It's just the same old show on my radio, It's just the same old show on my radio

It's just the same old show on my radio, it's just the same old show on my radio.

I spent almost a  whole afternoon at the local radiostation in Almelo, I had to be there at 1:00 and felt kinda anxious but aswell excited. I didn't know what to expect, the idea is that I just have to watch and experience how this all works. I had my nap, I had my lunch, and there I went towards my appointment. I knew where to go this time, and I knew what doorbell I needed to push. I pushed the bell and the door opened, the dj was already expecting me. First a coffee and then we will start, I was calm. It was a nice and interesting afternoon, this radiostation needs more technicians. Theres is a presenter (dj) who runs the program and there's the technician who helps the dj with putting the right intro's, outro's, jingles and tracks on the right time. It was all new to me, and that made it scary and anxious, I had no clue what to do. The dj totally understood me and told me that I don't have to worry, I will learn it all.

The dj explained me alot while he was broadcasting the program, after an hour two other technicians came sit with us, the team was complete. They all went to work and I watched, it was pretty a long sit though from one till five. This program is full of the latest news and full of latest reports, so now and then a song but most of the program is news and news. That is what this radiostation wants aswell, to bring the latest news to the listener,"Playing record after record isn't really our thing," the dj told me. After 5:00 I decided to go home, I made a new appointment with the dj and technician, next Saturday 12:10. I have to be there, a technician and I will help the dj with his program. The technician and I had already a talk, I'm sure it will go fine, but still I feel a bit 'eek.' The technician will help me though and learn me things, roll on Saturday! lol. 

Although this radiowork is a vollunteer's job, as a dj or tecnician you have responsibilities aswell. When there is the broadcasting of the program you really have to be there, you can't skip then. I'm feeling nervous about this radiowork though, the feeling of screwing up the whole program does make me feel anxious, and a tiny bit scared. There are so many things you have to remember as a tecnician or a dj, paying attention is a must. Not that easy though with a person who mostly forgets almost anything, lol, me. That anxious feeling makes me wanna skip this all and move on to another vollunteer's job, I'll have to be strong cause deep in my heart I want this to succeed aswell. I just give it a try and I will see. 

London you were so good to me, thank you!

Day 5 London. (Last day) 

I had a good sleep, there were no strange noise comming from the ..... I was suprised though cause I have been hearing these noises for the last four nights, but not tonight, what's going on? I woke up once at 3:00 to go to the bathroom, and once at 5:30, then I slowly got up. I noticed there's a little clock on the TV in my room, lol. Why didn't I noticed that before? Woke up slowly with my word search magazine and a pen, I like word searches. I turned the TV on channel 1, BBC1 news is on, they warned for bad weather, rain, lots of rain and a storm. Were going home today, I'm having mixed feeling about this though, It's nice going home, but also not, I actually would have liked to stay a few days more for more sightseeings, lol. I'm happy I took this trip, excursion trip are perfect. I have seen places where I never would have thought of. It was such a good time, exhausting but for sure so worth it. The group of passengers where I spent time with was nice aswell, very outgoing and friendly, I will miss them. At 6:00 am I got up and had a wash up and packed further my travel bags, most of the packing I already did last night, including the tidy up. It wasn't that much I had to pack, but still I did most of the packing last night, I didn't want to rush myself in the morning.

The hotel would have breakfast ready at 6:30 am for us, early birds! Because at 7:45 am we all have to be ready standing in front of the bus with our luggage, were leaving at 8:00 am sharp. Wow, kinda weird feeling that I can't describe, were leaving. These last four days went so fast, and here we are, day five, heading home. Breakfast was early like I said, I filled my stomach good cause it will be a long, long trip. I counted the hours on our way to London, fifteen hours it was, so I recon our journey back will be aswell fifteen hours, I'm ready, I'm prepaired. The hurting stomach was gone, just a little note to myself this morning: 'You can't put scrambled eggs on a plane donut and eat it.' What a mess! LOL! It was 7:00 am and I was in my room, at 7:30 am I will go downstairs and will say goodbye to my room. I want to have a good seat in the bus aswell, a seat where there's space for my legs so I can move them, I already had a seat in my mind. The weather was so bad, the planes flying over every two minutes were less aswell because of the storm. BBC weather forecast gave a warning already, windflagues from 80 miles an hour. I hope the bus will stay in place while driving.

My dinner from last night, spaghetti bolognese.

Most of the passengers gathered around at 7:30 am, I said goodbye to my room and... yeah, where were the cleaners, I would like to thank them too, they weren't there, pity! I folded the six blankets nicely and organized my room a bit, I like it, it's good, goodbye room. I putted my travelbag in the suitcase area from the bus and took my other small travelbag in the seat where I wanted to sit, settled! I'm ready to go. Me and my long legs, there's never enough space where ever I travel to, lol. 8:15 was the time we went, heading home. I think I slept for a small ten minutes while driving to Dover, can't even remember. It's a two hours drive to Dover, from there we will go trough the 'checkpoint,' have a little break and then into the Channel Tunnel again. Thank God I still had a few pounds on me, I had to count the many little coins though, but still, I was thankfull. We had a hour free off at the 'checkpoint' in Dover, I bought myself a nice large cuppa hot chocolate and a large 'lovely brownie,' so as the add said. And that for only three pounds? Not bad. My wallet was empty, no more English Pounds in it, nice feeling. The hot chocolate did me good, I needed something warm, the weather was so bad, such a hard wind and rain, yack!

The busdriver told us that we should be glad that we were going with the train and not with a boat to Calai with this stormy weather, that would have been bad, yes. After our little break we were heading to the 'Tunnel,' it was warm inside the bus while we were in the 'tunnel. Some people were going out o the bus to experience once again this amazing Channel Tunnel, I did too. Stretching our legs, here and there a talk, it was good. The train lasted not more then 35 minutes, when we arrived in Calai France, we realized that we left England behind us.I didn't look forward to the long trip towards home, it's such a long trip. Do I miss the internet? Nope, not at all, it's actually a record for me being without the internet for five days, blimey! I enjoyed myself, there was alot to see, and the people around me were friendly. But when I get home the first thing I do is grab my laptop, lol, to see how everyone is on Facebook, and tell thm I'm back. But really it was easy being without my laptop, just what I expected aswell. I didn't have time either and I didn't wanna have time. The bus rolled on and it seemed the bustrip took longer and longer, we had a few trafic jams that made us stop several times. 

Bye, red doubledecker bus from London, you will be missed!

I got tired and cold, thank god I brought an extra sweater with me in the bus. The last four days I have been many times cold, this cold weather is just not my thing, give me summer whole year and I'm good, honestly. At 3:00 pm we finally arrived in Belgium, we had a huge traffic jam in France, sigh! Still it rained, and the wind blew many times hard against the bus. I had two sweathers on, lol. Cold and tired, but further then that I felt good, there was a nice atmosphere. The passengers wanted to borrow my cap for five minutes, we all decided to give the busdriver a nice reward for all what he did the last five days. My cap went around in the bus, and every passenger putted a few coins or more in the cap, including me. the busdriver was happy with it and thanked us all trough the speaker. It was time for a little bathroom and snack break, the bus stopped somewhere in Belgium and the passengers runned trough the rain to the bathrooms. I bought a few crackers and a wafel, I needed a little lunch, cause soon we all will have a nice organized dinner from the travel company we went with. All the passengers who went away these last five days with this company will join this dinner, everyone, also the passengers from Paris, Copenhagen, Berlin, ect, ect. It's a nice 'farewell' dinner. 


Gosh, soon I will be home, still five hours to go, but still, it's  a akward feeling. I hope I will be home before 12:00, or sooner ofcource. I'm actually not feeling much for working this Thursday and Friday, I just don't know, I will be dead tired, I need my rest aswell after all this. This trip has taken almost all of my energy out of me, I might call in sick, but I'm not sure yet. At 6:00 pm we finally arived in Holland, yay! What a long, long journey! Still there was four hours to go to Almelo, I was fine with it. First there was the 'farewell dinner,'  we, the passengers from London were the last one who arrived in the huge dinner hall. Ofcource cause London is further away then Paris. Berlin and Copenhagen. I sat to some other passengers from London this time, the seats were all taken so fast, it was nice though. I sat next to another guy who was alone traveling too, well whatta ya know? He went to London with the same two busses and I never noticed him, lol. He told me he did such excursion trips more often. Dinner was nice , first we had soup, then came the french fries with veggies and steak. Dessert was a little cup of icecream. There were several long tables atatched to each other so that everyone could talk with each other. 

