Girl About The City

Creative Heads Gala Ball at Cercle-Cité

2011-10-18T08:33:00.012+02:00

In May, I blogged about the Cercle-Cité on the Place d’Armes opening again after the renovations of the past few years, no doubt you’ll agree that the place looks great. Splendid is the word that springs to mind when I think of the interior. The most important thing that I was looking for in all the communications about the renovated building was that it would remain open to the public for functions. The word “municipal” has gone from the title, but surely the principle will remain? I love the fact that this building has history and stories hidden in its walls and I feel strongly that the layers should continue to build up. So far, so good I’d say; the new gallery at Ratskeller on the rue Curé has had a number of excellent exhibitions that have offered free entry. The latest one is a photography exhibition called OFF and is on until the 6th of November.

Now something else of interest has dropped into my (virtual) mailbox and I felt it worth sharing. The German Association "Deutscher Verein in Luxemburg asbl” and the Comité Gala des Masques are organising a public and international Gala Ball on 12 November. It will be the third of its kind, the group already successfully hosted “Gala des Masques“and the “Gala Noir et Blanc“. This year’s theme is “Creative Heads”, so you find me there sporting an Amy Whitehouse like Beehive. Or better still a mega wig flown in from LA, I know someone who just bought two and only needs them on the odd night out.

This event is interesting in that it reflects historically the role the then Circle Municipal played in the night life of the city. It is equally interesting however in as much as it appears to be following a trend across Europe at the moment...the revival of ball-room dancing. I am reliably informed, as reliably as a shared bottle of red wine and delicious cheese nibbles will ever leave you, that Scandinavia has seen the resurrection of outdoor tea dances. Now, being of Scottish origin the idea of any dancing outdoors is quite simply an activity to keep your circulation going, but years of living on the continent has shown me that there exists a whole other passion, indeed I spent many a pleasant Sunday afternoon in the Kurpark in Wiesbaden watching others strut their stuff. I never actually had the nerve to get up there myself, but it wouldn’t take much persuading. So let’s hope that there will be a resurgence of such events in Luxembourg too. Simply to satisfy my itching to take part...meanwhile I’ll foxtrot off.

Upped the Ante

2011-10-12T12:54:00.011+02:00

I’ve blogged before about my future plans as a silver surfer, but I’m not really sure how honest I am about my ability to embrace aging. Time will tell as they say and otherwise it will just be put down to artistic license.

Anyway, for some reason this style blog caught my eye and sparked a train of thoughts...
http://advancedstyle.blogspot.com/

My children love older people and I suspect this is due to grandparent deprivation that they have suffered as a result of living abroad all their lives. The irony of aging is that as time gets less, somehow older people exude the sense of having more time and more patience. That surely has got to be the attraction for my kids; while I rush around like a Mad Hatter, I notice my elderly neighbour always takes the time to chat to my 10 year old about her day, her cat and her homework. I know it is a bright moment in the day for both of them, my neighbour lives alone and likes the contact and my daughter lives with us and appreciates the individual attention to the details that are important to her.

There have been a number of initiatives from the Ville de Lux aimed at seniors that I’ve liked over the past year, now I’ve got a new one...Kino mat Häerz...Cinématèque is showing old classic movies in the afternoons, then off you go for coffee and cake. It is part of the initiative to ensure that smaller groups in society don’t become isolated...all I can say is it’s my kind of day out. Now to what to wear…I love the styles of the individuals’ profiles in the advanced style blog, so that has just upped the ante for this “Auntie”!

Kino mat Häertz

Have van will travel...

2011-07-21T13:34:00.014+02:00

We all have special places that we love, whether a café, a bench, a park, a pub, a forest walk...well one of mine and I have many, is Knuedler (although according to my friend “G” I never spell it correctly, I always think thought that was the joy of Luxembourgish, that no one minded if you spelt things a bit off, but the times they are a changing). Anyway, why do I love Knuedler so much? Basically because it has so many faces. Some days I start work really early...5am is early, by any standards and I walk through the Knuedler and I meet the guys from the Ville de Lux hygiene team and they are chirpy and whistling, funny and humorous and we have a kind of unwritten bond, simply because we are at work so early. Most days I start at 7.30am and I meet the waiters and shopkeepers on their way to work, and again there is that unwritten bond, so we smile and nod and mention the weather. Then there are all the concerts, but I’ve mentioned them before…

My favourite day however is Wednesday, as I have a little routine that passes a number of stalls at the market. The stallkeepers are my Wednesday morning “pals” and I miss them when they are on holiday or on the Glacis during the Octave. I’m a creature of habit in the morning, regrettably that all goes to pot around lunchtime, when anything can happen...

So yesterday I had done my round of stalls and I stopped at one extra one buy some jam. I paid my money and was waiting for my change, when a man lifted the pot of jam I had just bought...awkward moment when I didn’t know what to say...then ehm entschuldisch, ehm dat es méng...reply: “oh sorry, mate”...

Well, Bob was Australian (in case you haven’t guessed) and he and his wife have been travelling in Europe for ...wait for it...eight months! I’m impressed and tell him so. Reply: “aw that’s nothing mate, we were here in 2006 and travelled for two years “. What? How? I want to do that! Anyway, Bob told me they are retired and come to Europe and buy a camper van when they arrive and then just go, allez, vamos. I love it! It’s my new, best plan...I’m off, see ya!

And that my friend is why Knuedler is my favourite place to be. Nobody’s dull on Knuedler ...

So much to do, so little time, that's why I luv lux...

2011-07-13T15:22:00.009+02:00

While blogging is a great winter pastime; summer is in fact a different matter...so much to do, so little time. I have had a number of I love Luxembourg moments in the past few months, as I’ve been to more open air events and free concerts that I have had hot dinners (this is no joke, hot summer dinners are hard to come by in my home. What is wrong with a salad anyway?)

A favourite evening was the opening event of Summer in the City, as was Rock um Knuedler and the family day in the Pétrusse Valley; another summer favourite, the open air cinema in the small courtyard off the Place du theatre; Casablanca last week and more to come each weekend...I luv lux.

In my head last night was always going to be one of those I luv lux evenings, since I had tickets to see PJ Harvey at Abbaye de Neumunster, my favourite summer concert venue. Last year I heard Amy MacDonald play there and while her dulcet Scottish tones wrapped me like a blanket, the short 45 minute set she played, was well...short. So I had great hopes for last night, except for it being one of those “the rain is on, the rain is off “days. Nevermind, we are northern European after all, so we really can’t complain when the weather doesn’t play the game. At the concert I was forced to reconsider my “We are northern European” take on the weather; what was it with all the guys in windbreakers with hoods up? Sorry, guys, perhaps the sun wasn’t in evidence, but it was still 17 degrees!

PJ Harvey put on a great show, interestingly no interaction with the crowd at all, she let the music speak for itself and apart from one track that reminded me too much of Mumford & Sons it was great to just relax and enjoy the music, the beer, the bratwurst. Oh yeah and that feather do on PJ’s head, was really effective, but even the best set manager couldn’t have planned the black crow that swooped over the crowd half way through the set!

If there was one critique of organisation at Neumunster (other than the men looking as if we were in the frozen north) it has got to be the long lines, to pick up tickets, to buy food and drink tickets, to get sausage, to get pommes frites, to get drinks, to get more food and drink tickets, to get more food, to get more drink. Good job the sun wasn’t shining or we might have died of thirst.

Btw: The family day in the Pétrusse Valley made me think that we don’t use the Pétrusse enough. What a great space for an event, I think it would join uptown and the station area better, if we used it more. Don’t really know how though...what about a beach or a river running through it, not just a stream you know a big one, like the Thames; anything doing there? Virtual maybe? Or open air cinema on the sledging hill. Where do we get the electricity? Anyway, any other ideas are welcome and answers on a postcard to...

Now this Saturday is the annual Blues and Jazz rally in the Grund ..so once again, what can I say...I luv lux!

Here Comes the Summer Sun and why this summer in the city will be different...

2011-06-16T10:03:00.020+02:00

For those who have lived in Luxembourg a while, Summer in the City and Winterlights are terms that tantalise the senses in different ways. While Winterlights is all about the smell of Glühwein and Gromperekichelcher and cold nipping my nose and my toes, Summer in the City is all about long lazy afternoons on the Place d’Armes with the heat of the sun on my skin and a refreshing chilled drink in my hand, then being enticed over to the Knuedler by the wafting smell of a sizzling Thüringer...oops Letzebuerger Grillwürst, to listen to a free concert.

This year I am über please as Texas are play on the 3rd of July and amazingly Texas used to play at my Students’ Union many moons ago. I rediscovered Texas while working in France, somehow, while I had been working nine till five every day to make a living, my home heroes had taken France by storm…so the concert should be a good cultural mix of enthusiastic fans. Obviously it goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) singer Sharleen Spiteri and I are blessed and were young geniuses…she as a singer and me as a student at age…ten shall we say? Anyway, alternative Scottish rock band to Rock Knuedler…be there or miss out…

Another of my favourite Summer in the City events is the Blues ‘n’ Jazz Rallye in the Grund...despite the crush of people, or perhaps because of them...I love that evening in July maybe because it was one of my first Luxembourg experiences of all night out with friends just after moving here all those years ago...the fact that it could stay warm all night was a new phenomenon to me.

Having organised many events I appreciate how much effort it takes and inevitably there is always a wrap-up meeting afterwards where typically in Europe very rarely does anyone get a pat on the back, it is more a “what could we do to improve next time” type of meeting. This is where cultural differences are most evident; did you know that American’s have a colloquialism for a pat on the back? an “’ataboy”... I love it! Anyway here is a big “ataboy” for whoever decided we should try and be more environmentally friendly at our city events. In an effort to cut down on all the plastic cups that lie around after the aforementioned events, this year we will pay a deposit and get a lovely plastic tumbler...so don’t drop ‘em, hand them back and you get your deposit back..simple!

Only one problem, they look really nice...so, on an afternoon out with the family you could have all the kids keep a plastic glass and you would have a lovely new garden set for the summer. Now all we need is the sun to come back…so one, two three all together now…just as Sharleen will croon to us…here comes the Summer Sun it burns my skin…

List of Summer in the City concerts

19.06.11 UGDA Music School Festival
21.06.11 Fête de la Musique Opening Act
23.06.11 Jour de la Fête Nationale
02.07.11 MeYouZik
03.07.11 Rock um Knuedler
16.07.11 Blues’n Jazz Rallye
10.09.11 Summer in the City – Closing Act

London had Will and Kate, but see what we have this Sunday!

2011-05-11T11:34:00.016+02:00

Having safely emerged from another fun packed weekend in Luxembourg, I think it is safe to say that the city has outdone itself this year. Obviously the unseasonal wonderful summer weather has played to the aspirations of the organisers, but regardless of this little helper the events have been great on all accounts.

Next weekend is no exception, while for many Luxembourg families the start of the Octave this Saturday marks another spring passing with family communions offering the opportunity for a family get together, for anyone not involved in family affairs next Sunday don’t miss out on something special. Bambesch forest is the venue for a special event, the Vullenhochzäit. For those not in the know I’ll explain...

The Vullenhochzäit is a traditional Luxembourgish (and German) children’s song about two birds (vullen) getting married (hochzeit) in a forest and describes all the birds that come to the celebration. It is a beautiful tune and I can only imagine what they will manage to do at Bambesch next week.

It promises to be a wonderful day out for any family, or simply the young at heart. A musical rally is planned throughout the forest, with groups from the Conservatoire de musique offering a helping hand and a musical ear. There are two proposed starting times; one at 13.30hrs and the other at 15.00hrs from the Biergerkräiz parking. At 17.30hrs there will be a Jazz concert performed by Pierre Kremer Jazz Ensemble entitled Forest legends, this will take place at the Réidränk site: (they promise musical inspiration from Jimmy Heath, Miles Davis, Wolfgang Lakerschmid et Gerry Mulligan).The duration of the rally is estimated to be about 90 to 100 minutes and at the end there will be a BBQ and refreshments available at the Réidränk area.

Just a hint about the fun to expect: the CAPEL team is involved in organising all the activities for the kids, and whenever they are there, fun is guaranteed!

Save the Dates 30th April and 1st May..the clock tics!

2011-03-18T12:27:00.012+01:00

For the past few years many of us have been wondering when the renovation work at the Cercle Municipal on the Place d’Armes would finish...so here’s the good news...soon. Seriously, that’s what you’ve heard for the past year now isn’t it? The delays were due to unforeseen structural repairs, but I can officially (who do I think I am? I know, but it sounds better if the word "officially" is in there) report a date has been set for the Grand Opening and since we have waited so long, the event promises to be a good one...phew ...

The 30th of April and the 1st of May are the dates to mark in your diary. Both days will be Open House extravaganzas. In fact, working on the figures from the opening of Villa Vauban and the Aqua Tunnel, potentially 10,000 visitors are expected! So with that in mind Anouk Wies and her team of organisers don’t want to disappoint and have some fantastic entertainment planned. To make it an all-round-family-affair Anouk and her team have joined up with other departments of the city to plan the event. A key player in any such family-friendly event in this city is of course CAPEL; and it has taken charge of creating a number of animated and interactive events for children.

The history of the Cercle Municipal obviously goes hand in hand with the history of the city and the country of Luxembourg, and who better to call on to reflect this than Photothéque, the department that archives some of the most valuable pictorial documentation we have of Luxembourg in days gone by. In fact, an exhibition from Photothéque will be hosted in the new exhibition area, the Ratskeller, that will have a separate entrance on the rue Curé. This exhibition will remain open throughout the summer for tourists to enjoy and will remain free-of-charge.

Weather permitting much of the entertainment will spill out on to the Place d’Armes in front of the building, again reflecting the fact that this is a venue for the people of the city and the doors are open to all. The two day event also allows the opportunity to get a peek behind the scenes at the kitchen and bar areas, the Grand Salle, and the Salon Bleu (is it still blue? You’ll find out…soon:). A tour route has been set that starts at the entrance on the Place d’Armes and meanders through the main building using the new bridged walkway to bring people from the Cercle into the Cité and through the library to exit. The idea is to highlight these two buildings as one centre to be used for various activities that suit the needs of the different communities in the city. The potential of course is vast.

There will be no timetable of events published, just a list of groups who will entertain and a promise of fun with friends...the list as I understand it includes... a demonstration by Luxembourg’s barkeepers, tasters from Transfair Minka , various dance groups in the salon, Luxembourg’s rappers De Läb, CAPEL and city theatres host drama workshops. Bruno Baltsa photography workshop for teenagers, Stina Fisch's Atelier in the Bibliothéque...the list goes on...what more can I say…be there…or miss out…soon...

