Worldman

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World, I still don't know you
2009-09-23 02:16:00
As you know, I call myself World man. But is this a justified name? When I look at the world map, it seems that there are a lot of "empties" left for me to carry that name. Looking at the Americas, I feel naked. I have been to the USA twice. I have never been to Canada and I want to go there. Central America is definitely a region that attires me. And in South America I want to see Chile and roam around in Patagonia.Europe is not so exiting for me anymore except Norway, where I have been several times, the Baltic States and the Balkans. Places where I will return. And then, of course, my "starter" in Russia, a few years ago, cries for more. All the way through to Vladivostok. I also care a lot for Turkey. My stay there just recalls sweet souvenirs.Africa is the continent I know the best and deeply. So, I have no travel plans for there. Except to go to Ghana and see my inlaws. I have not seen them since 25 years. They might be shocked when they see me.Asia, I just discovered it by com...

Worn out?
2009-09-17 01:01:00
In two days I will go for my last break and rest. And at the end of the next month, my mission in Sri Lanka will be finished. In the coming days, I will not be posting very much but I will visit your blogs and comment.I must say that I am tired, not so much mentally but rather physically. Does this mean that this isfor me? I don't think so. It is just that it takes a toll on you when you are out in the field all day long. When you tend your personal needs when you can, at irregular intervals. It takes a toll on you when you feel the suffering of people you are trying to help. I don't mean see but I mean feel. And feeling their pain I do, very closely. They are grateful for the assistance they get. But they need more than just assistance and help. They need to get back to a normal and regular life. They need to find their husbands, wifes, father, mothers, sons and daugthers. And above all, they need hope. I try to give them hope. But do I succeed?I need to take distance from this.

Wondering
2009-09-12 01:45:00
Probably I started wondering when I was a baby. When will they come and change my dipers? When will I get my bottle? When, when, when? But then, I am not sure whether I was wondering at that time. I don't remember.When I was in my teens, I did not think very much. About what I was going to do. Or not. I just did. Or not. And perhaps I should have wondered before I did something.And then came a long, long time span of my life where I certainly did not wonder. Whatever I did seemed to be right. Of course, I was wrong many times. But generally it worked out good for me. Perhaps not for others.But since a few years, I am wondering. Is it because I am getting older? Is it because I know that I have the bigger part of my life behind me? Or is it simply, because I have finally come to my senses?I am now standing at a crossroad with signs pointing to different directions. How should I continue? Well, I continue just the way I did all my life: Just being simple.Should I change? How can I ch...

A quick one to tease Baron
2009-09-08 01:50:00
A lovely aircraft: The Airbus 340-600. With its 75 meters, the world's longest passenger airplane. Here seen on take-off at Kotoka International Airport, Accra/Ghana, on August 29, 2009.
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Jazz on the 5th, Nr. 16
2009-09-05 01:03:00
This month something a bit modern. In the range of fusion jazz. Which is not really my favorite kind of jazz.But here you will see a great, young saxophone player: Candy Dulfer. She has performed several times at the Montreux Jazz Festival. And, of course, she might have seen me clapping my hands. A great artist.

For Baron and frequent flyers (1)
2009-08-27 01:08:00
This is the first of a series of posts about aircrafts. It is dedicated to Baron, all the frequent flyers in this world and anybody who is interested in airplanes.Auster V. The first plane I ever sat in. This was in the early Fifties at the Aeroclub Olten. I remember the back seat I was in: It was "de travers".DeHavilland Dragon. My first real flying in the late Fifties. My father had offered me a one hour flight across the Alps.Convair Coronado 990. July 1965, when I left for Rwanda I flew with this to Athens. One of the airplanes I liked to most. Swissair's version had around 120 passengers capacity. Not really a big plane but good for long distances.Douglas DC7. The trip continued from Athens to Entebbe, Uganda. One of the "smoothest" propeller aircrafts. Perfection, just before the jets came.Douglas DC4. Another change of aircraft from Entebbe to Bujumbura, Burundi. Not pressurized which, I remember well, gave me problems with my ears hurting.Douglas DC3. And finally from Bujum...
More About: Flyers