The moon on our last night in London.

Within a hour and a half the dinner was over and everyone went back in there own bus, I had bus four, cause bus four was going to the east of Holland to drop people of there. The other busses will be going south, north or west, we had to say goodbye to our London busdriver, cause his duty was done. He drove more then nine hours, and nine hours is the limit. After nine hours of driving the driver needs a nine hours rest he told us. Bus four had a new fresh busdriver, lol, it was the same busdriver who picked me up from Almelo. The bus wasn't so full so that gave us enough space to sit, we said goodbye to the other passengers who went in there own busses, some passengers I gave my email, there was onme old lady who was interestedin my blog, we had a few conversations about blogging and the internet, I gave her my email too plus the name of my blog. The drive to Almelo was long, to long in my eyes. I had a great time in London, but in the end after such a long drive towards home, you just want to arrive. The bus had to take another road when I was almost home, so it took just a bit longer. Finally at 11:30 pm I was in Almelo, he dropped me of at the same spot where I started, the trainstation. 


It was cold, and still there was a strong wind, good thing was it didn't rain. I walked firm towards my house, when I got home my house felt cold. I turned the heaters on, switched some lights on, and putted away my luggages. Kinda felt worried about not having internet while I opened my laptop. But it worked. I stayed up until 2:00 am, lol. internetting and Facebooking, lol. Good to be home, kinda missing London aswell, feeling relieved that such a journey is so easy to book. I'm sure there will be more travels this year. Roll onm 2012, I'm happy.

Okay rain, I had enough of you! (Long post)

Okay rain, I had enough of you! 

A nice Saturday, I visited my Dad in the early afternoon. I was kinda excited to see and visit him, I walked from my house to the trainstation, I did not want my cycle to be stolen. Cycles and trainstations are not that a good combination, usually cycles are getting stolen or the get broken. So yeah, I walked. When I got there I saw another woman looking for a bike, she told me, 'My bike is stolen.' I said to her, 'take a better look cause I too thought my bike has been stolen many times.' There are so many bikes here at this station, it's just crazy. The woman looked further, and I went further into the trainstation thinking, 'thank god I left my bike at home.'

When I arrived in Nijverdal (Dad's village) I had to walk for another thirty minutes, but I felt good, almost no hip pain, I think those 'supports' in my shoes are doing me good. I bought something for my Dad, I bought three plants on the market plus three pots in a shop, for a very good price aswell. Dad was sleeping when I entered his room, I snapped a few times my fingers but... nothing, lol. I took of my wet winterjacket, (it rained pretty much, damn!) Dad woke up and I putted the plants in the pots and putted them on a nice place, Dad liked it. He has a new chair, a electric chair, just that he doesn't need his strenght to get up. It's so much easier for him, although I saw he has to get used to it though, he was struggling a bit with the remote.

Dad was okay, I didn't see anything akward or weird on him. According to my Aunt he's looking so old and his health is going back strongly day by day, well, I know my Dad, I know how he feels just when I have a look at him. When he's not alright or something's wrong with him, I will surely notice it. He looked fine, and he looked decent and nice in his clothing, nothing to matter. I didn't stay long, I needed still groceries aswell. I stayed for 45 minutes, then I left. 'I will come back next week,' I told my Dad. 'That's okay, take your time,' my Dad replied. I left a note with the plants I bought, 'Sjon came by Saturday and bought these plants.' Just a bit of a sarcastic saying. It's riduculous that the crew here writes down who visits my Dad, and how many times.

Day 4 London. 

There's a weird noise every night waking me up in my room, above the door is a small air handler, yeah, I think that's what it calls, it arranges the electricity in my room. Now the noise sounds like there's a huge musquito in the handler, and the noise only comes at night for a few hours. This is the 4th night I heared the noise and tonight I decided to do something about, though I tried it already for a few nights to see if I could stop that noise, but without succes. It's such a annoying sound. I putted some clothes on and went downstairs to the reception, funny thing happened when I opened mt door the noise was suddenly gone. I thought, "Dammit, now I can't let them hear my problem." I closed my door again and waited for that weird nosise, and it came. I thought of what to do, sleep with my door open or go downstairs to the reception? I went downstairs, there's no way I'm gonna sleep with the door open. Ofcource I expected not many people at the reception cause it was in the middle of the night. (2:40 am) When I got at the reception I saw a few pakistani people working, some were cleaning and some were walking around. I explained one them my problem, and ofcource he didn't understand it, he called his Boss to see if he could get any wiser. 

Again I explained my story and slowly he understood what my problem was, "It's prolly the van in the bathroom,' "No it's not!" I thought, cause I tried the van so many times. The Boss asked me my room number and told me that someone will come to your room soon, "No!" I thought I want that someone comes with me now, I'm not gonna wait. Another staff member came, and he asked another one to come with me, "It's prolly the van,' he said, he told the other one to shut it off. Sigh! Ofcource the noise was gone when we arrived in my room, I explained him where the noise came from, I even made the noise, or atleast tried, lol! The guy went several times to the bathroom to check the van, but that wasn't it, (Told ya!) He pushed a few buttons what I also did the last few days, but he couldn't find the problem. I asked him if it couldn't be the heater, cause I switch it of when I go to bed, "That's not it," he said. We both couldn't find the solution, cause the noise wasn't there, lol! If the noise comes back you can call me anytime," the Pakistani said. "Okay,' I said. But I won't, cause the noise will be gone again when I will call him again, and I don't feel much for walking the whole night up and down. 

Chilling with BBC 1 on the channel before my breakfast.

The noise was gone and I hoped it didn't return, it's a pretty loud noise aswell. I won't be going downstairs again, it's only for one night more, I will live, lol. The noise didn't return and I slept a few hours more, perfect! The days are flying by, it's day 4 already. This morning all the passengers will gather around again at 9:oo am, first I needed a breakfast, I never skip one. This time I didn't had that much cause I wasn't feeling so well, I felt a bit pale and my stomach hurted. Ha! First I was worried about the not free lunches and dinners while being in London, now I'm actually a bit worried I ated to much. Oh yeah, because I didn't had a clock in my room, I asked the reception last night before I went to bed for a 'wake up call', that was alright. I was a tiny bit worried that I wouldn't wake up on time for our next travel. I was on time awake though and I waited for someone to knock on my door, (wake up call) but nothing happend. 8:00 am was the time I had to had a wake up call, it was 8:o5 am when I walked out of my room. I wasn't even five seconds on my way when I heard the phone in my room, (not my cellphone) I rushed back to my room and picked up the phone, it was the wake up call! Lol, a friendly recorded voice told me that this is a wake up call.

Today was a cold day, it was 6 degrees, yesterday it was 12 degrees, yes a huge difference! The sun was out though and a clear blue sky, nice! Perfect weather to make pictures, Sjonshine! Today the plan was to go to Hampton court, again I didn't know what to expect, okay a court but, what actually is it? The bus arrived on a nice early time, the drive wasn't that far. The weather was perfect to look out of the bus windows, we drove trough a few villages wich was nice to see. There weren't so many passengers though, cause some of them didn't pay for this attraction, they will be going elsewhere or have a time for them selves. We were with 80 people, so the bus wasn't full. Hampton court looked like a huge castle, just a bit like Winsor Castle but this court was way bigger and wider. This castle had so much more itmes then Windsor Castle, lots of gardens, lots of rooms, there were many, ways to walk, and many ways to go inside. It looked like a maze, and there was so much to see, there was even a little chappel inside Hampton Court. When I walked in a guide stormed towards me and made gestures to take my hat off, oops, ofcource, I excused towards him and said, 'Sorry.'

Hapmton Court entrance.

