MULTIPLY Creative challenge #14 Stinging Reality

The courtroom was ready for the trial. In the accused section Aedes Aegypti sat alone, not looking so Egyptian as the name would lead you to believe. Her wings laying flat to her body, flying was forbidden and her head hanging down waiting for things to begin.

There was only one witness, who was also the victim, Homo Sapiens also of the female variety. She looked tired and kept scratching the skin irritations she had received from Aedes Aegypti. The court official, a heron, clapped with its beak and called all to stand up to received the judge, a large green frog that croaked now and again seeming to look in all directions at once with his revolving eyes. He called for silence from all and the proceedings began.

“We have a clear case here of sleep disturbance. Homo Sapiens Feminina has not been able to obtain the amount of sleep that her species deserves due to disturbance by Aedes Aegypti. I ask you Aedes Aegypti guilty or not guilty of disturbance of the peace by night.
“Your honour, I plead not guilty.”

“In this case” said the frog “I call Homo Sapiens Feminina into the witness box to hear her version of the events.”

There was a sound in the courtroom of feathers being ruffled by the birds, croaks from the toads and frogs and buzzing from members of the mosquito family.
“Silence in court” called the Heron, “Silence”.
“One more such disturbance and I will clear the courtroom, remaining only myself and the lawyers and our jury.” Croaked Judge Frog.

Mr. Human stepped forward, the lawyer of the victim.
“Please explain the details of the criminal act brought about by Aedes Aegypti”. Homo Sapiens Femina spoke.
“I went to bed as usual around ten o’clock in the evening. It was a warm sultry night and the window was open to allow for fresh air.”
“There you have it” said the lawyer of Aedes Aegypti who was a masculine mosquito. “The so-called victim sent an open invitation to my client to enter the bedroom.”
“I object” said Mr.Human lawyer of Homo sapiens Feminina. “The lawyer of the accused has no right to intervene before my client has explained the details of the attack by Aedes Aegypti.”
“Objection granted” croaked Judge Frog. “Please continue.”
“As I said I prepared to sleep and made sure that my bedroom window was open. As I was gradually drifting away I heard an annoying sound and realised that an attack was planned by a mosquito, here known as Aedes Aegypti. The sound suddenly ceased and I believed myself to be safe from any further attack. I did not realise that the attack was then being carried out by Aedes Aegypti and she had already found an entrance to my body. I then noticed an annoying feeling on my finger. It was itching.”
“Objection Judge Frog” said Mr. Mosquito, lawyer of the accused. “It is to be proved that the feeling was annoying, we mosquitos would not find such a feeling as annoying, and the word attack should be removed from the minutes. We mosquitos do not consider this an attack.”
“I would call the two lawyers to my desk. I think we have to exchange a few words.”
“Mr. Mosquito and Mr. Human I expect a certain amount of understanding in my court. The needs of a mosquito life and the needs of a human life are somewhat different and we are here today to find a solution to our common problems. The interruptions caused by yourselves are not helping us in any way. I expect a certain amount of understanding for both sides of the problem. Mr. Mosquito I need only one swipe of my tongue and your existence is finished in this world, and Mr. Human if one of my cousins from the South American Jungle, known as Dart Frog, would brush past your body your minutes would also be numbered in this world. Under these circumstances I would ask for a fair trial.”

The victim continued “as I said I was attacked by this Aedes Aegypti and whilst I was trying to sooth the pain and unpleasant feeling on my finger. I heard the buzzing sound again and I tried to find the cause, but it was dark in the room. I put the light on and then saw Aedes Aegypti. She was sitting on my arm of all places and once again I had the feeling of being tickled by a thousand feathers, but this time on my arm. In the meanwhile I had a swollen finger where the first sting was injected.”
“Sting, indeed” spoke the accused “I was insuring the survival of my eggs for our future generation.”
“Mr. Mosquito, tell your client again to be silent, her turn will come.”

