6 Months in the Netherlands

Monday 28 May marked me living over here with the Dutchies for 6 months. I thought I'd have a quick look back on what's happened etc.

Firstly, we had some tragic news the other week that Bas's father had died in a car crash on the morning of 17 May (which is also Ascension Day). He was only 57 years old but had led a very full and active life. Obviously the entire family was devestated and I stayed with Bas through the condolence service and the funeral. The number of people who attended was truly staggering, he really must have touched a great number of lives.

So, a recap on what's happened here. Well, I've had two jobs, although one very short lived. I'm still working on a temp contract at Lyondell though hopefully that should be over soon and barring anything disatrous happening I should be offered a permanent contract. I'm currently organising our annual team event which involves offroad driving, abseiling, sliding down ropes and all that kind of ilk. Should be good fun as long as the weather holds out. Though I have a feeling that half my team won't be talking to me after they've been with me in a jeep witha free rein to drive how I want... teehee!

I've got a new pet (apart from Bas) who is still ruling the roost. Claudius can be extremely cute at times and at other times you just want to skin him. Very annoying when you're lying on the couch reading and he decides to use your stomach as a trampoline!

I'm gradually learning Dutch, though so far most of it is pretty useless. Although I can manage to order my coffee in the morning, ask for the right size and whether or not I want cocoa powder on top. I see this as a step in the right direction at least. And I am no longer as afraid of the dreaded Gs either, though at least I don't sound like I'm trying to spit when I say them :) Unfortunately most of the full sentences I know have no use whatsoever in everyday society. I can say "I have a nice ass" or "I want more kisses" perfectly, but if I need to ask the way to the train station I'm stumped!! Never get boys to teach you a new language, they are very irresponsible.

We recently had friends over from the UK, Dave and Wendy, which was really nice. Although very cramped in our little flat. Dave managed to pounce on one of my friends the first night he was here. Actually, that's a gross disservice to Dave, he did none of the pouncing, it was all Marielle. But it was very sweet nonetheless. As a result of visiting here and seeing what life is like over here he is seriously thinking and looking into making the move as I did. See, my cunning plan to get all my friends over here is slowly coming into realisation! Just need to work on my sisters next :)

So overall, the last 6 months have been some of the happiest I can ever remember. I still think that Bas is absolutely fantastic and we still get on fabulously (the fact that he's just totally scrummy also helps of course). The house is slowly coming along, we got a new toilet the other day which I got very excited over, it really is sad! The weather here is much better, the people are nicer, the atmosphere is friendlier, the food is better, the clothes are cheaper, the benefits are more generous.... need I go on?

Kate = happy girly at the moment :D

Claudius

As I haven't really introduced the insane one in the house I thought I'd post a couple of pics. He's about 6 months old now. I think his birthday should be the day I moved here so 28 November it is :D

Bit shy to start with:

There we go :)

Crazyland 2007

OK, so last night went out to big party called Crazyland. Its a bit hard to describe but basically it's anything goes (and I mean ANYTHING). Apparently there are usually people actually walking round naked etc and there is a dark room. Well at this one here in Rotterdam there wasn't a dark room and people did keep there clothes on (apart from the 35 year old DJ who clearly invested in new boobs so that she could get more gigs by doing them topless). Dressing up is a must so I dusted off my PVC nurses dress which hasn't been worn since I left Edinburgh. And man I forgot how much you sweat in that! So went round to Marielle's to get ready first. Here is the two of us ready to go out.

And this is why I wear thick black tights, so that the world and his wife can't see my arse!!!

But it was a lot of fun, they had all sorts of show type things on including the spinning lady who I thought was cool.

And now I go sleep!! Sleepy sleepy girl :)

I suck..... at blogging

Wow… just logged on here and realized that I haven’t posted anything for over a month. Lots has changed and I will write a longer post later. Here is a very quick update:

Got a new job as a Senior Assistant at a company called Lyondell (http://www.lyondell.com/) who basically make things that makes other stuff. Like the chemical in paint that keeps it liquid if you leave it in the tin, Lyondell make that. So you don’t really see their products, more what is made up of their products. But the job itself has nothing to do with chemicals and is basically a PA roll though I am now getting involved in quite a lot of projects and they are really keen to push people forward and give them new opportunities which is really nice. The office is so easy to get to as well. I live about 2 minutes walk from Rotterdam Noord station and the office is across the road from Rotterdam Centraal.

