Just another day...

Just another day...

Another Wednesday, another day off. I didn't do that much today, I rested cause I had muscle pain, I guess I carried a bit to much weight with yesterday's work. The good news is that my monthly income from Gak will stay the same. They won't take any of my earned money from my new job. Meaning, I will get my normal loan from work every month, and I will get my normal loan every month from Gak, just like it always was. Kinda awkward though, I was so sure that Gak will lessen the money from what I get from them, but no. Still I'm waiting for a response from the social services from my city, I get monthly money from 'them' too. Social services filled up my loan from what I get monthly from Gak, I think it's called minimum wage.

Social services sent me a paper what I have to fill in, I asked for that paper cause 'they' have to know ofcource that I got a new job. On that paper I can fill in where I work now , and what I will earn from them in the month, I had to copy a few important papers, like for example my work contract and my work loan paper, (payroll?) I'm sure I will hear from them back, lol. So far I'm pretty excited and amazed aswell about my monthly loan from Gak, still I will take it easy with my wallet, though I don't want to make 'that' a habit. Cause my little villa could use some more items, like, decorations, paintings, some new plants or perhaps a little table, etc, etc. Ofcource there are a few items that I need more then those decorations, I need a vacuum cleaner, lol. 

And yeah, some nice curtains in the living and sleeping room would be nice too. Everything on time, they say, I agree with that. Recently I went trough my blog reading a few posts from way back, like for example from my time in Canada after the break up, or ofcource my time at Humanitas. I read them so now and then, but it seems that I'm realizing so much more now that 'that' period was really a disaster, specially the first two months after the break up. The time I still was in Canada searching for a place to stay, dealing with the break up, dealing with Saf after the break up, dealing with the kids and ofcource dealing with my horrible self, did I mention I was surrounded then with nine people for 24 hours a day in one huge house? 

I'm happy that I'm here 'now' and not in that time short after my break up, when I read most of these  posts I realize aswell that I wasn't myself sometimes. I was just floating, just letting it all happen, sometimes not even knowing what I was doing. I guess in the end I had sometimes  luck aswell,(read: and angel on my shoulder) just when I needed it the most. I can be proud of myself even though it was the thoughest period I ever witnessed. I made it safetly back, though it still feels here and there pity that the break up came, and that it went this and that way. I don't know how it would have been if the break up didn't came, and we just continued. I had to 'man up' said Saf, maybe she was right or maybe not. 

I really had to learn a million things in a short time, it sure wasn't easy. Oh well, I manned up after the break up that's for sure. I had to! I'm still suprised what I have done so far, and proud of what I have achieved in Canada from my first day when I arrived untill my very last day. Super proud actually, I'm amazed.

And were back.... Sigh!

And were back.... Sigh! 

Back on Facebook, back on my own account. After I pimped up my old account, adding friends and liking pages, plus here and there a start with adding pictures, and making picture albums, I went back to my other account, to just check something. I couldn't resist to try it one more time, 'putting up a status,' and it worked!! Weird, oh my god, just weird. "And now?" I thought, "Well," I thought, "Let's pretend nothing has happened and just continue where I was a few days ago." Though it was fun to be back on my old (then, closed)  account, looking trough old friends Time line's and home pages. I saw friends what I didn't had on my normal account.

I will just be back on my usual account, and leave the 'other' account just open for just in case.... I will have the same friends there and the usual account, though no pictures or 'like' pages or what ever. Just a account with all the same friends, I won't use it, but only in a emergency, lol. Addicted much? Naah, I'm good, lol. Anyhow, back to this hard working day. This working day was heavy, I did alot heavy lifting. Making mats from six meters long, in that lenght there will be sawed out four mats. I really should take pictures one day, silly? Naah. It's easier to explain aswell then, explain how the mats are being made. I'm Sitting, or actually half laying on the couch now writing this post. 

After dinner I nearly fell asleep on the couch, I thought, 'I'm sure not gonna make it late tonight.' It's after ten now, and I'm still up, lol. I can sleep in tomorrow, that's nice. Easy going tomorrow, there's not much to do, perhaps some laundry and cleaning. The latest news from the volunteers agency that they called last night, I replied on a volunteers vacancy, once in two weeks on a Sunday morning, preparing dinner with a bunch of people and eating it afterwards, a nice being together with new people. But, that's not going trough, the group of people had enough people. Sigh, well, then remove the add from the volunteers site right? 

It's sure wasn't the first time that that happened. The woman who called me, told me that she will be looking further for me for other vacancies, well, we will see. I told her that I will look further too, it goes a bit faster then. Faster then they do...

Geesh, Facebook!

Geesh, Facebook! 

Yeah, so I kinda lost my Facebook account, the one account where I was on daily. This morning when I wanted to write a status and add it I got the message, "A error occurred, try again in a few minutes," sigh! Ofcource after a few minutes I tried again, but I got the same message, "A error occurred, try again in a few minutes." I tried the option 'Facebook help,' and there I got a link where I could write down my problem. Facebook will send me as soon as possible a message back, well, wi'll see about that. So far nothing. 

So what could be the problem? Well... I think it's a virus, cause last night I saw a kind of a link on my Timeline what I didn't even have posted. Weird, I thought, or did I posted it? To be sure I clicked the link, (Dumb maybe) Another page opened and nothing appeared, it was a grey empty page. I reported the link as spam and just lefted it be. A few hours later I couldn't do anything on Facebook, no commenting, no statuses, not even a 'like.' I went to my other old account and tried it there, and there was nothing to matter. 

