Holiday: Tidy up DAY 3

Oh ja, I told you I had three days to tidy up right? I almost forgot... I didn't do anything today *hehe* Well, I did quite a lot of things, but the pictures from yesterday are very much how it looks like today ;)

So what did I do today? Well, I listened to Léon, der kleine Löwe and I've been working on my top secret project *lalala*, I went to the supermarket, cleaned McDulls cage. Checked all the websites I like and made dinner for three, while Dennis was coming over for dinner.

There is one thing that's positive, what the tidying up concerns: Martin brought a saw to shorten the ladder. I wonder if we will shorten it in 2005 or in 2006. My guess: 2006.

Jetzt schaue ich Scheibenwischer - Gala auf der ARD. Es soll die Wise Guys geben, aber bis jetzt ist es nur langweiliges Geschwätz.... naja, was solls. Hack ich halt Holz.

Guten Rutsch! :D

Holiday: Tidy up DAY 2

This room seems ok, doesn't it? It's our guest room, and the only thing you shouldn't mention are the boxes on top of the closet on the right, and the shelves with boxes behind the fleece blankets ;) Some of these boxes needs to be put on the attic, the ones on the shelves will just stay there, I guess. I will probably put some shelves on the left wall later, for I need more book space! On the left the yellow spread covers Martins old bed. There are two mattresses on top of it, one of them can be put on the floor so right now we have quite a comfortable guest room for two guests.

So, maybe you're thinking I've finished tidying up already, but that's not completely true. The computerroom is still a mess. Most things here need to be put on the attic, but we can't reach it so easily yet. So.... maybe I'll give it a try today, but I guess it's safer to do this with Martin together. Our attic can be reached through a small trapdoor in our bedroom. It's too small for a folding ladder. But, since last week we got a ladder which we intend to put on the attic, in a way we can let it slide down whenever we need to get up there. The only problem is the fact this ladder is about 30 cm too long, so it can't make the angle it needs to make, to get up the attic. So we need to shorten it before we can use it in the way we want to.

This story is really interesting, isn't it? I'm wondering who will read it *g*

Holiday: Tidy up DAY 1

I'm free this week!!!!! On the one hand, this week has many planned activities, such as the visitings at both christmas days. On Sunday we celebrated christmas with my family, on Monday with Martins family. Ordinary maybe, but fun, and the food was great. Then I'll have a "girlsday" on Friday, with four friends. We don't know what we'll be doing that day exactly, but it will probably look like this: eating chocolate, cookies and candy, watching a movie none of our boyfriends/husbands ever wants to see, cook together, and all together with a lot of chatting.
By the way, I'm still doubting whether I shall bring my WG-DVD collection... *dumtidum* I wonder if they'd appreciate it ;)

New Years Eve also has to be celebrated of course, so that leaves three free days without any planned activities. I could sleep long and do nothing all day, enjoying my holiday every minute, but that would leave me with an unsatisfying feeling. The point is, actually I should really tidy up the mess it is upstairs in the computer room and the guest room... So I decided to spend my days sleeping pretty long AND tidying up the rooms. Maybe you are wondering why there is such a mess. Well, that's quite simple, we moved into this house two years ago, and some boxes just still needs to be unpacked.... other things just need to be sorted out.

Results of Day 1:

Reduced my schoolpapers (reports, assignments) from 6 files to 3 files: 2 boxes of paper now waiting to be picked up by the paper-recycling-people.

Refound some old hobby-tinkerthings: packed in a bag and will be given to my cousins next Saturday

Filled 1 big rubbish bag with rubbish and threw it in the garbage can

Shocking fact:
I noticed most of the boxes that still needs to be unpacked or sorted out, belong to Martin....

Martin????????? when will you have a holiday???

X-mas

Just want to show you something I made this week with the kids at work:


Isn't it cute?
Merry Christmas to you :)

My 2005

Your 2005 Song Is

Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani "This shit is bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S)" For you, 2005 was the Best Year Ever.

