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The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Rabbit (usagi) are the most fortunate. They are smooth talkers, talented, ambitious, virtuous and reserved. They have exceedingly fine taste and are regarded with admiration and trust.
During the last century, years of the Rabbit were in 1935, 1947, 1959, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages. Actually, the year of the Rabbit starts on January 22nd, 2023 (Chinese New Year), and is ending on February 9th, 2024.

As the 4th animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Rabbit indicates the hours between 7 am and 9 am.

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The entire Bosshard clan wishes you a wonderful 2022/23 Holiday Season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or even a vacation with friends and family, leading into a beautiful spring and great summer season, too.

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By the way, if you would like to read the contents of all the pages in smaller or bigger characters, it is very simple: go to View, Text size and choose your preferred size. That is all it takes – try it!

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism. As it is based on the Lunar movements, the year of the Tiger starts on February 14, 2010 and ends on February 2, 2011.

The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Tiger (tora) are said to be sensitive, stubborn, short-tempered, courageous, selfish and slightly mean. Yet Tigers are deep thinkers and are capable of great sympathy for those they are close to and love. Some Tigers were/are: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Queen Elizabeth II, Karl Marx, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Marylin Monroe, just to name a few.

During the last century, years of the Tiger were in 1902, 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986,  1998 and 2010 In each 60-year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course, it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages.

As the third animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Tiger indicates the hours between 3 am & 5 am.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Tiger, 2022

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The entire Bosshard clan wishes you a wonderful 2021/22 Holiday Season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or even a vacation with friends and family, leading into a beautiful spring and great summer season, too.

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By the way, if you would like to read the contents of all the pages in smaller or bigger characters, it is very simple: go to View, Text size and choose your preferred size. That is all it takes – try it!

Dear Family and Friends,

At the beginning of the year 2021, there were quite a few constraints to travel to Nevis, so we decided to stay home in Switzerland, the second time in over a quarter of a century…

The Pandemic was ravaging all over the world, but we were okay staying mostly at our home overlooking Lake Geneva and got our Pfizer shots in March, without any side effects. After our authorities will finally gave their green light, we got the permission for the booster shot in mid-November. We plan to return to Nevis on December 9, 2021, via Miami.

During the year, we had several appointments with the dentist, both Uschi and I. Mine was to finish works which could not be finished by my dentist in Chiangmai, but the two dentists worked well together, and all worked out perfectly, maybe not to the benefit of my purse.

In April, I finally gave in and traded my old iPhone 6Plus to a new 12 Pro Max, but will now keep that for a while until Apple makes a real improvement again, not just cosmetic like with the recently introduced iPhone 13… Uschi us still getting used to the hand-me-down…

In May, I had to cancel my visit to Japan for Sumo because the Japanese Government did not allow foreign visitors to enter the country due to Covid-19, which was later also extended for the Olympic Games in July.

Also in May, we booked a River Cruise on the Seine from Paris to Rouen including to Omaha Beach. When Uschi’s right foot started to act up seriously in early July, the doctor said no to that trip as there were several long sightseeing trips on foot included on that vacation; these were impossible for her, so we had to cancel at the last minute.

In June, we celebrated our traditional BBQ in the Corseaux chalet at Mivy

During the year, several friends have left us. The first was Hans Baumann QC for many years in Kobe who retired in 1993 and moved to Thailand. I last met him in 2019 when he was in hospital in Chiangmai. The Swiss Consul there wrote me that he had arranged his transport to his home in Switzerland but wrote again about three weeks later that Hans had unfortunately passed away. I went to the funeral, but the Swiss Railway had an accident in a station nearby and I was stranded in Zurich, and I could not make it….

The next was Hans Koch, he was a long time with the Hilton International Group in Tokyo and Osaka as well as Shanghai. He passed away in his hometown of Lucerne in late August. There I met several friends and relations to pay our last respects to him and his wife Marlyn.

The last was M. W. O. Garrett, my former President in Nestle Japan who passed away at the beginning of October in Lausanne. We have lost contact after his retirement as he stopped participating in the traditional Mivy BBQ of former NJL expats on the first Sunday each June. Also, I haven’t seen him at Nestle’s AGM’s when they were still held in Lausanne.

