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Welcome to our 2025 Christmas Newsletter.

On behalf of Andea and I, we wish you a wonderful advent season on the runup to the celebration of Christmas and hope that you manage to make time to find peace at this sacred time and start the New Year 2026 with love and hope in your hearts.

December 2024

In December 2024 was another month full of pizza making and piping concerts. 

Piper Bell was invited to play at the See Spital in Horgen - a hospital specialising in cancer treatments for young and old by Lake Zurich in Horgen. I wasn't sure how it was going to be received but by the end of the evening all the staff were doing eightsome reels and gay gordons - such fun people who carry out amazing work every day. 

Then it was back to Baar in Canton Zug to make pizza at my usual Thursday night spot, before setting off on another piping adventure to accompany Tom Johnstone on his tour with the Scottish Music Parade (SMP) - I played three shows with SMP in Germany at Riesa's Erdgas Arena, the Stadthalle in Chemnitz and the Congress Zentrum in Suhl before returing back to Switzerland. On my way to the shows I stopped off and visited my niece Mairi who was teaching at a private school Erlangen - en route to the first gig.

While playing I met up with Jamie Curran who I knew from Lomond Clyde Pipe Band when Davie Wotherspoon (Spoonie) was Pipe Major and coach for the Scotch Watch pre 2019.

Tom and I out for a glass of Glühwein before my last show.

Congress Zentrum in Suhl.

The set for the Scottish Music Parade.

Back in Zug - it was snowing and it was time for Andrea to do her magic and create her wonderful Christmas Meat pies.

It is quite a process and she follows her Grandma's recipe with a few adaptations.

The end result is amazingly delicious pies - so we spent a weekend delivering them to her family who had ordered them.

Then it was Christmas Day and Piper Bell was back in action playing for the Engish Speaking Christmas Mass at St. Oswalds Church in Zug.

Its a beautiful old church with fantastic acoustics.

Then we literally jumped into our little Panda and headed over the border into Italy - en route to visit our friends Cris and Colin in Rome, we stopped off for Christmas night and Boxing Day in Sienna - the last time I was there was as a student in 1989 and I attended the horse race Il Palio - in the summer. It invloved playing bagpipes and being spoiled by the locals.

In the background you can see the main square of Sienna where they do the horse race.

The weather was like spring - 20C - when we arrived in Rome - unfortunately, our friend Cris's Dad took ill so we didn't see a lot of them but we had booked a small Air BnB not too far from the town centre.

Andrea didn't reallly need her new winter coat!!

We were within a 10 minute walk of the Basilica where unbeknown to us Pope Francis would be laid to rest in 2025 - Santa Maria Maggiore.

We had a lovely time, wandering around the streets of Rome and found amazing little restaurants off the beat and track where no tourists go.

Then it was back to Switzerland for a relaxing New Year's Eve.

The next event for Piper Bell was a 90th birthday party in Therwil Canton Basel Land on the 4th of January - it was bitterly cold and all the streets were covered in ice - it was a miracle I didn't end up on my bottom walking to the gig which was in a Pizzeria. But Piper Bell had them all up dancing - and we warmed our winter hearts.

Despite the cold weather Pizzaiolo Damiano was back at work in Küssnacht and Baar.

Then Piper Bell was off to Glasgow to compete in the CLASP at the Old College of Piping building in Otago Street.

I performed in the Piobraechard Grade 3 competition playing The Lament for the Old Sword.

My judge for the Light Music was Roddy MacLeod- we last met at the Barbados Celtic Music Festival in 2023 where I was playing with the Reading Scottish Pipe Band.

My judge for the Piobraechard was Willie Morrison who was for a time my tutor at the Old College of Piping. He is still teaching and has a vast wealth of knowledge in piping. His nephew, Donald Morrison was also at the CLASP and we had a good catch up remembering the fun we had playing for the Officer's Traininng Corp Pipe Band based in Glasgow. He expressed an interest in playing for the Scotch Watch at the Worlds in the summer - more about that later.

While I was there I spent one night with my tutor Tom who came and helped me setup for the competition. Thank you Tom! Unfortunately, I didn't win any prizes - maybe one day!! My friends Max and Carla also popped in to say hello and we made a date to go for a curry with my cousin Michele.

Me with Tom Johnstone, Carla and Max Gillespie.

Michele and I met up with Carla and Max for a delicious curry in Glasgow.

I also managed up to mass at our old parish church, the Holy Family in Dunblane, where I met up with the Flannigans. After mass we bumped into lots of parishioners at the M&S cafe opposite - June Payne was there and we had all the update as to her family. I found out that my old school friend, June's son Edward passed while cycling up a hill - I alway thought exercise was bad for you. You've got to look on the bright side of life. Afer coffee I popped in and saw the Ciccus.

Tom made me a fantastic Scottish Cooked breakfast.

Then it was off on Scotch Watch business to carry out vital maintenance on the drums that had been stored at my brother Martin's office in Bridge of Allan (Thank you Martin and Lorna for looking after our drums)  not touched since 2019 - so I loaded up some of the snare drums and drove up to Fort William to spend a couple of days with out good friends Allan and Jane. Allan has motivated us all to put the Scotch Watch back together to compete at the Worlds and with the help of David, our leading tip from Britanny to put together a drum corps without which you cannot compete. 

On the way up I stopped off at Glen Coe to the entrance of the ski station - sadly there was no snow - I spent many weekends here with the army learning to ski.

Me and Jane

Allan in his music studio where he composes drumming tracks for rock groups worldwide - he also continues to give online lessons from here. He also has his own rock group - Introvertus - you can find them on Spotify.

The Lord Lovat memeorial to the Commandos who he led in the Normady Landing to free Europe from the tyranny of the Nazis. There is a memorial garden to all the commandos who have perished in conflicts since the second world war too.

Dramatic weather scenes from Fort William.

Then it was back down to Bridge of Allan to continue the drum maintenance myself and meet up with big John Nevans who was going to assist with the coaching of the Scotch Watch group for their attendance at the Worlds. Our objective was to put a team together and perform to the best of our ability and have some fun along the way.

I also checked out the Red Deer Holiday Park where most of the band expected to stay befoe the competition - more on that later.

I really enjoyed my winter trip to Scotland and a huge thank you to everyone who put me up. Tom, Michele and Jane and Allan. Thanks 

However its always lovely to go home!

Then it was Burns Supper time and I was accross again in Saint Gervais with Dale Thomson and the boys for a quick Burns Supper - unfortunately I dont have any photos and there was no skiing as the weather was just too wet. On the way back from St Gervais I played at a funeral in Thun - it was a beautiful service in a cemetry surrounded by the Alps.

I also played for Mark Chesterfield at several events at the Parkhotel Zug, The Bürgenstock Hotel and then also supported Mark's events in Zug at the Pickwick's pub alng with his act Risky Whisky - all of which was a lot of fun.

