Hope you all had a good start of the New Year. I had for sure, as I moved in with Lynne in January. I was really happy when we decided to go and live together but on the other hand I was a little bit worried, as this meant living together for the first time in 10 years. The plan was I would move into her house, as she bought her place like 8 years ago and I had a rented apartment (but with the best views of Sydney!!!!), and moving into a place where somebody already lives for such a long time can be hard, because where are you going to put your own stuff??? But that all worked out quite well as Lynne took this opportunity to get rid of a lot of old stuff and we also created some more storage space. So at the moment I actually have half of the bedroom wardrobe (!!) and some shelves in the second bedroom for my books and other stuff. And for the first time I was able to unpack a lot of my souvenirs from all around the world and display them. I really feel at home now! Next time piccies from my new home!!!
Our new address is: 76 White Street, Lilyfield NSW 2040, Australia, home telephone: +61295522797
Last time I wrote Lynne was in Switzerland visiting her friend Ruth. She had a great time, loved the mountains (it was her fist holiday visit to Europe) and chatted the days and nights away with Ruth, eating sausages. Actually Ruth arrived in Sydney last night, so I had a change to meet her myself and you know, she can be even crazier then I can be! The girls are away for the weekend, so it’s nice and quiet in the house.
When Lynne was in Switzerland, I took her friend Rowena to the Pavarotti concert as a Birthday present. But she had no clue where we were going. We met in the city and had some sushi before we took to train to nowhere according to her. We had to change trains and finally arrived at the concert and she was soooooooooooo happy, she kept smiling for three weeks. The concert was quite good, especially if you realize he’s already 70! The stage looked like a Buddhist altar.
Last October I did a seafood cooking class with mate Justin and we learned how the prepare prawns, squid, mussels, garfish and swordfish on the Barbie (BBQ!!). We actually managed to prepare it all in a group of 5 and afterwards we ate it as well, hhmmm. Great concept and it seems people like it, as I got compliments after making it at home (Ruud the Cook!?).
The first Tuesday of November is Melbourne Cup day, the biggest horserace in the country. In Melbourne they even have a public holiday. Although I think it’s quite stupid to spend a public holiday for that because in Sydney we go to the pub at midday, have lunch, drink a couple of beers, place our bets, watch the race, have a couple of more beers and don’t go back to work.
And of course the Socceroos made it to the World Cup in Germany. I went to the match in Sydney with some mates and the stadium went mad after Australia scored the winning penalty. Big party in town!!! And they are really happy with Goes (they can’t pronounce Guus). Some interesting statistics: 1. Each time the World Cup is in Germany, Australia qualifies (1974, 2006) 2. Each time there’s a major soccer tournament in Germany, the Netherlands reaches the final (1974, 1988, 2006??) 3. And last but not last, Guus is on his way to score a hat trick of consecutive semi-final spots at the World Cup
I was getting quite active late last year (fitness, running, swimming, diving every other week), till I sprained my ankle in The Orient Hotel (according to insiders not surprising because if you make it to the Orient, you must be pissed… I was taking out some colleagues from Melbourne and Auckland…). Anyway I couldn’t do a lot for over two months and trying to get back in shape again now. I have to, as I will participate in the Corporate Triathlon at the end of March (400 meter swimming, 8 km, biking and 4 km. running).
At the end of November Pro Dive (the club I’m diving with here) opened a new company called Pro Adventures (www.proadventures.com) and I met quite some interesting people that night. Firstly there was Valerie Taylor, a 70 year dive pioneer in Australia and still quite vivid. She was telling me about her accompanying Prince Bernhard when he was visiting Australia and how she became a “Ridder in de Orde van Oranje Nassau” for her dedication to environment and marine life. And there was this other guy we actually runs the company which sends tourists into space for USD 20 million. Unfortunately he didn’t offer me a ride home… have a look at the website: www.spaceadventures.com.