You really have to see it to experience it, it's so nice here. I took more pictures then usual, I figured it's the last day that I will visit these atractions, tomorrow we will be gone heading home. All the passengers were going there own way like usual, sometimes I bumped into them and then we stopped for a quick talk. Hampton Court gives you the feeling like your actually living in the time when there were knights, kings and queens, yeah, I can't really describe it, you have to see it. There were options to go inside aswell, lots of rooms and lots of hallways, all antique, there was so much to see. I had a small lunch there aswell, and I posted a postcard. The postcard was for Humanitas, I putted a nice text on the card. I would like to thank them again for what they all did for me, I can almost say that without them I wouldn't be even thinking to make this trip to London a month ago. First I had doubts to post the card at Hampton Court, I saw the mailbox and I thought, "For the same reason this red huge designed mailbox could be from King Henry the fifth, and maybe it's  not even a real mailbox." But a guide told me that it was alright to post the card, relieved I posted the card, it was aswell the last day that I could post it.


After 12:30 everyone was satisfied and walked a few miles to a little trainstation in Hampton, the bus picked us up from there and we continued further our day trip. I was relieved about the pictures I took, and the pictures I took from the last 4 days, scary thought if I would all loose them, I didn't even wanna think about it. But I sometimes did, lol. The bus headed to Greenwich, Greenwich is a little area just outside London. We will stop there for an hour to have a short look, after that we will hop on a boat at Greenwich Harbor, wow, does it ever stop? While driving towards Greenwich we noticed that this area from London is very downtown, poor houses, junk on the street, louzy people, it was quit interesting to see. But stopping here for a small visit, no thank you! At Greenwich we stopped the bus and we had a hour free off, I took a look in my wallet and figured that if this is my last day then I should perhaps get some souvenirs, I thought of a little clock for 'time' in my hotel room, and perhaps something more, something small. I didn't like Greenwich that much though, I couldn't even find a decent clock, they were expensive or to kitchy. I couldn't make a choice. 

Sir Walter Raleigh on the south riverside bank near the Royal Navel college.

I found a nice shop and bought myself a 'London' sweather and a piggy bank, lol. Actually it wasn't a piggy but a red London phone booth, nice. After that I headed slowly back to the bus, there were a few more passengers waiting plus our busdriver. I felt a bit better, my stomach cleared a tiny bit up. I can perhaps blame the different food I daily eat, I haven't had a potato in four days, lol. But the good thing is that I didn't had much snacks, it was most of all healty food, but just different then I normally consume. It was time for the boat trip, we will sail across the Thames, and will stop near the London Eye, there's where the bus stands too to pick us up again. A strong cold wind came up while we headed to the boat, it went colder and colder. Once we were on the boat I went inside first to warm up, darn what a cold wind! After 15 minutes I went on deck to take some nice pictures, with succes. I went from outside to inside again, and went again outside. It was way to cold to be outside, but the vieuw was so damn nice, we passed the Tower Bridge and the London Eye. I realized I'm having a great time, who would have thought this, that I would be here in London at this time. I'm still excited, but then again four days in London is enough for me. 

I have seen it now, I saw the Big Ben a million times and the London Eye a million times. I had a awesome time but such journeys is also asking alot of energy aswell. I took some last pictures from the Tower Bridge, the Big Ben, and the nice afternoon sunset, it was cold but so much worth it. At 5:30 pm the boat arrived and we had two hours free of in the centre of London, at 7:30 pm the bus will take off again to our hotel. This will be our last visit in London, sniff! I found a little Italian restaurant and ordered myself spaghetti bolognese, it seemed the only meal I knew on the menucard, lol. The spaghetti bolognese was just above the 10 Pounds, I thought it's my last meal so let's have a ball, lol. I had to get rid of my last Pounds aswell. After the spagheti I went further into the centre of London, just to have a last look around. I still had 90 minutes, I have seen so many things the last four days. I felt better, just a bit tired but that wasn't that weird after these full days, right? I even got lost a few times, lol. I wanted to stay near the Big Ben, so I wont get lost, but I did, lol. It's so easy though to get lost in London, you hop in a store from the left side of the road and when you get out of the store, you want to go to the left side again but you turn right, knowing that your going left again.

A nice look at the afternoon sunset from the boat.

I visited a few stores, saw Trafel Square, I walked the Prinses Diana Memorial lane, yeah I saw the street name and I thought let's see what there is to see there. But I didn't see something akward or perhaps a statue or something else, I ended up at the Big Ben and walked towards the Thames and towards the bus. It was 6:30 pm, a hour to early. I waited and other passengers were comming too. I could see that the passengers were tired too from the last 4 days. I spoke with some of the passengers who I didn't talk to yet, it was nice, but we all wanted that the busdriver showed up and bring us to our warm hotel. It's so easy now to talk with these people, aproaching them for a talk is a piece of cake, that gives a nice feeling, I'm sure I'm gonna take more of those excursion trips. The busdriver was late, but okay he showed up and we headed to the hotel. I knew already that I will come cold in bed again, I dislike that, warming up while I'm already cold is not that easy for me. I asked the reception for another blanket, I had already four blankets on my bed, lol. now these blankets are thin, super thin. You can't actually call them blankets, perhaps a coverlet.
Early up tomorrow, 6:30 am, I asked again for a wake up call, just to be sure I wont sleep while the other passengers are already gone, lol. Goodnight!

Back to work! (Long Post)

Back to work!

Oh yes, back to work, although I could have slept so, so much longer. I was tired and sleepy, weird actually cause the last few days I have been good. But okay, I went and work did me good. I had such a slow start though, after 12:00 I actually started to feel like, 'Alright here we go.' I was glad that I had to work just one day, now it's the weekend and upcomming Monday we have a day off too, nice! It was nice being at work again, the fellow workers wished me a happy New Year, it was nice seeing them again. Even the Boss came up to meto wish me the best wished, nice of her. A little update about my work: My Boss and my counselor from Reha had a quick talk yesterday and the talk ended quit positive, I can stay untill 1 Frebruary and after 1 Frebruary there will be a talk again about if I can stay or not.

They couldn't say it now cause there wasn't enough work at the moment, kinda normal though cause the year has just started. I have a good feeling about this though, for the same reason my Boss could have said, 'you can go cause there ain't enough work.' But instead they wanted to wait, cause maybe in Frebruary there is more work. But I know aswell they can't keep me on the line, working fro free.I have a few things this weekend, on Sunday there's the first appointment at the radiostation and on Saturday I might go to my Dad. About the radiostation, I will have to be there at 1:00,  I can stay as long as I want , the idea is that I will have to look with another DJ how he goes to work.

Another guy is doing the technique for the DJ, he will teach me a few things, I'm looking forward to it, but aswell feel a bit nervous. About my Dad: I have the feeling that I have to visit my Dad more often, I'm feeling being pushed aswell by my Aunt, and that's a nasty feelin, I dislike how she pushed me and let me do things her way. I told about my Aunt yesterday. How do you ban someone from your thoughts that would make my life a bit easier? Ugh! Anyway, I came up with the idea to visit my Dad once a week. I will buy him every week a little bunch of flowers, the flowers are for my Dad, just a nice gesture. But aswell to let the people know at my Dad's place that I have visited him, specially my Aunt.


Day three, London. 

Oh my God, this breakfast is heaven here, I really like this buffet. I really have that 'vacation' feeling whit this food. This morning I tried a plane donut with a fried egg, it was filling my stomach fast though, I tried aswell some of the cruesli with raisins and milk, yum I filled my belly well. I didn't sleep that long cause I was late in bed last night, I slept five hours that's good enough for today. Day three already, time flies when your having fun! All the passengers gathered around again for our next atraction, it was almost 11:30 am, five minutes later and there we went. Some passengers stayed in the hotel cause they had other plans, they didn't pay for the upcomming atraction aswell. We were heading to Windsor Castle, I really had no idea what to expect. I took place on my favorite seat, all the way in the back, the seat on the right. This seat seemed to have the best space for my legs. The bus wasn't so full that made it a bit more cozier too. Passengers were talking more and more with each other, so did I. A guy who was always sitting in front of me with his girlfriend came up to me and he asked me if I was alone, and I told him, 'yes.' we started talking further.  I saw this guy several times in the hotel and in the bus, but we didn't had a talk yet.

