The Dutch Are Hanging In
But for how long?
I think I’ll put some money on penalties!
There seems to have been litle mention in the build-up to this game, that The Netherlands was once controlled by Spain. It’s not history I know too well, but I seem to remember that the Spanish Armada was going to pick up Spanish troops under the Duke of Parma from Flanders for the invasion of Great Britain.
Perhaps, just as the first Elizabeth supported the Dutch in their fight against Spain, we should do the same today.
How To Be Rude To Visitors
I am watching the World Cup semi-final with a visitor from The Netherlands.
Their experience is ruined by the constant adverts and crass commentary on ITV. After all none of the adverts is relevant to someone with intelligence or who lives outside of the UK.
ITV also always refer to The Netherlands as Holland, which is incorrect, as Holland is just a province of the Netherlands. It’s like using England, when you mean Great Britain or the United Kingdom.
I tried to find a Dutch channel on SKY, so that we could both enjoy it, but there isn’t one.
So we just switched over to Radio 5 at half-time to avoid the drivel!
Tomorrow is Darrell’s Day
The 4th of July means a lot to Americans, but it also means a lot to us here in Suffolk, as on that day in 1667, Nathaniel Darrell and his brave marines at Landguard Fort near Felixstowe, repulsed the last attempted invasion of the United Kingdom.
If he hadn’t been successful, we might all be speaking Dutch!
Landguard Fort
Felixstowe was the last place in the UK, to be invaded by foreign forces, when the Dutch tried to capture Landguard Fort in 1667. They failed due to the efforts of Nathaniel Darrell. That is why the 2nd of July is Darrell’s Day in Suffolk.
It is a place well worth a visit with a reasonable entry charge, lots of things to see and an excellent audio commentary.
I also found it a good place to try out my waling and climbing skills after a stroke. In only a couple of places did I need a helping hand.
ITV Gets It Wrong Again!
I watched some of the Dutch game on ITV. Where they give the scores they use HOL to indicate The Netherlands. But the BBC use something like NTH.
Obviouly, ITV and most of their viewers don’t know that Holland is just a province of The Netherlands.
Perhaps, Ishould change the tag in this blog, before I get corrected.
The World Cup Goes Cuckoo
Or should it be cuckoo clocks, with the Swiss beating the much-fancied Spain?
And then we have the ambush-marketing row over the Dutch and their orange mini-dresses! I have every sympathy for them, as Budweiser is crap American beer, that has no place in a sport, that is not mainstream in the United States. In truth no-one should be locked up for the way they dress. Budweiser is also not gluten-free. so I can’t drink it. I suppose if I were in South Africa I’d be drinking Diet-Coke or some excellent South African wine. I’d love to know what coeliac friendly alcoholic drinks are available in the stadia for the World Cup.
It will be interesting to see what happens the next time the Dutch play. I wouldn’t bet against enterprising street traders selling everything they can find in orange and we’ll see strapping Dutchmen in orange T-shirts with matching wigs.
They do it differently in Holland
This was in today’s Sun.
Apparently Heinekin are not pleased as Bavaria came up with the idea. But the Dutch do like their orange.
Tey’re both crap beers, as I’m a coeliac.
The Binnenhof in Den Haag
The Binnenhof is the complex of buildings in the centre of Den Haag where the Dutch parliament meets.
Note the really high security of two officers in a 4×4.
Gluten-Free Meals in Holland
When it happened the first time at a cafe near the Watersnood Museum, I just thought it was a nice gesture. But when it happened last weekend, I thought it could be part of an encouraging trend for coeliacs.
Cafe Restaurant Landbouw
But last week at the Cafe Restaurant Landbouw, for the second time I got gluten-free bread with my meal. So it was frozen and had been warmed in an oven or a microwave.
It was a nice gesture, that rarely happens in the UK.