And as you all know, I’m a big fan of the Dutch national woman hockey team. I always try to go and see them, or was it the other way around: if they are playing where I am, I go and watch. I guess so, so we went down to Canberra for the weekend with some Argentinean friends to watch the Netherlands playing Argentina in almost 40 degrees Celsius at the Champions Trophy. A good match, which was won by the Netherlands in the last second. As you can see on the picture, even Lynne was supporting the Dutch!!! And the next weekend, the Netherlands beat Australia in the final and Paul owes me a nice bottle of Aussie wine (again).
By the way, I went to the Oasis concert the other day and they are so arrogant, this was the first and last time.
My parent came down for X-mas and New Year and they had a great time Down Under, even though they thought the water was quite chilly in Australia compared to Aruba. They explored Sydney, we went up to the Blue Mountains for the weekend, took them to the Open Air cinema, celebrated Lynne’s Birthday (December 24th) and X-mas, and went to Victoria to visit the Australian “branch” of the family. But off course we were back in Sydney for the fireworks. As I had first class view of the fireworks we had a Barbie at my place with a couple of beers and champagne at midnight. Happy 2006!!
The first week in January we went up to the Gold Coast to catch up with Lynne’s family and seemingly they think I’m ok. Lucky me!!! Her dad took me out for a couple of beers and showed me all the drink holes in the area.
Luckily my ankle got better and I was able to compete in the Chinese New Year Dragon Boat Races. My friend Rachel’s company (Tourism Australia) was competing with two boats and needed a couple of extra people. We had training sessions on three Tuesdays and on the big day we had three races. They only last 70 seconds but you are dead at the end of the race. Great fun and sore muscles.
By the way, did some great diving during the Australia Day long weekend. Drove to South West Rocks with Lynne and I went diving at Fish Rock Cave. This is a cave underneath a small island, about 150 meter long. You enter at 24 meters and the cave is full of wobbegong sharks, big lobsters, 1000’s of nudibranchs, a bubble cave, and when you are approaching the exit you see big schools of bullseyes … and … grey nurse sharks cruising up and down the exit. There’s kind of a gentlemen’s agreement here: the divers stay at the left hand side and the sharks at the right hand side. Still you keep both your eyes on them!!! On one of the dives there were around 20 of them. Amazing, we just sat down at the bottom and watched these creatures for as long as air would permit. See piccies as well. And our safety stop was in an aquarium, lots of colourful fish. When I was taking piccies of the grey nurse shark, all of a sudden I felt something pulling my wetsuit. I looked and saw this little Palmer fish biting me. It seems they are quite territorial and I guess I was in its way…
And yes, I still work as well. Currently we are developing a solution for local councils and water authorities. The first two signed up for the first of July, which means quite some travelling as “my” client is in Melbourne. Still thinking as well about my dive school, but not really more than thinking at the moment…
Last week they showed the Oudejaars conference in a Dutch pub in Sydney. Went there with Sonja and Gunter & Ghislaine and it was actually a good laugh. Sometimes it’s nice to just listen to your mother tongue. And at least we got updated on what happened in the Netherlands last year. The only part we didn’t get was the reference to the Radbout hospital in Amsterdam. If somebody could explain please???
Next week, Daniel and Wendy arrive and I’m really looking forward to their visit.
I’m very sorry to announce that Ruud won’t be present at this year’s World Cup in Germany. I have decided not to come and spend my holidays on this side of the world. But don’t cry, you probably will still hear me!!! Hup Holland Hup!!!
Cheers!
A Prayer for the Stressed!
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I cannot accept, and the wisdom to hide the bodies of those people I had to kill today because they pissed me off.
And also, help me to be careful of the toes I step on today as they may be connected to the ass that I may have to kiss tomorrow.
Help me to always give 100% at work.... 12% on Monday 23% on Tuesday 40% on Wednesday 20% on Thursday 5% on Fridays
And help me to remember..... When I'm having a really bad day, and it seems that people are trying to piss me off, that it takes 42 muscles to frown and only 4 to extend my middle finger and tell them to bite me!
Amen
