Picture time!

Picture time! 

I did quit alot today instead of resting, though I took my usual nap(s) aswell, ofcource cause it was needed. I was tired and had a bit of a heavy feeling on my chest, but what had to be done had to be done, right? I decided to take some blood for my thyroid, I'm almost out of medication so, it was time. My Doctor gave me medication with a higher doses cause I had so now and then heavy or fast heart beats, that's a sign that my blood levels for my thyroid were just a bit to high. Taking the blood went well, I felt it but no ouch, lol. 

The results I will hear from the doctor next week, I think I'm alright with the levels, but ofcource if or when I continue with the higher medication the levels will get higher or lower again. I'm used to it. After the blood taking I did my usually Friday's groceries shopping. After my first nap and lunch I took of the the second hand store in another village, but didn't succeed with buying stuff, I decided to go to the nearest garden centre near my house. I succeeded there, I bought a few things I needed. (See the pictures)  I had a nice day, the weather was good aswell, here and there a cloud but the temperature felt nice...

Now some pictures!

I'm having fun at cooking, I bought a kitchen skirt, LOL! 

Very first time prepairing fresh carrots, but I guess I was a bit to overwhelming with the brown sugar. Just a bit to much, I'll remember it for next time.

Found this bush of carrots in the store, not even one Euro! You can see they are fresh right?

I bought this today at the garden centre, this store looks a bit like Ikea, but they sell mostly plants and flowers. I needed some decoration on the wall in my little kitchen.

I was so excited when I bought this at the garden centre, I like the color! It suits so well, tomorrow I will be putting something on it, perhaps a plant or....

I like taking pictures, I always have my camera with me, where ever I go. I took this picture a week ago I think in my city, I saw these highland cattle's and I had to take a picture of this beauty.

One more....

Ducks in the park as always, you really have to be aware where they lay or walk, they just walk or lay everywhere... 

These are nice too, but these were behind fences. Ofcource otherwise they will cross the road. They were making so much noise...


















Tomorrow should be a nice day too.... I'm going to Ikea! Watch your money Sjon! I will, don't worry.

"He should be the one who has to explain men how to do this and that, not me"

 "He should be the one who has to explain hwo to do this and that, not me"

Great day at work, though I wasn't looking forward to this Thursday. I was tired and felt sleepy, I guess I worked a bit to hard the last couple of days. I had a slow start this morning, but there was a important thing that had to be done. 'That' kept mem going. We had to make hundred mats for a costumer, it was almost not to do, but we came pretty far actually. Tomorrow it should be done, I'm sure. A fellow worker helped me, and he asked me several time how o do this and how to do that. Kinda funny cause he was working so much longer here then me, it gave me a good feeling aswell. I'm a part of the team now, I'm one of them, and that feels prettty good.

Tomorrow I planned to go to Ikea with Ina, Ina was a resident at Humanitas who I know well, she lives on her own now pretty close in my neighborhood. Sometimes we visit each other so now ansd then, and sometimes we see each other in the city, it's always nice having her around. I can say she's a good friend, yeah, and that's all. I can say aswell if I have a problem what's bugging me, or I'm in need of a talk she will be there for me. Today, she was the one who needed a talk. We talked and it was good and fun as always. So, yesterday I asked Ina to come with me to Ikea, we talked about it several times to go out once, but we only talked about it, lol, nothing ever happened. 

Today I thought, "Okay we talked enought, let's go out. Yesterday Ina told me she was coming with me, but today she told me she's not, she had a headache and wasn't feeling well. She wanted to drop by for a talk, a needed talk. I was slightly releived that we didn't go to Ikea, LOL, cause Ina wanted to go on her scooter. She will drive it and me on the back, lol. Last time I was on a scooter? I think I was eight or perhaps ten. So, yeah, I was slightly nervous, lol. But next time we go, for sure. I had a nice day, work went well and it was comfy, ans Ina's visit was nice aswell. Oh Sjon, are you perhaps in love? Noo!! Ina is a friend, just  a friend, she's not my type, lol. I'm happy single....................... for now!

Fast Wednesday.....

Fast Wednesday.....

Just a day off and it's going so fast, before you know it's already evening and time to go to bed. But it was a nice day, I had a good sleep aswel. Usually I get up early (very early) but this morning I slept in a little, I got up at 7:30. I took it easy and enjoyed my breakfast and my laptop, I finally could log into my ING bank account aswell. What a relief, although I'm not a super fan of banking online, but hey logging in without problems is nice, right? I still have that awkward and anxious feeling when I log in on my ING, nerves that my money is shorten, or worried that my money is more less then I expected. I have to get used to log in more, and knowing that everything is okay.