I told him that I was okay being alone while traveling and being here now, I told him aswell that this is my first time to travel with a excursion, I didn't even think of that I was alone while I payed for this trip. It's all fine with me. It was a nice talk we had, it felt good. Windsor castle wasn't that a long drive, we arrived within a hour. First the busdriver went to the entrance to tell that we arrived,ofcource  we couldn't walk in just like that with 124 passengers. The busdriver came back and leaded us to the entrance, there we got a entrance card and we all walked further. Windsor castle looks nice from a distance, never been here though. That's why I like these kinda excursions, you come on places where you never been, or usually never go. We saw lots of tourists and we were with 124 passengers, wow! The castle was a great place to visit, with lots of nice vieuws. The best thing was that we could go inside aswell, inside the castle was so much to see. Think of lots of royalty stuff, thousands of paintings, lot's of kitch and gold, lots and lots of rooms, stairs, and hallways, we weren't allowed to take pictures, to bad! You really have to see it to experience it, I walked there for atleast one hour and a half. 

Windsor Castle!

 I bought me a coffee and a few sandwiches aswell, not even ten Pounds. While I was sitting in the eating area in Windsor castle, a few older passengers came sitting next to me, They were sitting next to me aswell in the bus but I didn't had a chance to talk to them yet. They are two older ladies, it was nice sitting with them. We talked shortly about our lifes and our daily things, there very nice ladies. After 30 minutes we both continued our Windsor castle tour. Still I had time left cause the bus will leave again at 3:15 pm, just like we have been told by the busdriver. After visiting Windsor Castle we were free to go inside of Windsor, Windsor is a nice small touristic village. I didn't walk that much outside cause it rained pretty much, I needed a coffee first to warm up and to kill some time. I bought inside this little mall near a little trainstation again a coffee, the coffee cup was huge! I figured out that with 20 Pounds each day I can have a good lunch and a good dinner, I always try to eat something what is under 10 Pounds. It's day 3 now, and I can say I'm doing well with spending money on the lunches and dinners. You wanna hear something funny? I don't even realize it's 2012, yes I celebrated New Years but it past by just like that. It feels weird thinking of that it's 2012 already, these fives days are busy, I celebrated New Years like it was just a fifteen minute thing. Celebrating it, and then continuing the trip. 

A knight on a horse at Windsor Castle.

I can't even describe it, sometimes some of the passengers come up to me to wish me a Happy New Year, then I think a few seconds and say, 'Oh yeah, it's 2012, Happy New Year to you too.' At 3:15 pm everyone gathered around again and hopped in the bus, it was still raining. Next thing on our list was the London Eye, eeeeek!! I'm not nervous but I had that akward feeling, two times I was standing in front of the London Eye and two times I turned around. From a distance this 'Eye' is high, and I thought, 'oh well, let's just do it!' But this Eye gets higher and higher when you come closer. The weather was bad aswell, lots of rain non stop. When we arrived at the London Eye I looked at it, and yeah it's again high, so high! I thought I will just join the Family who I celebrated New Years with, cause the Father of the Family told me that it was his first time too, his Daughters insisted him to go. When I aproached the 'Eye' with the Family and the other passengers I didn't wanna look up, but I did. Dear God, it's so high, don't look up, don't look up! In one capsule of the 'Eye' fits 25 people, eek! We stood in line, well stood, we walked further and further, cause it went pretty fast. The London Eye doesn't stand still, it goes round and round very slowly, when you enter one of the capsule you have to kinda make a little jump to get in, eeek! 

Almost our turn!

After our little jump I realized I'm in the London Eye, lol. I'm in! I kinda got dragged in in my thoughts by the Family, that's why I wanted to join a bunch of people who I knew to get on this frigging high thing, lol! The whole ride will take 35 minutes, that's long enough for me. The Eye went higher and higher, in the middle of the capsule there was a option to sit down on two benches. I sat most of the time down, cause my legs asked for it, I felt a bit safer aswell sitting down. So now and then I got up to take pictures, don't look down! Don't look down! The whole capsule is mostly made of thick glass, the two glass doors frightend me, lol. It has a sign on it, "Do not lean against the doors." I surely will not do that, I stayed as far away from these doors. We almost reached the higest point, and that's for me the scariest part, lol, it feels like your in a little spaceship free flying. Looking up it made it look even higher. Although In was a bit frighten, it was nice aswell, what a great vieuw! Sometimes I stood up to walk around or to take some pictures, it wasn't that easy to take pictures cause of the rainy windows. The 35 minutes went pretty fast, we had already the highest point. I was thinking, 'Okay I been in the London Eye, it's been awesome but doing it again? I don't know yet! 

I'm in, safe and sound!

After the London Eye we were free to go for a few hours, the bus will pick us up at 7:30 pm. It was a nice time for dinner I thought. All the passengers splitted up again and I was looking for a place to eat, and prolly take some nice pictures. It wasn't so easy to find a nice place to eat for cheap, concidering that I was on the otherside of the Thames (left side) wasn't that a good idea. The most shops and restaurants are on the right side of the Thames, where the Big Ben is. I looked around a bit and asked someone how I get over the Thames, cause I saw the bridge yes, but didn't know how to get there. A friendly guy with a Brithish accent told me where to go, 'Look mate, you cross the street here and go up the stairs, cross the street again and you'll find the bridge on the right, right? Okay, thanks mate, LOL! I wondered around on the otherside of the Thames and ended up by McDonalds, my first visit to the Mac, I haven't been at one in the last days. And again under ten Pounds I had a nice meal, chicken burger, french fries and a milk. At 7:30 pm the bus was packed again with passengers, the busdriver wanted to do a city light tour, it was all fine with us. Looking at important buildings or statues all light up is always nice. 

The Thames all light up, what a beauty

The busdriver really knows this place, he drove by all the importants buildings, House of lords, Towerbridge, Harrods, ect, ect. Sometimes the busdriver stopped so we could get out to take some nice pictures, sometimes hard though cause parking a huge doubledecker isn't that easy in London. The City light tour was nice, but was just a bit to long in my eyes. I wanted to catch some sleep, last night was a late night too. Another thing happened aswell today, my cellphone died and I have no charger with me. I used the cellphone actually daily, I used it as a alarmclock or just to look what time it was. I don't have time in my hotelroom. The cellphone makes a beeping sound when the battery is empty, so I had to take the battery out. I think I will buy a little souvenirs clock somewhere tomorrow, cause I need time in my room. I can aswell use TV-text on my TV in my room, but a little clock is better. The bus tour ended and we went back to the hotel, a nice time back, 11:45, I went straight to bed. Wow, the days are going fast, can't believe tomorrow is already day 4. The time flies.

Rain, storm, bad, bad weather! (Long Post!)

Rain, storm, bad, bad weather! 

The weather reports warned for floods in the north of Holland, so much water fell down these last weeks, rain, rain and lots of wind. Gotta love it, Roll on April or May. I didn't work today, I called in sick this morning. I had my Boss on the phone and she wished me a happy New Year. I just didn't fell like working, I was still tired and felt not myself. Tomorrow I will be working again, I kinda looking forward again. I didn't do that much today, did one last load of laundry and again I rested.


Last night my Aunt called, and it wasn't that a pleasant call. With such calls from her I get a bad feeling, she told me that I should visit my Dad more often. She went on and on talking and nagging about it, I know I should visit my Dad more often, it gives me already a bad feeling I don't visit him that often, but it ain't that easy. My Aunt seems to not understand it, she says she does but, she keeps bothering me with it so now and then. Last night aswell, 

"I see you all the time online, if you have time for being online you can aswell visit your Dad." Or, "Your Dad is really sad about it that your not comming," (Hmm, weird, if I visit him I don't hear him about it.) Or "Your Dad and you were never that close." Or, "Did you know that they write it down when your Dad gets people over for a visit? We are always on the list, but I don't see you you on there." (It's so much easier when you live so much closer to my Dad and you own a car)

So now and then when my Aunt calls me or speaks to me she makes me feel that I can't take care of myself, she wants to keep me under her thumb it seems. "Your not able to do this or that, you need most of the time help." Nag, nag, nag, I'm actually done with her. I will try to visit my Dad now once a week, not only for myself and for my Dad, but aswell to please my Aunt. I will buy a little calendar aswell, just so that I can write once a week on the calendar, "Sjon was here." Sigh!! I'm glad I'm working tomorrow, it will keep my mind of the Aunt subject.

