The thought of dancing to this song in summer is keeping me going!!
Peter Fox was in a band called ' Seeed ' before he went solo.
German produced reggae ... love it!!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Voor Moeder en Vader
I watched some dutch parents cycle their kids to school one day, in droves. It was so cute. Cycling with your kids trailing behind you on their bicycles, or delivering them to preschool in a 'bakfiets' (the basket at the front of adult's bike.) instead of delivering them in a sedan. Then I thought about me doing that, and I weirded myself out. Raising kids in the Netherlands - could it be a whole different ball game?
'Kom maar schatje', I could say as I held hands with my daughter/son/combination of, crossing the road with them after a trip to the local library.
'Mama, wat zal wij eten vanavond?' they might ask me when they get home from hockey practice, opening the fridge door in search of a snack, finally settling on a piece of gouda.
Then I thought about all the cultural differences I would have to deal with; the schooling system, the german and dutch homework, other parents of dutch children, report cards, parent/teacher interviews, bullying, healthcare, immunisation. I can barely find a doctor for myself, and navigate the world of health insurance, train schedules, let alone care for dependent offspring in another country, amongst another culture.
No, no,no,no - these are challenges that I do not want to ponder about.
The mere thought of it made me shudder, and I hastened my walking pace, past the school gates quickly, perhaps scared of the thought that I might catch 'pregnancy' from hanging around the mothers and children.
As quickly as I had passed the throngs of mothers, fathers and cute little dutch children, it occured to me, my parents had faced all those things raising me.
I freaked out at the mere thought of it - my parents just got on with it, and did it. They truly are incredible.
And that was a revelation I could have only come to, being here.
'Kom maar schatje', I could say as I held hands with my daughter/son/combination of, crossing the road with them after a trip to the local library.
'Mama, wat zal wij eten vanavond?' they might ask me when they get home from hockey practice, opening the fridge door in search of a snack, finally settling on a piece of gouda.
Then I thought about all the cultural differences I would have to deal with; the schooling system, the german and dutch homework, other parents of dutch children, report cards, parent/teacher interviews, bullying, healthcare, immunisation. I can barely find a doctor for myself, and navigate the world of health insurance, train schedules, let alone care for dependent offspring in another country, amongst another culture.
No, no,no,no - these are challenges that I do not want to ponder about.
The mere thought of it made me shudder, and I hastened my walking pace, past the school gates quickly, perhaps scared of the thought that I might catch 'pregnancy' from hanging around the mothers and children.
As quickly as I had passed the throngs of mothers, fathers and cute little dutch children, it occured to me, my parents had faced all those things raising me.
I freaked out at the mere thought of it - my parents just got on with it, and did it. They truly are incredible.
And that was a revelation I could have only come to, being here.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Febo-licious - a post for Ade
Fly yourself to Amsterdam
Canals, bicycles and rain
Carrying your groceries against the wind
can be a freaking pain
When things get tough like that
Don't try and be a hero
Seek refuge amongst the oil and fries
and tuck into some FEBO
( Dedicated to Ade. xxx)
FEBO -
Made of the words "Ferdinand Bolstraat"
The first ever FEBO was on Ferdinand Bolstraat, a hip street in a hip Amsterdam suburb called De Pijp. Now a snackbar franchise claiming to be the "de lekkerste" - the most delicious.
Deep fried snacks in cubicles, with a vending machine system, where coins go in the slot, and you are free to open the door to select your somewhat lukewarm, soggy, deep fried snack, or chicken burger.
Ugh. It just sounds wrong. So so wrong. It also looks wrong.
When my cousin Ade came to town I had to take her there, to cure her fascination. It was my first and last time.
The irony? I have stayed away from that place for over 8 months, and I still got fat here.
The only thing I love about the place is that it is SO Amsterdam, and I love watching people seek refuge and pop in, from all races, ages, socio econonic classes, when it's raining and stand there munching their croquets, and fries, chatting while waiting for the rain to stop.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FEBO
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
True North
I'm moving house in two weeks!
I'm moving out to the Old West, in search of my True North.