Cité Talks information (Deu/Fra)

2011-03-17T11:12:00.004+01:00

3. Gesprächsrunde des Konferenzzyklus zu aktuellen Themen in den Bereichen Urbanismus und Städtebau in Luxemburg, koproduziert von der Stadt Luxemburg, Cercle-Cité und der Fondation de l’Architecture et de l’Ingénierie:

Donnerstag 17. März 2011, um 19 Uhr, im Auditorium des CITE
Vom Stadtverkehr hin zu einer neuen Kultur der städtischen Mobilität
Mobilität prägt das Stadtleben entscheidend. Sie verknüpft Lebensbereiche wie Wohnen, Arbeiten, Produzieren, Versorgen, Lernen und Erholen. Die Gestaltung der städtischen Mobilität ist wesentlich für die Aufenthalts- und Wohnqualität unserer Stadt und für ihre Entwicklung zu einer lebendigen, zukunftsorientierten und modernen Metropole.

Verkehrs- und Siedlungsplaner machen es sich zur Aufgabe, optimale Bedingungen für die Entfaltung von Mobilität zu schaffen und den Ansprüchen der Bürger und der Wirtschaft an die Mobilität planerisch und gestalterisch Rechnung zu tragen. Es geht nicht bloß darum, städtische Mobilität zu bewältigen, sondern sie aktiv zu gestalten. Ziel ist es, die Lebensqualität zu erhöhen und dabei gleichzeitig die Mobilität zu sichern und die negativen Folgen des Verkehrs zu verringern. Wie kann dies gelingen: durch den Ausbau und die Verbindung der Verkehrsnetze, durch die Förderung der „sanften„ Mobilität, durch die Planung von verkehrsvermeidenden Siedlungsstrukturen, die sog. „Stadt der kurzen Wege“?
Aber nicht nur die Planer, auch die Bürger gestalten die urbane Mobilität durch ihr Verhalten, geprägt durch Lebensstile, emotionale Aspekte, tradierte Einstellungen und gewohnte Wertvorstellungen. Wie können sie beitragen zu einer neuen Kultur der Mobilität in der Stadt: durch Eco-Driving und Car-Sharing, durch Umsteigen auf Bus, Bahn, Rad und Zu-Fuß-Gehen, durch die Änderung unseres Einkaufsverhaltens?

Entscheider, Planer, Bürger und Pendler diskutieren über die Möglichkeiten, gemeinsam zu einer neuen Kultur der städtischen Mobilität beizutragen.
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3e table-ronde du cycle de conférences-débats sur l’actualité urbanistique à Luxembourg, coproduit par la Ville de Luxembourg, le Cercle-Cité et la Fondation de l’Architecture et de l’Ingénierie :
Jeudi, le 17 mars 2011 à 19h00, à l’auditorium du CITE
Du trafic urbain vers une nouvelle culture de la mobilité urbaine

La mobilité marque la vie urbaine de manière décisive. Elle lie les différentes sphères de la vie, comme l’habitation, le travail, la production, l’approvisionnement, l’apprentissage et la détente. L’organisation de la mobilité urbaine est essentielle pour la qualité résidentielle de notre ville et pour son développement afin de devenir une métropole vivante, moderne et orientée vers le futur.

Les planificateurs de la circulation et des cités se sont donné pour tâche de créer des conditions optimales pour le développement de la mobilité et de prendre en compte les exigences des citoyens et de l’économie dans leur planification et leur conception de la mobilité. Le but est d’augmenter la qualité de vie tout en assurant la mobilité, et de réduire les effets négatifs du trafic. Comment y parvenir : par l’extension et la jonction du réseau des voies de communication, par l’encouragement de la mobilité « douce », par la planification de lotissements à circulation réduite et vitesse limitée, à savoir la « ville des courts chemins » ? Mais non seulement les planificateurs, mais les citoyens aussi façonnent la mobilité urbaine, notamment par leur comportement, marqué par les styles de vie, les aspects émotionnels, les idées reçues et les valeurs morales habituelles. Comment peuvent-ils contribuer à créer une nouvelle culture de la mobilité en ville : à travers l’eco-driving et le car-sharing, par le recours au bus, au train, à la bicyclette et à la marche à pied, par le changement de notre comportement d’achat ?

Les décideurs, les planificateurs les citoyens et les navetteurs discutent des possibilités de façonner une nouvelle culture de la mobilité urbaine.

Teilnehmer / participants / panelists :

Jean Schiltz (Ingénieur – directeur – coordinateur, ATST - Ville de Luxembourg)
Paul Hoffmann (Ingénieur – directeur adjoint, ATST - Ville de Luxembourg, Division mobilité urbaine)
Romain Diederich (Premier Conseiller de Gouvernement, Ministère du Développement et des Infrastructures, Département de l’aménagement du territoire)
Charles Ruppert (Administrateur délégué, New Media Lux, société éditrice e.a. de lesfrontaliers.lu, diegrenzgaenger.lu, news352.lu et 352 Lux Mag)
Laure Simon (Membre du Conseil d’administration du Mouvement Ecologique, responsable pour la mobilité durable)

Animation: Sarah Cattani

Auditorium du CITE (2e étage)
Accès : 3, rue Génistre
www.cerclecite.lu info@cerclecite.lu

Zusätzliche Informationen unter / Pour plus d’information / For more information:
www.cerclecite.lu
www.fondarch.lu
www.vdl.lu

If you don't laugh, you cry...

2011-03-10T13:21:00.006+01:00

I was often in awe of my feisty grandmother as she related how she had coped in extreme situations; one of the best was getting trapped on a bus filled with big huge miners during an air raid in the middle of nowhere as a 15 year old. Obviously realising she was terrified, a soot blackened miner turned to her and said “don’t worry lass, I’m here”, as she said, there-in lay her worry and if she hadn’t laughed, she’d have cried. In a sense it speaks of a deeper psychological defence that we have in times of stress or adversity when human nature seems to open up the funny side of things to us.

Time and again humour is used to either as a defence mechanism or less often, but certainly most worthwhile, to break down boundaries and poke fun at stereotypes and prejudices. This is the premise of the international comedy festival “Humour pour la paix” that takes place at the Abbaye de Neumünster from the 11th to the 20 March. Now in its fifth year the festival features performances in French, German and English.

My pick for the festival is Imran Yusuf who performs Monday night (now that’s not funny, Monday night!). Born in Mombasa, Kenya and raised in the UK with schooling in the USA, Imran took time out to travel through Israel/Palestine, Jordan and Saudi Arabia during the Lebanon Crisis in 2006. It was these experiences that made him return to the UK and strike out to use humour to break down barriers. In 2010 Imran was nominated as best newcomer for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for his solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

A few years ago I saw British-Iranian comedienne Shazia Mirza perform here, I went with an Iranian male friend and to be honest it was such uncomfortable viewing that we had to laugh. I spent the evening terrified that she was going to find me for audience participation. It always seems to happen…I thought years of travelling in Glasgow and the London Underground have made me an expert at no eye contact, but somehow it still seems to fail me.

Anyway, Monday night, or any other night from the 11th onwards be prepared to have fun and break through some mind barriers...to find out what is on take a look at the www.ccrn.lu

Oh and if you are looking for an excellent piece of black humour get a hold of An Everlasting Piece, an Irish film that stars comedian Billy Connelly.

Lads Travel to China aka BRACH

2011-02-18T17:05:00.017+01:00

Every day’s a school day and that’s a fact. Admittedly I swan around Luxembourg thinking I am fairly “in the know” about what's going on, and then Wham! Bam! Right in the middle of my forehead. Well I had one of my light bulb moments the other night while driving home listening to an interview on Radio ARA with the Luxembourg music group Brach. I’ll fill you in...

Fact: Luxembourg had a pavilion at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai and The Golden Lady adorned the space. Now I wasn’t invited, so I don’t really know what went on inside the pavilion, but I do know that Brach went to play concerts there and made a documentary of their trip. But what I discovered was ...

Brach is not a music group as I had understood it, but is a project devised by two producers Fred Baus and Tim Leconte and the Luxembourgish-rapping duo Corbi & David Fluit of De Läb. I loved their self description; "devised by project m and loose body parts and a rapping duo"...basically, they are a bunch of guys who like to make music and came together specifically for one project and that was BRACH. And contrary to what I had thought, Brach doesn’t stand for that yummy local white yoghurt that I put on the thin gingerbread slices...oh no, too obvious...in fact it stands for Burschen Reisen an China (not sure of spelling...will check:) in English then… Lads Travel to China...Duuh as previously stated, as obvious as a slap in the middle of my forehead...

The guys basically pitched their idea and gained financial support from Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture and then got together to create music specifically related to and for a trip to Shanghai. Now for home-grown Luxembourgers there might be no real surprise here, but for the rest of us, it’s pretty huge.

The Ministry of Culture supported four hip hop rappers to create music in Luxembourgish language to perform in Shanghai, plus supported two young film makers, Ben Andrews and Fred Neuen, to go along and make a documentary. I understand it is possible to apply for a cultural vacation if you are creating or contributing to the cultural life of Luxembourg (basically you are released from work without losing salary). So that is what the guys did they pitched their idea of performing hip hop in Luxembourgish and got approval. Unusual perhaps for a trip to China, but as they explained, while hip hop is about the lyrics it is also about the beat and therefore crosses boundaries easily. They performed about 15 concerts in and around Luxembourg since last September and then on the Shanghai trip they performed 10 gigs in Shanghai.

The project is now at an end and the guys will go their own way, but as some people complain, Luxembourg is just too small, so here’s hoping that they will bump into each other once too often and those creative vibes will flow again and bring us another creative project.

The CD and DVD launch was last Friday and you can check out the guys on Facebook and the documentary at http://vimeo.com/20098985

Chapeau Luxembourg…I’m lovin’ you…

Put My Fues Right In It!

2011-02-10T14:32:00.027+01:00

Recently I have been focusing on understanding the idiosyncrasies of this time of year that are so Luxembourg. My daughter took me to task the other day for omitting to mention one of the highlights of this season. Ta tu Ta ta! Carnival!

Arguably one exclusively for the kids...sorry...what? no? No, most definitely one celebrated by young and old around the country. It might not have the exoticism of Braaaazilian Caaarnival, or the gothic mystic of Venice, nor the edginess of New Orleans Mardi Gras, but we at least have the decency not to pretend it’s more that it is....pure and simple fun!

It was one of the first things that caused some confusion for me when I arrived here, my son returned from school saying his teacher had told him he should go to the Fuesbal on Sunday. Having just arrived from Germany (via the states) my quickness of wit translated that immediately to football, so duly dressed the kid in a Scotland strip and sent him packing. He had a great time, but confused us on his return by insisting that it was a bit unfair because all the other kids had better costumes. Taking this as a “lost in translation “ moment, I impressed upon him that it was a football “strip” if he went to visit grandparents in Scotland and a “trikot” if in Germany, but nowhere was it appropriate to call a football kit “costume”. Poor guy didn’t even argue with me, just gave me a look.

It took another year before my mistake was rectified, by then I had made some friends in the village and one of them asked me along to a “Fuesbaal” to raise money for our basketball team. Now that in itself seemed odd I know we have a political coalition here, but in sport too? Really? So I dared to asked why the football team were raising money for the basketball team, and then all was as clear as mud. Fuesbaal, is a Ball to celebrate Fuesend which is the time of celebration and liveliness that proceeds the fasting period of Lent. Where we lived in Southern Germany it was called Fast-nacht, so I should have been a bit more clued in. Anyway, off I set to the Ball, dressed rather splendidly I may add, in Venetian mask and flowing bejewelled robes, only to discover an array of adult carnival costumes on display…some admittedly better than others. As is normally the case copious amounts of sparkly stuff will take the edge of any occasion and I soon felt as if I had always been part of the scene.

The only thing that I really found disarming was the fact that the farmer from up the street had made himself a huge black coffin on wheels that he whisked around in, every now and again coming up behind us, opening the door of his coffin and droning in a deep voice “Owend Joffer”...to this day I can’t look the man in the eye....

And if anyone is looking for me tomorrow I will be the Clown at the Sparteens Kanner-Fuesbaal serving coffee and minis and desperately trying to do mental arithmetic in what feels like a million languages. By the way… could someone have a word with the French about their numbers? Quatre-vingt-dix-sept plus quatre-vingt-quinze = ? while balancing a red nose, a curly wig and a tray of drinks is quite a challenge you know...

Pagans everyone? Pagans every one!

2011-02-08T11:44:00.008+01:00

Although many people will try to tell us that our traditions are based in the Christian faith we are all pagans at heart aren’t we? Sorry, it’s true whether we like it or not, our culture goes back much further than Christianity and the most traditional of traditions are in most instances related to the seasons as they pass or as we await them. Most modern religions have cleverly taken these traditions and using poetic licence linked them to significant events that suit the faith in question.

Our most recent Light Festival “Liichten” is an excellent example; children go from house to house with their cheerfully decorated lanterns singing praises for the healing powers of Saint Blasius, and in Celtic areas a similar festival celebrates St Brigid, while in the USA they have Groundhog day...all of which relate to pagan rituals that met human need for assurance that the endless harshness of winter is coming to an end and the more gentle caresses of spring are on the way.

We have one more major celebration coming up that takes a harsher view of winter and what we think of its lengthy presence and that is Buergbrennen (this year on the 13th of March in the Pétrusse Valley). No doubt you have delighted in the excellent service your commune provided taking your Christmas tree away for you! Well those trees are put to great use in a few weeks time, when around the country huge bonfires will appear piled high with old dry trees waiting for one spark to set them ablaze. The pyre usually stands ominously in a prominent place in the village or town for a few days then we top the whole thing with the Christian symbol of the cross….this is in preparation of “Buergbrennen”. On a Sunday evening the youngsters of the area will gather near a church and proceed with burning torches in a procession to the pyre, where the dry and desperate trees are set ablaze.

Job well done, the rest of us then stand around drinking Glühwein and sometimes a tasty grilled sausage or some soup and delight in the fact that we have managed it through another winter (and this year was a harsh one) and since in Luxembourg many of us are lucky enough to have used the Carnival week (now there’s another tradition) to head to the slopes, we also thank our lucky stars that we have made it back healthy and hearty from skiing. Then we trudge home with the kids in the dark, late to bed on a school night, but since everybody is tired the teacher never minds, and we wake the next morning to see with delight that little snowdrops are pushing their heads up through the heavy earth, promising that in fact spring is just around the corner....

Luxembourg’s Head above Water

2011-01-17T11:56:00.009+01:00

The casemates are such a taken for granted element of Luxembourg city, but with all those military tunnels running around the edge of the old city it makes you wonder what else is under there. Doesn’t it? Well, it should. There has to be a labyrinth of tunnels between all the convents and monasteries and obviously tunnels to facilitate illicit affairs of aristocracy and courtesans in by-gone-days: OK, enough said. What about Pétrusse dwellers to banks? Luckily I hoard no gold bullion in a safety deposit box, so sleep easy without the worry of any going missing. Just think though, the possibilities are endless.

