10 years ago on a cold and damp December morning, the concierge of the Motel de Founex checked out the last customer, switched off the lights, slipped the key under the mat, pulled his collar up against the wind and disappeared. No longer would drivers and their passengers on the A1 motorway chuckle as the humourous flashing sign MOTEL DE FOU - - - NEX flicked on and off. No more would late-night losers from the Casino de Divonne take solace in a 4 a.m. steak frites or the tourists from Düsseldorf en route to the Costa Brava spend an uncomfortable night. Revelers would no longer drink and dance the night away in L’Equinox Bar where a giant screen showed soft-core porn. The motel was dead.

And 10 years on it is still dead, a stinking, rotting cadaver left there to remind us that somewhere in this story is a can marked “Scandal”. A can which, when opened, has an unmistakable whiff of worm. This is Switzerland for Heaven’s sake. Things like this don’t happen here. But in Founex they obviously do. The evidence is there for all to see.

And as you well know, when scandals go unexplained for a decade, rumours run rife.

Rogue bankers, corrupt communes, politicians, shady local opposition, bogus financiers, UBS, knaves and scoundrels – Who is responsible?

A billboard now stands in the motel’s overgrown parking lot announcing the arrival of a hotel, two restaurants and a business complex. According to local press, plans were presented to the authorities in October ’08 and if accepted, construction will be terminated by 2011.

In my mind’s eye I can see that billboard on a cold and damp December morning in 2011. The cruel wind and freezing rain battering it’s faded promises. The decaying buildings, of course, are still there.

Corruption, incompetence or flim-flam? If anyone knows more about this aberration that humiliates the tranquil village of Founex, and the whole region, let’s discuss. Rumours or truths, I’ll be glad to hear from you.

And sometimes, they will be very silly boys. Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross are good examples of how two intelligent men can still be childish. As childish as the urchin who writes “BUM” on the school wall and runs away.

The silly boys have made a little mistake, one little mistake. Their humour is usually quite irreverent and we’ve laughed and applauded them for years. Today there is talk of sackings, questions are being asked in parliament and the Prime Minister has intervened. Politically Correct? That’s a contradiction in terms. How can you be a politician and be correct these days?

Granted, it was a silly prank, and not even a very funny one. Ross is not a comedian; he is a chat show host with a sharp wit. Brand is a comedian, and with his Sam Weller delivery, he is both likeable and scathing. Take a look at this You Tube clip from The Secret Policeman’s Ball and see how easily he explains, through irony and humour, the ridiculousness of a situation.

It is unfortunate that Andrew Sachs, better known as Manuel the Waiter in Fawlty Towers, and his granddaughter have to bear the brunt of this jape, they seem to be nice people. But it got their names back in the press. And as we always say, there is no such thing as bad publicity, as long as they spell your name right.

The silly boys have taken up the front pages of most UK morning papers and the first 10 minutes of every televised news bulletin. A very successful PR stunt. 

Born in South London at a time when the world was rationed and grey, only magazines were sepia. Televisions had 9-inch screens set in 4-foot wide wardrobes and Sylvia Peters read the news in a ball gown.

Dragged through Brewery Road Junior Mixed and shoved on to the 50 boys per class Onion Street Technical School with its alarmingly disinterested staff, leaving at 15 with a GCE in plumbing.

Entered the wonderful world of advertising and developed “The Knack” of doing it all the easy way; art direction, copywriting, TV production, typography and photography. Left St. Martin’s School of Art top of the year but forgot to pick up the certificates on the way out.

Arrived in Switzerland at 22. Worked on ads, TV commercials, travel expenses and secretaries.

Freelance Creative Consultant since 1986.

Welcome to this new and unique blog which I will endeavour to up-date at least twice a week.