World Cup Fever

Well the world cup is here, and insanity rules.

England managed to scew up royally in the first match, and I have watched more football over the last few days than I managed in the last few years.

And that is only down to the fact that Mrs Stace likes to watch the world cup.

It was estimated that 25% of the Dutch workforce will throw a sicky today in order to watch Hollands first match this afternoon.  There have been articles in the papers complaining that companies refuse to let them watch the world cup on company time.  It's insane.  Are you there to work or not?

At the company I work for they are very flexible - a lot of rooms have televisions in them in case people want to watch (people brought spare TV's from home).  The only things they ask are that you make the time up should you watch the match and that you don't interefere with the work of those who don't want to watch.

The canteen has also been turned into the WK Kamer for whenever there is a Dutch match on - and is suitably orange at the moment.  Many rooms are also blaze with orane bunting and flags (the ones with the tele's mainly).  Most people are walking around with Orange clothes on (including senior management).  It's a great sight to see, even for a non supporter like myself - and I think it's one of the things that make it such a nice company to work for...

Woe betide anyone who mentions football the day after the Ducth squad go out of the competition though - the Dutch have no time for a team that does not win and all the bunting in the street will be gone within 30 mins of the final whistle of the final game (and from the offices within 10 mins of people arriving the day after!)