I am looking at a video of the European Parliament on the other BBC's website. They are arguing about Gibraltar. There is nothing new in this; they have been arguing about Gibraltar for over 300 years and they will probably be arguing about it for the next 300. Brexit has put it back on the … Continue reading Language Is Power
Does anybody know the French for "déja vu"? Here we are again. Same stadium, same opponents, the same tired looking visitors from France. Borussia Dortmund vs AS Monaco: The sequel. The French fans look tired for a reason. One of them tells me of how seven of them spent the night in a German fan's … Continue reading We Mustn’t Let Them Win
It's a common feature of dramatic events that they are preceded by moments of great irony. The night before the Titanic sank the passengers and crew sang "For Those In Peril On The Sea" during the church service. Abraham Lincoln dreamed that he was at his own funeral just days before his assassination. And so … Continue reading Regiment
Put your shoes on: We're going on a journey. Walking boots if you have them, sports shoes if not. We're going hiking. It's Friday lunchtime and I've planned every last detail. We are going down the River Rhine, in search of a Germany both forgotten and familiar. For many years this was the face of … Continue reading Facades
In the new few weeks I will probably become very frustrated with German bureaucrats. It is not their fault and they are only doing their jobs. I have to keep calm. To help me do this I'm going to share a true story with you just to remind myself that they also have a sense … Continue reading Red Tape