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

What??? I don't even like this song!! It's one of the most stupid songs of 2005! How can it be my 2005 Song? Stupid test ;)

But, 2005 might just be my best year ever. I had a lot of fun during this year. I just had to live it this way, I needed to feel happy and experience new things. Meeting a lot of German Wise Guys Fans probably was the highlight of this year, and part of my 'unwritten and slowly-through-the-year-defined goal' for 2005, which by the way, can best be described as "Gib jedem Tag die Chance, der schönste deines Lebens zu werden" (Nochmals danke an lena für diesen Spruch!!!)

OK, das hier ist mal wieder einer von meinen Denglisch Posts... sorry for that.. :P

Anyway, this year was no shit at all, and bananas are also not part of the 2005 summary. Maybe I should find another test with a correct anwser ;)

A lot a Pottah!

Potter Marathon Weekend! Yeaaaah!!! ;) We started yesterday, watching Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Well, "we" isn't exactly true, for I had to play volleybal so I missed only this part. But Martin watched it with his mom and his sister. This morning at 10am we were awake and ready to watch Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. And at 1.30pm Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban was scheduled.

:D

Martin and I had seen the movies before, but his mom and sister didn't. But luckely they liked it. We had dinner together in an Egyptian restaurant here in the city center, it's a restaurant we've been many times before. We choose the same food every time, but it's just good :) And after dinner we went to the cinema to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Good movie it was ;)

By the way, Dutch translations can be very funny. I've read the Potter books in English, and during the movies I hardly read the subtitles actually... but isn't it silly that in Dutch Cedric Diggory is called Carlo Kannewasser? I mean: why translate/change the names so radicaly?? In Dutch Hermione Granger is called Hermelien Griffel, but that sounds quite alike. Question to my German readers: You've got all movies dubbed into German, but at least you've got the same names, haven't you? Or are the names changed into something German as well?

Going to sleep now, dreaming of "Alohamora" and "Expecto Patronus" and so on. Hopefully I won't get scary nightmares cause dark and difficult times lie ahead.... ;)

In the mood for x-mas

We're in the mood for x-mas! So we searched for our x-mas tree in the attic and all the other x-mas decorations. Let the pictures speak for themselves :P




Merry Christmas!!!

Present mood: Just greeeeaat!!

I'm happy, confused as well (is it really true?), I feel valued, I feel loved! Still can't believe it's for real!!!

I was already preparing for January, the unemployment... I've spent the last months searching for new vacancies, most of the time unsuccessfully, I've been turned down in two interviews. In my mind I was already saying good bye to the kids at work and my dear colleagues. I wasn't looking forward to our x-mas celebration at work, for it would be my final day there as well.

BUT.........................

I CAN STAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally (!!!) the board of directors realises they can't cut back in the primary proces of treatment of these kids. Without me there would be a huge problem, actually. Finally they gave their approval for this, and they've made me and my collegues very, very happy.

And that, together with the smile that's been on my face since last Sunday's Wise Guys concert, is making this week the best week of the year :D

[sigh] :D

Now please give me my contract, so I can sign it, and so I can see it's not a joke...

Kurzbericht Wise Guys in Wesel 04.12.05

Hach, wie geil war das? Suuuuuupergeil! *g*
Ich werde heute anfangen ein Konzertbericht zu schreiben (für corine.located.nl, also, mit Details. Jetzt schon ein paar Bilder und ein paar kleine Berichte.


@Purzl: Es hat super geklappt! Däns Reaktion wenn ich ihm die Vla gegeben habe: "GEIL!!" (I still don´t quite understand this.... german people and vla.... weird experience haha) Und dann hat er mich geknuddelt :D
Oh ja, Flyli, was machst du da eigentlich? Möchtest du auch Vla haben?? *laaach*


@Flyli: Hehe, du hast gelachen!!! Kompliment! ;) *lol* Ich schicke dir das große (original) Bild von uns dreien per Mail.


