Did I ever say an engagement was an elephant, madam?

Tonight..

2009-11-04T23:03:59Z

I was supposed to go home, eat my healthy bit of leftover chicken noodles and go to the gym.

Instead, I went into town and ate a pie and chips with mayonnaise about half an hour ago.

Justification: received an email this afternoon about tickets to a Nevermind the Buzzcocks recording. Phoned them, nailed some reservations and went to the studio straight after work (after a plea to leave early, which was good, because we only just managed to get in). Finally succeeded in getting hold of Nicky and she rushed White City-wards as well. Slightly gutted it wasn't last week's (David Tennant aaaaagh, it's just not meant to be is it), but only slightly, because we had a fucking awesome time. Noel Fielding is so much funnier and cleverer than I thought he would be, wheras Phil Jupitus is really as you think he is (good!). David Walliams was quite an interesting host as well: his interaction with Basshunter was priceless. Sometimes it's cringeworthy if the foreigner who doesn't quite get what's going on is being the centre of comic attention, but this time it was because he thoroughly enjoyed being just that, and knew he was missing half the jokes. My favourite joke, David Walliams: "Neil Tennant is incidentally also what I say to my lodger when he fails to pay the rent" That and all the IKEA and Swedish cook references. I do hope they don't cut out the best bits.

I love living in London.

How silly

2009-10-23T20:01:36Z

I've been neglecting my LJ in favour of my Dutch blog. Sorry! Can't abandon the old livejournal, so I better start posting a bit more regularly.

So, er, yes, not much going on.

My job is great, hope I can stay on for a bit longer.

I still love London.

I love our flat, especially when it's all nice and tidy as it is now.

I haven't planned nowt this weekend, except for a little freelance translation work.

EMPLOYED!

2009-09-14T12:56:44Z

A JOB. One I'll actually like. HR translator for Coca Cola, can you believe it!

Oh. My. God.

2009-07-30T11:21:17Z

Sainsbury's slices your nice bread for you if you ask for it!

This is going to make my life so much easier!

We should get proper internet today, yay!

My laptop's aliive!

2009-07-24T16:07:18Z

My god. It's working. Jumping with joy.

I played around with it a little bit and the connection started working again! I'm now on an illegal one but, who cares, when our O2 router arrives in a few days I'll have the internet!! That internet cafe across the road is getting no more of my dosh!

Wooo guess what

2009-06-23T20:11:38Z

We went to Wimbledon for the day and it was bloody brilliant!

Sorry, can't chat. Have to pack pack pack. Holland and Danskland, here I come.

Padaaa

2009-06-14T01:03:48Z

Received the keys to our Pebbledash Palace in Tootinkk today.

Quite a big moment.

Bought a wok too.

Right people, I need tunes.

2009-05-27T08:15:03Z

Now it's clear I'm spending most of my weekend on a coach back and forth to London, the time really has come for my Roskilde playlist.

http://www.roskilde-festival.dk/uk/music/bands/

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS (AUS)COLDPLAY (UK)FAITH NO MORE (US)NINE INCH NAILS (US)OASIS (UK)PET SHOP BOYS (UK)SLIPKNOT (US)TRENTEMØLLER - DJ Set with Live Guests (DK)KANYE WEST (US)2MANYDJS (BEL)TONY ALLEN (NGA)AMADOU & MARIAM (MALI)TIM CHRISTENSEN (DK)DEADMAU5 (CAN)DOWN (US)EAGLES OF DEATH METAL (US)FEVER RAY (S)FLEET FOXES (US)HÅKAN HELLSTRÖM (S)GRACE JONES (JAM)LIL WAYNE (US)MADNESS (UK)MALK DE KOIJN (DK)THE MARS VOLTA (US)MEW (DK)RÖYKSOPP (N)SOCIAL DISTORTION (US)VOLBEAT (DK)LUCINDA WILLIAMS (US)YEAH YEAH YEAHS (US)

Which songs by any of the bands of that list should I definitely memorise for next month? That does include HÅKAN HELLSTRÖM as well, my dear mofjes! Need some titles so I can start stealing them off somewhere.

Also, Scotland.

