Euro 2008

[Sweder]

The Croatia result has gone down rather well in Holland
I had occasion to prop up a bar last evening with a number of gentlemen from Croatia. One of them wore the weird chef-style chequered shirt and they were liberally imbibed by the time I strolled in. The best thing was they didn't know about Mr Webb's excellent decision (as fully supported by UEFA I see) and so thought Poland had won, leaving the Croats needing a draw to ensure qualification.

When I told them about the last minute equaliser, how it came about and the nationality of the referee involved they became rather animated, insisting that I receive the heartfelt thanks of a grateful nation by way of a tankerload of Guinness. Naturally I declined - the tankerload, anyway - settling for a single pint and a combined toast to Der Nederlands spanking the French tonight.

Apropos of nothing football-related I must share the following.
I've been waiting all day for a wide load - that's Convoi Exceptional, not SP after a night out . I'm building a Reachstacker (a 70-ton forklift that stacks containers in port) outside the Amsterdam RAI for a show next week. The vehicle arrives like a monstrous airfix kit - body/ chassis, boom arm and spreader. You need a 120 ton crane (and a Liebherr mechanic) to lift and assemble the pieces. The trucks were stuck outside the city for several hours this morning waiting for their official escorts to guide them through the narrow streets.

The crane driver, an affable fellow who spent much of the morning leaning against his huge crane tires, enquired as to the reason for the delay. When I told him about the problem he smiled ruefully, focused on rolling a smoke.
'You'd think they could find an escort in Amsterdam, eh?'

I love the Dutch.