Day two London. 

I slept so much, better then last night, oh yes!! I slept ten hours without waking up, that feels so good! I would love to take this bed with me, it's so much better then just sleeping on a matras with a few blankets. Though last night I asked for a blanket more, cause these blankets they have are so thin. When they came to bring a extra blanket they brought two, nice! Well, here we are the last day of the year, and I'm in London. It doesn't feel unreal but only knowing it's almost New Year's feels weird, I don't even notice it. Must be that I never went for a long travel with a day like this, usually I'm at home and preparing for the New Years. Now I'm here in London doing totally other things. I woke up at 7:30 am, and putted everything ready for today. I had a nice buffet breakfast, they have such a nice food at the buffet, lots of bread and toasts plus fruit and juices, to much to write it all down. One thing I noticed when I opened the curtains this morning, every two minutes a plane is passing by my window quit low. Every two minutes! Our busdriver told us already last night that planes will be flying over every two minutes, but you can't hear them cause the hotel is perfectly isolated. 

British Airways!!

Yep, this hotel is neighbors with Heathrow Airport, I love it. I even went outside to have a look at the planes after my breakfast, just to see them even closer when there passing by so low, wow! At 10:00 am we all gathered around in the hotel lobby, we had to deliver the papers from last night  that we recieved with all the atractions we will do these following days, this paper has to be filled in with a yes or a no behind every atraction. With the delivering you needed to pay right away  for the atractions, if it was possible. I filled in a yes after every atractions so, I had to pay the whole amount, 80 Pound. It wasn't that much tough, cause when you see all the things were gonna do and all the visits they have planned, it's sure a good price. But I hadn't enough Pounds on me, I should have taken more with the exchange last night. The busdriver adviced me to get some Pounds in the centre of London, I could get cash here in the hotel, cause they have a bankmachine here aswell but this morning it gave an error. One of the passengers adviced me to go to Heathrow Airport, they have a bankmachine. The lady even came with me, it was only a five minute walk. While we walked towards Heathrow we both had a nice talk, very talkative friendly lady, made me feel good.

The passengers talk more and more with each other, it's nice to see that. I tried to talk more aswell with them, and I must say it's easier then I though. I'm not a talker though but lately I'm much more opener or how you call it, I aproach people easier for a talk. I love it! Every one was open and friendly towards each other, I see alot of couples and friends with the passengers, there's no one alone, I noticed I'm the only one alone. Weird feeling? Hmm, yes and no, it's okay, I'm enjoyning my vacation and the passengers are friendly, I'm not worried. At 10:00 am the bus took of for our first atraction, we are going to the centre of London for a city tour. From Heathrow to the centre of london will take us a hour, it's gonna be a long day. Kinda akward to imagine that it's almost New Years, I don't even notice it. With New Years every parkinglot and almost every street or road will be closed for traffic, the closing will slowly start after 2:00 pm. When we arrive in the centre after our city tour, we will have to stay there aswell, there's no way back. Meaning, the bus will stay on a certain place outside the centre and will leave again at 1:30 am after the fireworks. After the city tour we have a free afternoon to do what we want, the bus will leave again at 1:30 am.
 

This bird stood still as I came closer and closer.

It's gonna be a long afternoon for sure, spending a whole afternoon and evening in the centre of London. But I felt good, I was excited, I slept good too, so, bring it on! It was quit a drive from Heathrow to the centre, we passed Houndslow, Hammersmith, Kensington and then London, there was alot to see though while we were driving. Very nice to see how these English people live, and the centre's of Kensington and Hammersmith were so nice to watch at. When we arrived in the Centre of London the city tour started right away, and we passed the ussual things, like the Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, the House of Lords, ect, ect. Pity though that we couldn't get out of the bus to take pictures, it felt more like going on a Safari this way. But it was great anyway, our busdriver had alot to tell about the sightseeings. At 4:00n pm we parked our bus at the Citybank, this will be our spot until 1:30 am, the bus will stay here and we are free to go anywhere we want. "But be back at 1:30 cause I'm not waiting," said the busdriver. I waited a while just to see what the other passengers would do, are we gonna stick together? Or, our we going our own way? Or perhaps in small groups? Everyone was going there own way, and so did I. 


I was excited to explore the city, walking around and flaunting, lol. I hadn't had lunch yet so I decided to do that first. I saw already a spot where I can have my lunch, a fancy modern pizza restaurant. I ordered a pizza just below 10 Pounds, that's my goal too these five days, trying to have dinner or lunch below 10 pounds. After my huge Pizza I went on my way to explore the city, camera ready. I walked everywhere, Piccadilly Circus, Trafel Square, Buckingham Palace, ect. While I was walking I saw the centre of the city getting bussier and bussier, ofcource cause of the fireworks tonight. As the time past my legs and hips began starting to hurt, I guess I walked to much. London is so nice, there is so much to see. It was 5:00 pm and the city still went bussier and bussier,still people were gathering around for the fireworks event. I was looking for a place to eat, but that was hard to find, McDonalds was packed and most of the other eating places were already closed. I decided to go back to the fancy pizza restaurant where I went for lunch, my feet began to hurt, it was such a long walk back to the pizza place. But I wanted to have dinner, no matter what. Bussier and bussier it went, the fireworks will be hold near the Big Ben and London Eye.

The place you had to be with the fireworks!

Back at the pizza place the staff there told me they changed the menu, like they always do in the evening. Dinners from 19 until 30 Pounds, no thank you, sigh! I went all the way back to the Big Ben to see if there's a place to eat. My poor feet, lol. I also wanted a nice spot to see the fireworks, the Big Ben was in my eyes the best spot. I looked and saw it was only 6:00 pm, still six hours till 00:00. It was hard to find a place to eat, I didn't wanna bother myself too with walking miles and miles for a place to eat. Finally I saw a little shop called Tesco, it was such a small shop and inside were all crazy people, all looking and grabbing for something to eat. I stood in line and next to me was another line, and that was it, the shop wasn't wider then that, only longer. The Tesco crew were demanding people to walk on, grab what you need and go to the cassier, it was insane, lol. I grabbed a little plate of pasta-salade, a yogurth, some fruit and a juice. I thought, "How on earth I'm gonna eat this all, I don't even have a fork or spoon." I payed for my stuff and went outside, Tesco was just beside the Big Ben, it was packed and still people were comming. I ated my pasta with a tiny fork, (the fork was hiddding inside the pasta) the yogurth? Lol, I took the lid of and used that as a spoon, what do you mean not a pleasant way to eat? It was cold aswell. 


There were more people eating outside, it was all good. I was feeling a tiny bit worried aswell, cause I had to be back at the bus at 1:30 am, otherwise the bus will take off. And there's no way I'm going back with the subway. More people were comming and police men started with closing some of the roads, London has it all good organized with closing these roads. I was at the Big Ben and saw just a glimp of the London Eye, I'm good here I thought. I sat down on the side of the road where the police placed those metal benches, there were tons of them and more people were sitting on it. As I sat there I saw 1000's of people passing by, all looking for the perfect spot. I had my dinner and I had a good spot I felt good, only a tiny bit cold and tired, no wonder. It was still early, 7:15 pm. Around 8:00 I wanted a coffee, cause I was cold. I saw already a few coffee shops across the street, the shops had huge line ups but I didn't mind. The coffee will do me good and standing in line with other people will kill some time aswell. 4 and a half hours to go, gosh! I stood in line and saw that the coffee sellers were so busy to help people, for sure this store is making money big time! I stood in line for more then a hour untill it was my time, I ordered a large cappucino and went back to the metal bench. 
 

The police were gathering around for the big fire-work event!

