Reunion/brunch/lunch with some of my nieces. (Long post!)

Reunion/brunch/lunch with some of my nieces. (Plus a post of day 2 of my trip to Berlin)

Today on the program was a reunion lunch with four of my Nieces, I was excited and a bit nerves. In February I had a birthday party from my Aunt, when I went there I saw alot of my Nieces and Nephews back, they were all from my Mothers side though. (Way better then the Nieces and Nephews from my Fathers side sorry to say, it's true) The family from my Mothers side are much more opener and friendly. At the birthday party from my Aunt a Niece decided to organize a reunion for this Summer, a nice 'come together' for Nieces and Nephews only. What a great idea, I was already excited. Just before my trip to Berlin I got a email from 'that Niece' and I confirmed with the reunion. 5 August on a Sunday we will meet in my city at a near pub, for lunch and a drink, great!! This morning I rested and just before I had to go I took a nap, around 11:30 I took of for the reunion. 

Ofcource I was first, lol. I waited on my bicycle and 10 minutes later the Niece who organized this all showed up, we hugged and shook hands, it was nice seeing her again. Five minutes later two other Nieces showed up, hugs and shaking hands followed. Not every Niece and Nephew showed up cause of the Summer holiday, most were still on Holiday. We decided to do this reunion again in September of this year, "Then we will all come," said one Niece. It was a nice sit together, we sat outside and had lunch and drinks. We talked alot, and I didn't mind there were only Nieces, lol. It's a fact that on my Mother's side are more Nieces then Nephews. I enjoyed the whole two hours we were together, friendly people. Amazing right? That after such a long time we saw each other we talk in and out, like we see each other everyday. In September the group will be bigger, can't wait!


Here it goes, day 2, trip to Berlin...

City bicycles for rent, just like in London,pay with your credit card.

 After getting used to the bed and the atmosphere in my hotel room I woke up nicely on time, I had a nice and a okay sleep. I was nervous the air condition would turn on automatically during the night, but it didn't, I don't like wind blowing in my face when I sleep. I woke up around 7:00, I showered, I cleaned the shower afterwards aswell, lol. It wasn't even needed, but hey, just the way I am. At 8:00 I went downstairs for my first German breakfast, there was a host waiting for the guests, I had to tell my hotel room number and then could pick a seat. 'We' have our own spot while having dinner and breakfast in the hotel, not a rare spot, just in the hotel's restaurant. 'We' are with many people so the waitresses and chef's need to know when it's time for 'us' to eat, so that the waitresses can divide us and show 'us' our table. When it's time for breakfast and dinner we can choose our own food, like a buffet. I'm loving it.

After our breakfast I went for a little walk, I figured I still had a small hour before 'we' take off for the city tour. I wanted to take a few pictures with my new camera, I have two camera's with me, nerd I am, lol! (If I loose pictures on my old camera, I will still have pictures on my new camera (geesh!)) It was a nice walk, I took several pictures and was satisfied. Finally I'm getting more and more used to the new camera, though I need to practice more on the panorama function. I was still on time for the city tour, I'm getting more closer to the 'group' aswell. Ofcource we all have to get used to each other, that takes time. Though most of our group are elderly people, but there are people of my age aswell and even younger, a mixture of ages you can say. 9:30 am, the city tour began! Berlin has so many sight seeings, mostly it's about World war 2, but that's cool and very interesting. 

A piece of the Berlin Wall, so much art on this last piece of the Wall.

At Check Point Charlie... never knew this area would gave such an impact.

Our guide for today was not the bus driver but someone else, this Dutch guide is living in Berlin, studied German, architecture and German history. By the way he spoke you could tell he did his studies, everyone was quiet when he spoke. I saw the Berlin Wall, (wow, what a impact that gave!) Check Point Charlie, (another impact, I saw pictures from it in a book and I saw it on TV, but it's so much better to see it in real) and the Holocaust memorial, (that was amazing aswell!) Lol, I'm writing this post on a little notebook on a bench in front of a restaurant, and there's a woman sitting there, I think she wants to know what and why I'm writing. After the city tour the bus driver dropped us of at a huge shopping area near the biggest warehouse of whole Germany, (maybe even of whole Europe) the warehouse is called 'Kaufhaus des Westens,' in short Kadewe. 

Kaufhaus des Westens.

The meat section in the Kaufhaus, 7th floor where it's all at.

There was a small but cozy subway station aswell, I went there first for a little lunch snack. I like train or subway stations, I like to watch people going from A to B, lol. While walking you had to be prepared for foreigners who are begging for money, I saw a few, but walked further. Though one stopped me from behind, a little teenage girl had a notebook with her and she made it clear I had to fill in something. I could see she was poor and deaf, (or she pretended) she was friendly aswell. I'm weak, lol, so I filled in what she wanted. I had to fill in my signature, place where I live, and what country. I thought, "Okay, what's next?" It was kinda awkward, she looked at me and I could have guessed it, she wanted some money. So I gave her 50 cent. She showed me again the notebook, took her thumb of her writing and there it said, '5 Euro permitted or more.' 

Then I got angry, and I wanted to have my 50 cent back. I'm not a hard or though person, but, a beggar asking for 5 Euro is crazy, be happy what you get. Later I found out that she was fake when she was talking with another partner-beggar, I thought, 'damn you.' While I went on with shopping I saw many times the same beggars asking other people, I watched them for a little while. There was so much to see in this huge shopping street, I got sleepy aswell and searched actually for a place where I could take a little nap, lol. The only option were benches, I paused many times, and took it easy. Later on I felt better. At 4:30 I returned towards the bus, I was done. At 5:00 everyone returned and we took off, back to the hotel for a little rest and dinner. It was a full day, cause at 7:30 the bus took of again for the city night tour. I felt good though,dinner and rest did me good. 

Marlene Dietrich platz at a theatre near Potsdammer platz.

The huge meeting point at the train station in Potsdammer platz.

