I’m back from Gamescom, highlighting the marvel that is the modern public transport system. This morning I was at Cologne Hansaring station, now I am in Cambridgeshire, UK, almost entirely thanks to public transport, which only let me down at the very last step of the journey as the supposedly 24/7 taxi firm was noticeably absent. (Thanks for the lift, Dad.)

German trains run impressively like clockwork. They’re regular and always on time, and once you figure out the confusing map of Cologne’s rail network (and the various variants of train available) you’ll find you can get pretty much anywhere in the city pretty easily. So long as you have a ticket and/or some change, of course.

Talking of change, I would like to take a moment to call out the Euro as one of the most irritating currencies I’ve ever handled. The notes are fine — the different colours make the different denominations easy to spot. But the coins are like well stupid innit.

The thing I like about English coins is that you can immediately tell how much money you’ve got from the colour and weight of your coins. Copper coins = rubbish. Silver coins = potentially OK, particularly if you have the big or oddly-shaped ones. Gold coins = sorted. The Euro, conversely, ditches the concept of silver coins in favour of its 10, 20 and 50 cent pieces looking almost identical (and gold) with such minuscule difference in size that you have to actively squint at them to work out whether you’re giving the impatient Currywurst salesman the right money. So the Euro can go do one, so far as I’m concerned. I guess you get used to it.

Now it is time to sleep. Back to “normal” work tomorrow, then signing the contract on new house this week, then moving all my crap very soon! That probably means I have to drive a van. I don’t really like driving vans. I’ve only done it twice in my life and it was unpleasant and a bit scary both times. But needs must and all that.

Ich gehe ins Bett. Guten Nacht.