpool and Chelsea will have a reply of yesterday's match in about a week's time. Somehow I have to fit yesterday's episode of East Enders into this evenings viewing.

If anyone is interested I did take a few pictures of yesterday's match, not such perfect quality as they came from the tv, but a little souvenir of the match. Almost as interesting as the match was watching the two trainers watching their teams. But have a look for yourselves.

Liverpool v. Chelsea 22.04.2008

At Home alone

It doesn't often happen that I am alone at home in the evening, but this evening Mr. Swiss has a training programme. No gymnastics, but he plays drums in a modern jazz group and has a rehearsal from time to time. This means I am left to my own devices for an evening. My oldest son is also at home, and the three cats of course, but we all do our own thing. As Mr. Swiss was having a meal with the other "musicians" I just had to prepare something for my son and me. Well I had a little accident today after shopping.

I just don't know how it happened. Mr. Swiss said don't forget to buy some eggs and I put them in my shopping bag. The shopping bag was in the car for the afternoon and I didn't even buy anything heavy enough to put in the bag and cause the accident. When I packed the bag out at home this was the result. There were 10 eggs originally and 5 were put in the fridge. What to do with the rest. Well at 50 cents an egg I decided the evening meal was already planned for my son and me and we actually really enjoyed it. I made an omelet for each of us. My son will not eat cheese, so I cut some ham up for him and made a ham omelet. I like cheese, and as we had some Gruyere (naturally Swiss cheese) at home I grated it and made myself a cheese omelet. Yes, we housewives are very good at improvisations. As I used up 4 broken eggs, we still have one left. Something for Mr. Swiss lunch tomorrow.

So after such a 5 star meal I still have the evening in front of me. It seems that the Swiss tele are bringing live Liverpool v Chelsea in the semi final of the champions league. At first I thought it was only coming on our Swiss Italian tv channel, which would have meant big concentration on my part to follow 90 minutes football with an Italian commentary. I then saw that our Swiss German channel is also bringing the match. It is not very often that I get the chance to see english football on our tv, generally I would have to pay extra for the privilege. Basically I am neither a Liverpool supporter (who me - a London cockney - never) or a Chelsea supporter (you cannot support West Ham United and even think that Chelsea is good - it's all money), but I suppose going back to the roots I am sort of forced to support Chelsea.

And the cats, well Fluffy is sleeping on the armchair in the living room after having a wash

Nera decided to leave me with the television to look at and curled up somewhere on top of a cupboard

and due to the rain and colder weather we have had over the last couple of days the floor heating has been switched on again so Tabby has made herself comfortable on the bathroom floor where she is protected from all four sides - can be a bit complicated now and again when you wat to visit a quiet place.

Now the match has just begun, so will come to a close. It's handy having the television next to the computer.

Yesterday was Spring again, Today was April

Yesterday we had a nice warm day, I think the first Sunday this year. Even Nera my cat decided to enjoy it in the morning. She told me to take a picture of her in the garden, as she found that the surroundings were very picturesque.
"It's always the same around here. If you take my picture, then I am yawning, having a wash or a scratch. Most undignified, so I though it was time for one of my model photos again." and so she sat in the plants and I took a photo.
I told her "Nera I just like to take photos of you, you are so photogenic, but most of the time you are sleeping."
Nera answered "It's only in the afternoons that I sleep, to get prepared for the evening. I have to be careful that I don't get too much sun on my fur."
This was a new one for me so I had to find out more and Nera explained.
"I have such beautiful silky long fur and after Winter it is at its best".
Suddenly Fluffy walked up. "I know what you mean Nera, in Spring you don't have any smelly dried up snails in your fur or dried up stalks."
"Fluffy, Mrs. Human and I are having a conversation and no-one asked for your comments."
"Yes, this time you are right" I said "After all Fluffy, Nera was just telling me why she doesn't like to go out in the afternoon. Continue Nera."
"I was just explaining about my wonderful black fur and what happens when it gets in the sun too much. It changes its colour and goes grey in Summer.