On the first Friday in September, we of the 6^th Grade Primary school in Schwamendingen have made it a rule to have a class reunion since 1995, and this continued with our former honorable teacher Hans Schwank, now 101 years old. Normally held in a restaurant near the school, now for the second time in a row, we did this at his beautiful Tertianum Residence on Zollikerberg where we rented a small banquet room for an aperitif outside in the garden and then enjoyed a fine menu with wine served inside.

On Sunday, October 24, we were preparing for a nice Kobe steak on our terrasse, just the two of us. Uschi brought a plate with the oil to grease the grill, the spices, an empty glass to drink some Rivella during the grilling, then I got up from the table, and managed to stumble on one of the floor tiles. I fell with a cry that Uschi heard in the kitchen saying she never had heard something like it before. I had to call an Ambulance as I could not get up by myself. They wanted to take me to a hospital, but I refused as there is no service available excepted medication which I had at the house.

I went to the doctor myself for X-rays; nothing broken but a long recovery was to be expected as I had a pulled muscles in the lower back, more on the left than on the right side. But nothing broken. I had to use crutches and sleep on a deckchair first as the bed was not possible despite a hospital like contraption to pull oneself up. Later I developed fluid in the feet and lower legs and had to go to the hospital where I was checked out, given proper medicine, and sent home after 1,5 days as there was nothing else to do as wait and start physio as soon as the pain subsided.

At present, I am walking without crutches, have had 9 physios’ sessions and we are preparing for our trip to Nevis via Miami.

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful, and healthy New Year of the Tiger 2022!

W I L L I   &   U S C H I

The VoiP number +41 44 586 5060 is in Zurich, Switzerland and reaches us anywhere in the world over the Internet; if no answer, please just leave a message on the answerphone with your number and we will call you back within 24 hours.

The Nevis numbers: Land line +1 869 469 8818 with answer machine; Cell Willi +1 869 660 2000, Cell Uschi + 1 869 665 8322 – these numbers are only valid when we are on the island of Nevis! Please use WhatsApp/FaceTime!

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism.

The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Ox [cow] (ushi) are said to be born leaders and inspire confidence all around. Oxen tend to be conservative, methodical and good with their hands. They guard against being chauvinistic and always demand their own way. Oxen make successful surgeons, generals and hairdressers. Some oxen were: Napoleon, Walt Disney, Clark Gable, Richard Nixon, Sylvia Porter and Vincent Van Gogh, just to name a few.

During the last century, years of the Ox were in 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and 2009. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages.

As the second animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Ox indicates the hours between 1 am and 3 am.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Ox, 2021!

The entire Bosshard clan wishes you a wonderful 2020/21 Holiday Season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or even a vacation with friends and family, leading into a beautiful spring and great summer season, too.

By the way, if you would like to read the contents of all the pages in smaller or bigger characters, it is very simple: go to View, Text size and choose your preferred size. That is all it takes – try it!

Dear friends,

At the beginning of the year 2020, we were at home in Nevis, where we started the New Year, as we have in most years since late 1994, when I retired after working for Nestlé in Japan for 28 years.

Our cousin Sylvia Neururer visited us for 3 weeks from late January, and we had a good time with her visiting various sites on both islands, meeting several friends and having some nice lunches.

We were ready to prepare for our planned trip to Tokyo to see Uschi’s orthopedic doctor about her right foot, which was still giving her problems from her operation in Switzerland more than two years ago. We took an AA flight to Miami on March 16, a connecting UA light to LA, and on 3/18 from there an ANA flight to Haneda. But the doctor advised us to cancel our visit due to a serious outbreak of Covid-19 cases among the Japanese after a cruise ship in Yokohama had released passengers who were obviously not virus free after the quarantine.