My counselor was early today, it's been a month since he visited me. This visit will be our last regular visit, next week there will be a farewell party. (with guests) Not really a party ofcource, but just a last visit with rounding things of and perhaps a toast on the happy ending. My counselor invited a few people, people who were important while being at Humanitas and people who guided me afterwards. One woman from Humanitas will be there, the boss from my counselor and Paula my first counselor from Humaniats, I asked for her. And surprisingly my Boss from work will come too, (woot!) my counselor sent several invites, aswell one to my Boss. I told my counselor a few weeks ago not to invite her, cause it might be awkward for her, It gives me a awkward feeling too. 

My counselor didn't agree with me and he called her anyway, my Boss was surprisingly excited to come. Still I don't know, it gives me that 'pushing her' feeling, she might be busy, and it's still find it awkward to invite a Boss. Who on earth invites a Boss to his or her's house? I signed a contract just a month ago, I'm not that 'close' yet to this job. I hope my Boss didn't find it weird when my counselor called last week, I hope she doesn't find 'me' weird aswell after the invite. Is this not creepy this invite? will she not find the invite kinda creepy? Okay stop it now Sjon! Enough! LOL! (Oh, I'm just a bit worried about my counselor inviting my Boss, slightly worried that she might stop the contract on the end of the year cause of the invite.)


I need to get started with 'having more social contacts,' joining a team or a club, joining a group of people or a sport. My counselor said it aswell. "Your talking alot over joining this and that, but it's only talk, nothing has happened yet,"  I'm doing my best to find something for in the weekend, but it's going slow. It's hard to find something here in this city, I'm aswell busy with work. Though my counselor is slightly right, I know I have to find social contacts and I really want to, but it's not happening, it though.... I hope I find something soon, cause it's so important to have social contacts. I enjoy going out, and I do that so now and then, but alone! So now and then I like being on my own, but hey, it's so now and then much more fun to go out with another person, or with a group of friends. 

I remember a few questions my counselor asked me today, he asked me if I have a few persons in my life where I can tell my story to, or where I can be open with, etc, like if you have a problem or you have something to say what you don't want to tell to strangers. After thinking I answered, "No I don't really have, uhm, or, well, maybe, I don't know. It made me think, and funny enough I thought about this a few weeks ago aswell, I don't have close friends. It would be different if a few people from Facebook would live in the neighborhood, lol! But still, I need to get surrounded by more people, getting more social contacts.

"You fit in right well here!"

"You fit in right well here!" 

This morning I got a very nice compliment from a fellow worker, this fellow worker is actually our team section leader (As I call him) I just did my work like yesterday, giving it a 100%, (were still so busy) and all of a sudden Henry our team leader comes towards me and says, "You fit in right well here!" I laughed first and thanked him. "I'm serious, your doing a good job," he went on. I thanked him again. I had compliments before, but from Henry, no. Henry is more a worker then a talker, so I guess the compliment from him towards me felt good, or actually better. It sure did me good, I can tell you that.

Today was like yesterday at work, busy, heavy lifting, lots of work. I finally got my brand new working shirts, my first ever working shirts. They are dark blue with a little logo from the company on the left side, and they are huge, geesh. I should have ordered a L- size instead of a XL- size, I just washed on 60 degrees, maybe they shrink a little. 

Otherwise I have to wait until the next order, next year(?) Two T-shirts and one polo-shirt, I'm still waiting on the long sleeve shirts, but I guess they will come later on in the season.  After work I bought a little bit of groceries and headed home for a shower and some food.

I had to make dinner actually but I didn't feel to, normally I have left over from Sunday, but last Sunday's dinner was a fail, lol. I made pasta with fresh cherry tomatoes, onion, raisins and chicken breast, not that a good combination. I don't like fresh tomatoes, I baked them a little to make them soft but... yack! I made peanut butter jelly sandwisches tonight, that was filling aswell. So, I thought tomorrow was the 'farewell party' from my counselor, but no, it's next week, sigh. I prepared a little, and I made a tiny little schedule. (cleaning the house a bit) So, it's next week, oh well, gives me time to tidy and clean up a bit more then....

Exhausted day at work...

Exhausted day at work... 

There was so much new material on our section today, all material where we have to make mats from. Finally actually, a few weeks ago there wasn't much to do and now, it's almost insane so much. We will have to work hard to get it all done. I tided/added the mats together or in shape, some mats were huge, longer then six meters. It's alot of work and kinda monotonous, ( Hey, I discovered a new English word) but hey, someone's gotta do it, lol. I was up and down today, my thoughts were, "Oh let someone else do this, look at all the material what still has to be done, this will take more then a week." Or, "Alright, let's do this, let's finish this!" I was suppa exhausted after work...

