1. How does it feel to be a 'glocals.com 2007 community Oscar' winner?
OMG! …Utterly thrilled to bits! The recognition feels great, especially because a lot of people who attend events don’t put their comments in the ‘Activity Review’ section, so as an organizer, you don’t always know how well-received the event was by everyone. The support has been amazing …even from people I scarcely know (wow!).
Thanks to everyone who chose to nominate me and took the time to vote!

 

2. Where are you originally from?
I’m originally from Bonnie Scotland, brought up though in and around Brighton (south England) and sent off to boarding school (hence my English accent)… but yup, everything else is Scottish.
Have been in CH since ’94 but we used to have a house here when I was a kid, and the idea of staying in the UK was unimaginable once Uni was over, so I came back here.

3. What do you love about your current city?
Montreux is like a cemetery with traffic lights… The only things that I really like about living here are the spectacular views from my windows, the proximity to ski-resorts in VS, the ‘cheap ‘n’ cheerful’ Chinese resto which I have glocals frequent after ‘R & R’ and the statue of Freddy Mercury down by the waterfront, which people like to visit from time to time - hence I show it to them… Some say ‘Wow, how lovely to be in Montreux!’ whilst referring to the views and the ‘Montreux Jazz Festival’. Yet, everyone I know who lives here, seriously tries to escape at that time of year…

 

4. One thing you would change about your current city?
Umm, how about shifting everything about 30 km towards GE and place it down right by Lausanne? Move the mountains in the same direction too!

5. Favorite way to spend a weekend?
Well, I hate having nothing to do, so I make sure I get out there and enjoy myself – while bringing along a few other glocalers too (so I don’t feel so daft!) …Basically, I tend to use the working week to ‘relax’ (not easy when teaching teenagers) and the weekends to live life to its fullest! …Way to go!…

6. How did you hear about glocals.com, & what was the first glocals activity you joined?
It all started by my desperate need to expand my circle of friends that were ‘sans spouse’ and ‘sprogs’ (kids) as my best friend (‘UncleShooter’) had just got hitched and littl’uns were already on their way. So I decided to organize a one-off ‘Singles Barbeque’ (friends and their friends), which consequently changed my life...Forty-six people showed up, and I’ve never looked back since! …What a life-saver!…

I think the first Glocals activity I joined was a ‘musical chairs’ meal, one summery evening, organized by Iolly in GE… I thought it was a brilliant concept, a wonderful evening out and I’m pleased to say that a few of the people I met there that night are still friends today! 

7. What was the first glocals.com activity you organized, and how was it?
Umm, I’m no longer sure, but my first big memorable activity was when I managed to gather together a group of 40+ for something called: ‘Fantasticable’ (summer ’06). Three mountains near Chatel (in France), linked by two zip-wires. Highest point above the ground: 240m, speed: 80-100 km/hr …What an adrenalin rush! We all then slipped back into CH (Morgins – where I had spent some of my childhood) and had a BBQ down by the river in a forest… it was a great success!


8. What motivates you to be active on glocals.com?
While I admit that some ideas have come from other members, my maternal Clan’s motto is “Live Dangerously” … and that’s what I’ve found out I like doing best(!), but what really gets me going is the fact that there are so many new people to the area (and I remember how hard it was to meet people in the beginning! I like helping to ease their introduction to CH life.
Seeing people enjoy themselves, smile, laugh, doing something that they probably wouldn’t have even thought of doing themselves and meeting people they wouldn’t have otherwise met, is simply brilliant… If Only glocals had existed when I had first arrived!

9. Favorite place in the world?
Morgins (in Valais) as I have lots of fond memories from there, otherwise almost anywhere along the West Coast of Scotland… We originate from Saltcoats (a seaside town in the area ‘Ayrshire’ – S/W of Glasgow) and you can see some spectacular views when driving up north, with really stunning sunsets too …but no, I wouldn’t ever dream of moving back. My home is here in Switzerland now, and here it will be...

10. Something about you that people don't know?
Hmm… Get me on my own and I’m actually quite a shy person really… but I’m sure no-one will believe me from having met me at a glocals event! When I’m with a group of people something else kicks into over-drive and that’s me set – whizzing about all over the place …and you know what? I love it!

11. Best joke you know?
How about ‘Life’ itself? Ha ha! …I’m not one of these people who keep a repertoire of jokes for all occasions but I am able to make people laugh (from time to time) and have a good time (always)!

12. Message to the world/Motto
OMG, I’ve got so many mottos! Yet, seeing that ‘Liv(ing) Dangerously’ isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (especially to those I yanked up the mountain during the middle of the night on my ‘Break o Dawn’ activity - Summer ’07), I’d have to go along with a quote I’ve kept from a TV interview with Clint Eastwood (’96): ‘Take your work seriously, but never take yourself seriously!’ …Thanks!… ;-)