Spider legs on Brom's birthday

No no! Don't worry, he did not receive spider legs on his birthday. He would not have liked that at all and neither would I. The spider legs are mine. Well, not real spider legs, but the stitches in my hand. They look and feel like spider legs. However, today they will be coming out. This afternoon to be precise. 

Apart from some swelling still, the wound looks really good and well healed up. A bit sensitive to the touch, but not painful. That can not be said for my wrist. I had this pain prior to the surgery and it has continued until now, although it does not spread to the arm anymore.

Last week I tried to do some knitting and although I could do it, the pain was very much not good. So I decided that that would need to wait a while longer. I am doing the dishes every day now, even though that is quite painful too. And then on Friday I developed my first headache attack since July (!!!), which left me out of the game for a day or two.

But who cares about my hand and (lack of) use of said appendage when today it's BROM'S BIRTHDAY! Yes, he turned 48 today and is enjoying it very much. I had promised him a new pair of Christmas socks, but unfortunately I haven't been able to make them yet. He says that it's fine and it's not Christmas yet anyway. 

Miss O wanted to say Happy Birthday Brom too

I did make him some other socks prior to OotH-day though and he has been wearing them Every Single Day he likes them so much. So, hopefully he will get his proper present soon. We are all crossing our fingers.

Birthday party

It was my birthday last month, but due to my sister coming a few weeks later, I scheduled my birthday party for July 17th. It was going to be watery. As in: sightseeing by boat, perhaps renting a small boat ourselves. 

One friend couldn't make it, as she was on holiday. Another couldn't make it as she was due to go on holiday. So, of the 17 people invited: 6 dropped out immediately. My friend in Scotland couldn't make it. Nor could my sister (this virus is slowly getting on my nerves!). My brother called: he was coming, but his family not as they were (going) camping and had travel time. 

H tried to putt, but he overshot

Eventually it was me, my parents and a couple who have known me all (she) or most (he) of my life. I still didn't want to do the Dutch thing by sitting around, having coffee and cake, followed by nibbles and chit chat. But the watery idea I had was doable with a sizeable group, not so much with a small group. 

 I in the 'Ruff'

In the end I had an idea. I had been to this place yonks ago and I thought it might be good fun to go there again. We were going to play golf! Not the Tiger Woods version, but not the Kurt Russell/Goldie Hawn 'Overboard' version either. Pitch & Putt. 

First there would be lunch at home. For this my brother, his wife and two daughters would come. Until that blasted virus knocked it sideways once again. Until they could come anyway. Until traffic got in the way in the form of accidents and roadworks. The other couple had similar problems: an open bridge which then wouldn't close again. 

In the end, everybody arrived. Lunch was eaten and then four cars left again. One car for camping, one car home to son (who wasn't able to come) and two cars for golf. Once there it was busy. Very busy. And due to this virus (have I told you it is getting on my nerves), not enough staff. But we did get our coffee and cakes and then we were told about the course and what to do.

My Dad and H searching for a ball 

The weather was glorious. Blue skies, sun, a bit of wind, 24 degrees C. All around fantastic. Perfect for a nice 18 hole round. Well... In the end it was only five. Due to all the troubles earlier in the day, we started a bit late and if we were to do the whole thing, it would be 10 pm by the time we would finish, as we weren't that good.

It was a lot of fun though. I took some photos with my phone and for some reason it takes short videos at the same time. Normally quite annoying, this time around it was perfect. On our return we visited our local Chinese to round off the day perfectly. Good food, good company. It was a good day, despite...

Video 1: My Mum teeing off

Video 2: My Dad teeing off and failing

Video 3: My Dad's ball had landed in the water and he needed to retrieve it. We were hoping, it didn't happen...

Video 4: Me hitting the ball

Video 5: Me hitting the ball again

Sarah

Today I have become a Sarah. Yep, I turned 50 years old and in the Netherlands you are then a Sarah. Unless you are male as in that case you become an Abraham. As I am female, Sarah it is. Fun fact: did you know Miss O was originally called Sara? Yeah, changed that the minute she got through my door.

Anyway. Big birthday. Or so they say. I don't really see so much difference with 49 or 51 or 62 and 127 days to be honest, but apparently 50 is the big one. The half century. Starting the end. Then again, as I am planning to reach 120, I am not quite starting the end yet. I hope.