Still there was the free dinner, exhausted or not, I always go! The dinner refilled me with new energy, I'm ready for tomorrow! I really gave more then 100% today, I think I have to ease down a bit though, take my rest aswell. I never could do this work a whole week, the two days in the weekend for rest won't be enough then. I realized that I'm not that a talker at work, though I'm doing a bit better then let's say four or five months ago. I can hear it in my voice 'when' I talk, it's not loud enough. Normally when I talk to someone who's close to me or just a stranger I speak with a normal voice, but at work... nope. Maybe it's because we have to wear earplugs at work, lol. It sounds different then when you talk. Speak up Sjon, you can do it!

Fathers day!

Fathers day! 

Yesterday I didn't feel like going, I was tired and wasn't feeling well, I had alot to do aswell plus a busy week ahead, I needed my rest. Though I decided to go cause deciding not go didn't feel good on this special day. Afterwards I'm glad I went, what was I thinking skipping this day not to go to my Dad. First of all there weren't trains riding this weekend, so I had to go with the bus. There were special busses this weekend, cause of the trains not riding. It was a bit of a mess with the busses, cause I didn't know what bus I had to had what was going to my Dad's village. There were several busses, asking is always the best option.

I asked a busdriver and he told me to wait for bus number 335, alright. After a while more busses came, but still no number 335. I asked another bus driver, and he told me that he was going to Nijverdal, right on! The bus he was driving wasn't number 335 but number 192, oh well, it was chaotic with all these busses. I was sitting with another passenger heading to Nijverdal, such a huge bus with only two passengers, lol. The drive was pleasant, there were many roadblocks, so the bus driver had to choose different ways and roads, that was quit entertaining. so much nicer aswell with the train aswell. 

Arrived in Nijverdal there was this long walk again towards my Dad, sigh, I didn't feel like walking but I had to.  There was a hard strong wind but I had the wind in my back that felt good. When I arrived at Dad's place he was eating a small piece of applecake. The nurses defenitly think of you on special days, a Fathers day applecake. Dad was looking well, he was dressed nicely and I think he had a haircut. I think I spent a little hour with him, it was nice and comfy, I'm glad I went. Ofcource I had to go! I will never skip a Fathers day! 

My Dad, anno 17-06-2012! I think this picture is the best I ever made of him. (He doesn't smile much on pictures)

Tonight's the night, the last chance for our national football team to go trough to the quarter finals. They have to win against Portugal with two goals more, example if Portugal scores one goal, Holland has to make three goals. If Portugals scores two goals, Holland has to make four goals. It will be a hell of a job but I have faith in them, there good players, only they have to show it. One thing I don't like is that this match will be played at 8:45 pm, that's late! I will have to stay up a little later as usual, or more later. Oh well, we will see. Tomorrow's gonna be busy aswell with work, I guess I will just float trough this hectic week.

Kind of a lazy day... it was a must!

Kind of a lazy day... it was a must! 

I decided not to go Dad today, I slept not so well, I woke up with a pressure on my chest and felt exhausted. That feeling slowly faded away trough the day, I had to take it easy. I felt sorry and not that well not going to my Dad, it's Fathers day tomorrow, and he was kinda expecting me I think. I will make it up to him big time next weekend, for sure! Just in case I sent my Aunt a message with telling her I'm not going to Dad, my Aunt asked me this week if I was going. I could go tomorrow, but I still feel not so well, this comming week will be busy aswell at work, so yeah, rest and sleep is what I need.

This coming Wednesday I will get my last visit from my counselor, he will bring a few staff members with him, one of them is from Humanitas. (That's the shelters name where I have been staying for almost 8 months) The visit will be a kind of a 'Farewell party,' as my counselor said. When they come on Wednesday I would like to have my little villa tip top, clean and here and there a few new items. As you know I bought already a few new plants and a new painting, I cleaned already a few things aswell. Wednesday morning I will clean the rest, my Mom always said...

"When you have the kitchen and the bathroom clean, then there's nothing to worry about." So yeah, the bathroom and the kitchen will get a quick clean up this Wednesday. I received again a letter from social services, it's the same letter I received two weeks ago. I filled everything in and sent it there way, now I got the same letter again. It's telling me that they received the first letter I filled in, but then there saying, "If there's any change in your life situation you will have to report this on this letter," and that's it. But I did that last week!? I have to do it again? Or? I can't find a answer on the letter, I will have to wait untill Wednesday morning when I visit social services.

