The Girdle of Melian

ne of the earliest things we noticed on arriving in Switzerland was the views of the Swiss, or of expats who'd lived here for much longer than us, on the weather. Every change was heralded by the words "it's not normal". Thus, a long sunny summer was "not normal". The interruption of the sunshine by two or three weeks of rain and cold (as happened last July) was "not normal". Bitter wind in December was "not normal". A lovely mild spring early in March (as when we first arrived in 2014) was... you guessed it... "not normal". What is normal weather for this part of Switzerland, I wonder? This winter seems to have gone on longer than last winter, though when I look back at temperature charts, it's relatively the same (though it might have been sunnier, but maybe that's looking back through rose-coloured glasses). And nothing could compare to the grimy slush and icy endlessness of a Montreal winter (where the only saving

hird and final post in the Edinburgh series. First, though, I just discovered something that might be useful as inspiration for writers and artists: NASA is giving away free posters ! "Imagination is our window into the future. At NASA/JPL we strive to be bold in advancing the edge of possibility so that someday, with the help of new generations of innovators and explorers, these visions of the future can become a reality. As you look through these images of imaginative travel destinations, remember that you can be an architect of the future. Click on any of the thumbnails below to learn more and download a free poster sized image." The one of Earth is especially poignant I love the Titan image Here's the description: "Frigid and alien, yet similar to our own planet billions of years ago, Saturn's largest moon, Titan, has a thick atmosphere, organic-rich chemistry and a surface shaped by rivers and lakes of liquid ethane and methane. Cold win

dinburgh, part two (of three)! Today's photos are all linked to writers and poets. World's End pub   Doom Bar beer, which I was drinking because that's what Detective Cormoran Strike drinks in the Robert Galbraith novels. Strike does not have a sleeping baby in the vicinty. Hamilton and Young, jewellery designers, on the Royal Mile, and their Outlander display! I bought a lovely pair of Dragonfly in Amber earrings, a couple of gifts, and a Craigh na Dun Christmas ornament! Our first logo for the Outlander Switzerland group, with Graham McTavish's appreciation! Where Johnson once stayed... Lord Byron's costume at the Writer's Museum   The poet Fergusson and the churchyard Where the poet Shelley stayed when he ran away with Mary I haven't read any Fergusson yet, but I've actually been doing rather well with my new ROW80 goal of reading the books I already own -- and w