A home made rice pudding cake

Right. Birthday. With cake. Which I would normally have made myself, but a certain new place is also vying for attention, so shop bought it is. I received my first birthday card already back in May with an overexcited Debby sending it out early. I have only opened it today!

As for presents: well, I have some fantastic ones this year. First of all there was the new iPod I bought for myself. Expensive maybe, but I had been going on about it for nearly three years and besides: I had plenty of money as a new place was far on the horizon.

The new digs

Then there was the new place which was actually much closer than I had ever thought. I won't quite be in it by the end of this day, but in a month's time I can watch the Doctor whenever I want. Or any of the other series, shows or films that I like. And if I'm not home: I can record it.

The third great present came two days ago. My Mum and I were going to get a new potato bin for my Mum, when I spotted a lovely dress in a shop window. One that actually stopped me in my tracks as I loved it. So, after the potato bin had been bought, I went into that store to see whether it would fit. Remember I am a big girl and regular sizes are too small. This was a regular clothes shop.

I knew I was size 48 last year. I had lost weight, so 46 should be good now. I tried it on: it looked awful! Like I was wearing a potato sack. I needed a smaller size, but they didn't have the next size down. They did however have 42, which I tried on. I took it off almost immediately, put my own stuff back on, went to the counter and paid for the dress. 

All in all, this birthday has all the markings of being a good birthday. 

A new year

Fata Morgana: bacon, dates, goat's cheese and honey

I had a birthday yesterday. It was a good one. It started with cake and a lovely present. It ended with a pancake at my favourite pancake restaurant. 

Which means that this is the first day of the new year for me. A year which will hopefully turn out good. I will be doing my best for that. For starters I will be back at work. After over four months sitting at home due to bankruptcy and Corona, I will be back behind the wheel of a bus. 

The bike was a present from me back in 2018
The poppy bags on the back are a present from my parents in 2020

It will take some getting used to, I can tell you. Over the past few months I barely had to deal with alarm clocks at all. So, having to get up to actually get to work again, will be something else. Having to wear a uniform again will also be strange. For starters it feels different from the one I have worn over the last 7 years. 

Of course it will also be strange at home. Over the past few months we have alternated the cooking. All of us taking our turn to prepare dinner. As my father has already gone back to work, some of his 'shifts' are already covered by my mum and me, although we will stick him with twice in a row as well. 

Other than that, I am entering my fiftieth year of living as I have just filled the 49 (as they say in Norway). Will it be different from before? Let's hope life gets a bit easier and more relaxed. 

Only 364 nights sleep til my next birthday!!

Brom has a birthday!!

Coocoo!!!

Guess what! It's my birthday today. Unfortunately Mara was at work all day long, but while she was away, I celebrated with Oswin and Mouse! We had a ball. 

But then Mara came home again and she gave me my gift. A very good gift, since I wanted something that showed I was Dutch for a long time. 

She got me clogs! Now I can clog dance!!

Happy birthday to me.

More presents

They were expected to get here today, but they made it yesterday already: my gifts to myself. Over the years I have taken a lot of photos and some of them are really nice. I tend to use them in a calendar, but once I had ordered that first photo (taken on the Hardanger Plains), I wanted more. I looked through my collection and found five more photos to get. 

Starting with the top right (and then going clock wise): The Little Mermaid in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 2011 (work trip with the Dutch scouts). A Hoodoo in the Albertan Badlands in Canada, September 2011 (with Kay). Kilmacduagh in Ireland, October 2005 (with my sister). Heddal Stave Church in Norway, April 2012 (on my own). And the Kelpies in Scotland, June 2014 (with Yamini). 

I have written locations and dates on the back as well. Just so I won't forget...

Present

I bought a present for my birthday. But of course it wouldn't be here in time. I am expecting it this week. As well as another present by friends of mine. So imagine my surprise when I got a present yesterday. Out of the blue. 

It contained a card. A balloon (to be blown up by yours truly). A drawing of a birdie. And a book! A book about the Dutch royal family. But different. Because in it IS information about the royal family, however it is mainly a do it yourself book. A knitting book! How to knit your own royals. Isn't that the most wonderful thing?

I thank my brother and his family for this very fitting gift. It is a treasure.