Because they are only open in the morning from 9:00 till 12:00, sigh. I expected to received a letter from them with a certain answer, cause I still receive money from them every month. (has to do with minimum wage) I filled in 'that' paper last week to get an answer on the question, 'do I still get money from them every month or not?' If I get a answer this week, and it's a no then I will have to pay back money from the last two months. Gosh, there so slow sometimes! Anyway, like I said a busy week. Today was here and there nice, I cleaned my balcony a bit and did my last groceries. Further I rested, slept and rested.

Just a bit fed up with the weather.

Just a bit fed up with the weather.

Though it's not that cold, it's sure doesn't look like Summer. It's grey, sometimes wet and the temperature difference is almost insane. It's still just June I know, but still, hopefully with the Summer vacation the weather will be better. That would be nice. Gosh I'm going to Berlin, I almost forgot. I'm getting excited, in the first week of August on a Monday I will be leaving. It's not even that far, Berlin is in Germany as you know. Traveling by bus and I think it's just three or four driving. The excursion trip will last eight days, I'm sure it's gonna be fun.

Quit a busy morning this morning, I finally decided to clean the outside window from my living room. The windows outside from my sleeping room were already done last month, that was easy to do cause of my little balcony. But the outside windows in the living room were almost impossible to clean. It's not a easy job when you live on the second floor, lol. I thought about calling a window cleaner, but decided in the end to do it myself. I grabbed all the 'window clean gear' I needed and added a few things more. Lot's of clods and old towels plus duck-tape.Yeah, duck tape.  

The tool I used for drying  the very last (difficult/impossible) part of the window! Noticed the duck tape? LOL!

Last week I bought a plastic stick where I could add the puller (or how you call such thing) on,the puller I use  to dry the windows with. Though the hole in the puller was to big, but I still had duck tape what I could use to wrap the puller with around the plastic stick. Some parts were kinda easy to reach, but some parts... Ugh! First I did the easy parts and the most difficult parts later. The last part what was impossible to reach I had to do standing on the little balcony from outside my sleeping room, lol, the neighbors must have been thinking. But I managed, the windows were surprisingly clean, pffeeww, they were DIRTY...

When I was done it started to rain softly, good timing. I was glad it was done, hell of a job but happy I was done.  In the afternoon after my lunch and nap I bought my groceries for the coming week, I bought a tiny bit more then usual. I bought fresh beans, beans what I have to cook longer then the regular ready beans what I have to warm up from out a can. I found a recipe in a magazine and I wanted to try it, my first time ever preparing fresh beans. I succeeded nicely, I so gotta do that more often, cooking with fresh vegetables.

Something with potatoes!

Something with potatoes! 

After having this weekend so much rice dishes, I long for something with potatoes. I know Friday and Saturday are always potato day, and Sunday's rice or pasta. But this coming Sunday I will make a special potato dish, I don't know what but I will figure something out. I already have some recipes but I will have to choose what I like, tomorrow is a good day for that, groceries day.

Nice day at work, it's busy, it's almost running against the clock. I kinda like it though, I like the challenge, but there's aswell a line ofcource. But hey, bring it on! Again I was working on another section, but I didn't mind. I just have to accept that I'm a all rounder, as the fellow workers call me, lol. Today we almost finished a mat for Norway and a mat for Sweden, heavy mats! Tomorrow the complete mat must be done for delivery.

Next week I will be working on my own section again, we have to deliver 9000 mats before August, hell of a job. We will do our best, and I a little bit more, lol. Today I had a bit of a slow start at work, I dropped many things, here and there a few little mistakes, I so dislike that. But oh well, just one of the days I guess. This coming weekend I have no plans so far, only I will visit my Dad. It's been a while since I visited him.

Upcoming Sunday there's Father's day, I will buy Dad a little gift. Oh before I forget! Holland lost the match yesterday, Germany won with  two goals against one. Germany deserved to win though, Holland played so bad, such a pity with such a good players. They didn't play as a team, to slow and not connecting with each other. Though Holland can still go trough if they win the match against Portugal, they have to win with two more goals then Portugal. Are they gonna win? Naaah, I saw better teams then Holland.

May the best soccer team win... Holland!

May the best soccer team win... Holland!
The 2012 UEFA European Football Championship has began last week. This tournament is being hosted by Poland and Ukraine. Sixteen countries are involved on this tournament, Croatia, Chez Replublic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Ireland, Russia, Spain, (they won the last championship) Sweden and Ukraine. Ofcource I'm for my own country Holland, and I must say our Dutch national team is not doing so well. 

They lost the first game with one goal against Denmark. Tonight they have to win the match against Germany, or it's 'goodbye' for Holland. My expectations are 50/50, I don't know. Germany is known as a strong team, they always have been a strong team. Holland has strong match players aswell, but it seems there's always difficulties around the players. Not playing well, low or lame game, strange though cause they have such good and strong players. Let's see what will happen tonight, I'm sure gonna watch. A little bit of excitment here!