Then I kinda knew it that I had a virus somehow on my account, damn, I never ever had a virus before on Facebook. I heared about it a million times, I know and knew that you should never click a link just like that. But with my forgotten silly head I did, lol. So, it's back to my old account, the one I left almost a year ago, the one I had back in Canada, and the one I had when I just got back from Canada. I closed that one cause it reminded me to much of my time in Canada with Saf and her kids, it's all good now. 

It needs a bit of  pimping up, here and there a few repairs, plus adding a few friends from one account to the other account, and yeah, probably alot of downloading pictures from one account to the other, sigh, lots of work. Talking about work, today was a nice day, work went well. Busy, heavy with lots to do, tired afterwards but it was worth it. I love my own section, lol, never a boring moment, I know now already that tomorrow will be the same. I hope only that the weather will be better, dryer and warmer please.

Coldest Summer day since 1975...

Coldest Summer day since 1975...

I'm glad that this day was on a a Sunday then, cause I usually stay inside the house on Sunday's. A little bit the heater on this morning, and then it felt better. Goodness, what a difference this weather when I compare it with last week. Last weekend I spent time on the beach with 28 degrees, wearing shorts and a t-shirt, now it's only 9 degrees. Though they forspelled higher temperature in the end of the week. Back to the 25 degrees I say.

Sundays are rest days in my mini villa as you know, I did my usually Sundays ironing, and prepaired a dinner. I try every weekend (sundays) to cook something new. Today I made Chicken Madras, this time it was quit easy, I didn't had to add that much the package said. In the package were already the marinate mix, the sauce mix and the rice. I had to add, chicken breast, olive oil, crème fraiche and a apple. It was my first time to cook with olive oil, but the package helped me out well. 

Olive oil, lol. I remember I had my first olive in Spain, I thought it was a grape, lol. I was in a restaraunt and ran to the toilet to spit the olive out, yack. My second olive I had years and years later in Canada, Saf gave me one, but I so didn't like the taste of it. I never ever touched or even looked at a olive again, but yeah, I guess olive oil should be okay, it was needed with the cooking. I bought yesterday a tiny little (cute) bottle with olive oil.  

So I started with cutting the chicken breast into square little pieces, afterwards I grabbed a plastic bowl (the only bowl I have) and added the marinate mix plus two table spoons of olive oil together in the bowl, the square pieces of chicken breast I added later in the bowl and stired everything well. After that I let this piece of art stay for 5 or 10 minutes. It was time to cook the rice, piece of cake. Water in a pan, let it cook, then add the rice and let it cook for 10 or 12 minutes. 

In the meanwhile I started with the marinated chicken, cooking it all up in a cooking pan with a tiny little bit of baking butter, the package said no butter or oil, but I did it anyway. The rice was done with cooking, I poored the water of the rice, and let it steam for a small 10 minutes. In the meanwhile I was busy with the chicken and the sauce, I had to add 350 ml of water to the chicken, (Ugh, shitty measuring cup, lol, it's so tough to read from it.) that went well. 

Then the  adding the crème fraiche, I never had this either, didn't even had a clue how it looked like. I opened the cup and it looked like cream, but it was not that soft as I expected. Anyway, adding the fraiche and stired it all up. Lat but not least I cutted the apple in little squares and added that aswell to the sauce, funny, lol. I let the sauce cook for a small 5 minutes and tadaa, everything was done. The chicken Madras was ready to serve.

One apple, the cuttest little bottle of olive oil and  a tiny little cup with crème fraiche

The Crème fraiche, I had to stir this quit rough or otherwise the fraiche wouldn't melt.

The sauce is almost done... 

Tadaa, and done! 

















It tasted so good, the left overs are for up-coming Tuesday after work, like I always do. I'm glad it's almost Monday, work! I like my work, I like what I have to do everytime I'm there, I like being and work with the other fellow workers. Still I need something more for in the weekends, I'm still searching, I'm not giving up. But damn, it's so hard and tough to find something here. Being surounded with friends or new friends or even relatives is so important.

600th Post, oh my oh my!

600th Post, oh my oh my! 

What to do with a 600th post? What to write down? Celebrate? Oh well, just a little bit then! HOORAY, HERE'S my 600th POST! It's a milestone, and I must say the writing goes easier aswell. (Hooray for spell checker! LOL!) Still I stumble sometimes with my writing, or what to write down this time, but once I start writing.... it goes on. Sometimes I write the silliest things, but still I like the writings. Writing is fun, specially on a blog, writing about your hobby or your daily things. Sometimes I read back what I all have written down the last 1 and a half year, recently I'm reading the part when I was spending my time at Humanitas. The remembering is quit fun, but sometimes aswell hurts, but oh well, that's life, right? 

Alrighty then... on with today, Saturday! Sunny day today with here and there a dark cloud, it wasn't that cold, only in the morning I putted the heater on for a little while, it was chilly. Today was 'painting the storage room' day, sometimes you just gotta do what you have to do, right? I'm glad I finished it, the walls are looking bright and shiny white now. Still I'm not totally done with this storage room, but everything on time. It was quit a work those walls, but there done, the other parts in the storage room will get another color. Thinking of darkbrown and plain white. Just like yesterday I had somnetimes these exhausted moments, naps usually always work then, also this time. I think it's the weather changing gets me tired. 

The five new cups I bought today at a second hand store. There nice and big.

I did a good score today at a second hand store, five coffee/tea mugs for only 2 Euro and 25 Euro cents. First I thought they were much expensiver but no, yeah they were second hand. I bought them in a secon hand store in another village. I went there after my first lunch and nap, I felt like going out, I needed a few groceries aswell, so yeah. I'm still looking for a nicer TV cabinet, a one what maches with my coffee table. Second hand stores are perfect for that, though I didn't saw one today. I need more decorations in my house aswell, paintings, probably some better plants, little tiny tables, vases, you name it. Lol, I miss Goodwill, those were the days, I miss going there. Anyway, everything on time... 

