...had to drive for hours on bad roads to rescue a car lost in the mountains, had to carry my sleeping son to the fith floor before I could get my first shower in 2 days...

but it's still ONE OF THE BEST WEEKEND I'VE EVEN SPENT ! :-D

Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you (Makso's style) Mary Mary Mary mary me for organising it ! The place was great, the murder mystery play hilarious, the organisation top level. Thank you EVERY SINGLE ONE of you participants for being so nice, friendly, relaxed, fun, respectfull, helpfull, genuine and, last but not least, children wannabeguitarist and gay friendly ;-)

Seriously speaking, it's rare to spend a weekend with so many poeple in such a remote place with absolute zero argument. I did really enjoy the weekend, and so did my son. Thanks to all the ones who gave me a hand dealing with him, feeding him, cleaning him, entreteining him, etc. Hope you had a safe journey back... and found a way to get you bag ;-)
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 12:17

The Chalet du Grutli was the perfect venue for a bunch of new and old friends who didn’t want to go home after the party but just want to hang around a while.
It was a delightful week-end because everyone present made it so. Hovever, I intend to thank the lot of you.

ARCHIE: First-thanked because he was the silent organizer. His name did not appear on the invitations, yet it was Archie who supported me through these weeks of planning, organizing, emailing, worrying and enthusing about the week-end. He did the necessary shopping with me. He spent a Saturday afternoon with me being given a tour and instructions about the chalet so that everything would run smoothly in a remote area with no electrical outlets and only one car able to park up at the chalet. Once everything was set up, he drove back down the mountain to fetch everyone’s luggage so they could hike for one hour without carrying all their delicious food and drinks they brought to share with the Army.
Then he did the same thing backwards on Sunday, bringing everyone’s luggage down and then coming back up to empty our rubbish (amazing the number of bottles).
All this AND he played a sleazy, money-grabbing cowboy character in the Murder Mystery and kept everyone in stitches. Archie, change your logo to Rhett!

JULIANT: Who slaved over the barbeque on Saturday and almost forgot to eat something (but never to drink) and who also played our narrator for the Murder Mystery dressed in a tuxedo top with cummerbund over, ahem, shorts and sandals (What would Mister Sark say about this fashion crime?)

WAYNE: Who not only prepared and brought music for the Murder Mystery and the dancing (with contributions from SimSim, Tinkie and Archie) but whom also, and this is important, spent all morning on Sunday making French Toast for 29 people! Not everyone crawled out of bed at the same moment but everyone wanted French Toast…

URBAN_HIM: Who cheerfully fetched our late-comers at the station, and even brought one early leaver back to the station at midnight.

HOBBES: Who played two major roles in the Murder Mystery: first Big Daddy, the rotten-to-the-core billionaire whose life is threatened by his kin, then Ashley, his own useless, would-be poet of a son who can’t even consummate his own marriage to give Big Daddy an heir.
How Hobbes pulled that off so beautifully! And the only reason he didn’t develop a personality disorder from this double-role was that Nurse Bobbie Jo, played by TINKIE, looked after his every need, all the way to the end…

NANOU: Our Marseillais doctor-without-borders, (that’s his role in real life) who saved several friendships on Sunday morning but setting up a chain of coffee making in those small Italian makers and continuously filled thermoses up with the life-saying liquid. Those thermoses kept coming back empty from the terrace and Nanou kept bravely on until no more emergency calls for coffee came snarling from the terrace.

SIMSIM: The memory of whom I’ll forever picture in three scenes: One - as Big Daddy’s Heather Mills of an ex-wife (he’s still mine!), skipping about the room in flowery boxers and wild-looking Wellies.
Two – on Sunday evening, when the rain finally hit with a vengeance (thanks for holding it off Nir, we all thought of you with a grateful smile), when Archie and I discovered that the car battery was dead and that all the people had already walked down the mountain and were confidently (fools!) waiting on their luggage, SimSim rallied Wayne, Julian, Archie and me together with her true British spirit - hair streaming in the pouring rain, pants rolled up above her knees, Wellies flashing, pushing the completely loaded SUV down and up hill so that we could try to start it up again.