@Anke, Mareike und Flyli: Ich fands super euch (wieder) zu treffen. Ich hab wirklich gaaanz viel Spaß gehabt und fands super das wir aufgestanden sind bei "Ruf doch mal an". Glücklicherweise hattet ihr dieselbe Gedanke wie ich auf dem Moment :D

Nach nur 5 Stunden Schlaf musste ich schon wieder arbeiten. Sinterklaas feiern mit die Kinder auf meine Arbeit.... toll..... Na, es war lustig und die Kinder waren total süß. Und jetzt bin ich schon wieder zu Hause *juhu*

Aryan wants his picture here

Yesterday we had a lot of things to do. First we helped Martins grandparents move into their new home. We found out old people have a lot of things. I think I unpacked about 6 (!!) boxes full with only cups and glasses. But, we had a lot of fun, and many family members were helping. The men were transporting boxes from the old house to the new house, the women were unpacking everything in the new house and cleaning up. What a great allocation of tasks ;) In between the unpacking and cleaning I had a lot of fun with Martins cousin Sarah.
Notice my great Zwarte Pietencap! For my German readers, who are probably not familiar with Sinterklaas, click here and read all about this Dutch celebration.

In the evening we celebrated Sinterklaas with friends. Celebrating Sinterklaas means presents with funny poems and a lot of candy. Actually it was just a normal average Sinterklaas evening like we have every year, but I had to write something about it in my blog, for Aryan insisted on having his picture in my blog.

Well, so here it is. Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce to you: Ataryan, the craziest person on earth, he came over to the Netherlands with his wife Marga, all the way from South Africa, and was celebrating Sinterklaas with us:


Oh... I hope I didn't scare you with this picture, dear readers.
Let me give you another picture where Aryan looks a bit sweeter. This is Aryan after he got a present from Sinterklaas. He got a yellow rubber Ducky, and he was sooooo happy with it!



If you want to know more about Aryan, you can check his website. But I forgot the URL... *hehe* so Aryan will have to post that himself when he leaves his comment here.

@Aryan: happy now? ;)
@Aryan and Marga: We'll miss you both! Have a good trip home!

Runaway nach Hannover

Gleich! Jetzt! Ich renne nach Hannover! (weil es ja mit dem Auto nicht klappt wegen Schnee) Oh man wie geil wäre es jetzt da zu sein! *ggg* Ich will da sein! hahahaha :D

Erklärung: Ich bin gerade angerufen und hab Runaway gehört aus dem Rockhouse Brothers Konzert, LIVE! Danke lena!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ich sitze hier bei Freunde, und sie haben mich ganz komisch angeguckt weil ich fettgrinsend durch's Zimmer tanzte hahaha. Supertoll!!! Es war ganz laut, sie könnten alles auch mithören hahaha.
Meine Laune ist jetzt gaaaaanz gut! Wars schon, weil ich eine SMS bekommen habe von Maike und Steini; sie haben gestern Dän vom Kurier spielen überzeugen können!! *rotfl* Nächste Woche werde ich ganz viel Vla einkaufen müssen hahaha.
*LACH* Meine Laune heute wird immer besser *SMILE*

Danke Maike, Steini, lena und Nina!! HDL!!

Breaking news: crashed car snowed in

Look what happened! Our car has been snowed in! Take a look:


The proud owners of this car are: (+Martin, who is making this picture)


And we also accidentely parked our car against the tree....

Merry Christmas...............

I love snow. I love the pretty trees and the landscape covered with a white blanket, drinking hot chocolate and watching the snow fall while you are sitting comfortably in your warm living room.


BUT I HATED THE SNOW TODAY!!!!! I've never been so scared driving the car. It was terrible and afterwards I was trembling all over. Too much snow, too many cars. It took me an hour to drive the final 10 km home!! The final 3 km I could only drive 5 km/h!!! I've never been so glad to be at home.
OK, just had to say that.
Today it took me 90 minutes to get home. Normally it takes 45 minutes. Silly thing, in the north of NL there was no snow at all. Only those final 10 km were terrible.
It took Martin 90 minutes to get home as well (on his bike), normally it takes him 30 minutes. He ignored the cycle track, for it was impossible and dangerous to drive there (trees and branches were falling because of the heavy weight of the snow), so he cycled on the road at the same speed as the cars.
Busses were not driving today
The highway was closed or totally jammed.

