How Yu Kong moved the mountains

This is 12 hours of documentary about the Cultural Revolution by Dutch cinematographer Joris Ivens. Ivens filmed the ordinary people in China during this period. It must be said that he looked upon the Cultural Revolution as a good thing. Nevertheless the documentaries make for great viewing. There is e.g. " The story of the football" in which students and teachers of a secondary school have an ideological/political debate about the fact that a teacher punished a student by taking away his football. 12 minutes but very interesting, as is the documentary "Chemist's number 13" about a city chemist's where staff are learning to work for the good of the people. Recommended!

"He still remembers you from the last time you were here".

My Dutch driving licence will expire soon and it is now time for an Italian one. It is not a very complicated affair to exchange a Dutch driving licence for an Italian one. Tons of paperwork, of course. Money to be paid, of course. But after even a short time in this country you learn that bureaucracy reigns, ok? Visit to the doctor included. So far so good. Two days later a telephone call from the ACI (Automobile Club of Italy): do I know I am going to get a BE licence allowing me to drive car/trailer combinations to a total weight of 10,000 kilos. No, I don't know that. Was only allowed 3500 kilos in Holland, but can't see a problem. Ah, then I should come back to their office and see the doctor again because a BE licence involves testing my reaction speed. O.K. Will do. At the appointed time I went to the ACI only to be told that the testing was no longer necessary as the doctor had remembered me from my recent visit to him.

Never a dull moment in this country.