Here comes my did you know moment...this week the water tunnel that runs from the city centre to the Pétrusse Valley will be opened for four days. Tours will be offered with interactive activities and explanatory explanations along the way. Most days have been booked by schools and student groups, but on Sunday afternoon at 2pm (the 23 January) it is open to the general public. There is also the promise of music, food and drinks, enough to interest me that is for sure.So if you like to do something different on a weekend, I'll see you there.

The entrance to the tunnel is at the base of where the Gëlle Fra normally stands and the exit is at the parking in rue Laurent Ménager. From there a shuttle bus will bring you back to the starting point.

One other suggestion while I’m at it... the Gëlle Fra exhibition is on in Bascharage until the 23 January, it is well worth a visit. Although avoid the weekend if possible as it is very busy.

Wicked,Wicked Luxembourg...bring it on!

2011-01-11T09:38:00.015+01:00

Another resolutions is to blog more...somehow over the past months I entered the blogging desert, where words turn to sand before they reach the page. It is a strange thing really, the ideas keep coming, but the actually physical task of putting pen to paper just doesn’t happen. Indeed, the reality is that it is a habit like any form of journal-keeping, gym going, or whatever, when you are in it, fine, when you’re out it…never heard of it...I love the way French people simply shrug, sigh and say “Ah oui, c’est le d’habitude...” and that explains many sins away.

Anyway, my reason for blogging is a promise to myself and others to make the most of Luxembourg...for some reason if I’m blogging I notice more things to blog about, and therefore I do more things and I have a slight, slight hope that others may
a) love Luxembourg just that little bit more too
b) get to know the city and its muliplicity (is that really a word? well it is now).

So Saturday evening saw me with a wicked plan (evil or great?…you decide when you read on).Having the exhausting task of organising a birthday straight after Xmas I was at a loss for my husband until I realised the Luxembourg Communist party were celebrating their 90th anniversary this year…

I called a couple of friends and booked a table at the Italian restaurant that is based in the communist party HQ. Result: the food was great, the atmosphere was great, the people were great…all in all wicked. But as is normal when one is on a roll…I couldn’t stop there…having eaten too much and paid too little by Luxembourg standards we still had time, money and calories to burn at 11pm…so I suggested we stop at the Cuban bar on Rue de Longwy (Brasserie de l'Arrete, or Cubana Cafe) and as luck would have it they were hosting a Salsa night.”OK everyone inside”, I screamed. “ You’ll love it, it’s wicked”…motivating my friends in a way that suggested I had done this before…we duly pay 4€ to get in and suddenly I see my friends are backing out the door rather than in.. “Drinks, drinks” they gasped…”We need drinks if we are to go in there”…OK we get drinks…huge glasses filled with mojitos…so with drinks in hand we enter and I realise why the tremor of fear had run through our group…the place is full of South Americans dancing salsa….really dancing salsa..not the wimpy Ricky Martin wiggle that we northern Europeans do,oh no, they were whirling and dipping and shimmying…(not sure of the descriptive terms, but that‘s all I’ve got for you)…it was hot and feverish and we were completely out of place. Until we had that second round of drinks and then it was a whole other story…we were up there dancing to free Cuba or keep communist...who knows I was in such a good mood, judgmental was no longer my middle name…

Luxembourg = multiplicity? You bet it is if you care to live it…wicked…bring it on!

Resolute on the Resolutions

2011-01-05T13:36:00.003+01:00

From thinking I had made no New Year’s resolutions I’m slowly realising I must have gone into overdrive just before the bells started tolling to announce my demise…maybe it was an excess of the bubbly stuff? That will do it every time.

Apparently, I stated to the world (small as my immediate circle is, it was enough to mean there were many witnesses ) that I would be “doing lots of different things this year” this is a fairly general or sweeping statement depending on how you choose to look at it.

Anyway, in my defence I reckon I’ve started off quite well. Firstly ,I took advantage of the Grand Theatre’s great initiative to host a New Year’s Eve event and went along to the Carnival Baroque and the gala dinner and must report that it exceeded all expectations. Report: fab time had by all, keep an eye out for other like events and support wherever possible.

Secondly, I was watching Luxembourg News the other evening and they reported on cross-country skiing in the north of the country, so off I set on the 3rd of January, borrowed some gear from a friend and trailed miles of virgin territory on my skis…eh well not exactly, the oh so easy looking sport is not at all so easy and I spent much of the first hour face down in the powder. But never-the-less it was fun and I will be back to try it again. I think I can actually manage this in Leudelange forest, I don’t think I need to go up north, Bambesch is a bit up and down I think and as the downs didn’t go so well I’ll avoid it. I thought perhaps the Pétrusse Valley linked by the bike trails would work too and suggested the idea on facebook and got two likes in reply to my question. Now I’m left wondering are those likes that think I am right or likes, that would just like to see me try it?

Resolutions to be Broken

2011-01-04T08:56:00.005+01:00

New Year has come and gone and doesn't help that we are all back to business,be that school or otherwise, on a Monday. This obviously means a looong week ahead.

In an attempt to keep to one of my New Year’s resolutions (be more organised) I suggested that the Christmas tree should be undressed yesterday...I was immediately out voted by my housemates i.e. family...such is the disadvantage of living in a democracy and the tree still stands proud in the corner of the room.

So I set off this morning on my second New Year’s resolution...(use public transport)...only to walk through the Place d’Armes and find there were men taking down the Christmas tree...I tried to give them a bung of a 10 euro note to go round to mine and do the same, but they were having none of it. In fact they seemed in complete agreement with my kids that it was way too early to disrobe the Place d'Armes, what I’d love is to meet the strong willed soul who sent them on their task; I need some tips.

New Year’s resolutions are funny things really (where did they come from? And how fast they go!). We had a fun time setting them with friends on New Year’s Eve. Basically what inadvertently happened was everyone said one wimpy easy to achieve thing and then we all added a couple for each other. All the Mums burdened the kids with more attention to school work (except me I’d sooooooo not like that). All the Dads burdened the Mums with some form of exercise, which to be honest was a bit rude ...and the kids burdened each other with watching more movies; don’t worry about school and play lots of sports instead...sorted!

Colour it beautiful...

2010-11-16T16:45:00.018+01:00

Business owners on the Place d’Armes met with the Ville de Luxembourg the other day to go over the pilot project that the city has created in the form of a charter to harmonize the overall look of individual terraces. I managed to see the brochure and am quite impressed with the look of the furnishings that are being suggested (I am particularly impressed by some of the shots in the brochure that show sea in the backdrop, having grown up on a Scottish cliff top I often feel a wee bit landlocked here; although you must always count your blessings and it is important to remember that any outdoor furnishings in Scotland run the risk of being blown off afore mentioned cliff). The idea that businesses are given guidelines about colour and materials used for outside furniture is not new, and is done in other cities, and is simply a way of making sure that the public areas of the city stay aesthetically pleasing and not just a jumble of advertising, colours and styles. So it has my vote of approval.

Apparently, the next area to receive a charter is Place Guillaume; now as some of you already know that is My Knuedler; don’t ask why, there is no reason, it just is. So I am particularly interested to see the colours suggested there. As I understand it, the colours will always vary slightly to suit each area. I guess I am being unrealistic when I hope for petrol blue with huge lime green polka dots, in fact I am probably the very person the charter was created to suppress! But wouldn’t it be fun if we could do that for a day, turn the place into one giant Tour de France jersey mishap...maybe if Andy or Frank win the Tour next year we could get it yellow for the week. .or yellow and pink if they get first and second place, is second place jersey pink? Now I’m not so sure...stop, stop ...I know I’m getting it all wrong. This is probably why noone ever trusts me with a paint brush.

http://www.vdl.lu/vdl_multimedia/Charte+Terrasses.pdf

Rainy, rainy days...bring 'em on!

2010-11-12T16:37:00.005+01:00

Why oh why do we never learn? We have technology constantly at our finger tips, but for some reason fail to realise the most basic stuff, for example, that winter comes every year and it will inevitably start off wet and windy. No matter what, I’m a bit stunned by the whole thing and it seems to take me weeks before I get myself equipped with hat, scarf, gloves (in fact I had three gloves in my bag this morning, one pillar-box red, one purple and one sage green!). Useless!

However, I am a great believer in creating your own happiness, so when the going gets tough (and today counts folks, did anyone sleep through that storm last night?) I quickly make a mental note of the things that I pleasantly associate with winter and make sure I indulge in them in rapid succession. Candles-can’t do without;open fire-must have, unless it’s raining and the log box is empty; long walks in wind, rain, ice regardless, with a guilt free hot chocolate and as many biscuits as I like; raclette;glühwein–Christmas Market is open on the 26th Novemeber and no time of day is too early for a Glühwein. It is in the Luxembourg constitution don’t you know? Yes indeedy! Gromperkiechechen- I can only eat them in winter and only a couple of times, but I enjoy lusting over them in the weeks up until the market opens. Also, I go to at least one afterwork event a week at Mudam, Philharmonie, Casino, Exit 07- check them out, they work for me; food and drink and friendly folk after-work and then home relatively early with shutters down and candles on.

There is one person in Luxembourg, however, who is never surprised by the November weather and if I didn’t know better I would guess he had been a boy scout as he is the only person that I know who prepares and plans for it; Bernhard at the Philharmonie. He is responsible for the Rainy Days Festival. Rainy Days is an alternative classical music festival (for want of a better explanation, I don’t have a better one so that’s what you are getting). This year the title is “Back to the Future”, the theme being that music is a time machine. It deals with the connections of the musical past to the present and beyond, the inspiration of the old on the new. Various concerts and music instillations can be discovered throughout the coming month, in the city and beyond. It is fun, it is different, it is inspiring and ...it is ours ... another thing to add to the list of things that make winter doable.

http://www.rainydays.lu/

Crémant and Chocolates...

2010-10-21T15:00:00.016+02:00

While I probably struggled with identity like any other teenager, I think I worked it out pretty fast and have defined and redefined myself over the years. Strangely though I have always had a very clear image of me in old age. In a sense reassuring, it assumes a) that I will get old and b) indicates I’m ok with the ageing. Hmm, anyway I visualise myself as a little old lady, with colourful clothes, an even more extensive selection of world jewellery and music. Curly hair with a hat at a dangerous angle; potentially even a wig if I give up the curly hair battle and most importantly bright red signature lipstick, admittedly a little bit squint because of failing eyesight, but deliberately applied none-the-less.

To me, the glimpses of senior living in Florida (where they have got it down!) look really appealing, like being on a university campus with all your mates, but without the exam pressure. And now I’ve found an even more heartening reason to look forward to old age. The Konviktsgaart in Luxembourg has introduced a games afternoon and a dance afternoon; just my cup of tea. Although since this is Luxembourg they will no doubt serve crément and chocolates instead of tea and biscuits and that for elevenses...bring it on...

I may have to get one of those electric buggies to get me down to Urban for a Guinness though (medicinal purposes only of course)...or CallABus...that would do it...sorted!

Oh Welcome Days and the story of the Cité epiphany…

2010-10-19T18:02:00.008+02:00

If anyone had asked me today to justify why Luxembourg is better off having a university I would have won the debate. Never, has it been so clear in my mind that adding a university was an advantage than today. The term Welcome Days took on a whole new meaning. It was a sleepy, early morning epiphany as well. Having very recently become a regular visitor to the Cité library I was hastening to take books back and quickly grab a few new ones before work. Lucky for me the English books are on the ground floor, as is the quiet study area! I selected my books rather quickly (the choice isn’t huge but I have a plan and more on that later), and was about to ascend the stairs again when joy of joys I happened to glance right.

Wooo stop... rows of good looking men studying or working away on their laptops. It was a glorious sight, really something that every woman deserves to see first thing in the morning. What they were doing there? I have no idea. Is this the norm? I have no idea. Are they likely to be there the next time I go? I have no idea...but guaranteed I will be back to check. Oh Welcome Days, indeed!

Oh and now to my plan...as mentioned, the English selection is good...looks to me as if it is based around classics writers of the 20th century or something like that; with an American slant and keeping Margaret Atwood and Anne Tyler books, certainly enough for me at the moment. I say at the moment, since I am quite a prolific reader and we are heading into winter... so here is the plan....can all you Anglophones start using the library please? That way you can up our ratings and they will get more books, also can you ask for titles that they don’t have in the hope that they will order them. In the meantime the German and French sections are obviously well stocked, so no worries there. Right then, thanks.

As heard on ARA City Radio; how to be THE fan next door

2010-10-14T14:31:00.007+02:00

Listening to ARA City Radio yesterday morning I heard an interview with Annick Spautz from Mudam and Fred Baus of d’qliq discussing their latest project. Since Mudam opened in July 2006, every Wednesday musicians, bands, labels and DJs have hosted an after-work event. Fred Baus has created a compilation ”The Boy of the Bipolar Neighbour” that sums up four years of musical interventions at Mudam. And now they are launching a project to fund the production of the double vinyl.

Crowd-funding; it took a minute until I sorted out how the project actually works. The idea is really “old school” with a 21st Century facebook/website twist. Remember the days when your museum or sports centre needed renovating and there was a local fundraising push to raise the money needed....what do you mean that never happened in Luxembourg? Well OK let me explain, the museum needs repairs, families with an interest or money (preferably both) buy a brick and the family name is listed somewhere as having contributed to the renovation. For example; Kelvingrove Art Gallery (Glasgow) has a wall of bricks with names on it. Well Mudam’s new project is similar...but being Mudam...different. Rather than seek one major corporate sponsor to enable a project, crowd-funding means you seek many smaller sponsors who contribute smaller amounts and once the target is reached the project is launched.

Fred and Mudam’s project is hosted on the website; www.fansnextdoor.com. This is basically a platform where creative people can pitch a project and fans can pledge an amount to help realise it. The beauty being that the amounts are relatively small and affordable and you obviously get something nice in return.

Anyway, last night being Wednesday off I trotted off to Wednesday@Mudam to find out more about it. The project is actually a collaboration between Fred and graphic artist Stina Fisch (see earlier blog about how great a tour guide she was at Mudam, and please note, that until last night I did not know she was an artist; ha, I can obviously spot star quality!). It was an interesting and pleasant evening. On returning to the car park however I discovered that I had no wallet with me, and no money to leave the car park. Reflecting (isn’t “reflecting” such a calm word? I take poetic license here) I realised my wallet was on my desk because I had been making the final payments for the complex transaction that is getting ALL MY FAMILY to Luxembourg for Christmas. After lengthy, telephone conversations a deal was struck and flight tickets purchased. Standing cold, dark, lonely and alone in that car park I had my own little bi-polar moment. I have now contributed to the Mudam crowd-funding project since I have the feeling that Fred’s compilation might be just the thing to see me through this Christmas…

Illustration by Dan Porter, 2010

No more getting down and dirty at Museum Night

2010-10-08T14:53:00.005+02:00

Not Night in the Museum one or two, but tenth apparently; tomorrow is that night in October when Luxembourg museums open their doors late into the night and make an event of Luxembourg’s “museumsmile” as the brochure calls it. Despite many attempts and the equivalent confidence of the museum brochure, I have never managed all the museums in one night. And really the distance from Mudam and Drei Eischeln to the downtown museums seems further than the proclaimed mile. Equally, if you decide to do justice to any of the exhibitions on display, not to mention the odd glühwein when whiling away the hours listening to the musical entertainment, there is no way you could make it round all of them. Or is it just me? The good news is of course that shuttle buses will be running between different venues. Delighted!