(http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&hl=en&saddr=gordelpad&daddr=weena+762&layer=&sll=51.933364,4.476972&sspn=0.019263,0.039911&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=51.931671,4.473925&spn=0.019264,0.039911&om=1). Google maps didn’t really like my address (apparently it can’t find Gordelweg even though you can see it right there!) but that is roughly where I live in relation to the city center/work.

We have also got a new addition to the family who is a ginger tom cat called Claudius and he has successfully taken over the entire house! Yesterday while I was sitting outside on the balcony in about 30°C in a bikini in APRIL (have I mentioned how much I love this country?!) Claudius decided to climb along the ledge, get to the end and realize that there was nowhere for him to go and had to turn around! Now we live on the second floor so this is no mean feat! He managed to turn nearly all the way around then slipped and was hanging by his front paws. I nearly had a heart attack but luckily he managed to scrabble back up and came back to safety. Now you’d think from this experience that he’d learnt, but oh no, I then had to keep throwing him back inside, so I think we need to invest in some sort of netting or something to go around the bottom of the balcony before he decides to kill himself!

Saturday night this weekend I went out to a house warming party for one of the girls from work. Its really the first thing I’ve been invited to here without Bas and I’m starting to make friends which is really great. Needless to say I drank far too much wine on Saturday night and headed home at about 2! But it was a really good giggle and I met quite a few new people. I, of course, forgot my camera but there were many pictures taken so I’ll try and get them emailed through so I can post them on here. Didn’t so much have a sore head on Sunday it was more that when I moved it it took about 2 seconds for the rest of the world to catch up! Sleeping in the sunshine obviously helped this (although I do already now have bikini lines).

And on a random note…. I was having a dream last night that I was sitting an Occlumency exam at Hogwarts (I spent all day yesterday reading Harry Potter... Occlumency is like mind reading) and sitting next to Draco Malfoy who kept pinching my leg for some reason and trying to put me off what I was writing. Then Snape called me to the front of the class and told me I couldn't do the exam because my bag didn't have a handle on it. So I then had a big argument with him about how my bag was the same as his bag and he couldn't throw me out! I have a disturbed mind I think!

I am currently sadly lacking in photos (my Mum’s blog is putting me to shame) but I’m going to try to start taking my camera everywhere with me and just taking loads of pictures.

Here are a couple of pictures from the party on Saturday night :)

This is me and Marco who is a lovely Italian guy that is often out for Friday night drinks though he doesn't work in my department

Me and Ralph who does work in my department and is a little sweety (though I could not persuade him that drinking was a good idea and he could pick up the car in the morning - he seemed to feel the fact he had to drive to Germany in the morning was a valid excuse *rolls eyes*)

And this is Remo who works in the department next to me and is a teeny Italian guy, and Annamarie who is the person I work with on a day to day basis.... also the person I gossip with ona day to day basis. We get on really well and are becoming good friends already :D

Stinky Cheese

You know when you introduce someone to something and then it comes back to bite you in the ass. Well Bas didn't like smelly cheese, I on the other hand love the stuff. So I persuaded him to try it and now he loves it so much that whenever I go to the fridge to get any there isn't any left as he's eaten it all!!!! Men!

Apocalyse Pony

Just a really brief post which I have to thank Kirsten for. Check out this link.... I want a War Pony! Love this video, must have watched it about 5 times now but have to turn my My Little Pony away from the screen so she doesn't get jealous.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEZ5kNZf-7I

Africa-ca-ca-ca-ca

My Mommy is off to Africa next week to go and see my Uncle Ooshie (he's actually called Steven but he always had a mustache when I was little and I called him Ooshie so it kinda stuck) in Tanzania and I am very jealous. My Uncle runs a charity out their called Tukae (http://www.tukae.org/index.html) and my Mum's going out to help and get a tan for us all to be jealous of at this time of year. Check out her blog for the full rundown of how much needs to be done before going away somewhere like that (http://lisavalentine.wordpress.com/). I'm looking forward to hearing all the tales and seeing the photo's when she gets back :)