New Year

Do you usually have difficulties writing down the date? No? Neither do I. But, what if it's your birthday? Then what? Well....

Yesterday I kept wanting to write down 30.06.1971 instead of 30.06.2017. Just because the first one is what I always have to write when it comes to my birthday, so putting another year was just weird. I did manage though. With some crossing out. 

I spend my birthday at work. Driving a bus. Making money for the big birthday present that is now on its way to me. Well, the five birthday presents really, since I ordered five canvas prints of photos I have taken over the years. I can't wait for them to arrive, which will be sometime next week. 

I also got a lovely birthday card from Debby a few days before, which was very much appreciated, although at first glance I wondered why I got the card (I am getting old. Ahem), until I realised I was actually having a birthday a few days later. 

And then I got cards and phone calls and lots and lots of well wishes on Facebook and hugs at work. So, a good day all in all. Even though I did only eat junk instead of the planned cauliflower (my favourite birthday dish: cooked cauliflower with cornflour sauce, baked potatoes with a bit of cheese on top and sausage). There's always tonight!

Now for something completely different though: very early this morning Mice for Mama went up in the air. So, if you want a mouse: head on over and find out how to get one. Just click on the photo with the micies at the top of the side panel and hey presto! 

4

May 13th, 2014

When I first got Miss Oswin in 2014, I was told that they found her in a garage with a small litter. She was about a year old. But when exactly she was born nobody knows.

April 27th, 2017

Fast forward to 2015 and we decided that she could share her birthday with the King of the Netherlands: King Willem Alexander. Ever since, Miss Oswin has celebrated her birthday on April 27th. 

The birthday card Miss Oswin got from Madi and Mom. Thank you so much.
And happy birthday to Madi's Dad!

Guess what: today is April 27th! So, it's Miss Oswin's birthday!! Happy Birthday Ozzie. 

Day 6: Celebrations!

First of all I have to say: HAPPY BIRTHDAY BROM! Unfortunately I can't tell him in person, because he still hasn't arrived home! But don't worry, we will celebrate later. With a nice cake for example. Yum!

Since Brom isn't home yet to help us decide who wins a calendar, I asked Miss Oswin and she was happy to step in. You may remember there were two of each up for grabs and the winners are....

Yamini and Ginnie Marie each win one of Brom's calendars. Princess Leah and Murphy & Stanley win one of mine. Congratulations. As soon as they get here (Brom collected them in Northern Ireland), they will be sent on their ways. 

Also Janice, could you send me your snail mail address, so I can send you one as well. My email is: busdriver1971ATgmailDOTcom

Well...

The cake for the not special occasion: a 'vlaai'.
Not my favourite!

The things that happened this week. I went to a 'volunteer for Iron Man' meeting (I will be part of the finish line crew), I suffered yet once again from a four day headache (thanks to last Sunday's cycling trip), I baked two cakes (one for a special occasion) and I celebrated turning 45 (the special occasion).

Oh yes, I had a birthday. Which started by oversleeping, but then I found out I hadn't and had a shorter shift than expected as well. In turn that meant I had more time to get the apple pie done. I found the recipe I used the very first time, but found the amounts of flour were not that good, so had to add. And then of course they talk about a handful of raisins. Whose hand? So, I used about four of mine. Could have been five. The same with the cinnamon, which I love. But only a tea spoon of it? Not nearly enough, so I just shook that little thingy and then shook it some more. 

Well, if I am not using my training gear....

The cake was appreciated by colleagues and landlord and friends and most was eaten after the last ones left. I froze the remainder for a rainy day. The strawberries and vanilla sauce were all gone though. 

I got some lovely gifts as well. Some financial aid towards a gps/speed tracker for bike and such; how to knit mittens; a crocheting booklet with yarn; a lovely plant and "chocolates" (in the form of nectarines). And then I finally got my act together and started struggling with Amazon to get me a Kindle. For some dumb reason I can't get one in the UK, so had to buy it in the USA. It is (as I write this) on its way from Louisville, Kentucky, USA!

So, that was my week. 

Congratulations King Willem Alexander!

But of course, much more importantly: CONGRATULATIONS MISS OSWIN! 

Since I will be quite busy over the next few days, we won't be able to celebrate it in a big way, but I promise that we will as soon as we get our own place. 