Last year I managed three museums and was pretty impressed, having taken a completely different approach: Arrived early... yip a first; used the Museums’ timetable to be at venues when there was scheduled entertainment...equally a first; and took the kids... a first and potentially a last, the younger generation just can’t last the pace.

Loved Mudam, but family favourite event last year was the hacker laboratory, and the laser graffiti in the courtyard of the NMAH gained the approval of even the sceptical teen in our group and we hope to see them back again. Last time the Villa Vauban was just the “look-See” preview for what was to come and it has now been firmly planted in the museum scene this year. Oh yeah, and the tulip bulb planting was a nice touch but we can skip that this year, because despite kids on tow, it’s not really the get down and dirty I was looking for on a Saturday night...

The nostalgia that is...Schueberfouer...

2010-10-06T11:39:00.027+02:00

I have to admit (or maybe I shouldn’t, oops too late) that I’ve always been just a tiny bit confused by the total commitment and enthusiasm of young and old for the Schueberfouer.

That is until the other day when I received a link from a friend of a friend in London. It’s a really magical short video by Vituc about the Schueberfouer with the simple explanation “Luxembourgers love the Schueberfouer because it reminds them of their childhood”. ...all of a sudden it clicked. While for many of us it has a hint of sadness for the long lazy days of summer passing, for the majority the nostalgia is for something else; the first date, the first kiss, the first beer, jean la gaufre, gromperekichelcher. I feel jealous really. On the other hand this realisation means; in future I will (financially) support all family and teenage excursions to the Schueberfouer with good grace. While I realise the nostalgia of it will never be mine I can at least help it happen for a number of little Letzebuerger who live with me... enjoy the clip...

and of course thanks to Ollie for sharing ;)

http://vimeo.com/channels/hd#15103655

Hats off to Researchers' Night!

2010-09-26T14:00:00.004+02:00

A number of years ago I made the mistake of running the Relais pour la vie in an oversized green leprechaun hat; it was St Patrick’s day and an Irish friend had organised our group, so I didn’t want to upset the hostess. The biggest problem was that the huge amounts of heat that you lose through your head, just built up inside the hat and left me red faced and panting. No worries really, and the discomfort was forgotten until a year later when the brochure for the event appeared with a picture of red faced and sweaty me on the back cover. Lovely! That’s when I should have taken note that wearing a silly hat is bound to get you noticed whether you like it or not...I’d forgotten until yesterday...

Wandering along the rue du curé on Friday I suddenly had an audio flash back to a trip to Asia many years ago. Throughout a number of countries in Asia there had been loads of small trucks with megaphones attached to the roof and officials inside blaring statements such as “Respect your country, love your motherland”. I sighed in relief as I realised I was in Luxembourg and it was more likely someone from Roncalli Circus advertising an event on the Glacis, or at the very dullest a union leader trying to drum up a crowd. I hastened on in curiosity... rounded the corner onto the Knuedler and discovered it was the opening speeches at Researchers’ Night (only being two o’clock in the afternoon, you can forgive my confusion).

Always painfully aware of my ignorance, I am always willing to learn something new, so decided to miss my bus and have a wander. Having been at the event in previous years with children, it was actually really nice to try some of the experiments without having to elbow my way past crowds of kids (I know embarrassing isn’t it, but remember they have the rest of their life to learn stuff, my intellectual clock is ticking). I met a friend at the robotic stand and tried programming a robot; easier said than done if you are not a product of the playstation age, but equally not that difficult and quite fun. There were a number of young (ish) engineers at the stand and of course to cheer them on, since this was only the middle of what was going to be a very long day, I agreed to put on their silly yellow safety hat, just for a laugh you understand. We were in a tent after all the only thing that could have fallen on us was...well nothing really. Anyway had a bit of fun, stirred up a bit of interest and then wandered off to the eating experiments (always my favourites).

Went back in the evening with a bunch of enthusiastic giggly little girls and had a great time; although I must Google how much helium is too much. I’m sure that can’t be good for you otherwise they’d let you do it in school. And that as far as I was concerned was the end of another year’s Researchers’ Night... But no! Woke up Saturday morning with aforementioned giggly girls jumping on my bed waving Luxemburger Wort in my face. There I was looking like the over grown kid I am programming a robot in a silly hat. So hats off to all the people who organised and gave up their free time to host another fun and interesting event.

Why Design City is Good for Your Soul: Part II

2010-09-23T11:58:00.008+02:00

I blogged a very compelling argument not so long ago about why Mudam's Design City was good for the soul…I know you read it and agreed with me so I’ll take that as the starting point:) Not surprising therefore that I loved the idea of last week’s Park(ing) Day.I didn’t love the weather on Thursday however and as the grey cloud and rain lapped about me I really wondered what I had let myself in for. Worst still I was the cheerleader who had led everyone else on at Ara City Radio, so I was in a position of no return. However, true to the predicted weather forecast Friday dawned bright and sunny. Whoop, whoop. So off I trot at 7.30am to try and get the parking spot that I had had my eye on. Should I stop now and explain what I am talking about….

PARK(ing) Day is an annual, worldwide event that inspires city dwellers everywhere to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good. 700 cities took place this year thanks to Mudam's Design City team, Luxembourg was one of them. The event started a number of years ago in Los Angeles and was a citizens’ initiative to reclaim urban space; Simply a little reminder that green space is important in the city. In Luxembourg we are lucky, as we have a good amount of park space and since Bambesch forest is within the city limits, we are very green indeed. But, gentle reminders never hurt, since paradise can disappear with one roll of a JCB steamroller.

Anyway, back to Friday. I had my eye on a spot at the Rue du Nord end of the Grand Rue. My vegetarian colleague had made specific comments about not being outside the butcher, but as luck would have it that was the only space free, so there I stopped. I had just finished straightening my fake lawn, and prettying up my Mad Hatter Tea Party Table, when the spot that I really, really wanted became available. With little thought to what effect my actions were having on traffic,my credibility, or sanity, I lugged everything down to the end of the street and started again; job done by 8am! The shopkeepers seemed to have a jolly old time watching me, albeit clueless to what was going on. Explanations were well received and my first traffic wardens rounded the corner at 8.30am. I decided an attacking smile and a wave was the best form of defence and brandishing the purchased parking ticket I explained what I was up to and offered them a cup of tea and a cake. All received with good nature, I must say. Policemen were equally friendly, if somewhat bemused. Passersby stopped to chat and many even stopped a while to drink tea and eat cake. It was particularly delightful to entertain some of our older city dwellers; they really seemed to get some fun out of it. This being Luxembourg of course by lunchtime we had popped a few corks of crément and everyone was mad as hatters by the end....job well done.

P.S. photo credit goes to Mudam :)

Vote, why don't you?

2010-06-08T18:06:00.005+02:00

Honestly, reaching the milestone of 18 years was more about entering a pub legally, than being able to vote. But by the time the next election came around, I was excited and certainly felt a sense of responsability about making the right choice. Partly, I believe because I had a very socially responsible grandmother who taught me that I had a responsibility to the women and men who had fought hard to gain equality and a vote. Now years later, having lived in a number of countries I find myself watching British, American, German and French elections with great interest, but no sense of personal investment. Two years ago however I realised that I was elegible to vote in European elections and Luxembourg local elections; arguably the ones that matter to me. So off I set to the town hall expecting a really complicated proceedure to put me off. Well, nothing could have been easier.

Basically if you are a european passport holder and have lived here more than two years you can vote in the european elections and if you have lived in Luxembourg (also for non-europeans) over five years you can vote for your local major and communal representatives. Obviously you must register beforehand. The official cut off is 86 days before the relevant election, but it makes sense to Just Do It! You need to take a passport with you, or an identity card, you also need proof of residence, but as this is issued at your local commune, which is where you have to register, no problem. One thing to note is that we have compulsory voting in Luxembourg. But the huge advantage is that you feel a great sense of belonging when you go to the polling center with everyone from your neighbourhood.

If you live in the city you register at the Bierger Centre, at Centre Hamilius, 51 bd Royal, L-2449. And no excuses, they are open from 8am through to 5pm.
So take a minute to think of all those that have gone before, who fought for one man one vote and then take a minute to think about all the women who sorted them out... and get your vote in!
Thank you

Buses and teenagers 'n' how little it takes to please

2010-05-04T12:09:00.014+02:00

As a regular bus taker, I've been delighted by the recent improvements. I like the LCD screens on the buses that show the time to next stop or destination. I really look forward to all bus stops having the actual arrival time of the next bus showing on a screen. It will make my life easier, but most importantly, there will be no excuse for teenage children, when asked, not knowing when the next bus will arrive to carry them homewards!

As any parent of a teenage will confirm, it doesn’t take much to make us happy... “Thank you", "laters" (?), "be right there", "it’s OK I’ll take the bus”. Pretty much any of these will do. A friend was delighted when on return from university her son asked, “do you want a cup of tea?” Now for those with no kids, this is probably confusing, for those with little kids it may hit a note, but for those with older kids this is HUGE. I won’t explain why, you’ll either get it or you don’t.

So, driving on the route de Longwy the other evening I caught sight of a familiar figure loping against the wall of a bus shelter; my boy. I pull over to give him a lift home and am delighted to see a huge grin on his face and a beautiful bouquet of flowers outstretched towards...moi? I’ll be honest my heart did a little jump of joy (this was way better than the hoped for cup of tea). That tiny levitation meant my heart sunk even further when I saw him sit the bouquet back on the lid of the rubbish bin. How cruel, and how much money does this kid have??? Of course I didn’t mince words as he got in... to which he explained that he hadn’t bought them for me, he had found them lying at the side of the road and the assumption was that a) some poor soul had dropped them when rushing to get on the bus b) a frustrated couple had a fight and one threw the bouquet at the other. Well we (I) thought for a minute and since it was already a)late b) dark and wet c) the streets were empty, I got out the car and picked them up again (teenager refused to go and “steal” for me, and I guess that should be commended).

Why am I relating this? Once all the bus information is there for travellers, they will be less stressed and there will be fewer stray flowers to go around. So I just want to say I am grateful that I caught that falling star. Oh and of course, if you are that little old lady who dropped them, or the disgruntled lover that threw them, I want you to know that they are well appreciated and in my mind were offered to me by my son, in gratitude of all that I have done.

Why spontaneity is the best natural high known to mankind.

2010-04-29T11:54:00.008+02:00

Picture this: girlfriend with tickets to dance performance at Grand Theatre, mutual friend decides nice weather means she would rather spend the evening on a terrace soaking up some rays after a hard day at the…bank (hmmm) and cancels on aforementioned friend. Extra ticket up for grabs, in steps….yours truly…

Drop dinner dishes in the sink, add some more slap (make-up) and she’s off. The canceller made a huge mistake: first a refreshing glass of white wine on the terrace of the Grand Theatre’s bistro then a fabulous dance performance by Akram Khan's dance company, rounded of nicely by, yes you’ve guessed it, a relaxing glass of white wine on the terrace of the Grand Theatre’s bistro with a good group of girls. Voila evening perfect!

The performance Bahok itself deserves more than a fleeting glance though. It was truly a dramatic, engaging, humorous, yes humorous, performance that portrays a group of strangers in the departure area of an airport. A delay sees agitations and idiosyncrasies played out in the public space as the dancers exchange their stories, their memories and investigate their identities. I truly loved it! Partly perhaps because I recognize myself as firstly a product of where I come from, but also of where I’ve been and what I do; but also because the five years I worked at an airport brought me daily contact with emotions, conflicts and stories just like those portrayed on stage and the hour and forty-five minutes took me right back to a place and a feeling I adored. Most of the people who move through airports have a story that they are carrying with them and more often as not they are sad and haunting and the individuals are traveling to get to, or away from family or loved ones. It often seemed that family and relationships are invisible treads connecting all of mankind on the move. Akram Khan pulls and tugs on those threads in Bahok.

Interesting also was that this piece focuses on relationships played out between individuals coming together in a public space; when the Design City team has created an event around the celebration of design in public place. It has to have been a coincidence; it can’t be that all our creative bees have worked together on this…can it?
There is another performance tonight, so if you can go, you should. It will touch you.

Why Design City is good for your soul

2010-04-27T15:09:00.028+02:00

Whether we admit it or not, we are all creatures of habit and habit leads to boredom, therefore anything that takes us outside of our same old, same old existence has got to be good, right?

Of course needs must and I am as habitual as the next woman when it comes to getting up and getting out in the morning. In fact god forbid my mascara has rolled under the bed or there is no coffee left. That’s it; day in tatters! But assuming all the usual stuff has gone ok and I actually make it to town on time there is nothing nicer that an opera singing street worker, winterlights, or a happy voice on the radio to make my day.

Therefore the daily surges of delight I am experiencing when I round a familiar corner and find a new installation from the Design City team has got to be shared. I’m lovin’ it! (In the true sense of that sentence before it was hijacked for the lesser good of mankind). The purple seat in front of the Cathedral gave my heart a little lift this morning; the metallic tubes have the frivolous colour that is normally only reserved for the men in skirts, it was a welcome contrast against the severe grey frontage of the building. The real time clock at the Fischmarkt is also a favourite, but I’m still looking for the Philippe Starck chairs that were promised on the Marche-aux-Herbes, so if anyone knows where they are let me know.

For those of us who lack the inclination to pilgrim to the Octave, we have design to sooth our soul. And as long as we take a detour around the Knudler we should be fine. Design City is part of a larger network of cities that make up the Human Cities Festival. This festival celebrates urban design, and particularly design in public spaces. I may be wrong, but only when you move away from your home town do you really appreciate the importance of public spaces. As a newbie in a city there is always an overwhelming urge to find the best piazza, or the friendliest public house, the favourite park bench and this is quite simply because we all need people, we need each other more than we care to acknowledge.

So with the sun shining on the righteous that is Luxembourg the past two weeks, we have steadily seen the face of our city change as we spill onto the streets for a quick cappuccino before work or a leisurely lunch, and it is not just because we want to be outside, it is because in public space we feel as if we are part of the ebb and flow of the city. Human City is an apt title for this network, it is recognition that the cities we live in would be nothing without us, we are what create the soul of a city. So go forth and let your soul be soothed; until June 6th I believe:)

Quattropole Festival, Pompidou...where?

2010-04-21T14:21:00.009+02:00

I’ve often noticed the Quattropole signs around the city and never really paid much attention to them, but sitting on a bus recently and reading my neighbour’s newspaper over his shoulder, as one does, something caught my eye that made me “google” once I got to a computer... Quattropole Festival, Pompidou- Metz.