At the moment I live in Zeeburg, a suburb in the East of Amsterdam, but I don't really live in the east. I live North of Central station, on the east side, but it feels so far away from the centre, or anything remotely amsterdam related.
Good news: I'm moving closer to the a central part of a multiculural hood, closer to my 'wife', and close to a really multicultural part of Amsterdam, to some very local cool bars etc, and a supermarket around the corner. And I have a balcony.
BRING ON THE UV RAYS. JUST BRING IT.
Bad news: The private rental market prices. I am paying the equivalent of a a one way ticket back to Australia, per month, for rent, gas, cable tv, internet, water, electricity.
If only I knew someone with a rent controlled Apartment here. One of my colleagues was really excited when I told him about my new place.
'Look, look!' he said, pointing to his screen.
'I used to live around the corner from where you live now! It was so cheap, I think I paid a couple of hundred euros a month for a while.'
I peered closer to the screen.
'You lived above the coffee shop? Called 'High Times'?'
I gulped another sip of my coffee.
He smirked. 'Yeah. My brother's girlfriend sublet it to me....' he looked longingly at it.
'Yeah...' he trailed off... 'they were good times...'
'I bet.' I said, noticing the wistful look in his eyes.
I'm moving out to the Old West, in search of my True North.
At the moment I live in Zeeburg, a suburb in the East of Amsterdam, but I don't really live in the east. I live North of Central station, on the east side, but it feels so far away from the centre, or anything remotely amsterdam related.
Good news: I'm moving closer to the a central part of a multiculural hood, closer to my 'wife', and close to a really multicultural part of Amsterdam, to some very local cool bars etc, and a supermarket around the corner. And I have a balcony.
BRING ON THE UV RAYS. JUST BRING IT.
Bad news: The private rental market prices. I am paying the equivalent of a a one way ticket back to Australia, per month, for rent, gas, cable tv, internet, water, electricity.
If only I knew someone with a rent controlled Apartment here. One of my colleagues was really excited when I told him about my new place.
'Look, look!' he said, pointing to his screen.
'I used to live around the corner from where you live now! It was so cheap, I think I paid a couple of hundred euros a month for a while.'
I peered closer to the screen.
'You lived above the coffee shop? Called 'High Times'?'
I gulped another sip of my coffee.
He smirked. 'Yeah. My brother's girlfriend sublet it to me....' he looked longingly at it.
'Yeah...' he trailed off... 'they were good times...'
'I bet.' I said, noticing the wistful look in his eyes.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Double digit temperatures
Ooooooh yeaaaaaaaaah.
16 degrees and sunny tomorrow. Today an Australian colleague and I went out to the centre of Hoofddorp to the shopping centre and ate icecream to celebrate the first day of double digit temperatures in MONTHS.
16 degrees and sunny tomorrow. Today an Australian colleague and I went out to the centre of Hoofddorp to the shopping centre and ate icecream to celebrate the first day of double digit temperatures in MONTHS.
Change your position, Change your chi
Over a year ago, back in the other A-town in Australia, my friend Prue and I went out to a bar for some Friday after work drinks.
The beer garden in this bar was pumping, drunk people everywhere behaving badly, (we were not an exception, however, comparatively, since we had just arrived, we were well behaved) - imagine them falling into hedges, squealing, running around waving shoes above their heads, etc etc - and that was just the guys in suits.
Prue and I had a great time watching the circus, and it was all we could do but point and laugh (openly). However, we got a little bored after about 20 minutes in the same spot.
"We need to change our chi." she declared. ( For the uninformed, "chi" being the energy that surrounds you, sort of like a "vibe", comparable to a mix of the forces of nature that govern your fate, combined with your aura.) "We need to get another drink and change positions. Watch the world go by from another angle."
So we did. We picked up our glasses of Starvedog Lane Sauvignon blanc, and took about 4 steps to the left, and landed ourselves right next to a group of guys, and spent the next half hour trying to convince them that Prue was an erotic novelist, and I was her publisher.
