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[personal profile] pallas_athena
I'm typing this from a hotel room in The Hague. Rather surprisingly, I'm not currently on trial for war crimes.

I'd never been to the Netherlands before. I like it here, and wish I had more than two days (Amsterdam yesterday; the Hague today.) I've walked along canals, experienced a rijstaffel and seen more paintings than you could shake a stick at.

What's strange about being here, though, is that I speak not a syllable of Dutch. I can just about read it, given its close relationship to both English and German, but I have no idea how to speak it, or understand it when spoken.

It is so weird being in a European country where I don't speak the language. So weird.

Tomorrow: back to London; singing; then off to Berkeley Castle for the Berkeley Skirmish (featuring, should the reenactors not behave themselves, MORE SINGING).

Today I also learnt that the brilliant tenor Anthony Rolfe Johnson has died at the age of only 69. It is a sad loss, but the real tragedy is that he had been retired for some years due to early-onset Alzheimer's. I will always remember his beautiful voice.

on 2010-07-22 08:53 am (UTC)
Posted by [identity profile] esdi-leanne.livejournal.com
I noticed the similarities between Dutch and German, which made menu-reading that bit easier, but the pronunciation is its own universe.

I got your message about Lammas and Sieban. Well done on getting the job! You will be missed at Lammas, but there will be other oppurtunities. I don't think I'll bother with Sieban now actually. I don't feel up to tackling London on my own...the city is still a step too far for this country mouse. x

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