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

Oh I the idea of having a "shower" with correct pronunciation!

Thanks Sol. If we think attitudes are bad now, it simply serves to underline just how hard-won the battles were for the women of the 50s, 60s and 70s without whom we wouldn't have our current freedoms.

Don't forget the Sufferagette momevent who got the ball rolling in the first place.

Mr D.: "No idea about cost, but the language barrier won't be a problem as the Dutch (like most countries in Europe) learn English from a very early age... although I'd suggest at least learning a few basic phrases out of politeness."

That's what I figured. Certainly the Dutch people I've met spoke pretty good English, though they were living in English-speaking countries. A quick Google got me a site advertising 2-bedroom appartments for €500/month and a 1-bedroom for €340, which seems pretty reasonable, depending of course on how much I'd be getting paid.

I think Amsterdam is probably one of those love it or hate it cities. I've never been to the mainland Netherlands, but I have worked with a lot of Dutch people. They are a very odd combination of laid-back and deadly serious, and so long as you remember that they *are* deadly serious petit bourgeois underneath it all you'll be fine. Consider their acceptance of cannabis use to be a pragmatic decision about taxation rather than an idealistic one about liberalism and you'll get the picture.

You'll be fine as a monoglot, but it is definitely worth trying to speak Dutch.

The Netherlands are (a) incredibly flat and (b) ludicrously over-populated. Rather like an entirely horizontal version of Guernsey.

I'd have no hesitation, personally, about going there for several years, though it is not on my (rather short) list of places I'd move permanently to, sight unseen.

B

Good morning, hoping you have a good one, one and all. Feeling rather morose today - sad day to remember... and all those horrific docu-filums on lately haven't helped matters much

[wilma]

The scheme is 18 months, 6 of which are likely to be spent "abroad" (five possible countries, including the UK), and if I stay at the company on completion (as they say most do), then I could probably choose where to be based.

I think I will email them. It seems like a good idea, which is how I ended up in Canada, which I liked.

Sounds good Bagpuss - you get to try before you buy so to speak

Have never been to Amsterdam - perhaps should give that a go if we ever have our dirty weekend.

Monday Monday, can't trust that day ing

Mum's favourite song "Tulips in Amsterdam"

Bagpuss, there's a h2g2 researcher who lives in Amsterdam - he could probably give answers to questions you might have. Alfreda can be found at U237909

Alfredo! Alfredo!

Sol said "I forget if this is true, but I don't seem to remember colour in any of your designs. Any particular reason for this?"

I like straight black. And you are right, none of my tattoos have colour in them. All are plain black ink. The redness and irritation is mostly gone now, so I will ask someone to take a better picture of it soon.

Colours change and fade much more than black. I've considered some with clolour, but have always backed off of the idea.

Hello, dgbibulli!

Hello everyone, in fact. I have been Away Wi't'In-Laws. I have been politely NOT hogging their computer and ignoring them.

As they live in the country, I have returned to Nodnol with home-grown courgettes, parsley, raspberries, late-flowering roses, midgie-bites and very tanned and grubby feet from pottering about barefoot in an actual real live garden.

*Considers for a moment, hands raspberries to Matina for sharing among the Salonistas, and hands the roses (big white ones that smell almost lemony) to Sol, with a *

[SG V] *quite happily sits down with and munches away*

Raspberries.

Why is it Monday?

Hello all. Back from a lovely holiday down at SSC in Dorset, now contemplating 2 weeks of backlog. Hmm, maybe not.

Morning all.

Hi Kerr!

David, the reason for it being Monday is to stop Sunday and Tuesday having to sit next to each other, they fight like cat and another cat (the usual phrase is, of course, 'cat and dog' but I've never seen a cat and a dog fight as brutally as two cats) and it just ruins the week for everyone else.

My Aunt Electra has lived in Amsterdam since her teens and really loves it, I've visited it and would definately live there. I can manage helping out on her stall in the Tourist Market without any Dutch at all, it is very easy to cope. I found it a really friendly city and great fun the attitude is very pragmatic and sensible- it's like a country that has common sense and no Daily Hate Mail.

Mmmmmmmmm

I am never particularly fond of a country which asassinates its politicians.