WAYNE and JULIAN who pushed along with her and Archie AND

GILES, HOBBES and NANOU: who saved us all by driving all the way back up with the jumper cables. Probably not your favorite thing to do on a stormy Sunday evening…


EVERYONE: For being such good people, for bringing such delicious food, for helping with the cleaning, for bringing your good cheer to the week-end and for not complaining aloud about the waiting for the luggage at the end of the week-end. Apologies to all for that dead-car incidence, it was NOT planned as part of your week-end experience.

I say: let the Chalet du Grutli become an oft-used GoL venue for those who enjoy the nature and friendship, two of Life’s best gifts, after life itself.

And to end with a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson, who agrees with MarmarK:

"A Friend may well be reckoned the masterpiece of Nature."



MarmarK, Jul 2, 2007 @ 13:44

...as loud, the five of them together, as you did, you mean !? ;-P
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 14:04

We had 4 mascots at the chalet:

Quentin the scientist (he explained to me about solar energy, not bad for a 5 year old, eh?) and animal imitator.
Vanessa the Mini-Maki, all smiles and sweetness, who just finished 1st grade and who made everyone happy at the chalet with her presence.
Marc, the pyromaniac with whom we foolishly agreed to play Truth or Dare. Never again...
Julianne, the sweetie pie, our youngest chalet guest, who probably set the best example.
Thanks to the parents for bringing your children. We enjoyed them being there. Those who couldn't or didn't bring theirs were a bit wistful...
MarmarK, Jul 2, 2007 @ 14:09

We all know the so called "car failure" was nothing but a funny attempt to keep us all together a bit longer. Southern Marmak Mama doesn't like her children to part and we all know ! :-D

Thanks again for organising AND debriefing with such talent. You're a poet... are you Ashely's mum ?
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 15:09

... so did Wayne... but that's another story. Anyway, when I carried him to his bed and put him in his pygamas, he kind of woke up. I kissed him goodnight and asked him "did you spend a nice weekend then ?". In his semi-concius sleep, he grinned and noded yes. No words, but a clearer answer than 1000 sentences could have explained. Something like: "I enjoyed myself to the verge of death by exhaustion". This was actually the first time I saw him asking me permisson to go for a nap ! :-D

I actually didn't saw my son that much during those two days. There were allways some volunteers (or victims ?) to take play with him, listen to his theories or feed him. Best conditions for both of us apparently. Renting fares upon request ;-)
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 15:19

Get sobber Julian ! ;-P
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 15:36

Y'all come back now, ya heah?!....nt
MarmarK, Jul 2, 2007 @ 15:42

Wearing halfwet short T-shirt in the car, On the way back to Geneva, was feeling cold and stomach upset. Feeling better after drinking some hot tea at home. Put on some dry/warm clothes and was able to go to Barrio salsa night at 9:30 as planned.

Really had a great weekend!!! Will write in another thread MarmarK started later! Cheers!

wayne, Jul 2, 2007 @ 17:38

The true Arshies closed their eyes !
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 18:14

Leave Mumy's baby alone and save your batteries ! ;-P
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 18:16

Hobbes, I'm warning you, don't make any squawking noises around my Rhett!
MarmarK, Jul 2, 2007 @ 18:21

Arshies are gay Archies (Ashley - Archie - Arsh - Asches...)
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 18:25

You're so OUT of my friendlist ! ;-P
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 19:14

I should have let you WALK down that mountain !
Hobbes, Jul 2, 2007 @ 19:15

Am very grateful - for the serious amount of running around Marmark and Archie did. A lot! From weekend before, till probably till not much short of midnight last night. They were real stars.

Am stunned - that not more people carry jump-leads in their car. Selfish *&@%^$#^&^*@!s!You are losing out!! Having suffered many a flat battery (not all are resolved by nice siestas in sun listening to feats and gossip... unfortunately) myself, I know just how gratifying it can be for the 'jumping' party to jump-start another (Hobbes, your mind will probably have jumped to another place by now, but I am still talking about cars...) and think you should all go out and get jump leads and stop depriving yourself of being someone's hero in hour of need. Equally, it will mean you don't have to rely on other selfish *&@%^$#^&^*@!s! if you can produce your own set...