I should be safe?
2009-08-23 01:38:00
Yesterday afternoon I attended a "Mine Awareness" training. The purpose of this mandatory training was to familiarise us with different type of mines we could come across in our work. Our region, in particular north of where we are, is heavily mined. Organisations are working very hard to demine and to prepare for the population to be able to go back in safety and security. And for us to work also in safe conditions to prepare the return of the people.Another training? I have done so many. I should know by now. So, is there a need for an additional security training?I had my first training of two days a few years ago. It was organised by a specialunit of the Swiss Army, the Swissint.Since a few years, the Swiss Army is sending observers to hot spots in the world, often in support functions of NATO or UN units. We also have a company in Kosovo KFOR. The "boys" were getting more and more experienced and it was decided to create a special two day training for civilians who go abroad to...
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In the air again
2009-08-18 05:39:00
Back to Sri Lanka for another tour of duty. I am leaving tomorrow and, as usual when I travel, will not be much online for a few days.As you have noticed, a very friendly "différence d'opinion" came up between Baron and me, originating from my two last posts. About our airplane preferences. I thought afterwards a lot about aircrafts in general and the one's I have been flying in. Just thinking about a few of them more and more came to my mind. Also the airports I have been to.I almost started an inventory. And I came up with an idea/decision.In the coming weeks and month, I will make a series of posts about aircraft I have used. These posts will be dedicated to Baron and all the other people who have been spending a lot of time in aircrafts. And to everybody who is interested in airplanes. Nothing to brag about, simply a historic list about marvellous aircrafts, past and present.

An answer to Baron about his comment on my last post
2009-08-13 05:21:00
To make it easy for you, and to start off, here is Baron's comment:Hi Pete... Congrats man...The chip off the old block is doing A OK...To be very honest with you...I for one do, not like European technology,...simply because of the fact they think ...if it's not complicated...it cannot be good and that scares meI think Europe has a lot of potential but they lag behind.... pride it seemsyour son should try to qualify on Boeings.... If I have a flight on any European aircraft... honestly..and not meaning any insult...I cancel and re book.. I just do not like the airbuses...I do not think they are safe or air worthy... but that's only my opinionThere is no offence and no insult in what Baron says and it is his opinion. And everybody has the right to have his opinion.Let's face it: I never was very fond of Boeing aircraft. Though the 737 is ok and frequently used in Europe. But when I started to fly in the 1960's, there were fabulous aircrafts around. Like the magnificient DC 8 fr...
More About: Answer , Post , Comment

Breakdown
2009-08-08 03:18:00
What happened?Since days, you have not seen me commenting on your blogs or entrecarding. We had a breakdown of our internet. The private one in our guesthouse.And it was the most stupid breakdown. It was not a technical one. We simply forgot to pay the bill for the service. And so on August 5: The end. No more connection. This was almost as bad as me having no cigarettes.I could not visit your blogs, I could not surf, I could not read any news, I could do nothing. We found the bill to be paid (one of our colleagues gets it, but he is absent), we paid and we were promised that the service would be up within one hour. It was not. It was not on after 24 hours. And it was not after 36 hours. And I don't know if it is up now.Because I am not there. I have arrived last night at home. And my wife took me in her arms. I had a good rest and today I sam going to the wedding of two fear friends of mine. I know them from Darfur, they met there and today they get married. And starting tomorrow ...

Jazz on the 5th, Nr. 15
2009-08-05 03:29:00
Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Slide Hampton, Arturo Sandoval, Paquito D'Rivera. Great names. And others. Together in "Dizzy Gillespie's United Nation Orchestra". Playing "Tin Tin Deo". The summit of jazz and latin influence. Recorded in the early 90ties at Royal Festival Hall in London. The band gave also a concert at this period at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Of course, I was there.The video lasts about 10 minutes. I was not able to put it "straight" on the blog, so you will have to click the link:The Inventor of Be PopDizzy, the inventor of Be Pop, starts with his solo on his twisted trumpet (it seems that many years ago, he walked on it. He felt that he hears the sound better and had then all his trumpets custom made with the twist) and then smoothly hands over to Paquit0 D'Rivera for a smashing solo on his alto saxophone.Enjoy. I am sure you will.

