Week 44 Easier Said Than Done

Week 44

Easier Said Than Done

Reflections on the use of English

Janny & I had the twins for 24 hours. We were all treated to a pizza (we wonder if they have ever had a real pizza before?) to be eaten in front of the fire and the TV, no less.

There was an ad on TV, repeated quite a few times, that showed a series of mishaps and people saying "shit" as a result. A cake falls upside down on the ground - "shit" say the kids. A Christmas tree falls over as it is being prepared - "shit" says the old couple.

It took me a few times to realise what the whole thing was about - advertising is mostly wasted on me. But, it turns out that the ad is for a laxative - the point being that it (shit) is easier said than done! (They use the "c" word quite freely, as well - here it is the "k" word).

I remember Janny coming home from the swimming pool one day with a story about a kid who kept saying "shit" during the lesson. Janny finally asked him if he knew the meaning of the word? Huh?, no. Does it have a meaning? Nah!! came the reply when it was explained to him. Nah, the swimming teacher has gone mad, or words to that effect. So, now 20 odd years later and the ad uses it innocently in one context as in "oops" or "darn it" - but then quite openly acknowledges that it is really to do with the need for a laxative.

I think that learning a second language has really made me think about the meaning of words - sometimes it just doesn't matter as much as you thought it did. One of the things drummed into the Dutch kids is the need to say "u" (pronounced oo as in too) (meaning "you") as a term of respect for elders or (gasp) superiors. I have struggled with the use of this one; the word "u" doesn't automatically grant respect - only respect itself does that. The ordinary term for you is "je", which quite often sounds like ya as in poorly spoken English - eg what's ya name? or "whatchyadoin". I often cringe at "wat zeg je?" which is a perfectly normal way of saying "what did you say". 
Oh, how I miss "I beg your pardon"!!

More on English (in preference to Moron English!)

With one of the recent stories from "over there", I remembered during the week a series of books by Robert Goddard. The English language is beautifully used, quite apart from the excellent stories themselves. Just as an aside, Anneke was reading the Dutch versions at exactly the same time, so were able to compare notes along the way (20 or more books). I did wonder at the time if the translator had captured the delights of the English language and, in fact, if it was as enjoyable in Dutch, purely on that alone?

The reason I recalled the use of English was that I heard a  letter written by Abraham Lincoln - a message of condolence...(the reader was giving an example of how well condolences could be expressed).

(The letter was sent to the daughter of a friend killed in the Civil War).

Executive Mansion,
Washington, December 23, 1862.

Dear Fanny

It is with deep grief that I learn of the death of your kind and brave Father; and, especially, that it is affecting your young heart beyond what is common in such cases. In this sad world of ours, sorrow comes to all; and, to the young, it comes with bitterest agony, because it takes them unawares. The older have learned to ever expect it. I am anxious to afford some alleviation of your present distress. Perfect relief is not possible, except with time. You can not now realize that you will ever feel better. Is not this so? And yet it is a mistake. You are sure to be happy again. To know this, which is certainly true, will make you some less miserable now. I have had experience enough to know what I say; and you need only to believe it, to feel better at once. The memory of your dear Father, instead of an agony, will yet be a sad sweet feeling in your heart, of a purer and holier sort than you have known before.

Please present my kind regards to your afflicted mother.

Your sincere friend
A. Lincoln

Much better than some of the cringe-worthy stuff of late.

Around the farm...

School holidays, again! They just rattle around so quickly these days. This time it is the Autumn break.

The kids make popguns out of PVC pipe and a balloon - ideal for shooting the (inedible) corn kernels. The corn is grown as cattle feed and they usually leave a bit behind - it keeps the kids busy! It seems that they have never eaten "corn on the cob" - we'll do that next weekend (after a trip to the frozen food section of the supermarket).

The New Government

Well, it's taken a while to get it sorted out - who can compromise with what and agree to move on without being too radical? The New Government slogan is "Confidence in the Future".

A few snippets...

