New York City: a place to visit

What a marvellous trip!! Many places we have seen, nice people at the Van Halen concert with us, great weather all along, and the food.... yummy!! I'm trying hard but I cannot decide what I liked most. MoMA, Empire State Building, the fire escapes, the subway steam in the streets, the Village, the boat tour... I guess it's the whole thing. It really was like I had always seen it films - just different!

Wyh Brits are good business people and Germans produce reliable goods

We've just spent a few days in Germany celebrating Oliver's dad's 60th birthday. The weather was glorious, the parties grand and the people lovely. I had the chance to meet a lot of his family and friends I hadn't met before and chatted about all sorts. A few times I have been asked if my boss had allowed my these days off - and a few times I have been surprised by the question. As it is, when I plan a holiday first of all I check it doesn't clash with the others in the office, then I ask my boss and book. And sometimes I actually ask my boss last... ;-)You see, I know my holiday entitlement and I know my boss wouldn't object me taking time off. And because in the UK there is an understanding that you're a resource, you're valuable despite your job's got to be done. It goes to the extent that here companies compete in being an "Investor in People": "Everyone agrees that people are an organisation's greatest asset", so the investor in people website. Because of the Commonwealth and the English language the UK gets a lot more (young) people come, stay for a few years and then go. They have learnt they've got to be flexible and turned it to their advantage. Their are business people.
In Germany, however, it seems life is more regulated, people kind of like their routines and securities, they are better protected by laws and trade unions, employment rules like holidays and working times are less flexible and undergo the strict scrutiny of the boss. You are more an employee rather than a flexible resource. This doesn't mean people are mistreated in Germany - it's much rather about the approach to work. And life.

Things I like about Britain - 1

There is an endless list of things I love about this country, this green island with occasional good weather where different cultures mix daily under the vigilant eye of the Queen.

On this day, 1st of May, I am spending my lunch break thinking of my friends and family on the continent who are off and enjoying their free day. Yes, I'm talking about labour day. It would be wrong to say Britain does not celebrate stuff like this, they've simply taken all religious and political reference out and called these festivities 'bank holiday'. Why this name I really don't know since on bank holidays everybody if off, not only bankers...
There are only two exceptions: Christmas and Easter. Good for the travel industry!

They've been clever though: all bank holidays are on a Monday. This means that 1) you always get a long week end, 2) of the two days next to the week end you get off the one where you probably work more (Friday after work drinks can start very very early....) and 3) if such a festivity is on a week end - you don't lose it since it is moved to a Monday anyway!

Pity is that you have to take holiday leave when you want to spend this day with others from the continent - but I guess I can live with that! :-)