Friday, 9 May 2008

From our Paranoia Correspondent in Germany

Amazing scenes in Frankfurt City Centre this morning. Speaking for myself here but when I´m out in a pub or standing at the bus stop etc. its very easy to filter out background conversation as its a foreign language. As time goes on it gets less easy but I do enjoy it and wish I could do the same when I come back home. Switch on the 'cut out the background BS filter' if you catch my drift.

Germans are a pretty confident, 'just get on with it' type of people and famous for not being very sociable. Well today was a bit of an eye opener. Rush hour in Frankfurt everyone huddled together and talking in a very animated fashion. Heads been shaked. Gasps being released regularly by commuters visibly shocked at the information that they have just absorbed. Increased police presence obviously drafted in. Ambulances and red cross men every half kilometer or so. Every 5th person listen to a radio with more gathered around the radio listener waiting for updates.

I decided to ask a young laddie what all the commotion was about. I could tell from his reaction that he was in utter shock that I was not aware of the recent developments in Germany that have shocked the nation. He told me that his father had awoken him in the middle of the night last night to inform him that

"Das der Hun hatte keinen Liga verlangerungen bekommen und das der Regierung hat zuzätliche infrastuktur organisert für die Opfern das kann nicht diesen trägishen entscheiden vorstellen"

and in translation:

"Rangers league extension has been refused, therefore the German Government has organised extra infrastucture to cope with the effect that the disbelief this decision will undoubtedly illicit among its people"

The Government stopped short of declaring a state of emergency, but it is believed that the military have been mobilised to deal with the expected rioting if Rangers fail to defeat the Russians in the UEFA Cup final.

It's like the Battle of Stalingard all over again.

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