The Swiss have a well-deserved reputation for being a nation of quiet, conventional, conservative conformists.  And by-and-large, they live up to this reputation.  They’re good neighbours, have 2.4 well-behaved children, a dog that never barks, and drive a silver Audi.  You could be forgiven for assuming that they’re all cloned at birth.

Until you begin to dig a little deeper.  Then you notice the (otherwise very conservative) women with hair died a shocking shade of pink, purple, or blue. 

Or some crazy lady with a pet pig, walking through the centre of our village.

After one of the coldest, snowiest Decembers anyone can remember in Basel, followed by a spectacular white Christmas, it comes as something of a surprise to find the weather over the past few days positively spring-like.

It’s nearly 60 degrees today, and I’m out on the balcony grilling chicken before we head out for a walk in the forest behind the house.

It seems my master plan has worked.  All of my global air travel has caused enough global warming to bring Floridian weather to Switzerland.  Screw ice skating, I’m gonna teach my kids how to swim. 

Just hope there’s enough snow in Chamonix that our skiing trip next week isn’t ruined!