Note to himself: I  should take it easy with the money, and not make it a habbit to spend it every weekend.

2 warm chocolatemilk and 2 biscuits.

2 warm chocolate milk and 2 biscuits.

I bumped into 'Ina' this morning in a store while I was doing my Friday morning shopping. Ina is a old resident from Humanitas, we spend time together and had fun, laughter but aswell drama and tears. Long story short, back then at Humanitas some old residents  found it  probably funny when they were pushing me and Ina me towards each other. We both ended up with a self made small dinner together, and later on we went to her room. We were both apparently not ready for a relationship but we kinda tried it anyway I think. We both ended up kissing each other, but after 5 seconds I stopped her, I wasn't ready, we both cried a little and felt bad towards each other. In other words, it was drama. Conclusion: I was liking the attention and probably Ina aswell, we both needed just an arm on our shoulders nothing more.

Anyway, Ina lives three or four blocks away from me, and we get along quit good, there's absolutely no relationship, and that won't ever happen. Were just friends. She's funny, she's nice to talk to, sometimes she visits me and I do too. She fun to hang around with, but like I said, having a relationship with her won't ever happen. She's definitely not my type to have a relationship with, plus she's still has contact with her ex so now and then, cause of her children. Ina talks alot, has funny jokes and  likes to help around. She even offered to help me with sewing curtains, yeah, she's quit handy. So yeah, this morning I bumped into her at the Hema, the Hema is a store like Walmart, but then ten times smaller, lol. We talked a bit and then she offered me a drink, "I like to sit here so now and then, and have a little coffee." she 
said. 

2 warm chocolate milk and 2 biscuits

Ina wanted to pay her own drink, but I said, "Let me buy the drinks today." Ina allowed, lol. We both sat down at a little table with our huge cuppa's warm chocolate with cream. We sat there for a little 30 minutes, talking and having fun jokes, afterwards she thanked me and she told me, "We have to go out one day, Ikea or something." I agreed. I'm trying to have a new group of  friends around me, like I said before, I would like to be surrounded by (new) people where I can communicate with or go out with, etc, etc. Ina is one of the 'normal' persons where I would like to hang out with so now and then, just hang out as friends do, no worries here. Ofcource I will keep an eye open and be on my hood when things get to crazy with me. I know what I want and I know what I'm able of at the moment.

Today was a nice day, I did my groceries like usual on Friday's. I cleaned the floors like I planned, sigh, what a work. Tomorrow I will make a littler start with my second painting, lol. I want to paint the walls in my little storage room. Should be done within a few hours, it's a small room.  I had a unexpected phone call from the volunteer's agency aswell, they asked me how it went with my last vacancy. (I responded on a vacancy 2 months ago, it was a 'get together dinner' with a bunch of people once in two weeks. We will buy the groceries together, cook together and eat it together) I told them that I didn't heard from them back, and it's been two months now, I'm about to give up. The lady from the volunteers agency who was on the phone with me wants to get in touch with the 'get together dinner,' and will let me know how that went. Nice, cause it's all taking so slow this volunteers goal.

Thursday! Almost weekend...

Thursday! Almost weekend... 

Not that much to report today, I had a nice day at work, I worked on my own section, loved it! Finally the holidays are over, now it's working fully weeks (For me 3 days a week) until the big Summer holiday, we have 3 weeks off. On the 27th of July the Summer holiday starts, on the last day at work the whole working crew at work is organizing something special, they do that every year. That something special can be a special dinner or a afternoon out bowling or what ever, just being with each other and enjoying each other. For me it will be the first time, I will let it all come over me, I'm excited, there all a nice bunch of people.

My counselor responded on my mail aswell last night, he still wants to invite my (new) Boss to the 'farewell' party. My counselor's time is up, he has been with me for 8 months, and that was the limit, that was how long his contract was with me. He helped me around with financial things and helping me with reaching my goals. My counselor will visit me in June for one last time, then I will be on my own. With this last time's visit he would like to organize a small 'get together' party. He wants to invite a few people aswell, people who has been a part in my life within the 8 months. One staff member from Humanitas, my counselor's Boss, and aswell my (new) Boss from work. 

So much rain today, I got soaked again after work, took a nice shower, comfy clothes on and relax. Such a different weather the last weekend. It's much cooler aswell.

I think it' still awkward to invite my Boss, "What will she even think if or when I invite her." I don't know, I think it's weird. My counselor responded with, ""Your Boss is from your work from now, she has to be invited too." I think it's still weird to invite her, it's a goodbye or farewell party, people who I won't see again, my new Boss I will see almost every day. No, I'm not inviting her, I like my Boss, that's not it, I just think it's weird to invite her. I gives me a awkward feeling. So, no! I told my counselor that I rather have the two bosses from Reha, they were the people who helped me with my new job, they learned me and welcomed me for there integration environment. "We will talk about this later," said my counselor.

My old dentist sent me aswell a message, reminding me that I have a new appointment next Tuesday, it's a normal procedure, he does that with every appoinmtment , a week before the appoinment he sends a mail. Now, I had to tell him or message him that I have found a new dentist in my own city, I was kinda prepaired for this cause I knew I had a appointment somewhere in June. I messaged my old dentist with saying that I found a new dentist, and that it was much easier now having a dentist much closer. I told him aswell that I was sorry that I didn't messaged him sooner, right after I found my new dentist.... 

Waiting for a response back from him, probably tomorrow morning he will respond back.