2009-03-28T13:37:26Z

Amsterdam yesterday: Scots, everywhere. Kilts, bagpipes, ginger wigs, the lot. And Scotland weren't even playing last night, they are tonight. Didn't stop the fans from decorating the Dam war memorial with massive Scottish flags. It was really quite funny, we were passing on the tram and we could hear them chanting from halfway across the Damrak. There were some riot police vans but the atmosphere was generally quite friendly. Couldn't help being reminded of Manchester full of Ranger fans last summer though. Best, friendliest atosphere ever, but that's when they'd just started drinking, and they ended up wrecking half the city centre later that day. Anyway, the match that had completely slipped my mind explained the random Scottish The Sun double decker I saw from the Leiden-Amsterdam train. I do hope Scotland wins tonight.

As for other Scots news, me and Nouk are seeing the View in Utrecht a day before the Maximo Park gig. Good birthday pressie or what?

Hahaha

2009-03-26T08:14:12Z

Marieke sent me this link this morning, under the title "het kan altijd erger"

http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trijntje_Keever

'tis true.

Right, sent off to applications for London jobs already, I'm on a roll! Library and uni admin jobs mostly. One every night this week hopefully. Except for Friday, which is when me and the sisters are off to Dam for a comedy night! Marieke's treat, as my birthday present. Should be really good.

Jaaarig.

2009-03-13T10:31:34Z

Amazing cake. Really, it looks so lovely, Nouk's outdone herself.

Ramsey Nasr - Kapitein Zeiksnor. Love it!

"De honger is voor zwakkelingen, want slechts van voorbijgaande aard. Koffiedrinken daarentegen doe ik des te liever! Alle dagen koffie, dat geeft veerkracht aan de botten. Koffie houdt kwalen op afstand. Jazeker!"

So true. And it's his birthday as well.

'heppie bursdee toejoe' card from Ria. She makes such an effort to get you a personal card, it's so sweet!

coffee with Liesbeth. Lovely!

My mum knows the woman who works in the bookshop in town, so I just got a boekenweekgeschenk with an English book yesterday, gehe.

Off to Utrecht when mum gets back from school, yay!

Granny at 23.

2009-03-12T12:10:29Z

My hip is really playing up. It must just be a sore muscle but it's unbelievably annoying. It's quite conforting to know I don't have any actual hip problems (it's the exact same pain I had after the other operation, in my other hip, so it'll just be that I'm straining the muscles of the non-operated leg too much) I guess.

Oh, I'm trying twitter as of today, but writing them isn't as fun as reading other people's. To be honest, I need to get a life before I can start tweeting about it. My boring knee-translating LJ posts are bad enough as it is.

Very excited about seeing everyone tomorrow!! Just hope this granny and her hip are able to dance the night away. Or at least the late afternoon.

Random bits and bobs.

2009-03-11T11:03:54Z

Woo managed to finish knitting my new bag in time for Friday, result!

Also, Netherlands chapter, check. On to the intro, where we actually get on to recent terrorist naughtiness.

HEMA sent me the jaaropgaaf 2006 only. Specifically asked for 2005 as well, silly Amsterdamse Eenheidsmaatschappij.

Furthermore, tapas recipies and grocerie list for Friday, check! I insisted on gambas.

Received my first bday card! I think it's off Jo bless her.

Me and Nouk have discovered Twitter and Gavin & Stacey. We're so last year it hurts.

Before I return to my translating duties..

2009-03-09T09:45:07Z

"Mum, what was life like when those Moluccan train hijacks were going on? Did you just continue taking the train and that?"

"Yes of course, I just took my knitting on the train to college."

"So you could stab the hijackers with a knitting needle?"

"Noo, so I'd have something to do in case we got hijacked."

7,5 pages, get in thurr!

2009-03-03T16:18:52Z

By this rate I'll have finished this chapter in a week. Time for an evening of relaxation.

Doctah tomorrow! That X-ray better reveal my leg is completely healed or I may lose my nerve.

Oasis at Roskilde!

2009-02-26T09:59:59Z

Excitement galore.