In honour of the King though: the little hat I was due to wear today, but now am not since I am afraid it might get ruined.

Miss Oswin congratulates

Miaow

Another of those peace offerings today: I get to write another post. Even though there is already a post today and the chance of anybody reading my beautifully crafted words are minimal! Hmpfh

Plus, does he really need it? All the attention? After all, he already has a calendar!! Oh, Mara says I have to write nice or she will take over.

So, what´s the big deal? It is Brom´s birthday! It´s not royal like mine, but it is quite good anyway, because he shares his birthday with Saint Nicolas or Sinterklaas. And yesterday in the Netherlands and Belgium a lot of children got presents from Saint Nicolas. Mara thinks that 42 years ago, Saint Nicolas brought Brom into Mara´s life when she was only 2. That is quite exciting.

Happy 42nd birthday Brom, you silly orange teddy! I hope you like your birthday hat!

Cake, sweets and flowers

As it was my birthday yesterday and was asked by a friend whether at what time the apple pie was going to be ready, I decided to make apple pie and invite some people. But when I wanted to start on the apple pie, I found I had lost the recipe! Oh my. Fortunately it had come off the great interweb, so off I went to search. Well, I found a lot of apple pie recipes, but not 'my' recipe. 

In the end though, I found an ordinary apple pie recipe and adjusted the filling to what I remembered. And it worked beautifully. The cake was done a bit later than planned, but when it was finally ready to eat (only a few degrees below too hot), it was a gorgeous cake. I had used peaches as well and it was yummy!

Two friends came by to help eat the cake and both came with gifts. One gave me sweets and chocolate in the most adorable tin. The other friend was going to get me flowers and ended up getting me a ...

It's huge! And heavy as well!

Watermelon? Well, we had a good laugh over that and dug into the cake. More than half was gone by the time they left and they both took a piece home as well, to eat at work to make the other colleagues jealous!

It was a good birthday. 

Miss Oswin and Brom congratulate

She only had Christmas paper! So, that's what we used.
And two strings. Very important to have two strings!!

Miaow and coocoo

For weeks we were wondering what to get her. She has everything you know. Well, she would like some more Christmas films, but it's summer now, so we were not getting her that! Somebody suggested milkbones, or balls, or stuffies or a steak. Not really Mara's style you know, although the steak she said, would be nice. Somebody else suggested a gift card! How boring is that??? Or lingerie! Well, can you see us going into a lingerie shop to get some!? 

Well, after much deliberating (drumroll please): we got her a new flashy thing!! And a 500 kroner gift card (yes, yes, we know) for a one day photo course in September! 

Happy Birthday Mara and many many happy returns!!

A purr from Miss Oswin and a cuddle from Brom

Happy birthday!

As we were chatting on Saturday morning (she demanded food, I talked about lots of things), I realised it has nearly been a year that Miss Oswin has been part of my home. Or made my place a home I should say! As she demanded and then wolfed down her food, I continued realising things. Not only has she been with me for nearly a year, she turns/turned 2 as well. 

Because she was a found cat, her exact age is unknown, but the guess when I got her was about a year old. Which means that she would now be about two years old. That's how things work in life. But having a birthday 'sometime' in April is not good. It's sloppy and very disrespectful. And if any creature demands respect (as well as food), it is Miss Oswin. 

Ooooh, belly rub!

We had to come up with a date. And I think I found the perfect one as well. Today is a Royal birthday: the King of the Netherlands is celebrating his! Well, Miss Oswin has now joined him in celebrations. From now on, her birthday will be celebrated on April 27th.

Happy birthday Miss Oswin (oh, and King Willem Alexander as well of course, but he is not nearly as important as Miss Oswin)!

Once again

It happens once a year. To everybody. Unless you are born on February 29th of course, because then it only happens every four years. I am talking about birthdays of course and yesterday was mine. A day that will forever stick in my memory as 'a not quite there' birthday. 

Yes, I did get congratulated. A lot. Although the first one to do so, congratulated me on the Dutch win in the Football World Championship in Brazil! But, once he had realised it was my birthday, I got a hug as well. Facebook of course was doing its part in getting the well wishers to well wish me. They did in droves. My mother phoned and I was even able to talk to my dad for a few minutes. A colleague had called and I got several text messages. (Both my brother and sister phoned after I had gone to bed)

But, once I got home, the excitement of turning a year older, soon changed to something akin to indifference. No birthday cards were waiting for me (I got one today though, thank you Pepperfly) and I hadn't even bought a gift for myself. 