Almost my 600th post, oh dear!

Almost my 600th post, oh dear! 

Saturday I will write my 600th post, lol, to much!? Sometimes I think it's to much yes, it's sometimes hard to write something down too. Every night around 9:00 I write a post, I write about what the day brought me, thoughts, excitement, sadness, just anything. Sometimes I think I write just to much, I mean who actually cares if I do the laundry or that I took a nap? But it's fun to write, but yeah, just that sometimes I think it's just to much. But stopping with writing? Well, I thought about it, but no, I certainly won't. Maybe one day, ofcource you have sometimes days when you have nothing to write and you write anyway. I always think of something, aswell to make these posts interesting

Anyway, on with the 596th post. Today was alright, just a normal day off. Resting, one load of laundry, and later in the afternoon the free dinner. I really need more to do about 'having friends, or new friends' around me, 'join that club, go to that gym!' Yeah I should, cause it's still the same with me, ofcource I enjoy myself and go out so now and then. But ofcource it's so much more fun going out with more people and enjoy things with each other, right? I'm still working on it, it's such a slow process and hard work aswell. But I'm not giving up! 

Almost!

last week I suddenly thought about that I have to inform the social welfare in my city, cause I still get monthly money from them. But now that I have a payed job with a contract that social welfare has to stop paying me. Or else if I wait to long I will have to pay the 'to much earned money back. I was getting money from the social welfare cause my income (When I was jobless) was under the minimum wage, social welfare had to fill that up. But that's not longer needed now that I have a job, sure,they may pay me money every month but that's against the law, lol. I will get in trouble. I should have inform them right away on the 1st of May, but I forgot. 

A few days ago I received  money from the month may, Most probably I will have to pay that money back. I sent them a mail today with my story and they sent me already a message back saying that they will send me a form by mail that I have to fill in with details of what date I singed my work contract, what I earn in the month, etc, etc. Everything will be taken care off, glad I took care of that.

"Visitors?!"

"Visitors?"

So, my counselor who has his last visit in a few weeks, wants to give a small 'Farewell' party because the eight months contract (or how you call it) has ended, I will be on my own now, I will have to arrange the 'things' on my own. About the 'Farewell'party, nice! I like that. My counselor was the person who helped me around with finance, socializing, goals and whatever I still wished , wanted or had troubles with when I lived for the first time on my own again, after I lived fat Humanitas (Shelter) for almost eight months. Who's invited? My counselor (Sahajo) announced the names in the mail he sent today, Heidi, she's a staff member of Humanitas (where I was) then there's Marie-Jose she's the Boss from Sahajo (my counselor) and then there's me and ofcource Sahajo. And last but not least, My Boss from work....

Hmm.. I find that a bit awkward, I don't know. In my eyes inviting my Boss from work for a 'Farewell' party, cause Humanitas and my counselor or ending my 8 month contract with them. Ofcource I have nothing against my Boss, but what does/did she has/had to do with Humanitas, perhaps Sahajo finds that my Boss was a part of my goals in the last 8 months. (work) I find it awkward and I think that 'she' will feel or think the same, I think I will be embarrassed aswell, to just ask her, what will she even think of me when I ask her? No hard feelings but my Boss is not invited, then I can invite my Doctor or Dentist aswell. Right? Then I rather invite two staff members from Reha, where I used to work before I went to my new job. Freddie my old Boss, and Marleen, she was sort of my guider, or how you call it at Reha. 

I still have to thank them both to for what they have done for me, it would be perfect to have them both invited! P.s I already asked to have them invited 5 minutes ago, hoping there coming too. Sahajo asked me if I wanted to visitors at Humanitas or at my place, after a ten minute thought I decided to let them here in my house. I was a bit nervous though, just the thought to have them all here, lol. "Do I have coffee enough? Do they want one or three cuppa coffee, or perhaps tee? Is my house clean enough and tidy?" I was thinking that I would be more busy with myself being worried about my visitors then the whole 'Farewell' party, lol. But, let them come here, I would love to see there reaction of how I live, or how well I'm doing. Yeah I'm quit excited, excited to see them again. There such a nice bunch of people.

Oh yeah, work went well today! Again another section, but oh well, I can't complain, I got a job! Thursday I will be on my own section again, yay! I think I'm a flexible person in my Boss's eye, I can be placed on several sections in the factory, and that's a good thing, right?

"This weather can make you lazy."

"This weather can make you lazy."

Another resting day, it felt like just another Sunday. Getting things ready for tomorrow's work, lunch, working clothes and working shoes, resting and trying to take a nap. Napping went well, I only took one today. I didn't hear anything from the ol' Humanitas residents, if they wanted to go out or get together, so I went out by myself for a little bit. I took my bike and ride it towards my Dad, the weather was good, sunshine and a warm temperature. First I wanted to go with the train but I wanted to save the 6 bucks train money.

It's still a long ride to my old village Nijverdal, I only come there to visit my Dad. Today I went a bit further, I passed my old house and my old parents house while riding trough Nijverdal.With the old house from my parents isn't much changed, I wonder if the same people still live there, the people who took over the house. My old house has changed so much, specially the garden, I had such a nice garden with all little rocks (so handy) and lots of little bushes and flowers. It's all gone now, I saw nothing but sand and a few flowers, gone little rocks. 


Still I don't like my old village, it's all what a village should be I guess, quiet, and nothing going on. I'm happy I live in Almelo, city Almelo. Almelo is a small city but it's still a city, lol. With here and there awkward people, and here and there are or graffiti on a wall. I like it, I'm good in Almelo. Funny enough someone asked me today if I would ever return to Canada, let's say Toronto to immigrate. Well, I would. I think, but I must be sure that everything is settled about the immigration, passport, work, and everything what's needed to settle in 
Canada. 