The victim’s lawyer now spoke “I think the court has heard enough from my client. The crime was committed by Aedes Aegypti and there is no more to be said.”
Judge Frog spoke “Mr. Mosquito you may begin your cross examination.”
“Thank you your Frogship. Homo Sapiens Femina, do you open your window every night in the bedroom.”
“Well, yes, I have to have some fresh air.”
“And was this the first time that you were subjected to an attack by Aedes Aegypti.”
“No, it was not. Everytime I sleep with an open window the same thing happens. I threatened Aedes Aegypti and told her that my patience was running out with these attacks, but to no result. The attacks continued every night.”
“What steps did you take to avoid these attacks.”
“I don’t understand. What steps do you take against a mosquito who is looking for fresh blood?”
“A ha, that is the core of the matter. Although these so-called “attacks” were repeated every night, you did nothing to counteract them. Aedes Aegypti was doing her duty in securing the existence of her family. I am sure the members of the jury would find this agreeable.”
Mr. Mosquito now stood in front of the jury, composed of 6 pigs and 6 cows all nodding their heads to his last remark.
“I object” said Mr. Human.
“Mr. Human you will have your chance” said Judge Frog and called the accused into the witness stand.
“Aedes Aegypti will you please explain the course of events on the said evening?”
“Well I felt it was time to heat up my system to be able to incubate my eggs. I was flying around as usual looking for a suitable place and suddenly smelt fresh blood. There was an open window so I entered and the so-called victim was laying on her bed sleeping. I dived down and found a warm finger just at the right temperature. I entered her skin, with the usual saliva lubrication, and took what I needed. The victim then started moving and attacking me. She quietened down and in the meanwhile I had found an agreeable place on her arm.”
“I object” your Frogship said Mr. Human “This is just plain assassination with no excuse.”
“I was just following the call of my nature” said Aedes Aegypti”.
“Objection overruled” said Judge Frog. Please continue Mr. Human
“I would ask my client what would have happened had she not acquired the necessary blood.”
“The further existence of my children would have been endangered.”
Mr. Mosquito looked at the jury and with a smile on his face. “I am sure this is understood by the jury members. I rest my defence. What more can I prove that the existence of my client and her family was endangered. Mr. Human you may continue your cross examination.”
“Aedes Aegypti did you realise that you were an annoyance, to say the least, to the victim Homo Sapiens Femina.”
“I found that if the victim had not left her window open I would not have even thought about an attack. And there are some Homo Sapien homes that I don’t even think of entering even if their windows are open.”
“Can you perhaps explain your last remark” said Mr. Human with a smirk of his face, not expecting any reason for a mosquito not to enter.
“That is quite clear, Mr. Human. Many homo sapiens buy things.”
“What is meant by things?”
“Well being a poor little desperate pregnant mosquito I cannot explain so exact, but humans have shops where things are sold that we mosquitos do not like. Certain scents or vibrations that really give us a headache and make us feel unwell. They are places we would not dream of entering.”
“Is this so” Judge Frog asked the victim reminding her that she was still under oath.
“Well, I suppose so, but I don’t expect to be attacked by a mosquito at night.”
“Mrs. Homo Sapiens Femina I would remind you that in daily life we all have our problems to overcome. I really find that a little help on your side would avoid such a court case as today. I have now heard all the evidence I need, the jury can retire to arrive at their verdict”

The cows and pigs left the courtroom but arrived just 30 minutes later with their verdict.

“Have the jury reached a decision” asked Judge Frog
The Leader of the Jury, a Holstein cow, stood up on her four legs. “We have your honour, we find the accused Not Guilty of any crime whatsoever.”
“I thank you for your verdict. I would now like to say a few words to the victim. It seems that you were very careless with the life of Aedes Aegypti. There are means and ways of avoiding such unpleasant situations but you have shown carelessness. The court requests the victim to take steps in organising the necessary items to avoid any future occurrence of such unpleasantries. I order a search to be made of the premises of Homo Sapiens Femina in one month’s time to see that she holds herself to this court ruling. She should look the stinging reality in the face. Cows and pigs are subject to the sting of the mosquito all the time, but have no problems. When will these Homo Sapiens learn to deal with such problems in a sensible way?

Excitement in a Swiss Village

It looks like one of those photo quizzes where you have to guess what it is. Well I will put you out of your misery. But to begin from the beginning it was around 09.30 yesterday evening and we hear a noise like something from one of those American war films. Very loud, machines running and my husband reaslised that we were listening to the sound of a helicopter churning its blades very near.

