Read to bottom to enter the competition to win a copy!
We recently heard of another local expat who has published a book! We had to find out more so we caught up with Chris Baball to explain what the book is about. He explained, "It is a collection of short stories and a few poems, set in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1960s. It also contains 19 tailored, colour images. Many are based on snippets of experiences, others totally imaginative. Some stories of innocence, most are presented through the eyes of a boy around 6-10 years old."
He continues, "The book covers several topics not well known now or remembered, I think, such a making laglee (a substance used for catching birds), old-time movies and the first time an X-rated (not triple X) movie was shown in a small town and the havoc it created. Some themes are universal, such as predation, confusion over religion, family challenges…. A few poems are also included, some intended to be light, others quite sombre and reflective.
"Some stories are written in the Trinidad and Tobago dialect, and the spoken word is usually in the local dialect too. A glossary is also added.
"I think some stories will make the reader laugh, while others may even cause some sadness."
What is the meaning of the title: COMFORT FOOD AND BREAKIN’BICHE; Tall Tales, Short Stories and Poems from the Rio
The title refers to two of the stories in the book. Comfort Food we know provides a feeling of well being, even happiness, and maybe fond memories. Breakin’ biche, however, is an expression used in Trinidad and Tobago meaning sneaking away from school, but is now more widely used to also mean avoiding work.
Rio is the short name for town of Rio Claro in Trinidad and Tobago, the setting for the stories in this book.
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
I retired from the United Nations in 2015. I prepared a bucket list of things to do during the next 10-15 years, and one of the top projects was writing for my children and relatives, portraying life in the 1960s in Trinidad and Tobago, a small developing country. Those were days before many of the things common now seemed like science fiction, colour TV, 3D, 4D, computers, not to mention WIFI, emails, and social media!
This second-hand charity shop, La Frip’, is a team effort of 7 volunteers who sort out items that are donated from people in the local area. All profits are donated to children’s charities including Compassion International, orphanages, and schools.
They have 3 objectives:
- To reuse items therefore reducing waste
- To be a nice place to have a coffee and meet up with friends
- To donate money towards charities serving underpriviledged children
Drop by for tea/coffee in a relaxing environment or conversation. You won't be disappointed.
Catherine Baum, founder of Baum Cosmetics, explained to knowitall.ch, "After 32 years of living in Burkina Faso, I settled in Switzerland in 2019 with the idea to brand a series of natural cosmetics. The two harsh environments that make plants particularly potent, the Swiss Alps and sub-Saharan Africa, seemed like the perfect match and I was very inspired."
Not only is there distinct contrasts between the two, but also similarities. Mixing real Swiss alpine plants with precious sub-saharian oils with shea butter allowed a greater benefit from the best of both worlds. It was a match made in heaven and the idea was born.
In 1993, I decided to take "my skin in hand", so to speak, and I learned from Burkina women how to process shea butter to benefit from its wonderful benefits. I then added other sub-Saharan oils in synergy with active ingredients to enrich my cosmetic preparations.
Ariel-Pierre Haemmerlé with the newly published book
Back in 2021 we wrote an article about Ariel-Pierre Haemmerlé at this link, the tour guide with a big personality. This lovely man has just published his fifth book! We met up with him to find out more and get our hands on a copy of Genève, les dates les plus importantes de son histoire.
If you love history, you will love this book. If you don't love history, you will still find this immensely interesting.
Do you know what these dates represent?
- 1536
- 1639
- 1815
- 1989
- 2017
If none of them ring a bell, read to bottom for the answers.
Organized very simply by dates, with a brief explanation of what each date means to Geneva, you will learn many, many fundamental milestones in this city's evolution.
The book will be available to purchase from all bookshops from Tuesday, 13 December 2022. Ariel Pierre will be at Payot Confédération on Saturday afternoon for book-signing. This might be the Christmas present you might have been looking for!
This tour guide knows how to catch your attention and keep it. If you are interested in inviting him to an event to talk about Geneva, please contact him. He will not disappoint your audience.
With the busy buying season quickly approaching, here are a few tips to help you navigate your budget safely.
Make a shopping list and compare prices
Stores compete with each other to offer the best deals, but they're not always real bargains. That's why it's worthwhile comparing prices beforehand. Make a shopping list in advance so you can keep track.
And don't get caught off guard when you see a sign with a reduced price. The savings might not be what you thought at first glance; see photo below from last year with only a 10 centime difference!