So, we rebooked our flights to return home via Munich to Geneva, available on March 25. We adjusted our AA flight to March 24, (and had to pay a penalty of $500 for that) as we did not want to stay at a hotel in Miami and wait so long for the Geneva flights. A grave error – as Mr. Trump closed the US soon afterwards for all except US citizens … We had no way at all to get into the US to catch our Lufthansa flights …

We stayed on in Nevis. April was OK, but as it got hotter with our pool showing 30+C at 7 am even in early May, plans were made to evacuate. Finally, 11 of us chartered a plane, a Bombardier Global 6000 and flew directly to Geneva on May 23, arriving there early on Sunday morning with nobody in Geneva except us. A wonderful quiet flight, three pilots, one stewardess and wonderful food and drinks served. Even the one dog in the cabin was well attended and served!

The Government of our islands had stopped all arrivals of cruise ships at the end of February, so there were no problems with Covid-19. They had issued public statements again and again how to cope, wearing masks, distancing, and supermarkets, banks etc. quickly installed plastic separations for cashiers and suggested payments by cards. We have had no deaths up to now, N0 deaths! So you can imagine how surprised we were when, on Monday morning we were at Coop in La Tour de Peilz, we were the only ones wearing masks, with the other shoppers looking at us as if we had come from the moon …

June was full of doctors’ visits for both Uschi and myself. We had set them up for May, but I was able to change them once we knew our March flights were not possible. In June I made a trip to Vienna to see a doctor who specialized in back problems. I have had tailbone pain for many years. In the end, I had to give up that idea, what with Covid-19 and even more so with the reduction of flights and scheduling, which would have become a serious problem to visit Vienna frequently.

As if it were not enough, tooth problems have crept up for both of us. Recently, we’ve both seen the dentist more often than in the past 9 years. Old age is no fun! Or, as Bette Davis once said, “old age aint for sissies”.

On September 4, about a dozen sixth graders joined our former teacher Hans Schwank at his pretty swanky living quarters on Zollikerberg for a wonderful get-together with champagne, and a wonderfully presented and warmly served luncheon in the private dining place of the Tertianum. Our former Teacher was in fine spirits despite his recent mishap, from which the still active Hans, who had turned 100 this past July, had fully recovered. 

The French-speaking region of Switzerland is far worse off in terms of Covid-19 infections than the larger German speaking part of the country. Right now in our area all restaurants and bars are closed, but in Zurich, for example, they are open. I had invited my son and his family to a famous Teppanyaki restaurant for his birthday on 27 November. In the end we had to cancel because he felt that because two of his kids go to school daily by public transport, proper distancing rules cannot be assured. As well, we had bought train tickets to go to Zurich, which is also high risk, as one does not know who has been sitting in those seats before. Uschi and I are in the HIGH-RISK AGE. If we get infected, we are likely to die, so my son did not want to take that risk. Uschi went along with his views so I canceled, and we all stayed home.

This year we will stay in Switzerland, celebrating Xmas and New Year at home for the first time in many years, all due to Covid-19. We might travel to Nevis late in January, but for us permanent residents that would require some changes in the Government’s rules and regulations.

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful, and healthy New Year of the Ox 2021! Yes, it is the Year of my son Nicolas, he will have completed 4 full zodiac cycles next November…

W I L L I   &   U S C H I

The VoiP number +41 44 586 5060 is in Zurich, Switzerland and reaches us anywhere in the world over the Internet; if no answer, please just leave a message on the answerphone with your number and we will call you back within 24 hours.

The Nevis numbers: Land line +1 869 469 8818 with answer machine; Cell Willi +1 869 660 2000, Cell Uschi + 1 869 665 8322 – these numbers are only valid when we are on the island of Nevis! Use WhatsApp/FaceTime!

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism.

The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Persons born in the year of the Rat (nezumi) are charming, honest, ambitious, and have a tremendous capacity for pursuing a course to its very end. They will work hard for their goals. They are easily angered but maintain an outward show of control.

During the last century, years of the Rat were in 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984,1996 1nd 2008. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing the 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is merely the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or bigger [elder]) like in western languages. Actually, the year of the Rat starts on January 25, 2020 and lasts till February 12, 2021.

As the 1st animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Rat indicates the hours between 1 am and 3 am.

Best wishes to all for a splendid Year of the Rat, 2020!

Dear friends,

As in most of the past 25 years, we started off the year 2019 in our home in Nevis where we had arrived on December 20 from Miami, after traveling via the Far East to the West Coast.