My seat was still free, lol. The coffee did me good, just next time I need to grab white sugar instead of brown sugar, lol! I was ready for the fireworks and observed the crazy people passing by, I saw there from everywhere, Italians, Germans, China or Japan, ect, ect. Some were walking in just t-shirts and I saw girls walking in gala-dresses, madness! Way to cold! Although it was cold, it was certainly not cold for the time of year, it could have been a lot worser, with frost and snow. Now it was 12 degrees above zero. I was getting a bit more worried cause there were really alot of people in this area, worried that I wouldn't be back on time at the bus. It's normally a 20 min. walk but with this crowd. Even the people passing by stopped walking cause they couldn't go further, it was full, packed! It seemed whole London was here. I turned around and looked at the Big Ben, 8:30 pm, what to do, stay here? Or go to spot nearer to the bus? Doubts, doubts. This was ofcource the best spot, but missing the bus would be a disaster, and still people were comming. I decided to go back to the bus and find myself a spot there, bye bye perfect spot. I was thinking for a spot on the Thames bridge, it's near the bus. While I struggled my way back I saw less and less people, I could breath again, lol. 

Happy 2012! The fire works were great!

While I was walking back I bumped into a Family who were in the bus too, they are a Mother and a Father and three Daughters, very nice people. I knew them already cause I already said a few times 'hi'  in the bus and in the hotel, we talked for a few minutes and the Mother asked me to join them, they were going to the Thames Bridge aswell. Perfect, but first we went back to the bus to warm our selves up, and perhaps a small snack. We left our bags in the bus aswell and after thirty minutes we all took off to the bridge, it was nice being with them. Lots of talks and the daughters were being jolly. The Thames bridge was a nice spot aswell for the fireworks, the Big Ben was better but that spot is full. It was 10:00 pm, still two hours to go, I realized that I was already waiting for more then six hours, it's crazy, lol. But I really had a good time. This is such an experience to be here, almost unbelievable, you have to see or feel it to believe it. At 11:00 me and the Family celebrated our own Dutch New years for a small minutes, lol. Cause it was already 12:00 in Holand, Happy New Year! Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar!  The Father popped  a bottle of red wine and we drank a few glasses. Then at 11:45 pm the crowd around us were getting more and more excited, it's almost 12:00, some were singing and some were dancing. And then.... 

Kaboom! The fireworks started, wow, amazing, I had my camera ready, but first we shook hands and wished everyone a Happy New Year, again. We drank another glas of wine, good times for sure! After 20 Minutes the firework was done and over, and we slowly walked towards the bus, exhausted but so satisfied. We still had to wait for the other passengers while we were waiting in the bus. It was 1:40 am, what a long day, the bus took of and still it's an hour drive to our hotel, but what the heck! It's been a awesome day! I layed my head to rest at 2:35 am, I crowled deep under my three blankets and slept like a rose. Tomorrow morning we can sleep in, 11:30 am we have to be in the lobby again for our next destination. Goodnight!

Feeling exhausted, I just want to relax and still feel the excitment from London still.

Feeling exhasuted, I just want to relax and still feel the excitment from London still.

Though I slept good, even though I went stone cold to bed. Three blankets, and socks on in bed, I was good. Getting used to the normal week again today, I sure took it easy today. I think I will call in sick tomorrow, though I feel a bit bad about it. Otherwise I should be working tomorrow, starting at 7:30 am. This awesome trip to London really took alot of energy out of me, I could need a good rest these following days. I keep thinking this thought that's it's not so healty to go to work tomorrow, but I will just see.


Unpacking my luggages, and one big load of laundry were my duty's today. There's one load more but that can wait.  Still I need a few groceries, that can wait too. This weather outside makes you wanna stay inside to under a huge thick blanket, there's a storm outside and it's raining hard. The hard wind is cold, it was the same as yesterday in London, France and Belgium. Under this little writing you can read about my first day towards London, tomorrow I will write about my second day in London. Ready?

London Day one. 

After a rough night and a little hour on the computer I took of to the trainstation, it was early most of the city was asleep. It was 5:15 am when I left, I figured already out that it's a 30 minute walk to the trainstation so, I was nicely on time. It was quit a walk though, thank god I didn't brought the big suitcase,  two traveling bags was all I needed. At the trainstation there were a few more couples waiting for the bus, that gave a little relieved feeling. We talked a little and after ten minutes the bus came already, wow, nice on time, it wasn't even 6:00. The bus was huge, it was a white doubledecker. We all took place in the bus after the names had been checked by the busdriver, I sat down to another guy who already sat in the bus, he was first. The guy was friendly and we talked alot when we were heading to our next station. Later on in our conversation we both found out we sat in the same school when we were young, (4th grade) we tried to think of names of school teachers and class mates. 

The bus stopped at several places to pick up more people, it seemed all of these people are going with the same travel company but some of them go to Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen and ofcource London. The company where I travel putted in several busses today to pick up people all across Holland, all of these busses will meet at one central point. At the central point every passenger will go to there own bus for there own destination. There were four busses, I had bus six, bus six will go to London. I thought not many people were going to London but once when all the busses gathered around and the passengers for London took place in bus six I figured I was wrong. Actually destination London had two busses, two doubledeckers. Wow, that's alot! All other busses were going elsewhere, the guy who I met in the first bus was going to Copenhagen, we drank a quick coffee together, (like every passenger did.) and said then goodbye and wished each other a nice trip. 

The bus towards London!

After that we took of, heading to London, I'm sure it will be a long trip. The seats in the bus wasn't that a pleasure, again I couldn't stretch my legs, I had to sit straight up and bend my legs 90 degrees. I'm just to tall, that's it, lol. The bus was a bit cold too, or was it that I was still tired? I didn't sleep well the night before, only an hour. Around  12:00 we arrived in Belgium, still we had a 4 hours drive to go to Calai, France. We stopped in Oostende (Belgium) for a quick snack or bathroom alert. We stretched our legs and some of them had a smoke. It was nice in the bus, friendly people. I felt comfy and talkative aswell, I didn't talk that much but I noticed I talked alot more then I use to did. I enjoyed myself, that made it feel nice and comfy. I grabbed a few snacks cause it was lunch, healty food is on my list these following 5 days, atleast I try too. We arrived in Calai, France after a long, long drive.  Soon we will be in London now, we are over the half. In Calai we had to do our passport check, everyone had to get out of the bus and go inside this huge shed were people from customs were waiting. 

I had Canada customs flashback  moments, lol. Three though guys were finnger tapping waiting for the passports, kinda cool though. I felt special with my pasport full of Canada stamps! LOL! Pasport checking went fine and we all took a second break, bathroom visits, snacks, smoking, ect. I exchanged some money aswell at the customs, I was kinda feeling nervous in the beginning of this trip of the exchanging, I wanted to get it done as soon as possible, just to get it over with. Now I had the chance, I took first some Dutch money out of the bank and then exchanged it at the desk, hmm, I took 90 Euro's out of the machine and got back 67 Pounds at the exchange, they hold me in a small 3 or 4 Euro only for the exchanging. The busdriver told me later on that I just had to wait till we were in London, I could have just took money out of a bankmachinme there, it's much chepaer. Bummer, but oh well, it happened. I learned my lesson. Everyone took place again in the bus and were slightly ready for the next adventure...

A long line of vehicels waiting for to enter the trainwagon.

The Channel tunnel! This tunnel is a 50.5-kilometre undersea rail tunnel, this tunnel will bring us from Calai, France to Dover in England. First we recieved a paper with all of the atractions will we do and visit the following three days. Next to these atraction there are the names of all the passengers in the bus, they will have to answer a yes or a no next to the atractions. Every atraction cost money, it's not that much but still. For example tomorrow we will be going to do a city tour with the bus, that cost 8 pounds. You can join the city tour or you can skip it, if you skip the tour you have a free of and can do what you want and go where ever you want. I filled every atraction in with a yes, I figured, I'm here now and I'm gonna enjoy myself, I mean when I skip a atraction and have a free off's I would go into town but I have lots of time to do 'that' I saw on the list. Alright time for the Channel tunnel, from the customs to the tunnel was only a ten minute drive, it was in the same area at the border. I was slightly excited and not scared at all, there was a girl who was a bit scared though, she didn't wanna know anything of it. Being in a huge train wagon in a tunnel under the sea, no thank you! 


