How To Alienate My American Readers

First off, to everyone from America, and those that know today is more than a movie with Tom Cruise and a movie with Will Smith, happy Independance Day.

However... On that note, I will now be ranting.

Today, Jaysens school celebrated Independance Day.  I'm not sure how or what they did, but the kids all wore Red, White and Blue, there was an "american" themed dinner, and apparently there were various activities.

Which, in and by itself, not too much of an issue.  HOWEVER.

Why the flying fornication are our schools celebrating an American Holiday that technically, we Brits should be pissed about.  WHY WHY WHY did the kids have to wear "American" colours.  Incidently, those colours are not only the Union Jack colours, but more amusingly, the French Flag colours...

But I digress.  The party shop in town has Fancy Dress and various themed stuff for Independence Day.  Asda has a small firework selection available.  The schools are doing stuff and learning stuff about it...

Now, my gripe isn't so much the fact we are trying to celebrate a holiday over here, it's one simple factor.

We don't celebrate Saint Georges Day.  At all.  In any way, shape or form.

I am going to be writing the school a really pissy letter.  Last year, Jaysens class studied Hindu Gods on St. Georges Day.  This year was random normal lessons.  4th July rolls around, and it's Dressing Up, Themed Meals and all the rest of it.

Surely that's akin to Germany celebrating the anniversary of their defeat in WW2.  How the hell can we celebrate a pointless holiday (to us, of course, I'm not American Bashing) over here, when St Georges Day is completely ignored.  Ignored, no less, to avoid upsetting the poxy bloody immigrants and similar "We Don't Like This Country" asshats.

*snarl*

I swear, each and every day, this country loses a little part of itself, and slips further into a random amalgamation of every other bloody country.  I wonder how long till someone at the Government sits and goes through this list and announces the various celebrations we'll be making for each one...

/rant

I've Earned It

It has to be said that I have been a busy little bunny today. And with minimal amounts of procrastination.

All that down there in the post below I have plugged away at pretty much all day. I checked my WoW before I started it all, otherwise had I done it while mid-busy-bunny, I would have stayed put. After the doctors, I headed to Ruths where I was supposed to be heading into town, but various amounts of stress and stuff had cropped up, and in the end she told me to stop flapping and sent me home. The Bitch.

Then I pretty much burnt my way through the house, slogging over this, that and the other, and decided at about 2pm to have something to eat. I hadn't eaten all day. So I sat down with some rabbit food, a banana, a cup of tea, and watched the last episode of House season two. Ooooh. I was good though, I refrained from ripping the cellophane from my season three box, and carried on.

Not long after I restarted, I chucked the dog in the garden, headed off for a pee (hey, you want a classy blog, this ain't it!), collected some rubbish and headed down, opened the back door - to find a brown dog in the garden. Sally, as you know, is white. This was a brown dog... No, wait... My Garden + Heavy Rain + White Boxer = ....Well, you can imagine.

And I'd not long cleaned the floors...

So I strategically placed some laundry on the floor, and got her up into the bath, where I promptly showered, bathed, scrubbed, combed, rescrubbed, recombed and dried the dirty great lump. Sure enough the Brown Dog became a White Dog once more. Do I slapped on her anti-flea stuff, and text Cel to let her know that if she would rather Sally stayed at hers for the weekend, instead of Cel coming here to sort her out, she was sorted.

Cel called very soon after that, and from her tone of voice, I figured that I was being... Well, rather special. I thought I had mentioned it to her, but the more I spoke to her, the more I thought "Dan, you're a spaz" So the dog sitter is sorted now too! She's coming later this evening to collect the stupid-ass mongrel and take her back to hers, and come in during the day to check on the pussy cats.

A little after 5pm, Kellie and her kids turned up for a coffee. Well, the kids got juice, but otherwise, we sat for an hour chatting and chilling, me being very self-conscious of how hot I was. Hot, as in heat, not hot as in my normal physical presence.

They toddled off around six, and I once again set to the house, packing, sorting, arranging... And now here I am, 8pm, and finally, I am done. Granted, there are two items on the list I have yet to do, but the first, "shorts", are in the washing machine. If it gets hot, I am sorted, otherwise, I sleep in them when staying at other peoples houses. No one wants to see my special boxer shorts during the night/first thing in the morning ;) The second item, "shave", well, I'll do that this evening before bed when I have a shower.

My bag is packed, my laptop is packed (those of you that pray to electronic deities, say a pray that my hosts can fix it!), and I even have a sleeping bag packed. I am offically ready...

And aside from a brief babysitting stint in the morning while Ruth goes to see her doc about her STD, I will be doing the off mid-morning. Ish. YAY for a weekend holiday!

And no, Emma, I am not heading to Pompey ;)

St Georges Day

Today is St. Georges Day, which should be a day of flags, street parties and even a Bank Holiday - that is, a day off for everyone. However.

I know exactly what is going to happen this year, there will be token gestures here and there, but for the most part, it WON'T be celebrated because, yup, we don't want to offend the immigrants or foreign nationals.

F'k the lot of em I say. Today is a day where you should be PROUD to be British. If you don't like that fact, there's the airport, there's your flight home, buh-bye now, don't come back.

St Patricks Day is celebrated all over the place because.... Erm... So why is St Georges Day not? Last year I asked Jaysen what they did in class.

"We talked about Hindu Gods"

WTF?? We'd rather learn about every other bastard, but not our own countries heritage. People get in trouble for flying the St George Cross. HOW THE HELL can it be considered racist to fly the flag of your own country when you're already in your own country?! We make so many sacrifices for every other bastard in the world, but what do we get in return?