It worked for about five minutes. And it was kind of funny. And then we got into an argument with them. And then we left. And then as we waited for a taxi, they walked out too, and scowled at us and walked on. And then we all ended up going to the same bar. Anyway, what happened after that was irrelevant, because quite frankly, they were losers. And we are awesome.
However, my point is this - we all need to have a change in position sometimes, to spark a change in Chi. You don't know what will happen if you move around a bit and see the world from another perspective. Surround yourself with new people, in a new environment. If you're bored, a move is a good thing, most of the time.
It's the life equivalent of getting up from behind your desk and getting a cup of coffee to reinvigorate yourself, and moving rooms for a moment or maybe longer. You never know who or what you are going to run into on your way to the coffee room, or what sort of interesting things you'll learn in the coffee room. If nothing else, you've just had a little walk, and refreshed your senses, and damn, that cafe au lait tastes good after sitting down for so long. And you can feel your brain slowly waking up again becoming alert to things it might not have paid any attention to before.
Whether it's in a bar, an office, or in my current case, in a city.
I need to see how life works in another part of town I think. So, we'll see how it goes with the hunt and possibly the move.
The beer garden in this bar was pumping, drunk people everywhere behaving badly, (we were not an exception, however, comparatively, since we had just arrived, we were well behaved) - imagine them falling into hedges, squealing, running around waving shoes above their heads, etc etc - and that was just the guys in suits.
Prue and I had a great time watching the circus, and it was all we could do but point and laugh (openly). However, we got a little bored after about 20 minutes in the same spot.
"We need to change our chi." she declared. ( For the uninformed, "chi" being the energy that surrounds you, sort of like a "vibe", comparable to a mix of the forces of nature that govern your fate, combined with your aura.) "We need to get another drink and change positions. Watch the world go by from another angle."
So we did. We picked up our glasses of Starvedog Lane Sauvignon blanc, and took about 4 steps to the left, and landed ourselves right next to a group of guys, and spent the next half hour trying to convince them that Prue was an erotic novelist, and I was her publisher.
It worked for about five minutes. And it was kind of funny. And then we got into an argument with them. And then we left. And then as we waited for a taxi, they walked out too, and scowled at us and walked on. And then we all ended up going to the same bar. Anyway, what happened after that was irrelevant, because quite frankly, they were losers. And we are awesome.
However, my point is this - we all need to have a change in position sometimes, to spark a change in Chi. You don't know what will happen if you move around a bit and see the world from another perspective. Surround yourself with new people, in a new environment. If you're bored, a move is a good thing, most of the time.
It's the life equivalent of getting up from behind your desk and getting a cup of coffee to reinvigorate yourself, and moving rooms for a moment or maybe longer. You never know who or what you are going to run into on your way to the coffee room, or what sort of interesting things you'll learn in the coffee room. If nothing else, you've just had a little walk, and refreshed your senses, and damn, that cafe au lait tastes good after sitting down for so long. And you can feel your brain slowly waking up again becoming alert to things it might not have paid any attention to before.
Whether it's in a bar, an office, or in my current case, in a city.
I need to see how life works in another part of town I think. So, we'll see how it goes with the hunt and possibly the move.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Marketing Genius in the making
I'm working on a new campaign at the moment which is kind of exciting because... wait for it....
I came up with the creative concept!
Me! I did it! Yes, little old bizarre oddball me!
I suggested it, and it got passed through all the internal stakeholders, and everybody really likes it! I can't really talk about the details because it's still in planning stages, but it's going to be a lot of fun, with lots of new potential to work with some cool new marketing platforms, and inject a new twist into the company culture.
Just working on the strategy on how it's going to be rolled out across the world, and what sort of timings and platforms we are going to use, but it's actually crazy to think that something that popped into my warped little mind might come into fruition, and have a life of it's own, and shape the brand that I work for!
I don't think I've felt this much passion for a work related project in quite some time and it feels good. Its going to take a lot of work, and some long hours, and no doubt, there will be some hurdles to jump, but I can't wait to see how it all pans out!
