Hat of Hope

Most drivers of trams in Zurich are a complete disgrace from a fashion point of view. They have the ugliest uniform in the world. It's gone from bad to worse when the authorities gave in and allowed them to wear shorts (after a tabloid campain). Men older than twelve should not sport shorts in public.

However, today we discovered a lady tram pilot in a number 7 with astonishing sun glasses and a breathtaking hat. There is still some hope for Zurich.

Savouring A Weekend

Life is brilliant to me right now. I've spent another astonishing weekend. The climax was set by the Wine & Dine dinner at the festival of Swiss wine and its aftermath. This includes the lovely and delightful company - that is, Gatín and some of his charming yet competent colleagues (competent is important, because it was about wine & dine and wine & dine is among their competencies).

I did miss the first four wines, because we had to taste Irene Grünenfelder's Eichholz. This did not matter much, there were still nine wines to follow, all among the best Switzerland has to offer. Switzerland is not only the land flowing with milk and honey, there are also quite some excellent wines and passionate and skilful vintagers.

The night ended in a posh nightclub, where I somehow lost the overview over the Champagnes we enjoyed. All I can remember is that we are talking about retail CHF 100 per bottle and that the landlord and the ladies paid for most of it. I must have drunk my share, because I remember vaguely that I shacked my booties to a Dire Straits tune. I usually ban a radio station, which dares to play them, for several weeks.

A Fairy Tale Come True

While shopping my groceries, I discovered that my Migros has put the third seasonal autumn yogurt on the shelf: Forest Berries. Wow, it was worth waiting for this enchanting experience. It's a midautumn night's dream come true. It even has elderberries in it. I love elderberries and I love this forest berries yogurt.

Guest-listed

OMG, I'm guest-listed tonight. The last time this happened, it was for a concert by the singing nurse Michi von der Heide at Albani, where I accidentally met this guy, I secretly fancied, with his girlfriend.

I'm not guest-listed for a concert or a party, no, it's for a posh Wine & Dine. It would cost CHF 160 per head, however, I will be complimentary for me & Gatín, this charming man!

The theme of this six course gala dinner is red & white. I've hardly anything appropriate in blue & black. I will go out tonight, but I haven't got a stitch to wear. It's awful and my hair is even worse, for my barber of trust is still on holiday. Looks like a crisis at Gomad Mansion™ to me.

Bearish Summer

It's quite obvious, besides of being deliriously in love with Gatín and the Migros summer season yogurts, this has not been the best summer of all times, especially for Switzerland (and wherever The Flood came). The most important things that happened were:

• ludicrous life-size teddy bears all over downtown Zürich
• the first wild real bear in Switzerland within 100 years.
• the visit of The Knapps at Chateau Mac.

The first two were just what the caricaturists were waiting for. My personal highlight was set this week by Pierre Thomé with his decoy approach in the WOZ:

How To Lighten Up The Day

This noon, a bloke in our manufacturing department used the intranet send an eMail to everyone in the company:

Subject: I've got alot on my mind

Hi everyone

My name is Thomas, i am 25 years old and i work on the Mazak in OFT!

At the moment i got alot of stress with work, school and my girlfriend!
So if I pass you by, give me a smile to lighten up my day.

Thank you

I have no idea, who he is. However, I reckon, it won't hurt when I try to look a bit friendlier to my fellow human beings on planet Earth.

Edible Swiss Guard

There is actually a pear that looks exactly like the uniform of the Papal Swiss Guard, hence it's called Schweizerhosen (Swiss trousers):



More about the amazing world of Swiss fruits on fructus.ch or on the Fructus 05 exhibition in Frauenfeld, October 21-23, 2005. Be there!

Stocking Up

Gomad Mansion's wine cellar was lacking a bit of variety. We solved this problem by stocking up with some Italians:

• Chianti Classico Fontodi, 2002
• Il Bugiardo Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso, 2001
• Poggio Argentato Le Pupille, 2004

Digging in History

I have heavily modified a utility tool, which we use to analyse recordings of our data transmissions, to meet the current needs. A test has shown, that it is fully downward compatible. We could read and display a recording that was made on February 24, 1995. Although Grace Hopper was not among the living anymore on that date, this can be called ancient for information and communication technology. The only problem is, to get these antediluvian data files from the VAX repository.

A Quick Look Only

On Sunday, Tigreasa made a snappy comment about my hemp trainers and was shocked about the hemp plant in my brother's green house. I cannot see her point. Today, I had a quick look around and could see quite a few fuddling substances (without even looking into the medical cabinet and the cellar):

Living Room - Table:



Living Room - Sideboard:



Living Room - Bookshelf:



Kitchen - Table:



Kitchen - Fridge:



Kitchen - Freezer:

Bad Hair Drama

Most people consider my haircut as something that can be done within minutes with a hair trimmer. Nevertheless, I use to go to a ridiculously expensive hair styling studio, as my hairdresser refers to his établisement. It has been almost 5 weeks since my last trim and I'm scheduled for a flight to Malaysia on Friday. Hence, I tried to get an appointment before my embarkment, but I could only talk to the answering machine. My barber of trust is on holiday, probably golfing and spending my money freely and rashly. I'm desperately lost!

