Hello Ladies,

My regulars may have wondered where I have been for the past few days.  I have been off having a rare old time of it in the Netherlands.

My visit co-incided with the Dutch election, which, like most things involving Netherlanders, was an incredibly civilised affair.  There was very little street campaigning, no fighting or spitting and the results were in by midnight so everyone could go to bed and get up for work the next day.  Being accustomed to the more robust British school of politics, which involves herding the unlucky electorate to the polling station, blowing raspberries at the opposition then staying up all night drinking beer cheering on one's own particular party, Dutch elections seemed postively understated.

There were lots of fun parties running, like the Party of the Animals (which managed to secure itself two seats!), the Freedom Party (led by Geert Wilders's hairstyle) the Christian Democrats, led by Harry Potter and Een NL (the party led by the late Pim Fortuyn's brother) who  didn't even manage to get themselves a single seat (een NL, GEEN zetels! my little Dutch joke!).  We never seem to have this sort of entertainment in the UK, where the politicians take themselves FAR too seriously.

However, the Dutch election had its moments, like when the following 

http://www.helpjan.nl/index.php?ID=160727&pwd=AUHFVODFHJYR&src=IF

arrived in my inbox.  It was from the Dutch socialist party and the bald dude is their leader.  Apparently us Ladies were voting for him in droves.

Why is it that poor old Portia doesnt seem to be able to get away from men driving vans?  Though I did wonder if all that smoke coming from underneath the bonnet of the van was his clutch burning out? Jan has my sympathy.

Portia