Britain
My second home and the first love that stuck. Via Spice Girls, Harry Potter and Muse I, when I was about 14 or 15, came to the conclusion that everything from this magical nation I'd never been to must be wonderful. In 4th year we went on a London trip, I stood on a man's toe in the Tube, he apologised and I fell in love. With said country that is, not said man. I loved reading English books, finding out new words every day (bit sad when that daily occurance stopped actually, but I still make a little jump at every new discovery now) and frankly I was overly chuffed with the compliments Mr. de Clerk gave me every time he made me read to the class in English. I embarked upon my degree purely because I could talk about the British and in English for four years. I consequently steered well clear of all the yankophobes, made some lovely fellow anglophile friends in Hsins and Roos and was adamant on spending a year of my degree in te UK. Instead I was there for two. I thought living there would make me appreciate it less but it hasn't. It's made me realise that the people and the way of life just suit me so well, that I can't possibly think about properly settling in the Netherlands again.

being born the wrong nationality
For a while I did think this but now I believe I could never have appreciated the UK so much from an insider perspective. Though I'd give up my (figurative) passport for a lion and a unicorn tomorrow I do like hovering between two nationalities. It's so much fun fooling people into thinking you're British though, I don't think I'll ever get tired of that.

family
I love my family and I should be more aware of how lucky I am. I am at the moment but most of the time relationships in my family are so tense and emotional that it's just so extremely exhausting to be right on top of everyone. Being at home again for me is extremely unhealthy, mentally anyway. If it wasn't for my knees I would have stayed in the UK. I'm glad though, because there were some golden moments in the last six months, and I know I will cherish those when I get back. It's nice to come to that age when distancing yourself from home seems the natural thing to do, and coming back to visit will be much more enjoyable that way.

adventure
Hmm I don't think I really am genuinely adventurous, or if I am, I'm yet to find out. One of the reasons I like Britain so much is its tendency to stick with the traditional, the steady and the familiar. With a bit of contancy it's so much easier to feel at home. But, then again, I do like random trips, not knowing where I'll end up, even if I'm on my own, trying to decipher a foreign language. I should get a passport really and disover my sense of adventure. I think I will as soon as I've found a suitable travel compagnion.

English
I love speaking, reading and writing it, but I am still very insecure, particularly now I'm back in the Netherlands and I don't function in English around the clock. I think translating has given me a new confidence boot though, and an additional appreciation for my own language. English is just so musical, quirky, extensive, brilliant and traditional at the same time though. Spa-lendid.

Yikes

2009-02-25T12:00:45Z

That's the airline with which my parents are flying to Istanbul in May, that's just crashed at Schiphol, on its way back from Istanbul.

Chapter the Second, Check.

2009-02-24T16:31:03Z

Footnotes excepted, I've as good as finished the judicial chaper. All I need is a good translation of 'rechtsvrede' and I just can't find one anywhere.

Also, in the spirit of me starting Lent three weeks early, my mum is not making pancakes tonight. Sadness ensuing. Exactly a year since me and Matt's pancake tasting session and the subsequent korfball training session with very full bellies as well. Manchester I miss thee.

We were talking serial killers..

2009-02-21T14:31:36Z

..and, as many people are aware, we've not much to show for it in Nederland.

But who we do have, as my dad just pointed out, is 'Jack de Knipper'

http://www.ad.nl/utrecht/oost/2851897/Jack_de_Knipper_terroriseert_flat.html

Cracked me up.

Translating dilemma

2009-02-20T13:06:28Z

Het enige verdachte materiaal dat de antiterreurbrigade in hun woning aantrof was een Hema-wekker.

"The sole piece of incriminating evidence the antiterrorism brigade encountered at their house was an alarm clock from a widely-known Dutch department store."

any suggestions, HEMAwise?

Primark!

2009-02-19T07:59:07Z

Yesterday's visit to Rotterdam Alexander and its Primark was lovely. It was the most wheelchair-friendly shop in the whol shopping centre (UK rules I tell you) and they had loads of Irish girls walking around checking whether the Rotterdammers were sticking to the Primark formula. Bought a baby blue knitted top and some earrings. Marieke bought loads more though and we got Anouk some goodies as well. Still though, they haven't got all the more stylish, quirky little things you find in Primark in the UK. If they don't take heed they'll get a C&A repuation in this country, because they did sell a lot of rrubbish yesterday. Also, may I add, a lot more expensive than in the UK. My top was 15 euros and probably would have been less than a fiver in Manchester. Aww, I miss Manchester. And not just its Primark.

Right, 13 pages to go before this weekend. I'm setting myself deadlines because I need them.

This morning I allowed myself a lie-in..

2009-02-10T10:36:57Z

..which, after a week of bad nights, was more than welcome. Up until now, my dad's been giving me a hand with coming downstairs, my mum installed me with a sandwich and a coffee and they'd be off to work (all of this before 8am). Not this time! I slept really well for a change..