Andrea and I managed a days skiing in on the last day of January.

February 2025

Then I was off to meet up with my two golf buddies Richard and David for a couple of days in Dubai.

We managed to watch some of the six nations rugby matches at a local Irish Pub.

Then back to Switzerland. For Valentines Day - Andrea took me cross country skiing. It was an extreme work out and very enjoayable - our teacher was superb - and you can do it all in Andermatt.

Andrea and I were also practising our golf as we had a big trip planned to Cannes so in order to prepare we played some golf - a nine hole golf course near us - called Pilatus which is part of the Migros golf course in Canton Zug.

Then it was off to Heppenheim in Germany for the Scotch Watch Worlds Workshop Weekend with our instructors - Tom Johnstone and John Nevan for piping and Allan Craig looking after the drum corps - we had people fly in from France, UK, Switzerland and all in all we represented by 6 different countries. The setting was in an old German castle which has been converted into a Youth Hostel - it was absolutely superb.

A huge THANK YOU  to everyone who helped make this possible - especially to all the instructors but also all the participants who came along - it was an invaluable start to our Worlds journey.

Then as we were near to Frankfurt Airport I jumped on a plane to Salt Lake City to join my American friends for a week's skiing.

You can't go there without trying the In-n-Out Burger - absolutely delicious.

March 2025

Then after a very long journey - via San Francisco - Frankfurt to pick up my van and all the drums from my friend Robert, I finally made it back to Zug to celebrate with Andrea and watch another wonderful Zug sunset.

Pizzaiolo Damiano started making crêpe on the trailer. Below is the Schoshie Cream, Banana and Nutella!

Punctuated with some day trips up to Andermatt.

Making fresh pizza dough.

More crêpes.

Stunning weather up the mountains.

Then Andrea and I were off golfing in Cannes - our French neighbours below in Zug, lent us their appartment right in the centre of Cannes so after golf party was superb.

While there we managed a trip up to the town of Grasse which is the centre of the french parfum industry.

April 2025

Then it was back to Switzerland for a trip up to St. Moritz for a bit of skiing….

And to visit Marcus - one of my piping students at his mountain home near St. Moritz.

Then back making crêpes and pizzas in Küssnacht and Baar.

Spring arrived and all the flowers behind the flat in Zug were in full bloom.

More crêpes…

One of my pizza clients  - Leo Haas - is a photographer - if you need any photographs just contact him. https://www.instagram.com/loewenherz_photography/ - he took the one below where we made videos - you can watch them here 

and here

Then it was Holy Week back at the Gute Hirt.

We enven managed a last day of skiing.

And then it was Elouisa's birthday and we had a lovely family gathering in Ruislip at the old Swan pub in Ruislip.

May 2025

Andrea scurrified the grass at her Mum and Dads' - I dont think she quite recovered from the effort. I raked up the moss and we filled 4 upright buckets for compost.

Good job!!

Stephen came to help and afterwards we all had a BBQ or a Brei (not sure how that is spelt in South African!?)

I made a quick trip over to London to visit my grandson Zach for his 1st birthday!!

Then my Pizza trailer needed some TLC as the sun and weather had caused the tape on the rivets to fuse with the paintwork and cause strips of rust - so advised by our good friend Elke Santschi who is an expert in car paintwork - we started work - Walter did a marvellous job helping.

Walti helping…..

Then the primer was put on….

Then the first coat of paint…..

And Girasole was ready to go back into service. A huge THANK YOU  to Walti for his help.

Our neighbours from the flat joined me and Walti and Therese for pizza in Blickensdorf.

The all new look Girasole!!

Elke and Pierre André came to visit us in Zug and we had a fantastic meal out at the Capon restaurant in Zugerberg.

Then it was the Swiss Highlanders Drill Weekend. Below is my good friend Claude Tissot.

We all had a band meal out at the local pub and I led the Scottish songs!!! Below I am pictured with our band tutor and the Piping Music Director for the Basel Tattoo - Stuart Samson.

June 2025

And here is the Swiss Highlander team for the Basel Tattoo 2025.

Then more BIG news for Pizzaiolo Damiano as he managed to negotiate a very good spot to sell pizzas and crèpes with the great help of our friend Donato - at the Greppen Badi - I would like to thank everyone who came along to buy - the weather was exceptional in early June but come July unfortunately it rained non stop and the Badi at one point was completely flooded - but luckily I was playing at the Basel Tattoo so it didn't matter too much.

Greppen is a small village situated on Lake Luzern between Kussnacht am Rigi and Weggis - it belongs to Canton Luzern. Below is the authorised spot for me to park Girasole. It is parked in front of the marina and serves both marina and the swimming area on the other side of the marina.

In summer it got quite warm 32.9 C but 40C in the trailer. It is actually quite nice to think about these temperatures now in winter where it rarely goes above freezing.

Then we were off for a flying visit to see our good friends Jeanne and Steve who had moved from Chicago area to Kansas - it was a wonderful trip.

I even managed to play a little golf with Steve.

And we saw the new house they have buit for themselves - they are moving in as this is being written - so wishing you a happy and safe move into your new house.

On Saturday 14th June we were invited back to the Gute Hirt to make pizza for all the Altar servers and their families - in the end we served 80 pizzas.

A big THANK YOU  to Andrea for helping me out that day.

On Saturday 28th June I was lucky to be invited to play at Quirin and Jackys' wedding away up a mountain behind Einsiedeln.

July 2025

The main event for July was the Basel Tattoo that started rehearsals on Monday 7th and finished on Saturday 19th. Here are some photos.

Me and Claude doing a selfie to send to his daughter who lives near Küssnacht and has been for pizza at the trailer with her man, Dennis!

I made new friends - Nicolas is from La Chaux de Fonds - so we had good fun together - we now have a wee group of french speakers in the band :-)

You might enjoy this video by La Patrouille Suisse of the flight over the premier of the Basel Tattoo.

Philippe is also a new member of the Swiss Highlanders - pictured below before the parade day in Basel in our No. 2 summer dress.

Our pipe major - Corinne, Nicolas and Corinne's man, Urs - before the dress rehersal.

Corinne and Claudia - our lady pipers.

One of the practice sessions.

There was always time for a beer afterwards.

My parish priest Father Kurt came to watch the Tattoo with his friend Padre Simon from Mexico!! Simon lives in Zug so I am sure we will be seeing him again.

And all the hard work paid off - a perfect thistle formation by the massed pipes and drums - Stuart was very happy. 

And just to prove I was actualy playing. Thank you to Therese and Walti who came to watch me in the last show before we all drove home together.

Between shows we could use the public baths in Basel - this is Eglisee Badi in Klein Basel.

After the Basel Tattoo - Andrea and I managed a few days to escape down to South Lugano which was actually Italy - where we stayed in the Hotel Funicolare in Alta Valle Intelvi with amazing views over Lake Lugano.

