Citycat, through my years of driving in Europe I have always been thankful that the Dutch speak English 
I can get by in German, to order a Bratwurst wit brod, ein beer and get directions, France no problem, my second tongue, which also helped me in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Then we come to Scandinavia, again languages that give you brain damage, but like in Holland, yeah!!! they speak English !!!
pierrot 14:
Citycat, through my years of driving in Europe I have always been thankful that the Dutch speak English
I can get by in German, to order a Bratwurst wit brod, ein beer and get directions, France no problem, my second tongue, which also helped me in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Then we come to Scandinavia, again languages that give you brain damage, but like in Holland, yeah!!! they speak English !!!
It’s just that my bosses will sometimes ask “spreek je al nederlands?” and I have to say no, not yet. I feel a bit of pressure that I should be a bit further with the language than I am. It’s great that they all speak English here but it makes you a bit lazy in learning.
citycat:
It’s just that my bosses will sometimes ask “spreek je al nederlands?” and I have to say no, not yet. I feel a bit of pressure that I should be a bit further with the language than I am. It’s great that they all speak English here but it makes you a bit lazy in learning.
How long have you lived there ?
I’m sure I saw a recovery lorry belonging to a firm called isis.
ezydriver:
I’m sure I saw a recovery lorry belonging to a firm called isis.
Was there not a fridge outfit with the same name ?
I’m sure they later changed it after Isis became a whole different meaning. 
robroy:
ezydriver:
I’m sure I saw a recovery lorry belonging to a firm called isis.Was there not a fridge outfit with the same name ?
I’m sure they later changed it after Isis became a whole different meaning.
I think it was an fridge manufacturer, sold in Comet I think … that seems to ring a bell.
ezydriver:
robroy:
ezydriver:
I’m sure I saw a recovery lorry belonging to a firm called isis.Was there not a fridge outfit with the same name ?
I’m sure they later changed it after Isis became a whole different meaning.I think it was an fridge manufacturer, sold in Comet I think … that seems to ring a bell.
Ok, but I meant a co that pulled fridge trailers.
Maybe I’m wrong though.
pierrot 14:
Geoffo:
Bosch is pronounced Boss not Bosh in Dutch.I was always under the impression that “CH” in Dutch, or Flemish come to think of it, was pronounced as a “K”
The town of Enschede comes to mind, pronounced enskedé
Correct to a point. K in the middle of the word. S at the end, but saying that the town of Kontich in Flanders is pronounced Kontik.
Dutch is my mother tongue BTW…
The company Den Bosch is pronounced Den Boss.
Dutch/ Flemish does have many strange rules.
pierrot 14:
citycat:
It’s just that my bosses will sometimes ask “spreek je al nederlands?” and I have to say no, not yet. I feel a bit of pressure that I should be a bit further with the language than I am. It’s great that they all speak English here but it makes you a bit lazy in learning.How long have you lived there ?
Since September 2016. Blimey, 18 months already. Where does the time go?
citycat:
pierrot 14:
citycat:
It’s just that my bosses will sometimes ask “spreek je al nederlands?” and I have to say no, not yet. I feel a bit of pressure that I should be a bit further with the language than I am. It’s great that they all speak English here but it makes you a bit lazy in learning.How long have you lived there ?
Since September 2016. Blimey, 18 months already. Where does the time go?
I have lived and worked in France since 1999, and been coming here a lot longer than that. I can speak the language without much difficulty which can be a disadvantage because it gives the impression that I am really fluent. So then they talk back to me as if I am a native, and then I’m lost. 
So, 18 months, no problem. Bon Courage.
robroy:
ezydriver:
robroy:
ezydriver:
I’m sure I saw a recovery lorry belonging to a firm called isis.Was there not a fridge outfit with the same name ?
I’m sure they later changed it after Isis became a whole different meaning.I think it was an fridge manufacturer, sold in Comet I think … that seems to ring a bell.
Ok, but I meant a co that pulled fridge trailers.
Maybe I’m wrong though.
It’s a company local to me, got fed up with jokes to the drivers from customers like “Do you deliver bombs?”
Changed from ISIS Transport to OPEX Logistic’s:
citycat:
pierrot 14:
Citycat, through my years of driving in Europe I have always been thankful that the Dutch speak English
I can get by in German, to order a Bratwurst wit brod, ein beer and get directions, France no problem, my second tongue, which also helped me in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy and Spain. Then we come to Scandinavia, again languages that give you brain damage, but like in Holland, yeah!!! they speak English !!!It’s just that my bosses will sometimes ask “spreek je al nederlands?” and I have to say no, not yet. I feel a bit of pressure that I should be a bit further with the language than I am. It’s great that they all speak English here but it makes you a bit lazy in learning.
Similar in rural Wales.
Although many English folk think that the Welsh only speak their own language out of sheer cussedness, you have to remember that folk who are “first language” Welsh also think in that language, and then translate it into English for our benefit.
The old canard about walking into a pub and everyone starts speaking Welsh isn’t strictly true either, though I don’t deny that it can happen particularly in the touristy part of the north; in many parts down here in the west, if a phrase doesn’t conveniently translate into Welsh then the English version is used and it’s easy to assume that they’ve instantly switched languages. Non-speakers like me can usually follow the gist of a conversation once they’ve been here a few years. It also amuses me that “South Walians” cannot understand “North Walians” when they speak their native tongue and frequently have to resort to English!
My stock response if anyone challenges me to learn the language, is that I’d love to but for one thing life’s too short, and for another I’d hate to embarrass the 50 per cent of native-born Welsh who don’t speak it either.
Life is way to short to learn Welsh. 
The husband of a much older cousin, native to North Wales, spoke it as a first language as a child. In school, following the habits with minorities all over the world, he was wacked over the knuckles with a ruler if he was caught not speaking English.
Years later after a working life as a teacher and headmaster, he and my cousin retired to Llanfairfechan and decided that they were going to learn (him to re-learn) his native language. They gave up after several months, way too difficult even for him. So sad.
Thankfully things have changed.
C.■■■■ lorries always make me giggle.
It also darkly amuses me that so many EE trucks have names like:
TransAlliance
OK Trans
Trans Dynasty
Top Trans
All from countries that are not at all friendly to transgender folk
For a bit of balance you do have STOP Trans driving around too!
citycat:
My apologies if this offends anyone, but I found it quite amusing.Saw this tank today on the edge of a truck parking area near s’Hertogenbosch (try pronouncing that place name). Not the best use of a company name I would say.
No need just call it den Bosch like every one else does lol
raymundo:
Been skipper of this one a few times …
0
40 years working. Due retirement soon?
How are older vessels doing with emissions etc?
Emmissions dont apply to us, the one I’m on now working the Thames was built in '61. I started the engine on a sister boat at Deptford and she smoked well when cold so much so that someone called the fire brigade and we had three fire engines on the road bridge within minutes …
raymundo:
Emmissions dont apply to us, the one I’m on now working the Thames was built in '61. I started the engine on a sister boat at Deptford and she smoked well when cold so much so that someone called the fire brigade and we had three fire engines on the road bridge within minutes …
Are you exempt because of vessels age? Brittany have fitted scrubbers (No Dipper) to their ferries. At £10 million per boat thats not just greenwash is it? And their new boat the Honfleur due in service in 2019 is LNG powered.