Ok, so I'm not Richard Branson. Or Donald Trump. But, I'm making a little wave in the commercial world, and maybe, just maybe... the wave could grow into a tsunami.
I came up with the creative concept!
Me! I did it! Yes, little old bizarre oddball me!
I suggested it, and it got passed through all the internal stakeholders, and everybody really likes it! I can't really talk about the details because it's still in planning stages, but it's going to be a lot of fun, with lots of new potential to work with some cool new marketing platforms, and inject a new twist into the company culture.
Just working on the strategy on how it's going to be rolled out across the world, and what sort of timings and platforms we are going to use, but it's actually crazy to think that something that popped into my warped little mind might come into fruition, and have a life of it's own, and shape the brand that I work for!
I don't think I've felt this much passion for a work related project in quite some time and it feels good. Its going to take a lot of work, and some long hours, and no doubt, there will be some hurdles to jump, but I can't wait to see how it all pans out!
Ok, so I'm not Richard Branson. Or Donald Trump. But, I'm making a little wave in the commercial world, and maybe, just maybe... the wave could grow into a tsunami.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday night flashback
Me: So we were sitting at this club, and the others I was with had just gone to the toilet, and I was sitting there and I started talking to the guy next to me.
Laura: Who was he?
Me: I don't know. He was just sitting there next to me, so I started talking to him. I think he said he worked for MTV or something. Turns out he was having some drinks with his colleagues.
Laura: Oh that's interesting, what did he do there?
Me: Senior something commercial something, I think. I don't know, I'd had a few wines. In fact, I think my exact words when he told me that were " do you feel like a whore?"
Laura: What?!? You asked him what?? ..... Why??? What did he say?!
Me: I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure he took it it quite well. Yeah, I think he was ok with it... might even go as far to say that he was mildly amused.
Laura: Are you sure? Why would you say that?
Me: I don't know. It seemed like the right thing to ask at the time. You know, selling your soul for the corporate world...
Laura: You're weird.
Me: I guess he'll never forget me right? How many times in your life do you get asked if you feel like a whore, after you tell someone what you do?
Laura: I don't know what to say to that.
Laura: Who was he?
Me: I don't know. He was just sitting there next to me, so I started talking to him. I think he said he worked for MTV or something. Turns out he was having some drinks with his colleagues.
Laura: Oh that's interesting, what did he do there?
Me: Senior something commercial something, I think. I don't know, I'd had a few wines. In fact, I think my exact words when he told me that were " do you feel like a whore?"
Laura: What?!? You asked him what?? ..... Why??? What did he say?!
Me: I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure he took it it quite well. Yeah, I think he was ok with it... might even go as far to say that he was mildly amused.
Laura: Are you sure? Why would you say that?
Me: I don't know. It seemed like the right thing to ask at the time. You know, selling your soul for the corporate world...
Laura: You're weird.
Me: I guess he'll never forget me right? How many times in your life do you get asked if you feel like a whore, after you tell someone what you do?
Laura: I don't know what to say to that.
Not local and not an expat
Apparently I'm a refugee.
From what?
From Life.
Interesting notion to ponder whilst making my pumpkin, red lentil, and sage soup. (Num num num...)
From what?
From Life.
Interesting notion to ponder whilst making my pumpkin, red lentil, and sage soup. (Num num num...)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Choosing between the two big players
Albert Heijn.
Dirk Van der Broek.
"Who are these weird dutch men?" you ask
"Are these new men in Rani's life, vying for her attention and love? Are they her neighbours? Her colleagues? Did she meet them in a bar? Are they the dutch equivalent of Cheech and Chong?"
No, no,no, no and no.
They are 2 chains of supermarkets here in the Netherlands.
Dutch people shop almost daily. Small apartments due to high density living in old buildings = small bar fridges as the norm.
I hate Albert Heijn. Since I got here, I've hated them. They pretty much monopolise the grocery chain market here, and they are shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
AH are generally open until 10pm every night but anything fresh is gone by noon. 3pm might see a broken baguette stick sitting all lonely like in the bread section. Maybe a lone orange alongside it. They do have good instant coffee machines though. Closed on Sundays. Actually most supermarkets are.