Then it was my birthday.

Andrea made me a steak tartar of love. Thank you.

And bought me my favourite pen. Thank you!!

Her Mum and Dad gave me this very arty piece created by Zurich artist peclard.ch who made grafiti all over Zurich with the sign on the bottle.

August 2025

The biggest event in August was the Scotch Watch trip to compete at the Worlds in Glasgow. It has been like planning a military campaign - from organising workshops - doing online and in person band practices every Sunday between 4 and 5pm in Badabum in Zug, to working out travel plans and getting everyone organised to be there, ready to play in uniform. We mostly managed all of this.

Melanie Hein, one of our pipers, thankfully agreed to accompany me in the van. I packed the van with everything we would need that was't already at Bridge of Allan and drove from Switzerland to pick up Melanie in Cologne (via Robert for coffee) and onwards to London and then up to Glasgow to start our amazing adventure. 

Melanie has her own pipe band from her village near Cologne and was a great help during the whole trip.

En route to Glasgow - Melanie and I stopped off nearby in Slough and met up with Roma, Josh, Elouisa and wee Zach - we found out too that Roma is expecting her second baby - so wow - more on that story later.

Roma surprised me with a very nice birthday cake. Thank you!!

Then it was back on the road and we made a cumpulsory stop at the West Morland Services for a full english breakfast. We also bought Mrs Bell's Blue Cheese.

Then it was off to the Red Deer Holiday Park in Stepps where my Mum's family are from. Most of the band stayed at the holiday park.

We had fun putting up the tent in a force 6 gale and only thanks to Dermot who came to our rescue did we manage! My good friend and fellow piper Robert Gunther was sharing the tent with me. 

Its a fabulous tent - Andrea and I bought it in 2011 in France and we haven't used it a whole lot but it can sleep 8 people - so for two it was extremely comfortable. Its made by Outwell and the model is Michagan 1. There are two wings, one for each of us and in the centre we had our living room / kitchen.

The band had  full programme setup - the first weekend we played with the Kirkintilloch Pipe Band led by Callum Kirk who kindly allowed ud to play with them for the Lenzie Gala Day. We piped up the High Street from the Train Station to Lenzie Rugby Club. We had great fun and the weather was not too bad either.

The Sunday after Lenzie Andrea was over staying with my cousin Michele so we all met up south of Edinburgh to visit Roslyn Chapel - its all so complicated now as you have to book beforehand but there was no-one checking so we just walked in anyway.

We all metup later in the week too for a meal at Michele's local - The Applebank Inn - we had to try their Iron Bru Ice Cream!! It was so sweet!!

The Monday after the Lenzie Gala Day - was the CLASP World Solo Championships. I took part in Grade 3 but can only dream of making the prize list!!

The Scotch Watch Practices began for the Worlds - through John Nevans we were able to book the Parish Hall for the local church in Stepps - St. Joseph's RC Church where my Mum and Dad were married and also where my grandparents went to school - the area is called Cardowan.

Robert and I went through to Edinburgh to listen to a Piobairechard Recital organised by the Piobairechard Society - Robert Wallace was the host - beforehand we met Robert's cousin, Gavin for a pint.

We also managed a bit of a road trip - collecting the drums from Bridge of Allan - we caught up with big brother Martin for lunch at the Birds and the Bees, then had coffee with Willie and Debbie Parks.

We had an unexpected stop too with our good friend Max who welcomed us with a rendition of Flower of Scotland on the pipes from his flat window. He came to listen to the band on the Saturday.

Stephen also made us a fabulous Bray (BBQ) one evening on the campsite - pictured below with tenor drummer Susi.

Every day (except the Wednesday) we practised at the Parish Hall. By Thursday the whole band was present and we started to make good progress with the sound. 

The weather was stunning and we even started to practice outside. Here we are being put through our paces by John Nevans.

On the Friday before the Grade 4B competition on the Saturday, we headed down to Glasgow Green to have a complete run through. We all put our uniforms on - mainly so we could get in for free but also to check we had everything. Below are Stephen and Robert displaying the Scotch Watch symbol - two geese heads in the shape of the St Andrew's cross.

Brian Lamond was there too - helping us tune up.

Marco Kreissl was there too - he took on the role of Pipe Major and did a great job. Below you can se him with Robert.

And also with Nadine - we had 6 players who joined us from Germany's Northern Winter Piping School. More on that later.

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Unfortunately, Joanne  (pictured above with Tom and John) didn't manage to play as I forgot to register her. Apologies Joanne!!

Dermot was there too -he's an Irish lad living in Germany and is also one of Tom's students.

Chris Sprenger played bass drum for us, doing a superb job and his wife Sabine played pipes in the band. We really appreciated having them there.

Below Tom, me and Robert getting ready for our practice on the Friday before the Worlds on Glasgow Green. 

Below is Nadine who played pipes for us. She did a great job playing beside her tutor, Brian Lamond. 

Behind Nadine - you can see the high rise buildings of the Gorbals - before it used all to tennements - where my Dad was brought up as a boy.

Tom, John and Marco checking out the ring where we would be playing on Saturday. We managed to have a complete couple of runs through. Any band thinking of doing the Worlds should also do this.

The drum corps - getting ready under the instruction of Allan Craig.

Then the whole band was ready for a run through.

After a hard day's practice we met up for our band dinner before the Worlds at the Garfield House Hotel - Michele and her good friend Jeannie also joined us.

Then it was the big day and our preparation all year to play our five minute set infront of the judges was upon us. It is a lot of effort but I think everyone really enjoyed the experience who know we might be back in 2026 if not hopefully 2027.

Drum Corps - Instructor was Allan Craig

Pipe Corps - the instructors also played in the band

After the Worlds, it was for me no time to party - assisted by Robert and Stephen we took all the drums back to Bridge of Allan and then back to the campsite for dinner - steak and mash washed down by a delicious bottle of french wine given to me by the Breton drummers who formed most of the snare drummers playing for us. Very much enjoyed and appreciated.

Then it was time for the tent to be packed away and the van filled with all our kit and for Melanie and me to drive back to Cologne - we drove all the way leaving at 9am on Sunday - we arrived at her house at 1am on Monday morning - then I got up early - collected Robert from Frankfurt Airport and drove him home to Bensheim. We had a coffee and I drove on south to Switzerland.

It was good to get home.

Then it was Reini and Nicos' Golden Wedding Anniversary that we celebrated with them after mass on Sunday 24th August.

Then Piper Bell was off on his travels to sail around the Greek North Cyclade Islands with his golf buddies Richard and David. There was a lot of preparation put in in the background to get ready for this trip. I had to brush up on all my sailing knowledge as I was the official skipper. Richard also had his skipper's certificate and so we managed between the two of us to have an enjoyable and incident free (no accidents) trip.

September 2025

The boat we rented for the week was called Fizzy - A First 36 made by Beneteau - quite nippy when you have all the sails out - we managed to get 11 knots out of her but she could probably do 14 knots which is pretty fast.