Tons of cars and a few busses were loaded into the long train wagon, you really have to see it to believe it. A long line up of cars and busses were guided into the train wagon, the first cars has to drive all the way to the end till it can't go no further. It seemed our bus fitted just, but our busdriver took this tunnel thousands of times. Once the bus was in the wagon we could just get out of the bus and walk around, ofcource I got out. It's amazing and what a invention, we had our own wagon and could look out of some windows, only we didn't see a thing, lol. After 30 minutes we arrived in Dover, welcome to the UK!  30 minutes from France to England! Still we had to go a 130 km towards Heathrow, in Heathrow is our Hotel, Heathrown is an hour from London. You wont find many Hotels with lots of parking lots for busses in London, so yeah, Heathrow was our destination. I felt tired and wanted to just arrive and get it over with, after being more then 14 hours in a bus isn't that pleasant. I felt sleepy aswell, time to close my eyes for a bit. Four more hours to go to our hotel, it was all highway and it seemed this road was just a straight line. 

Almost inside, vroom!

Kinda akward feeling aswell though being so far away from home again, it's a weird and aswell a scary feeling too. I kinda missed my home, yes, I said home! Lol, I'm feeling at home in my home. Finally we arrived at Heathrow after more then four hours, there was our hotel. First the busdriver went inside to check us all in, he's such an expert. We had to stay in the bus and wait till he comes back. When he came back all of us got out and took there own luggages and went inside the hotel, all of our own room keys were laying there with our names on it. I was on floor one, room 147, nice! A nice room and ....and... a bed! Oh my god I will sleep in a bed! So much better then laying on just a matras. I unpacked a few things and then went downstairs to order some dinner, I was hungry and sure it was time for some dinner. It was 7:00 pm, nice. I ordered some kinda wraps with veggies , the plate was covered with tortilla chips, and that only for 8 Pounds, not bad. It's all good with the dinner these following days. After dinner I went to my room to relax and heading to bed soon, it's been a long day.


It was only 8:00 pm but I didn't mind, I layed my head to rest, tomorrow it will be New Years, that will be aswell a loooong day. See you tomorrow! Night!

Back from London, it was 'awesome!'

Back from London, it was 'awesome!' 

Finally back from London, I had a awesome, fabuluous time!! What a great city and what a great way to meet people, I saw alot , communicated alot and enjoyed myself big time. I will write about my adventures in the following days, I'm sure you will notice it.

For now  I'm exhausted and dead tired, it was such a long, long busdrive. No wonder I'm tired, yeah I will relax now and have a lot of rest. No work tomorrow, yay! Lots of time to sleep and to rest, and to write ofcource.

Almost can't believe it, I'm going to London within a hour! Woot!

Almost can't believe it, I'm going to London within a hour! Woot!

I woke up...Uhm actually I didn't woke up, or did I? I can't remember, what I do remember is that it was a afwul night with not enough sleep. Several things kept me awake, the tv from the neighbor, fireworks, a storm, (oh my) tossin and turnin, sweating and the suddenly upcomming hip pain. I knew already that it wouldn't be easy to fall asleep, I went to bed at 9:30, way to early I guess. Hope I will get trough this day, I guess I will, cause I had it before those sleepless nights before a trip. (Canada) 

Anyway, everything is ready, everything is packed. Am I ready? Yes! Just a little bit worried about the money, I should have exchanged some Euro's into English pounds before I go to London, I will have to ask the travelguide. And stop thinking the worse, lol, I always end up thinking the worst scenarios. Within a hour and fifteen minutes I will be off, there's still a storm but it's dry, no rain. Alright, I'm closing this post and will be back in five days. And.....

...I wish you all a blessed New year with lots of love and kindness, Happy New Year to all my online friends!! Byeeeeeee's! 

"I'm ready, are we there yet?"

"I'm ready, are we there yet?" 

I woke up early today, I saw 2:00 am on the clock, 4:30 am and 5:45 am, then I got up slowly. I have been practizing with my alarm clock on my cellphone since Monday morning and with succes, All for not waking up to late on Friday morning, lol, I want to get up at 4:00 am, then I will leave the house walking at 5:15 am, then I will arrive around 5:45 at the train station and hopefully the bus will be there at 6:00 am. Hopefully? Yeah, I can be such a nervous wreck sometimes, what if this or what if that, LOL! Sure the bus will show up!

I'm ready actually, well almost then, let's say I have everything ready. I packed my bags and put everything ready for tomorrow, I decided not to take my suitcase with me, just a traveling bag (see picture)  and a shoulder bag. Everything fitted in the travel bag, I'm happy that all of the stuff what I wanted to take with me fitted in the bag, it's only for five days, so. Now I don't have to drag the suitcase with me in the early morning, and that's a relief. I went trough the traveling papers again this morning, and saw that I might have to pay entrance for the tourist atractions, I'm not sure though. 

For example the Golden Eye is a 18 Pounds per person entrance and the Tower Bridge is 7, 50 Pound per person, ect. Now I don't have any pounds on me while I'm on my way, only my bank card. With my bankcard I can get English pounds, that's no problem. Question is, Do I have to have the English pounds already on me before I arrive in London or can I just use the card for the atractions? The ammount of money is not that a problem but the 'using of' is. And so I have a few more questions, but, oh well, It's not that a problem, I'm sure someone will help me out, and for the same reason I just can use my bankcard. Or maybe at customs I can change some Euro's into Pounds. 

I guess it's the usual nerves before the trip, and ofcource it's my first excursion trip ever, and for sure not my last. Do you know the feeling when you have everything ready and everything is packed, then you think, "Didn't I forget this or that?" or, "Am I sure I have everything with me?" LOL. I just don't have much with me, I have my clothing, electric razor, toothbrush, medicine, documents, passport, ect, I'm sure it's all there what I need for the following five days. Do I? I will have one more check before I go to bed tonight, lol. I won't be writing in my blog for five days, I'm taking a short vacation from my blog. Though just before I leave I will write a little post... Eeeek!

Two more days...

Two more days...

The days are going smooth and fast, that's the way I like it. Two more day and my journey to London begins, I'm starting to get excited more and more. Tomorrow I will start packing my little suitcase, I will try to take as little as possible. I have two suitcases and a travelbag, I hope the travelbag will be enough, otherwise I will take the smallest suitcase with me. Kinda akward to pack again, lol. I packed several times this year, but this time it's fun! I won't be writing in my blog for five days, but I will take pen and paper with me, to write down my daily adventures in London. Once I get back I will re-write them in my blog, everyday a piece. I'm sure I won't miss my laptop while I'm there, there's enough to do and enough to see. I have been thinking of taking my laptop with me but no, I'm to carefull with it.

Today was a bit colder then yesterday, there was a streaming cold wind, later on it rained, yuk! I did some groceries, posted a envelop, and went again to the cityhall. Same thing like yesterday, I still had a question for my taxes paying.I can get a sum of money back, to get that done I needed to fill in some papers and answer a few questions, there was one question what totally got me lost. So, there I was again at the Cityhall, there were even more people then yesterday, they all came for a new ID. Next year the ID card will be alot expensiver. I saw another guy at desk 10 so that felt good, I didn't wanna show up with the same guy like yesterday with the same question. I took a number and waited in line, I waited five minutes and 'pling,' it was my turn. I walked towards desk 10 and then I saw the same guy like yesterday sitting behind the desk, shit! Where did he suddenly came from?

Anyway, I walked towards him with a embarresssed head and asked him if he could explain the question one more time, lol. Sure he could, no problem. This time he explained it way better and I knew what to do, "Will I see you tomorrow again?" He asked. "Who knows," I answered and laughed. And off I went.Now I could fill in the papers completely and post them, I have been struggling with these papers for almost two months, they wanted so much information. I'm glad that's behind me. After my nap I took a quick lunch and went off again, I went to a store where they sell house items. I had a few things in my head what I wanted to buy, a rug for under my coffee table, and vinyl for in my storage room. In the storage room it's still empty, just a plane stone floor. When I got there I saw they had little rests from vinyl for cheap, but I didn't like the color what I saw.