For some reason the name sounds like the name of a dirty old paedophile, with saggy pyjama pants (to me anyway.)
Dirk is cheaper. The kids that work there have better looking uniforms. They don't make generic and equally expensive brands of everything and pull the real brands. But they are few and far between. In general, this brand has more character.
For some reason the name sounds like the name of spunky young drummer from a Calvin Klein ad.
The competition between the 2 brands (in Amsterdam at least) doesn't really exist (not like Coles and Woolworths or Tesco and Sainsbury's) - Albert Heijn wins on a 8:1 ration or something random like that.
There's also Albi and C1000. Even fewer of these outlets.
More musings on grocery shopping later.
Meanwhile, someone has actually started a blog about how much they hate Albert Heijn.
Funny? or Sad?
http://ihatealbertheijn.wordpress.com/
Dirk Van der Broek.
"Who are these weird dutch men?" you ask
"Are these new men in Rani's life, vying for her attention and love? Are they her neighbours? Her colleagues? Did she meet them in a bar? Are they the dutch equivalent of Cheech and Chong?"
No, no,no, no and no.
They are 2 chains of supermarkets here in the Netherlands.
Dutch people shop almost daily. Small apartments due to high density living in old buildings = small bar fridges as the norm.
I hate Albert Heijn. Since I got here, I've hated them. They pretty much monopolise the grocery chain market here, and they are shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit.
AH are generally open until 10pm every night but anything fresh is gone by noon. 3pm might see a broken baguette stick sitting all lonely like in the bread section. Maybe a lone orange alongside it. They do have good instant coffee machines though. Closed on Sundays. Actually most supermarkets are.
For some reason the name sounds like the name of a dirty old paedophile, with saggy pyjama pants (to me anyway.)
Dirk is cheaper. The kids that work there have better looking uniforms. They don't make generic and equally expensive brands of everything and pull the real brands. But they are few and far between. In general, this brand has more character.
For some reason the name sounds like the name of spunky young drummer from a Calvin Klein ad.
The competition between the 2 brands (in Amsterdam at least) doesn't really exist (not like Coles and Woolworths or Tesco and Sainsbury's) - Albert Heijn wins on a 8:1 ration or something random like that.
There's also Albi and C1000. Even fewer of these outlets.
More musings on grocery shopping later.
Meanwhile, someone has actually started a blog about how much they hate Albert Heijn.
Funny? or Sad?
http://ihatealbertheijn.wordpress.com/
Monday, March 8, 2010
Foxxxxxxy
I am loving Germany at the moment.
Random.
Meet Peter Fox.
First heard him at a house party in Berlin. Then Laura showed me more stuff by him. Then I danced my ass off to a song of his at a nightclub in Cologne.
Watch video one - read the lyrics, appreciate the trumpet, wiggle your bum to it, love it as much as I do.
Then watch him perform this song live in Berlin.
Then watch the drumline and him.
Awesome.
Random.
Meet Peter Fox.
First heard him at a house party in Berlin. Then Laura showed me more stuff by him. Then I danced my ass off to a song of his at a nightclub in Cologne.
Watch video one - read the lyrics, appreciate the trumpet, wiggle your bum to it, love it as much as I do.
Then watch him perform this song live in Berlin.
Then watch the drumline and him.
Awesome.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Dear Sunshine
So here you are. Back from your long business trip.
I hear your project down south went well. You got critical acclaim, they can't stop talking about you over there.
But you're back again. Finally.
Seeing you again fills me with glee - an overwhelming rush that is familiar and welcome.
I know its been a while since we've seen each other, but nothing has changed. Really. Honestly. We had something good on the other side of the world, tell me it will work out again here in Amsterdam, at least for a few months, before you pack up and leave for your obligations on the other hemisphere. I hope we can create some new memories together, and have a fresh start.
I missed you.. a lot. I'm sorry that I never told you how much you mean to me, but now you know.
People told me you would leave, but I didn't believe them. They tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen. I thought they were just being mean, flippant and short, teasing me with their cruel predictions.
