Back in Town

I think he lost his way?

Another "Happening" - no idea what?

Weekends in Amsterdam -  there always seems to be some “happening”, and this Saturday was no exception. There was a lot of shouting from the canal and a quick look out of the window revealed a Boat Race in progress. Not the smart Oxford & Cambridge annual event  in London where K and I along with the rest of the world living on the boatrace stretch of the river, (pubs included) host a champagne party to celebrate the event. No, these were brightly coloured wooden tubs with 8 -10 oarsmen apiece, the cox STANDING in the rear, racing down the Prinsengracht. The words"hysterically funny" come to mind, there was no synchronization with the oars, some boats were crashing into the side of the houseboats moored alongside the canal and for some reason a rather large private boat had got itself tangled up in the race and couldn’t get out of the way. Oars a flaying the race continued although it did seem a bit unfair that one boat  jammed between the rogue pleasure boat and a houseboat had to free itself by using it’s oars pushing against the sides of both vessels, (click on photo) it certainly lost a few precious seconds in getting to the finish line!

Fun over, then back on the bikes for Saturday shopping. There has been a lot of rain so I took the WD40 to oil the rusty parts if necessary. Having unlocked the bikes from the lamppost I took the lid off the can and it just happened that there was a motorbike with a cover on it next to the lamppost,  where I put the lid of the can. Suddenly, a voice yells out “hey, zat ees my motorbike eet is not a table” – a harridan sitting in the top floor window had been watching my every move, clearly ready for a fight. I responded that I was awfully sorry and thanked her for her neighbourly introduction.... I think I should let her tyres down .... K suggested that after the deed I leave a note saying that this is a quaint old English custom we keep for "friendly" neighbours!! Actually, we have been reading “The UnDutchables” a very funny book with all the little foibles and habits of the Dutch and it is so true. One part of the book discusses neighbourliness and how they like to get into a debate. Complaining apparently being the national passion.

In earlier blogs, I mentioned “entitlements” and the reason we were heading off on our bikes was to find the nominated optician for K to get some new glasses. Instead of the buy-one-get-one-free approach to business, here it is the opposite, ie get one free and buy the second pair. An excellent idea. Of course you don’t have to buy the second pair. I am going to root out my old prescription and go and get some today. There is no time like the present.

I have been enjoying my cycling here, but on Saturday’s that is another story. It seems that Saturday cyclists behave rather like our weekend drivers. Bad tempered. I was almost knocked off my bike by some lout,  arm waving, bell ringing and muttering abuse as he came whistling by me in the cycle lane at high speed, tree under his arm and nasty words coming out of his mouth. Clearly he thought I was hogging too much space in the cycle lane! I have this theory that the reason so many people are stressed out on Saturdays is because people who work all week have to get everything done by 5.00pm before everywhere closes,  ie shopping, dry cleaning etc etc because the powers that be are still debating Sunday opening hours. There are a few shops who seem to flout the law about Sunday opening and someone turns a blind eye, but almost everything is closed on Sunday and Monday morning. A very strange business,  as Amsterdam is very much a tourist place on weekends and they certainly could be making a lot more money from tourists. I read in Time Out this week that opinion was very much in favour of Sunday Opening not only shopkeepers but the public in general would like it, it’s mainly The Church objecting.

It’s Monday morning now and as most places are closed until lunchtime I think I will cycle over to the Town Hall and deliver more notarised documents – we are almost legal.