Here are some fine examples of the sort of sentences you can find in EU press releases which might leave you unconvinced that, as the EU’s communications chief Margot Wallström puts it, “communicating with the citizens of the European Union has been a primary concern for this Commission from the very start.” It’s not hard [...]
Also filed in Ambiguity, Berlaymont, Brussels, Bruxelles, Confusion, EU, EU publications, European commission, Future of EU, Government, Music, People, Questions, Words
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I’ve changed the theme on this blog and also, hopefully, begun the process of writing entries more regularly. A lot has happened since my last post, I’ve been to stranded in Strasbourg in the snow, I’ve watched the Belgians out in force to try and preserve the unity of their country, and I’ve found myself [...]
Also filed in Air travel, Clear sky, Cooking, Dating, EU, Environment, Geneva, Going Out, Journalism, Lakes, Mountains, Nature, People, Plenary session, Relationships, Strasbourg, Things I like, Transport, Update, Work, Writing, breakfast, cafe, careers, holidays, snow, trains, weather
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It’s a time for change once again. Last week I was informed that I had successfully obtained a position as a journalist with The Parliament magazine, which was fantastic news for me because it’s a continuation of similar sort of work to that which I’d been enjoying for the last 5 months at the European [...]
Also filed in Accommodation, Alarms, Arguments, Banks, Brussels, DIY, Doctor, EU, EU publications, Europe, European parliament, Experiences, Forgetfulness, Fresh Start, Friends, Hospitals, House, House-mates, Independence, Journalism, Moving In, Patients, People, Plants, Routine, Rules, Security, Staying In, Surgery, Swearing, Windows, Writing, appartment, careers, emergency services, existence, fear, flat, furnishings, insurance, lunatics, personality, procedures, reality, screaming
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Personally, I don’t worry too much about pillows. However, I may be in a minority here,
judging by last weekend’s trip to IKEA to help a friend move into her new flat.
As we wandered around the vast warehouse, I wasn’t allowed to go and look at the kitchen knives until I had answered concerns regarding whether [...]
Also filed in Arguments, Brussels, DIY, Experiences, Facts, Friends, Going Out, IKEA, People, Sarcasm, Staying In, Things I dislike, You Couldn't Make It Up, appartment, boredom, colours, flat, furnishings, personality, pillows, reality, sleep, towels
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I hope there’s not some universal rule that dictates that the people you tend to attract are a reflection of the sort of person you are yourself. Maybe, of course, somewhere deep inside me there’s an enthusiasm for those interests that are, to put it kindly, located at some distance away from typically popular culture. Why has this [...]
Also filed in Brussels, European parliament, Events, Experiences, Obscure, Ordeal, People, Thoughts, Transport, Wine, boredom, champagne, meetings, personality, receptions, speaking, trains
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It was time, on Friday, to get a haircut. My hair had grown to the point where it could have housed a small family of birds for the winter; something had to be done. So off I went to the nearest hairdressers, and thus the ordeal began…
“Bonjour, Monsieur. How would you like it cut?”
(Remember this [...]
Also filed in French language, Hair, Haircuts, Mastermind, Ordeal, People, Questions, Sarcasm, Thoughts, Words, body art
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Lovely day out to Bruges on the weekend. The pictures, as usual, can be seen here.
I’m helping to cover this month’s plenary session in Strasbourg, and it’s got me thinking about speakers, speeches and the incredible range of ability when it comes to speaking to a group. I was at a meeting last week and listened to [...]
Also filed in Brussels, EU, Europe, European parliament, Events, Journalism, People, Plenary session, Speeches, Strasbourg, Things I dislike, Things I like, Words, Work, Writing, adverts, boredom, business, careers, co-decision, impressive, management, meetings, procedures, recruitment, speaking
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A quick trip to Cardiff for an interview for a place on the postgraduate diploma course in journalism – and, in response to the forthcoming question, I think it went OK and I’ll probably find out next week – and, at the Youth Hostel, I got my suit out of the suit bag…only to find [...]
Also filed in Anger, Arguments, Brussels, Cardiff, Cooking, EU, Europe, European parliament, Events, Experiences, Futility, Interviews, Journalism, Newspaper articles, Newspapers, People, Praise, Staying In, Suit, Things I dislike, Things I like, Transport, Wales, Words, Work, Work experience, Writing, You Couldn't Make It Up, Youth Hostel
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Just back from Sardinia, where I joined my family who were staying near Stintino, in the North West of the island. As we went out of season, both Stintino and the surrounding area were deserted, giving the place a very “League-of-Gentlemen” feel: “Lei è locale?”
It reminded me in a way of where I come [...]
Also filed in Air travel, Are You Local?, BBC Comedy, EU, Environment, Events, Experiences, Facts, Going Out, Journalism, League of Gentlemen, Newspaper articles, Newspapers, Novelty, Obscure, People, Staying In, Thoughts, Wales, Words, You Couldn't Make It Up, body art, boredom, breakfast, emergency services, family, holidays
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