This Wednesday was nice.. Though I woke up a bit to early. (As always) It was almost 6:00 am, after being on the laptop for thirthy minutes I thought, "Yeah, let's have a little nap." I slept more then 90 minutes in a row, that felt good. I so didn't expect that, after my nap I made breakfast, washed myself and went on my way. Today is the day I will be hanging my first painting, lol. First I needed stealen nails to hang the painting... 

Here it is, my first new painting!

I already had a few paintings in mind, I bought it in the same store as I bought the new plants last Saturday. The store where I bought the stealen nails was actually a bit further away then the garden centre, but oh well the weather was good. After I got the nails it was time to head over to the garden centre for the painting, dark clouds came rolling in. But the sun was there aswell, so no worries here. Looking trough the huge store I finally saw the painting what I liked, though it was here and there hard to choose. 

I saw a few paintings what I liked aswell, they had Boudha paintings and other farm animals paintings. But I choosed for the two sheeps in the grass, I find this painting a bit extrodinary but I still like it. It's colorfull, it suits well with the red wallpaper and it really brightens up the livingroom.I'm happy with it, it's quit a big painting aswell, it's a meter by a meter. Love it! I slept much today, now while I'm writing this I feel like napping again. I had my dinner, in about two hours the football mach will start. I could take a nap but I'm worried I wont catch sleep tonight, it's already late aswell. Oh well, staying awake, coffee is the cure!

"Facebooking."

"Facebooking." 

Oh yeah, Facebook, I never skip a day. I could do a day without though, even a week if I had to. Facebook is fun, Facebook should be fun! Though sometimes it gives you a awkward feeling, or a worried feeling. Sometimes you feel confused aswell or disorientated I always like Facebook, even when I feel sad or worried or feel alone, perhaps even when I'm feeling left out by my friends on Facebook, I'm such a nut sometimes, LOL! . Facebook changes your life, sometimes positive  and sometimes negative, that's a fact, or is it just me finding that. I don't know. Facebook is for sharing anything from yourself and others, pictures, thoughts, adventures,  daily things, your friends or family, just anything.

What are the positives and negatives of Facebook? (I took this from a forum) 

Positive - it connects you with people from years ago, I have people on my facebook that I have not seen in 20 years.

Negative - it tends to be kind of addictive and becomes a "how popular you are tool" rather than a social tool. How many wall posts you have, how many friends you have seem to determine how popular you are in the world of facebook unfortunately.

Positive - You get connected to your friends easily. I've even managed to get in touch with my kindergarten mates ... imagine that. Besides that, their 'photo tagging' comes in handy too - good way to share those party photos. Oh! and the birthday reminder really helps!

Negative -  I find that many people use their facebook profiles to paint their lives the way they'd like them to be & lose sight of the reality.

Positive -  it has been positive I have been able to connect with friends and family.

Now, I do agree with some of the above. Here are a few agrees,  'It connects you with people from years ago.'  It sure does, I have aswell friends from years ago, and still we are in contact. "It tends to be kind of addictive and becomes a "how popular you are tool" rather than a social tool." The addictive part doesn't worry me that much, I can take a break whenever I want, and I will when I want, stopping with Facebook? Now, your pushing it!! LOL! Now, the 'how popular tool' is... Well, I must admit I had a time that I tried to be popular on Facebook, I really liked the attention way to much back then. Now I'm cured, I still like the attention but I'm not so overwhelming as in the beginning when I first signed in.

Though sometimes... tssk...tssk!  Like I said before, Facebook is for sharing things with your friends all over the world, Facebook is for fun, don't get carried away I have to add one negative point to it though, 'Sometimes people take Facebook to serious,' I'm one of them, I do it to sometimes. Taking it to serious, getting carried away, being overwhelmed, though not the addicting part! Facebook is the first site I log into when I open my laptop, and I keep it open when I surf trough the net for latest news, mail, blog, etc, etc. I had a time when I shared alot on Facebook, I mean ALOT, to much actually. I still have that sometimes, I always think then, 'Oh please, should I really post that?'  Commenting on other friends statuses has  also been a issue...

I unlearned that habit off from Saf, NOW I think twice to comment on someones status. I commented alot on Saf's statuses in the beginning of our relationship, hey! I was in love! I even had little issues with Saf when she commented on her (manly) friends, I tried to make not to make a big deal about 'that,' but gosh, sometimes. I saw it as flirting, lol, what was I thinking?! In the beginning I didn't even realize that the commenting was to much, but later on I lessen the commenting. That was tough though, I think I created myself after that a 'I can't comment on what other friends share on Facebook to much' disease, lol. Even now I have it sometimes... 

