My job involves working on developing European technical standards so I spend a lot of time travelling around Europe (but sadly almost never have any time to do anything cultural).  The one city I always look forward to going to is Stockholm - not just because the old city is beautiful, but because of the way of life and the people.

It also has the most civilized airport I've yet found in Europe (with Zurich coming in a close second) - something that matters to the regular traveller.  Heathrow is without doubt the worst.

Just for you, Tommo!

'Good morning, Sir.'

'Good morning, I was just wondering: how much is that doggie in the window?'

'Ah yes. And dare I ask which particular doggie that would that be, sir? As you can see there are several doggies in the window.'

'The one I had in mind was the one with the waggly tail.'

'Ah indeed yes. I had a suspicion it might be that one. It does tend to be the one that people come in and enquire about.'

'I do hope that doggie's for sale.'

'Well, let me allay your fears at once there, sir. As you will almost certainly have observed, this is a pet shop. You may have noticed some of the tell-tale clues: hamsters, gerbils, goldfish, dog food, cat food and a wide range of other pet requisites and indeed the large sign outside, 'Jenkins Pet Shop'. So yes, the doggy in the window with the waggly tail is indeed, as is so often the case in pet shops, for sale.'

'So I'm not the first to ask then?'

'No, sir, you're not. We get this a lot in the pet shop business. You're the twelfth so far this morning. It is the curse of being a pet shop owner. I was warned when I started that it would drive me to drink and despair. But thank you at least for not bringing in a dead parrot.'

'I'm so sorry. I'd no idea. But why did you nonetheless carry on and take up the pet shop business despite the warnings?'

'Well, I suppose it all goes back to a deprived childhood.'

'Oh dear.'

'Yes. You see, my daddy wouldn't buy me a bow-wow.'

'Wouldn't he really? Weren't you allowed any pets at all?'

'Oh, yes. I had a little cat. And I was very fond of that, but I'd really rather have a bow-wow. And my daddy ..... Where are you going?'   

More tenuously, there's a falling major 3rd on the District line which always sets me off singing Brahms' 4th Symphony.

Don't know why it should evoke that piece more than any other piece with a falling 3rd - must find out some time if it's a B and a G (I didn't think I had perfect pitch, but subconsciously maybe, you never know ...).

George, 

hh, 'prompted the BBC Singers to break forth into the opening of a Mozart mass (again, I forget which). Now that would have been something...'

Those wild and wacky beeb songsters, eh? 

Here's an impression of a European City:



Tommo

HM Department of Macintosh Location, Removal, and Management

Is that a European City, or an Australian-Scottish one?

This is the European City I did an impression of....



Tommo

t-p,

It reminds me of the Plaza in Valladolid (Spain) but too ornate on top so I expect it is St Petersburg?


John W