I hate snow.... when you have to get somewhere >:[
Else I love it :)

Love, Corine

My grandmothers grandmother

This is my great-grandmother, or is she my great-great-grandmother? Complicated. Anyway, she is my grandmothers grandmother and she was probably born around 1870. And I've got a picture, isn't that special? Peeling apples; is she making apple puree? or baking apple pie? who knows.... Weird feeling, this is family! Do I look like her? eh... ;)

My new addiction?

As some of you know, Martin is singing in a choir. This year they are celebrating a jubilee, for the choir was founded in 1980. Yesterday evening there was a party for all choir members + partners. We were invited in De Rustende Jager where we played Black Jack and Roulette! We started with 400 dollar each. Martin and I put our money together so we had 800 dollars to gamble... Everybody started really carefully, betting with 10 or 20 dollars, but during the evening people were losing themselves in the game and betting with hunderds of dollars hahahaha. Probably this was caused by the fact the dollars only had value within these four walls, hahahaha.

The roulette wasn't really my type of thing, for it's a pure game of chance. Black Jack was more fun, for you really have to think along with the game. And you can win more money with it :D Some people lost all the money they had, but we doubled it! Together we ended up with 1760 dollar :P Such a pity this wasn't real money *g*

At the end of the evening I was so very tired, 'cause I had played a volleyball game that afternoon which had been exhausting! (but we've won it :D) So don't say I've got small eyes on the next picture ;)


More pictures of this evening can be found at the website of the Evergreenkoor'80 (foto's -> koorfeest).

9 aapjes in een boom *tralalali tralalala*

Zo!!!! Het weekend zit er weer op. En wat voor een weekend. We waren compleet meiden!!!! *spring*hups*dans* jaja, dat is me toch wat he? Gut gut, wanneer zou het weer gebeuren dat we er alle 9 zijn? Of dan eigenlijk liever toch weer met 10, net als vroeger he? Alleen wordt het dan toch echt wel tijd om een huisje te reserveren waar we met z'n allen in passen hahaha. Hoewel het toch ook wel knus was zo. Tijd voor een paar groepsfotootjes dan maar, alstublieft:

En Annemaria, je kunt dus op de fotootjes klikken, dan zie je een grotere versie :D
En nu wel even allemaal nog leuk een berichtje achterlaten he?!!



For those who haven't got a clue what I'm talking about: I spend two days with some friends, and we had a lot of fun. Time to relax, time to chat, time to go swimming, time to go walking. And listen, the most unbelievable thing happened: We went walking on Sunday morning at 8am, and only 3 of us stayed in bed, the other 6 were able to wake up so early!! Even Marianne!! hahahahaha. I made a lot of pictures during this walk, for the weather was so calm and nice. The sky was a bit foggy and the sun was rising. Except for the birds there was no sound at all. I loved it.





Deze foto's zijn trouwens bewerkt, zodat ze wat kleiner in formaat zijn.
Wilma, ik vind het echt leuk dat je de Wise Guys cd wilt hebben, het Achtung ich will tanzen was echt grappig ;P

Zo, en dat was dan mijn eerste post hier in het Nederlands - gedeeltelijk dan.

Blub blub blub

As promised, some under water pictures taken during our weekend in Center Parcs. Unfortunately a lot of pictures failed because while developping the film someone made a mistake :( Such a pity, for in this swimming pool you swim next to an aquarium which is really cool. You can see tropical fish and sharks on the other side of the glass, and it's almost real, as if you are swimming with them. But those pictures are damaged...

But here are some pics that did survive:

Fan world ...