(though I had a rather odd dream that involved me having a bitch-fight with Rita Verdonk. Honestly, I even threw wine in her face. I think it's because she was on telly the other night supporting the pro-cancer pub landlords the other day, who just continue their RIDICULOUS rebellion against the smoking ban. After seeing how well the UK did by just accepting that everyone deserved to reside in any fog-free bar of their choice, I don't see how a bunch of smokey retards from Brabant and Groningen could not possibly control they grubby nicotine-stained fingers for the night and allow non-addicts to enjoy a night out as well. Honestly. Mind you, I feel sort of guilty that that I never had any dreams that involved kicking the shit out of Rita when she was Minister of Immigration. Eigen Longen Eerst?)

..and woke up just before 10. Yay! I manage to make it downstairs on my own, where I'll find nothing resembling breakfast anywhere. Just had to hop to the kitchen on one crutch to fetch some bread and coffee, and now my knee's really painful again. My mum's a dear, but it's either I need help with everything, or I don't need help with anything with her. Sigh. It's more just me feeling the pang of parental dependance once more though. Ah well, the coffee tasted extra good and so did the terrific 600mg ibuprofen I just treated myself to. Back to Italian terrorists in court!

Done for the day.

2009-02-09T16:01:04Z

Six pages, despite Nouk and Ria distracting me.

I feel drowsy, hungry and slightly claustrophobic. I need to get out of this room and away from this laptop. Book or telly? Sigh.

I need to get myself some wool, I miss the knitting from last time.

I've decided to be more positive about the Month of Helll

2009-02-08T14:16:02Z

If not, I'll drive everyone over the edge with my crankiness. So, here are the advantages of sitting on my bum for a month once more:

- I have been attempting to diet as usual and it's actually working! Even though I'm at home all day I simply can't hop to the kitchen and come back with my arms full of goodies, so, I thought, while I'm at it, I'd work really hard at eating healthily as much as possible. I highly doubt I'll lose tons of weight sitting on my arse all day, but at least I won't gain any either. Mind you, if I keep up the habit of sandwiches for breakfast and lunch and one serving of supper and cutting out everything in between (Anouk's fruit smoothies and coffee excluded, obviously) until after the op when I start the whole fitness thing again I might manage to lose some serious weight before the summer. I'd love to feel a bit better about myself when I go back to the UK.
- I'm still really enjoying translating. I think this week I'll watch a Dickens or a Blackpool in between my translating every day, if I can still manage five a day. Since I started using Stijn's pirate copy of the VanDale dictionary dvd, translating's been going loads quicker.
- Good company. I've had some lovely afternoons with my mum, chatting about all sorts of things. Also, Nouk's looking after me really well, distracting me with dvd sessions, music ramblings and the prospect of a Maximo Park gig in Utrecht on the 3rd of April, woohoo! Mind you, I'm still very chuffed she's checking out a student flat on Tuesday. I really hope she gets the room! I don't mind being here just with my parents if that means she gets to live in Utrecht for at least half of her student life! I've got people visiting as well, hopefully. Rooz is coming soon, and so is Hsins (for a night of joy and dvds) and Nic said she's coming down to entertain me for an afternoon as well, so that'll be really nice. Only thing is, I'm already very weary of staying inside all day, so hopefully me and my mum can start planning some outings soon. It's my mum's spring holiday in a week, so my dad might take off a day as well and we'll go to an exhibition in a city somewhere. Anything but Gouda shopping centre or Gouda city centre really.
- Getting away with a lot more. Better make sure I won't get too lazy.

Still, the knee's still really sore, and I'm so so sick of sitting here. Ah well. Positivity. Aye.

Memoirs of a Couch Potatoe (co-written by Anouk M.P. 'wee' Abels)

2009-02-07T14:03:33Z

To start on a joyous note, why is Tigger always dirty?

Because he's always playing with Pooh!

Thanks, Anouk, for your contribution to my memoirs.

As for the rest of my life, it's all pretty exciting.

If I'm lucky, I get a smoothie off the little brat.

If I'm not, I get hit in the faaace with a frying pan.

Me and Nouk have founded a Wakefield colony right in the middle of Gouda.

Don't ask.

You shirtlifters.

No, Anouk, you blooming Scouser.

Proper boss laicch.

Indeed.