CompuServe Messages

Christophe, I thought the 2 major languages in Belguim were French and Flemish(?). I guess there's Dutch, too. I speak French, German and a little Spanish. Your command of written English language is remarkably good – are you using a word processor to check your spelling and grammar with <g>. In fact it is better than some of the native English speakers on here <g,d&r>. Trade unions do have too much power in Belguim and England, although less than they used to in England. However, in America it has gone too far the opposite way and employees have very little actual protection from abusive employers in small companies – particularly unfair dismissal, unpaid overtime and very poor vacation (1 to 2 weeks typical, instead of 4-5 in most of Europe) etc. You have to go to court and sue to do anything here and most people can't afford that. I work for myself because I am too rebellious to work in most American corporations. I'd love a pack of Stella Artois. My last Stella, in Belguim at least, was on the night train from Oostende to Bruxelles (Ostend to Brussels). Ah, good memories… I've covered most of Western Europe and some of North Africa by train as a student with an "Interail" ticket.