tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post6611009113697697579..comments2024-03-27T22:53:00.759+01:00Comments on A Hippo On the Lawn: He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named has arrived in AngolaHippohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-48757798507866521462012-08-12T19:30:37.645+01:002012-08-12T19:30:37.645+01:00Hehehe, grrrrreat. I just had the worst vacations ...Hehehe, grrrrreat. I just had the worst vacations of my life, trying my wife to get her passport renewed. I spent a full seven days at the registos centrais, the ministy of foreign affairs, listening to my wife and her mother - always good to have the mais velha present to get the necessary respect - talk to these extremely polite but not very smart but even more hardheaded funcionarios of the angolan administration. Of course they had lost critical info that was sent to them from the embassy in our home country but of course it was all our fault and we had to go through a nightmarish bueraucratic process to get her recognized as 'married'. And yeah now I aam sitting in Dubai alone with my daughter because my wife couldnt get her passport in time.......as I said worst stay in Angola so far, love the country and alll but the bureaucracy is absolutely catastrophic. Oh yeah, and I wont mention the food ppoisoning I caught and the fever..... Oh well, a vida!<br /><br />Cheers<br />MAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-47882329730044450352012-08-10T11:53:03.814+01:002012-08-10T11:53:03.814+01:00Shit, John, I am supposed to be eccentric, not pre...Shit, John, I am supposed to be eccentric, not predictable...Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-47399001208023160522012-08-09T20:44:12.386+01:002012-08-09T20:44:12.386+01:00from the very first sentence...I kind of knew just...from the very first sentence...I kind of knew just where it was all going xxJohn Going Gentlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14958171262765033946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-71201563218002991552012-08-09T12:06:21.264+01:002012-08-09T12:06:21.264+01:00I forgot to mention Tin TinI forgot to mention Tin TinHippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-59245267261777879892012-08-09T12:02:48.788+01:002012-08-09T12:02:48.788+01:00OK, OK but apart from a well lit and maintained mo...OK, OK but apart from a well lit and maintained motorway network, fabulous architecture, polite policemen, a civilised and friendly population, outstanding food, some excellent beers, world famous chocolates, superb shops, pleasant pedestrian zones, wonderful cafes, beautiful countryside (especially the Ardennes), a rich and varied culture, an astonishing science museum, a huge range of interesting art galleries and other museums, truly memorable hunting, fine horses, high quality guns and rifles, delicate lace, enchanting parks to walk in, tree lines avenues, superb fly and coarse fishing, wonderful ice cream and patisserie, diamonds, a pissing boy and Poirot, I ask you...<br /><br />What have the Belgians ever done for us?Hippohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09468795398813061897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-68378610711082203092012-08-09T11:14:07.510+01:002012-08-09T11:14:07.510+01:00Hmmm, you should know how things work by now and n...Hmmm, you should know how things work by now and never to mess around with Visas for any country, in any airport, any time. But no doubt the lesson is learned.<br />To be fair to Belgium, having lived there for a few years, they have generally the best food in the world; Antwerp is lovely; Brussells has some divine architecture; the Ardennes are some of the most beautiful mountains and countryside in Europe if not the world and Bruges is the best preserved medieval town in Europe and one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Just be careful that you don't come down with Gum Syndrome - grumpy old man!Roslyn Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15700960108357035957noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-2745577393924467962012-08-09T05:09:43.016+01:002012-08-09T05:09:43.016+01:00One observation, Tom: Losing your temper is ok. Lo...One observation, Tom: Losing your temper is ok. Losing your temper when it counts will get you nowhere. I sometimes seethe inside if you held a match to my innards I'd explode. On the outside I am all sweetness and light. Thus the desired result swiftly achieved. Charmed, I am sure, Madam.<br /><br />There is plenty I could say on your paperwork dilemmas. Read Orwell or Kafka at an early age to prepare you for Bureau Crazy (as I call it). It will stand you in good stead.<br /><br />I will strike a blow for Belgium. A country so flat that, by comparison, even Schleswig-Holstein has (mole) hills. I drive through Belgium on a regular basis. Their (and France's) motorway speed restrictions ridiculous. Metal to the pedal is my motto. I go twice over their speed limit. Not once, not once in twenty years have I been stopped by police. I don't think they give a fuck any longer. Or maybe I am just lucky. But yes, you are right: Flat as a pancake. However, and be fair: Brussels and Antwerp are beauties. <br /><br />You speak Flemish? Pull the other one.<br /><br />Last question: Since when does a German 'forget' his vaccination certificate when visiting his brother in Angola (of all places)? Germans don't forget. Anything.<br /><br />UUrsulahttp://bitchontheblog.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-82011885564232563972012-08-09T00:27:02.769+01:002012-08-09T00:27:02.769+01:00I lead such a dull life.
I do hope your sibling ...I lead such a dull life. <br /><br />I do hope your sibling can get to see you before his visa expires.megan blogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04555646904983619596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8512022050229968490.post-47250295691008052332012-08-08T20:25:12.679+01:002012-08-08T20:25:12.679+01:00My happiest airport moment was landing once at Nor...My happiest airport moment was landing once at Norwich airport, Norfolk. Not only were there no staff around - absolutely none at all - but the lights were off. Everyone was expecting an ambush or reality-tv cameras at the very least, but there were none. Off the plane (a little turbo prop affair), through a darkened arrivals suite and into my taxi. Welcome back to England.<br /><br />My least favourite was Bahrain, where machine guns and fingers on the wall in "the position" were involved, making the simple rubber gloves of San Diego pale into insignificance.<br /><br />Please do post again when - if - when - if - when your sibling is released, otherwise I shall get indigestion.The Owl Woodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11484484539144369129noreply@blogger.com