Long live the Queen!

Hurray, hurray! It's the queens birthday today! Party on, party on! So this our Queen; Beatrix. Only 69 years old! Don't you just love her new haircut? She's very trendy as you can see! Even though I'm not the most patriotic person in the world I must admist I'm rather fond of our queen. She's one of the last things that binds us dutch people together. If you're in the mood for a real good old dutch party you should come on the 30th of April; Queensday!We celebrate the late Queen Juliana's birhtday. The only day of the year that the whole country dresses in orange and party all day and night. United! But today is all about Queen Beatrix. Long live the Queen! Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthdaaayyy dear Beatrix, Happy birthday to you...

Sigh of relief...

A sigh of relief was heard around the city... This was the day that Aafke would have her first driving lesson... There she was waiting for her (hopefully attractive...) instructor... but he never showed up...
I told myself I wasn't very nervous and I almost believed it. But when I woke up early in the morning all sweaty after a dream that I had crashed into someone...I could no longer fool myself. I was nervous! But all for nothing! My instructor got sick and cancelled my lesson. I actually was very disappointed. Just wanted to get it over and done with. But I'll just have to wait a little bit longer...

Old timer...

I'll make you an offer you can't refuse...

The Godfather is an old time classic and highly cultured as I am I had to see this movie about the Corleone maffia family.
So this weekend my friend Suzy and myself settled ourselves on the sofa and watched all three of the films. 9 hours straight! A real challenge to stay focused so we had lots of sugar backup to keep us awake. I was trying to cut back on my snacks...well this weekend ruined every attempt I took in these last few weeks... But hey; Am I bovered? Face, bovered? Not bovered! Anyways... Despite all the brutal killings in The Godfather, this marathon was a big success! Next will be The Lord of the Rings...

Try and Learn...or...Crash and Burn

My first driving lesson is tomorrow. I'm not quite sure how I feel. A part of me is very excited, the other part is shouting: Shock! Horror! Bring yourself to safety! Run! Hide! I'll travel by public transport all my life, I don't mind!
You see, I've never driven a car before... I know how to turn a car on but that's as far as my knowledge goes. Can't I just marry a miljonair with a chauffeur...

Confusion all around...

This movie has to sink in...what a great film! Unlike many movies not with this happy ending and everyone lives happily ever after. Babel is real. In a remote desert in Morocco two boys play with a rifle and challenge each other to try and shoot at the bus. What starts as a game turns into this dramatic turn of events around the world. A tourist gets hurt and the boys are suspected terrorists. You just don't know what to expect. Great actors and Cate Blanchett looks as beautiful as ever even though she's covered in blood. Babel stands for the language and cultural barrieres between different worlds and how one misunderstanding can have major consequences. A Golden Globe is in the pocket and Babel is in the race for an Oscar.

Something else; my sister is so ready to have the baby. She's huge and ready to pop. Everytime my phone rings I get really excited...but I'm not an aunty yet. But not long now...

La Vie Pariesenne...

Cultural-minded as I am, I thought it would be a good idea to explore the world of theater. I've always been a fan of musicals but I'd never been to the opera or operette. Last saturday evening was the night...I saw my first operette; La Vie Pariesenne. It's not an opera or a musical but somewhere in between. The voices are classically trained but singing modern songs. Does that make sense? The performers were amazing. Especially the two leading ladies. WOW! The story was a bit too much of 'Make love, not war' with the empasis on Lets make love... Anywho, it was a great experience. I do think this genre is meant for the elderly people (no offence whatsoever) but I think me and my friend were the youngest people there. Oh well, not every youngster is a cultural-minded as I am...

Forces of nature...

I'm so fascinated by today's weather. It storming again and even worse than last week. I can't help but to feel really excited! The sky looks frightening, the trees are flying and cars and trucks are simply blown away. And I'm inside! Most trains have been cancelled and you're not allowed to drive unless you really need to. Basically I can't get home...but not to worry! My brother lives close by and I can crash at his house. So from one bad thing comes another good thing. Just like my bloodtype; always B positive! I do feel sorry for all those people with crushed cars and roofless houses... This kind of weather just makes you feel really small. We think we can controle the world but by a simple storm the whole country is literally turned upside down!

