This morning, I started work on reggie.pho – a version of the internet files that uses the original photos and puts them on the screen half-size, so that I get much better quality. It takes a while to load each one, but the results are much nicer. Now I regret not making full-size modified copies of the photos that I changed.
Bruno offered to take me in to Zurich, and since I figured it would be easier to find the photo frame that I wanted there, I went with him. We got a bit confused in town, and he kept saying “Oh, No!” but he finally dropped me not far from the station. I looked round a large Migros first. In another photography shop, I was directed upstairs, but they didn’t have the A4 size that I need. The lady told me I could get it in Manor.
I found what I was looking for, then browsed in the computer area. They were selling the Canon camera for 2000 SF (about 1,330 US$), which isn’t much more than I paid last January for a second-hand model. I also looked at computers, though I see that few come with CD-Write. Soon I will be back in the world of unnecessary needs and the world of want will be forgotten. I bought a map of France for the hitch home. All the shops are now decked out for Christmas.
I treated myself to a bar of Swiss chocolate – the cheapest available in the Co-op. Then I set off at around five. This time, I wasn’t so lucky. I had to walk two hours, and was on the main road before someone stopped. I ran to catch up with him. “Don’t you know this is an Autostrasse (Highway)? It is forbidden to hitchhike here.” I hadn’t realised that the term “Highway” applied to a road with two normal lanes of traffic. It wasn’t even a dual carriageway at that point. Other than the fence, there had been no sign to disallow pedestrians, tractors, motorcycles under 50cc etc.
He took me two kilometers up the road, to Forch. I gave him a postcard, and was about to leave, when he asked where I was going. “Gusch, near Oetwil am See,” I replied. “Come,” he said, “I’ll take you there.” It turned out that he was a “buerger” working with information about all the citizens of Oetwil. He brought me to the house, and even came inside. He again told the shocking story of how he had found me on the Autostrasse.
I was amused that Mr. Schmutz then poured out some wine, and I watched him drink about a glass and a half. They chatted for a while, though I couldn’t understand. When he left, Mrs. Schmutz reckoned he had probably also had a drink or two before he came.
When Rosmarie returned, I showed her how to get her POP mail using Hotmail, though she wasn’t quite sure whether to leave the messages on her Swiss account, or to clear them out. Now she can keep her Swiss account and access it from England, when she goes there next year. She was also busy making an advent calendar, which has small presents instead of just windows that you open.