                                        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdamer_Platz

The city night tour was great, we had the same guide as with the city tour. Again great stories about Berlin, re-building of Berlin, the difference between East and West Berlin, tearing down the Wall in 1986. The bus took us to Potsdammer Platz, Berlin has actually 3 centers, Potsdammer Platz is the 3rd center. With hotels, shops a huge shopping mall and huge train station this platz is BIG, it has a casino and theatre aswell. I took alot of pictures of the amazing architecture and sight seeings. Our guide told us how this place was re-build, if you imagine that this area was once just a huge flat area bombarded with bombs in World War 2, it was a outstanding story the guide told us. The last event for the evening was the TV Tower, this tower is a television tower in the city centre of Berlin. 368 metres (1,207 ft high, and I'm going in. Ofcource I was a bit nervous, but I wasn't the only one. 

A few eldery guys from our group were aswell. Though I went in, and it went prety fast. It was dark and that kinda helped to ease down my nerves. The vieuw was great, thank god I couldn't quit see how high we were. Our visit to this tower was short, it was in, stayed 15 minutes and we went down again. It was all fine with me, it's been a long day with a full program, I needed a sleep for sure. But wow what a great day, I seen so many things, heared so many stories. Tomorrow we leave again at 9:30, but first, 'Good night!'

Lazy day... I love it!

Lazy day... I love it!  (Plus a post of day 1 of my trip to Berlin)

Lazy day today, I'm still a bit tired from the long journey from Berlin to Holland, wow what a trip and what a ride! Spending fourteen hours in a bus is sure not a pleasure, and then when you think your almost there, the bus brakes down. But anyway, more of 'my trip' in my other posts. I will be writing daily again and then end up with writing over Berlin in every post. five days, five little posts. I didn't do much today, I needed groceries for this weekend, so I bought that and further? Further not much. chilling, relaxing, napping, resting. Tomorrow at 12:00 there's the lunch with my nieces, just before my 'take off to Berlin I got a email from my niece, she asked me if I would like it... to have a lunch with the other Nephews and Nieces (from my Mother's side), I said "Yes!" So, yeah, tomorrow's lunch will be different, I'm excited and look forward to it.

Alright here it goes... Day 1 Berlin!

It was early in the morning... heading towards the train station. And then waiting for the bus.

It sure was early that Monday morning, I didn't sleep well. Perhaps the nerves, or just the way I am before a trip. I had nothing to worry about though, everything was settled, suitcases packed, papers and passport was ready. I only needed to get up, take my medication, have breakfast, clothes on and take off. But anyway, I got up, and had enough energy for this day, the lack of sleep was gone. The excitement took over. It was cold though, but dry, so that was good. While I walked to the train station I started to worry if the bus would show up, the bus what will take me to Berlin. I worried aswell a little if I had enough clothing with me, or enough equipment, I checked a million times yesterday and this morning so, sshhh, Sjon your fine! Arrived at the train station I saw no other travelers with suitcases, it was quiet. It was still early though, it was 6:30, the bus will show up at 6:40, (hopefully)

I saw a few other busses but they were all city busses, I surely would be relieved if a huge white bus will show up. And it did, pffeeww! More passengers showed up, I suddenly wasn't alone anymore. There were for sure more passengers then last year's trip to London. The bus driver checked our names and packed our suitcases, I saw the other suitcases and they were huge. I had a big travel bag and that was it, I knew I had enough with me, all was good. The bus driver took us first to other cities, to pick up other passengers. I was surprised of the amount of passengers in the bus when were done with picking everyone up, blame the Summer holiday. The bus drove to one meeting point somewhere in the middle of Holland, where all other travel busses will meet each other, from there ALL the passengers will be divided. There are busses who will drive to Italy, or Spain, or Prague and ofcource Berlin.

Bus ten, I already grabbed my suitcase. It looks a bit of a mess, but everything went fine.

So, grab your suitcase and pick the bus you need, I needed bus ten. Everything went quit easy, although there were a little 1000 travelers. I think everyone included we had a little sixty passengers in our bus towards Berlin. There were more then ten busses, wow. Before the take off all passengers could have a little coffee/tea break at the meetings point restaurant. At 9:00 bus ten took off, heading to Berlin, I actually had no clue how long this journey would take. I decided to sit in the back of the bus, cause of my long legs. Another elderly guy was sitting there already, he actually adviced me to sit next to him in the back seat. "So we have enough space for our legs," he told me. The elderly man is a nice guy I found out while we were riding, great sense of humour aswell. He works as a teacher, he teaches (age 5 till 18) with a down syndrome how to stand in their lives. He told me about it, and it's very interesting.

I compared him with Mr. Humpries from are you being served? Cause of his movements and the way he talked, I could tell he was either gay or bi. Though he was married he told me, so I had doubts. But all that... didn't matter, he was a great and interesting guy, he made me laugh many times. The trip to Berlin took long, very long. We were more then five hours on our way and then we still had to drive more then 400 kilometers. It looked like it was one long highway, with here ans there hills and a few curves. Though the views were now and then breathtaking, so nice. With many hills, valley's and huge electronic windmills. We had two stops on our way, to stretch our legs and have a snack or drink. The bus driver needs a rest aswell, after four and a half hour he needs to stop for a rest, that are the rules for a bus driver. There was one stop that was amazing, we stopped at Helmstedt/Marienborn border. Ofcource I took some pictures.

This border checkpoint was the largest and most important border crossing on the inner German border during the division of Germany......

excisited from 1945 untill 1990.

After thirty minutes we took off again, Berlin was waiting for us. I had ated my lunch and had a drink, I was ready for the last part of kilometers. Our bus driver wasn't so clear in his talking, he mumbled in his microphone, and his accent was hard to understand, but okay. I could always ask the other passengers. It was 6:00 pm untill we finally arrived in Berlin Germany, though we still had to drive a little 20 kilometers to our hotel. When we arrived there things went pretty fast, checking in, getting our suitcases. Though there was a little mixture of failures cause our hotel was next to another hotel, ofcource we tried to check in at the wrong hotel. After that fail, we could go to our own hotel rooms. I had room number 536 on the fifth floor. the view wasn't so pretty (cranes for builders, a parking mall, and some dirty backyards) but the room was awesome! Double bed again...

