Listen up: I'm so cool!

Have a little faith...

Meet our new government! Hurray! As some of you might have read on my blog before, I'm totally into politics. Dutch politicans fascinate me. There always seems to be some fighting going on between different parties or even with their own members. Cat fights! Yesterday was a very special day because the ChristianUnion became part of the government. This small party is worthy of their claim to be a christian party. Real positive christians who are not afraid to stand up and defend their beliefs and God.

Over the last few years Holland has become famous for its tolerance of gays, abortion, euthanasia and so on. Not something to be proud of if you ask me. Now I know that Holland is no longer a christian country like it used to be in the 60s so it's unreal to expect all moral values to stay the same. I understand we live in a country with many different nationalities and believes.

So it's even more special that this small christian party gets to join in the government and gets to fullfill two minister positions. The lady in the middle in blue is our Queen Beatrix. Next to her on the left is our prime minister Balkenende. My favorite politican is the one on the front row, second from the left: Andre Rouvoet. He's going to be the Minister of Youth. So cool! A survey among 'the people' showed that he is the one they trust and have confidence in the most. He's has also been voted Best Politican of the Year twice. Isn't it amazing how God can use His people in key positions and that they still remain real examples of faith and not as we say in Holland "add water to the wine". Noone ever thought it would be possible that this small party would be playing such a vital role in determing the course of our country these coming years. I really believe God had a hand in this. So praise Him!

Culture Queen...

This culture Queen has had such an exciting weekend in Amsterdam. So much fun! Suzy and I decided that we should become more familiar with various cultural expressions. So we planned an action-filled day in our country's capital: Amsterdam. Mostly know by foreighers for its drugs and red-light district but my dear friends, there's more to Amsterdam than sex, drugs and rock 'n roll! Here's a wee impression of this fun day!

First stop: Photography Museum. Photos are one the most powerful ways to bring across emotions. I would love to be a professional photographer. The museum just opened their new exhibition: Eye. Many different photos from various artists but all with one thing in common; no eye contact in any of the pictures. The photo on the right is the picture that inspired the owner of all these photos to start his collection. Some of the photos were so beautiful and some were just really funny and a few were just disturbing... I still have a little trouble trying to get rid of the image of Fat girl in a Bubble of a rather large naked woman trapped in an upside down see-through bathtub...need I say more... I didn't care much for the Scene of crime pictures from the Amsterdam police archives. Too brutal and bloody for me. Don't want to look at dead people for my entertainment. No thank you very much!

Then lunch at Capitain Zeppotes or something. Yummy!

Next stop: Chinese Opera! Haha. So funny! It's was the Chinese New Year celebrations and the crazy chinese people did all sorts of wacko things to celebrate the changing of the year. In case you're interested; we are now living in the year of the pig... Lots of fireworks ofcourse and we had the sheer delight of going to a chinese opera. How highly cultural it might be, we couldn't sit the whole thing out. It seemed all instruments were out of tune and I'll not even going into the singing qualities of the two geishas. But maybe I'm just not that cultured as I think ;-) to understand this expression of Chinese customs.

Next stop: Tuschinsky cinema. One of Hollands most beautiful cinemas. It's a real treat to go there and have the whole sofisticated experience of watching a movie. We went to see The Queen. I've always been a fan of Helen Mirren and now even more! She much deserved all those prices she won lately and she would be Oscar worthy. The film is very intriguing and the scenes at Balmoral Castle made my heart long for Scotland again...why did I ever leave?!

Meal stop: Beyrout restaurant where we had Libanese food. Yum, yum and yum again. Those Libanese people sure know how to cook!

Last stop: de Heeren van Amstel cafe. To end this lovely special day we went to this cafe with live music. The band That's cool! played all the golden oldies from the 70s and 80s. Bring it on!

Exhausted as we were, we made the trip home to fall asleep tired but much fulfilled with all this cultural shebang still buzzing in our heads.

Is he cute or what?!

Joy to the world!

The weekend is here! Hip, hip, hooray! I've had this sense of gentle joy in my heart all week. A sense of knowing you're being looked after and that God is smiling with you. I've had a real busy week at work but I loved it. Bring on the pressure! Bring on the responsibility! I love deadlines! But I'm in need of a wee break. So tomorrow Suzy and I are going to the big bad city of Amsterdam to do some cultural stuff... A museum, a movie (The Queen), dinner, live jazz cafe and we're celebrating the Chinese New Year or at least we're going to watch Chinese people going crazy! What more can a girl ask? God is good...

