All over Amsterdam you see these little red paaltjes (poles). Their phallic shape makes Japanese tourists giggle. Their main function, I guess, is to stop cars getting into the many bike-only places in the City. Their secondary function seems to be a handy shin-wrecker for airheads like me who don't look where they're going.
There I was, happily cycling along in my usual dream world when suddenly I'm in a heap on the ground, tangled up in my bike with a bloody knee. Of course, a few people ran over to rescue me (the crash must have looked like a spectacular one). Very sweet, but I just wanted to pretend I wasn't quite so stupid and sneak off unoticed. My pride was hurt more than my leg or my bike.
Monday, April 19, 2004
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Easter break
It's been so great to have the four day Easter break from work this weekend. Time to catch up on two of my favourite things... sleeping and eating.
On Friday we went to Blijdorp ('Happy Village'), which is actually a 'Happy Zoo' in Rotterdam. Highlights included watching the seals swim underwater in the glass-sided tank, the baby gorilla playing chase with its mum, the miniature monkeys with old men's faces and the new-born elephant trying for half an hour to pick up an orange in its trunk. Its hand-eye coordination seemed to be problematic (...or should it be trunk-eye coordination perhaps?). Photos to come!
I was fortunate to be able to sample plenty of yummy Dutch goodies at two traditional family Brunches. I have a new addition to add to my ever-increasing list of sugary addictions: Easter bread. This is a lovely fruity bread with a big lump of almond paste running through the centre.... mmmmm.....
My brain is still aching from a weekend of trying to understand the babble of Dutch family conversation flying around. I'm at a frustrating point in my efforts to learn the language and wish I had the vocabulary to join in a little more. I know it's going to take a long time before I can speak Dutch and sound like less of an idiot, but I'm determined to keep trying!
On Friday we went to Blijdorp ('Happy Village'), which is actually a 'Happy Zoo' in Rotterdam. Highlights included watching the seals swim underwater in the glass-sided tank, the baby gorilla playing chase with its mum, the miniature monkeys with old men's faces and the new-born elephant trying for half an hour to pick up an orange in its trunk. Its hand-eye coordination seemed to be problematic (...or should it be trunk-eye coordination perhaps?). Photos to come!
I was fortunate to be able to sample plenty of yummy Dutch goodies at two traditional family Brunches. I have a new addition to add to my ever-increasing list of sugary addictions: Easter bread. This is a lovely fruity bread with a big lump of almond paste running through the centre.... mmmmm.....
My brain is still aching from a weekend of trying to understand the babble of Dutch family conversation flying around. I'm at a frustrating point in my efforts to learn the language and wish I had the vocabulary to join in a little more. I know it's going to take a long time before I can speak Dutch and sound like less of an idiot, but I'm determined to keep trying!
Thursday, April 08, 2004
Singalonga Hens
My twin sister Claire is getting married soon in the UK, so I flew over to London for her hen weekend a couple of weeks ago.
Claire gave me strict instructions when we were organising activities: 'no strippers and nothing too embarrassing...'. I'm not sure whether this request extended to wandering around London dressed in a green poncho made from a garden refuse sack covered with paper daisies with a plastic dog turd strapped to her head, but this is what she got.
We had an evening of high-camp, nuns and sore throats at the 'Singalonga Sound of Music' show. Fifteen or so women dressed as 'the hills that are alive' must have been a strange sight as we gathered outside of the cinema. We were victorious in the fancy dress parade - narrowly beating the women dressed up as 'brown paper parcels all tied up with string' and (bizarely) the guys dressed up as chimney sweeps (isn't that the wrong Julie Andrews film?!) to win the bottle of champagne.
Just to explain the dog turd thing - remember the song, 'High on a hill stood a Lonely goat herd (goat turd?!). Unfortunately the joke shop didn't do goat turd....
Claire gave me strict instructions when we were organising activities: 'no strippers and nothing too embarrassing...'. I'm not sure whether this request extended to wandering around London dressed in a green poncho made from a garden refuse sack covered with paper daisies with a plastic dog turd strapped to her head, but this is what she got.
We had an evening of high-camp, nuns and sore throats at the 'Singalonga Sound of Music' show. Fifteen or so women dressed as 'the hills that are alive' must have been a strange sight as we gathered outside of the cinema. We were victorious in the fancy dress parade - narrowly beating the women dressed up as 'brown paper parcels all tied up with string' and (bizarely) the guys dressed up as chimney sweeps (isn't that the wrong Julie Andrews film?!) to win the bottle of champagne.
Just to explain the dog turd thing - remember the song, 'High on a hill stood a Lonely goat herd (goat turd?!). Unfortunately the joke shop didn't do goat turd....
Getting Organised
OK, I know! I haven't blogged for AGES, and now I'm getting round to it there seems to be so much to tell I don't know where to start.
Life is still hunky dory in Old Amsterdam! I'm jogging alongside the Dutchman very comfortably these days, finding my feet and trying to get my life organised at last. During my first year here in Holland I've managed to dis-engage my brain and go into 'holiday mode'. This is a wonderful sensation, but real life does tend to catch up with you after a while, the bills pile up and decisions need to be made. I've realised that this place is now my home, at least for the foreseeable future, so I'm taking steps to make it official.
My four month stay at Danie Theronstraat is now drawing to an end. It's been wonderful having a place to myself and it's given me the perfect base from which to explore Amsterdam. Ton and Alice, the apartment's true owners, are now back from their adventures in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand and I shall soon be packing up and moving round the corner to a cosy little place in Balistraat.
In the meantime, I'm coming to the UK soon for my twin sister's wedding.... something that I'm stupidly excited about!
The hen night a couple of weeks ago was great. I'll write a separate entry telling you all about it.
Life is still hunky dory in Old Amsterdam! I'm jogging alongside the Dutchman very comfortably these days, finding my feet and trying to get my life organised at last. During my first year here in Holland I've managed to dis-engage my brain and go into 'holiday mode'. This is a wonderful sensation, but real life does tend to catch up with you after a while, the bills pile up and decisions need to be made. I've realised that this place is now my home, at least for the foreseeable future, so I'm taking steps to make it official.
My four month stay at Danie Theronstraat is now drawing to an end. It's been wonderful having a place to myself and it's given me the perfect base from which to explore Amsterdam. Ton and Alice, the apartment's true owners, are now back from their adventures in New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand and I shall soon be packing up and moving round the corner to a cosy little place in Balistraat.
In the meantime, I'm coming to the UK soon for my twin sister's wedding.... something that I'm stupidly excited about!
The hen night a couple of weeks ago was great. I'll write a separate entry telling you all about it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