The bathroom was pretty, there was even a button for the volume for the TV. Small room but oh so pretty, I love it! At 7:00pm there was our free dinner, well free? I payed for it when I payed the whole trip. I will have in the five days four times breakfast, and four times dinner, drinks are not free. The food is like a buffet, pick what you want. Delicious! After dinner I went for a walk, the old man who sat next to me in the bus went with me, his name is Gerrit. Again so much laughs, and Gerrit knows alot of Germany and Berlin aswell, he could show me alot of things ans talk about it. We walked only for a little thirty minutes but saw already so many things, so interesting to see all the history plus the monuments, buildings and statues. At 10:00 I went to bed, it's been a long day, I'm sure I will sleep. Tomorrow we will have to get up early and leave at 9:30am, for our first excursion.

The usual sleepless night before a trip...

The usual sleepless night before a trip...

Everything went well yesterday, suitcase is packed, got the house clean and tided up before the trip, etc, etc. Then off to bed on a nice time, though I wasn't even tired, I thought, "I will fall asleep anyway." Yeah, I thought! But I didn't, I was clearly awake and my Turkish neighbors were loud again. It was alright as always, but this time it wasn't, the little worries and m awaken made it only worse.

"Why are they so loud?" I thought, "Can't they talk normal?" It was late aswell, I went to bed around 10:30 pm, and at 12:00 pm the neighbors were still loud. Then I knew it, 'Ramadan,' they wait until a certain time and then they all eat together. There are several Turkish people in the flat, so yeah, that's why. I took it for granted, and fell asleep late. Around 2:00 am I woke up and felt I slept for 30 minutes.

At 4:00 am I woke up and decided to get up and wake up slowly, there were a few little things more to do before my take off. I will try to have a sleep in the bus, I had it before that I couldn't catch my sleep before a trip, it's surely not my first time. Though it doesn't feel good, but anyway, off to Berlin, Germany! I will catch you readers on a Thursday or on a Friday, lol, I don't even know when I will be back. That doesn't matter either, it's gonna be lots of fun, and that matters!

Suitcase is packed... I'm ready to go!

Suitcase is packed... I'm ready to go!

Alot done today, getting everything ready for take off. Cleaned and dusted the rooms a bit, packed my suitcase, emptied the fridge as it comes to 'what can go bad if I leave it there for a week.' I bought one bread to much last week, so I ated bread nearly two times a day, for breakfast and lunch. Yes, I have a freezer, but that thing doesn't work so well. Perhaps time for a new one in the near future. Though I love my old second hand freezer, it has that ol'classic look. Excited for the trip? Yeah, it's starting, but the nerves are there too, lol. Have I enough with me in my suitcase? Should I take two or three trousers? Did I pack my passort now? Yes or no? 

Lots of statues in Berlin.

And funny street art, lol, try to get your parking ticket out of that machine.

Tomorrow at this hour I will be in Berlin I guess, it's not that far as London. No computer for a week, oh dear, naah, piece of cake!! I'm actually looking forward to it, being without the net for a week, it will be easy. My blog can have a rest aswell for a week. though I will have a little notebook with me and several pens, to write everyday a short story about what I went trough that day. Just like I did with London. So, tomorrow I will be off, and last night I looked already for some new travel sites for a new next trip. I want to go just like last year between Christmas and New Year. Though I couldn't find anything what suits me, maybe I'm to early.  I heard the weather will be good in Berlin, grey tomorrow but not cold, later in the week lots warmer with lots of Sjon-shine.

One more day... One more night!

One more day... One more night! 

Am I excited to go to Berlin? Uhm, it goes actually, but the closer it gets the more exciter I get. Still it feels like I'm going on a holiday in my own country, Germany is surely not that far. I got informed and the trip will only take a little 5 hours, I heard that Berlin is awesome though, so it should be good. I will be packing my little suitcase and handbag tomorrow, plus the usual things to do for a trip. Cleaning the house a bit, do my last ironing, make sure I got everything locked up or locked off, and checking twice I got my tickets and passport. And everything else what is needed for the trip.

The usual nerves are starting a bit aswell, lol. How will it be being on a holiday again? What kinda people will there be with the excursion? What if the bus doesn't show up? Oh well, in the end everything will be fine, I will be sure to check everything more then twice, I'm good at that, sometimes even a bit to much. But that's good. I'm a good timer aswell. I had the idea of buying a new camera aswell today, I had that idea already for a long time though. I take alot of pictures, I love taking pictures. Usually when I have the idea of buying something, I will buy it either way. So yeah, I bought a camera. 

New camera.

Old camera.

I went to two electronic shops, the first shop had amazing camera's, but this shop is known as expensive! The seller showed me a few camera's, though I was looking for a Canon camera, just a small one, just like my old one. But this shop didn't had Canon, the seller showed me camera's of Nikon and Fuji. Such a nice camera's but the price made me almost faint. More then 400 Euro! Not in a 400 years I would spend on a camera that expensive! The other electronic shop I went to is a shop where I go often, good quality and sometimes cheap. Seeing all those fine new cameras there made me buy one. I bought a Sony, nice and small. See picture above. 


Ofcource the seller wanted to charge me more with a one year warranty, and a camera bag. A warranty should be come automatically in my eyes, but anyway. I had a price limit in my head before buying a camera, when I bought the camera I was under my limit, all good. It was a nice day, rested alot and the weather was better then yesterday. It rained all morning, in the afternoon the sun came back. Though the temperature was much less then yesterday still it felt warm. It felt good to be outside though, shorts and t-shirt.

Waiting for the rain... to cool off.

Waiting for the rain... to cool off. 

It's just to warm to do anything in the house, usually I'm on the laptop in the evening, but I closed it a few times cause it's just to darn warm. Rain and thunder is on his way, pffeeww, if were lucky we will get some in the middle of the night. I might even go for a walk just before going to bed, a nice and fresh breeze is what I need. This morning felt nice, I opened all doors and a few windows, that felt good. I had some luck aswell today with my flat tire, I thought I would loose my bicycle for the rest of the day today, just because the bike repairer might have it busy also with other repairs.

I was on my way to the repairer early in the morning, I knew it would be quit a walk. I took a short cut trough the train station, and there I saw aswell a bike repairer, I thought, "Hey, ofcource, the train station has a bike repairer too." I stopped for a few a seconds and thought, "Shall I go here or go further?" I decided to go further but after ten seconds I turned around and went back to the 'train station bike repairer.' I went inside the shop and saw a old man busy with a bike, I told him what was wrong with my bike and he told me he could fix it right away. 