Am still confused - Prior to being the ex, I slept with gay son of my gay ex who cared not at lack of loyalty of kin, as he bequeathed his inheritence to the unloyal offspring (ok, wasn't technically incestious to boot as I was only lunatic step-mom) whose subsequent murder was practically incentivised as ex-wife (who slept with aforementioned gay son - just incase you were already lost. And if you were indeed already lost, you would not have stood a chance at the 'bigger picture'....) was to inherit further down the line of murders??? And then the murdered came back to life, but not before the lunatic (ok, this bit I do get) ex-wife, with necrophiliac tendancies, had pranced around in dead man's boxers she had stripped him of.... Was this why I tried to kill myself?

Am impressed with the top food there was. And I am not just talking about that delicious banana bread.... And such diverse and sophisticated culinary offerings too! Chapeau

Impressed too with the acting talent &/or stamina I witnessed, including of the 'detectives'...

Am feeling empty without the 100+ organisation emails to wonder at...

Am sorry, Joelle, that the excitement of seeing you seemed to have knocked me in to a coma. Which further caused me to lose out on leaps over hot coals, climbing of totem poles and some trade secrets, or something equally juicy. When will I see you again??!?! When will I see you again Haaaa, Hoowoo Precious moments ... Am sorry too that we had two car-sick babes on the way back. Funnily enough, Wayne was insisting his T-shirt was dry, which it blatently (the clue was the dark grey blotches on shoulders vs the light grey background...) wasn't as the jacket proved itself non-resistent to the deluge the heavens regaled us with. Intuitively, I gave him warm woolly cardigan (had brought it along for Suggar daddy, but he needed no help in the old man role!...) and did offer to make hot tea. My Brit instinct knowing that it would solve the situation. But, next time I ensure I have T-bags before getting hopes up...

Am grateful - to everyone that let me lie in on Sunday morning. Although.... I never said I was adverse to a MSF coffee and Pain perdu in bed. Next time.

And next time, I will come prepared to sleep out as I really do have a preference to fall asleep listening to people chatting, and if it can be accompanied by mesmerising embers or flames, and the odd shooting star all the more. And doubtless it will probably rain. But next time all cars will be parked such that they don't need 5-point turn pushes if engine fails ;)!

I had a great time. Thanks to ALL!!! Mwaah, mwaaah

Julian, did you make it to the end ;)?! I am sure I could go on...
SimSim, Jul 2, 2007 @ 21:02

...for everything you put into this organisation and success. We are lucky to be able to do this sort of thing and turn them into an unforgettable experience. The magic operated again! Getting me to sing like that was a real achievement. Sorry I don't know the partition...
Elisabeth L, Jul 2, 2007 @ 23:09

on the meadow in a nice and warm Sunday afternoon. I was woken up and asked immediately to fly leap over the campfire by a bunch of bloody audience who wanted to know personal secrets and see crazy acts!!
wayne, Jul 2, 2007 @ 23:52

So much is said by now but still worth adding a comment: To Mary and Tim a BIG THANK YOU for all your dedication, time, efforts and energy you put into making this weekend a special one!!!!!!!! I will not forget: certainly For the great fun I had playing my role but most important For the great company and the chance to get to know each other a bit more, to share stories and experiences that gives us glimpses of who we are, For the delicious food everybody contributed (ChicChoc, please don’t forget to send me the recipe!), For the great atmosphere, (Mark, my young friend and Quentin-the 5 year old gentlemen I have ever met to give me flowers!:) you really spiced up the weekend, and For everybody’s efforts to make us feel part of a big happy family (how is that possible?!), and For the twisted ending as well..! Keep up the good spirit everybody and see you at the next event!
di2006, Jul 3, 2007 @ 00:28

I knew the whole care braking down at the end of this great weekend getaway was a part of the mysterious muder drama continued by you GOL performing freaks!! I knew it and played fool for fun with all of you.

