Careful, for today this is a soccer free zone! - Apart from the announcement that I'm very much looking forward to England’s match tomorrow. But: 9am again! Damned! And they start serving beer only at 10am! Double-damn. And I’m doubtful that England can win. (No Damn for this because we'll have to find out yet!) But – I will meet Paul and Eric there. Hurrah! And it will be crammed again. Double-Hurrah! I didn’t mention that last week, did I? Last Sunday I concluded that I really should have taken an O’Byrnes and Elephant and Castle comparison picture. At half past 8, half an hour before the match, about 30 people or so were waiting outside and when entering everyone was counted and got a stamp on the hand – as if it was some top-event. (Well, it was indeed!) Whatever, after the match I went to university and then returned for Portugal – only to see that the pub now was full (not as full as in the morning but still full) with Portuguese supporters. So I’m wondering - what if tomorrow morning all the English and all the Portuguese from last week want to watch the match in the Elephant and Castle? (I would have suggested to clear the Pub of tables and chairs – who wants to sit anyway? We want to clap and jump and dance!)

After that, celebrations will continue for the whole day. Tomorrow is national holiday, Canada Day! I will most likely spend it – very Canadian – without any Canadian but with the colleagues from the Institute. In the city hall there are tours and you can eat eat of the Canada Cake, on the river you can do a canoe trip etc, etc. In the evening there will be fireworks and – that’s the event I’m most curious about - the main bridge will be turned into a waterfall.

In the course of arranging the details for that meeting I’ve just enjoyed the pleasure of exchanging pointed remarks about nationality (one of my favourite things: The main benefit of having seperated nations is that we can tease each other). Lucka sent an E-Mail to everybody suggesting to meet up for tomorrow but as nobody answered via e-mail, I didn’t know who would be there. When asking Lilla she answered, she’d definitely go and dialled Lucka's number to clarify how and where and when we’d meet.
Just then Kamilla passed.
J: What are your plans for tomorrow?
K: Oh I haven’t made plans really. I’ll just join Lucka and see.
J: I see... But I’m surprised Kamilla. I thought you Slovakians are independent now and don’t need the Czechs anymore for leading you?
K: We’re still friends... ... So what are you doing tomorrow?
J: I’ll join you.
K: Where will you meet Lucka?
J: I don’t know yet. Lilla’s just on the phone with Lucka to fix a meeting point.
K: I see. So, things have changed? Nowadays it’s the Austrians who are following Hungarian lead.
J: Actually no. We just delegate tasks to them which they then do for us. As it has always been..