By Ben Golding

 

Dispatches from Amsterdam

 

Thoughts from a weekend of bicycles, canals and the occasional joint.

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I brought my camera. Why did I bring my camera, I only ever seem to take it on holidays and accumulate endless photos of food and landscapes.

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SCAB IDEA: Write the whole thing in proper stream of conscious.

When do I tell them about my James Joyce thing?

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There are so many bicycles in this city.

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A cup of tea goes so bloody far you wouldn’t believe.

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Amsterdam is a strange city of dualities; the Amsterdamians are cultured, smart and friendly, whilst the revelers come to drink and smoke themselves into a stupor and stare at naked women in windows.

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I could live here.

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The reading list is starting to become daunting, but I’m on target and if I keep shoving these books into my brain, i’ll have devoured enough by the start of term to at least blag some part of it.

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A whole summer holiday crammed into a weekend away, whose idea was this?

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This personal project thing will get sorted, I’m about ¾ of the way through but the filming is now becoming more interesting than the actual project.

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The architecture here is haphazard and jostling but in the best possible way.

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SCAB IDEA: Present a photo essay.

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I need to organize so much; work is going to keep their laptop so that’s another grand at least. Shifting designs up to the last day is running me inside out; I still have to tell some of our clients that I’m leaving and hope they don’t freak out.

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The edge of a precipice.

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This place relaxes me. Flowing water and balmy weather can calm the most irritable souls.

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I look like a bear with a sore head.

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London occasionally bleeds in and I find myself muttering obscenities at cycling tourists under my breath.

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I miss my cat.