It was all planned otherwise, how would a quick team spirit been easily rallied round to solve this problem. Simsim obviously was not satisfied with her unwanted, lunatic, self-indulged ex-wife role that slept with his ex husband’s gay son and killed at the end.

She was happily to play the main character this time. It was too obvious. She was too readily rolling up her paints up above her knees as MarMark described(actually directed probably), and easily and swiftly directed the rest of us to push a 4x4 SUV loaded with a million luggages, uphill and downhill, trying to start the car.

And then, of course, Hobbes and Nanou, played rescued heroes (Yes! MSF! What a connection!!). JulianT, I did not know your role here but you did not seem to be breathless after pushing this fully loaded car...and I did… Was I the only one who were played and fooled here?

Your guys are such a bunch of showing up freaks… and could I please be offered a more interesting role next time. I actually liked Simsim, Tinkie or Di’s roles. I am going to get one of those flowery boxers. Where did you actually get it???!!), Tinkie, I’ve heard that “nursing” by white uniformed nurse is an universal dream for most men, even for dying people like big daddy). Weren’t they all looking really sexy!!

I can not believe this was Archie’s first GOL activity. You performed so well. I even gave you a second car pushing try all by myself…...You cold bloody fellow did not even give me a surprise by actually starting the car.

You really did very well for the first time in GOL.

We’ve known JulianT and MarmarK’s reputation in organizing wonderful/extra and well-prepared activities. Archie, you are a potential new GOL icon.
wayne, Jul 3, 2007 @ 00:42

Boxers bought in Cologne when was student there in 1990....
SimSim, Jul 3, 2007 @ 10:22

ards ! C'mon, I'm the local folk, I know mountain roads, and it's a private restricted access one. Did you really wanted to spend an extra two hours up there ? You could have walked down you know, nobody forced you... or were you expecting another kiss ;-)
Hobbes, Jul 3, 2007 @ 11:25

Do you realise how many fantasies you're waking up now ? ;-)
Hobbes, Jul 3, 2007 @ 11:28

Actually, when Nanou and I arrived, we expected to see the dead car something like 100 meters from the chalet, but it was gone for good, nowhere to be seen. I had suddenly this flash in my head "Elda indeed told me "they've pushed the car down the cliff'" when she was on the phone with Mary. But could it be true ? Like a B serie "the corpse has vanished" plot, we were to ask "could you please show us the way to the dead car ?"... and that heavier loaded than a truck SUV was a mile away ! You have enjoyed the pushing game for sure, admit it now folks !
Hobbes, Jul 3, 2007 @ 11:34

...that it might not work for him though !

Not my fault if SimSim masters Jump-starting kits btw
Hobbes, Jul 3, 2007 @ 11:37

Thank you everyone, for not just signing up but for going all the way to make it a fantastic week-end. I had as much fun as all of you!!

For anyone interested in using the chalet for future events (at chf 20./ head per night, it's not your most expensive week-end), look up: www.chaletdugrutli.ch.
You don't have to be Swiss to use the chalet. You just have to have a great group of persons like we had; a lot of mutual respect and good cheer is necessary to make it work in a dormitory-style building with no showers. Think of other themes for the week-end you are there: mountain biking, hiking, coaching groups or what-have-you. The place is conducive to only good things, to be honest.

For the Murder Mystery, there are several others available from the website:
http://www.murder-mystery-game.com/
They can be adapted as you like.