This time we had no guests visiting but we went for another one-week Windstar Cruise in late February on their 5-master flagship sailing from Philipsburg, St. Marteen to the Virgin Islands, to Barbuda (Antigua), to St. Barth and back to Philipsburg.

Uschi continued physiotherapy on her foot that was operated on in Vevey in July 2018, but it continued to hurt, so the doctor agreed to take the plates and screws out in April instead of July as had been initially planned. It is still not good as I write this…

In May, during Willi’s record 25^th visit to Japan for sumo and seeing his former friends and colleagues after his retirement in 1994, Uschi had a visit from her cousin Rosi Hagenmaier in La Tour. The two ladies had a great time together in nice spring weather, with narcissus still plentiful and in full flower above Montreux.

After my return from Japan, I had arranged a visit to get an infiltration into my spine as the pain in my lower back had started to get worse from over a year earlier. I experienced this earlier in Australia where the same treatment was very successful; unfortunately, this time it did not bring any relief.

In June, we also flew to Reykjavik in Iceland for a short but interesting visit, using the end of a RTW ticket. As we both were not good walkers (Uschi-foot; Willi-back), we had arranged for a fantastic full-day helicopter tour, but this had to be canceled due to bad weather… The sea-bus tour we took instead was no comparison, though, of course very much less expensive.

In July, I sold my 25-year-old BMW740i. It was in excellent condition with merely 75,000 km on the odometer. I hardly used it as parking space in our area was difficult (too narrow, one could not open the door to get out!) The dealer offered 3,500 francs but Nic got me to auction it off where we got 10,550… Half of the extra profit to the man with the idea.

Then Uschi lost a bridge! The young dentist doctors here did not know what to do as the chief was on vacation. So, I called the one who had done it in Chiangmai. He said, come next Monday, and I’ll fix it for free, it’s still under guarantee. Remember, when I did it, I could not make an implant because she was under chemotherapy so I said the bridge might become loose and fall out? And we could fix it in 2-2 ½ years?

So, we went there, and the dentist first added bone powder to her jawbone before drilling for 2 implants and further arranged for a new bridge to be set after 2 months.

Unfortunately, after we got back, Uschi developed a problem as the bone material was rejected unexpectedly. He advised us to see the younger dentist which we did. The dentist, in a 3-hour operation cleaned the former bone out, stopped the infection and added new (Swiss) cow bone, which her body accepted. All is fine now, the 2 implants were saved, but she must wait 6 months for them to be set and the bridge to be added. So, we will fly to Nevis first in mid-December, via Miami, where we will visit with friends, and then go Chiang Mai at the end of March 2020. What a tooth problem!!!

In July/August, there was the superlative 5-week Fête des Vignerons in Vevey, a major event celebrated every 20-25 years. A huge arena with 20’000 comfortable seats was built with the largest LED stage in the world allowing for the most wonderful night shows by the 5500 enthusiastic local performers for the visitors from all over Switzerland and abroad. We had our cousin Silvia visiting for a few days and enjoyed the show in fine weather one fine night.

At the beginning of October, Uschi and I made a 1-week trip to Germany, or we could say the somewhat less handicapped visiting those more handicapped friends and family. First, we visited the Ganslosers in Deggingen, 2 days later, we drove over to Kempten im Allgäu (Uschi’s hometown) where we visited her only surviving aunt Bärbel, 90, since last year in a beautifully situated home. On the way back to our hotel, we called Peter, another cousin of Uschi’s. He was not well, but agreed to see us for a cup of coffee and we managed to arrive at his home just as a tremendous downpour fell over the area.

The next day, a short drive to Füssen, site of the famous Neuschwanstein Castle of King Ludwig II, but that was not our reason for going there. Uschi’s cousin Rosi was in a well-known rehab clinic nearby where she is training to walk again. It was a long and wonderful visit with Rosi who was tired but in fine spirits.

That week of visiting friends and family not in top form of health ended in some wonderful ways. I had called an old friend from Kobe days trying to invite him and his wife to dinner at my hotel in Zurich. He had already planned a Chamois dinner, and would we not wish to join them? Of course, we were delighted! Game is a favorite of ours, and it’s in season. For Saturday, the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs had their luncheon at the Fujiya, the Japanese Restaurant of Hotel Ascot where we stay in Zurich, and my friend Adi Schulthess invited me as a guest. We had a great time with top Japanese food and the best of service by their chefs.