Happy Birthday, Switzerland (like every year)
2009-08-01 01:30:00
Today August 1, my dear Switzerland , is your birthday. You were born in the year 1291. After the defeating of the terrible Austrians. Three guys conceived you. You grew, over the centuries from a 3 state country to a 26 state one. And over all those years, you have become a stout lady called "Helvetia".We are all proud of you. Even if some of us think (and truthfully, not so much anymore) that you are a bit "uptight". This might perhaps have been because we are landlocked. With big parts of the country surrounded by high mountains. They prevented us for a long time to get out to the big world and, perhaps, made that we were (are) a bit narrow minded.But things have changed and are changing. You have opened yourself to the world. Because today it is easy to travel in the world and many of us are doing so, either for work or for vacation. And this has opened your mind, bit by bit over the years.Sometimes you are selling yourself not very well. And that is why many people still believe...
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Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean
2009-07-28 03:12:00
Here are some views of lovely Sri Lanka . They say more than words.But a few words anyway. Sri Lanka has now finished its war. There are many things to be done for "nation building" and it will take a certain time. Many are working hard at it. And inspite of all this work, we find time to relax a bit in this beautiful island country. Its beauty of nature and its beauty of warm, nice and friendly people. And it does not matter to which ethnic group they belong. They are simply charming.
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Memoirs: Chapter ??
2009-07-24 02:42:00
Now, you should see here a new chapter of my memoirs. Well, you will not.It just so happened that on the last chapter I received a very nasty, unpleasant comment. Though I believe in free speech, though I am really cool about what people think and though I don't care when I am getting insulted, I will never accept that my personal entourage (family and friends) are exposed to improper behaviour.I have created a new blog, dedicated to my life story.It is a private blog with restricted access. It can be read by invitation only. I limit the access to an "inner circle": You, my friends from my favorite blogs.Today, some of you will find an invitation email, inviting you to read the blog. I found the addresses on your blogs. If you dont't receive my invitation, this means that I did not find your address. Please email me at "p.voegtli@bluewin.ch" and you will receive the invitation with the link.There are two ways of visiting the restricted blog:a) you have a Google account and you can...
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Celebration
2009-07-21 01:08:00
About 2 years ago, I celebrated my 100th post. Today, this is my 400th post. I have been going on with my blogging, with pleasure, fun and a great joy. Blogging has been (among other things, of course) my major means of switching off from daily life, to relax and recharge my mental batteries.I have been encouraged by you all who have been following me, visited me and left comments. You have become close friends and I appreciate your being with me.Myspace CommentsI would like to thank you from my heart for this never ending faithfulness. It gives me a lot of courage to go on.Go on, I will. Because, though this is my 4th year of blogging, I am still a small boy compared to a true giant in the blogosphere. When I celebrated my 100th post, Dr. John celebrated his 800th post. He was then miles ahead of me. Today, I am sure, he is 10'000 miles ahead of me.And a message for "Baron's Life". I have well noted your question about why I don't reply to comments. It is (and was) my firm inten...
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Railroad, Space Shuttles and Horses Asses
2009-07-17 01:25:00
I got this from a friend. I simply love it. And there is nothing to add. Except the photo at the end.***The US standard railroad gauge (distance between the rails) is 4 feet, 8.5 inches. That's an exceedingly odd number. Why was that gauge used? Because that's the way they built them in England, and English expatriates built the US railroads. Why did the English build them like that? Because the first rail lines were built by the same people who built the pre-railroad tramways, and that's the gauge they used.Why did 'they' use that gauge then? Because the people who built the tramways used the same jigs and tools that they used for building wagons, which used that wheel spacing.Why did the wagons have that particular odd wheel spacing? Well, if they tried to use any other spacing, the wagon wheels would break on some of the old, long distance roads in England, because that's the spacing of the wheel ruts. So who built those old rutted roads? Imperial Rome built the first long ...
More About: Space , Horses , Railroad

Heavy mobile phone bills
2009-07-14 01:15:00
I am a born communicator. That is what people say. I talk face to face, I write emails, I publish on the blog and, above all, I make a lot of blabla by phone. Mainly with my mobile phone. In Switzerland it costs me almost nothing. And within Europe not very much. But other than that, it costs (or did cost) me fortunes. As you know, I am calling my wife daily. Only around 5 minutes. But at 4 dollars per minute. And then, there is also my mother who worries about me, so I have to tranquilize her. I also want to know how my son is doing and finally, there are some issues, from time to time, I have to take care of with my agency's HQ.I am a "VIP" customer of my provider "Swisscom". I get new phones from them very cheap and call rates almost at zero, when I am in Switzerland. I get invited by them to be in the VIP lounge when Roger Federer plays tennis. The problem is that I don't care about tennis. Or they invite me for priviledged performances of an opera. The problem is that I am ne...
More About: Mobile , Phone , Mobile Phone , Heavy

