I write articles on the Swiss Abroad and “Quirky Switzerland” as well as daily/weekly briefings. I also translate, edit and sub-edit articles for the English department and do voiceover work for videos.
Born in London, I have a degree in German/Linguistics and was a journalist at The Independent before moving to Bern in 2005. I speak all three official Swiss languages and enjoy travelling the country and practising them, above all in pubs, restaurants and gelaterias.
‘Swiss engineering at its best’: the steepest cable car in the world
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A section of the Schilthornbahn cableway is the latest example of breathtaking engineering in the Swiss Alps. But how steep is it?
An eye-opening guide to Switzerland’s ear-splitting sirens
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Every year, on the first Wednesday in February, the sound of 7,200 sirens fills the Alpine air, startling anyone who doesn’t know it’s a test.
Switzerland’s 20 living ex-presidents: a world record
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Twenty former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?
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Billions of people around the world will be marking the New Year somehow – and the tradition-loving Swiss are no exception.
How Swiss festive bad boy Schmutzli cleaned up his act
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Once upon a time, a mysterious dark-faced figure would enter Swiss homes on December 6, beating and (briefly) abducting children into behaving better. Schmutzli needed an image makeover.
Heard the one about the Swiss company installing laugh detectors?
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A Swiss insurer is testing the frequency of laughter in an office to improve job satisfaction. Workers who don’t laugh enough are sent an email with a funny video.
Feline felons: what to do with Switzerland’s killer cats?
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Cats kill millions of animals every year in Switzerland, but most politicians are reluctant to do anything about it. Would a “cat moratorium” make a difference?
Faster, higher, stronger, Swisser: let the 2024 Olympic Games begin!
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On Friday evening 128 Swiss athletes will float down the River Seine in Paris as part of the opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
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Better late than never – but US President Joe Biden’s decision on Sunday to pull out of the race for the White House was far too late, reckon the Swiss media.
‘Visibility’ or ‘poisoned chalice’? Reaction to Swiss Council of Europe appointment
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Swiss politician Alain Berset will be the next head of the Council of Europe – a win not only for Berset himself but also for Switzerland, say the Swiss media.
‘Real peace closer for Ukraine’ despite lack of consensus at Swiss summit
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Historic? Disappointing? Western powers and their allies have denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but they failed to persuade major non-aligned states to join their final statement.
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With Euro 2024 and the Olympic Games just weeks away, bookmakers and punters are looking forward to a summer of betting on sports. But how easy is it to have a flutter in Switzerland?
Explainer: Switzerland and the recognition of Palestine
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On Wednesday Ireland, Spain and Norway said they would recognise a Palestinian state. What are the chances of Switzerland following suit?
From the cute to the horrific: Switzerland’s weirdest museums
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Switzerland has some of the biggest and best museums in the world, but it is also home to some really bizarre and niche ones.
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News that Switzerland is one of the favourites to win this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has got a country used to Eurovision disappointment thinking the unthinkable. But victory would raise several tricky questions.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Is your place of origin, your Heimatort, important to you?
Every Swiss citizen has a Heimatort, a place of origin, but many have never visited theirs. What’s your relationship with your Heimatort? What does it mean to you?
What do you think of Migros’ decision to consider selling alcohol? How would you vote?
Migros, one of Switzerland’s largest and most popular retailers, is thinking about stocking alcohol after almost a century of abstinence. From the article Retail giant Migros confronts its complicated history with alcohol
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