Then I asked him when I could pick the bicycle back up again, I told him that I live close by. "No need too," said the repairer, "You can wait for it, it only takes a few minutes." Wonderful! My bike will be ready in a few minutes, who would have thought that? Surely not me... I had a nice little chat with the repairer, and after he was done he charged me with a small 12 Euro, not bad at all! I already planned that I would do my grocery shopping walking, but that was different since my bike was repaired so quickly. I did my groceries, and went home.

I figured I didn't need much groceries, because I will be off to Berlin this coming week, and there's no work either. Less food! I was excited what I had bought though, and the price was fine. I took a nice bike ride in the afternoon after my nap, today's the last day it will be this warm, so I thought, "I'm gonna spend it well." It was warm but the bike ride felt good. That's just me, lol, I have to get out on such warm days, I just love it to grab my bicycle and just take off.

Warmst, tomorrow even warmer, ugh!

Warmest, tomorrow even warmer, ugh! 

I nearly fainted today at work, it was that warm. It was quit a busy morning aswell, I did alot but felt good, although it was warm. Just before the lunch break I bended down on my knees to repair something, when I got up I went pale and a bit dizzy. "That's it," I thought, "I'm taking it easy now." Perhaps I was a bit TO busy. I can stand heat quit well though, I think this was the first time I nearly fainted from the heath. It took a while when I felt a bit better again, after the lunch I continued my work, but took it easy. Not that fun working with more then 30 degrees Celsius.

At 3 'o' clock, we cleaned up and at 4 'o' clock we sat down to have a nice meal together, a few fellow workers prepared a little area in the factory were we could sit and eat. The staff hired some food, drinks and snacks, there were a few tables and chairs where we could sit. The food was good, we had different kinds of Oliver salad, satay, shawarma and lots of drinks, including wine and beer. It was nice sitting with each other, no chance of feeling left out for me. Great bunch of guys. After an hour I took off, more people were going, so...

Everyone wished each other happy holidays and went home. Now, when I wanted to grab my bike I saw I had a flat tire, sigh! But I cycled home anyway, a fellow worker cycled with me. He lives near me and cycles most of the time with me towards home. I can repair a flat tire but I don't have the tools for it yet, I will bring my bike to the bicycle repairer tomorrow, it's the same one where I bought my bike from. Maybe he will shorten the money when he fixes my flat tire. I will have to walk tomorrow with my bike, but that's okay. Only a little 3 km, I walked further then that before.

Warm, warmer, warmest!

Warm, warmer, warmest! 

So warm outside, but I'm not gonna complain! Everyone here in Holland complained about the not having a Summer this year, now we have a few days of Summer, and I love it. I rested in the morning, took it easy and took a nice nap. In the afternoon I went for a bike ride, a long bike ride. I thought I'm not gonna sit at home with this nice weather, so, off I went. 

I always wanted to bike all the way to Germany, no, it isn't that far. With a car you can be in thirty minutes in Germany, with a bicycle ofcource a bit longer. There's a canal here in the city where I live, and they say when you follow that canal all the way up East, you will pass Germany.  I didn't want to go all the way to Germany today, cause I have work tomorrow aswell. I wanted to try this route for a little while, seeing and testing how far I would come.

Here you see a part of the canal, I was still in my own city still. It was a nice bike ride, I was stunned to see the long, long bike path next to the canal.

It was quit busy aswell, I saw many cycle's on the path, mostly elderly people. 

We call this thing a 'Paddestoel,' you can see on it where you have or want to go, and how far it is in kilometers. Paddestoel = Mushroom. Cause it has the shape of a mushroom. I needed to go to Ootmarsum, still 10 kilometers to go. When I'm in Ootmarsum I will see a sign how far it is to Germany. 

My first stop, time for a apple and a bottle of water. I was thinking to turn around, cause I was STILL feeling okay, but I have to ride the whole way back aswell, tomorrow I have to work aswell. "Just a little bit further," I thought. 

Yeah, that was it for me, the point of returning. 2 kilometers of Ootmarsum, next time I will go further. It's a nice ride, peacefull and quiet, no traffic at all. And you can't go wrong if you keep following the canal. I saw alot of these little bridges what you see on the picture. 

Back in Almelo I saw these deers in the park, they have this weird ritual almost always on extreme warm days. It's kinda awkward to see this, cause I never have seen this before. Funny aswell. 

The Boss himself, nicely sitting in her own spot. I could see she was enjoyning the cool water, she had her eyes closed.












It's warm in the house, I have a pillow and a kitchen towel underneath my laptop, otherwise I would burn my legs. Tomorrow will be a warm day aswell, then we get some cooler days in the weekend. I had a reply back from Saf aswell, she wrote me a email yesterday, asking me how my Summer was or is. She was nice and answered my questions, just a nice and regular email. Saf asked me in her reply if we could un-block each other, and I thought, "Yeah, why not?" I told her, "Yeah, let's see how it goes." 

When I got back from Canada in January 2011 I blocked her on Facebook, Saf did the same. I needed the blocking for my healing, and I really had to focus on other important things. I have un-blocked Saf, I will just see how it goes. I'm not gonna add her as a friend, cause that won't be good for me, or for us. I want to keep it as it is, I like how it is. I might have a 'fall back' when I see her comments or pictures from her and the kids to much, so no. We can always choose to write each other a mail...

Loving the weather!

Loving the weather! 

26 degrees and no dark cloud in the sky, tomorrow even warmer. I guess I will take it easy in the morning tomorrow, get some rest and probably a power nap. I'm tired, though I worked just as usual today. Sure it was busy, but it's always busy, maybe the suddenly warm weather got me tired, last week it was 14 degrees, and now 26. These houses where I live can get warm too, though I slightly can stand the heat. Weird that we still get so much orders just for the Summer holiday, customers want mats before the holiday, no matter what. It's almost insane, I told my fellow workers today that we have only two hands, were not super men. 
When I got back from work I looked in my hotmail, and I saw a unexpected mail from Saf. 