Sri Lankan Beauty
2009-07-11 03:05:00
Words are useless. Except to tell you that soon I will show you the beauty of Sri Lanka, the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. And its marvellous, friendly and charming people.
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Dignity and respect
2009-07-08 01:12:00
Now, some of you will think, after having read this post, that I am an old and sourpussyish man. Which of course I am not. Also, I always claim that I am "young" and have a "modern mind". Which many, and in particular my daughter, will testify. I do much of "free" thinking and am not really good at "conventional" behaviour. But I believe in dignity and respect.The picture of this young lady in a mini short is not to "scream" againt such outfits. On the contrary. It looks cute. But it would not make me run after such ladies. For the simple reason that I am to old to run after them and they would run much quicker than me anyway. And in our countries, such dressing and outfit is common, in summer, also. In our countries!A few days ago, Qatar Airways flew me to the Arabian Peninsula. Where we have uptight contries like Saudi Arabia. But also other places that accomodate to Westerners like Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In the transit area of Dubai Airport there is even an "Irish Pub". Where...
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Jazz on the 5th, Nr. 14
2009-07-05 01:24:00
Right now, in Montreux, the Jazz Festival is going on. And for the 5th year in a row, I am not able to attend. Montreux, for two weeks is the world capital of jazz and many other kinds of music.I have been a "festivalier" since 1986, the year we moved to Montreux. And I have T-shirts practically from every year. Even the last 5 years. Because my daughter goes and buys them for me. What lovely souvenirs I have. During the two weeks, there will not only be concerts in the Auditorium Stravinsky and in the Miles Davis Hall. But there will be also hundred of free concerts on the quais along the lake. Concerts of great and unknown performers. I always look in the program leaflet for the big bands. Because I love big bands. And there are no big bands anymore, or just a few, like Maynard Ferguson. But the US colleges and high schools are maintaining the tradition of big bands. And they have real good ones.A few years ago, there was a big band playing at the "Kiosque de musique". A beautiful...

Back!
2009-06-22 03:55:00
I travelled well. I had no problems. As I had a valid passport with a valid residence visa for Sri Lanka. When I travel in Europe, I don't need a passport. The Swiss Identity card is sufficient.It has the format of a credit card and, therefore, can be easily be carried in your purse. The ID card also serves well when you have to go to the bank, to the post office, simply when you need to show who you are. It shows your birthdate, your height, your name and your place of origin. Because every Swiss has a place of origin. Which has nothing to do with your place of birth. I am born in Berne. But my place of origin is Hochwald. A small village high up in the Jura mountains. I never have been there. But all the Swiss having my family name are "originating" from this village.But now, my place of origin is Montreux. Because I applied for citizenship of the town of Montreux. It was granted to me. And so I can say that I am a French Swiss. I am not a German Swiss anymore. But then people a...
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The break is finished and I am rested.
2009-06-19 03:48:00
Not so much physically. That would take more time. But my mind has been refreshed, I had fun and nice things and my batteries are fully loaded again. My wife has finished taking me in her arms, my daughter is sad that I am going again and my son is tired from the long bullshitting we did together. So, tomorrow I fly back to Sri Lanka. With some rumours/news: It seems that WFP is going to ask my government for an extension of my mission for 3 more month. We will see.Anyway, among many nice things I made during these last 10 days, I stocked up my wine "cellar". I put cellar in brackets because I don't have a cellar and I keep my wine in a "buffet" cupboard. Which is perfect. And for wine (and a few other things) I am a perfectionist. Because I am a knight or a companion of a wine brotherhood. And I decided that it would be "classy" to bring outmy decanter and carefully pour the wine in it. Let it rest a bit and then drink it from mycup. Both are made of heavy "étain" and have the in...
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Bad sense, good sense?
2009-06-15 02:29:00
I love to post like this. Because I don't need to write a lot. You agree, there was no need for much words?
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IDP in Sri Lanka
2009-06-12 02:30:00
I find this a very interesting interview. I will, in the coming weeks, make comments on it. The more so as I am on the spot. And it is a first response to my "outburst" last week in connection with Ban Ki Moon's visit here.Brushing off all the allegations that the IDPs in the Northern refugee camps live under squalid conditions, the Chief of Staff and the Competent Authority of the resettlement of the Northern Province Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri reiterated that no youth had disappeared from the camps.In an interview with the `Sunday Observer’ he said that things in the camps were `progressing speedily’ and the government would introduce more programs to make the lives of these civilians, who were battered under the LTTE, more comfortable until they go to their own habitats.Giving an overall view about the resettlement process, he said that all the LTTE surrendees were well fed and protected while exposing them to rehabilitation. Excerpts of the interview:Q: TULF Leader V. Anand...
More About: Sri Lanka , Lanka