I hold myself in so now and then when I want to comment (so badly) on a friend's status or picture, "You JUST commented on the persons status! And now you want to comment again on the persons picture? What will they even think? It's annoying when you comment to much, you know?" Deep sigh, lol! It's SO much more fun to just do what you want on Facebook, just  be nice, have fun, share and don't take it to serious, don't get overwhelmed, don't get carried away, and be yourself. Amen! (Note to myself: read all of the above, lol) 

Today. 

Today I had a tiny little accident at work, skip the hard work we all did and the feeling exhausted but satisfied, sometimes we have some fun times aswell. We as workers need sometimes laughter aswell , singing along with the radio or sometimes throw a wet paper ball, lol, well I saw a wet paper ball a bit to close today. A fellow worker wanted to throw a wet paper ball  back at me in the afternoon, but it went a bit to hard. I received the ball right in my face, and it went pretty hard. My glasses fell off and I had a little scarf on my nose, just between my eyes. The fellow worker was shocked that it went so hard, and so was I, my first concern was my glasses, the pain was so so, I wass till breathing, lol. 

My glasses were still okay, surprising after such a hit. I needed a little bandage on my nose, cause it was bleeding. I'm okay now, and the glasses needed a good clean up. The fellow worker apologized a few times, he even wanted to pay the damage for the glasses if they were broken, nice. I wasn't mad at him at all, such things can happen, and hey I too throwed today a few balls. I will be carefull next time. 

Monday, Monday!

Monday, Monday! 

What can I say about this day, not that much really. I'm gonna keep it short I think, it's been a day like every Monday. Working ofcource, today I stood at a machine what hammers brushes into a plastic lath, hope lath is the good word for it, perhaps a square stick then? Okay square stick sounds a bit better, with 10 or more of those square sticks plus the brushes added you can make a mat. Oh! Here's a picture, lol. 

Standing behind 'this' machine was kinda easy, that was a relief. The only thing what wasn't so pleasant was walking from left to right, it made me kinda dizzy in the beginning. I had to pay attention alot aswell, in the afternoon I got more used to it and I started to like what I was doing. We will be working hard this coming month, we received a new order from the US, more then thousands of mats has to be delivered. Maybe we will have to work in shifts, I don't mind.

I heared today some sad news aswell, Reha is quiting. Reha was the old re-integration company where I worked for almost a year. There I made several wooden furniture, Reha sent me aswell to the place where I'm working now, Slettenhaar.' (Internship) I owe alot to Reha, I had such a great time there and learned so many things. Reha could not afford there stuff and workers anymore, such a pity.... I hope they continue somewhere else.

Sunday's recipe!! Italian Risotto.

Sunday's recipe! Italian Risotto.

Sunday's, Oh you know what it's like, resting and getting thing ready for Monday's work. Oh, and cooking ofcource, I think Sunday will be my officially cooking 'special' day. Ofcource I cook on Friday's and Saturday's aswell but then I cook just plain food, potatoes, veggies and meat. Sunday's I always try something different, cooking with spices or  'never eaten that much' veggies, or olive oil for example. I learn how to cook with other food recipes that way. For example marinate, I never marinated meat or potatoes. Now I do! It's so much better tasting, aswell I try to cook healthy. Fresh food is the best, but yeah, usually I buy veggies in little cans, maybe that I have to change. Fresh veggies from the market is an option too, or just the supermarket. 

Anyway, on with the Italian Risotto. 

Ingredients: 350g chicken breast, 250g mushrooms, 1 zucchini, 400ml water, rice, marinate mix and herb mix. Maybe it better to get a Italian marinate an herb mix, I'm sure a supermarket has those.

This recipe is easy to make, so here it goes. 1. Cut the chicken into small pieces. Mix the marinade mix with two or three tablespoons oil in a bowl, stirring is a must. Add the chicken pieces and stir it again. Let it all marinate untill five to ten minutes. 

Marinated the chicken pieces.

2. Clean the mushrooms and cut them into quarters. Wash the zucchini aswell and cut into pieces.

3. Bake the marinated chicken in a frying pan or wok over high heat (oil or margarine is not needed). Add zucchini and the mushrooms and cook them for one minute.  

I'm getting hungry again watching this.

4. Add 400 ml water in the frying pan or wok plus the contents of the herb mix risotto and the rice, stir well. Stirring it well is a must, and let it it simmer for about ten or twelve  minutes s until most of the liquid/water is almost gone. 

Added the 400ml water and the herb mix.

5. Remove the pan from the heat and stir well. Let the dish stand for two or three minutes, stir again thoroughly and serve. Risotto is a soft and creamy rice dish. This ricedish is usually a bit wet. 