Cutie, cutie, doodoo, daadaa...babytalk

Meet Nadia! Isn't she adorable? What a cute little lady. She's the daughter of my niece Erika and the granddaughter of my aunt Nel and uncle Zeeg (some of you might have met them). Nadia means hope and I just pray she will be such a joy to her mother and hope for a better future.

Check out my crib

This is my room! I'm totally loving it. Hopefully I'll get some other photos of the rest of my flat soon. I'll have to wait for someone to visit me with a digital photo camera. These photos were taken by the lovely Corrie (thanks!). If you would like to make a reservation to come and crash on my floor...you're more than welcome. But be quick; I've already had my first booking. Po is coming over for a dutch Easter party!

Weather girl...

It's raining men, halleluja, it's raining men...ehhh no, wrong song...unfortunately... I've got another weather message for you all. A big storm has hit Holland...the wind blows at 120 kilometres per hour. In this month that normally would be only 30 kilometres...need I say more... Holland is going down! That is a bit over-dramatic but nevertheless pretty scary. I still have to cycle to the station today but I'm not quite sure if I should risk it. I might end up in the bushes or right smack on the pavement. You might think I don't have a real life and that's why I worry about the weather but no such thing! This is the future of my country we're talking about! Oh well, if things get too bad, I'll move back to Scotland! Might get trapped in a snow blizzard... Maybe to the Bahamas? Floodings... Where can I go?

I'm mmmeeellltttiiinnnggg

I know chats about the weather are boring but this is serious business! Once again a record has been broken...today we had the hottest day ever recorded in January...13 degrees! In January! It's supposed to be winter! And that's not the only broken record; December; hottest month ever recorded... Some of the trees and flowers are already blossoming, goats have never delivered babies this early on in the year and it just warm. Don't get me wrong; I love the warmth. Give me summer anytime! But if this will continue Holland will no longer exsist in 40 years. Drama Queen? NO! That's what some experts think. Don't forget that the dutch live far beneath sealevel. We're building houses now 6 metres below sealevel. We've got some amazing dams but they won't be able to stop the water forever. Ohhhhh, noooooooooooooooooo!

Wedding bells!

Let's twist again...

Suzy and moi!
Marlies and moi!
Maaike and Ruben!
Oehhhhh, let's twist again...like we did last summer....oehhhh, let's twist again...like we did last year! Just a few pics from our New Year Party. We had so much fun! Some photos might be a bit peculiar...but it was completely innocent...

Safety hazard...

Mayday, mayday, code Red! Aafke is coming through! It's really happening now...my first driving lesson! At the end of this month I'm heading to the highway... I'm so nervous. I'm so scared I'll crash into someone or something...

What's in a name?

One more photo of proud Aunty Aafke and Wonderful Wilma! I've made a top three list of names. We don't know if it will a boy or a girl. Whatever 'it' will be, the baby will get a name from the Bible. If it's a boy: Job, Joran, Joel...something with a J. Or maybe Samgar or Ruben. If it's a girl; Noa, Ruth, Talitha. Actually I have no idea...but I love guessing! Do you know any cool biblical names? Leave your comments below!

Moments of Intimacy, Laughter and Kinship

M*I*L*K Cards are just the best! The photos capture such emotions. Laughter, pain, longing, true friendship, respect and mostly love. One photo can speak volumes. Who needs words, just look in the eyes of your friends and family. Our eyes are the window to our soul. Open your window and show your heart! Watch these Moments of Intimacy, Laughter and Kinship (MILK). Deep meaningfull chatter for a rainy afternoon... www.milkphotos.com/milkav2.htm

Aunty Aafke...

Baby, can you hear me? Aunty Aafke is ready for you! Look at the size of my sister Wilma! Only 4 more weeks to go and she'll be a mummy and I'll be an aunty! Yeah!I can't say how excited I am. She's doing really well. Every time I see her I'm simply amazed by this miracle. She's due on the 2nd of February. It's the final countdown...