I’m having an affair...

Sorry, blog, but I am spending most my time with Facebook now, an even more fragmented way of communicating, “shouting out” my occupations, my daily life and invitations for social events...

I’m having an affair... This brilliant opening is inspired by this blogpost, that explains exactly why there has been such a long hiatus in the search for pieces all over the world, for the treasure hunt of friends..

“I was doing my usual daily blog reading last week when I came across one of those posts, “I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a while…”. We all know the posts and typically I just skim right through them and move on. This post got me thinking though. The author explained his absence was due to him spending too much time on other projects. All of the sudden, I knew what was happening; I knew the signs. This guy was cheating on his website, and so was I.”


Well, another post today then. A bit more serious than the opening… Actually, I am having a bit the same feeling as around 10 years ago in the Netherlands.

Why? The Danish election results. They underline and confirm once again something that was worrying me for quite a while: that the suffocating, vile and poisonous way of working of the Danisg People’s Party is rubbing off on too many here.
They just got too many votes, and that worries me deeply.

We had the discussion at work: the challenge lies in communicating and through that making clear what the consequences are of such political statements as their nauseating party is throwing around.

Why does it remind me of the Netherlands? Well, 10 years ago a feeling was growing in me that the general tendency of the country was one of cynicism, negativity and biting & frustrated sarcasm. I felt less and less at home in a country that didn’t seem to be able to grasp and grapple the issues of the day, and the downward spiral I could see around me helped in confirming my choice of moving to Denmark.
…How little did I know that it would descend into a paranoid, xenophobic, and antagonistic society that was scared of anything out of the ordinary, after the murder of a politician and a film maker, culminating in being led by some backward closed-minded fundamentalist Christians, who stick their head in the sand and think back of the good old days of the 50s, were they perceive there were no threats (“when a nuclear bomb hits, hide under the table and turn on your radio!”), no societal changes and were there were a lot less communication channels through which those damn citizens could vent their unhappiness…

Aaaaaaaanyway…

Right now, with the current state of affairs on Denmark I almost feel like moving again… what was voted for was a status-quo, pretending no changes have happened in the Danish society in the last 5 years, as if everything will run along merrily without taking in consideration any of the world-wide developments (notice how I avoid the word ‘globalisation’ here).

Still, there is a huge difference in the situation between the Netherlands back then, and Denmark right now. There seems a great movement going on, both online and offline, and a significant portion of the Danish society seems troubled by the results, even those that voted for the current government have that gut feeling that there is ‘something rotten in the state of Denmark’ (I just had to use that cliché).

So, will we manage to clearly explain to ourselves and to those who voted for that People’s Party what the consequences are of their vote, of their vote for that suffocating, wet-blanket feeling of ‘tryghed’ (security is half-assed translation of that word)? Will we be able to drag their heads out of the sand and show that there is more outside the safe borders of their precious little fairytale-induced Denmark than they think?
It’s interesting to notice how the internal and external branding of the country has created a distorted image of reality, of the self-perception of Denmark and the Danes. Everyone believes in their traditional foods, sunny summerdays at the family summerhouse, flags waving, kids playing at the beach, etc etc… (you know all the tourist images).
There are huge local differences to take into consideration however: my grandmothers’ village in Vendsyssel or Nørrebrogade, it is several worlds apart, and yet both very much part of the same country…

I am wondering about the next months, but no matter what it will be interesting!

2007 has mostly been crap for me, seriously crap, with some very close experiences of the results of the current government on the welfare system, and am constantly reminded of the ridiculous immigration policies here, that are so tight they basically only hurt the ones they shouldn’t be hurting…
I have been in Denmark for more than 8 years now, and I guess my housewarming said it all… 100 people, and you had to search out the Danes with a magnifying glass ☺

Oh well… things are a-changin', for me personally things have turned upside down for the better, and for Denmark... well, we're working on it (whoever we might be)!

(Im)mortality?

*deep sigh*

I don't want to get old... no way... not the way I have seen too much now in a hospital.

Many years ago a crazy Indian read my hand. He told me my life line was long and strong, which meant I would have a long life (my love line is a bit crooked apparently...).
Now considering my genes that isn't something special (the life line that is, the other one I won't discuss here, although there are some pretty cool family rumors from the 19th century...).
I have many family members who made it to very respectable and venerable ages. My granny of course first: she made it to 94 yesterday. Then there is my grandfathers' aunt who made to 106! She was actually complaining about those young kids of 80!

Heheh... it must have been quite a sight...

But for real, what I have seen just today for example, brought a vague thought to the front of my mind: this way I don't want to get old.

I saw my granny, who was hospitalised yesterday for the 2nd time in 1 month, in total state of confusion, trying to reach out to the world and understand what the hell was going on...
This other old lady lying in her bed with tubes all over and coming out of her. She was sleeping, but whenever she woke up she was crying her eyes out, deeply frustrated and saddened by her situation. She spilled a little bit of juice and she got totally scared and bewildered...
Next bed: a 80-something who had just lost her husband a few months ago, and now had gone through chemo therapy... But still going strong...

