In spring 2001, after my (partial-) recovery from the "Big Bang" in Nigeria, I decided not to return to Lagos. Anyway, I had not much choice in the matter. My Company was technically bankrupt. My wife sold everything in Nigeria, to pay outstanding salaries and to clear debts. There was not much else to do. All what was left where considerable liabilities. Not quite comfortable for a new start from scratch! (ZERO assets apart from credits with an expired due date!) Also for the first time in my live, I had to realize that I'm getting older! To be 59, seemed to be quite an issue back in Switzerland. Most gave me a slim chance to get another decent job at my age. Never mind! I tried hard and also approached RIETER, the Company in which I did my apprenticeship. To my astonishment, my old mates Walter Zweifel, Kurt Wacker, Eddy Nüssli and others where still with RIETER. I got a job in a back-office of the Machinery Sales Department VF, headed by Peter Illi. I was very happy and relieved to stand on my own feet again! Good-By "Social Security"! Of course, I was no longer my own boss but that would have been asking for too much!

This was an incentive trip. I joined "The Road Show" of RIETER Machinery Sales in Indonesia and Vietnam. I had nothing to do than to enjoy and learn! No presentations or other obligations. Of course sometimes I wished to be more involved but that came later!

Since April 2004, I am with RIETER New Products, or short PN. This department is headed by Silvano Rufo. Other members of the team are Roberto Gabriele (Technical), Rico Bachmann (Sales Assistance) and myself. We are mainly engaged in promoting and selling JOSSI products "The Vision Shield" as a prominent example, but also the newly launched "Rieter Core Yarn System". Other inmates of our office are Hans Speich, Walter Ebneter, Sigi Hug and in rotation, some youngsters under training.

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