Dad was alright, he was quiet and tired I guess. He just finished dinner, and felt like sleeping. I didn't stay that long, just a small 30 minutes. I was feeling exhausted from the long bike ride, I was glad I was sitting. I had the wind in the back when I went back to Almelo, nice feeling. I took my time, I even had a little ice cream break, lol. When I got home I took a small break and afterwards I took of to the free dinner, it wasn't busy at all. Finally work tomorrow, I had a nice few days off.

Chicken Tajine!

Chicken Tajine!

Made another meal for dinner tonight, with success. Though I was a bit worried cause it was a couscous dish, instead of a rice dish, I didn't know, I didn't saw it on the package. I never made couscous before, eek! Couscous is a coarsely ground semolina pasta that is a dietary staple in North African countries. It is also widely used in Middle Eastern countries and has become popular in American dishes. It is made of semolina, flour, salt, and water. Similar to rice in shape, color, and texture, it is used in many dishes as rice would be. A grain of couscous is similar in size to a grain of sugar. Thank you Wisegeek.com.

Me and cooking is a slow process, lol. Specially if I have to cook and look from a package where the  description is written on. Sometimes I drop things or I spill a few food items, plus I have to read the description over and over and step by step. But the result is mostly a succes, I learn from it aswell, cause sometimes I have to do things what I normally never do. For example today I had to marinate the sliced chicken breast, that went well and it made the chicken taste so much better. Aswell I need a zucchini, I had them before with Saf's family, alot actually. I never bought one here in Holland, so now I did. Excitement!

Lately I have been buying these cooking packages alot, only in the weekends though, Sunday's are the best for slow cooking. With the cooking packages I mean these ones.... 

The Knorr cooking packages, there are spices and other items of food in it, aswell is says on the package what you have to add more to get the complete dish done.

So I started... 

Inside the package were a marinate mix, a sauce powder mix, and ofcource the couscous with raisins. I had to add one chicken breast, one zucchini, one onion, and a winter carrot, this carrot is bigger then a normal carrot. But I couldn't find any winter carrot in any store, prolly cause it's a winter meal, I don't know and oh well. 

Step 1) Cut the chicken into cubes. Mix in a large bowl the little bag of 'marinade' with two tablespoons oil and add the chicken to it. Stir well and  let it marinate for ten minutes. Chop the onion and zucchini into pieces.

Step 2)  Heat a frying pan or wok without oil and fry the marinated chicken cubes until they are golden brown. Then add the choppedonion and zucchini and cook another four  or five minutes.
 

Step 3)  Add f the bag bag of sauce in the pan  and then 175 ml of water. Stir it all well until it slowly cooks. Then place the lid on the pan and cook over low heat for ten minutes to simmer. 

Step 4) Place in a pan 300 ml water and boil it. After the boiling remove the pan from the heat and add the contents of the bag "couscous with raisins' and stir well. Put the lid on the pan and let the couscous stand for five minutes, until all the water is absorbed.
After that serve the sauce over the couscous. Bon appetite! 

Results of one hour of cooking...

Starting with a zucchini, here it goes, LOL! 

While cooking it can happen that you get a bit bored...

Cooking the marinate chicken, the onion and the zucchini, I didn't had olive oil so I used two spoons of melted baking butter. Olive oil would have been better. 

Added the sauce with 175 ml water, sigh, how much is 175 ml water? I thought, even though I had a measure cup, I still didn't know. I had to guess, and I guessed good. 

The couscous, what a relief, I had already rice standing ready if I would mess up the couscous. But I did well. I had to add 300 ml water, and again I guessed good, lol. 

Tadaa, surprising myself that I succeed, and it smelled and tasted so good. There you have it Chicken Tajine!  

This Sunday was slowly, I was slowly aswell and felt tired. I needed three naps to overcome this day, I felt much better afterwards. The last week and the last two days off I was a bit to busy I guess, blame the good weather. It's the first day of Pentecost today, tomorrow will be the second. Usually on such days the first day there's not much to do, people rest or spend time with there families. On the second day there is much more to do, people go out to festivals or markets or parks. 

I'm sure the highway will be packed with cars tomorrow, all heading to the beach or lakes. Such a good weather lately, it looks like Summer, lol. Nearly 30 degrees the last 5 days. I don't know yet what I'm gonna do tomorrow, visiting my Dad or go out with a few ol' Humanitas residents. I don't mind either, I sure had a few good days.

Bussloo beach.

Bussloo beach.

Entrance.

It was a nice day at the beach, it wasn't that busy strangely enough. The weather was superb! First a little groceries in the early morning, I forgot the cheese yesterday, and I needed cash money for the bus, or perhaps an icecream or french fries at the beach. I left at 9:15, the train left at 9:48. I had little travelbag with me, packed with beach items, like, towels, water, slippers, and suncreme. This bag was heavy, damn, did I had to carry this bag the whole day with me? Yes! 

Always handy those slippers, even when there one size to big, lol.

It was so, so busy in the train, I had to stand mostly of the time, oh well, it was only for 45 minutes. Further everything went fine, after the train I took a small neighborhood bus to the beach. Not exactly to the beach but near the beach, lol. The busdriver dropped me off at the sauna from Bussloo, cause that was his end station.  According to the busdriver it was sure way, way  to long to walk all the way from the sauna to the beach, "Are you sure you want to get out here?" He said.

Bussloo beach is huge, 8 hectare.