We sailed from the Olympic Port on the mainland - staying before and after the trip at a fantastic family run hotel called the Saron - you need to book by email or phone as they are not online. 

Our route was from Olympic Port to Korissa overnight on the Island of Kea and then from there to the Island of Kythnos where we stayed overnight then onto the Island of Serifos - we then started our way back. The thing with sailing is you have to make a plan and be prepared to change it - depending on the weather. So we had planned more islands but …. The forecast for the last few days of the trip was bad - high winds and big waves - the Meltemi wind is infamous in the North Cylades and it blows for most of August and September. So we decided to stay in port back in Kythnos at Merichas Marina - it hadn't changed too much from when Andrea and I were last there back in 2012 with our good friends Nicola and Roland. We stayed two nights before heading back to the Olympic Port - we were lucky with the weather and managed to return the boat safely, motoring all the way through 2-4 meter high waves with a force 5-6 wind.

Skipper Bell checking the time.

Skipper Williams in charge.

Seaman Pagliari in his favourite pose.

When we stopped off in the ports we managed to go and visit some of the islands. Below is when we stopped off in Lavadi on the Island of Serifos and took a taxi up to the village and then walked up to church at the top where you can see the port where we were moored up in the background.

The pipes came along too and I entertained some of the fellow yachties. 

The food as always was just amazing.

The boat came with a Garmin satnav which was perfect. But for planning our trip as well as the usual nautical and pilot books I used Savi Navi which is a bit like Google Maps for boats. Below are some of the ports we visited as per SaviNavi

We were happy to be back on dry land - David went home early and Richard and I had a few days chilling at the hotel and visiting the local beaches.

Then it was back to Switzerland to celebrate Andrea's Mum Therese's 80th Birthday. She invited us to a glass making factory in Hergiswil on Lake Luzern - we all had a visit and tried blowing glass - result was actually spectacular. And then we all ate at the restaurant there for visitors - a great day was had by all. 

Her birthday celebrations continued with a trip back to her favourite spot - Brand in Austria - normally we go skiing there but it is also a fantastic spot for summer holidays too. We stayed at the same B&B, Haus Tuklar, where Walti and Therese always stay, the Mum of the house, Finnie has now retired and her daughter Kordula now runs it - but Finnie is never far away. We had great fun catching up with everyone.

We walked round Lünersee and with the altitude this was quite a challenge.

We were back in action on Friday 19th September with Girasole, Pizzaiole Damiano and Andrea serving up pizza to celebrate a new house reaching a point where the roof is on and all the windows are in and it is officially weather proof. Called das Aufrichtfest in German. All of the workers are invited, along with friends and family. The house is literally 450 meters from our flat in Zug as the crow flies - on the site of an old farm. And it was the son of the farmers who was building the new house. Sadly the family have given up farming but they still let out the land for tennant farmers to use. 

We served up 40 pizzas in 30 minutes.

The views from the farm were simply stunning and we had the most perfect weather.

The pipes were out again to entertain the guests - which they all seem to really enjoy.

Piper Bell was then back in action, playing at a wedding in a Castle near Luzern - it was a busy day as he also had a birthday party to play at that evening. Piper Bell was dressed in his new Bell of the Border Tartan made by the Scotch Watch Drum Major - Frank de Vries.

Then on the last weekend of September Piper Bell played at a wedding on Vitznauerhof 5 Star Hotel - the bride and piper arrived in the Hotel's private motor boat and after the ceremony Piper Bell was invited with the guests on a party boat round lake Luzern - he had to play for his trip though. We were very lucky with the weather.

Many thanks to the photographer Trice Gantner - tricegantner.ch - for more infos.

Then Andrea and I were off on our travels to celebrate Andrea's birthday and our wedding anniversary. We flew to Malaga in Andalucia and hired a car (we used Del Paso recommended by Easyjet - please don't ever use them - we tried and will be going back to Avis for future rentals). Anyway we drove to Grenada for one night before traveling back to Malaga where we spent four wonderful days.

The choice of restaurants is amazing and the quality superb.

Andrea booked us onto a Segway Tour which I would highly recommend - topsegway.es. We toured all over the historical city of Malaga which dates back to pre-Roman times.

At the end of the tour we rode up through a beautiful nature reserve to a view point where you could see all of the beaches and the Port of Malaga - absolutely stunning.

We will be back to Malaga and Andalucia - it has so much to offer.

Then Piper Bell was off up to the Northern Winter School with Robert. We decided to avoid the Friday madness and drive up on the Thursday doing an overnight in Hanover. It was quite an eye opener. We had Korean Food when we arrived as it was late and the only decent place open. It was very yummy.

On Friday morning we went for an explore round the town.

We ended up visiting the City Hall which had somehow managed to survive the Allied bombings of the second World War.

Inside the building we saw an exhibition of what Hanover used to look like firstly in 1689 then 1939 - it was a very beautiful City and then the devastation brought upon it by Allied bombing and what it look like in 1945 - it was absolutely flatened.

The City today is a very different town - modern and very typical of West German towns.

En route to the Winter School we stopped off in another town called Celle - it looked very much better preserved than Hanover. We had a lovely meal for lunch in a local pub where we met some old British veterans and discovered the history. 

Then we finally arrived at the Northern Winter School. This year my teacher was Robert Barnes (Barnie to his friends) who had just been awarded an OBE for his services to piping. His son Cammie Barnes played for the Red Hot Chilli Pipers at the Basel Tattoo in 2018 where I was also playing. Its a small world - especially in Piping!!

We had a great week - meeting up with old freinds and making new ones. Every night we performed in front of the rest of the school. Its very different to performing for the public - playing to your teachers and fellow students is quite daunting - no mistakes. Some of the Scotch Watch were there and with the help of Brian Lamond we put together a little performance of the World's set.

Our teachers from left to right - Barry Donaldson, Brian Lamond, Robert Wallace, Ronnie Bromhead, Roberts Barnes and Billy Geddes.

Then back to Switzerland. I made some bread for us.

November 2025

Then it was over to London to see Cameron for his birthday - he brought it forward as its normally 13th November but as we were expecting a new arrival then it was changed.

My good friends Ana and David kindly put me up for the night and I had fun making crêpes for them and their girls.

David then drove out to West London to meet up with Cameron, Elouisa and Cameron's good friend Luca. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos. Before the meal David and I went for a walk - its actually a beautiful part of London - Hampton Court.

Getting back from London was interesting. My flight was from Gatwick so David got up rely early and dropped me off at Clapham Train Station - when I found the platform there was an annoucement that there was a body found on the track going to Gatwick so all trains were cancelled - David came and collected me and drove me all the way to Gatwick. He must have been knackered. Thank you David!!

My piping student Marcus is making very good progress. We meet up every two weeks or so at Badabum for a two hour session.