First thing what came trough my mind was, "What does she want from me now?" Or, "What's going on?" Yeah, I still have sometimes that awkward or nervous feeling when Saf writes a mail, not that much as I use too though. I use to stumbe with my words aswell, carefully writing my words, but not anymore now. (Just being friendly) Now, she doesn't write mails that much though, only for a reason. So when she does, it gives me a bit the creeps, lol. The last few times she mailed she asked me for money, or that I owed her money, so yeah... (P.s, usualy I'm the one who writes an email to her, once in a half year or once a year) Anyway, Saf asked me how I was doing and how my Summer is going... I answered Saf and I will wait for a reply, nice of her that she mailed. 

I'm ready!

I'm ready! 

I'm ready for Berlin, I got my tickets from online. I asked one of my fellow workers if it was possible to use a computer plus internet here in the office to print my Berlin tickets, he said, "Yeah, sure, I did it myself aswell when I needed my airplane tickets." For just to be sure I asked one of the ladies from the office aswell during our lunch break, "Sure, no problem," all I needed to know. Right after lunch I went with one of the ladies to the office, "Wait here," the lady said, "I'll be right back. All of a sudden the Boss walks in and asked me how I was doing, I answered, but felt awkward towards her. 

Just because my Boss didn't know what I was doing in the office, and she looked at me with a look as, "What are you doing here?" It didn't feel right what I was doing. My Boss went away but came back after two minutes, she asked me what I was doing here, she was friendly. (Told ya, she wanted to know what I was doing here, lol) I'm not that much at the office so it was a bit awkward. I told my Boss about the tickets, and that I needed some help, and then asked if I could use the computer. My Boss wasn't happy with it, I could tell, but she was still friendly. She said...

"Normally we don't do such things, and you should have come to me for asking, plus we don't like it that you do such thing whit working time," she said. She went on, "But okay, for once you can use the computer, this lady here can help you." I felt relieved but bad aswell, lol. Relieved I can use the computer, and bad because I should have asked my Boss first, yes, sigh. Anyway, it won't happen again, cause I'm not like that, I'm not sneaky. Though I thought it was okay cause of the fellow worker told me so, plus the office lady who said, sure and okay, so I thought it was fine. Anyway, I got the tickets, and my Boss isn't mad. All good!

Finally some nice weather ahead.

Finally some nice weather ahead. 

Tomorrow we have 25 degrees, finally! It's been to cold and to wet the last couple of weeks, to cold for the time of year. I hope the warm weather sets trough and lasts, lasts three weeks or longer. One more week and then my Summer holiday starts, slightly a full week though. Still busy at work, Thursday is our last day, that means cleaning and organizing stuff, afterwards we will have a nice dinner together. I got my travel documents aswell, but the travel company sent it differently this time. They sent it trough E-mail, meaning, I have to print the documents. And I don't have a printer, my idea is to ask the office at work for a little time for me, so I can print them. I need them, cause there's a voucher on those documents what I have to take with me. So yeah, printing is a must this week. 

Berlin, Germany.

Gosh, time flies so fast, next Sunday my suitcase is packed and ready for a trip to Berlin, Germany. Five days I will be out of the house, five days without internet! Piece of cake!! I will enjoy my time the fullest, though it feels different then when I went to London, I was more excited then, then now. Germany is close by, it doesn't really feel I'm going on a holiday, I will have to go further then Germany. But I will have a good time, I never ever been in Berlin, so that's a good thing aswell. Next year I will go further, flying in a plane is on my list for sure next year. Aswell on my list... US or Canada, I think it will be the US, cause I think I'm not ready yet for Canada. I really don't know what it will do to me when I come back to Mississauga Canada, that can wait a few years.

Du, da, du, da, du, Picture time!

Du, da, du, da, du, Picture time! 

I didn't had plans this weekend, but I went out today either way. Slightly worried as usual about my money, but I went! I headed of to Enschede, Enschede is like a little Amsterdam, but then smaller and much closer to home. It took me thirty minutes with the train. I haven't been to Enschede for such a long time, the last time was actually with Saf and Abd when they visited me in Holland. That was in October 2010, that's almost two years. I really enjoyed my afternoon in Enschede, I nearly spoke it out loud there. Ofcource I took a few pictures.....

Welcome to the City of Enschede! 

There's many art in this City, statues, paintings, awkward objects and street art.

I saw many of such bikes recently, everywhere in Holland actually. I always wondered how it is to ride such bicycles. Kids in front and Mom or Dad on the saddle. 

I went to this shopping centre where I use to go, but this centre was almost empty. No people who were shopping and not many stores. Then I saw this cheese area, it was huge. 

Look at all these cheeses.... 

In the same centre there was a expo aswell, here you see self made furniture made from bamboo. 

 A self made Otto-man, made from leather. I like the colors.

Cow art, I thought it was not done to take a picture of this bizarre piece of art, but I did it anyway, In had to. There were many of those, but the price? Oh my, oh my. 

 The market in Enschede, I took this picture out of a window in a shopping centre. This market is huge, with lots of vegetables, fruit and fish.

Another shopping centre... Not much has changed though in this City but I really enjoyed my time there. 

 Like I said, fish aswell on the market. In many, many shapes.

One of the many statues in Enschede, 'A newspaper boy.'

The 'Grote Kerk' in Enschede, ( The Big Church in Enschede) 

There was an option to go inside the church, and so I did. Look at the big colored windows, I asked if I could take pictures inside, "As many as you want," they said. 

Preacher area. 

Another colored window, we call them 'glas in lood.' 

A statue dedicated to a huge fire disaster back in 2002.

A bizarre art painting in the middle of the city.. 

Weird and strange art objects aswell in Enschede, here you see an old German vehicle with a Mohawk.

Ofcource many bicycles in this City aswell, here you see a few of them at the train station. Train station? Yeah, I was heading home, it's been a good and a long afternoon. Time to go home.










Sometimes people here ask me if I'm already feeling at home here in Almelo, I was thinking about this aswell this afternoon. I can't really answer that, I guess I'm still floating between Almelo, Canada and my old village Nijverdal. It feels like I'm still traveling aswell, I still have to live longer here where I live to let it really feel like I'm at home. It's an awkward feeling though this, I moved quit alot the last five years. Aswell as a kid, me and my parents moved alot aswell. Though it's always nice to be back at my place, the place where I live now, and that's a good sign, right?