I took you for granted, and I'm sorry. I know better now.
But you're back. That's all that matters. Let's make the most of our short time together.
Please stay. For a little while. I don't want a fling- I'm serious this time. I'm different now - I can see you for what you really are, and what all your qualities bring to my life.
I've known you all my life, and I realise that we were meant to be together. It took you leaving to make me realise these things... There's nothing to work out - let's just be together. Pick up where we left off, like nothing ever happened. I'll just be me, you just be you - it will be beautiful.
I hear your project down south went well. You got critical acclaim, they can't stop talking about you over there.
But you're back again. Finally.
Seeing you again fills me with glee - an overwhelming rush that is familiar and welcome.
I know its been a while since we've seen each other, but nothing has changed. Really. Honestly. We had something good on the other side of the world, tell me it will work out again here in Amsterdam, at least for a few months, before you pack up and leave for your obligations on the other hemisphere. I hope we can create some new memories together, and have a fresh start.
I missed you.. a lot. I'm sorry that I never told you how much you mean to me, but now you know.
People told me you would leave, but I didn't believe them. They tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen. I thought they were just being mean, flippant and short, teasing me with their cruel predictions.
I took you for granted, and I'm sorry. I know better now.
But you're back. That's all that matters. Let's make the most of our short time together.
Please stay. For a little while. I don't want a fling- I'm serious this time. I'm different now - I can see you for what you really are, and what all your qualities bring to my life.
I've known you all my life, and I realise that we were meant to be together. It took you leaving to make me realise these things... There's nothing to work out - let's just be together. Pick up where we left off, like nothing ever happened. I'll just be me, you just be you - it will be beautiful.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
When is enough, enough?
The question of the month.
When do you know you've had enough, or don't want to take it anymore?
How can you tell the difference between a rough patch and when it's time to call it quits?
I saw the sun this morning, in all it's glory... I woke up to sunshine, the first time in a long time, and all of a sudden today, everything seems too hard, and I have this feeling that I want to go home.
I don't think I'm homesick, I just think I'm over being here at the moment.
I still don't have a doctor, because it just seems so freaking difficult to track one down on a weekday and register and I really want to see one.
The trek to work is just annoying.
I've been thinking about moving house to be closer to a community, but finding a room that is reasonably priced, with realatively normal people just seems impossible and renting on my own is not even feasible in terms of affordability.
My body just keeps rejecting the idea of being here, with constant little bouts of coughs and growing/shrinking glands, a blemish problem that won't vacate my face ( despite hundreds of euros of treatment from the simple cleansing and moisturising routine with basic products, to the pricier " this will work because a doctor created it and it costs about half a month's rent " type of products) and waistline that won't shrink despite watching my diet.
Work is just... work. Mildly amusing, mostly dull.
The only constant in my life bringing me joy is little Laura.
Maybe I am just tired. Of it. All?
When do you know you've had enough, or don't want to take it anymore?
How can you tell the difference between a rough patch and when it's time to call it quits?
I saw the sun this morning, in all it's glory... I woke up to sunshine, the first time in a long time, and all of a sudden today, everything seems too hard, and I have this feeling that I want to go home.
I don't think I'm homesick, I just think I'm over being here at the moment.
I still don't have a doctor, because it just seems so freaking difficult to track one down on a weekday and register and I really want to see one.
The trek to work is just annoying.
I've been thinking about moving house to be closer to a community, but finding a room that is reasonably priced, with realatively normal people just seems impossible and renting on my own is not even feasible in terms of affordability.
My body just keeps rejecting the idea of being here, with constant little bouts of coughs and growing/shrinking glands, a blemish problem that won't vacate my face ( despite hundreds of euros of treatment from the simple cleansing and moisturising routine with basic products, to the pricier " this will work because a doctor created it and it costs about half a month's rent " type of products) and waistline that won't shrink despite watching my diet.
Work is just... work. Mildly amusing, mostly dull.
The only constant in my life bringing me joy is little Laura.
Maybe I am just tired. Of it. All?
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