I went further trough the store and I saw little square carpets, or how you call them. They are 50cm by 50cm long, and you can lay them so easily. Ofcource you need a bunch of them, but I had doubts to buy them. I was on my bike and the weather wasn't so pleasant to cycle with heavy stuff. I saw alot of stuff what I could need, and the price was good. I decided to buy a rug, they were on sale and the rug was easy to cary on my cycle. It was a nice visit to the store, I really loved the little square carpets. With the next visit I will buy them, nice black ones or perhaps brown, I will see. I saw curatins aswell, they were all 'ready made' but I want them nicely and perfect. I will think about it to let them made in a special curtain store, perhaps Ikea or the store I went to today. Two more day untill London, from now on I will have some rest and take it easy untill the big day.

A short week.

A short week. 

Tuesday already, Christmas was okay, but for sure I will celebrath it so differently next year, oh yes! I had my rest with Christmas, that's for sure, but being alone was hell. Today was just fine, I had a few things to do in the morning. First I went to the cityhall, and oh it was busy there. Most people stood in line for a new ID card, cause next year January the ID card will be alot expensiver. Atleast more then fifty people stood in line, I passed them all cause I needed the copymachine for a few copies. The copying was done in five minutes, next I had a question for my taxes paying. I can get a sum of money back from taxes, but ofcource I need to arrange and settle alot of things to get that done. 

I went to the information desk and I showed the lady my letter where I had a question about, I asked the lady which desk I had to go with this question. She gave me a little card with a number and a letter on it and she said, "You'll have to watch the screen in the waiting hall when it's your turn, the letter and number will apear on the screen plus the desk number , then you can ask the person on that desk your question."In other words I will have to wait in line with the others who were asking for a new ID. Oh well, it was busy but it was nice aswell being among people, lol. I think I waited fifteen minutes, then it was my turn. I asked my question and got an answer. Did I get any wiser? Hmm, not really, lol. 

Sometimes people speak in such terms that when they explain it a hundred times, you still don't understand it, lol. Anyway, as always I will figure it out. The next station I had to go to was my bank the ING, I needed copies from my bank statements from the last two months. Kinda logical that I went to my bank right? But... they couldn't make the copies, reason? They just don't do such things. Sigh, I miss sometimes my old bank in the old days, when I just could get anything done and they even served you a coffee in a mug while there doing it. Anyhow, I could get the copies but I'll have to wait two weeks for it and it will cost me some money. Yeah, never mind, right! Then I asked them for a travel insurance, that could be arranged.

Piggy bank!

I needed a insurance for only five days, that was no problem. The travel insurance was settled in ten minutes, good! Still I needed the bank statements copies, I switched over to plan B. I went to Humanitas, ringed the doorbell and asked if I could use the printer to make some copies, no problem! They even helped me out, I was done in fifteen minutes. No two weeks waiting and it didn't cost me, though I dislike it when I have to ask them, now I know aswell that I don't ask them every day or every week, but still. Confession: I haven't looked on my bank account to see how much mony I got for almost a month now, just cause I was nervous I wouldn't have enough money for the London trip. I didn't wanna worry myself.

This morning I had to, cause I needed to log into my bank account online to print a few bank statements. When I logged in I scrolled down right away, just to not see my amount of money. But while printing I saw the amount of money, I can only tell you that I felt relieved, cause I thought I would have less. Sigh! Silly me! Not bad though if I realize that I started of in January from this year with only five Euro on my account. I really tried to save money, everyday, day in day out. With succes, I know next year things will be better. I'm thinking of buying a piggy bank for next year, has to be a nice one, so nice that I really want to throw some coins in it.

The ammount of money I had made me jolly again and brought me in a 'buying' mood, lol. I haven't bought something for my house or for myself for atleast a month. So, today I thought, what can I buy? Has to be something small, cause I'm still easy with the money. I went to the second hand store to look for a tv-cabinet, I already have one, I know. But this tv-cabinet doesn't match with my coffee table, the colors don't quit match. I'm not gonna spend hundred of Euro's on a tv-cabinet that's for sure, so a second hand store is good. I didn't succeed though, I saw two nice ones but they were to high. The colors were perfect.

On my way home I saw a hardware store, always nice to have a peek inside. I peeked around what I still could need in my house. It was a pretty expensive store though, so several times I skipped the buying when I saw the price. In the end I bought me a showerhead, I really could need one, so there. It was a nice price aswell.Like I said this will be a short week, tomorrow there's Wednesday already, Thursday I will pack my suitcases and get everything ready, and Friday early in the morning it's off to London. 6:00 am sharp! Excited, hmm, yeah but aswell a bit nerves, once when I will be on my way the nerves will be all gone.

Boxing day, or as we call it 'tweede Kerstdag.'

Boxing day, or as we call it 'tweede Kerstdag.'

My Dad use to dislike tweede Kerstdag, "why spent two days of Christmas, one is enough for me." he went then. My Dad doesn't like Sundays cause there's not much to do, he like to do something, be busy or go out. Now he doesn't mind it, cause he's getting old, he can't do that much anymore, or go out. Everyday is like a Sunday now for him, lol.

This day was a bit like yesterday, I cleaned a bit here and there, and organized a little. I took a damn good shower, a few weeks ago I bought me a huge scrubbing sponge, it's so nice. I putted my papers ready for tomorrow, cause tomorrow I will be busy with a few things, I need copies, a travel insurance, I will have to ask a few things at the city hall and at my bank. When I have alot to do and if it's  gets to much in my head I always write things down what needs to be done. I like it that way, it gives a kind of rest too.

I have been going trough my blog a bit, just to look trough some old posts I wrote. I'm trying to find the writing mistakes and put the pictures in a good order, I saw some pictures and some writtings all messed up or kriss kross trough each other. I don't like that, I like it neat. So, I'm actually renovating my blog a bit. I won't re-write it though, just pick out the writing mistakes or put some wrong words in perfect English, lol. When I read some English words back what I wrote I laugh, lol. Sometimes my English isn't that well, and sure you can't always depend on Google translate or Wikipedia.

There was the Christmas dinner at the Wonne at 6:00pm, it was a nice dinner with lots of different food. There was soup, salads, fish, potatoes, beans, chicken, and fruit and cookies as desert. I stayed a bit longer cause it's vacation. It wasn't that busy though, but that made it more cozier. There won't be free dinners this comming week, the cooks and crews have a week vacation. The free dinners will start again the first week of January 2011. Wow, imagine next week at this time it's already 2011. This month went pretty fast I must say, I'm actually glad about it though. Tomorrow a nice normal day.

Dave Gahan - Miracles

"Christmas 2011."

"Christmas 2011." 

What can I say, it's been a quiet day. Just a bit that I expected, so that was good. What I didn't expected was the feeling of loneliness hammered in, and that it would hurt. Like the hurting hit me like a hammer in my body, but alright, I don't want to complain to long about this. Next year will be better, way better. I know now what I can expect with Christmas, and who knows that next year December things will be so different, right? I know now already that I will feel alot better next year December then I feel now. I kept saying it a few times today, "No one should ever be alone with Christmas. Goal for next year, never be alone again with Christmas.

I cleaned and organized a few things today, and took my rest. A sleepy Sunday, lol. That can be nice aswell, nothing hectic, nothing busy, just chilling. I checked my mail from yesterday and saw a few mails that will get me busy this comming week. I need to arrange a installments paying for the care-allowance, I need to make copies for the cityhall for aswell a paying. 

And I need a travel insurance, my bank will help me with that. About the copies, I sure could need a copie machine. It's always a bit of a problem where to make or get these copies, last time Humanitas helped me out. I need bank statements from the last two months, logical my bank can help me out, but they sometimes make a problem about things.

Tommorow in the late afternoon the Wonne has a special free Christmas dinner again, atleast a few residents from Humanitas told me. I will see what it is, or if it's going trough. It would be nice though, they always have such nice food. If I have to describe the food... uhm.. it's like 'Grandma' made it, or like Mom use to made, a bit old fashion and almost everything is self made, yum! It was quiet in the street where I lived, I guess everyone was enjoying themselves inside. The weather was dreadfull aswell, rain and grey clouds. Tomorrow one more  day of Christmas, I wonder if people in other countries also have two Christmas days like we have. 

A funny quote to end... 

In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!' ~Dave Barry, "Christmas Shopping: A Survivor's Guide"