The busdriver gave me advice to go with him back to another bus stand what lays almost near the beach before I got in the bus.The drive only takes longer though he said, but I got out, I was sure the beach was near the sauna, and yeah I was right. It was only a five minute walk, insert snort. I enjoyed the sun and the people around me, here and there were kids playing, but that was okay. I had a great day, here and there a bit of sunburn, but further then that, TOP! I sure will be back.

"The art is not in making money, but in keeping it."

"The art is not in making money, but in keeping it." 

Another day well spent, I don't know but this warm weather gives me more energy then usual. I planned a nap in the early afternoon, but I couldn't catch my needed sleep. Instead I went for a long bike ride, that was fun too though. In the morning I bough all the groceries I needed for the upcoming week, normally I would do my groceries spreading over two days, but I got plans for tomorrow, I just can't sit still with such lovely weather, LOL! Going to the beach tomorrow.

Ofcource you need a few things when you go to a beach.... Like a few extra large towels, slippers, something to read, sun lotion, food and drinks, etc etc. Together with my groceries I bought a few things I needed for tomorrow, two extra large towels, sun lotion and slippers. I went from store to store to find a few large beach towels for cheap, and I found them. Aswell the sun lotion, I think I spent more then 15 minutes in the pharmacy to look for a decent (cheap) sun lotion, should I take factor 15, or 20 or perhaps 30? 

I saw a nice good bottle but I'm not gonna spend 15 bucks for such a small bottle. I took the other one, a nice price and factor 30. Still expensive though, but anyway. I had a FULL bag of groceries, my fridge was totally empty so it was needed. Difficult riding a bike with a full bag of groceries and a bag full of towels, sun lotion and slippers, but I arrived.. Yeah, much money spended today, sigh, well much, uhm, it's alright I guess. Just things what I needed, the towels will always come in handy, aswell as the sun lotion and the slippers. 

The bike ride was nice, though it was a tiny bit cooler then yesterday, and there was a strong wind. They gave a warning for people with hay fever, but I didn't had any problem, weird, cause, I have hay fever.  Lucky me then, it's weird, cause every year it's different with my hay fever, then I have it and then I don't have it. I went from her to there while riding my bike, exploring different routes trough the city, banning the centre. I found some nice spots to cycle, I even found a long route to ride all the way to Nordhorn, Germany.

I got a little sunburn today, but it's okay, it's not that hurting. Beach tomorrow, factor 30 will surely come in handy. I don't want to get a sunburn again, safety first. The beach is near the place where I went to last weekend, the sauna! Behind the sauna is a huge enormous lake, there I will be tomorrow. I have been there before, as a kid with my Mom and Dad, and aswell alone. It will be a good day.

Pentecost in a few days.

Pentecost in a few days. 

It was a so so day at work, they sent me to this other section again. I didn't really like it though, but okay. I was standing behind a machine a whole day, it was just the same thing over and over. This machine punshes holes into aluminium rods, these rods where small but quit long. But because they were from aluminium they weren't heavy, all I had to do is put a rod into the machine and take it out again when the holes were punshed, quit easy. Though  a bit boring if you do it a whole day. This machine was a bit in the back of the hall, so not much people around me, for a quick chat or a joke. But I had a radio there, so that was nice.

Though I like my own section, there are more different things to do, I really love that section. There isn't one thing I hate to do. When it's not that busy in my own section, I will be the first one to sent away, though this happens not that much luckily. Or when that 'other' section needs more people, I will be on the list with a few other people to work there. For a day it's fine to work on that other section, perhaps two days, but for always, no! There might be a chance that my Boss wants to put me there, but those are just my (negative) thoughts. I have been put there quit a few times now... 

Another warm hot day it was again, for the first time I was wearing shorts and a T-shirt at work. That was really comfy with this warmth. I weared a black Winnie the Pooh shirt, lol. It was the only old (for work) shirt I had with short sleeves. I had doubts to wear this shirt, but I did anyway, lol. Doubts because I might get funny comments, it's not really a 'man' shirt right? LOL! Sure I had some funny comments on the shirt today, but I made jokes about it too, it was all good, lol. Best comment: A fellow worker found a Winnie the Pooh coffee mug in our cantine and gave it to me for today, lol, "Now your done," he said.

Wow, four days of again, upcomming Sunday and Monday it's Pentecost. I will just see what I will do then. For sure trying not to spend that much money for a change, lol. Trying to visit my Dad with Pentecost, proabably Monday I think. It's been two weeks since my last visit.

'Heatwave!'

'Heatwave!' 

More then 30 degrees today, my oh my! I'm still sweating while I'm writing this post, unbelievable. I'm not gonna complain, I'm not gonna complain, lol. I love this weather, though it's mostly all or nothing in Holland. We Dutch people longed for the summer while it was cold and wet, so 'beng' here it is, out of know where. It's extremely hot inside aswell, I really have to get me some mosquito screens and dark curtains. Strangely enough with such hot weather it seems my energy level is on his highest, I just have to go out for a walk or for a bike ride. 

I went for a bike ride, two actually. This morning I had to copy a few things and then send it to my employment agency, I'm glad that's done! Now the agency can figure and puzzle out what I really (may) earn every month, this agency does make out what I will earn every month. It's the way it is, like it's always been. The second bike ride I did in the early afternoon after my nap. I took water and fruit with me and ofcource my camera....

Drove quit a few hours in the heat, felt nice... I took this picture near a lake in Almelo. 

A nice ramp (I think it's called a ramp) full with gravity! Nice for taking a picture. 

Farm land, we have lots and lots of those... 

 Not busy at all in this forest, it seemed I was the only one. 

So nice with the sun coming trough the tree's.

I made a bit of a noise passing these cows, they were surprised to see me I think... 

