Had a good night out with my language partner last night. There are some nice pubs in Karlsruhe.

You might remember me explaining the problems Germany has been having with its new toll collection systems for the Autobahn - i talked about them on nov. 7th. Well now it's really gone pear-shaped -- the contract has been cancelled, all the money lost, the people who bought tracking boxes for their lorries have wasted their money, and the lawyers are moving in for the usual disgusting cash-in. Even worse, various states in germany have already started spending the money they were expecting to get, on new road improvements etc., and now they have been told they won't get the cash. It will be a minimum of two years before a replacement system comes on line. What a Blamage, as the radio stations are calling it. All because they couldn't bear to buy the Swiss system or the Austrian system, both of which are already running without problems.

Before you laugh too hard, remember this kind of thing happens in the UK all the time (e.g. 1, 2...)