Between all of these trips I have been busy making pizza and crêpes at my parking spot in Küssnacht am Rigi - the Thursday service seems to be really good but other days just don't work. I might be looking for more parking spots or indeed a permenant move elsewhere - watch this space.

Then we were off th World Cheese Championships for a day out with our good friend Nadia and there we met Gordana and Martin.

Back in Küssnacht - the snow arrived.

I tried to entice people out of their office by erecting a tent to keep them dry but sadly no takers.

Then Piper Bell has been action - welcoming guests to nine performances of Wänns Zwölfi schlaad (Wenns Zwölfi schlaad) by the Oberägeri Theatre Group - it was a play about a Castle Hotel near Loch Ness (all in Swiss German) so to support the Scottish theme I was invited to play from Saturday 15th until Saturday 29th of November 2025.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity and the great photos. 

Our very big news came in from my daughter Roma who has given birth to her second son - we don't have a name yet - but I will probably be over to visit in the next couple of weeks to meet the new laddie. Huge congratulations to Roma and Josh. And Zach becoming a big brother!

Probably a first for me and definely for Andrea which is kind of surprising - we went skiing in Andermatt, Gemstock - earliest ever for us on Friday 28th November - only a few slopes had been prepared but there was lots of snow for the ski station to work with. So, hopefully by next week more will be open and by Christmas it will be fully operational. Here are some photos.

It was an absolutely stunning day - blue skies albeit a bit chilly.

Allan and Jane are coming to visit from Scotland so hopefully they experience conditions like this.

I am writing this and it is now Monday 1st December - the Christmas cards are written and sent out - the Christmas tree will be going up tomorrow and I am trying to sell more crêpes and pizzas in Küssnacht am Rigi - lets see if people will venture out.

Andrea and I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful Advent season on the run up to Christmas Day and a very Merry Christmas when it comes and all the best wishes for New Year 2026. Thank you for reading my newsletter for 2025.

Hello - I will be updating this blog shortly  - in the meantime please feel free to scroll through the Christmas Newsletter from 2024.

Hello and welcome to our Christmas Newsletter 2024. 

We would love to hear what you are up to? How you are? What you think of our newsletter - so please leave a comment below or simply say hello. 

Please donate whatever you can to our favourite charity Project Peru

Project Peru's Christmas Appeal 2024
 

James & Lorraine's Wedding

Claridges December 16th 2023

We were very privileged to be invited to James and Lorraines' Wedding in Claridges Hotel London - Andrea looked beautiful in her stunning dress.

I played Lorraine down the isle and played some tunes to welcome the guests. We had a fabulous weekend.

We managed during our busy schedules to go skiing - not far from Zug in  Andermatt - we will certainly be back in 2025!! 

Andrea continues to excel in her profession as a dental hygienest working in three different clinics in Canton Zug - in Unteraegeri with Dr Vogel specializing in Periodontal Patients, then also in Herti Zentrum with Dr Kurt and in Zahnarztzentrum https://zahnarztzentrum.ch/dentalhygienikerin/andrea-daniela-bell  

She is also on the board of examiners for her old dental school. If you'd like an appointment you can book her, using the link above.

2024 has been a year filled with surprises.

Christmas 2023 we had a family Christmas celebration in Obfelden and it was reminiscent of those wonderful family Christmas’s with my parents in Scotland in Dunblane and latterly in Gleneagles.

Gordon, Marianna, Olga (Marianna's Mum), Mia and Serafina joined us in Obfelden - making it a truly wonderful Christmas.

For Hogmanay we took the train down to Lugano and spent the night celebrating the end of 2023 and welcoming in 2024 at the Colino D’Oro. There was impromptu bagpipes and dancing until our wee feet were sore.

In early January, Richard came to visit from the USA - we skied in Grindelwald where we were joined by Cameron, Ola (Cameron's girlfriend), and her brother Davyd. 

Richard and I continued our trip and went across country to Andermatt.

Richard was able to use his Epic ski pass and was given an annual pass - this gave us the idea to do the same - as for the price of the Epic you can ski all over the World for the same price as an annual pass at Andermatt. So Andermatt will be seeing a lot of us in 2025!

In between skiing Piper Bell was back in action playing for a huge funeral in Zurich for Christian Reinhard, a very well known member of the old Guilds of Zurich (Zunfhaus). The Fraumünster Church was packed and there were TV screens out on the main square. It was all quite daunting to play in front of so many. Piper Bell received many compliments at the end of the service. (You can only laugh!!)

Andrea invited us for a very delicious meal and also my first time at the Restaurant Aklin - I highly recommend trying this place - its probably the best restaurant in Zug.

BURNS SUPPERS & FLORADANCE

Then it was the start of the Burns Suppers and Piper Bell put on his dancing shoes to dance his first public performance with Flora Dance in Luzern at the very luxurious hotel - The Schweizerhof. 

Mark Chesterfield and his whisky experience host Scottish themed events throughout the year and Piper Bell has been his official piper since 2017. This year he played at the Schweizerhof and Parkhotel Zug and other events - see later in the newsletter. 

Our dance teacher is Lesley O'Neill (née Laing) and is a World Champion Highland Dancer. She is B.A.T.D Dance Teacher and founder of Floradance. If you'd like to join us we practise every week in Zug on Mondays and Lenzburg on Tuesdays. For full information please visit https://floradance.ch/

This is one of Lesley's students performing the Sword Dance at the event in Luzern.

You can also book us for events.

Piper Bell was then off to pipe and ski with his old school pal, Dale Thomson who he'd not seen in 40 years!! Despite the long gap it all just seemed like only yesterday. 

Piper Bell prepared a Haggis Meal for Dale and his friends and piped in the Haggis and did the address. 

The next day we all went skiing to clear our heads!

Damian and Dale reunited after 40 years - hope to see Dale and the lads again in 2025.

In between all the dancing and piping - Pizzaiolo Damiano was also busy making pizza in Unteraegeri at Beni Schnüriger's Parkette Shop - in 2024 Beni decided to move to a new workshop where there is already a baked potato food truck so unfortunately no space for Damiano. More news on Pizzaiolo Damiano later.

Every (well most) Mondays, Andrea and I go to Pilates classes with Karla who is the founder of the Pilates Boutique Ägeri. She is a highly qualified pilates instructor with many years experience. We find her classes very beneficial to our well being. You can book her here:- https://www.pilatesaegeri.ch/

After a fabulous Valentine's in Zurich at the Spanish Gransasso Restaurant, we spent the weekend near La Chaux-de-Fonds in Canton Neuchatel with our dear friend Elke and her new man, Pierre-André - they live together on a farm. 

After playing at another funeral in Canton Aargau, Piper Bell packed his pipes and his golf clubs for the boys annual golf trip. This year we decided to go to Marrakesh in Morocco. I have never been in North Africa before and I would highly recommend Marrakesh - the food is amazing. There is a lot to see and do in the town and of course if you golf there are fabulous golf courses to be found nearby.

