Usual general rules apply but you can have your non-motoring banter in here. If people start getting drunk and smoking and that we'll have to close it down. Nothing offensive or rude etc.
All Christmas Greetings will be decanted in here...
NO POLITICS
Rob
(I must be mad volunteering)
Volume 1 is HERE
Volume 2 is HERE
Volume 3 is HERE
Volume 4 is HERE
960389
Edited by Pugugly on 24/01/2010 at 10:52
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tinyurl.com/yfx9hxk
Well I hadn't seen it before, so I presume it's new. ;>)
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Just spent a few days in Berlin. I had been before but only on brief overnight business trips so hadn't really had time to absorb much of it.
This time although I was working at a trade show, I was there for longer and had the opportunity to explore a bit. I have visited Germany on countless occasions in the past as I used to work for a company which had it's headquarters in Stuttgart and have also been to Dusseldorf and Koln frequently.
My first impressions of Berlin are that it is a quite different culture. Not at all typical of the other parts of Germany I know. Utterly cosmopoloitan, a true melting pot of cultures, creeds and races. Much more laid back at one level but with the short attention span common to all major cities with a strong tourism bias. Friendlier people generally, more able to rub along with others and the older ones seem still so relieved to be back in a more normal environment following the obsorbtion of the east.
The venue I attended was located in the recently converted Templehof airport which has now become an exhibition centre. The buildings which are still acutely recognisable from old newsreels are preserved in their original format with the meeting areas set out on what would have been the apron of the old airport. A blend of industrial and technological heritage combined with state of the art 21st century facilities.
It was cold. Temperatures hovered around -6C for most of the time and hard packed frozen snow was everywhere. An occasional fresh fall added to the winter wonderland appearance from time to time. Of course, all vehicles had their winter tyres fitted and despite the conditions the city went about its business as normal.
It felt quite expensive although it was almost certainly cheaper than spending an equivalent time in London. Taxis in particular were ruinously dear but combining them with using the very efficient SBahn rail service proved to be the sensible solution. The railway tracks are notably raised above the city on overhead tracks vaguely reministent of some American cities and afford a great view of the area from the carriage windows.
One can not of course help but reflect on the history of the city. It's fundamental involvement in WW2 and more recently the cold war. Standing in an office block overlooking the river Spree across to what is now the O2 building and reflecting upon those who desperately attemped to swim under gunfire towards where I was standing to reach the West. The tourist boats seeming slightly incongruuous still in a location of such emotional intensity. A lifetime ago I was taught German at school by a quiet intellectual man who had made that very swim in the early 1960's. I thought of him and what that must have meant. Leaving his parents and siblings behind in the knowledge that he may have caused them not just worry but perhaps also brought them to the unwelcome notice of officialdom.
Paradoxically, I met a taxi driver this time, about my own age, born the East who was proud to tell me that his daughter attends a London university.
An odd city. Strangely compelling. I'll go again.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 24/01/2010 at 11:49
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Two words - Shane Williams !
and another two - Leigh Halfpenny..!
Edited by Pugugly on 13/02/2010 at 16:08
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Exciting stuff. But what was the last sin-bin for? Saw lots of repeats of Shane going over the line, but not what led to the sending off.
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"Rough Play" - he was warned earlier in the match.
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"Rough Play"
In the context of a 6 nations match, which you would hardly call genteel, I hate to think what he actually did then... (I was cooking tea and got distracted)
I like the way the French (in the other match) are trying to toughen up the commentators by making them sit in open air studios :-)
Edited by Focus {P} on 13/02/2010 at 21:19
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That was a cracking match as well - France are very strong.
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