We naturally rushed outside to see if anything could be seen. Unfortunately it was already dark and in the hurry I could not make the correct adjustments to my camera, although I don't think I even knew them. I altered it to something like night sky but the above picture is the result. Mr. Swiss said that they must be searching for something as the white light was a giant search light. The helicopter was making a path over the local river. Here is a rough translation of what was in the newspaper today.

"Search operation along the river Aare
Yesterday evening around 9.30 the Kantons police of Solothurn received a report that someone jumped into the Aare from the bicycle bridge in Solothurn (see photo of bridge) and did not surface afterwards.
With a helicopter and two motor boats a search operation began from the Kantons police. Up to now it is not known if the missing person has been found. Up to the present time it cannot be excluded that the whole thing was a false report."

So that was that. Just a little bit of excitement to brighten up a dull day in a Swiss village.

Another piece of local news was that the restaurant in a near bye village was not the victim of fireworks as first thought (see my blog) but seems that it was the result of a fuse box that started burning on its own late during the night. It was just a stupid coincidence that Switzerland was completely in firework mania on that evening. The restaurant is a complete loss and the owners are now trying to come to terms with their fate. I feel sorry for them as it is a group of 4-5 young people that had really built something for the local youth. They had music groups appearing and there was never any complaint that it was rowdy. My son often paid a visit on a music evening and he never had a problem.

Seems that quiet times are on us at the moment in Multiply, but I always find something to say or show. Now take a look at this little man.

I found him on my blackberries yesterday evening. Must be some sort of blackberry bug as he seemed quite partial to the fruit. Any ideas welcome. So I have other things to do now like putting something in the washing machine. What a way to spend Friday evening.

Another Day in Switzerland

I was not very happy when I got up this morning as it was time again to clean the kitchen. I usually do a thorough clean up once a week, preferably in the morning to get it behind me. This morning it was Thursday and the day I programmed for the task. Luckily my other half had to go to the hairdresser this morning so he was out of the way. I then spent an hour cleaning down cupboards and all the surfaces and doing my housewifely hobbies which I do not enjoy so much. The main advantage is that I have no-one looking on (except for 3 cats) and putting me under stress to finish the job. I managed my task in an hour and five minutes later Mr. Swiss walked in.

At least I thought it was Mr. Swiss. Admittedly the hairdresser does no longer need a lot of time to cut what is still there, but Mr. Swiss decided today was the day for a radical haircut. Now I am married to a sort of Bruce Willis, but I must say I quite like it. Very short, well what is there is very short - I am sure he will be discovered for the next Hollywood film based in Switzerland.

So what did we do afterwards. We decided to go into town for our shopping trip instead of the usual supermarket in the village sort of thing. Mr. Swiss accompanied me to the supermarket in town, but then had to go to another part of town to buy a metronome (the things drummers need). I was quite happy as I wanted to go to the book store so we parted company arranging to meet at a near bye restaurant.

At the moment I am in the middle of reading "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco. Actually I wanted to read it in English, but we only have the German version. I heard that the English translation is not so good, so started reading the German edition and must say a really good book. Of course I have seen the film at least twice and each time William de Baskerville appears in the book I think of Sean Connery, although in the book it is someone with blond hair. The things that film producers have to change. Anyhow, where was I, ah yes in the book shop. I decided that I would try and get a copy of The Foucault Pendulum also by Umberto Eco and they had one in German again. I prefer books in the original language, but my Italian just is not good enough for an original Umberto Eco, so I took the one they had. I still have some book tokens given to me at Christmas, so money no object, although I nearly always buy the paperback.

Of course I could not resist taking a few photos in town. The picture above shows our "bicycle" bridge, officially the Kreuzacker Brücke, but as only bikes are allowed on it, it has been named as such by the locals. I then stopped at the edge of the bridge to take a photo of the banks of the river showing the town of Solothurn.

On the extreme right, the white building used to be the winter house of the French Ambassador to Switzerland in the middle ages, but is now a restaurant where you can sit outside in Summer on the bank of the River Aar. The large building on the left is our conference hall, exhibition hall and lecturing hall, you name it if it has to be big it is used.