Quattropole for me meant, Luxembourg, Trier, Metz and emmmm... I discovered number four is ....Saarbrucken, but Pompidou definitely said Paris to me. But low and behold, there is indeed a new Pompidou centre opening in Metz in May and in fact there are five discovery days planned from the 12th -16th of May with great things happening on the weekend of the 15th and 16th.

However, if you miss that first spree of activity there is a Quattropole festival taking place on Saturday the 12th of June. This event promises a variety of entertainment for everyone, with musicians, clowns, street theatre, face painting, pantomime. There will also be culinary delights to sample!

Something else that I discovered is that there will be bus transfers organised to each of the major summer festivals that take place in the different towns. For example: to the Quattropole Pompidou –Metz festival, but also to the Saarbrücken Historical City Festival, the Nerone Opera at the Trier Antique festival or the Mirabelle Festival and the “Nuit Blanche” in Metz; there will also be busses coming to Luxembourg for the Blues’n Jazzrallye, so if you have friends in any of the other cities let them know! The Blues’n Jazzrallye has to be one of the best nights of the year.

And just for info: Quattropole was initiated in February 2000, when Luxemburg, Metz, Saarbrücken and Trier came together to build the four city network. The idea is that together the four cities can build a stronger platform in Europe and this goes beyond the obvious cultural projects, to business innovations and university connections and work groups.
So now you know! And aren’t you glad I read other people’s newspapers on the bus?

Check it all out at: http://www.quattropole.org/de/veranstaltungen/quattropole-fest_am_centre_pompidou-metz/ueber_das_neue_centre_pompidou-metz

Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sinn: Multi-kulti and proud

2010-04-16T16:10:00.007+02:00

Much is made of the Luxembourg motto “Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sinn” that is on one of the down town buildings and in my deluxe tour of the city it gets at the very least a passing nod.

Having friends arrive in Luxembourg normally means that I smarten up my act a bit. Organise myself, day, and weekend a bit more than normal. So with that intention in mind I started to flick through CityMag to see what is coming up in the next month, since it seems that our home will be busy with friends and family from now until summer. I have quite a number of things in mind now and I simply have to suit guests’ interests to events. One thing that struck me again was that we have a plethora of different events available, so basically something for everyone.

One page made me smile and that was one of the pages that list theatre pieces. Conveniently, at the bottom of each description CityMag mentions the language of the piece in question, so here you have the six that drew my attention: 1) Auf Deutsch 2) En italien 3) Op Letzbuergesch 4) En roumain 5) en francais 6) in English. Now this would only be half as amazing if it weren’t for the fact that there are a number of people that we brush shoulders with each day that could go to each of these and understand every word, in fact I sent an email to a girlfriend who I know could choose any one of them. Truly, the mult-kulti mélange that we are at its best and what I believe is today behind “Mir wölle bleiwe wat mir sinn”; multi-cultural and proud of it.

I'm a celebrity get me out of here!

2010-03-30T18:02:00.021+02:00

A few days into the school vacation and the aftermath of Mudam inspired art and science experiments are still in evidence in my kitchen. Hopefully repairs may be done by the time school starts back. Who knows?

Meanwhile, I am left with my get me out of here sensation and it dawned on me that forward planning is needed to survive the next two weeks. So despite weather forecasts for the coming week not being so great, I am planning lots of outdoors activities.

Obviously the Emaischen market in the old city on Easter Monday is not to be missed. We have a collection of Péckvillercher that apparently needs an addition.

From the 6th of April until the 9th, every afternoon, kids in the Ville can go to the Mini Aktion Bambesch. No pre-registration required! I have also arranged to cycle along the Pétrusse valley to meet some friends for a picnic, to roll Easter eggs (don’t ask, it’s a Scottish Easter thing), we then intend to spend the afternoon at the Evolution Exhibition that is on at the Natural History Museum (this finishes on the 11th of April, so hurry if you fancy it).

Then I plan a few trips to the parks in town to do some bird spotting. Yes, bird spotting! I have discovered a brochure that can be downloaded as Pdf file from the Ville de Luxembourg’s website, in which Luxembourg’s most common birds are pictorially listed...

To top it all I saw a stork sitting on my neighbour's chimney the other day. Since he is in his eighties I got a bit nervous in case the bird was looking for my house.

For helpful hints check out:

Natural History Museum: http://www.mnhn.lu/
Mini Aktion Bambesch: www.capel.lu
City Maps for kids: http://publications.vdl.lu/
Bird Brochure: http://publications.vdl.lu/

Far from the madding crowd... in A Brave New World…I think not..

2010-03-29T17:02:00.009+02:00

Many a rainy day has been spent alone in an art gallery, but when a rainy day happens to coincide with a Museum Weekend that offers free entrance and workshops and guided tours it is little wonder perhaps that the crowds gather. Nevertheless, I was honestly more than a little surprised to join the throngs of people heading towards the Mudam yesterday afternoon. I have never before noticed how the entrance to the Mudam starts wide and sweeps people towards the door, it was really quite amazing to see people arriving from all directions.

The fact that I was not alone in my astonishment was confirmed when we joined the three o’clock German guided tour and our guide Stina smiled a hesitant welcome. She said this was the type of attendance they dreamed of but were unaccustomed to and was honest that it made the guiding of the tour somewhat challenging. Within seconds however she rose to the challenge and set off through the gallery with about thirty of us on tow. That sounds a lot, but add to that the fact that the ground floor looked like Aldringen bus station when school gets out at 4pm and you can imagine how hard it was to keep up. Despite this Stina’s smile, enthusiasm and insights into the exhibits made it a very, very lovely visit. She managed to open the door to the world that is modern art, just that little bit further, just far enough to make us want to enter ourselves to discover more.

In fact, this visit was one that even met the expectations of a teenager, who as I write is creating a Jackson Pollock experiment in my kitchen. One that combines neon colour acrylic paint, a hair dryer and dance moves to Pink.

I now believe a truly successful Mudam visit is one that combines a tour and luckily there are lots on offer in German, Luxembourgish and French. Every weekend: Saturday 16hrs in French, Sundays 15hrs in German and 16hrs in Luxembourgish. Plus the 4th April and 2nd of May at 11am in English, or ask about group bookings at visit@mudam.lu
Specifically for teenagers check out http://www.artfreak.lu/

For 6 to 12 year olds check out www.mudam.lu/mudamini

Or go along to the monthly gallery talk… in fact check it all out at http://www.mudam.lu/

Can you tell I’m impressed? To the extent that I am seriously thinking about going back and installing myself as Marina Abramovic during the day and a Tracey Emin installation at night, it is the only way forward I can see that will let me experience it all in full. Name dropping? I know, that is what happens when you take a tour...

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the theatre?

2010-03-26T12:30:00.008+01:00

Ever the girl of good intentions, I last night decided to have a themed evening, completely in keeping with my ticket to the Chinese opera at the Grand Theatre. Having mentally prepared myself all afternoon, the thrill of anticipation was almost overwhelming, as I steamed vegetables and cashew nuts in my battered old wok. The meal was duly appreciated, so stage one we shall call a success. A slight hic-up during stage two when I discovered that my authentic golden Chinese dress bought in Beijing many Chinese moons ago no longer fit me. Luckily, I still had my lucky red Chinese top, so all was not lost.

Flowers in the Mirror is based on a novel by Li Ju Chen (1763-1830) and takes uses the Fairy of the Hundred Flowers from Chinese Mythology, to comment on the equality of women and social order. Similar to Gulliver in his travels or Exupéry’s Petit Prince, a journey ensues and we the audience obediently follow along. I can’t say that cultural preparations of the evening helped me much in my understanding, but I will say that the costumes, make-up, lighting effects, put my efforts to shame leaving me looking rather shabby.

Despite my lack of comprehension, or perhaps because of it, I felt I had to find out more and have duly spent the morning researching the art form that is Chinese Opera, only to discover that Chinese opera together with Greek tragic-comedy and Indian Sanskrit opera are the three oldest dramatic art forms in the world.

Apparently, Chinese opera always includes specific elements such as folk songs, dances, talking, antimasque, and combines music, art and literature into one performance on the stage. Traditional instruments such as the Erhu, the gong, and the lute provide the distinct melodies. This is accompanied by a lot of gesticulating and comedy, acrobatics, face painting and masks, fire spitting; yes fire and yes we could feel the heat. All in all, a spectacular event that left one wondering.

This performance once again highlighted that the true attraction of the Grand Theatre is that the team is willing to take risks and bring new experiences to an inquiring audience. Thank you.

Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll versus planes, trains and automobiles

2010-03-24T15:09:00.008+01:00

When you have teenagers people are constantly telling you how important it is to keep communication flowing and leave room for dialogue. Obviously good advice and the hot topics are sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. However, my attempts to date are usually responded to by, “Seriously Mum? Seriously you want to talk about this now?”

One subject has never failed me however, “Planes, trains and automobiles” it works every time. In the early childhood years it was me advising them on crossing the road and the etiquette of public transport; not to stare at people and move to let elderly folks sit. In the pre-adolescent years it changed to me giving advice on how to work out the timetables and get around town safely on their own. Now with fully fledged teenagers in the house I am the one taking advice on which is the best bus route into town. Did you know Route d’Arlon busses are now faster than Route Longwy because they travel on bus lanes? Apparently so...And do you know how to dial-a-ticket? And do you know where and when to get the Night Bus? If you don’t ask a teenager!

There is a saying: “You wait all day for a bus then ten come along”, and often as the minutes tick past and no bus appears at the expected time it feels just like that. But now some of that frustration will be removed. In Luxembourg at least all the speculation about when the next bus will arrive and how long the undertaken journey will last has been solved. At bus stops in and around the city electronic information plaques will give details of bus arrivals and delays, while within busses screens indicate how long it will be until the next stop. This takes into consideration traffic disruptions caused by road works or the good old traffic jam. It is super efficient and one more improvement on travelling by public transport. The work should be finished by September this year with 64 dynamic screens in place.

Now, I’m just worried about my topic of conversation disappearing…

Luxembourg's weekly Italian Opera

2010-03-18T10:11:00.009+01:00

In anticipation of spring’s arrival I spent a great (if somewhat chilly) morning at the market on the Place Guillaume. I had a business appointment in town and decided to go in really early and have a coffee and a wander. I love that; love being the first one in town, love seeing the shop-keepers open up and everyone streaming off the busses, getting coffee and hurrying to work.

The early morning market is the best atmosphere; while the stall owners are still setting-up, before it gets busy and they have to focus on the customers, they bustle about and fix the cheese, and the fruit and the vegetables and they call across the stalls to each other, catching up on the days that have passed since they last met.

Yesterday was even nicer than usual as it was the first day that many of the stall holders were back after a winter break, plus some stall holders were there for the first time. One newbie cleverly gave me free bread and only later did I realise that I then bought fresh Tyrolian butter, two sorts of cheese and a piece of “Rindswurst” to put on the free bread!

This week also sees the return of the Glacis Sunday market (21st of March). There, the concept is a bit different, it takes place on the third Sunday of every month (until the end of November)from 10am until 5pm and not only includes fresh produce, but also textiles and flee market stalls. A bike ride to the market on a Sunday is highly recommended.

At the weekly market my favourite activity is normally to sit and enjoy my cappuccino and watch the hustle and bustle take place, it’s like an Italian opera gone a little bit wrong and I always expect someone to burst into song. No-one ever does, but I live in hope.

See you there? We could sing…

On your vel'oh! and a Happy B'day to you too...

2010-03-12T14:13:00.016+01:00

Its vel’oh! reloaded for me today. My first blog was about the perils and frustrations of hiring a bike in Luxembourg. That was back in autumn last year, but then the harsh winter put pay to my good intentions and I went back to powered vehicles.

I’m now confident that spring is just around the corner, and with that faith I have at least started to consider getting back on my bike. Granted the thought had been a fleeting one and just as it floated off in to the great blue yonder that holds most of my good intentions I hear the news that Luxembourg’s bike rental vel’oh! is celebrating its second birthday this week. Enough said it’s a sign as far as I’m concerned, a sign that I am meant to stay young, fit and carbon neutral as I explore the delights Luxembourg has to offer.

Then if any other sign were needed I read that the Letzebuerger Velos-Initiativ is organising adult cycling courses, to help adults learn to ride safely in urban areas (www.lvi.lu). Now for many this may lead to wonderment, who could use such a service? Riding a bike is after all as easy as, well... riding a bike. Or is it?

Well for some it is, but I recall a number of years back trying to motivate myself to teach my son to ride a bike by trying to motivate my Indian girlfriend to teach her daughter at the same time. I was surprised by how reticent she was about my great plan and then she quietly said. “I can’t ride a bike”. Of course like a flash with no thought of etiquette I screeched, “What do you mean you can’t ride a bike?” she answered quietly, “We had a chauffeur”. That obviously drew a blank look from me, we had had a chauffeur too, and he was known as the bus driver. But then it dawned on me, well actually that is a lie she had to explain, in India a bike is a mode of transportation, if you had a chauffeur you didn’t need to learn to ride a bike. So you see there are still many of us who need help in gaining confidence before taking the streets by storm.

So some key facts about the vel’oh!

There are 4000 people with subscriptions, so you won’t feel alone; there are 400 bikes in circulation, so enough to go around. They are distributed at 47 bike rental stations throughout the city, so no excuses for not finding one. And on the 18th of March six new stations will be added, three at Gasperich, one at Cloche d'Or and two at Kirchberg.

Shockingly however, only 33.3% of users are women, as opposed to 66.6% of men. So what are we waiting girls? What better way to keep fit, flash those calf muscles, get a tan and show the lads what we are made of…

The prices can be found at www.veloh.lu and you can subscribe on-line or at any vel’oh! station, as you wish...no excuses ....

Have fun, see you around...

Relais pour la vie...a thank you

2010-03-07T17:46:00.006+01:00

It was an early start this morning, but not one that I could complain about, since I was heading for the Coque to join hundreds of others who had been running in the Relais pour la vie since 8pm last night. The event is now in its fifth year and truly hats off to all the team captains who organise us renegade runner/walkers every year to look as if we have a purpose and know what we are doing.

As my feet thump the track I always while away the time reading the banners that surround the track, trying to see if I recognise anyone.But eventually my eyes always come back to the runners that pass me and they do, they pass me and they pass me. So many different different people running, their everyday selves stripped down to one sweaty mass. European Auditors sweat alongside representatives of building companies, alongside doctors from Zitha Klinik, alongside running club members, alongside Lycée kids; it seems as if every area of Luxembourg society is there.

But the passing t-shirts that make my heart contract every year are the ones that simply have a person's name on them. You know that the wearer is running in support of someone in their own personal battle with cancer or in memory of someone who lost the fight and it is a heart wrenching reminder of why we are there. Although we run as individuals, we run in teams and then we run as one huge group, all running for increased awareness of cancer and in support of those who suffer. The rhythm and monotony of running a track over and over and over again is somehow in keeping.

