The First Barbecue of the Year

The clocks have gone forward, the evenings are longer, the first woodpecker has been heard a few days ago, the sun is still out (well, almost), so it is time for the first barbecue of the year. It is 7.00 pm on the 2nd April and temperature is about 3degrees. Some cheating is needed here. We use one of those gas barbecue thingies. This gets everything going. (Remember saying “We’ll never get one of those. What is wrong with charcoal?”).

The Swiss neighbours are puzzled by this, but probably put it down to a strange Anglo-Saxon ritual. The Swiss are big on barbecues, with the mountain sides and local parks all providing free wood and grills for family outings. But not normally in April.

To further your education on such matters, here is an important piece of advice on the cooking utensil front, when cooking outside in temperatures below 5 degrees. Use a spatula with a plastic handle. Try holding a metal one and you’ll see what I mean.

Some medium steaks, hamburgers, and sausages, with salad and baked potatoes, washed down with some Italian wine, at Chf 3.30 a bottle (less another 20% off, as it was on offer special). Net cost in real money: £1.60.

The snow is still on the mountains, and with the new snow just before Easter, the conditions are still pretty good. Perhaps one more weekend of skiing. Then we have to wait a few weeks before the first flowers start appearing on the mountain side.

Like a Damn Winter

My search for the essential Hawker continues. Although I wanted to be thought of as a spider, it is possible that we are butterflies. However, the Guardian reported that we are dragonflies and in danger of extinction. http://colinhawker.blogspot.com/2010/03/hawker-in-danger-of-extinction.html

I have been assisted in my search for personal identity by Max Küng, writer of a column in “Das Magazin”, in the Saturday Edition of the Tages Anzeiger. He comments that “The winter, this year, has been like a damn hawker, whom one sends to the devil, but simply won’t go away”. http://dasmagazin.ch/index.php/max-kung-53/ (The Google translator comes up with „damn peddler“. See the start of the 5th Paragraph).

My initial reaction was one of outrage. My emotions were similar to those I experienced, as a young man, on seeing myself unwanted in so many places. “No Hawker or Circulars” was a common warning to my kith and kin to stay away.

For Max Küng’s comments, I would write to my Swiss MP, a draft letter of protest to the Tages Anzeiger, instruct lawyers, organise a demonstration outside the offices of this newspaper and start a movement to promote “Hawkers are like the Spring”.

However, on more mature reflection (and dragonflies are not known for mature reflection), it is possible that Max Küng has shed a new light on the characteristics on Hawkers. It reminded me of an answer that I gave once at an interview, when asked what thought my defining characteristic is. “Stubbornness” was the immediate response. Certainly persistent. Probably also very irritating and annoying.

I should have added “Like a damn winter. You try to send it to the devil, but it simply won’t go away”.

I feel a new motto coming one.

Has Spring arrived?

Three days ago, when out walking, we heard a woodpecker. Then again the next day, back at the apartment, it was the same fast drilling and unmistakable sound of a woodpecker.

This morning, two sparrows were chasing each other, looking very lively. I have no idea what they were doing.

The snow in Laax (at 3,500 feet) has melted. The meadows, at this time of year normally serving as a toboggan run, are looking bare, as is the ski run down to Falera (at 4,250 feet) – (see photos). The first butterfly in Switzerland has been spotted (so I am told). All this caused by unseasonally warm 10° weather (50° in old money).

The Swiss snow has, in the meantime, moved to the British Isles. I hear that Scotland has more snow than the rest of Europe. Perhaps Scotland will export it. Scottish ski resorts are enjoying a boom and British motorists are learning the benefits of snow chains and winter tyres.

Perhaps spring is coming early to Switzerland. I am getting my swimming trunks out ready to swim in the lake, and my shorts and T-Shorts are standing ready for some serious hiking.

But then, perhaps not. The grass has not yet started to turn green and the ducks have not returned to the Laax lake. The weather could still make fools of us all. A cold snap, 3 feet of snow overnight and the usual chaos will ensue. Yes, three feet of snow overnight will be noticed even here.

I enjoy spring. So getting more value for my money out of ski pass or seeing the spring flowers and feeding the ducks, I win either way.

(Where do the Laax ducks go for the winter?)