I cooked the rice seperatly, cause I my frying pan wasn't deep enough for the rice. So I struggled a bit with how much water I had to add to the mushroom, zucchini and marinated chicken. I knew 400ml was way to much so I less the water till 300ml, after I added the 300ml water it was way to much. I mixed it all together, the content of the frying pan and the just cooked rice. The Risotto was okay, a bit to watery and perhaps a bit to much mushrooms. But the package said 250g, lol, I even saved five or six mushrooms. Next time I will do it differently, but hey, not bad for a first time making a Risotto dish.

Italian Risotto, bon appetit

I had a good weekend, it was nice and relaxed. I did the things what was needed and did the things I wanted, all good. I'm happy that work is calling though tomorrow, yeah I said it before, I love my job! I hope it will less until I retire. Bring it on.

Another full morning... and another extra large nap.

Another full morning... and another extra large nap. 

I don't know, but maybe it's the weather changing from warm to cold weather what makes me tired and sleepy. Sometimes it's best not to give in to it that much, a huge nap after my lunch felt good. It was a grey and cool day today, the for spelled rain stayed out gladly. In the morning I posted the envelope with the copies from yesterday, and then I took off to do my last groceries. I could sum them all up, there not that much, lol. Cheese, mushrooms for tomorrow's dinner, one loaf of bread and crackers for work, that was it. Everything went as planned, maybe I should have taken a scarf with me, kinda chilly without. 

After putting the groceries in the fridge and in the bread bin, I headed out again to the garden centre. I so love it that I have a very nice garden centre near my house, it's only a few blocks away. I planned to buy some decorations in my house, specially plants. This store is huge, I so love it, you can actually compare it with Ikea but then for gardens and such. They have alot of kitchen stuff aswell, and also decorations for in the house, main thing they sell is plants and flowers. I was looking for a few plants what can stand sun light, not that easy though. I Googled a few sites and forums, so I was kinda knowing what I was looking for. 

A short look in the store where I went to this morning, they had a new pillow section, so nice! 

Pillow's, pillows and more pillows.

I saw alot of things what I could need but, damn those prices. Sometimes I felt awkward lol, looking trough this store. Little furniture items, dishes, plants and flowers, vases, decorations, I just love it! And I'm not even gay, should I be when I like this? Making the decisions of buying the plants was difficult, I even saw a few huge cactus's, but how on earth should I take such plant home? I was on my bike, lol. Anyway, after enjoying myself after an hour I bought 4 plants and a few pots, I had my hands full. The price was unexpected good, I though I had to pay more. Now it was time to figure out how to get home with four full bags on my bike.

On my way home, fully packed! Easy moving forward? Naah, step on the gas!!

 

A few of my new plants, the ones with the black vases are new, the ones with the white vases are old. The old ones will be replaced for new ones this week.

I grabbed ten or more plastic bags from the store ans started packing, I'm glad I didn't buy more cause the thing I bought was definitely the limit, I couldn't carry more. four bags full all tighten up on my steering wheel, slowly I returned home, cycling! The clouds became darker and darker and the wind blowed stronger, it was all good, I lived near. Arrived at home I unpacked the bags and installed the plants where I wanted them, a few old plants had to go. Hopefully these new plants will hold out longer, if not, then I will go for a few fake plants. The new plants look nice, I'm glad I bought them. 

One of the new plants, these were on sale. Instead of 10 Euro I had to pay only 5 Euro. Not bad! 

Aswell a new one, I bought two of those.

Time for a nap!

After my lunch I took a nap, and again, just like yesterday I was a large nap. Almost 90 minutes it took, I guess it was needed. I had to make a early dinner, the Dutch football team had to play a game against Denmark. The European Championship 2012 has started this Friday, excitement all around everywhere. Some houses and streets in my City are decorated with orange flags and items, and ofcource Dutch flags. I watched the game and enjoyed myself, all though they lost the match with 1 goal from Denmark. The Dutch team had so, so many chances, but Denmark had the luck of scoring one goal.

Next opponent for Holland are Germany and Portugal, sigh, strong teams, go Holland!

Getting old? LOL!

Getting old? LOL!

Clumsy though funny day, I forgot things, bumped my toes or fell almost. Is this the way it goes when you get older? I should just laugh about it, lol. You know the feeling when you walk to the (let's say) the kitchen and your standing there and you ask yourself, "What was it what I was coming here for?" Or then you bump your toe on the door frame, ouch!! What wasn't so funny was that I forgot something this morning. I was on my way to copy my working contract and my first pay roll from work at social services. Arrived there I noticed I forgot the payroll from work what I had to copy aswell, I already copied the other paper. Sigh, so, I went back home to get it. When I got back at social services I walked towards the copy machine and lifted up the printer to print the other paper. Then I saw there was still a paper under it..... It was my working contract! Damn!