This is the view looking in the other direction. The first building on the left are appartements and the long low building third from left used to be the slaughter house. It was laying empty for many years until it was turned into the most popular bar and outdoor restaurant in Solothurn. In the background our ever present St. Urs cathedral and the hills you can see are the first chain of the Jura mountains.

I met Bruce Willis (sorry Mr. Swiss) at the restaurant and we had a drink before returning tired but happy to our home. Needless to say after lunch we old folk had a midday 40 winks, although I am usually outside on the easy chair for mine. Before I go, below a photo looking down the main road in our town this morning towards our Bieltor (gate of Biel).

MULTIPLY Pictures to Words: Week 1 the Horse Race

Joe had a bad dream, or perhaps it was good, an omen, who knows? He was following a herd of wild horses. Hearing the clippity clop of their hooves, seeing their manes standing out at a ninety degree angle to their heads, they were going fast. The horse leading them was green, emerald green, greener than St. Patrick’s day. At least that was how it seemed in his dream. The other horses could barely keep up with their leader and then they came to a fallen tree trunk on the path. The green horse took it with ease, no drop in his speed but the other horses? Either they turned back or fell.
“Joe, Joe will you stop shaking the bed” and Joe was also being shaken, but by his wife. Joe was back in the real world, although he did not really want to be there.
“What, who, he was winning.”
“Joe what are you talking about” said Nina his wife. “Had another one of those bad dreams again. I can’t blame you, things could not get any worse. Who was winning?”
“Nina I had a dream about horses and a green horse was the best, he was in front, had no fear.”
“Well it was just a dream Joe, and we have no horses. We have nothing more except for the old mare. She was the only thing that survived the fire which burnt the barn down and half the house. We have nothing more Joe. Lost our property through the fire, our home and the insurance company are not paying.”
“Nina don’t remind me, I remember that night a week ago when I heard the old mare snorting and banging on the walls of the barn.”
“Joe it was brave of you to rescue her, going through the flames and opening the door and we were lucky that the cows were out on the pastures during the night. At least we could sell the cows although it was a handful of money that we got for them.”
“Don’t remind me Nina, our neighbour seemed to be waiting for the opportunity to get our livestock under his thieving fingers. I will never forget the smile on his face when he bought the whole lot under their value, taking advantage of our mishap.

There seemed to be no apparent reason why the barn started to burn. The police put it down to spontaneous combustion, but Joe knew that he had put fresh hay down in the barn the day before and no way could it burn itself. It was not so dry and there was no sun shining that week, due to the rainy April weather they had.

Nina knew why the neighbour was waiting for the opportunity to buy the farm. Many years ago before she had met Joe, Fred Briggs, the neighbour had proposed to Nina. Nina refused him. He was a widower and his wife had died under strange circumstances. It was the talk of the village when she was found dead in the bath. There was a court examination. There was talk that Fred Briggs had bribed the judge, but it could not be proved that foul play was involved and so Fred was freed of any guilt. After Nina had married Joe they bought the farm next to the Briggs property. Nina was not very happy about living so near to this neighbour, but the farm was exactly what Joe and Nina wanted. In the back of her head she felt that Fred Briggs might have something to do with the fire.

“So what were you dreaming Joe, how to get it all back again.”
“No, not really, I was chasing a heard of horses and their leader got away, nothing like the old mare, it was a green horse.”

Nina decided that Joe’s dream was not so important and went back to sleep, although sleep was something that Nina had problems in finding at the moment. After twenty years of hard work, the farm was now gone, the animals sold and their remaining possessions were being auctioned at the end of the week. Their money would barely last for the next month and there seemed to be no future for them.

Later on at breakfast Joe suddenly looked up from the newspaper with a strange look in his eyes.
“Nina, have you seen the headlines on the sports pages?”
Joe I have no interest in reading the newspaper at the moment. The only reason we have it is because we have an annual subscription; one of the few things that has remained.”
“Look Nina, the Grand National race is being run next week and you should just see the names of the horses.”

If there was one thing that Joe enjoyed was a little flutter on the horses, although you had to have money for that, and money was something they did not have so Nina was not very impressed.