Rough Morning, nice afternoon.

Rough Morning, nice afternoon.

Again in the early morning I went right after I woken up to my little mailbox in the flat, ofcource there could be some mail for me what needs quick handling. And yes, sigh! There was mail what needed quick handling...and as soon as possible. One of the mails I had was from taxes, I needed to pay a BIG sum of money back and at first I didn't even know why... What I knew was that 1,it was from housing benefit, and 2, it was from the year 2012. I knew already that I had to pay back a sum of money from one month, but hey! Not from a whole year! I had to pay back all the money from 2012 what I had received from taxes, housing benefit anf health care benefit. "But why," I thought, "Why this much?" I had 'right' on those benefits from January until May from this year, in May I signed my working contract. So, I received un-necessary money in May and in June from taxes, 'that' sum of money I can understand I have to pay back.... 

The benefits from July until December from this year I will have to pay back too it said in the mail, but I never received that money, cause it's only July now! It was early but I was already puzzling how to pay this BIG sum of money back, (More then 2000 Euro) taxes wanted the money before the 1st of September on their account. It's July now, though there's an option to pay in terms, but still, sigh! Asking my Dad for help? Erm, maybe. Ugh, all these questions in my head, I was calm though and got to work. No breakfast, no wash up, I wanted this to be settled first, I needed answers, on my way to the taxes office. I was a little nerves cause taxes mostly has it right in there mails, I was sure I have to pay this BIG sum, but I wanted to know why. I was prepared when I walked in, I knew what to say, I had my papers with me for proof. I was right on turn and a friendly lady helped me, I told her my story and showed her the mail and my other papers.

She looked trough my mail and my other papers, and in the meanwhile she asked me some question. "Strange," she said. There was a number on the mail where she could see what's going on with my taxes. She logged into my taxes account and saw a quit BIG sum of money. She then asked me, "Is this all yours?" She turned the screen and showed me my income over the year of 2012, "I can understand why taxes stopped all your benefits now," she told me. I saw on the screen that my income from 2012 was more then a million Euro's!! "That's surely is not right," I stumbled. All my questions were answered, ofcource taxes stopped my benefits this week, not because I have a job now, no! But because my income over this year is more then a million!! LOL! A few months ago I had to inform taxes cause I have a job now. Taxes wanted to know what my income 'now' was since I have a job. 

I could do the 'informing' online trough my own taxes account. It's quit a puzzle, but I managed it. Though I filled it in wrong, I found that out now. Damn! "And now?" I asked the lady behind the desk, she told me that that was easy, "Inform them again, do a new filling in on your taxes account, fill in what your income will be over this year," Yeah, that was all, taxes will get the right sum of my income and will confirm this within 6 or 7 weeks. (taxes in Holland are always slow) "And the BIG sum of money I have to pay back then?" I asked the lady. "As soon as I get a second mail from taxes with the options how to pay them back in terms I can already pay them one little term. She replied, "You will receive that money back as soon they confirmed your new income over 2012. Okay, sigh. I needed help with the new filling in, so I asked the lady who helped me. "No problem, we are open until 5:00 pm," she said.

I returned home to pack all the papers what was needed for information for the 'informing,' when I got home I made first breakfast and did a quick wash up. After my breakfast I grabbed the 'needed' papers and took of again. The same lady helped me with taxes, and we both were done in a little fifteen minutes, quit a relief I must say. Though I hope taxes confirms quickly with the new informing, hopefully before the 1st of September. Otherwise I have to pay alot of money, but I have hope and trust, I think it will be alright. For the second time I returned home, this time for a good rest, and for sure a nap. Groceries needed to be done aswell today but they could wait for in the afternoon. First a rest! It's all good now. In the afternoon I did my groceries and took it easy further this day, I fried some zucchini with success, was nice.

Rain today, summer weather on his way next week.

Rain today, summer weather on his way next week. 

The hard rain woke me up this morning, that was a pretty tough rain cloud at 4:30 am! Woohoo, I thought, do I have to go trough that? I hoped not. I left my umbrella at work this week, though I had a rain-coat and rain-pants. It was 6:50 am, I though, "I'm off, it's nearly dry. But I got wet anyway, sigh! It was alright, the rain-coat and rain-pants came in handy.

Work was pretty rough today, they wanted me on two sections today. One Boss, asked me to help him and another Boss said no, cause I was needed there. Kinda funny that I was needed at two places, am I that good? Naah, it was just busy. I ended up for a little 30 minutes in the other  section and the rest of the day in my own section. I like to help out, I do the best I can.

At the end of the working day I felt exhausted, their had to be alot done, and I did my best. At 4:30 I was done and ready to go home for a well deserved rest. I think it will be a resting weekend, cooking, groceries and laundry, and lot's of enjoying my relaxing. But hey, who knows, maybe I will go out if the weather is good. I don't feel like spending to much money. I'm planning a long bike ride aswell these coming days. I'll see what these days bring.

"...How will I ever get rich?"

"...How will I ever get rich?" 

This morning after a nice long sleep I decided to walk first downstairs in the flat to check my mail, half awake and still in pyjama pants and slippers I walked down the steps. I was curious if I already got a message from the hospital for my electrocardiography appointment, I hoped it takes place on a free day, so that I wont have to ask for a few free hours from work. I had more then one mail when I opened the box, one was from the hospital, yes! And two more, one from taxes and one from Gak, oh? Wondering what they wanted now... Good news was that my hospital appointment is on a Friday, but it's not until the 24th of August, weird! I thought I was a kind of a emergency this electrocardiography, anyway.....


The other mail was from taxes, they had some bad news. My income will get shortened, social services has stopped their monthly income, cause I'm now above minimum wage since I have a payed job. And so has housing benefit... plus health care benefit, sigh. They really so don't want you to earn that tiny little extra, how will I ever get rich? Or enjoy finally the benefits for all the struggling and working I did. First thing I thought was, "But everyone has a right on housing benefit or health care benefit." Yeah, but not when your above minimum wage, like me now. I think the reason was that I was in a light shock was that I lived from welfare for such a long time that I got easily used to it. 