Up, up and away
2009-06-08 01:09:00
Tomorrow, I go. I take a few days off. R + R. "Rest and relief". Something that we are entitled to. Something which I thought was useless, when I started to work in Darfur. Today, I don't think so anymore. This break is needed. And welcome. One does not lead a normal life in this work. It is a seven day job and not necesseraly 24 hours. But almost. The readiness to answer some need has to be permanent. And you better don't fail. When an issue comes up, it has to be addressed immediately, at 9 pm or at 5 am. And unforeseen things happen, all the time. What to do when you expect 10'000 people to arrive, they need a warm meal and all of a sudden it starts to rain heavily. It does not matter, the cooking has to go on. And it does go on. What to do when you finally go home in the evening, dead tired and you settle for the night and then you are called to a meeting at 8 pm. You go, because a meeting at that time means a serious issue. But tomorrow no meetings. Tomorrow, a car will take...

Jazz on the 5th, Nr. 1
2008-06-05 07:10:00
Just before I am off: I am tickled, I am pleased. I finally discovered the wealth of "YouTube". And in future (in honor of today's date, day of my discovery) on the 5th of every month, I will put a nice piece of jazz music. Here is Count Basie and his orchestra with "One O'Clock Jump", recorded in 1943, the year of my birth.
More About: Jazz

Just something, part 2 and end
2008-06-04 07:58:00
I am getting ready to go back to Sudan again, in 4 days. I have to go to the doctor still for a check up and will be busy with many things before I go. I will have no time to post but I will check your blogs. So, to sign off until next week, let me finish with the biography by Scott Yanow of Woody Herman.***Next up for Woody Herman was the Third Herd, which was similar to the Second except that it generally played at danceable tempos and was a bit more conservative. Herman kept that band together during much of 1950-1956, even having his own Mars label for a period; Conte Candoli, Al Cohn, Dave McKenna, Phil Urso, Don Fagerquist, Carl Fontana, Dick Hafer, Bill Perkins, Nat Pierce, Dick Collins, and Richie Kamuca were among the many sidemen. After some short-lived small groups (including a sextet with Nat Adderley and Charlie Byrd), Herman's New Thundering Herd was a hit at the 1959 Monterey Jazz Festival. He was able to lead a big band successfully throughout the 1960s, featuring s...
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Courage, greatness
2008-06-03 07:23:00
I am not going to say much. Pumuckl (Sharing Means Caring) put this on "facebook". Please take your time and watch it. I am deeply moved by this. Will I ever have such a courage?

I am keeping my promise
2008-06-02 04:48:00
Yes, I am not grumbling about Switzerland, I promised. I just report on things happening in my country. And then I am a nice person.That is why I am showing a pleasant picture of this man. Christoph Blocher, our former Minister of Justice. From the SVP (The Swiss People's Party). Who did not get reelected in last December by the Parliament. Remember, I wrote about it. They prefered a lady.Elisabeth Widmer-Schlumpf, the new Minister of Justice, from the same party. She was not a candidate but behind the scene other parties where proposing her and she was flamboyantly elected. This put another man into troubles:Samuel Schmid, our Minister of Defense, Protection of the Population and Sports. He is also from the same party. The old "crocodiles" from the SVP got so angry that "their" Christoph did not get the job anymore and they decided and declared that they don't have two Ministers in the Goverment anymore. Which means they do not support the two anymore and don't stand behind them...
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Just something
2008-05-31 05:54:00
You know that I like all kinds of music. But in particular big band jazz. My favorite is Woody Herman, as I said before. He has accompagnied me throughout my life, since 40 years. I had a collection of about 30 vinyl long play records of him. I lost them on a move from one country to another. Luckily, the CD's came and today I own about 70 of Woody's music. I thought it would be nice to share something about Woody with you. He was very important in America's jazz history.I have no merit in what follows. I am simply posting this biography I discovered on "All Music Guide". It is written by Scott Yanow and it is beautiful. As it is a bit long, I will make two posts.***A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist, Woody Herman's greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands. He always encouraged young talent and, more than practically any bandleader from the ...