Warm regards to all. And remember:

"Friendship is Nature's Greatest Masterpiece"


MarmarK, Jul 3, 2007 @ 12:11

Thanks a lot MarmarK, and Julian, and all the company for such a nice day! It was just exactly what was needed, friendly company, beautifull place and view, relaxed time beside a huge bbq, delicious food... looking at the sun setting in a cool atmosphere...
I apologize not to have been able to say good bye to all of you as I had to be in Geneva early sunday morning, but I crossed Wayne's path, and was quiet impressed to see him so fresh at 7.30 am, jogging all the way up from the train station: ouah!!
A bient?t j'esp?re!
Cheers
Virgule, Jul 3, 2007 @ 14:44

Quentin is my little super star…He already throws Frisbee quite well. He gave me a huge smile Sunday morning in the kitchen when only Mary and I were there and most lazy adults were still sleeping. I fed him some cake. He was happy and pulled me out and showed me and MarmarK the solar panel on the roof.

I also played Frisbees, badminton, American football, high kicks and other tricks with Marc the whole weekend.(No! I did not play fire with him; I tried to redirect his pyromania into healthy sports, :-)

He is a cool smart boy. I will have problem to choose my best Frisbee partner now, between Tinkie and Mark? A tough choice since Tinkie is getting her Frisbee skills really improved. Marc also enthusiastically helped our actors and actresses in murder drama, putting on more cosmetics, only with black power from charcoal. I enjoyed dancing with little Vanessa who is certainly a natural-born dancer.

Even a 3 year old little Julianne who said at least 50 times “laisse moi tranquille” when I was still 10 meters from her were eventually melted by either my charm or my Sushi after a weekend. Exactly and precisely I had predicted it would have taken to reconcile with her. Nobody believed me and even asked me to give up reaching out my friendly gesture to little Julianne. This inspires me an attitude we should probably all possess” If love does not appear at first sight, let it naturally and patiently grow”.

As Hobbes said, he did not saw his son that much the whole weekend since everyone was delightedly playing with them, feeding them and keeping an eye on them. My eyes followed vigilantly when Quentin went downhill to pick up Frisbee, for instance!

“It takes a village to raise a child”. Indeed! It does!
wayne, Jul 3, 2007 @ 16:02

Well, the first experience with GoL was just gorgeous!!!
Was really glad to get entangled in a crazy family affairs, but would prefer to have a "normal" husband who doesn't have to "make an effort" for the future generations :-)

And of course the rain, which became a culminating poit of the whole Mystery, was just another reason to get close and friendly and spend another moment together over a cup of nice hot chocolate...

I even managed to get a fabulous French class from the Quentin, probably the most efficient and passionate French teacher I've had in Geneva so far.

Thanks to ALL for creating the wonderful atmosphere, and HUGE thanks to Mary and Julian for being such caring and thoughtful hosts!!!!
Irishka555, Jul 3, 2007 @ 20:59

your text has something to do with wanting milk?! (nt)
SimSim, Jul 3, 2007 @ 22:10

Not too long?
wayne, Jul 4, 2007 @ 09:44

A light hiking up to the chalet in a sunny Saturday afternoon with frineds, an easy jogging alone in mountain trail in early Sunday morning were simply great and equally nice!

Even an enjoyable late night, drinking/chatting/listening to great music by a warm flaming campfire site could not have stopped it. As an earliest bird to jog and prepare French toast for nearly everyone, last Sunday morning in a remote chalet just could not have been more fulfilled!

Sorry! Tinkie, I could not wake people up since I needed to prove that I could wake up like a cat without waking up other people, especially those well-behaved-group-sleepers, not snoring dorm mates (including you). I knew you would have come jogging with me in the morning had I waken you up.

Murder mystery was not that mysterious but hilarious indeed to see friends dressing funny, looking sexy and acting crazy ….

One of the most compelling scenes in the murder play was not murdering through throwing tomato sauce at Big daddy/Hobbes, neither from Bad baddys’ ex-wife showing her flowery boxers (17 years old boxer?! It is not a boxer anymore, it is an antique! And why mine could never last more than 2 years?), but the final out of line act between Hobbes and JulainT. JulianT, Yes! Lips are for KISSING not for SMOKING. Hobbes, do kiss a smoker really like licking an astray?

