The Fifth Switzerland puzzle: 1/800 000
Puzzle
- Puzzle
Tom Fattorini, United Kingdom
20.01.2026
The “Fifth Switzerland” is a colourful, varied and multilingual puzzle with well over 800,000 pieces. Today’s puzzle piece is …
… Tom Fattorini, according to his passport Thomas Robert Buhler Fattorini, 65 years old with three children and two grandchildren. He was born at the “Kantonspital” in Winterthur and came to Manchester, United Kingdom, as a baby in 1960. He lives in Birmingham, United Kingdom, for the last 40 years. He is a director of a 6th generation family business www.fattorini.co.uk that was established in 1827 “Gold- und Silberschmiede”.
Photo provided
Is it possible to have several homelands?
Personally, having lived in the Middle East – Egypt, Lebanon, and Cyprus – as a young man I realised I felt at home wherever I was, as the kindness of the locals meant I felt I belonged. This applies to when I return to Switzerland, I feel I belong as I do in the UK. However, it does help if you speak the local language and enjoy the local food and culture.
How and when do you show your Swissness in your everyday life?
By being fixated on good timekeeping, keeping things tidy and clean, eating Swiss chocolate Honold, Sprüngli and Lindt are my favourites. I have a portrait of Ulrich Zwingli, my direct ancestor, to remind me to be brave and speak my mind freely.
What song piece of music makes you think of home?
“Grüezi wohl Frau Stirnimaa” and the intro to “Kasperlitheater” stories for kids.
Switzerland and you: What is your current relationship status?
My mother recently died – she had returned to Switzerland after my father’s death to live in the mountains of Graubünden. She lived in a flat which we now will use for holidays. My brother lives in Brutten and my cousins all around Zurich. I visit Switzerland two or three times per year. My son has asked why I don’t move back permanently!
Do you have any expectation of Switzerland?
I hope and pray the Swiss Government does not water down its neutrality with EU and NATO. 700 years+ of neutrality has given Switzerland its unique position as a peacemaker and international reputation for security, fairness and high standards.
What is your native language, and which language does your family speak?
I still speak “Schwiizerdütsch” regularly with my Swiss family but unfortunately my kids do not – although one does speak High German. Their “Muttersprache” is of course English.
Do you participate in votes in Switzerland?
I vote on the big questions – relating to freedom of expression, bodily autonomy etc, and democracy which has come under threat recently, eg digital IDs and Covid passports. Of course, Swiss neutrality is of supreme importance for our identity and our service to the world as a peace broker.
I think fondue is ...
... delicious, both “Käse” and “Chinoise”.
When I think about Switzerland ...
… I think of Globi books, Kasperlitheater, Sechseläuten in Zurich and tasty Fasnachtschüechli – a warm feeling of happiness.
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