Although that, I still will hold the monthly income from Gak and from my job. Gak's money I will always keep cause of my sickness, I don't work for the fully five day's in the week, only three. But still, without the housing benefit and health care benefit I really have to keep an eye on my wallet. It was quit a sum of money (in my eyes) what I was getting, but that's stopped now. Ofcource I got worried and ofcource I was thinking, "Didn't I gave the right information, wasn't I mistaking?" I wanted to be sure and went to the taxes office here in this City. There they said, "It all has to do with your income, it's to high, that's why we shortened it." I would like to do a re-infilling again I told them, I can do a re-infilling on the taxes site online.

"That's okay," said the guy behind the desk. On the taxes site you have to fill in what you will be earning over the whole year, in short, they want to know your whole income over the year 2012. It's a bit of a puzzle but I managed, when I got the complete sum of my total income I took off the income for 7 months from Social Services. ('They' payed me until the month May from this year) When I wanted to confirm the new infilling I had doubts, was I sure? Did I do right? I logged off.... I guess I could use some help with this, just to be sure. I called Humanitas, and asked for help. Although I'm not living there anymore, I always can count on them when there's something going on when it comes to money, my house, my social life...etc.

Saturday morning at 10:00 I can visit Humanitas for a quick help with the taxes infilling, pffeeww relieved! I just want to get this right, not want any troubles anymore. Specially not with taxes. I struggled enough, when I have enough money to come around, I'm fine and wont complain. I know how it is to live with a small wallet.

Time flies!

Time flies. 

This day went by fast, before I knew it I was showered after work and sitting comfortable on the couch. Today's work was busy as usual, I like getting nice compliments, it gives me a boost and self confidence. But enough about work, it's nearly time for our Summer vacation. I'm still waiting for my traveling papers, which has the exact time for leaving, and much more information. Though they informed me and aswell the other travelers that a week before leaving they will send the papers. Just me being nerves, if I have the papers I will be fine. 

If I don't get them before the actual traveling time, then I will have to call them, and ask them for the papers. But I guess I'm worried about nothing again, lol, as usual. The weather in our little country has a dip at the moment, lots of rain and cold, the worst day will be Thursday, with rain, hail, thunder, and cold temperature. Though better days are coming they said, next week, sunny weather with high temperature. We just will see, right? Would be nice to have sunny weather with the Summer holiday. Where can I sign?!

A change has to come! No wait.... A change is gonna come... Hopefully!

A change has to come! No wait.... A change is gonna come... Hopefully! 

I need new people around me, I said it so many times, I know. But it's about time, I know creating new friends takes time, I know. But I can always make a start, right? But where to start.... I need to find something where I can go to every week, where a group of people are who I can see and meet every week. I will get to know them, and that's a start. That is my wish. Sometimes I'm thinking, "Am I not to much online? Am I not addicted to the Internet, socializing on the Internet? My answer is, "Yes, and no." More a no then a yes. Am I not to much on Facebook? Probably, but I think it's okay, though it's so very important to have 'other friends' beside my Facebook friends.

Hmm, imagine, you don't have much friends, and you start to look for  friends on online Facebook, or on any other socializing site. You can get attached to it, attached to the online friends, attached to the attention. Sounds familiar Sjon? Yes. Your online friends can suddenly leave Facebook or unfriend you, or, etc, etc. And then? Then you feel bad or sad or lonely, oh, maybe I'm just overreacting, yeah okay, a bit then. But like I said, it's good aswell to have 'Other friends beside the friends you have online, who you can't reach or touch, or even have a coffee with. Read: "It's better to have a social life too." My social life has made a start but in my eyes I'm still not there yet, there where I want to be.

I'm getting help with finding social contacts, cause it's quit difficult when there's not much to look for in this city. I will have to have a bit of luck aswell, and I search so hard. Another wish is to travel, oh yes, I said that aswell befoire, but traveling cost money, big money. Or? Uhm, just get my luggage and go? I don't even have to go far, Holland has nice sightseeings aswell. Sea life in The Hague, I always wanted to visit that. Within two weeks my Summer vacation starts, maybe then? Yeah, then! Today was a nice day at work, I did alot, and I stood on my own section. Was nice being around the fellow workers, tomorrow again. Hope the rain is stopping then, when I returned home I got soaked from the rain. And it's still raining. 

P.s: I forgot a post, oh my, oh my! 

How on earth I forgot to write a post? I write everyday, yeah, I had the post in drafts and forgot to post it! Silly me, but anyway, here's a short post from yesterday.... 


My Sunday was okay, resting was on top of my list. And that's what I did, plus the usual things what need to be done. The laundry had dried up and some of it had to be ironed, then there's the lunch prepairing for tomorrow's work. Cooking something different is a must on Sundays, tonight I had Italian risotto. That's a rice dice, I added mushrooms, zuccini and chickenbreast, delicious.

"Me and my big feet!"

"Me and my big feet!" 

I was in a shoe store looking for new cheap sporting shoes for my badminton lessons, ofcource I looked for size 44, (10-usa) but they didn't fit. They normally do but okay, on my way to size 45, (11-usa). That one was hmm, not really comfortable aswell, let's try a size 46 (13-usa). Perfect! But oh dear, did my feet really went two sizes bigger? I recently cutted my toe nails, so, that couldn't it be, lol. The ones I bought are black with here and there some white, I really like them. Though it was a tough job to find the perfect pair of shoes, the store had skate-board shoes, soccer indoor shoes, and aswell tennis indoor shoes. Some were really expensive aswell, but I didn't wanna spend my money on expensive ones.

This shoe store where I went was in my Dad's place, yeah, I decided to go to my Dad today. Allthough the weather-forecast forspelled heavy rain, and allthough there were some really dark clouds in the sky, it stayed dry the whole afternoon. Dad was doing fine, when I came in the nurses were about to weigh my Dad. He had to sit in a special chair where the nurses could see how much he weight, 85kg! Nice Dad! The nurses placed my Dad in his lazy chair afterwards, he looked at me a few times, I thought, "Your getting old Dad." I remember when he use to work so hard, and seeing him like this is a bit awkward. But hey, were all getting old, aren't we? I love you Dad!