In Sunday morning, a luxury of oversupply of great food, French toast with MSF Coffee by Nanou proven to be still popular among French speaking people who did not know what is French toast. Nanou really showed MSD spirit in the mass coffee making and car fixing…We all adore him. My veggie Sushi which I also prepared were not as well-accepted, A lot of sushi raw materials left unused which literally means that I have been eating Sushi EVERYDAY till going to Bangkok tomorrow. I would not want to even look at sushi for a couple of weeks.

You hardly know what people really like!! Sushi took me much more time to prepare and thought it was fun. French toast was a quick playful decision adapted by MarmarK also swiftly via her super emailing skills. Without important flavors like vanilla and cinnamon, for its most important taste and smell, I still received many extra orders. This actually proved that francophone people seem to have no clues what a good American French toast should taste like!! And the worst, is JulianT who actually added Ketchup all over his French toast!! Not syrup nor powered sugar or jam… It seemed even Scots did not know what French toast is! Next time, please make your order more specific…including delivery..

Hobbes is a good singer. I enjoyed lying on the meadow listening to him singing and playing guitar and make the guitar actually quite useful.

Music proven to be extremely important EVEN FOR A NIGHT! MarrmaK, it was Simsim not me who prepared music which we all appreciated.. She was the iPod DJ for the whole weekend too. Terrific songs during campfire talking, drinking & relaxing...The night would have been different without those songs, and of course, those wine (We really drunk a lot of wine),

Dancing in a sunny day! Good company, an open and free mood, even big sunny bright day, we still all enjoyed the steps nicely.

Even the continued drama, pushing a 4x4 SUV breaking down turned out to be fun too….Simsim played a clever strategic leader of us, also a powerful woman….. MarmarK, you were absolutely right, she did rallied me, Julian, Archie and believed that we could push that heavy car loaded with a million luggage uphill again while I thought we were not able to. She followed the whole transcript perfectly! Before knowing what exactly Truth and Dare is….was asked to fly leap over campfire. I would have chosen Dare anyway. Who knows what kind of embarrassing question would have been asked!? But before doing it, I noticed that nobody actually asked me not to!? Not that I was expecting to be stopped since Di had asked this Dare, and I knew it was rather easy! Hardly do challenging things that are not 100% confident and comfortable or well-protected though. The fact that nobody really thought I could have fallen in to campfire and got barbequed…just makes me laugh. You are such a bunch of cold bloody audience!

I had a great weekend and very happy to have many materials for my blogging. Thank you MarmarK, Archie, JulianT for putting this all together and the handwork. Thanks all attendees for your nice company, for delicious food you made, for your energy, smiles, enthusiasm, creativity and performance which made this weekend special.
wayne, Jul 4, 2007 @ 10:05

Really touching. When you consider that my 5yo son doesn't speak any english but "zank you", "hello" or "god bye", the relationship you're having is amazing. He really likes you, even if he feels wierd a grown up like you didn't manage to speak french properly though ;-)

A nice french song "Savoir aimer" goes:

"... savoir donner,
Donner sans reprendre,
Ne rien faire qu'apprendre
Apprendre ? aimer,
Aimer sans attendre,
Aimer ? tout prendre,
Apprendre ? sourire,
Rien que pour le geste,
Sans vouloir le reste
Et apprendre ? Vivre
Et s'en aller."

Which translates (in short) "Give without taking back. Love for the sake of loving. Without any expectation, just for the sake of it, and leave"

Gee... this is getting soapy... but who cares ! ;-)
Hobbes, Jul 4, 2007 @ 14:32

You can't inheritate from someone still ALIVE !
Hobbes, Jul 4, 2007 @ 14:33

sure you can, and save on the taxes...! (nt)
SimSim, Jul 4, 2007 @ 15:21

Not if not WILLING to !
Hobbes, Jul 4, 2007 @ 17:44

since I've already learned how to love for the sake of loving!
Thanks Pal!
wayne, Jul 5, 2007 @ 15:16

...and we'll eventually manage to sing a song together (sorry for not sharing the same repertoire btw)
Hobbes, Jul 5, 2007 @ 18:06

Starting page 4 (but rising up). Thanks Irina and Oded !
Hobbes, Jul 6, 2007 @ 11:57