This is the fifth year I’ve been involved thanks to my friend Nicky’s dedication in organising our team. Each year I have run with a different person at the forefront of my mind, as they battled cancer. The first year my aunt, the second year my father, third year the mother of my son’s friend, fourth year a friend of mine and this year another friend who was operated on two days ago and who worries that her illness will stand in the way of the running her orphanage in Burundi, her selflessness is awe inspiring. I’m sure I am not alone in this, we all run for individuals we know and love, but we also run knowing that it could be any time, anyone. So we run to raise awareness and support cancer research and show those walking the walk that they are not alone. Thank you to all those who organised and participated again this year.

Coming soon...long, lazy summer evenings...organise the kids so you can enjoy

2010-03-04T13:12:00.010+01:00

Oh, the joy of waking to sun in the morning, even if it is still negative temperatures outdoors. The anticipation of the arrival of spring is enough to see us through until spring actually does arrive. And then fancies take flight as we dare to dream of the arrival of those long, lazy, hazy days of summer, when the sun wakes us and the evenings never end...delightful.

Yet the reality of summer can fill many of us with dread. For working parents it means weeks to fill with activities to keep family members adequately entertained. In my experience the teenage years have been the most challenging; when a sweet au-pair, prepared to spend hours idling at the play park is no longer enough, or is more than enough for male teenage family member, as the case may be.

To plan those summer months can be an organisational challenge for even the most steely tempered of us. But never fear, advice is here...start planning now. The Ville de Luxembourg has just launched the brochure that lists all the sport weeks planned for 11 to 17 year olds this summer. The choice is plentiful and encompasses activities such as golf and horse riding as well as multi sports and water sports. The group numbers are limited so it is best to book early if you want a place. The prices are very reasonable, with a slight surcharge for those living out with the city boundaries.

So be smart not sorry and get the kids organised now and you can then spend the next four months fantasising about the long lazy summer evenings you are going to spend in the company of a refreshing Gin and Tonic with a twist of lemon…mmm

Have a look at the offers or download the brochure at http://vdl.lu/S_d_S__Sport_Wochen.html

Hang on in there...

2010-03-03T20:51:00.011+01:00

We all have to face undignified situations; an unprepared presentation, a glass too many, hospital gowns, you name it ... we get it. Along with everyone else I have watched the progress Luxembourg’s Golden Lady statue in the media (and on facebook) over the past week.

Our symbol of freedom and independence is going on a journey to Shanghai and to be honest I haven’t really been able to get worked up about it one way or another. OK, I didn’t want her to go, but that is simply me being selfish. She is the highlight on my mini-tour of Luxembourg; it takes place regularly throughout the summer months when friends flock from abroad. I have whittled it down to a one and a half hour adventure studded with truths, half truths and urban myths about Luxembourg. This obviously leaves a gaping hole in my monologue. On the other hand I understand the importance of the World Exhibition in Shanghai and if our Golden Lady makes a difference to our mission, then I will think of something to fill the 5 minute photo stop.

But....now here is the point, she is so dignified looking, elegant and shiny...I hadn’t considered that we wouldn’t keep all that intact throughout the journey. Well, we failed in the first five minutes of the trip. This morning I was surprised to see throngs of non-tourists on the Place de la Constitution. Looking up I saw what all the fuss was about. There she swung, exposed for all to see. Granted they took her down slowly and really there was little to complain about while she dangled overhead, it actually felt as if she was about to anoint me with that wreath she holds and that felt nice, at least someone appreciates all that I contribute....but...then... she was swung into horizontal position and that was too much. She lay in mid-air, looking pained and stiff as a board.

I guess the good news is that Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid is going to be in Shanghai too, so she won’t be alone... in fact it could be a bit of a laugh, Statues Unite; Lord Nelson, Statue of Liberty, who else could we invite to the Night at the Museum theme party... I just hope they keep our Golden Lady stately and upright, although no doubt she was horizontal all those years in the broom cupboard at the Josy Bartel Stadium, so maybe she’ll be fine after all.

Never just "everyday"

2010-03-01T17:20:00.008+01:00

Have you seen the Luxembourg museum brochure that is named Museumsmile? It plays on the fact that we should be smiling because we have so many museums within a square mile. Reasons to smile are usually also found in the art at the Casino Art Gallery. Conceptual art does generally demand you think and find your own answers, and even if you don’t it will at the very least bring a smile to your face. Ironically, yesterday I decided to go to the Casino because I was determined to step out of my everyday routine, only to discover the exhibition was about everyday routines and although viewing the routine of others is never quite the same as living your own, the irony was not missed.

Cleverly I joined a guided tour that was starting just as I arrived and to be honest, without the guide’s explanations I’m not sure I would have carried much away with me. Named “everyday(s)” the exhibition seeks to confront the routines and interactions that make up our every day existence. The exhibition is the work of eighteen artists from around the world who have created installations, videos, photographs drawings and sculptures inspired by their every day experiences.

The fact that the work is from international artists inevitably means that there are influences from around the world. A video instillation that was particularly poignant was of an elderly couple engaged in banal everyday tasks such as darning a sock and repairing an alarm clock, or playing cards together, yet somehow the artist manages to convey an element of intimacy in their relationship. It is only when the camera zooms out at the end that we realise that they are not alone but are housed in a school gym hall with many other old people who have had to leave their home in Bosnia Herzegovina. The routine acts of everyday life were infact the only thing that was normal.

Possibly the piece that made the greatest impression on me was the one that I initially looked at and drew a complete blank. Installed in the main exhibition area is a framework made out of steel rods. It was only after a lot of deliberation that I started to see the skeletal form of the inside of a bus. Originally from Israel, artist Carmit Gil uses the frame to symbolise the once everyday act of taking a bus, however due to the suicide bombings that take place, taking a bus is no longer the banal activity that gets you from A to B.

The Casino exhibitions are often great to visit with kids, because they are interactive, and while this one didn’t offer much in the way of touchy feely stuff, it is definitely well worth visiting, especially if you take a tour. There is one on Wednesday lunch time at 12.30am and as long as the guide adds a smile to her every day routine the world will be better place.

http://www.statermuseeen.lu/statermuseeen/statermuseeen.html

Harbouring dreams that could come true?

2010-02-23T11:43:00.000+01:00

Now if someone said ”Here is a commercial space, what do you want to use it for?” What would you say? Come on now you must have an idea. We all played shops when we were kids, didn’t we? Basically, I used to try and sell wild flowers (aka weeds) to anyone who inadvertently looked my way. I actually had a wonderful display shelf for my shop window; it was the door of an old fridge. I have no idea where it came from, or what happened to the rest of the fridge, and I daren’t even think about where the CO2 went to. Well I guess I know where the CO2 went to, but enough said about that. And before anyone takes issue with wild flowers, please remember its Scotland we are talking about, “hardy annual” was invented there. All I know is that for one glorious summer I was the proud owner of a flower shop.

Most of us harbour dreams of independence and entrepreneurship, and some of us even live the dream. I say this for a reason of course, because interestingly there is an opportunity to rent a commercial property from Luxembourg’s Commune on one of Luxembourg’s most prestigious streets; rue Philippe II. The location of the property is number 18, which if I am not mistaken is at the busy intersection where you cross coming from the post through to the place d’Armes. Think of the passing trade!

Basically anyone interested has to submit a business proposal for use of the property to the administration, where it will be assessed and a decision will be made based on which one adds most to Luxembourg. The advantage of this is of course that the rent of the property costs less than a privately owned property in the same area. Interested? Well, more information is available from the Direction de l'administration des services du Géomètre de la Ville de Luxembourg, 3, rue du Laboratoire L- 1911 Luxembourg or call 4796- 2328 or 3027).The proposals must be submitted by Friday the 26th of March 2010 to the above address.

And if you need help writing a business plan you can use the Business Plan Toolbox software created by the University of Luxembourg and the Chamber of Commerce. It is pretty thorough, and takes you, step by step, through the things you need to consider, check out http://www.businessplan.lu/

So what are you waiting for?

Now if I still had that old fridge door...

Chapeau to Frédéric Flamand and the gang at the Grand Theatre

2010-02-13T21:09:00.000+01:00

Frédéric Flamand is renowned for staging dance performances in empty swimming pools, abandoned halls and steel mills; which leads me to ask if we shouldn’t have retained Belval for this very purpose. But the Grand Theatre was the Luxembourg venue for his production “ La Verite 25x par seconde” (the truth 25 times per second) and with outdoor temperatures of minus 12 degrees, I for one was happy that we were seated and heated.

Choreographer Flamand has previously collaborated with some of the most important figures in contemporary architecture, including Zaha Hadid. For this production he had teamed with Chinese artist and architect, Ai Weiwei, of Beijing Olympic Bird’s Nest fame. The Beijing reference meant that when the curtain opened I was initially disappointed with the structure that consisted of a few aluminum ladders; however the assembly grew to a suspended platform that swayed and moved to the music, with the dancers in turn occupying the spaces in the structure. Obviously, considering the size and the shape of the Grande Theatre I shouldn’t have expected the Bird’s Nest, but it had been a busy week and my mind was occupied by many other, albeit trivial, details.

Flamand took inspiration from Italo Calvoino’s 18th century work “The Baron in the Trees”, equally the title “ La Verite 25x par seconde” is a nodding reference to French cinematographer Jean-Luc Godard’s statement that “film is the truth 24x per second”. Ironically, there was nothing 18th century about this production, where the choreographer uses audio visuals, music, dance and architecture to play with various perceptions of truth. A subject that I suppose is even more relevant in this age of “virtual reality”.

Interestingly, because I have no in-depth knowledge of modern ballet I find I can only really enjoy it if I relax into it and stop trying to “understand”. At very best I end up in an almost hypnotic state where I am hearing music and seeing movement, and that is it.

Luckily, I got to my hypnotic state and enjoyed the whole experience. Understanding, we will leave for another time. So while, Flamand says “chapeau” to Calvoino and Godard, I will doff my cap to Flamand and the gang at the Grand Theatre.

A technological leap, but what about the humour?

2010-02-09T13:41:00.000+01:00

With Google announcing that it is two years away from creating a mobile phone that translates languages voice to voice, Luxembourg’s pupils must be jumping for joy. Put down your pens' kids, no need to practice French dictée any more; feet up, switch the TV on and relax, all your worries are over. Or are they?

Star Wars-esque it may be, but the amount of time teenagers spend on MSN or texting rather than communicating face-to-face means that when the technology does come along there will certainly be enough people willing to use it.

Actually in Luxembourg where we could use this service all day long I visualize something completely hands free that we talk into to communicate with neighbours, shopkeepers, colleagues…

I am undecided as to whether a discreet Bluetooth type headset is best or something more like a Darth Vader helmet (you know the “Luke I am your Father” one). The tiny ear piece has obvious advantages, but the full helmet also takes care of bad hair days and anyone inclined to wear a burka.

Personally, I am not convinced it is the right thing culturally, of course my life would be far less complicated if I didn’t have a dreadful accent when speaking French and if the correct grammar flew from me every time, but think of the laughs you would lose out on.

I had lived in Germany for a year when a colleague kindly explained that by saying “Guten Rutsch” I was wishing everyone a Happy New Year in July and what I wanted to say was “Gute Reise- have a good journey”, it wouldn’t have been half as funny if I hadn’t been working at the airport check-in! And when I think of the giggles I’ve had every time I hear the word Schnuddelhong, I wouldn’t give those up for all the words in the Google database.

So kids, don’t give up the day job. Keep learning... Luxembourgish/French/German/English/Russian/Chinese…there are over 6,000 languages in the world and Google only has 52 taken care of so far, so you might need to use your brain for a while yet. And for the rest of you, keep up with the kids or you are going to be seriously left behind…seriously.

Salsa Dancing or an evening with Mayor Helminger...now let me think...

2010-02-07T12:01:00.000+01:00

It should have been an evening of dining and salsa dancing, but in the end I spent it with the city council. This wasn’t initially my idea of a fun night out, but I was meeting a friend for dinner who lives in Clausen and she had realised that the Mayor and City Aldermen were hosting a Town Meeting on the same evening and because she and her neighbours are concerned about parking issues in Clausen, they wanted to go along. So being a loyal friend, (and let’s face it, it was too cold to wait out in the street), I went with them.

I have to be honest and say that it was surprisingly interesting (granted those may have been the politicians very thoughts when they saw me enter, the high heels and fishnet tights were part of the salsa plan). Let's face it, a Town Meeting is not the easiest situation for any politician to put themselves in, because they are not saying what they will do “if they are voted in”, they are answering questions and hearing complaints and suggestions about the here and now, taking responsibility for their actions and genuinely taking an interest in the people they have promised to serve. The Clausen issues discussed were obviously the traffic and parking problems that have arisen due to the Rives de Clausen. But there were other issues that could have been valid in any area, like creating 30/km zones.

Equally it was interesting to see different stakeholders in the same room and be able to listen to the conflicting interests. There was a concerned resident who questioned the proposed extension of 6am opening hours and at the same meeting a bar owner was demanding that this extension be granted. Mayor Helminger confirmed that there had been discussions about this specific area and that it was still a residential area and therefore 3am closing would not change.

So I can only suggest to other residents to look out for such meetings, and even if it means missing out on some dirty dancing, go along and participate (there is one more meeting in Cessange on Tuesday the 9th of February). Basically you have the opportunity to take part in creating and improving your community. Granted salsa dancing might have been have been a more exciting evening, but if you can’t get a parking space when you need one, you miss the dancing anyway and that’s not much fun either. Think about it, it’s up to you.

Would have, could have been a ballet dancer, but I had a paper round...

2010-01-31T20:52:00.000+01:00

Not being the most elegant creature to float across this planet means I am fascinated by all things elegant; cats, women who wear silk without spilling their dinner, ballet dancers... the list is endless, but I’ve exposed myself enough, you get the picture. I have always loved ballet and as a teenager kept my family amused with my wicked interpretation of the death scene in Swan Lake; but since living abroad dance has replaced drama as my favourite live art form. Basically it cuts out all the frustrations of having to find theatre pieces in languages I understand and has taken on a new meaning for me as it breaks through the communication barriers and is expressive on a very pure level.

This weekend’s performance by Sadler’s Wells, In the Spirit of Diaghilev....celebrating the centenary of Les Ballets Russes at the Grand Théâtre was no exception; four specially commission pieces, each evoking the groundbreaking spirit of the Ballet Russe by combining visual art, music and choreography. I’m no art expert, so hesitate to write a review, but I know what I like and understand. The first part Dyad 1909 was very good; although I felt at times the visual art overwhelmed the dance images. The second piece performed solo by Daniel Proietto was exquisite and the third performance Faun, set to Claude Debussy’s “Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune” was emotional and sensual in one; these two pieces combined were the best modern ballet I have ever seen. The fourth part, Eternal Damnation to Sancho and Sanchez was just too uncomfortable for me to enjoy, but nonetheless quite an eye opener that ballet can also be ugly, violent and aggressive in expression.