Farm land! 

The cows were not surprised anymore... One last picture and I took off... 

I don't know if you see the peacock , but this huge bird scared the crap out of me. I heard it make noise and I turned around and there I saw a little farm, so I thought, "Oh nice this farm had rare birds, let's have a look." All of a sudden the peacock passed my bike so closely, and it was just walking loose. Not even in a cage.

  

When I returned after a few hours of biking I rested, then took of for the free dinner, it was not even busy there, I guess it was just to warm. I was right on time at my house after the dinner, there was a thunderstorm on his way, and it broke loose just when I got home. Nice and refreshing, tomorrow will be warm aswell. I bought a few nice cookies for tomorrow's work, just to celebrate that I'm one of the workers now, celebrating that I have a contract. The cookies look nice, orange chocolate cookies with a little hole inside, lol.

Looking back?

Looking back?

Just found this video above, I like planes. Sometimes I look them up on You tube and watch them take off or land, the bigger the better. I still remember my first flight, and ofcource my last flight. My first flight was a 100% excitement, and ofcource a bit nerves for what Canada will bring me. Painfull was my last flight, returning to Holland from airport Pearson Toronto Canada. Yes, sometimes I still look back at my time in Canada, it would be weird and akward if I didn't. Flashes from how it was pass sometimes my thoughts, or those suddenly thoughts, like, 'I wonder how it is with Saf,' or Nemo or the other kids. Or seeing something on TV, or the Internet, or someone is asking me about my time in Canada, that gives me aswell those 'Canada' thoughts. Though those flashes are less, much more less then... let's say the first half year when I got back in Holland. Plus those flashes are much more painless or harmless, if those flashes stay this way like they are now... Then I'm signing for them! 

Like I said before, 'I want to keep the memories,' I don't want to forget them. It was a huge adventure, and that adventure I would like to keep as a good memory. At work they sometimes ask me things about Canada, just short things, about how Canada (the country) is like, or they ask me sometimes shortly about my ex or the kids, just short, small questions. I'm fine with that, it doesn't bug me at all, ask ahead! It's all fine with me, Knowing that is a nice feeling. Seeing the video above.... A KLM Boeing 747 taking of from Pearson Toronto towards Schiphol Amsterdam Holland reminds me still of the time when It was time to leave Toronto Canada for good, and that still hurts a bit. Seeing the plane go up gives me strong clearly memories of how I felt, I see myself in that plane. Anyway... a deep sigh and on with this day!

Today was hot... I mean HOT! I felt it already when I was cycling to my work this morning. The nice fresh breath air changed quickly in warmth and it felt sweaty on my skin. I saw more workers working in T-shirts and shorts, I probably will wear shorts to the following work day aswell, It's alowed, lol. I worked today on another section, on this section there not using glue or dirt, so yeah, short sleeves and a pair of shorts is alowed. Though the temperature will go down just a little bit the rest of the week, so I will see. Tomorrow's a day off, and yeah, there expecting rain, sigh! Me not like on my day off, I planned to have a nice bike ride. With such gorgeous weather I always want to go out or do something, just for a walk or sit in the sun, or take my bicycle. I have other things to do aswell tomorrow, kinda hectic but okay.

My employment agency where I get my monthly money from wants to know what I earn every month from my new job, cause in the month May I will get a part of money from my job and a part of money from my employment agency. It is like that because I'm not fulltime working, I'm not working five days a week. I can't cause I'm sick, so yeah, if I wasn't sick I could work five days a week, and then aswell I had nothing to do with this employment agency. I'm only working three days a week, so I earn not that much, (I'm under wage) my employment agency fills the 'under minimum wage' up. It's horrible explaining sometimes from Dutch to English, but I think you'll get the message, lol. Now let me get slowly ready and prepair myself for another sweaty night, it's been a busy sweaty day, so sleep will be fine.

"....A nice breath of air in the early morning."

"....A nice breath of air in the early morning."

I didn't sleep so well last night, I couldn't catch my sleep. It was warm, and I felt like I only slept for a few hours, it could have been a few hours more, I don't know. It's almost like 'all or nothing' with this weather, today it was 25 degrees, tomorrow will be even warmer. Though it sounds like I'm complaining, well, maybe just a bit then. I love Summer and I like the warm weather, though I have to get used to the warm sleeping nights. Blankets off and on again, tonight I will sleep with only a sheet, let's see how that goes.

I was a bit out of breath this early morning, I guess I slept just a bit to warm with my thick blanket. It was such a nice relieved feeling to go outside in the early morning, on my way towards work. Work went well today, though it was warm, hence the long sleeve what I was wearing. But the long sleeve and long pants is needed, we work with glue and dirt, if or better when the glue gets on your skin it's a pretty tough work to get it all off. It's almost not to do, some workers use sandpaper to get the glue of the skin. I use sandpaper sometimes too, to get the glew of my hands. 

Just a light sandpaper, then I was my hands afterwards with soap. Today I had to order my working clothes aswell, a worker came with a list, and asked me what I wanted. "You can pick five clothes," he said. I picked two polo-shirts, two T-shirts and one long sleeve, maybe I should have picked two long sleeves instead of one, lol, glue on my arms. Hope I sleep a bit btter then last night, I'm almost sure I will.

Warm, warmer, warmest!

Warm, warmer, warmest! 

I love the temperature the last few days, it's between 20 and 24 degrees, sunny with here and there a cloud. This coming week will be even better, between 21 ans 25 degrees. I'm loving it. I stayed inside though today, rest is needed on Sunday's, cause Monday's work is calling again. Early up and a long day. I wonder how warm it will be at work, some workers complained already about the warm weather. I can stand warm weather, like I said, I love it.