One evening the pipes were out and we marched around the markets in Marrakesh.

Then it was a long flight home to Zürich - the plane first flew further south to Agadir to drop off and pick up more passengers - we all had to disembark and then were reloaded onto the plane on different seats and back to Zurich. A short break in Zug and then Piper Bell was back on his travels to Jackson Hole to meet up with Rob Marino and his friends for two weeks of skiing heaven in Wyoming and Montana.

We attended an ice hockey match where the local team, The Mooses were playing their rivals the Bozeman Stingers - the pipes were out to entertain the crowds at half time. Not sure if its a compliment but I was asked to play at a funeral the next day of a local celebrity who had fallen down a snow hole while skiing through a forrest and died before he could be rescued. I didn`t have my kilt with me and anyway we were off to Big Sky in Montana the next day - so I politely declined.

Big Sky was fun but the snow, skiing and après ski in Jackson Hole are simply way better value for money. Richard and I decided to stay up in the resort as the alternative was a 70 mile round trip every day - Vinnie and the boys stayed down the mountain but still had fun by all accounts - chasing shots with the bears on snow cats!

Before returning home we had an overnight back in Jackson Hole and Piper Bell played some farewell tunes to the Poet Bus driver who he became friends with - his poems are legendary - keeping us entertained on our way up and down the mountain. He was so moved he cried (or maybe that was my playing 🤣! Anyway we saluted each other. Until we see you again old pal.

Then it was back to Zürich with barely time to unpack and off up north to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day on March 17th 2024 in Frankfurt - this is becoming an annual event with my good friend Robert Gunther.

We busk round all the Irish Pubs in Frankfurt - I think there were eight pubs - as I was driving, Robert was drinking for two and after the 5th Pub was ready to go home :-) 

I had to take this photo and send it to my daughter Roma because she's a Bella!!

Arriving back to Switzerland, Pizzaiolo Damiano was back in action. Andrea enjoyed her huckelberry jam all the way from Wyoming, the beating heart of the USA.

We managed a trip up to Andermatt but because of the snow storms we could only ski the Gemsstock which is not for beginners. 

Spring was round the corner and we had some stunning blue skies in Küssnacht am Rigi where Pizzaiolo Damiano has his trailer permanently parked. If you'd like to visit or book him for your private party please visit his website pizzaiolodamiano.com

Andrea made her masterpiece Pavlova for a dinner party at our flat in Zug.

We were so pleased to have Andrea's colleagues and now good friends Mia & Urs and lovely friends Nadia & Eveline over for a wonderful evening. Many stories were told over a glass of wine and later a wee grappa :-)

Then before we knew it, it was Easter where Piper Bell was again in action piping for the local Catholic Church where he is the official piper for their events.

After Easter mass on Sunday 31st of March 2024 - we drove over to meet The Basel Bells for a sumptuos Easter lunch at Da Andrea at the restaurant Schlussel in Immensee not far from Zug. We agreed to meet there as the Basel Bells were off to Italy for a few days for Easter holidays.

This year the Swiss Highlanders met very early 12-13th April 2024 to have their annual drill weekend at the Musik Insel on the Rhine. We were practising for the Basel Tattoo 2024. The Musik Insel is an absolutely stunning venue for any music group to get together and practice for events or just simply to improve. Its an old benedictine monastry converted into a music school - all of the rooms are en suite and there are large rooms where the whole band coud form up to march. We were very lucky to have Stuart Samson as our instructor and his drum major to teach our drummers. I am the only native english speaker in the band and all the lessons are in broad scots dialect. I wonder if everyone really understands everything but with Corinne now as pipe major the band is going from strength to strength. Corinne is a very accomplished musician but also has supberb people skills, speaking fluent Swiss German and Swiss French. The Swiss Highlanders are always looking for new young players - see the website https://swisshighlanders.ch/kontakt/

Crazy weather! Just when you thought it was safe to get your summer clothes out, it starts snowing in Unterägeri but it didn't dampen the people's appeal for pizza from Damiano - he sold out!!

Piper Bell was again in action, playing at Uli Kleiner's 60th Birthday party on Sunday 7th April 2024, at his farm machinery workshop not far from Wädenswil in Canton Zurich. There was a group of singing swiss chefs!

The same day Piper Bell was again in action, playing for Zurich Caledonian Pipe Band at th LGT World Curling Championships in Schaffhausen. It was all a bit chaotic as we had rehearsed and planned for the opening cermony but we had not practised the closing cermony !! Anyway it was fun!! 

Sadly, the Bachweg Brewery decided to close its doors on Saturday 6th of April. It was a micro brewery setup in Zug's old town by expats from all over the World but it never really got the support of the City of Zug nor the Canton. But anyway I was asked to come and make pizza for the closing event. It was a great success for me. The chap pictured below is the husband of one my Highland Dance friends - Lesley Armstong. Her husband is one of the founders of the brewery. Lesley and her family have moved back to Scotland to Callander to open a restaurnt there.

I setup a mobile pizza station in the corner of the courtyard. I served 36 pizzas in about 2 hours - they had a rock band playing in the brewery - it was such a great event. This is another option for clients with tight spaces - and no room to park Girasole - the pizza trailer.

Then on April 12th, it was out of the snow and into our first BBQ of the year!!

On Friday 19th April 2024 I fly out to London to celebrate Elouisa's 24th birthday with her. We all went out for a lovely meal. And then we were invited back to Roma & Josh's for birthday cake.

Then on Sunday 5th May we celebrated the Orthodox Easter with our good friends Martin and Gordana. Gordana is fabulous cook and she made this amazing cake pictured below - its a typical dish from Montenegro.

At the same party we were introduced to a Serbian drink, Slivovitz which is very dangerous as it slides so easily down your throat and then when you try and stand up you can't feel your legs.

Then after a busy couple of weeks with piping gigs - it was time to start back at Camping Vitznua. This year Pizzaiolo Damiano was only working from Thursday 16th May until the Saturday 13th July - as Piper Bell was playing at the Basel Tattoo from Monday 15th unitil Saturday 27th July 2024. 

The campsite were quite restrictive this year and Piper Bell was only allowed to play pipes for 2-3 minutes before each meal service. And because of a noise complaint from one camper, the trailer was parked in such a way that it was impossible to pick up on my own - so I couldn't do any private pizza gigs. There was also a lot of rain that caused mud slides on the mountain side behind the campsite. One Saturday the fire brigade came and evacuated the campsite as a precaution but luckily the slides did not reach the campsite. However, the camping guests who had permanent parking spots there came and took their trailers away. The local council decided to close the beech nearby taking away all the facilities - the WC block and the BBQ area, as they were scared that rocks would fall off the cliffs killing people. None of this happened. But it all resulted in a lot less people buying pizza. Pizza sales were half of what they had been in the previous year.