Equally fascinating for me was the fact that I was sitting in a wonderful theatre in Luxembourg watching the best that London has to offer, my ticket only cost 20€ and wait for it , parking on the Glacis was free. Most importantly it was not the first time I have enjoyed such an evening and it will not be the last. We are so lucky to have an abundance of theatre and the fact that so many excellent touring groups come our way is obviously due to the exceptional facilities we have available and the hard work of the dedicated teams at venues such as the Grand Théâtre and Philharmonie.

But do we really appreciate it? I hope so. I came to appreciate it soon after arriving in Luxembourg, but it wasn’t really my own finding. We had been here only a few years when my brother called me from London to say that he was online booking tickets to see Julius Caesar at the Barbican Theatre and had just spotted that they would perform in Luxembourg. He had found a cheap flight from London City, so was I up for a night out at the theatre with him? Well I was and we did. A few weeks later he left work half an hour early and flew from London City to Luxembourg. I picked him up and we had dinner at the Brassiere du Theatre, saw a wonderful performance by Ralph Fiennes as Julius Caesar, came home discussed the play over a nightcap of whiskey, went to bed, slept, got up, had breakfast and he flew back to London the next morning and was in the office by 10am. It was fabulous, it felt normal and indulgent all at once and it made me realise that Luxembourg might just be the place for me...

Is it true what they say about Luxembourg?

2010-01-27T08:46:00.000+01:00

One of the headlines in the British Daily Telegraph was “The search for aliens should start on Earth not outer space, says scientist”. I can only agree and suggest they follow me around Luxembourg for a day and they will have all the evidence they need. No doubt it was “just one of those days”, you know the one, the-stop-the–world-I-want-to-get-off kind.

It started with good intention to fellow mankind, and that took the shape of offering to drive my son to school, because it was freezing and snowing, mistake number one, spent the 10 minute journey listening to him complain about how lazy his sister is and that she never gets the bus!

In trying not to provoke an argument no doubt I appeared detached and distant, as if from another planet perhaps, but I was sharply dragged back to earth and general confusion when I spotted a woman walking on Route de Longwy with a parrot on her shoulder. You would have thought such a sighting would have lightened the mood in the car somewhat, but no, too much to ask apparently. My surprise at the parrot on shoulder was from a teenage perspective, narrow-minded, “why shouldn’t she have a parrot on her shoulder?” hmm, because it’s freezing out there…

Arriving at work I discover that someone who had desperately wanted to be interviewed yesterday had decided otherwise this morning and basically, didn’t bother to turn up. Then, making it seem like a mad, mad world after all, a raven stole my colleague’s cheese sandwich from the windowsill outside. Be careful now, don’t ask why the sandwich was on the window sill and not in the fridge, you must be open-minded about this kind of thing…

On leaving work I met a lovely man on the rue Notre Dame. He was ever the businessman, wearing a perfectly tailored suit; the fact that he was riding a tiny miniature bicycle never crossed my mind…this is Luxembourg after all and that would have been narrow-minded.

PS The photo of the hard rock bears and this postscript are being added two days after my original blog. I met them during my lunch break, they were doing their "thing" on the Knudler in a snow storm. I rest my case!

To Have or to Have Knot!

2010-01-18T15:11:00.000+01:00

It was exciting to step into my favourite morning baker, Bakes on the Grande rue, and discover everyone in an upbeat mood today because it is Carnival Cake Time again! Not one, not two, but three of my favourite guilty pleasures graced the shelves and I had a moment of mindless self indulgence and bought them all (deluding myself that I was taking them to share in the office. Ha, they were gone before I reached the corner!)

No doubt I am not the only one fascinated by the differences around me, although possibly not everyone would be so fascinated that they could eat their week’s calorie intake by 7.30am!

But where fascination leads, I will generally follow and it’s normally worthwhile; be it any "Fueskichelcher", (carnival cakes) and there are many. But due to the delightful literalism of the Luxembourg language, once heard never forgotten and it is therefore relatively easy to keep the cakes apart.

So for non-Luxembourgers, here we go:

There is my beloved "Verwuerelter" (roughly translates "one big mess"), only the ones that look like knots are called Verwuerelter. But this is Luxembourg remember, the land of subtle differences, (“klein aber fein”, in every way), so there are actually two types of knots, each made with a different dough (one with yeast, and the other without).The ones with yeast are more fluffy, and the ones without are harder, smaller, tighter...

Then there is the one filled with jam that you can find in Germany, of course called by many other names, but here it is a “Berliner” although no flesh and blood Berliner would call them that.

And last but certainly not least are the little round balls called "Nonnefaschten", which means ... wait for it …”nuns’ farts”.

Anything else I can enlighten you on?

You won’t find this information for free anywhere else you know. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, they are basically the holes from the doughnuts by other names.

Now here’s a question: what do they do with the holes of the doughnuts the rest of the year?

Pétrusse Schlittenhiwwel Takes Luxembourg all the Way to the Top

2010-01-14T11:45:00.000+01:00

As Mother Nature continues to dust us lightly with snow, we should for once be thankful of Luxembourg’s weather. In comparison with neighbouring countries, to date at least, we have got off lightly in terms of the weather. Ville de Luxembourg has also just announce that the winter lights will stay on until mid February and for those of us arriving in the city in the early hours when night has not yet released its grip, then the lights are a welcome sight.

The snow and winter feel of the last few weeks has also been positive in some respects. Walking (or jogging, as if! ) in the Pétrusse valley some afternoons, listening to the whoops and screams of kids (and would be kids-see photo) taking their life in their hands (as only teenagers really seem able to do) and throwing themselves down the steep slope that is Luxembourg’s favourite sledging hill, you could have been forgiven for thinking you were in a ski resort somewhere else.

In fact, I am sure that if the American magazine International Living had done their survey of "favourite place to live" last week, our makeshift snowboard/sledging hill would have put us up a notch or two. Luxembourg came a very respectable sixth out of 194 countries in this year's survey, with France in first place, a fact in itself that honestly sheds doubt on the validity of the survey, if France were so great wouldn’t we all be living there? Two things that France does have though are mountains and sea; two things that for anyone choosing a new place to live have got to be pre-requisites, surely?

So just think if we got an artificial beach, like the “plage” they had in Paris last summer, Luxembourg would truly have everything on offer. And then watch out France and the International Living survey...

Luxembourg, Luxembourg so good they named it twice

2010-01-07T12:49:00.001+01:00

I received a late Christmas card in the mail this morning. I have no problem with the lateness, because being the ultimate late-giver of gifts, cards, well-wishes I really can’t complain. However, I do have a gripe… the address…Luxembourg, France! That gets me every time. Luxembourg, Germany; Luxembourg, France! Maybe it’s the Luxembourg, Luxembourg that people refuse to understand.

Then I started to think about my first knowledge of Luxembourg. Actually, apart from having to place it on a map of Europe in a geography test in school, I knew nothing about Luxembourg until I moved to Stuttgart. There, a work colleague regularly visited her parents in Trier and always returned discussing the Michelin star restaurant she went to in Luxembourg. I would nod and smile and wonder what she was going on about, too confused by a) learning German, b) learning Swäbisch to be bothered to ask any more geography or general knowledge questions.

Now if we consider that I had never heard of a Michelin star, surely I can be forgiven for not knowing Luxembourg? No? Oh well, I look at it this way, it was my loss and look how far I’ve progressed; I know lots about Luxembourg and at least now know that I am as likely to be a pop star as I am to receive a Michelin star.

I’ll be honest and say that I normally prefer the congeniality of Bel Canto in Belair or the Thai Café in Bonnweg; but there is the odd occasion that calls for a celebration of bigger sorts, and as replacement for forgetting a birthday gift for a loved one, a Michelin star restaurant is a grand thing. In Lux Ville we now have four restaurants with Michelin stars, and while I have no idea if that is too few or too many, I’ll just say for a girl with other star qualities, ‘tis a grand thing indeed. The latest star attraction is Le Sud, in Rives de Clause. The others are Mosconi, Bouquet Garni and Clairefontaine. I haven’t been to Le Sud yet, but in lieu of the aforementioned forgotten gift for a loved one, I’m going to phone them today…getting the hang of a January birthday is as hard as getting the hang of Luxembourg, Luxembourg. No?

Luxembourgisch, For My Ears Only...

2010-01-04T16:44:00.000+01:00

I have just invested four minutes in improving the rest of my life! That is how long it took me to download 30 Luxembourgish Podcasts. This is a big step for me, not because I don’t want to learn Luxembourgish, quite the opposite in fact, I am convinced I speak it already! Most of my neighbours think I'm good at it too; albeit the majoring are very old and may smile, babble and nod at me because they think it is the least dangerous option. My family on the other hand insist I am not even close. So by downloading the podcasts, I am in fact admitting something my kids have been insisting for years; Eech kann awer neit so gut schwetzen!

You see, I do admit that I can’t write it at all, but up until recently that wasn’t a problem. Now with emails, facebook and writing text messages, everyone is at it. Writing, writing, writing. And with many of my friends going faithfully to classes two or three times a week, I am starting to panic a bit. Written Luxembourgish is becoming more and more prevalent. When I came here (many moons ago) everyone said, “don’t worry we don’t spell Luxembourgish correctly either”. Well then some bright spark published a dictionary, and once in black and white, that’s it. It is official and mistakes will be noted. The possibility of dual nationality has also made a big difference and many from the international community who have been resident for years were waiting for just such an excuse to sign up en-mass for language classes. I have a friend I have known since I arrived her, she is Russian and speaks French and English perfectly and for the past year and a half she has also been taking Luxembourgish classes and was delighted to tell me recently how good her Luxembourgisch was and that she was shocked to realise how poorly her son wrote it.

One positive thing about the podcasts is that they are going straight onto my iPod and will be played through my headphones, for the pleasure of my ears only…so if you don’t tell, I won’t.

If you are interested check out: http://vdl.lu/L%C3%ABtzebuergesch_l%C3%A9iere_mat_MP3.html

But if you think you would prefer a traditional language course the Ville de Luxembourg has two courses for beginners, starting in February. The course takes place Mondays and Wednesdays at (20h00-21h40) and at the Gare (18h20-20h00). Inscriptions will be taken at the Bierger-Center (2nd floor) on the 12 and 13 January 2010 from 8am to 5pm.

When is a Habit a Tradition?

2009-12-28T17:42:00.000+01:00

Traditions are funny and Christmas traditions even funnier. Whether you place a shoe or a plate outside the door, or hang a stocking for Santa, at some point you have to wonder how it all started. Obviously someone just made it up and kept repeating until the habit became a tradition.

Luxembourg is awash with cross-cultural mixes at this time of year, and that’s good. This year, we celebrated Christmas day with Brazilian friends and it was a case of caipirinhas all round while my husband wrestled to de-head, de-leg, de-wing an organic turkey given to us by a Luxembourgish friend who has family with a turkey farm in the Alsace. We eventually got to the flaming Christmas pudding and managed to play a good few hours of Charades. A jolly confused time was had by all.

Christmas Eve however, was spent doing something that for me is a tradition true only to Luxembourg. At around three-thirty on Christmas Eve, just when the shops close and everyone else is leaving the city to return to their hearths and homes and joining their family around the Christmas tree, Luxembourg’s English speaking community descends on the Christmas market. It only lasts for a couple of hours, but it is the one time of year you are guaranteed to meet everyone. They are all crammed into the place d’Armes, drinking Glühwein and introducing family members who have arrived for the holidays. It is lovely, a truly self-made tradition, when you realise your friends are your family.

This year, the place d’Armes is set to be the venue for an outdoor New Year’s Eve party, as the Christmas market has an all night licence and fireworks are planned for 11.45 on the square and at the Place de la Constitution at midnight. We still can’t decide where to have a meal beforehand. Plans are underway for Swiss raclette at home and then a walk to town, but one of the restaurants in town may just have something better to offer. Let's hope the traditional New Year weather doesn't arrive.

Luxembourg Greasy Spoon Caf' coming your way soon?

2009-12-20T19:40:00.000+01:00

Funny how the world turns sometimes, no? On a day when I'm lazing around reading the papers after a late night, and dreaming simply of an early night, I read something that means I'll probably end up having even more late nights. Apparently we will soon be able to enjoy Luxembourg’s wonderful bars until the wee hours of the morning. This week Mayor Helminger discussed his plans for extending opening hours.

The idea behind the extended opening hours is not simply that we can stay out and have a blast, that is simply a bi-product of the plan, but that it will solve the noise problem in the city centre. If the bars stay open, people are not forced to leave at one time and the excess noise in the streets is no longer an issue; it makes sense. No date has been set for the changes, but discussions are underway with the different stakeholders and apparently similar initiatives in cities such as Barcelona have been successful, so why shouldn’t it be the case here, right?

It always amazes me how these things are thought through and there is a certain logic that wasn’t previously obvious; at least not to me. One thing that wasn’t discussed was where the Greasy Spoon Caf' will be. No point in bars staying open until breakfast time if we can’t get a good old fry-up for breakast, is there?

Whisky and the dilemma of the multi-kulti family

2009-12-17T10:26:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I read the survey of foreigners and Luxembourgers' satisfaction with living in Luxembourg. It set me pondering on some of the challenges many of us face.

At this time of year how to celebrate everyone’s traditions equally can cause a conflict in the typical multi-kulti Luxembourg family. For us it started early December when our Luxembourgish children insist that shoes go out every night from the first of December onwards in anticipation of Kleeschen, the German father insists that St Niklas comes only in the night of the fifth, but an Adventzkranz and Adventzkalender “muss her”. Meanwhile the Scottish mother insists only that Kleeschen/St Niklas/Father Christmas is a really busy man in Luxembourg and needs a glass of whisky left for him on the sixth and the 24th December and if the shoes go out from the 1st Dec until Kleeschen arrives, then he has extra work on his hands so a whisky every night might just keep him going. Then there is the whole logic of when the gifts arrive, 6th? 24th? 25th? The discussion rages on…

Despite being born and growing up here, I secretly thought of my children as Scottish until about a year and a half ago. However, this changed at the Ice Hockey World Cup Tournament (so we are third division, but it is still fast and exciting and just the right amount of blood and violence to make it an excellent spectator sport).

We sat watching Luxembourg play a fast game against North Korea, and we weren’t doing so well. My eight-year-old blond-haired angel was getting more and more fidgety and I put it down to the freezing temperatures,but no. All of a sudden she jumped onto the bench raised her hands in the air and bellowed her frustration to the rink:"Roude Léif, huel se!". All beliefs in her Scottishness vanished, and yet I have never felt so proud.