The rooms in my house are warm when the sun shines on the windows, I have my sun-screens down but, it doesn't really stop the sun from shinning inside. I need curtains, dark curtains, one in the living room and one in the sleeping room. I could use some window and door screens aswell for the mosquito's, so I can open a door or window while it's warm, specially in the evening. The rooms need fresh air. It's okay for now, but I'm sure it will get warmer and warmer.

I didn't do that much today, getting a few things ready for tomorrow's work. I was looking for a few work t-shirts, lol, but couldn't find any. Though I have a black Pooh t-shirt, a gift from Canada, lol. But wearing a Pooh t-shirt to work? I don't know, better not I guess. I'm still waiting for my working clothes, I should get them from my Boss, but... nothing yet. Perhaps this week, I hope so, cause it's needed. Gosh, I'm so looking forward to this Summer, Summer is my favorite season.

A nice day at a new sauna!

A nice day at a new sauna! 

A great day, nice weather, I didn't expect it would be that warm, wow! I packed my bag with three towels, bathrobe, slippers, lunch, soap, and a bottle of water. I needed a bigger travel bag then the one I had already layed ready last night, that one was way to small. On my way to the train station, nice on time and feeling well. It felt like it was a Sunday, cause I usually go on a Sunday to the sauna. I'm going to a sauna where I never have been, and I'm going to village where I never have been. Though I made a little note for myself to know how and where I must go.

The train trip wasn't that long and not even difficult, I only had to switch once. I had to be in Voorst-Empe, a little tiny farmers village, with a even smaller train-station. If it was good then at that tiny little train station had to be a small neighborhoods taxi-bus, what brings me to the sauna. And lucky I was, the bus stood there, the short drive costed me only a few Euro's. No one was in the bus, just me and the driver. We talked a few words, I asked for information aswell, cause around the sauna or I must say near by, there's a huge lake where people can swim and sunbath. I would love to go there a few times too during this Summer. 

A Thermen Bussloo sauna plastic bag, where you can put some stuff in and take with you in the sauna. For example towels, glasses, soap.

 As a kid I went there many times with my Mom and Dad and other Family. The bus driver told me that that was easy, he can drop me right of at the entrance of the lake, that's good to know. I arrived nicely on time at the sauna, this sauna was huge, wow, many cars at the parking lot aswell. The bus driver dropped me right of before the sauna entrance, "I will be standing here every half hour, until a quarter to seven tonight," he said, that was alright with me. At the reception at the sauna were standing three ladies waiting for the visitors, I told one of them I had a reservation and the lady asked on what name.

After telling my name she told me a few instructions about this sauna and where I had to go first, dressing rooms, shower and the sauna's. I thought I would get a guide around but no, her explanation was easy to understand so, a guide around wasn't needed. Yeah, this sauna was huge, many, many sauna's and lots of people. What I first noticed was that the visitors here were shy, all covered up tight with bathrobes and towels. I mean, I have been in many sauna's and for what I saw was that everyone was mostly nude while walking to a sauna cabine , or shower, or a pool. 

They even had sauna bicycle!

Ofcource it's a must to put on a bathrobe while your going to the dinning or lounge room in this sauna. Most people were covered in bathrobes and towels covering there nude bodies, it made me almost shy too, it gave a akward feeling. I wasn't used to this, I thought, "Now I'm gonna cover myself too, cause I didn't wanna feel different then the others, lol. I didn't wanna have all eyes on me, cause people might think, "Oh dear look at him, is that normal to walk nude like that?" The covering up wasn't a pleasant feeling when I came out of a warm/hot sauna, feeling all hot and steamy. 

It felt even warmer this bathrobe, not really my way to cool down. I spent a little time longer outside for the cool down. I went in many sauna's, they were all so nice, and so many.Not in alphabetic order: Kelo aufgus sauna,  Aarde-Sauna: (Earth-Sauna) Himalayan salt crystal cave, four elements sauna, dromedarium, (a resting room with warm heated up beds) Panorama sauna, (what a great vieuw over a huge lake) Finnish sauna, (so darn hot, I only stayed inside this cabine for only 5 minutes, I felt like I was on fire) Roses sauna, )for the romantic couples, with rose leaves and such) Infrared sauna, caldarium sauna, (steam bath)  Sanarium (light therapy sauna) 

The litte train station towards home, Voorst-Empe.

Further in this huge complex: a little beach in the garden, a zen garden, Thais tea-house, swimming pool, (goes from inside to outside) Hama bath with a aqua sound turning water streams, a cool of zone with ice scrubs, a lounge area inside and outside, feet baths, Mediterranean, (a resting room with warmed up water beds and lights) osmanish bathing house, ( with salt scrub and a blossom bath. etc, etc, I think I named most of them. I didn't went in every one of them, there was just not enough time. I stayed untill 5:00 pm, I took a good shower, putted my clothes on, packed my bag and took off. 

I was a bit worried about the sum of money what I had to pay in the end, but it was okay. It wasn't more then I had expected, so all good. Yes, I had a little snack and one drink, an apple cake with a glass of milk. The weather was still so nice when I was waiting outside the sauna for the bus, sun and here and there a lost cloud, not even cold with 2o degrees. I love the Summer, hope it stays for a long time. The little bus came again, and brought me to the nearest train station, Voorst-Empte. Within a small 90 minutes I was home, tired but felt great, clean and good. I made a start with dinner, and unpacked my sauna bag. The relaxing can begin. 


I had a nice day, though I should bring someone with me next time, cause alone is okay but with company is so much nicer. Tomorrow I will be resting, and preparing myself for Monday's work.