We had some great lunches and dinners during the month of November with with a number of good friends from the Rhone plains through Glion – Vevey – Blonay area to Lausanne city where we were, among such prestigious places as La Table d’Edgar at the Lausanne Palace and the Hôtel de Ville in Crissier. It seems we did not even gain any weight at all….

On December 3rd, we arrived in Miami for 2 nights, then we drove via the Alligator Alley up to Sarasota to Longboat Key to join Martha Murphy in her swell home and spend a wonderful time with her and grandson Hudson who was recuperating from a tough bronchitis. After long chats of old times in Nevis and great times together with Joe in Japan and Switzerland, and many a fine meal, we will head back for Miami via the East Coast, from where we will fly to our winter home in Nevis on December 18th.

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful and healthy New Year of the Rat 2020! Yes, it’s my Year, I will have completed 7 zodiac cycles next July…

W I L L I & U S C H I

The VoiP number +41 44 586 5060 is in Zurich, Switzerland and reaches us anywhere in the world over the Internet; if no answer, please just leave a message on the answerphone with your number and we will call you back within 24 hours.

The Nevis numbers: Land line +1 869 469 8818 with answer machine; Cell Willi +1 869 660 2000, Cell Uschi + 1 869 665 8322 – these numbers are only valid when we are on the island of Nevis! Use WhatsApp/FaceTime!

The netsuke chosen to represent 2019 is a boar looking up in Japanese boxwood, 4 cm long, exquisitely patinated from frequent use, nineteenth century, signed Toyomasa (Tamba-school).

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism.
The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Wild Boar are proud yet good natured. They can listen, are loyal, sincere and watchful. Thus, persons born under this zodiac sign usually are honest, straightforward, and patient. Generally, no matter how old they get, Wild Boar people still see and believe that all mankind are basically good. They constantly sacrifice their own happiness and comfort for the sake of their loved ones.

During the last century, years of the Wild Boar were in 1911, 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 and 1995, then 2007 and 2019. In each 60-year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course, it is not that simple; 60 is only the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and small (younger) brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger or big [elder]) like in western languages. The year of Wild Boar starts on February 5, 2019 and lasts till January 25, 2020.

As the 12th animal in the Eastern zodiac, the Wild Boar indicates the hours between 9 pm and 11 pm.

Best wishes to all for a great Year of the Wild Boar!

Both Uschi and Willi wish you a wonderful winter season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or a vacation with friends and/or family. If anyone is close to Nevis, let us know – we can come to St. Kitts to meet your ship and accompany you to see the sights there with you in our car, or if you have time, come spend time with us in our home in Nevis.

By the way, if you would like to read the contents of all the pages in smaller or bigger characters, it is very simple: go to View, Text size and choose your preferred size. That is all it takes – do try it!

Dear friends,

We started 2018 in our home in Nevis, contrary to last year, when we for the first time, celebrated the New Year in Switzerland due to the various medical problems of Uschi which had found an end with her most successful right knee replacement in the spring of 2017.

In mid-February, Hans and Sylvia Friedli paid us a 2 week’s visit (the 7th) before going on a Cruise and later Martha Murphy also visited Nevis for a few days from her home near Sarasota FL.

We have been living in our house in Nevis for well over 20 years and I should have been very familiar with the place in all the details but nevertheless managed to quite severely damage my right foot by simply swinging it gingerly onto a recliner – despite lots of treatments, massages etc. I still feel the after-effects and at times when making a wrong step or movement, I could scream out loud as it hurts so much. Must also be old age…

At the same time Uschi started to complain of increasing pain in her right foot which was not due to her hallux she had for many years. An appointment was made with a surgeon in Vevey from Nevis. Severe arthroses were detected, and an operation was scheduled for July 6. She got a soft cast and crutches was not allowed to put weight on her foot for months, driving only from early October – yours truly played houseman. She still has pain and understands it could take another 6 months to fully heal according to other sources….