Keep the high-heels, put the hike behind you

2009-12-15T08:52:00.000+01:00

One of the joys of life in Luxembourg is the fact that a good night out is easily at hand. The routine for many is an apèro here, dinner there and clubbing or an after-dinner night cap elsewhere… and all within walking distance. You can’t beat it.

One hiccup to this beautiful lifestyle however has been the existence of high-heels and the distance to the Grund. While many a male friend has assured me that "it's not that far", I have to categorically state that in heels it ain’t that great either.

The new bars and restaurants in Clausen are welcome addition to the well-loved Pyg and Ecosse; but the hike remains. Therefore, it is with great excitement that I await the addition of the lift at Pfaffental, the great news is that building work started last week. It will make a night out complete and help keep the glamour factor high.

Didn't cost a penny, but a Bancomat saved the day

2009-12-13T23:10:00.001+01:00

We were all a flurry and a fluster as we set out for the Christmas parade this evening. The youngest family member has huge hopes for the amount of snow that is going to fall tonight and we haven’t had the heart to melt her snowflake as it were. It’s been an awesome week and there is now stopping the enthusiasm; Kleeschen, 9th birthday, birthday pyjama party, playing Stille Nacht at a concert and sharing Hanukkah celebrations with friends…life’s a party and there is no end to the fun.

Tonight’s snow flurries and Christmas Parade were over and above what she expected, but it didn’t take long however for the biting cold wind to get at us as we crossed the Pont Adolphe and it didn’t take too long for a few grumbles to escape afore mentioned young lips as we waited for the first floats. She was actually starting to freeze and I was at abandon excursion stage when I spotted some ingenious people across the road from where we were on avenue de la liberté. Initially I thought they were inside a shop, but then quickly realised they’d had the where-with-all to whip out their plastic card and nip inside the bancomat to get warm. I love that kind of “when needs must ingenuity”. Then we followed the parade all the way back to the Golden Lady.

With gifts of chocolate milk, coca-cola, bon-bons galore from various cuddly characters on the parade, the event was deemed one more huge success!
I’m a bit concerned about the snow suit and moon boots that I’ve spotted laid out next to her school bag though, a letdown could be on its way faster than the next snowflake…

Pick up the phone, why don't you...

2009-12-04T16:50:00.000+01:00

I thought I had solved the ultimate Life-Work balance dilemma this morning. How to work, look after a family and make everyone happy at Christmas. The new initiative from Luxembourg shopkeepers that allows you to make gift wish lists in different shops around town is just the thing to help me out this year. So in the school rush this morning I arranged with my two oldest kids that they could go to town after school and make their lists in the various shops and we would meet at the Christmas market around six o’clock for something to eat and to enjoy the festive atmosphere. I literally saw them skip out the door (joy to any parent, the out the door, not the skipping).

Sounds like a plan right? It is, if only I had thought to specify a BUDGET! It dawned on me that I might also now need the services of the free butler service to deliver everything home to me.

I’m checking now on www.cityshopping.lu

Oh and strangely enough no one is answering their mobile phone…

A bit of bling never goes amiss...

2009-12-03T14:53:00.000+01:00

Arriving at the bus station on a rainy work morning is never going to be great, but I generally love the city at that time in the morning and today was better than most. I wandered from Hamilius towards the place d’Armes and I have to be honest, despite the cold drizzle, the Christmas lights made me quite happy to be up and about so early.

Then I crossed rue Philippe II and it looked marvellous. The Christmas lights there are really spectacular and I do believe even the delivery men were chattier because of them this morning. I always love that 8am solidarity that the city has before the stores open; I love being the first one in town, love seeing the shop-keepers open up and everyone streaming off the busses, getting coffee and hurrying to work. The shop-keepers and the city should get a great big pat on the back this year for making such a great effort with the lights.

A bit of bling never goes amiss at this time of years. Rue Philippe II was ablaze with the sparkle and dazzle of Christmas and I could almost imagine that the delivery guys were carrying boxes of Christmas presents just for me. Wishful thinking of course, but what better way to start a morning?

Rose themed Christmas anyone?

2009-12-02T21:04:00.000+01:00

At a flower shop last Saturday I compromised on my belief that Christmas can’t start this early and bought Christmas roses. Due to underestimating the cost of the 15 plants I wanted, I reduced my purchase to three and felt quite good about the pot, until a friend almost broke a leg tripping over it on Sunday.

So today I stopped in my tracks at the place Guillaume market, when I spotted a HUGE Christmas rose for 12€, then found smaller ones for 4€! On Saturday I paid 17€. I knew it was a bit pricy , but weighed up the “I’m here now, get on with it” against the monetary damage and bought them anyway.

I was so annoyed with myself today until I decided to enjoy the bargain; not so sure how I’m going to explain to the kids that the Christmas tree budget has been completely used up already on a rose themed Christmas though.

Genius or Slow Learner?

2009-11-28T11:33:00.000+01:00

In a stroke of genius last night I solved one of the most frustrating things of getting to and from Rives de Clausen. I hesitate mentioning this as perhaps it is so obvious that everyone knows about it?

The free “Navette” shuttle bus that runs from the Glacis to Clausen, while obviously being genius initiative in itself, has become so popular that trying to get a space on it has become more difficult than getting all six numbers right in the lotto, in fact some nights you would be forgiven for thinking that you were on a night bus in Camden, not Clausen. Perhaps it is the fact that the evenings have gotten colder, darker, wetter, but as I was standing waiting with a huge crowd of people on the navette this weekend I turned slightly and beam of light seemed to come from above and illuminate the bus stop behind me…

So here is my cartoon light-bulb moment shared: The Night Bus, effectively the Number 1 runs the same route! I’ve now checked it out and it runs Bouillion- Glacis-Clausin-Cents-Clausin-Glacis-Bouillion…and it is free too.

The bus stop is on the main road, not on the Glacis, so maybe that’s why I’ve missed it before. So I was on it and dryer than the rest before anyone could stop me…what I really can’t work out was why didn’t the others see the beam of light and follow?

Accent Does Matter Darlin'

2009-11-25T16:38:00.000+01:00

Years ago, as relative newbee on the continent, I thought I would try my hand at making the hot wine that some mull over, others glög or glug and the rest of us Glüh on. The only recipe I found was in a flatmate’s cookbook, and since she was French, it was too. My language skills were l.i.m.i.t.i.n.g , but my enthusiasm was boundless. I spent an age at the market trying to get the ingredients together, spice names for some reason hadn’t been on any of the vocabulary lists we’d had in school. It did strike me that the high cost of ingredients didn’t quite make sense in relation to how cheaply the hot wine was sold on the Christmas markets. But since I was making every effort to be more continental, and that meant every recipe had to be started at least a week in advance, so it could be plucked, marinated or turned; I just thought it was just one of those things.

Anyway, the recipe called for all the usual stuff; wine, cinnamon, cloves, lemon, orange, sugar etc. and the Rum ou cognac ou vodka ou schnapps. Hey I mentioned my language skills were limiting, but here’s the scoop; I was never one for attention to detail and accents never really registered with me, so for me “ou” translated as “where” and as a post student just learning to walk rather than stagger I merrily thought the French cook had a sense of humour and meant “ where’s the brandy, where’s the schnapps, where’s the vodka… let’s party!”. So I liberally added them all. I mistakenly understood that all alcohol content disappeared when heated, so it didn’t seem that strange to me.

Anyway the end result was a mulled-wine that would have removed paint, helped me grow hair and kept me warm for evermore. Needless to say I was using bio-fuel way before it became a buzz word and my old Vespa ran well on it.

And that is why to this day I never pass a Glühwein stall when I see one… meet you at the Christmas Market on the Place d’Armes, Friday.

Why are there no men in skirts, mum?

2009-11-21T11:50:00.000+01:00

Coming from a family that indicates all forms of disapproval with silence, popping eyes, a shrug and a grimace, I’m well attuned to the intricacies of mime, and was therefore more than excited by the prospect of an evening at the theatre experiencing facial gestures in a more positive form.

Eric Gauthier and Egon Madsen’s production, MM and More at the Grand Theatre was a dance and mime performance that paid homage to the man who had perfected the art of silence, Marcel Marceau. It should have been an easy relaxing evening, right?

What I hadn’t anticipated was that, despite being Luxembourgers, for my daughters pantomime only exists in Scottish form. And that means, men in skirts playing the part of women, so what I hadn't realised was that for them the evening should have been something completely different. Something that I would have clarified if it hadn’t been a busy Friday evening, with kids coming in, more coming in and more coming in the house.

My youngest child’s initial confusion over why Widow Twanky in her over-sized shoes and apron, or Jack and the Beanstalk were nowhere to be seen was audible in a room where people everyone else was practicing the art of silence.

Explanations made and, luckily for me, relatively easily accepted, we settled to enjoy dance at its most expressive. Lesson learned? Never underestimate the confusion cultural differences can bring to any home in Lux.

Vampires-Werewolves and the ING Night Marathon

2009-11-19T11:58:00.000+01:00

Inspired by the relatively nice weather (I said relative) and the fact that the ING marathon is back in the news today, I decided to don my well-worn jogging shoes and start preparation for that glorious finishing at LuxExpo next May 15th. I eventually find afore mentioned shoes and set off.

I am sure I will be celebrating a spectacular finish in six month’s time, but presently it just seems like a crazy idea. Actually my inspiration comes from all the cheering crowds in the city centre, I’ve been a spectator in past years and have always done my bit of yelling to add to the atmosphere and this time it should be my turn to “feel the love”.

It is colder than I had realised and I try to reassure myself that I will be fine once my circulation gets going; however I really don’t seem to have any circulation in my hands and feet and I wonder idly if this is normal? It is foggier than I had realised and the dampness slaps at me, reminding me of my Mum wiping my face with a cold washcloth before school, ugh! (I make a mental note not to do that to my daughter anymore).

My mind wanders and I think of my current secret pleasure; the teenage vampire-werewolf books Twilight and New Moon. I am desperately trying to catch-up with my daughter.

Twenty minutes into my run I realise someone has jogged up behind me. I turn, trying to smile despite lack of breath and weirdly there is no-one there. I run on. Minutes later I hear the flap-flap–flap of a second pair of feet on the pavement. This time I decide to wait until he/she catch-up. I run on…the noise continues, but no-one draws aside me. How annoying, I am slow, so this is ridiculous!

I run on, as does my companion. I am seriously freaking myself out now and don’t know whether to turn or not. It is a lot foggier than I had thought and vampires, werewolves, tonight’s film at Utopolis start to mingle in my head. The footsteps are seriously freaking me out, as is my lack of breath.

I stop and look around. Noone there… I have to walk now as the pain in my side is matched only by the pain in my brain. A few steps on and I have an odd, loose feeling on my right foot. I look down and discover the source of the additional footsteps; the sole of my shoe has come unstuck! So much for quality, granted they are ancient, but that is not the point when you are miles from home.

Anyway, I am going to have to seriously reconsider a full marathon, what if this happened then? Oh, the shame of having to take the bus.

But I shouldn’t be put off so easily. ING marathon LuxExpo starting line here I come. Or should I stick to my Vel’oh? Now, there is another bright idea, I have my year’s subscription, as long as I take my card along if the marathon gets too much for me I can take a vel’oh! There’s no shame in that, is there? I’m feeling better already…

Registration at www.ing-europe-marathon.lu

When News is not News

2009-11-17T16:24:00.000+01:00

It is front page news! Well at least the internet equivalent, whatever that is. Swindon is to be Britain’s first wi-fi city. Dare I say “what is all the fuss about”? Luxembourg has been a wi-fi city since HOTCITY was launched in 2007 and did we make a song and dance about it, did we create a lot of hue and cry? Well probably, but since its all behind us now we can pretend not...we’ll pretend that we rolled it out quietly letting people know on a “need to know basis” only.

Hold on a minute what’s the point of that? Actually it does make sense to promote and make a song and dance about something that is going to be a benefit to everyone, albeit everyone who needs it.

So what is HOTCITY again?

HotCity is mobile access to the internet from your laptop computer, PDA or mobile phone, freely available all around town, on the terrace, or in the street.

HotCity is immediate and direct access to cultural information, municipal services, or commercial offers

HotCity also means reading your e-mails, staying in touch with friends, or surfing the internet

So go have a cocktail in the latest HOTCITY link, The Piano Bar at Le Royale and surf the net and ask “where exactly is Swindon”?

Sport for All and All for Sport

2009-11-10T13:30:00.000+01:00

Inspired by the success of obtaining a Vel’oh a few weeks ago I set off once again in pursuit of happiness through Luxembourg on my Vel’oh. Well, fifteen minutes later we have a new meaning for Luxembourg as HOTCITY. OK all signs point to the fact that Luxembourg is a place of hills, but only once we are under the power of our muscles do we really realise what that means. Limperts...BERG! yeah uphill all the way from the Glacis, luckily I found a lovely little street café near the Victor Hugo hall, so cooled off there, flattened the curly hair as best as I could, added some lipstick for glamour and arrived non-harassed and eco-friendly at the scheduled time at Trammschapp.

What a great venue that is, another “did you know”, dear reader... Luxembourg used to have trams! Much like the amazing foresight of my beloved hometown that removed all the trams and sold them to Hong Kong, where they trundle on in bliss, Luxembourg too had trams and now that the world realises that the automobile is indeed not the answer to everyone’s prayers we need the trams back... Proving once again, you don’t know what you got till it’s gone...roll on the Bus-Bahn-Bus Project before I am too exhausted to make it up these hills.

So my reason for going to Limpertsberg, is the same as taking to a bike. GET FIT. I want to take part in the City’s Sport for Everyone programme. At first I’m overwhelmed by the choice of sports, but once I get real about the fact that anything with the word “break“ in it might be ominous, I think again and set aside Break-dancing for another life and sign up for yoga. Yoga’s good... bending very good... you can’t go wrong with bending... right?

Discover Luxembourg by Bike

2009-09-28T13:59:00.000+02:00

Well, the unseasonably sunny weather saw me decide to discover Luxembourg on a bike, or Vel’oh as they are known hereabouts... so friendly credit card in hand I set off with great enthusiasm for the hi-tech looking machine at the corner of the Place Guillaume, I was getting on rather well when some good-looking guy with a year’s subscription card walked up behind me and started acting impatient as I fumbled with my flexible friend.

Needless to say I abandoned this first attempt only to get annoyed at myself two seconds later, for being mentally pushed-aside by a “looker”. Will I never grow-up? Anyway off I trot to the Golden Lady, secure in the knowledge that only older out-of-season tourists in jogging suits are likely to be hanging around there, so no need to be put off the task.

Confidence works wonders, as did the fact that the machine is in four languages, and the bike. I decided to circle round the “gäle Frä” a few times before hitting traffic, I was shocked by the number of bad drivers I encountered in the first few minutes and after a confrontation with an Italian, a French and a Belgian car it took a luxembourgish motorist to convince me I might be at fault, and in closer inspection, they were right and I cycled on corrected....so who else knew it was one way traffic around the Gäle Frä?