“Joe how can you just think of horse racing at a time like this? What has come into your brain.”
“Nina, we have nothing to lose, and there is a horse running in the Grand National called Green Devil: now if that isn’t an omen what is?”
“I don’t get you Joe.”
“My dream last night, remember, about the green horse that was faster than all others. That will be the winner of the Grand National I am sure.”
“And what does that mean for us?”
“Nina what do we have to lose, an old grey mare that no-one wants and when the farm is sold we might have some money, but it will never last for long.”
Nina did not like the way this conversation was developing.
“Joe I think you have an idea, that I am not keen about.”
“Nina, we have one chance. The money we get for the farm we place as a bet on Green Devil to win the Grand National. The betting odds are quite high, 200 to 1. According to how much we get for the farm I will have two hundred times as much if I place my bet and Green Devil wins.”
“No Joe, Green Devil will not win at those odds, and then we really have nothing left.”
“Nina, we have nothing to lose.”

A week later there was a strange picture at Joe and Nina’s farm. There was a collection of farm machinery on the open land standing in rows with price tickets on it all. The farm house was open and price labels were on all the articles in the house down to the crockery that Nina had inherited from her grandparents – everything was being sold. At the end of the day Nina and Joe would have nothing more that belonged to them. They had to sell everything. Even the old grey mare was up for sale. At first no-one was interested in the old horse. She had seen better days, but she had always lived on the farm and had even remained after the barn burnt down, finding shelter in the old hut at the end of the farmer’s garden. Joe had put some straw in the hut and made it as comfortable as possible. Somehow he loved that horse, he grew up with it and it broke his heart to see it go with the rest of the farm. He was glad no-one wanted her. There was one bid from the local meat factory, but Joe’s answer was “No” and Nina supported him. The grey mare was not going to end her days in a tin of cat food, she deserved more.

Eventually they received just a little more than one thousand pounds sterling for all they sold. Their greedy neighbour had bought all he could. He knew that the farm machinery was in perfect condition and that the house was worth a lot more than being requested.
Fred Briggs visited Joe and Nina to sign the document of ownership.
“Should have chosen me, Nina” he said “then you would have a life in luxury and not that of a pauper’s wife.”
“You leave her alone Fred Briggs, otherwise ....”
“Otherwise what Joe, you can be lucky I am allowing you to stay until you find somewhere to live. And if you think I am keeping that old grey mare then forget it. As soon as you are gone she will be on her way to the meat factory” and he sniggered in his lurid way.

That night Joe dreamt again of his green horse. This time the green horse was racing side by side with a white horse and they both jumped the hurdle together. He told Nina, but she was not impressed.

“Nina please let me put the money on Green Devil, we will have two hundred thousand pounds when it wins. What do we have to lose?”
“Nina was so desperate, she no longer cared. Do what you want Joe, I am too weary to think any longer.”

On Saturday morning Joe took the money to the betting shop in the village and placed all on Green Devil to win. He did not go home, but stayed in the village, ate a sandwich at the public house and had a glass of beer with it.
“Look who is here” Fred Briggs was in the pub. “Having your last meal before you leave. Shame that the barn burnt down and the insurance didn’t pay. Spontaneous combustion is a dangerous thing Joe, can even happen when the hay is fresh and not dried out.”
“Fred, how do you know that the hay was fresh?”
The people in the public house started listening to the two men.
“Well, you said so yourself” said Fred
“I told the police and the insurance people, but I do not remember that you were listening. You were at home. I only saw you the next morning having a look to see what remained after the fire.”
“Yes, Fred, I think you owe Joe an explanation” Said the landlord.
“Rubbish, I owe nobody nothing” and Fred left the public house.

In the afternoon Joe went along to the betting shop to see the race. It was being broadcast over their television. The Grand national is a dangerous race, for men and horses. Four and a half miles of obstacles, thirty in all and some having to be taken twice by the horses. Often a horse stumbled and had to be shot or the jockeys were seriously injured. Joe did not like the race as he found it cruel, but life had been cruel to him and so he watched. One horse after the other stumbled and fell and on the last lap there were only ten horses left, two of which were Green Devil and a white stallion known as Snow. Joe got excited when he saw that Green Devil and Snow were running neck and neck and in the final lap they both seemed to cross the winning line together. It was a so-called photo finish and Snow was proclaimed the winner – just a nose in front, Green Devil coming second. Joe was completely heartbroken. He had now lost everything. How could he explain this to his Nina. His walk home from the betting shop seemed to be the longest walk he had ever made.