That is what I respect very very deeply about my granny: all the crap that happened in the last months and she still keeps her spirit up. It's amazing...

She can hardly walk, and everything else is failing for this tiny, frail, very old woman, and still she sits and makes jokes... my deepest respects!

Still, this day, and the way I see everything fail for her, I realise I don't want to get that old. Not that way. Even when she has been 'lucky' and made it this far without big problems.

It's so undignified and humiliating to see the ones we love literally crumble away, fade away into the shades...
(And the Danish health care system certainly doesn't help: In this country 'available all day' means between 9 and 11 am, and between 13 and 14 pm. If you call 1 minute too late: too bad... take an aspirin and call us again when you are dead...)

Naaahhh, you know what? Give me the quay at the Guadalquivir in Sevilla, with a view on Tirana, at that terrace where Alvaro, Jose Antonio, Magdita and I sat so brilliantly enjoying the warm winter sun on the 31st of December 2004.

Put me there, when I am 60 or so, give me a good glass of Cacique and Lemon, made the good way, and let me be... Let me think of all the great people I have met over the years and my loved ones. Don't make it fussy.
Let me just die of whatever, quick and easy.

Don't say: naaah, too young, still so many years. No way, I have seen the end of the line. And it's ugly.
So little respect, dignity and self-esteem left must be a terrible feeling to have: not to be able to feel and do what you are used to.

Of course, I hope my granny will live to be 150, but to get old like this I cannot recommend.

I really don't want to be a cynic and a pessimist. I love life, and there are so many great things in store still, but please let us have that shred of decency when we get old.

So... there it is. My testament? Hahahah, no... just some gloomy thoughts after seeing someone get very old.
I hope you understand: everyone deserves to get old, but if we see them slip away and even one of the richest countries in the world isn't able to provide proper care to those we love (while claiming it is alll soooo woooonderful), I don't want to get that old.

Live is short, play hard then? Let's have a great summer!!!

And now, my dear friends, I need life, in every sense of the word... which is why I am considering visiting Dani & Sarah in summer when their baby boy will be born. It would be nice to be in a hospital when a new life is starting actually!!

Danish 'service'

Many times I have started a writing a post about the deplorable level of service in this country, on whatever level in whatever way. But ok... never got around to finishing, as I want to have my examples and facts straight... I have some quite good ones though ;)

This week again though... As I am working myself a lot with IT support I am always curious how other companies fare in that department.
After a few months of an unstable internet connection here, I decided after seeing some good offers, and Jochem speaking good of it, to apply for Fullrate, a fairly new Danish broadband provider.
I did some research, and it all seemed ok. The fact that it would probably take a month before anything would be set-up was fine with me.

Then it all started...

First they contacted me for never having received my papers... *sigh* I had sent it directly but ok... of course they couldn't find anything.

Then, once the finally received my new copy (or dug up the old ones), I got a letter that all would be done on the 30th of March...

WTF???

I have to wait almost 2 months for a bloody broadband connection? In South-Korea it takes 5 minutes...

So... with my usual pen soaked in venom I politely asked what was going on and why it couldn't go faster...

After 4 days (!!) I got an answer: "It takes 4-8 weeks, and it says so on our website".

My reply:

No, it doesn't. It says 4-6 weeks.

Anyway, my point is that I want it done quickly.

Then... wOw... I got an answer within the hour! Guess he was bored :p
Now, suddenly, with the additional payment of 49 kr, I can have it 'expedited within a short time' (around 2 weeks it should take (I had to ask for that time frame... *sigh*)

Alright, let's see then, right?

'Of course' I didn't hear anything else, so let's send another email (as I refuse to wait 30 minutes on the phone)... Reply: Yeah, everything is taken care of: you will have the connection the 21st of February.

Woooohooo! That's next week already! (well, let's see if it will work straight off anyway...)

What a bit of nagging can do, huh?

My question is just that... why it isn't possible to have it all sorted out quickly to begin with? It shouldn't be that hard, should it?

(oh, and I am still waiting for my package with the router etc... but that will lead to a rant about the pathetic parcel service PostDanmark provides... not now... :) )


UPDATE (23/2):

Fair is fair. After an annoying struggle (the router arrived in the nick of time/the phone number hadn't been activated of course), all is working fine now. I have a good and dedicated broadband connection and the phone connection is good, clear and stable. Great!!


UPDATE (23/4):
I have to say: the telephone connection is fine and the broadband speeds have consistently been good. Some glitches here and there, but it's nothing worth mentioning. 1 or 2 serious crashes at their end, but with great service (an sms every couple of minutes about the problem, what they are doing about and the time frame, and one to tell when all is done!), they fixed it all. My respects, I actually think this is a company who seem to have their shit together. Well done and I am a happy customer!