In May as always, I flew to Japan for 4 days at the Sumo arena, after visits with friends and a meeting with some of my former staff for a nice luncheon at an excellent Italian restaurant. During the same time, Uschi’s cousin Rosi came visiting her in La Tour.

Summer was very quiet with Uschi in her soft cast. I had gotten her a night chair, rolled up all the carpets in the apartment so that she could easily roll around – a wheelchair would have been impractical as too wide for entering some doors.

Once we got the OK, we made a quick trip to Helsinki to see the wonderful fall foliage of birch, ash and large-leafed maple trees. At the airport, they even had an electric wheel chair waiting for Uschi right at the door of the aircraft….

Fall 2018 on Lake Geneva was exceptional – very warm and sunny! Every day all September to mid-October, we could sit outside on the terrace and have lunch there, and people were swimming down in the lake till early November.

In October and November, I met an old acquaintance of the Kobe period, Bernard Appia who now lives in Geneva. After an illustrious career with Danone, he is now restricted to walking with crutches after an irresponsible out-of-control ski-border ran into him from behind some 3 years ago.

We will leave on November 23, via Thailand, Japan, San Francisco, Miami and arrive in Nevis on December 18.

Due to a happy coincidence it so happened that our son Nic together with his brother-in-low Oliver stayed a few days with us in the Northern Thai city of Chiang May. In addition, he celebrated his 45th birthday with us during which he dryly asked me, dad do you realize that this is the first time we do this together after my 19th birthday??? Well, who has ever said that time does not fly?

For the Festive Season, we will have also hopefully received the one suitcase that we have packed before our departure from Switzerland to the Far East and which has been shipped by friends by DHL in mid-December with some cloth and Xmas goodies.

In closing, Uschi joins me in wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a most wonderful, happy, successful and healthy New Year of the Wild Boar 2019!

Willi and Uschi

The VoiP number +41 44 586 5060 is located in Zurich, Switzerland and reaches us anywhere in the world over the Internet; if no answer, please just leave a message on the answerphone with your number and we will call you back within 24 hours.

The Nevis numbers: Land line +1 869 469 8818 with answer machine; Cell Willi +1 869 660 2000, Uschi + 1 869 665 8322 – these numbers are only valid when we are on island! Use WhatsApp/FaceTime!

The netsuke chosen to represent 2006 is a seated dog (Spaniel), 4 cm high, exquisitely patinated ivory, early nineteenth century, signed Okatomo (Kyoto-school).

The Chinese calendar -which existed there already since around 2000 BC- was adopted by Japan from around the 6th century AD, together with Buddhism.

The Zodiac has an influence on the character of mankind. Each of the 12 ‘animals’ has specific characteristics. Dogs are proud yet good natured. They can listen, are loyal, sincere and watchful. Thus persons born under the zodiac sign of the dog stand for friendship, faithfulness and devotion. They are said to be sincere, friendly, discreet and trustworthy, however they can also be very conservative, often also eccentric, obstinate and egoistical.

During the last century, years of the dog were in 1910, 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982 and 1994, thn 2006 andd 2018. In each 60 year cycle, the 12 zodiac animals are repeated 5 times, representing 5 elements Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Of course it is not that simple; 60 is only the most common denominator of 10 x 12, the ten being the 5 elements but in order to make it ten, the Japanese have adopted a big (elder) brother and younger brother of each of the five stated elements. In all eastern languages, big brother and younger brother is one noun each, and not formed by a noun (brother) plus an adjective (younger o rbig [elder]) like in western languages. Actually, the year of the fire dog starts on Febr. 15, 2018 and lasts till Febr. 5, 2019

As the 11th animal in the Eastern zodiac, the dog indicates the hours between 7 pm and 9 pm.

Best wishes to all for a great Year of the Dog!

Both Uschi and Willi wish you a wonderful winter season with lots of fun, happiness, good health and some great relaxation or a vacation with friends and/or family. If anyone is close to Nevis, let us know – we can come to St. Kitts to meet your ship and accompany you to see the sights there with you in our car, or if you have time, come spend time with us in our home in Nevis.

By the way, if you would like to read the contents of all the pages in smaller or bigger characters, it is very simple: go to View, Text size and choose your preferred size. That is all it takes – do try it!