Well, it may be a lot easier to lose your cash card in a machine here (due to very little thought going into the design of the whole process... sigh!) but it's also a lot less hassle to resolve. You walk straight into a bank and they hand over a temporary card which works till your next one comes through. Brilliant.
Of course, it has to not happen anytime near a Saturday... because the thought of a bank being open on a Saturday, or a lunchtime, or any other useful time... shudder.
But, still!
Monday, 24 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
quirky things about Belgium #352
... Cash points which give you a little advert at the beginning reminding you to take your card back.
Then at the end they don't give them back automatically.
Erm...?
Then at the end they don't give them back automatically.
Erm...?
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
The adventure of writing a book...
It feels a lot like being pregnant.
Not, you understand, that I really have any concept of what that might feel like.
But I imagine you walk around in a bit of a daze. Constantly distracted. That you pick up on tiny things that could be relevant in the future - people speaking about the topic, useful quotes, beautiful things...
That you feel like in your own little world, your happy place, that no one else can destroy for you because most people don't realise it's even there.
Not sleeping so well either... You keep having to sit up and write stuff down before you forget it.
Your thought process is suddenly one long "what if...?"
Everything, everything, even your previous obsessions, become wrapped up in this one thing.
You hope, you dream, you prepare. You know the birth will come, that it will be long and painful, that it's inevitable, but that it will be so worth every moment.
You are excited, and you are impatient. And there is work to do...
Not, you understand, that I really have any concept of what that might feel like.
But I imagine you walk around in a bit of a daze. Constantly distracted. That you pick up on tiny things that could be relevant in the future - people speaking about the topic, useful quotes, beautiful things...
That you feel like in your own little world, your happy place, that no one else can destroy for you because most people don't realise it's even there.
Not sleeping so well either... You keep having to sit up and write stuff down before you forget it.
Your thought process is suddenly one long "what if...?"
Everything, everything, even your previous obsessions, become wrapped up in this one thing.
You hope, you dream, you prepare. You know the birth will come, that it will be long and painful, that it's inevitable, but that it will be so worth every moment.
You are excited, and you are impatient. And there is work to do...
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Why I love the West Wing... (well, some of the reasons!)
- Bradley Whitford: so intense, so brooding, makes me melt in that part of the credits where he raises his head and looks straight at me
- Janel Moloney: beautiful, attractive, brings Donna to life so beautifully. If I were in the least inclined towards women, I would have a massive crush on her.
- Rob Lowe. I’m still smarting form his treacherous departure from a show which suffered its loss, but the fact that this is the case is testament to how much he brought to it.
- Allison Janney. Her character is a role model. Strength, intelligence, femininity. Wonderful acting. My favourite for a long time.
- The chemistry between Bradley and Janel
- Josh as a character – I would marry him in an instant!
- Donna as a character and her many little quirks
- The increasing romantic/sexual tension between Josh and Donna
- The understated way in which it does romance and weaves it into the plotline – never forced, and often doomed or difficult!
- The characters – so believable all of them, so lovable most of them. That’s part acting, part writing I guess. I feel I really know them as my friends.
- And speaking of writing. Oh the writing. Aaron Sorkin please be my mentor.
- The pithy one-liners
- The big storylines
- The tiny storylines
- The mini, one-episode storylines Donna gets in series 1 – they’re all brilliant. I love it when Josh falls of his chair just as she is talking about the intelligence of people who work there.
- The trivia you learn: dwell, dwindle, dwarf – the only three words in the English language that start with dw
- The Latin you learn: Post hoc ergo propter hoc – I love that. Desperately seeking a way to get it into every day conversation. Or at least a book
- The music. Oh the music is so good. I am desperate for the sound track of everything, including everything by Snuffy Walden – so brilliant. So well used. “Body and Soul” at the end of episode 713 being a perfect example – the words are so pertinent and it’s worked so well into the scene.
- The intelligent women!!
- It has made me so interested in and intrigued by the great nation that is the US. And you would not have got me saying that a year ago.
- It is not smutty: you turn off the TV feeling good about what you have just watched
- You also turn off the TV feeling more intelligent and educated
- That’s if you turn off the TV at all. I became increasingly unable to watch just one episode
- It gives me hope in politics in an age when, quite frankly, as a left-wing Brit, well you get the picture...
- It make me laugh and gasp and cry and shout things like “But Josh should be with Donna!!!!!” or “you evil Republican” or just “Aaaarrrrghhh!”
- It speaks to me spiritually. Seriously. For example, the fierce protectiveness of Jed Bartlet towards his family reminds me of God’s Father heart towards us and his “secret service” of angels at his disposal to protect us...