I totally forgot (perhaps in the rush) that the work contract was still laying there, I was actually surprised it was still laying there. Many people come to the social services to copy there stuff, for the same reason someone could look trough it, or worse take it with them. I guess I was extremely lucky, silly man! Last week I dropped a pin card what I need for my garbage at home, I didn't know how to use it, so I asked a neighbor. He helped me out, and I thanked him. 

As I walked off  to my bike with alot of stuff in my hand including the card, I dropped the card without noticing it.  As I went to get my bike in the shed, someone knocked on the door from the shed. It was the neighbor who helped me out with the garbage, "Here, (he said) you dropped your card." Sigh! Remember my key from my bike lock what I lost? I'm almost sure I lost it the same way as the card, dropped it while I had alot of stuff in my hand.....

Anyway... it was a productive day this Friday. Laundry is completely done, most of the groceries are inside, and I cleaned the last floors, kitchen and sleeping room. I so want to clean the outside window in the living room, but that ain't easy when your living on the second floor. I need a kind of a long stick (what I have) so I can reach the window and clean it. I will open the window, it's just a small window where I actually can hang out a bit to reach the other side of the window with the stick. Probably I will do it tomorrow, today I was done and tired. I took a huge long nap, more then a hour I was gone, lol. Feels good and I guess it was needed. I will buy some new plants aswell tomorrow, or maybe just look. I need a few good and strong plants, plants what can stand sunlight. Those are hard to find, the ones I have now are already dead, cause of the many sunbeams. Maybe fake plants? lol.

Money online is a disaster, bring back the ol' days.

Money online is a disaster, bring back the ol' days.

After a month I tried to log in into my ING page, my online banking but without success...again. Recently ING asked every user on ING to change there user name and password cause of safety. Probably there was to much hacking or people sending phishing mail going around, so yeah, I could understand that. Though it's sometimes such a struggle to change all that, even sometimes to log in is a struggle. Sometimes ING doesn't recognize your user name or password, you get three chances to fill in your password and user name, after the fourth try ING blocks your page, and you will have to ask for a new password and user name. That will take you five working days....... If your lucky.

ING likes difficult user names ans passwords, a month ago ING wanted me to use difficult letters for my password and user name, capitol letters, punctuations. etc, etc. Finally after a few horrible minutes I confirmed my password and user name, I even had to write it down on a little note on the computer and capture it, they were both not easy to remember. They were safe in my documents. So tonight I wanted to log in after a month not being there, opened my not and the log in page from ING. The password and user name weren't correct, I tried a second time, but same thing, not correct. I didn't try for a third time, I didn't wanna get blocked by the ING. So I asked AGAIN for a new password and user name, sigh! 

I will have to wait for five working days, I will get a mail by the mailman, with that mail I will have to go to the nearest ING office and deliver the mail. They will hand me out a letter with the new password and user name on it, I will have to sign it to confirm.  Then I can finally log in.... hopefully with success. There is a strange thing with me and looking online (ING) to check my money, I dislike it, or it gives me a worried, or nervous feeling. I'm still worried about my money, worried to not get around. Afraid sometimes that I can't pay my rent anymore or other important stuff.. what will lead me to be homeless again. It's kinda understandable cause I have been in that situation being homeless. 


But still, I don't have to be, I get around. Well around?  Ofcource I'm not rich, I have to look what I buy and look at the prices. So back to the online banking... I get nervous when I log in, I only log in when it's really needed, I know it's silly. But lately alot has happened, good things. I have a job, bills have been payed, spend some money, all of that I can look up on my ING page. So tonight I had the guts kinda to log in on ING... without success. Slightly I felt a little relief, lol, but most off all it sucked. All that work again for a new user name and password, and I don't know how long 'that'will last. Anyway... It's done... I will wait five days, and yeah, I will go to the ING office to straighten this out. I don't want it to happen again.

Today.

Today was a good day at work, I went from here to there, lol. From that section to that section, it was fine. I did what they told me, and I did a good job, that gave a good feeling, I like helping out. The Boss had some good news for us, they brought in a new order from the US, 19000 mats to deliver in August, woohoo! To celebrate that we were getting cake with our first coffee break, nice! Though, 19000 mats are alot of mats, lol. We will have to work or butt off big time, perhaps working over aswell, maybe shifts too. I'm not worried, my Boss knows what I'm able off, I will make the same hours as usual. Aswell in shifts, it's still eight hours in three days, though  I will have to start earlier at the day or later at the day, that's fine. Bring it on!

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.