When he turned the corner to the farm he saw Nina waiting outside with tears in her eyes.
“She knows”, thought Joe – “my poor Nina”.
But as he got closer he saw they were tears of happiness and not sadness.
“Nina, I have to tell you something.”
“I know all” said Nina. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
“But, how come....”
Joe come in and sit down we have visitors.
And there in the living room was the landlord of the public house together with the local police officer.
“We just came to tell you that we have arrested Fred Briggs for arson. It seemed that he set fire to your farm. There must have been a few witnesses in the pub that heard you and Fred talking about the fire and things seemed a bit fishy to most of the people. Fred has been suspected for some time for the murder on his first wife. We exhumed her body last week and found traces of poison in her body that was overlooked on the first examination. We also found a canister of petrol half empty and he admitted to setting fire to your farm and also to the murder of his first wife.”

“Well this is wonderful news,” said Joe “but it doesn’t change the results of the Grand National. Green Devil lost and I put all my money on the horse.”
“Well Joe you can just turn around and go back to the betting shop and pick up our two hundred thousand pounds.” And Nina was laughing all over her face.
“But Green Devil lost on a photo finish.”.
“That’s what they thought Joe” said Nina, “I was watching as well on the television and it seemed that the horse Snow, had been given drugs and it was proved after the race with a saliva test. Green Devil is the rightful winner.”

Suddenly they all heard a snorting sound outside the window. The old grey mare decided to join in the conversation. Joe took a carrot, went out into the garden and fed the mare with it. After the mare had eaten the carrot she looked into Joe's eyes and Joe could swear for a moment that her eyes were green.

Pictures to Words: Movement Week 1

Getting into the routine again

Today was really one of those days that I would rather have stayed in bed all day. My oldest son had to go back to work. As I am not working at the moment and his colleague is still on holiday he needed a chauffeur. Me and hubby both volunteered, but I knew it was a case of who was awake in the morning. Well let us say my son was very lucky as I was sound asleep when I hear my other half getting ready and he only had five minutes to spare. So poor hardworking son got to work on time, but he told us this evening he has bought a weekly bus ticket - I think he wants to be sure. He will have to walk a bit from the bus stop, but with his long legs and speed that will be no problem.

I had to get up a bit earlier this morning as I had a job I wanted to deal with and hubby and I went shopping. We were alone today, so I certainly didn't do a five star meal. Just the famous Swiss cervelat sausages and some pasta and veg. I then found apricots in the fridge that our neighbours brought us from their holiday on the home journey as they drove through the Kanton of Valais, home of the Swiss apricots. I had some flaky pastry so made an Aprikosenkuchen (apricot flan).

Quite easy really. Heat up the oven at around 200°C. Put the rolled out pastry in a flat form with raised side and stick a fork all over to allow the air to escape. Cut the apricots in quarters after removing the stone and arrange on the pastry. They I took an egg, sugar and some milk and beat it up with the mixer. I can't really say how much milk it needs but your liquid should cover the pastry base and half of the apricots. I actually used a remainder of single cream I had. you can also mix some apple quark in if your want to (I think that is cheese curd with apple flavour, but am not too sure). Anyhow bake in the oven until the pastry is brown - about 30 minutes and that's that. It is something very typical for Switzerland. In Winter apples are used instead of apricots, but you can make it with almost any fruit. If you make it with plums that cover them with ground almonds or hazelnut before putting the liquid around them, otherwise everything gets too wet.

So Mr. Swiss and I had some Aprikosenkuchen with whipped cream this afternoon. It was such a dull afternoon, didn't rain but everything was just grey in grey. I had my forty winks after dinner and so did Mr. Swiss, but I think we would have preferred about two hundred and forty winks. Anyhow it is now evening, my son has his first day of work behind him.

Our cat Fluffy has found a new sleeping place. We were missing him and where did we find him?

He decided to escape our attention and went behind the books in the book case, just behind the Harry Potter selection. After about two hours he came up for air stretched his nose out and decided it was time for something to eat. Sometimes I wish I was a cat and could sleep like that.