h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Great entry. Its so good to see something real rather than listen to the endless arguements about whether its good or bad.

Having said that I think its a great political project too, which will do Europe no end of good.

Yup, I agree with that sentiment. However we in the UK have to sit around and watch everyone disappearing into the distance because we've missed the boat yet again.

Just think how different the EU might have been today if the UK had co-signed the Treaty of Rome? Maybe the European Parliament would have been something more than a rubber stamp for the Commission (even given that they finally managed to force the previous bunch to resign, and then some of them immediately got their jobs back). And maybe we in the UK wouldn't keep hanging around until the other members had the basic structures in place before finally signing up and then whining about how they weren't doing it right.

Oh well, maybe we'll get the Euro sometime. In the meantime all we can do is to look on enviously while the Eurozone economy recovers and their interest rates continue to fall whilst ours start to rise again (if Eddie is to be believed).

Enough of this anyway - the working day is done and I'm off to get a and a

I'm 100% converted - I spent my last punt this morning.

What fun!

I'm in France and it all seems to be going off pretty well. Great fun seeing the inevitable confusion that arises with the two till 'pay in Francs and get your change in Euros' system.

Quite often I have paid in Francs, seen the hopeful look in the eyes of the shopkeeper and promptly offered to accept my change in Francs, 'if that would be simpler for you.' You can usually tell the people who haven't got their heads round it yet and it's no big deal.

Overall, everyone here seems pretty happy with it. Not hugely keen on the coins themselves or the notes. They do seem to be a bit tricky to distinguish in the dim and artificially coloured light of a bar sometimes. Have to watch out for that, I think.

Seeya
Spiff

It's amazing how quickly the old notes and coins have dissappeared from use. The pundits in Ireland have reckoned that over 90% of all transactions are already in euros. Some small discrepancies still occur - A vending machine on site here has not been fully converted over, so even though I can pay in euros, the price and the change given back is still in Irish punt coinage. A bit frustrating, that.

Our vending machines are both still IR£, but given that most people are still in their New year's resolution phase that isn't really a problem.
I'm off to France for a romantic weekend and I'm already saving 5% (typically currency exchange commision) on that trip. Top idea, this single currency...

*wields penciel and paper and makes copious notes for promised sequel*

have a nice time, Duncan

There is also a 20 Cent coin. You need it to pay your debt when losing a game of Schafkopf (a Solo or Wenz without Schneider, Schwarz, Laufende, Gelegt or Bock).