- It inspires me to write
- It gets my creative juices flowing
- And last but definitely not least: it inspires me toward greatness. I’m not sure how this translates yet, but it will.
- Janel Moloney: beautiful, attractive, brings Donna to life so beautifully. If I were in the least inclined towards women, I would have a massive crush on her.
- Rob Lowe. I’m still smarting form his treacherous departure from a show which suffered its loss, but the fact that this is the case is testament to how much he brought to it.
- Allison Janney. Her character is a role model. Strength, intelligence, femininity. Wonderful acting. My favourite for a long time.
- The chemistry between Bradley and Janel
- Josh as a character – I would marry him in an instant!
- Donna as a character and her many little quirks
- The increasing romantic/sexual tension between Josh and Donna
- The understated way in which it does romance and weaves it into the plotline – never forced, and often doomed or difficult!
- The characters – so believable all of them, so lovable most of them. That’s part acting, part writing I guess. I feel I really know them as my friends.
- And speaking of writing. Oh the writing. Aaron Sorkin please be my mentor.
- The pithy one-liners
- The big storylines
- The tiny storylines
- The mini, one-episode storylines Donna gets in series 1 – they’re all brilliant. I love it when Josh falls of his chair just as she is talking about the intelligence of people who work there.
- The trivia you learn: dwell, dwindle, dwarf – the only three words in the English language that start with dw
- The Latin you learn: Post hoc ergo propter hoc – I love that. Desperately seeking a way to get it into every day conversation. Or at least a book
- The music. Oh the music is so good. I am desperate for the sound track of everything, including everything by Snuffy Walden – so brilliant. So well used. “Body and Soul” at the end of episode 713 being a perfect example – the words are so pertinent and it’s worked so well into the scene.
- The intelligent women!!
- It has made me so interested in and intrigued by the great nation that is the US. And you would not have got me saying that a year ago.
- It is not smutty: you turn off the TV feeling good about what you have just watched
- You also turn off the TV feeling more intelligent and educated
- That’s if you turn off the TV at all. I became increasingly unable to watch just one episode
- It gives me hope in politics in an age when, quite frankly, as a left-wing Brit, well you get the picture...
- It make me laugh and gasp and cry and shout things like “But Josh should be with Donna!!!!!” or “you evil Republican” or just “Aaaarrrrghhh!”
- It speaks to me spiritually. Seriously. For example, the fierce protectiveness of Jed Bartlet towards his family reminds me of God’s Father heart towards us and his “secret service” of angels at his disposal to protect us...
- It inspires me to write
- It gets my creative juices flowing
- And last but definitely not least: it inspires me toward greatness. I’m not sure how this translates yet, but it will.
Saturday, 18 July 2009
Friday, 17 July 2009
Oh the excitement...
Actuapress is a fantastic not-for-profit association, who publish excellent magazines for intermediate + (B1/2 +) learners of French, English and Dutch, which come with a CD. I recommend them.
This month, my article is the one featured as a sample on their webpage:
http://tinyurl.com/kpphzw
Woop – international fame and fortune here I come?! (well you gotta start somewhere!!)
This month, my article is the one featured as a sample on their webpage:
http://tinyurl.com/kpphzw
Woop – international fame and fortune here I come?! (well you gotta start somewhere!!)
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Some classic Belgian photos
A friend came to visit recently, which gave me the excuse I'd been looking for to play at being a tourist, while sounding all knowledgeable about things... And that included taking lots of photos of the quintessentially Belgian!
Mussels on the Grand Place - it had to be done. Highly recommed them - Provencal style in the restaurant just across the square from the Godiva shop.
Classically Belgian in its logic, this is, I think a not-so-subtle attempt to remind foreigners that the only acceptable accompaniment for chips is mayo...
The Cote d'Or shop near the Palais de Justice was an exciting find! Not only is it, well, full of every possible kind of chocolate, you can drink coffee there too... the banner claiming they were passionate (since the year... dot I think!) seems almost superfluous, the place speaks for itself...
And yes, they do a coffee + 4 fresh chocs of your choice deal... Perfect for a break from sightseeing!
Oooh, I love these! Can't get enough of them!
Well, yes. Predictable. But it's been a while since I took his photo. And he was very smart in Swedish national dress!
The Cote d'Or shop near the Palais de Justice was an exciting find! Not only is it, well, full of every possible kind of chocolate, you can drink coffee there too... the banner claiming they were passionate (since the year... dot I think!) seems almost superfluous, the place speaks for itself...
And yes, they do a coffee + 4 fresh chocs of your choice deal... Perfect for a break from sightseeing!
Oooh, I love these! Can't get enough of them!
Well, yes. Predictable. But it's been a while since I took his photo. And he was very smart in Swedish national dress!
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