Friends for life!

Friends are Gods way of taking care of us... In a shop window in Grantown I once read this phrase on a poster. And it is just so true! Friends are wee treasures and Suzy is a real big one! On Valentines Day love is in the air. Well me and Suzy are obviously not breathing the right kind of air because no hunky spunky lover is to be seen anywhere near us. So what do single girls do? We stick together! Early in the morning I got text from Suzy saying she had a surprise for me but she wouldn't tell me what. So annoying! All nervous and excited I was waiting all day for my surprise.

And then at the end of the day, the doorbell rang...a flower delivery for moi! Beautiful roses and tullips from my lovely friend Suzy! How sweet is that?! And so unexpected! My collegaes were all very jealous! And they should be of a friend like Suzy! So thank you Suzy and thank you God for friendship!

Now I just have to think of a way to surprise her...any suggestions?

Suzy and moi in a laughing mirror...

Smile and the world smiles with you!

I just feel happy for no particular reason. Sometimes you just think: life is good! Joy to the world! Hooray! Whoopa whahey!

Little Miss & Mister Sunshine!

This weekend was simply fabulous! Apart from having my first driving lesson ever I had some quality family time too. I spend the whole Saturday afternoon and evening with my sister and the lovely Job! What a wee cute boy! I must say I'm very blessed with my sister who's actually just my best friend. We just lay in bed the whole time chatting and gazing at this beautiful creature. Our own Little Mister Sunshine.
The night before I went to see the film Little Miss Sunshine. What a great movie! I was still giggling at the end. So tragic but so very funny. What a strange family! All so very different but all put together in this yellow van to take sweet Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. A hilarious trip! Bunch of great actors! And can I just say: that ending very surprisingly entertaining and sooooo funny!

Aafke's wheels....

Vroemmmmmm, vroemmmmmm, I love driving! My first driving lesson was fab! Scary but cool! I had to drive on the highway and the busiest city centre of Holland and all of this on my first ever driving experience. And miracle of all miracles...everyone survived! Not a scratch on the car or anyone elses! I must say I was rather impressed by myself! Now that I've had my first ride I'm full of confidence I can get my licence in no time. I'm totally loving it. Funny isn't it how you can get all nervous about stuff like this. Well my driving instructor did say I had to relax my arms a bit more because I was holding on to the wheel like Popeye! Haha! Didn't really like my instructor much any way. He was a bit full of himself and was bragging about how drunk he got the night before...yeah...that doesn't really give me the confidence to trust that if I mess up, he's alert enough to take over now does it?!

Job!

My little miracle...

Job is so cute, so lovely, so wonderful, so amazing! I don't think there is an aunty on this world more proud than I am! Job rulezzz!
He was born on tuesday the 6th of February at 1.24 pm. My sister is such a tiger because the delivery wasn't easy at all. I will not disgust you with all the details but it was long and painfull. But she pulled through and the doctors were very impressed by her calmness. They're back home now and visisted last night. Such a precious moment. Much respect to my sister and in awe with my litlle nepfew. I'm going to spoil him and love him as much as I can! I don't have any pictures of my little miracle yet so I'll stick to Anne Geddes. But cute Job is just as beautiful...if not more...as this baby.

It's a boy!!! It's a boy!!!

After 12 hours of being in labor he's finally here! Job! Not as in work but as the bible character Job! I don't know any details yet but I'll keep you posted! My sister and her son are doing well. Yeahhh! I can't help crying! Praise God!

Stork is lost...

Still no baby... I think the delivery stork is lost! Super Sister Wilma has passed her due date and I just don't want to wait any longer! I know it's common for babies to come later but why wait?! I mean Aunty Aafke is ready for you!
This is too much excitement for me. The suspense is killing me!
Every time my phone rings, my heart skips...

Some other great news: my lovely two Ardeonaig friends Jola and Christina are coming to visit me in April! Party time, excellent! Can't wait to see them again and show them Dutchland! Po and Sandra are planning to come in April too. Yeah! I could just start my own Bed & Breakfast. Chez Aafke. Feel free to come!