Don't feel too sorry for me though. Since I might not have bought a gift for me before my birthday, but I got the wheels in motion for the biggest gift I could think of. And today I found out it wasn't even going to cost me an arm and a leg either! Little over half of what I had been expecting. 

Year 43 is well and truly underway and I hope that by next week my birthday gift will be here. I hope Oswin will like it as much as I do. And if not? Tough!

42 (and a bit)

Last Saturday was a day on which I had to some shopping and some serious cleaning. Fortunately my parents weren't due to arrive until late in the evening, so plenty of time to clean! Yippee... Anyway, by the time I had cleaned everything, there was still enough time to watch television and wait for my parents to arrive. Which finally happened at around 10.45pm. They had found my home in one go. 

My mum exclaimed over the house, my dad exclaimed a bit over the low ceilings (especially upstairs). But in short: they liked the place. Wouldn't be a place where they would want to live, but that's good, since I wouldn't want them to live here anyway!!

Sunday was an easy day. I made dinner, baked an apple pie, we did some sightseeing (only some), we watched some television. No Wimbledon for my mum, but they could see some Tour de France. A film out of my vast collection and the day was almost over. The day on which I turned 42!

Monday was a bad weather day. Rain and wind and we decided we would go to the shopping center. After all we are Dutch, so we don't (yet) go with the whole 'outdoor in all types of weather' craze they have here! However we had seen Tuesday would be a nice day, so I checked at what time the boat and the bus would run and decided to visit Bergen, the city with the slogan: It rains in Bergen. It didn't! 

My parents had wanted to see Bergen and I didn't mind seeing it again, so on Tuesday we headed to the quay in Haugesund to take the three hour journey by fast ferry to Bergen. It was a nice ride, although a bit boring. In Bergen we had lunch, saw the Hanseatic houses, went up the mountain with the funiculaire and had dinner, before heading back to the busstation to start the three hour journey back, this time by bus.

Yesterday (Wednesday) was another rain day and we mostly stayed in. I did venture out for a bit on my own to do some necessary shopping and I (finally) got my internet router.

All in all a quiet week. Today we wanted to work in the garden, but there is a threat of rain and the grass is still wet, so...

40 again

My birthday in Ireland several years ago.
Cake courtesy of my sister!

I remember when I was in primary school: everybody over the age of 15 seemed so old and grown-up to me. I got to that age and realised I wasn't old or grown-up: people in their twenties however were. Turn to me in my twenties and I realised I wasn't old or grown-up at all: people in their thirties however were! Etcetera...

My body occasionally makes me feel old. The (younger) passengers occasionally make me feel old. Children occasionally make me feel grown-up. But in the end? I don't really think I am old. Or grown-up for that matter!

I am 41 today. Hip hip hooray!!!

Birthday

And there I was on Friday, sitting in church when all of a sudden my phone went off. Fortunately it happened before the service and I turned it off immediately (others hadn't been so clever or thoughtful). When I finally remembered I had received a text it was well after the service and it was from my sister-in-law: whether I would like to come to the birthday party of her youngest. Which of course I had completely forgotten about, since I forget about a lot of birthdays.

Anyway, I phoned my parents yesterday morning to ask whether they were taking the train or car and when it turned out the were driving, I asked them to come pick me up as well. So, off we all went to my brother and his family.

My youngest niece had turned three and was very happy to receive all those gifts. Although at first she was a bit confused 'because she hadn't put her shoe out the night before'. In the Netherlands we celebrate St Nicholas on December 5th and in the weeks leading up to that day, children all over the country will put out their shoe, containing wish lists, carrots and hay (for his horse) and the next morning there will be a little present in said shoe. But she wasn't one to shy away from presents and when there were none more coming, she found a mug and some wrapping paper to make her own present! So cute...

Unfortunately my parents couldn't drop me off at home at night, so I took the bus home, which of course had left five minutes before I arrived at the busstation! Or so it seemed to me. Never mind though, I had to get some money, find a toilet and I wanted something to drink anyway. And I did make it home in time for my favourite Saturday show of the moment: Strictly Come Dancing. Yea...