Hello, you, reader!
I just thought it would be fun to write something in my blog, but I haven't got a clue what to write about... hmmmmm.... I just finished my Montezuma concertreport from last Saturday. There are some funny pictures with the report as well. [..] Maybe that's a nice discussion thing. Isn't it fun to have a picture of you and a singer? I say yes. Then why, last Saturday only a 9 year old girl asked the guys for signatures, and my sister and I (24 and 20 years old lalala)? Is it the fact Montezuma's Revenge is still quite unfamiliar? Is it the fact most visitors are older? Are Dutch people boring? In Germany, after visiting a Wise Guys concert, there are dozens of people with camera's! But the average age is lower as well. A cappella singing is more popular in Germany, and I've got the feeling German people value a cappella singing more than Dutch people. Dutch people go to a concert and say 'hey, that was nice' - and that's it. Maybe they'll see another show again in a couple of years. German people go to a concert and are totally enthusiastic, they ask for autographs on cd's, t-shirts, arms, etc, they ask for pictures and next time they bring all their friends. Dozens of fans wear Wise Guys t-shirts, I've never seen anyone wearing Zuma-t-shirts, though they excist. Why is there such a difference in a cappella fan world, why this difference between Germany and Holland? I really think next Zuma concert in Münster will be more enthusiastic, more thrilling than this from last Saturday in NL. Silly, isn't it?

Zuuuuummaaaaaa

Yesterday was soooo great. A beautiful concert. I'm still at my parents home, but busy writing a concertreport now. Let me give you one teaser picture:


That's Gonneke (my sis), Hans and me
Hans was just about to smile ;)

Jungle expedition

What a weekend. Wow.
It started on Friday (what a surprise!). I came home from work at 2 o'clock and found the Rockhouse Brothers Live CD lying on my doormat. *JUHU*!!!! I packed some final things for the weekend, while the cd was playing in our laptop (for it didn't want to play in my cd-player, ok I think the player is too old...) and waited for Martin to get home. In the meantime I got called and told I wouldn't have the job I applied for... Damn... They had some reasons for it, some I could understand, others not. For instance: They were thinking I was a solist, not a teamplayer. They were missing some team-spirits in me. What?!?!?! Nonsense. Well. I was sad for a little time, but I wasn't going to let this news going to spoil my weekend! We were having a little holiday and we were going to have fun. So I put the worries and thoughts in the back of my mind and at 3 o'clock we drove off.
Martin had quickly put the RHB cd on our MP3 player, so we could hear it in the car (we don't have a cd-player in our car; we can only listen to radio, or connect our mp3-player with an oldfashioned tape to our radio). Rock 'n rolling through some traffic jam we arrived and settled down in our beautiful cottage. Oh, I forgot to tell the reason for this weekend. Martin had the brilliant idea to have a little holiday together, it was his birthday present for me. So we booked a cottage at Center Parcs "Het Heijderbos" two weeks ago. And actually we really needed this. To be away from home, relax and be together without others, without computers and internet and without whatever else can be disturbing when you are at home.

I'll show you some (panorama) pictures of our cottage:


In the evening

Next day

From the outside
And now you all want to know what we did during this weekend. To tell you the truth: not much. We went swimming every day (on Sunday even twice). There is a beautiful swimming pool!! But I'll tell you about it later, because we have made pictures with an underwater camera, and as soon as they are developed I'll scan them and put them online here. Besides the swimming we've been sleeping a lot and we watched some movies on the Canal+ movie channel, cause we don't have that at home ;) And, we visited the Jungle Dome, where you can have a lot of fun when you've got kids, but where you can have as much fun if you haven't. Some pictures:


You Tarzan,
me Jane!!!

*aaauaaa
aoaaaoaa
aoaaauaa
aaaaoaaa
oaaaauaa
aaoaaaua*


The weather was unbelievable! End of October, but we could walk outside without jackets and swimming in the open air wasn't cold at all. The sun shone and made the pretty autumn colours even prettier. The wind felt like a summer breeze. And with these temperatures, we needed an icecream. Jummy...........!!


Thank you Martin, for this fantastic weekend. *love ya*

+note+ Underwater pictures hopefully next week! +note+