Amsterdam

Posted: Wed 14 September, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts, Travel | 1 Comment »

I have to say, I really did enjoy seeing bits of Amsterdam over the last couple of days. It’s always been on the “to do” list of places to go, and while the RAI isn’t the best introduction to the place, it at least gave me the chance to finally get over and see a bit of the place.

There’s a lot that I didn’t get to see, obviously, but the taster I got courtesy of “The Maddest Cabbie since Travis Bickle”™ (who seemed to take pride in jumping as many red (traffic, you perv) lights as possible as fast as possible) was enough to make me certain I wanted to return.

One other thing that I appreciated was the public transport – both the trains and the metro tram/trains were superb, on-time, quiet, and busy. The trains in particular were interesting, as they were “double-decker” ones where you got on at platform level, and then went either up or down a set of stairs. I wonder why these haven’t been used in the UK? The height didn’t appear to be that much different to the standard Virgin trains I’ve come to know and loathe so much, but they were much better, and able to carry far more people without resorting to the *ahem* “corridor seating” known to all regular Virgin travellers.

However, the taxi drivers appear (generalising from a sample of two) to be completely insane. Mind you, the roads are nightmarish, with the added joys of psychotic cyclists and street trams to deal with as well as the standard car users, so I can understand it to a degree.

Anyway, definitely a place I intend to return to before very long…

Back Home

Posted: Wed 14 September, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts, Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »

Got back yesterday at about 5.30/5.45. Knackered – utterly, totally, unfeasibly knackered.

Mainly this was down to the lack of sleep on Monday night, but also from traipsing around the IBC exhibition at the RAI centre in Amsterdam. Thought the NEC was big? Try the RAI. (Hmm, now there’s an advertising slogan). I know it’s not as big as the conference/exhibition centre in Frankfurt, but still, chuff me it’s big.

I’m also knackered from holding in my normal temper and rudeness when continually walked into – and particularly shoved out of the way – by rude, arrogant, self-centred suit-wearing (in the majority) fuckwit bastards with all the charm and personality of a dog-shit with a bootprint in it. It’s (thankfully) a rare occurrence to see so many of these “me, me, me” cunts in one place without actually entering an advertising agency, but the IBC seems to attract them like flies to that aforementioned shit.

Still, it was only two days, so it could’ve been worse. After all, the company boss was there for five days- by that time, I’d have been had up for murder, or homicidal assault at the very least.

Tulips from ‘amster jam

Posted: Tue 13 September, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts, Travel, Weirdness, Work-related | 4 Comments »

Oh dear lord, I really shouldn’t be let loose on my own. The hotel is OK – if epically skanky – but at least the wireless network is up (after a fashion) so I can post.

The exhibition/conference is HYOWGE, spread over all the halls of the RAI center, which is a place that truly should be napalmed. Some cool stuff for sure, but for the most part not really of much interest to yours truly. Other than that, a fantastic meal tonight in the middle of Amsterdam, plus lot of beers, plus a bunch of ripoff cunts who don’t understand the expression “the company is paying”. *sigh*

Still, could be worse – and in the meantime well, I’ve a working network, I can post to good ‘ole d4d™, and life is – in general – good. And now it’s twney twenty past two in the morning, and I really should think about things like sleep…

UPDATED : I did think about it, but it ended up not actually happening ’til gone four in the morning. Ug.

Travelling Again

Posted: Mon 12 September, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »

Came back last night from Norfolk, all well and fine.

I’m now off to Amsterdam ’til tomorrow afternoon – a day at some big bodlike Broadcast conference/exhibition. I’m kind of looking forward to it – after all, it’s a trip to Amterdam funded by work, which is never a bad thing – but all the same, it would be nice to have a couple of days between bits of hectic travelling.

Ah well. Updates may occur later, although this will depend on such vagaries as wireless connections, my laptop’s lack of decisiveness about whether it’ll link to aforementioned networks, time, inclination, so forth, so fifth. We’ll see.

Coastal

Posted: Fri 9 September, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Animals, Travel | 1 Comment »

We’ve spent a fantastic day out on the north Norfolk coast, at Wells-next-the-Sea. We didn’t spend much time in the town itself, instead taking the two Hounds that we’re housesitting to the beach. And oh boy, did they enjoy it. An hour of playing in the sea – it’s amazing how many time you can chuck a Kong into the waves for two idiot Black Labs to retrieve – as well as a good long walk along the side of the beach – and they’re now knackered.

In fact, at half seven, both Chunky and Monkey were fast asleep, with Chunky actually having gone to her bed voluntarily. Most shocking, but fantastically fun.

Norwich

Posted: Tue 6 September, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts, Travel | 1 Comment »

Spent most of the day in Norwich today – it’s a city that I really like in general. But Jesus Christ, the people! You just wouldn’t believe the sheer number of people who can wander around stupidly, or stop in the middle of the – narrow – path for absolutely no good fucking reason.

Still, it’s been pretty good all told – so far the week off is going pretty well, although I do find I’m still sorting out a bundle of work-related stuff. Then again, I guess if I didn’t want to look at it, I wouldn’t look at the webmail…

Wireless

Posted: Mon 5 September, 2005 | Author: | Filed under: News, Travel | 1 Comment »

Bloody encrypted wireless networks.

Not that I can say too much about them, as my own one at home is equally encrypted. But at least I know the password to that one. The one here in Norfolk is a little bit more arcane, and I haven’t yet sorted out Airsnort in order to pick up the password. Maybe later.

As it is, I’m on Herself’s Sister’s laptop, which has all the gubbins already set up (and one of the dodgierst H keys known to man) so it’s not too bad. It also means that when I do some work-related stuff (and yes, I still am doing some work-based development) it’s on my own laptop, and thus I can’t get disturbed by the temptation of using the net at the same time. Some would say this is a bad thing, but on occasion it has its uses.

Anyway, we’ve had a good time so far, a day in Norwich, and a visit to the Norfolk Police Gala, which was much the same as every other agricultural show you’ve ever been to – only without animals. That’s it. But it’s been pleasant so far, the weather’s OK, and we’re going to have a good relaxed week.

Just thought you might like to know.

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →