I just had to share this … everyone has heard about the legendary Swiss efficiency but this just stunned me…

My wife was home sick yesterday and I got a phone call about 11.30 from her… a delivery lorry had just backed into the house ripping off about fifteen feet of guttering, tearing off the fascia (sp=?) board and damaging probably about 20 sq foot of roof tiles.

Luckily our landlord happened to be there to witness it ( we rent space on an old farm ) and according to mrs. G she learned some interesting new words ( in french ) as exchanged between our landlord and the lorry driver.

BUT.. the amazing part?

I heard noises on the roof at 7.50 this morning…there was already a repairman working on the roof!!! I don’t know how long it would take just to get someone to look at our roof down in Cornwall… gawd forbid something should happen.

I used to live there some itme ago. It is a very litigeous society with very stiff fine imposed on any wrong-doing. I am not surprised at all!

If they’re so efficient how did he reverse into the house in the first place? 😉

stiff fines yes… I’ve been victim of roadway speed cameras many times… 53kpm in a 50 zone anyone?

but litigious? .. I ‘ve never really noticed that but maybe I’ve just not delved deep enuf.

jova, not being funny but I very much doubt the driver was Swiss… “swiss don’t do menial”

*thinking Albanian*

To Fauxbyfour… Were you in the German Swiss part by any chance? It’s a bit more laid back in Suisse Romande…

To Grynch.. Where are you based? I live in Lausanne..

I must admit that after living here for a while you get used to the efficiency (people picking up fag ends with tweezers on sticks, council guys blowing fallen leaves off pavements when it’s been windy) but it does annoy me sometimes – I recently received a letter threatening me with expulsion from my apartment because my rent was 10 days late..!

Its very rule driven here, some of which are invisible and implied, in terms of how should behave. It kinda reminds me of Britain in the 50’s (from heresy) or the Isle of Wight today.

beanum… I work in Geneva but live about 15 miles out of town in your direction.

Caher… you a swissie too? whereabouts are you?

time for a little plug.. anyone up for a little lakeside ride?
.
http://www.bikethelake.ch/

( a charity bike ride around the lake, june 07.. but you can choose your own charity if you wish )

I have this all to look forward to !

I remember staying with my sister and at 7:30 on a saturday morning someone had arrived to clean the algae from the inside of small fountain in the square.

+ random disinfecting of the escalator hand rails at the station.

I always enjoy watching the little street washing machine come thru Versoix (next town over ) hosing down the sidewalks… in the rain.

*chuckle*
gotta love em

“it is tuesday, we will wash the streets, no matter what!!”

i work in lausanne! anyone up for a ride?

i do road riding only tho..

I’m in Luzern

Scotia, I’ve got a RoadRat that I use for commuting and road rides (although I did do the 180km Cyclotour last year).
I haven’t been cycling since it started snowing, however, so maybe in a month or so?
I know a lot of more serious roadies in the Lausanne area if you’re interested… Most of them can be found every other Thursday at Taco’s bar..
Thursday Night Drinks Club
There’s a planned trip to the Velodrome in Aigle pretty soon too…

Spoon, if you’re on your way out here, the English Forum website can be pretty useful ( I wish it was set up when I came out here..)

English Forum

scotia, I’ve been meaning to ask you.. how did you come by your name?

just FYI.. I’m from Nova Scotia ( among other places )

there are also a group of mainly english speaking roadies who meet every sunday morning in Crassier (near Nyon) for a ride

yup, beanum i go to that from time to time but it doesnt work too well for me (i either have to stay at work v late or make a return trip that isnt worth while).

im waiting for a bit before i start commuting to work..still a bit cold..

Grynch, just saw your question…im scottish and was looking for sth quick and easy to type!

that would explain it then.. thanks scotia.

Ah really? Nyon is relatively easy for me to get to..i ive in Echallens..Do you have a contact

send me an email.. name in my profile

Ah thanks beanum always useful-I’ve found a website called glocals.com as well – The madness of flat hunting has begun.

Maybe a STW Swiss meet-up might be in order !!

Spoon – when you coming over? to Lausanne?

Sounds like a plan! 🙂

The best site I’ve found for flat hunting is Annonces.. It looks at the same stuff as Homegate.ch but it shows you when the ad was posted and how many people have already viewed it which is very handy… Good Luck!
Annonces

I’m going to Geneva – Start work at the Hospital (HUG) on June 1st – so a week before or something. I’ve not thought through the finer details yet!

3 bikes and a bed need to be shipped over. My sister has a flat there so I might impose myself for a bit.

i took my bike over with BA, took it as sporting equipment…just a thought..

taking a bed? that’ll cost..

I used Luker Bros when I moved. It was paid for by my new company but it cost about £1000 to move the contents of a small 2 bed house and 2 bikes…
They are excellent, very professional and do the UK to Swiss run every couple of weeks so it might be worth giving them a call..?
If they quote silly money you could look in Free Ads for a man with a van?
Luker Bros

You’re the second person to recommend Luker Bros. The other option is hire a van in the uk drive over and drive back but the amount of faff involved, its probably not worth it.

seriously, it might sound like a weird idea, but excess baggage did it for me. I sold all my big stuff like bed etc in the uk and packed in bags all i had left, 7 bags each 40kgs..bike too..v cheap at 70GBP..

really — unless the bed has sentimental value ( ?? ) it might be cheaper to sell up there and buy something new over here.

Selling is an option -or to just rent a room in a furnished place for starters !
I’m waiting for some removal quotes, I’ve got some other stuff like stereo, bike stuff etc.

But a bag of clothes, bike and laptop will probably do me.

Spoon, i did a pretty big research, even thought of the van thing..but in the end, taxi bags excess baggage taxi jobs done..

I wound up putting alot of my furniture into storage..well.. storage at my sisters place before moving over here… last visit home I found out my bedroom furniture had been moved out of storage and had become her spare bedroom. 😯 🙁

I am still waiting for our company to send me to Fribourg or Cham to see a supplier…seeing as I am leaving, I doubt its going to happen. 🙁

We have Swiss guys in the company, and work with many, and yes they are good, damn efficient, but have a great sense of humor…but they are also rude, ‘rule’ driven and mega opinionated.

I love em.

matt, I can’t say any of my coworker are rude… many would consider them snobish but the rest is true.. very funny when you get to know them and yes absolutlely rule driven

one colleague was seriously going to send a complaint letter when the local bus was 3 minutes late