You guys are going to have a weird New Year's Eve. I can see you now, gathered around the ATM machine with your cards poised and ready, sipping Champagne and singing Auld Lang Syne.
<g> Nat > > I have continued to think in and use the guilder and will do so till > midnight. As the euro was not available yet, I did not bother as I would > always have to convert between the two. There was another way to prepare: > when I went to Ireland every year, I set up the budget in Irish > pounds, and > in Ireland I only thought in Irish pounds. I never converted back to > guilders, except when I really wanted to make a comparison about a special > item, for instance, compare the price of a computer in Ireland and in the > Netherlands. > > I got enough guilders from the cash machine before Christmas to take me to > the end. To-morrow I will get my first euro notes. I will make an > overnight > change, just as I did with Irish pounds every year. For the last time I am > buying stuff in guilders today. > > The guilder or florin came from Firenze (Florence) where it was struck in > 1252 for the first time. It then found its way to The Netherlands. Now, > after 750 years, the guilder is in its death throes. It has a rich history > and deserves a respectful demise and goodbye. > > "And what if she has seen these glories fade, > Those titles vanish and that strength decay; > Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid > When her long life hath reach'd its final day: > Men are we, and must grieve whenever the shade > Of that which once was great is pass'd away. > > (William Wordsworth, 'On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic') > > It is with these feelings of respectful regret that I say farewell to our > old currency. Then onwards with our new money. > > Han > > >
