Oct

6

Copper-Crazy

Filed Under Consumer Concerns, Home Management, Life & Leisure | Leave a Comment 


That would be me.

I don’t know why, but of late, I’ve been a bit obsessed with copperware — from copper sauce pans, copper roasting pans, and copper ice buckets to copper plant holders, copper watering cans, copper wall decors, and even a copper coal holder (to think we don’t even have a fireplace).

Since they are a bit pricey — a set of handcrafted 2.5 mm copper pots and pans, for instance, may cost between USD800.00 plus and USD1,900.00 plus (depending, of course, on the copper products and the number of pieces included in the special package) — I buy my copper cookware and garden stuff in secondhand shops, flea markets, and antique fairs.

At the recently concluded Fete de la Brocante Le Landeron, reportedly the largest outdoor antique fair in Switzerland, I bought a secondhand copper coal holder (see photo) from a friendly Dutch couple for CHF40.00/USD35.00. I now use it as a flower pot holder. I also bought a rectangular plant holder worth CHF35.00/USD31.00 from them (partially seen in the photo), which now serves as our “mini herb center.”

In Le Landeron, I also purchased a medium-sized copper sauce pan from a French-speaking Swiss lady, who generously gave me a CHF7.00/USD6.00 discount — original price was CHF25.00/USD22.00 — after telling her that I’m a ‘mere’ language student in Switzerland.

At a huge brocante shop (a former hotel which now houses probably one of the largest Swiss secondhand shops I’ve visited since 2003) situated in a village near Interlaken, I recently bought two copper sauce pans — among other things, that is — for only CHF25.00 (what a bargain).

Because of this recent copper mania (it’s fast rubbing off on my husband), space has become an issue — again. We live in a rather small apartment, and it’s not the place for a collector like me (I need rehab…fast!). Some things have to be put in boxes and stored in the communal attic. While the other items, which eat up too much space in our cupboards, have to be donated to Salvation Army (we already delivered the first batch of kitchenware to the Heilsarmee Brocki in our town).

In the meantime, the sight of copperware in our balcony garden and kitchen makes me happy. Copper rocks my world in this phase of my so-called Swiss life.

Oct

3

Christian Magazine

Filed Under Announcements, Faith & Values, Mailbox | Comments Off 


I’ve been receiving copies of The Good News magazine since last year (I signed up for a free subscription online). So far, I’ve been satisfied with its content.

The GN editorial staff presents world news in the light of the Bible (this is important to me) and features helpful articles on Christian living, providing practical solutions to the challenges individuals and families face alike.

And yes, this magazine is delivered to your doorstep for free. In these times of economic crisis, it seems to me like a great deal.

Anyway, I received a letter from the GN people today. Part of it reads:

We’d like to continue sharing The Good News with you, but we need to be sure you want to continue to receive it. Soon your last issue will be posted to you, and then…no more.

…You can keep The Good News coming for another two years — FREE. Simply return the card in the envelope we’ve supplied.

It’s fairly an easy decision to make. Surely, I don’t like to miss out on future issues packed with information as well as insights. So, YES, I’d like to renew my Good News subscription. I’ll mail the confirmation card pronto.

If you’d like to receive your own copy of The Good News magazine, click here for more details.

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