I didn't stay that long, cause I had a few things more to do. It was busy in my old village, there was market and ofcource the stores were open. Though I like it more in the city where I live now, I wouldn't wanna live in this village where I used to live. I love the city! So, I bought the (tennis) shoes I needed, and I bought my last groceries. It was time to go to the train station and heading back to Almelo, my home. It's been a nice day, and I didn't even plan to go to my Dad, though I went, I'm glad I went. In four weeks precisely my Dad will turn 75! He will celebrate his Birthday in the place where he lives, I think in the restaurant downstairs. Hope it's gonna be a fun day for him. I'm gonna buy him a nice present.

"If or when you find the Summer, please send it to Holland."

"If or when you find the Summer, please send it to Holland." 

We Dutch can officially say now that 2012 had a horrible summer, like it usually is. There's no complaining about Spring cause Spring is always good here, sometimes Spring here feels like Summer, and then the so called Summer starts. This week we will have rain, and nothing but rain, it's to cold for summer aswell, only 15/16 degrees, that doesn't feel like Summer. Today my counselor came for the very last time, he handed me a few papers to round of the session of eight months, I had to sign them. It was nice seeing him, we had a few nice talks about music and a few other things. I'm on my own now, but it's all good. Everything is fine now, only the social contacts has to be better, I'm working on that until I found something. 

After the Summer vacation I will get help finding social contacts, a new counselor will help me finding something what will suit me. That can be a club, or a sport or a activity, just anything. Though I will not wait untill after the Summer vacation, I will be searching myself aswell. As a matter affect, I think I found something today. I went this evening to a recreation  badminton event, (say what?) Every Friday evening from 8:00 until 10:00 a bunch of people come together in a gym hall to play badminton, it's a society, or how you call it. This society has a staff, and members. I went there to have a look, and to see what it's like. I didn't join them for a game, which I could cause the attendant asked me. He was very friendly and explained me a bit how it all went in this weekly event. 


It was quit busy there, they all were playing their games. I really like what I saw, it gave me a boost of energy, I want to join this. I wished I brought my gym clothing, but wait! I didn't had any training shoes, I will have to buy some. The first four lessons are free," the attendant told me. Nice, so I can see if I can handle this, cause it's quit a input I saw, but I like it, it really gave me a good feeling. Next Friday I will be going there again and join them for a match, yay! Next Friday will be aswell the last time cause of the Summer holiday, in September they start again. Then I will be starting fully too. I think I found what I was looking for, let's see how it will go.

Sometimes I long for normal people around me...

Sometimes I long for normal people around me... 

Just had a great day at work, work went well, we had laughs, talks, just a good atmosphere. At the end of the working day I took off to the free dinner, the last free dinner for the Summer vacation. We had Chinese food and ice-cream afterwards, before the dinner one of the cooks did a speech, such a good and nice speech, some were in tears. It was quit busy aswell! After the dinner I joined some of the people outside as usual, I meet my weekly friends who I see during every free dinner, it's a nice getting together with everyone. Though there are homeless people too, and sometimes they are drunk. (sometimes? LOL) And some are from Humanitas, they are the so called 'normal people,' well normal people? The staff at Humanitas, (counselors, bosses, etc, etc) have always called a outsider, outsider in a good way. I'm like the real normal one. 

The others were not really high educated, or have a drug past, or have other heavy problems. Though I left Humanitas with having friends there, I see some of them every week with the dinner. Sometimes it's nice, but sometimes I really long for really normal people. I was standing outside after the free dinner, and there was a kid of one of my friends playing and annoying me with his football. I ignored it and fooled around with him a bit. But on a certain moment I was done with him, and told him to stop. He kicked his ball many times at me, I told him later on, "If I get the ball then I will get rid of the ball, you have been warned." After a while he kicked again and on a surprising moment I got the ball and kicked it over the fence. He had to walk pretty far to get the ball, "Get me my ball,"he said. "You get it," I said, you have young legs." He gets his ball, and kicks me once again, "That's for you," he says, for letting me walk so far." 

Then I grabbed his ear just a bit, and I told him, "That's for you, for not listening to me." He cried! And I felt bad, but was mad aswell. Her mom took a look at the wound and I apologized, least I could do. The kid had already a hurting neck, I didn't know. Another adventure: There's this teenage girl (a daughter from two of my friends. I like her, she's cute, though today she was annoying me with punching me and grabbing me, just to get attention ot to fool around. "Punch back," they told me, but I'm not like that, I don't hit or punch young people. Later on she stopped, not that I told her, but just like that. After a while she started again, and I told her with a laugh that she must stop now, otherwise I will be black and blue, (she punched hard, and mean) though it was all for jokes and laughs. How to handle this? I didn't know, I told her to stop many times, and in the back ground I heard many times, punch her back, and so I did. 

Not even hard I turned her arm on her back, and told her, "Beg for mercy!" It was all jokes, but she was hurt afterwards and yes, I had a another crying kid among me. Sigh! Now this girl is a bit of a drama queen, I twisted her bad arm, how did I know? Right? Her Mom told me about her bad arm and told me to come with her, "Come with me, let's apologize together." I felt bad, cause I can't stand crying kids, it gets me. Go away!" She said. And I went, oh yeah, I was done for today with these people, Then I really longed for normal people, like the people at work, where I can have a normal conversation with. I returned with a bad feeling towards home, "How can I make this all good?" I thought. Maybe they all think bad of me now," was my second thought, my third thought was, "Screw it, I need normal people." Though I tried to make it up with both the kids, I sent there Mothers on Facebook a message and a asking how they are.

See, I'm a normal person, LOL!

 One mother told me not to worry, the kid with the ball has already forgotten everything. Now the teenage girl was bad though, assuming to her Mom she twisted her arm and she had to go to a doctor and do a X-ray, I sanked deeper. Though I had doubts cause, were they telling me the truth? I checked another friend of them, and she told me that they were alright, they haven't been to a Doctor. I should not worry the friend told me, "Get over it," she said. I took a shower and got over it, what a end of a great day at work. Though I learned from it, I need to speak up more, and not be so kind perhaps. Let's bring this in practice. (p.s. I can be really good with kids but these kids were different, just like there parents. The teenage girl for example is living apart from their parents, the parents are living in a shelther.)