The Carnival's in Town !

The carnival - better known as "FASTNACHT" in
Switzerland, dates back to 1494, and is also known as
one of the most famous carnivals in Europe.
It is a 3 day event, but almost everyone enjoys the loud
music, bright & crazy costumes and most bizarre masks worn
by the people partaking in the carnival.

At the start of every carnival , we will experience a bitter cold Winter,
and the people's belief - the louder the music, the Winter cold will
disappear as soon as the carnival ends - Strangely enough, I have
experienced this myself for as long as I've lived here, because as soon
as FASTNACHT is something of the past - a definate change in the
weather is noticeable, so who knows, perhaps the loud noise is partly
to blame for Father frost taking a back seat.

When the streets are deserted and quiet again, one can feel a great
pity for the poor street cleaners who are left with an almost impossible
task of cleaning the immense amount of garbage left behind by everyone
who enjoyed the carnival that lasted 3 days only !

Street corners, alleyways and tramlines are filled and clogged with
confetti and streamers, which makes walking very difficult and bring
trams to a total halt. Looking at the lost and forlorn flowers lying forgotten on
the empty streets, oranges and mandarines or sweets which people didn't bother to
catch as it was thrown to them ( by WAGGIS sitting on the wagons) is only a re-
minder of a most enjoyable carnival time which has come to an end,
and an event to look forward to again next year ! !

These guys - hanging half way out the moving trucks or wagons are

called WAGGIS, most of them are extremely naughty and

always up to all tricks, if you should come too close to

the truck, they will grab hold of you and you'll be covered in confetti

from your hair right down to your underwear.

Girls in bright coloured costumes.

Unfortunately I wasn't all that lucky in finding the clearest pics for

the blog, I was pushed and showed in the process and when I

thought I was lucky enough to capture a good photo, I ended

up with a strange face looking directly into the camera.

Better luck next time !!

For a better view, click on the picture.

My Computer was Luckier !

I'm sure many bloggers and many others who sit in front of the
computer all day long, have experienced feelings of anger and
frustration, especially when nothing seems to work anymore, and
I'm sure everyone, (or at least some of us) would have loved to do just
what the picture shows - I'll be quite honost, so did I !!

Besides feeling angry and frustrated I was convinced - at the rate I was going,

never to sit in front of one again.

Because of the new modem we bought a few months ago, the Dell

had to be configurated, which has now been done, but why "she" allowed me

online at times, is still a mystery to me.

I cannot download pics on the "Old Faithful" so I was desperately waiting

for the other computer to be fixed.

I am not going to bore you all with the details about the problems we've

had and the various answers we've received about what the problem could be.

In the end, it was Mr. CC who saved the day by "fixing" it.

"Why ever did it take you so long?" I can hear you asking.

Believe me, the days were hectic and tiring and we've been too involved in far

more serious matters - although my computer would have helped me get

my mind off a lot of unpleasant matters.

Under the circumstances Mr. CC is fine and doing well, but I promise to write

about this unfortunate matter at a later stage - I'm still finding it extremely hard to

go into detail about the disaster which struck shortly before Christmas.

I just want to THANK YOU all again for your very kind words and all your

warm & well wishes - you guys have all been so great, and it means a

lot to me !!!!

So, with the computer behaving itself, I have no excuse to be back on the blog again

although I must admit, It feels like I'm all thumbs and no fingers - quite out of touch,

but if a typist gone "rusty" makes a come-back - so will I!!!!!!!!!