Healthcare
In healthcare, as previously announced, the “own risk” excess will remain at 385 euros, as it was in 2017. However, in order to keep own risk at the same level it was last year, the monthly premiums that healthcare providers in the Netherlands offer, will increase.

The government will invest 2,1 billion euros into nursing homes so that these comply with the new standards set for good care.

This cabinet period there will also be 170 million euros available for prevention and health promotion. After this period, 20 million euros per year will be available. A national plan of action, which focuses on smoking and obesity, is being developed.

Climate
To tackle climate change and reduce CO2 emissions in the Netherlands, all new housing will no longer be required to be connected to the gas network. The government has set a goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 49 percent by 2030. Before this date, all coal-fired power plants must be shut down. In accordance with the move towards green energy, all cars in the Netherlands must be emission-free by 2030.

Climate and energy agreements will be incorporated into national law and new plots will be designated for wind turbines in the North Sea. In addition to this, the government will reserve four billion euros for the transition to cleaner energy.

We wonder about this quite often - it certainly comes at a cost to us personally, but then what is the point if the rest of the world doesn't go along? Even if the whole of Europe gets it right, it still won't make much difference. But we do it anyway because it is the "right" thing to do.

Part of the coalition has put forward a plan to have electric "filling" points every 25 kms - to encourage more people to use electric cars. They argue that "fully charging a car costs no more than 8 euros in electricity. Driving as many kilometres on petrol will cost you around 70 euros".

Income and taxes
As expected, the Dutch government is planning to reform the tax system and move towards a two-band system, instead of the current four-band one. Asset tax will be reduced, as the tax-free threshold will be raised from 25.000 euros to 30.000 euros.

The lower VAT (GST) rate, which applies to groceries, books and entertainment, will increase by 3 percent to 9 percent. This means that households can expect an increase on their grocery bills. Taxes will be increased on tobacco products as well.

On Infrastructure

I often marvel at the amount of infrastructure - roads, bridges in particular, as we drive to Amsterdam. But still not enough, it seems...

(When I first came here, 25 years ago!, I couldn't believe the cost of owning a car and it always seemed unfair and not very logical that the cost of Public Transport was also very high. I thought, "fair go", one or the other but not both! I'm still not convinced one way or the other, but maybe I can now get a Pensioner's Discount on the Public Transport!).

Dutch roads are becoming increasingly congested and the cost to society could reach some €3.7bn a year, according to research by the infrastructure ministry’s mobility institute KIM. The increase in the financial impact of jams is due to delays experienced by both people and road transporters in reaching their destinations, as well as a rise in the number of road users, the institute said. It puts the traffic jam increase at 1.7% this year and 1.2% in 2018. 

This means that travelling times could go up by as much as 28% by 2022 as pressure increases on the existing road networks. ‘When it comes to delays, time is money,’ spokesman Arjen ‘t Hoen told the AD. The new government has earmarked €2.6bn for expanding and maintaining the road network in 2018 and plans to expand the road network by 1,000 kilometres by 2031, the AD points out. The KIM says that some 60% of all kilometres travelled in the Netherlands are by car, including half of all non-business related journeys. Trains account for just 13% of kilometres travelled and bikes 8%.Dutch commuters are increasingly favouring travel by car or bike rather than public transport. The use of the train, tram, bus and metro both in the city and outside has fallen when compared to the car or bike. The use of the bikes to get to work has risen by 3.5% since 2005 due in part to the popularity of e-bikes. The bike is the most popular means of transport in Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht but the car is more popular in Rotterdam, the report said.

Buildings falling down...

Ben's building at his University is known as Building X. A sister building in Eindhoven partially collapsed and so they had a closer look at Windesheim. It has been closed until the summer of next year whilst they undertake the necessary precautions.

Further on Ben. He has an extra incentive to finish his thesis on time! We are still planning to go to Australia, but he has been asked if wants to go to Singapore for a couple of months modelling work. All a bit tentative yet, so no point in getting too excited - says boring old Dad!