Ich wünsche Dir / Euch frohe Festtage und einen tollen Start ins Neue Jahr

Have A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year

 Ein Jahr ohne besondere Vorkommnisse geht zu Ende. Stimmt nicht ganz, es gab ganz viele besondere Tage in diesem Jahr, wie z.B. ein fantastisches SnowpenAir, die Reise nach England, einen Marathonmarsch um den Wägitalersee, das fast einstündige Foto-Posieren einer Eidechse, Wanderungen in den Bergen, die Rosenlauischlucht, Krieg und Frieden in der Beziehung, Dampfschifffahrten zur Erholung, grosse und kleine Ereignisse, die dazu beigetragen haben, dass ich auch dieses Jahr zuversichtlich vorwärts schaue. Dies, obwohl auch einige bittere Enttäuschungen zu diesem Jahr gehörten.

Some say, if you have not made a fortune this year, don't give up, you will make it next year, or the year after that, or.. I agree on the point of "never giving up", but to get a fortune, I definitely need all the numbers right. Nevermind, it was another year full of unique moments, new experiences and the renewal of friendships. Monica and I have been to see my uncle again and were overwhelmed by excitement, when we also met Patricia, Pete and Ian and Andy and Dorothy and their daughter Kerstin. Kerstin, when I met her first, a teeny-weeny little girl has grown up into a stunning young Lady, she is not only gifted with beauty, but also a huge amount of brain.(I know, that this is not proper English). Kerstin, a fully qualified doctor is likely to become a new "Doctor Barnard", having done a degree in law as well (and, and and). I guess, it is useful, whilst she has a patient on the table, her "alter ego" can offer a legal case if something goes wrong. But the most important thing to Monica and me was the time, we spent with my uncle and his unbeatable kindness. Anyway, the time passed far to fast and it was back to Switzerland. Thanks to flickr, mails and mobiles, some news were regularly exchanged.

It was a year I heard of people I know of - but have not met for ages. Virtually, I did not only attend a wedding in the U.S., but I also went on a luxury safari in Africa. I had a few rolls of Polo, Lamb Shanks and dozens of "traditional" coffees at the kitchen (Traditional means: poured in the morning, drunk in the afternoon).

Well, everything else was the odd day-to-day routine. Between Solothurn-Zug-Windisch-(the glamorous) St. Moritz(I have only been at the railway station)-Sils-Chiavenna-(The top of Europe) Jungfraujoch-Bern-Seleger Moor-SnowpenAir-Val Roseg-Corvatsch-Alp Grüm-Lago Bianco-(The queen of the mountains) Rigi- a very old-fashioned trip with the world famous steam engine No. 7-A traditional back to the roots of Switzerland, Rütli-Lai Palpuogna (supposingly the most beautiful mountain lake)-The wolfs and bears at Langenberg and Goldau-the eagles and vultures in the Engadina-Val Trupchun-Lake of Zoug-Lake of Lucerne-5 mountain passes. A never ending firework of impressions, views, thoughts. 

Thanks to all the people I am still allowed to name "my friends" - even though I spent to much time on my "day-to-day" life. 

I am not going to promise to better myself in 2010 - but I can promise one thing - I keep you in my mind and you are always included in my "best wishes".

Wenn ich müessti uufzelle, wen ich alles han welle gseh das Jahr, ich würd ziemlich lang ned zumene Endi choo - aber eswie han ich Glück mit mine "Fründe" - ich weiss, dass sie da sind.

Ich danke allne, wo ich han dörfe begägne, wo mer luschtigi, ernschthafti, truurigi oder striitigi Ziit händ dörfe verbringe. Ich danke dene vo Euch, wo ich das Jahr ned gseh han und mer "Eus" trotzdem no kenned. Ich danke dene, wo au im nächschte Jahr für mich da sind - und sigs nur, indem ich bi ihne en Platz ir Gedankewält dörf ha.

Ich wünsche allne schöni Feschttage und en guete Start ins Neue Jahr

Daniel

Alle Dunkelheit

der Welt kann das Licht

 einer einzigen Kerze

 nicht auslöschen.

One of the most emotional moments this year was actually almost 60 minutes long and the kind of closest encounter one is able to experience. A Lizard and Monica had  a long chat, whilst the camera shot picture after picture - the lens or her fingers almost touching the lizard's head. The unification of their mind continued, whilst I went forwards and backwards, made noises and closed in on the lizards head, being only away a few inches myself. This little fellow made Monica step from the past of this place (and memories) to the present. Sadness gave way to confidence.

Bildlegenden: Stern: Lichterweg in Hünenberg - Adventsschmuck: Weihnachtsmarkt in Bern, Eidechse in Italien

The course of true love

 never did run smooth.