Oh Happy Life

I've received a tender and enchanting poem dedicated to me. I'm such a lucky osín:

Volví a sonreirle a la vida,
dejé de llorar al encontrarte
perdiendo el miedo a lo adverso.
Porque tu me has abierto tú corazón
con tanta ternura y certeza
dandole una razón a mi existencia.
Yo en agradecimiento te regalo mi amor sincero,
el cuál es fiel y durarero.
Dulce amor, gran amor, mí gran amor; yo te bendigo.

Disappointing Autumn

Migros has put the autumn selection of their season yogurts on the shelf. I loved all three of this year's summer collection. They were pleasantly zestful, cross-grained acidulous and passionately fruity. However, the days are getting shorter and autumn is approaching fast. It's time to get used to it. So far, my branch of Migros has two autumn flavours on sale:

• cherry plum
• grapes

I will have two find another mean to adapt to autumn. I don't like neither of them. They are far to heavy. The grapes flavour has nothing of the freshness of the real fruit and the cherry plum is laking smooth texture.

Dear Migros,

I hope you will do a far better job in winter.

Regards,
gomad

Swimming Makes Happy!

If we can belief the NZZ Folio, swimming turns us into better human beings - at least for three hours after the last nautical mile in the pool. We (Gatín, Tigresa & I) did try this last Sunday before the sun decide that it would be a sunny day:



On the left side is Gatín wondering why the water is not frozen despite its temperature and the two on the right are me as taken by Tigresa (I know, Mark Spitz had a bit more drive). Gatín usually wears hotter swimmers. But he forgot his at home and had to take a pair of my last season's speedos.

Diminutive Collateral Damage (so far)

Since I have no telly, I did not spend the last week watching the disgraceful events in America 24/7 and since I have no car, I don't care much about the raising fuel prices. However, Saturday's NZZ brought to my attention that New Orleans's harbour is (was) of significance importance for coffee trade. Prices for coffee are rising at all important commodity exchanges. This will definitely drag me into the events.

With The Goddess Of The Dawn

This has been a fantastic weekend. We did not made any plans or scrapped them if there were ever any. We always decided spontaneously what we are going to do and it turned out bombastic in every aspect. I'm going to concentrate here only on the culinary highlights:

Penne with Zucchini and Mascarpone:



The fig season has started. Therefore, we have the Sexiest Salad in the World is back on the table:



Entrecôte with new Pan Fried Potato Chips:



The best wine of the weekend was one out of my birthday presents: a delicious Mater Matuta 2000 from Lazio. This is a rare Italian blend of Syrah (85%) and Petit Verdot (15%). Mater Matuta was the Roman goddess of the dawn and the fertility. She has accompanied a delightful weekend.

Youth Underneath

I was told by a dear friend: I don't wanna grow up! Growing up sucks! Eternal youth seems to be a big thing. Of course, big business is not going to miss the big money that lies in this demand. The best so far: Big business is bringing us men back the undies we were wearing as kids in men's sizes. It started with Ginch Gonch, which gave us back the firetrucks on our undies. However, the biggest boy feeling lies in Super Man! It's great that manufactures have finally figured out that we men want to have fun undies too. Nevertheless, my favourite undies as a boy had Viking ships on them and I haven't seen these kind yet.

Setting Priorities

Gatín & I are devoting this weekend to the consumption of the epicurean savours of life. Right now, Gatín is in the kitchen, preparing penne with zucchini and mascarpone (as seen in Salz&Pfeffer 3/2005) and I'm drinking a glass of Loimer's Grüner Veltliner and flicking through cooking magazines. I'm sure, we shall not be bored.

My flatmate Tigresa's devotions lie more in the direction of career and networking: This late afternoon, she'll participating in a podium discussion about "strike - an effective weapon". She will be on the podium together with Swiss MP Paul Rechsteiner. I'm confident that she'll able to keep up with this celebrity. She's not been very long in the labour action business, but has gathered a lot of first-hand experience already and she generally does not mince matters. As a young and pretty woman she has some additional, not so secret nevertheless effective weapons, at hand. Therefore, the preparations took some time:

Hot Buggers

My swim teacher is not only a demanding instructor and excellent swimmer (former member of the Swiss water polo national team), but also a ardent gardener. This spring, she gave me four small chili pepper plants. All of them have grown admirably and have produced quite a lot of red and hot fruits:



They look all different, but have an effect that can be expected from a chili pepper. However, this one is absolutely different, not only in shape:



These seems to be Scotch Bonnets. Their shape closely resembles a Scot's bonnet. It is among the hottest of all peppers, as I had to learn. A week ago, the first fruit was ripe enough to be taken. Gatín made a stew and put just one chili pepper in. He made only a small cut into it. OMG, this stew was like eating the purgatory.

My swim teacher brought this chili pepper from the Caribbean. She tried to find out, whether they turn out to be hot in the Swiss climate too (without telling me). They do!

Scotch bonnets have a heat rating of 150,000-325,000 Scoville Units, this is only beaten by the Habanero.

Petit Déjeuner

Right now, I'm having for breakfast:


... and I've completely forgotten to put the side dishes newspaper, coffee and besos de Gatín on the pictures.