Now I just do not look as sexy with my grey fur, so I avoid the sun when I can."
"I see what you mean Nera."
"And just who do you want to look sexy for" said Fluffy "As soon as Roschti shows his nose you disappear".
"Fluffy, I do have my preferences, and Roshti is definitely not one of them. Now Mr. Grey from the garden opposite is a different type of cat. He has class."
"Yes Nera and he has had the same operation as you and me, so I don't really know what all this sexy stuff is".
Nera started to get a bit annoyed with Fluffy.
"You can be just as sexy after the operation. Mr. Grey is a very nice tom cat, he doesn't chase me across the gardens like Roschti and I have exchanged many friendly miaus with him outside in the garden. Besides, I am just not the type to be the feline mother of the year. Just imagine having kittens twice a year, bringing them up, feeding them and washing them, and above all showing them how to keep clean in the cat box. No thank you."
"Well Nera", said Fluffy "I suppose you are right there. I think Mrs. Human has enough to do with you and Tabby and me, I don't think she would want kittens as well. Think of the tuna fish that would need. Think it's time for a lick."

And afterwards I will have a lay down in a shady part of the garden. The sun doesn't damage my fur, I am a blue tabby, so I am already a bit grey" answered Fluffy.
"I have never seen the blue bits in your fur Fluffy" said Nera "looks more like you have dreadlocks to me"
I thought it was time for me to intervene as I noticed Fluffy was showing his claws.
"I think you two have insulted each other enough, now how would it be if you both had a little sleep in the garden on such a nice sunny day. Tomorrow it will be raining."
"Rain - oh I don't like rain, I get wet" said Nera
"And you start smelling as well".
"Fluffy that is enough, now have a nose sniff and be friends".
Nera found a better idea "We will be friends for today, but please without the nose sniff Mrs. Human".
"Now I agree with Nera" said Fluffy, "I don't think either of us want to sniff the other ones nose."
At last the cats quietened down a bit and went their own way. The things you hear when two cats have a conversation.

Some technical stuff

I work for a company that makes milling tools. For those not so technically gifted, the photo shows a choice of some of our tools. They are inserted into machines and used for cutting into metal and making various objects. Not actually cutting, but milling, which means that the metal is sort of peeled away until you get the object that you need. It might be a mould for making other objects, or another tool made of metal. The work process starts with a block of metal and it gets formed by the milling tools.

This is what is peeled off the original piece of metal. Metal is not just metal. It can be steel, aluminium, inconel (used in aerospace) or even cast iron. Depending on what sort of metal is being used as a component, the suitable type of end mill is applied. We have a "toolschool" where I work, reserved for visitors and training purposes, and I was able to make a few photos last week.

This is a view of a half of the department showing a couple of the machines. Although I work in the business for the last 28 years I am not technician, know perhaps the names of the machines, but for what each one is used individually, I havn't a clue. My job is export, but when we have visitors from abroad we often accompany them to the demonstrations.

Here you can see two screens attached to the machine. This is quite useful as when the machine is running the sliding doors are closed and you have a better look at the process. The machines run at such high speeds that the material being milled would just burn up, especially when carbide milling tools are used. For this reason a coolant is used, either oil, or a mixture of oil and water - an emulsion, and if the doors were not closed and you stick your nose in too deep you would end up with a shower.

This is the steering mechanismus of one of the machines. With this you can steer the horizontal (x), vertical(y) and depth(z) of the cut as well as a few other things. If any technicians are reading this they are welcome to add their comments and corrections of course.

This is some sort of microscope, probably for examining the state of the material after a test has been run. The results are shown on the computer terminal. This department is also used for various trials and tests on new developments in our products. As you can see the department was empty when I took my photos. I would probably not have been allowed otherwise. It is quite fascinating to be there when a trial is running or visitors are there. Not even so noisy as today the modern machines are well soundproofed. I naturally took a photo before I left to show what a nice view our technicians have from their window.