Accused of being racists and not taking the time to see how our actions can offend the minority.

It's really not that difficult. If you don't want to learn our language, get a job and accept that you are guests in our country, please kindy GET LOST.

So, to everyone, regardless of you being black, white, brown, turquiose or that funny shade of white-that-isn't-white that has it's own name. Happy St Georges Day.

/rant

Relaxing At Home

Well, after a holiday, we're all home, exhausted and in need of a break ;) Luckily, we'd booked off today as holiday for Jaysen, so we're having a lazy day and just relaxing, catching up on laundry and chilling out.

Yep, we had a great holiday, but it is soooo good being home. My own bed, my own bathroom, comfortable sofa, computer and internet, no need to be constantly on the go-go-go.

Holland was lovely, and I will miss the people, the atmosphere, the food... I won't miss their obsession for liquorice and salty sweets, nor the fact that it's so damn flat. It's also going to be nice to cross a road and just watch for traffic... In Holland, we had to check for bikes, then cars (from the wrong direction compared to home!), then trams, then more cars, then more bikes. They even ride scooters/mopeds/vespa on the pavement!

I had some real issues with my knee, and have decided to make a doctors appointment. The journey there was a nightmare even with painkillers, and I've been hobbling around the whole time. My back has been a bit icky, but that's because we've been on the go constantly.

Of course, with Jaysen back at school tomorrow, I'll just have to grin and bear it ;)

Rough...

So, we've decided to come home a day early - the weather went very gross, so to save boredom, we headed off. Which was fine till the captain of the ferry mentioned it being a bit choppy.

Me, I don't mind it at all, and the kids are oblivious. Jo, however is not a happy sailor, so she's not enjoying it. On the bright side, we'll be home by about 10pm!

Unless we sink that is, which means you'll have to read something else from now on ;)

Another Sunset

Can't believe how quickly the holiday has gone. Sunday night already and we leave Tuesday morning. Still, I miss home and look forward to getting back online and hassling people ;)

Lazy

This is a deadly Netherlandian Attack Hound. Most dangerous canine of them all. And this one blocked our path...

The Deadly Lemur

Master of hunting, slayer of children...

Actually, they eat fruit, nuts and bugs, but aside from a sign telling us how shy they are, lots wanted to be itched and stroked through the bars!

Identify This Bird!

Stop the arguing! I am SURE there birds are Starlings, but am being told I'm an idiot. We're in Amsterdam, and SO know I'm right! Someone back me up here!

Amsterdam Zoo

Lucky for me, Jo couldn't get me from across the water when I pointed out I could see her antlers...

Sunset Over Duinrell

The weather brightened up late yesterday, and the clear skies gave a wonderful sunset.

Playing Adults

For the first time in about a century, me and Jo are out having a meal, some drinks, and REAL conversation. Shocking!

"Special" Cake

Following the trip into Amsterdam we came back with some, er, Herbal Extras. Being that I don't smoke the other alternative was to cook with it. And this chocolate cake was the result.

Sad to say, after several slices I am still the same as I was, still hurting, still feeling poorly... Or in other words, it did exactly nothing. Ho hum!

Universal Language

Being an Ignorant Brit, I am surrounded by people that speak different languages. There are Dutch, French, Germans, Belgians and more talking here, and aside from some words, I know nothing of what they are saying. Except in the extremes: a couple dealing with a grumpy child - I know he wants that sweet, but he's not allowed. The look me and the father exchange is one the is universal - his apologising smile, my understanding nod. Or the young couple sitting entwined on the seat, whispering and giggling.

We passed a wedding yesterday, posing for photos, all laughing and smiling, sharing jokes. You didn't need to undertand the language to know how happy they all were...

Language is more than just words, and being as ignorant as the majority of us, it makes me feel pretty stupid to know these people speak SEVERAL languages!

Den Haag

Yesterday we spent the day looking around the city of Den Haag, or The Hauge. All was fine till about 2pm when I started to get dizzy, sick, sweating, and could hardly walk or talk properly. We got back at about 4pm where i fell into bed, where i slept till midday today. Joyous Migraines... At least it wasn't ManFlu!

Pishing Down

Today we're heading off to the town or city of Den Haag. Of course, it would appear the weather from home has followed us, and it is POURING down. Which means the Evil Cold From Hell that I've found will become the dreaded ManFlu!

Thar Be A Heart-Breaker!

Aye lads, the fruits of me loins be a little wiley one. In the course of the day, sure as the North Star, she's got a little admirer! Everywhere she goes, he follows like a lost lamb! She plundered his heart and buried it with her booty! Yaaar!

Buried Booty!

Yaaar me hearties! Here be the sign o where to be digging fer the treasure! Ahoy Lads, grab the gold, get the wenches and set sail!

YAAAAR ME HEARTIES!

Arr lads, today we be playin' in the scurvey-land lubber filled theme park! This 'ere photo be me first born and me dirty wench on the rollercoaster. I'd be there too but fer me over-indulgence of the locals ale and waffles! Tis a hard job, but I be strong o' heart an belly! An' I'll raise a mug to ya seadogs celebrating Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Wassenar Town Center

We're had a few hours of fun in the pool this morning, then headed off to the local town to have a look around. We found a massive sweet shop (candy store) and spent a while in there. The Dutch have a crazy fondness for SALTY candy, which, needless to say, is gross!