It was very wet - every day raining - felt like summer in Scotland!!

On May 15th we were privileged to be visited by my niece Mairi who is now working as a special needs teacher in an international school in Erlangen in Germany. She enjoyed visiting the campsite in Vitznau and we even managed a wee swim in Lake Luzern.

On Friday 30th May 2024, Damian became a Grandad as his daughter Roma gave birth to a beautiful boy who they have called Zachariah. I am very proud of them all. On June 4th I went over to meet the new member of the family.

Josh - the very proud Dad!

While Andrea kindly looked after the pizza trailer in Vitznau on Saturday June 29th, Piper Bell was back in action in Kreuzlingen at a German - USA wedding where Lars Fischer - a wedding planer - pictured below - was in full flow. 

Then it was au revoir to Camping Vitznau and Grüezi to the Basel Tattoo 2024. The training started very early on Monday 15th July and lasted three days. I met up with the Swiss Highlanders. We were lodged in a boutique hotel by the banks of the Rhine in Kleinbasel - we were very well looked after.

Above are all members of Zürich Caledonian Pipe Band. who also play with the Swiss Highlanders. 

It was lovely to meet up with Louise, our Australian friend who I know originally fom the Basel Tattoo way back in 2012. She then moved to England and played with Reading Scottish who I still play for. Its a small World.

Corinne - our Pipe Major with her husband Urs.

I also met up with Ahillima Faisal who is the pipe major of the Singapore Police Pipe Band and a fellow student of the Northern Winter School in Germany. And Greame Bell who was in the Officers Training Corps in Glasgow when my cousin Gavin was adjutant - Greame still plays pipes for Gavin's ceremonials. Oddly he was playing at Basel with Royal Signals Corp which was Gavin's grandad and my great uncle's regiment - Great Uncle Tommy sadly passed away in a Japanese prisoner of war camp in Signapore. Ahiillima and her band play every year at his cemetry to remember the sacrifice of the British & Allied soldiers in the defence of Singapore. 

Then when the shows begin, it feels like the Tattoo is already over - time just flies by.

Meanwhile Andrea was off on her travels to meet her best friend Jeanne from USA in Reims for a few days of discovery of the joys of making champagne. I am sure there were a few tasting sessions too :-)

The picture of the barrel below does not do the size justice. This barrel was on exhibition at the Great Exhibition of Paris in 1889 with Tour d'Effel. It took 24 oxen to pull it from Reims to Paris and held 200'000 bottles of champagne - hopefully it was lighter on its way home.

https://www.champagnemercier.com/sites/default/files/styles/article_tc_m_/public/paragraph/article_tc/field_image/Group%20655.png.webp?itok=xt8k-25b&akamai=d0a71b629792f09955c03277b1b86a74

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XXIcb7QOxOA

Click the above link to see Andrea doing sabrage proud!!

Pizzaiolo Damiano was back in Camping Vitznau to serve pizza for a small rock concert on Monday 29th July. 

Then on the Tuesday 30th we were off to meet our good friends Eveline and Nadia celebrate my birthday on 31st July followed by Swiss National Day on the 1st of August in Poschiavo in the very South East corner of Switzerland. Nadia's mum was born here. We went paddle boarding on Lago di Poschiavo, made BBQs, danced until the small hours of the morning and had a lot of fun. We went shopping accross the boarder in Tirano, Italy. A huge THANK YOU to Nadia and Eveline for inviting us. 

Nadia's aunty (her Mum's sister) still lives in the family village, came to visit us with her man, on the campsite where we were staying 

After Poschiavo we were invited to a Paella evening at Paula & Werner's in Lupfig. 

We were visited by our good friends Cris and Colin during the first weekend of August here in Zug - we were blessed with some exceptional weather.

Then it was off to Glasgow to compete in the CLASP at the World Solo Championships. A big thank you to Marco Kreissl for getting me ready for the competition on the day and of course to Tom Johnstone for all the coaching. We met up with my cousin Michele in the pub next to old College of Piping building in Otago Street.

I played at the competition with a brand new set of pipes from Wallace Bagpipes. Its not something I would recommend doing - the set sounded great however there were no prizes - not down to the pipes of course!! The set of pipes were for one of my students back in Zug.

While there Marco and I visited the 1830 Eatery in Gourock, which is run by Tom's wife, Luida - we had a fantastic brunch there and I can only recommend it.

On Thursday evening I met up with my cousin Michele and she kindly invited to the Malt Whisky Society for dinner. It really is quite posh so I dressed up. Thank you Michele!!

The same evening I met up with our good friend and drumming instructor Allan Craig who was judging the ensemble at the Worlds this year for the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (rspba.org) - we got the ball rolling for the Scotch Watch's trip to Scotland in 2025. More news on that later on. (scotchwatch.org)

On the days before I returned to Switzerland, it was the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow and the sun was splitting the sky as the bands practised in parks all over town. I visited Kelvingrove Park and listened to some top bands - Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band were there and it was quite an experience to see how a Grade 1 band prepares for a major competition.

There were friends all over from Germany too! Below is pictured one of my class mates from the Northern Winter School, Karsten Reichelt who is the Pipe Major of the Barbarossa Pipes & Drums from near Hamburg in Germany. 

There was also the fantastic Wednesday Pre Worlds Concert with last year's Grade 1 World Champions taking the stage at Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall, Boghall & Bathgate who put on a great show. Its no wonder that the band that wins and has to put on a concert before the Worlds very raely wins for a second year in a row.

On Friday morning before the Worlds I met my brother Martin at Sarti's Italian Restaurant for breakfast. It was just opposite the hotel where Marco and I stayed and we should have eaten there every morning - it was fabulous. It was also really lovely to see Martin. Thank you Martin - hope to see you soon.

Then it was down to the Green to watch the Grade one qualifiers on Friday morning.

Just to prove I was actually there - I was filmed by the BBC 🤣

Then it was back to work for Pizzaiolo Damiano at Küssnacht am Rigi and also doing a private pizza gig for the opening of the new brewery building for the Vitznau Gemeinde on Friday 23rd of August 2024. Everyone enjoyed their freshly baked pizzas. Getting parked and getting away were quite interesting as it was on the main road.

The following day Piper Bell was in acion up the mountain. We had to take a Post Auto Bus and then cable car to get to the event. Andrea came along and we were paid for having a lovely day up the mountain in Mettmen near Schwanden in Canton Glarus.

Then on the Tuesday 27th August Piper Bell was back in action piping for an outdoor BBQ at the local Old Folks Home in the Hertizentrum in Zug. 

Piper Bell was in action - playing for the Wald Gottesdienst (Forrest Mass) that the Gute Hirt (Good Shepherds) do every 1st Sunday of September - its a multi-lingual mass held in German, English, Spanish, Italian and Croatian. The biggest congregation is Croatian - and the Croats put on a superb BBQ afterwards serving up tradional food. 

My good friend Robert visited us at the weekend and we celebrated his birthday at the flat in Zug. 

On the same day we also found out that Richard's Dad Jack Williams sadly passed away while on holiday in Portugal - more on that to follow.

On Monday 2nd of September I packed my pipes and uniform and picked up Tom Johnstone from Zürich Airport and it was off to the Princely Tattoo of Liechtenstein for the next 6 days.

Marco Kreissl did a great job as Pipe Major and Tom and I were very happy to help out. Above we are pictured with some of the Irish dancers who were also performing at the Tattoo.

I was (as Tom says) voluntelt to be lone piper - a job I was very privileged to do. Here's a link to me playing :- https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-EjcwEbK2VQ

Sometimes it was all too much and you just have to take a quick nap!

As lone piper I had to perform up a crane - it was a bit daunting - especially when I started to play and realized that the tape had slipped down over the E note on my chanter - so I calmly stopped, shifted the tape and restarted.

The following weekend Piper Bell was busy again playing at a memorial service in a forrest hut (very nice place) in Canton Bern. Andrea came along and helped me into my uniform. Thank you!!

Meanwhile Pizzaiolo Damiano found a new spot in Blickensdorfstrasse 4, in Baar Canton Zug to sell pizza. It's in front of an old hotel that is due to be demolished and new flats are to be built probably in Spring 2025 - so in the meantime he'll be there most Thursdays selling pizza - so far for the last three times there he has sold out.

On 21st Sptember Pizzaiolo Damiano was in action with Andrea making pizza for a birthday party in Greppen - always happy to do more gigs like this. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures.

But on the following Thursday 26th September - Pizzaiolo Damiano and Andrea were invited to serve pizza for The Mövenpick Big Italian Bottle evening - it was a great success. We would like to thank Livia Mehr, the manager of Mövenpick for trusting us to deliver catering for their event. Again it was a great experience.

Here's a sample of some of the big bottles Mövenpick had on sale.

Then we had another dinner invite round to our good friends Martin and Gordona - a fun night was had by all and the food was as usual excellent!!

The next big event for us was Andrea's Dad's 80th Birthday. He was looking great and in good form - they had a lovely meal with friends and family at thier house in Obfelden.

Then we managed to escape for a few day to go and explore the world of prosecco in Valdobbiadene in Italy not far from Venice. We arrived Monday 7th and left on Wednesday 9th October - we had planned a lot longer stay but due to work and family committments we changed our plans. But we'd certainly go back. In October on a Monday most places are closed but we did find a fantastic wee restaurant, Due di Coppe, not far from the hotel where we were staying. 

We only managed to visit one vineyard and we met Vanessa Follador, the daughter of the owner. We had tried one of their proseccos in the restaurant so Andrea found out where they were - 5 minutes from us. She explained the difference between the different proseccos and the ticketing process - the difference between DOC and DOCG - basically a tax to put these tickets on your wine that goes to central govenment. If you buy at the vineyard you can buy without the ticket - same wine but €2 to €3 less. We bought some very nice prosecco and will defintely be back there.

It was Andrea's birthday on the 15th October and our wedding anniversary but it was a work day so we celebrated at home. We opened a very delicious bottle of champagne from her trip to Reims in the summer.

The next big trip was for me to go and pay my respects to Jack Williams and his family in Jacksonville in Florida - so I managed to find a reasonably priced flight from Zürich direct to Tampa and hired a car. Because of the recent floods they didn't have the small car I booked so I received a free upgrade to the Red Neck Beast for all Trump supporters!!

Richard's family made a wonderful memorial tribute to Jack - he would have been proud. He volunteered in a car museum near Jacksonville so on the Saturday 26th October - the car museum allowed us to invite all of Jack's friends and family to a drinks reception - we all dressed up in the racing shirts that Jack had designed for the various races throughout the World that he used to attend. There was a whole crowd of people who came including guests from Le Mans St Michele Racing Club!

I played some tunes for them and looked on in awe at all the beautiful racing cars.

On the Sunday the family had organised a memorial service at the Sawgrass Beach Club.

I played some tunes for them and then as soon as it ended I was off back to Tampa to fly home.

Then it was back to Blickensdorf for Pizzaiolo Damiano and Halloween pizzas.

Roma and Josh had planned the weekend of 12th October to have Zach baptised but they all were sick so literally they had to cancel the event last minute. Unfortunately for me it was re-scheduled for the same weekend as Jack's memorial, so I couldn't attend but here are some photos:-

He's such a happy wee lad.

Then Piper Bell was off on more travels on November 11th to London to see Cameron for his 30th Birthday.

We manged to have a three generations lunch together! Left to right Zach, Roma, Elouisa, Grandad and Cameron.

Then it was back to Switzerland unpack and repack and off up North to the Northern Winter School stopping at Robert's in Bensheim we managed to go and see the Red Hot Chilli Pipers who were playing 5 minutes from Robert's house.

Then it was a five (well actually became 7) hours drive up to the Northern Winter School - my teacher was Robert Wallace and my classmates included some of the best players in Germany!!

Teachers left to right were - Billy Geddes, Brian Lamond, Mark Wilson, Barry Donaldson, Robert Wallace, Barry Keagan and Ronnie Bromhead who organises the school. We had a week of excellent instruction. we gave a concert to the village which was packed and we had a competition on the Thursday at the end of school. No prizes for Piper Bell but he came third in the Strathspey and Reel which was surprising .-)

Julian was with us earlier in the year at Liechtenstein and it was great to have him in my class - he is a very prominsing young piper - he played these German pipes - they sound amazing - along with Bogdan on his drums. You could have been at some medieval festival. 

The next big event was Thanksgiving at the Zug Bells' Flat - where we had 9 of us all round the table. Robert was the only American - there were 8 different nationalities round the table. USA, French, Lebanese, Russian, Estonian, South African and Scottish and of course Swiss!!!

It was quite a bit of preparation and a bit daunting to cook the bird, especiallly as it somehow refroze in the fridge after being defrosted. Luckily I don't have any more hair to loose.

On the 1st Sunday of advent - Piper Bell was back in action at the local RC Church playing for the congregation at the end of evening mass and while they enjoyed a glass of mulled wine outside afterwards. It was absolutely freezing - so I only managed a couple of sets. Samichlaus was there too - pictured below with Shannon from church.

At the time of writing this we are now approaching the 3rd Sunday of advent. We are looking forward to Christmas eve dinner with Walti and Therese. Piper Bell will probably be playing for Christmas day mass in Zug at Sankt Oswald's then we will be off for a couple of days to hopefully see our friends in Rome.

We are not sure what we will be doing for New Year but it will probably involve bagpipes, dancing, singing, eating and drinking.

So wherever you find yourself, we will be thinking about you and have you in our thoughs and prayers for a prosperous and blessed 2025.