Did I ever say an engagement was an elephant, madam?

Amsterdam yesterday: Scots, everywhere. Kilts, bagpipes, ginger wigs, the lot. And Scotland weren't even playing last night, they are tonight. Didn't stop the fans from decorating the Dam war memorial with massive Scottish flags. It was really quite funny, we were passing on the tram and we could hear them chanting from halfway across the Damrak. There were some riot police vans but the atmosphere was generally quite friendly. Couldn't help being reminded of Manchester full of Ranger fans last summer though. Best, friendliest atosphere ever, but that's when they'd just started drinking, and they ended up wrecking half the city centre later that day. Anyway, the match that had completely slipped my mind explained the random Scottish The Sun double decker I saw from the Leiden-Amsterdam train. I do hope Scotland wins tonight.

As for other Scots news, me and Nouk are seeing the View in Utrecht a day before the Maximo Park gig. Good birthday pressie or what?

So sad. Bloody Russians. German Schwalbe goes Sovjet. Guus is never allowed back in Holland, traaitor. We just didn't deliver though, and neither team was amazing, I think the expectations were just too high. I'm just focusing on being happy that I won't miss Holland winning a major tournament, being at Glasto and all. We'll still be painting Dutch flags on people's faces though!

As for nicer things, I've been having a really lovely time staying with het mattmofje in Nottingham. We had a really interesting tour of the castle and dressed up in orange (and drowned our sorrows haha!) I keep getting deja-vues from five years ago, when we were here to visit Marieke. Going back now though, time to go home and pack!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/20/mcclaren.fctwente

Haha what an opportunity, bless him. Has he actually seen any matches in the Dutch league?

I'm sure Heracles can come up with some very original chants against him. Seeing as they only speak (some sort) of Dutch that should be amusing.

Right, back to dyeage..

Oooh had such a great time!

More later, but..

ORANJE! OMG. I forgot how much I love football. SO GOOD. Anders lost his money because he bet against Holland, haha. Should they make it to the final I'd really want to fly home but I'm at Glasto FOR FANDEN!

Who wants to come watch the game with me on Friday?! :D

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jun/04/euro2008.netherlands

hahaha.. Marieke always talks about GeenStijl, I'm very pleased she's online now so we can have a chuckle over it.

http://www.geenstijl.nl/mt/archieven/2008/06/the_guardian_a_triumphant_piec.html

and in a previous post:
"Verder vinden die bleke dikke homofiele theedrinkers met hun dronken vrouwtjes dat wij een heel grappieg accent hebben als we Englisssshhhh murmelen" hahaha

As for other news, Matt's going today and I'm pissed off with him for something else. Brilliant.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/05/26/who_should_we_back_for_euro_20.html

Rrright, on to those doctors now.

Glaswegians, everywhere! Woo. I think I've seen about 30 kilts on my way to the library and back. The accent whore in me was pretty pleased.

A few of them were carrying British flags, rather than Scottish though, which makes me wonder. Maybe they were locals pledging allegiance to the one British team playing tonight, I don't know.

I'm hoping to see loads of Russians at the airport now. I think I saw a couple but they might just have been Polish.

Right, I'm off to Dutchieland again!