Pity party

Miss O in dreamland

So, over the last few days I have been having a bit of a pity party here at number 7. Feeling a bit sorry for myself and such. It all started really with the combination of dishes and bra. I couldn't do one nor could I undo the other. It needed a solution which would be my Mum. 

Alas, my Mum was having a bit of a problem herself and so did my Dad: Covid-19 had come to number 49. Yes, they both tested positive and were not feeling very good with it. The sniffles, the coughing, the slight loss of voice, taste and smell. Not good. 

St Nicholas and Peter

Another solution presented itself, although less favoured: my friend. The reason I didn't favour that as much was the fact that she herself was recovering from a broken foot and even though she was getting to be more mobile, she was not up to scratch yet.

But, a date was set that she and her husband would come over to help. Until fate threw not one but several large spanners in the works. Because I had been in touch with both my parents prior to them testing positive, it was deemed a good idea I would get tested too. I could have the Corona virus myself. 

Asleep again

As I was calling my friend to cancel her coming over, she told me that they were all feeling below par and had decided to get tested themselves as her daughter had been in touch with someone who had been in touch...

On Saturday morning I made my way to the nearest test site, which fortunately wasn't too far as the only means of getting there was on foot. It was drizzling, it was cold and it was just not nice. Test taken I returned home to wallow in self pity. enjoy a quiet afternoon.

My friends all tested negative and by the early hours of Sunday I also had a negative result. It took some time to actually get logged in to see the result and the atmosphere was pretty grim here for a while, but I got there eventually. 

Meanwhile I had been trying to do the dishes myself and managed a couple of plates and a bit of cutlery before giving up due to pain. I have done a little bit each day and as of today I am nearly through the lot. I also somehow managed to undo the bra I wore and even managed to get a new one on. Very painful, but it is something.

It's 3 cm, the tape measure kept moving.

Last night I unwrapped my hand. The (male) surgeon had told me that he would make a 1,5 cm incision. Not sure what kind of tape measure he used, but look at the photo! That is no 1,5 cm!! It must have been quite black and blue under the bandages, as there are still some yellow remnants on my wrist and some blackish/blueish remnants in the palm of my hand.

Mu virtual outlook in Iceland right now

It is also still quite swollen and I don't have complete use of the hand yet. Some (sudden) movements are very painful and they prevent me from using it very much. It did feel nice to be able to wash my hands properly again though. Next week the five stitches will come out. 

Other than that I am doing fine. Still not reading much, but I am watching a lot of television and the stationary bike also gets a lot of action. I was up to 18 km yesterday. On my regular bike I only ever got to 9, so I am doing okay with that. I will have to if I want to finish my virtual tour of Iceland's Ring Road. A medal awaits at the end and I still have 75% to do. 

On the plus side of life: my parents are on the mend, my Dad sounding almost like his old self yesterday (he was very nearly voiceless), I was negative, the weather is nice, my sister is coming in less than two weeks and Christmas is just around the corner as well. 

Indispensables

I showed you a scene yesterday that some of you may 'recognise' as it was based on the famous painting by Rembrandt called The Night Watch. The new version shows several jobs that have been deemed indispensables, especially during the recent Covid-19 lockdowns. People like cleaners, teachers, nurses, bus drivers, child carers and the like.

And yes, indispensable we might be, but that is not shown in our pay packages. Nurses get applause and have to survive on meagre wages. Cleaners do a thankless job and get paid pittance. The Dutch union FNV has now launched something that combines those things: a minimum wage that is higher than it is now. For anybody over the age of 21 it should go up to 14 euros per hour. Right now it is just below 10. 

The mayor of Rotterdam

This is something that I agree with. If we are so indispensable, why not pay accordingly? Yes, my pay is okay and I can get by nicely, but there are scores of people who are struggling, especially in towns and cities where housing is even harder to get by and certainly more expensive. Having to pick between daughter and son to see who gets to join a sports club or even get a new pair of shoes is ridiculous in this day and age!

The first part of this new action was a short gathering in Rotterdam a few weeks ago. There were speakers, most notably the mayor of Rotterdam (Ahmed Aboutaleb) and a famous Dutch writer (Jan Terlouw). It was also quite fun to see which political parties agreed with all this: the Socialist party, the Communist party and of course the union I am a member of. 

The writer is well into his nineties

Anyway, the day was okay, even though it was a bit too chanty for me. But I do agree with the premise that the minimum wage should go up so that everybody has a livable amount of money. 

The new Night Watch shows several jobs that were deemed indispensable. And behind the lady in the red scarf (front and center) there is a bearded gentleman that is actually a colleague of mine. 

Things to do

The pulpit walk

When I first moved to Norway, I had decided that for the first year at least, I would say yes. Party invite? Yes. Union meeting invite? Yes. Going for a walk up a mountain? Yes. I did them all and yes, there were some experiences I would not like to repeat any time soon. Mainly the 'walk' 'down' a mountain, which turned into a proper 20 km hike up and down and took all my reserves and then some.

However, most of the experiences were good ones and showed me what life in Norway was all about. It also showed Norwegians that I was willing to learn and led to more invites and friends along the way. 

Moving back to the Netherlands, the first thing I had to establish was a life. Well, sanity was the first one, job second and then life. Which was then promptly put on hold by this little bug. However, things are now starting to look up, what with my own place and a job and that. 

Aurlandsdalen walk

Which has led me to say yes. The other day I got an invite by the union for an event in Rotterdam. 'The Unmissables'. Basically all those jobs that are lowest profile, yet without them any country would stop in its tracks. From cleaners to plumbers to bricklayers to bus drivers. As I have the day off I said okay. Why not?

Then I got an invite by a charity I support: their annual meeting was taking place soon, would I like to attend? Well, yes, but no. I do have that day off, however, I will be in Northern Ireland then, visiting my sister, which I am really excited about.

Another union invitation arrived. Their annual meeting, would I...? Yes. As I have don't have to work then, I might as well. Then I saw a general invitation (local bill boards) about an opera choir having an open rehearsal. My singing skills are more Madonna than Whitney, but I would love to go. Until I realised it was on the same day I was heading to Rotterdam. Ah well, another time.

My first Christmas party in Norway

I will be saying yes a bit more from now on. Try to get out there a bit more. Meet some people, get some more friends, because even though I have lots of friends, about 99% are living abroad, making it hard to meet up for cake.

Limits

Today is the last day of my four-day weekend. I had to clean the house, do the dishes, get groceries, do laundry, visit my Mum (it was her birthday on Saturday), get visited by friends and aunties wanting to see the new place. All at my own speed. Plenty of time to do nothing. 

I did get a phone call last Thursday, whether I wanted to do an extra early shift on Friday. I had to think about it. Normally it would be yes or no within seconds. This time I had to actually think hard. Financially it would have been a good move. Mentally and to some degree physically not so much. I picked mentally. I am just so tired and I need to think about myself. 

So, I did clean. I did do the dishes. I did go grocery shopping. I did do my laundry. I did visit my Mum (which is NOT a chore by the way) and I did get visited by friends and aunties. But I did not work. Instead I sat behind the computer for a full morning on Friday. I listened to the rain on the roof (you can sing the song now). I watched television. I read. I crocheted. I relaxed. 

Tomorrow morning the alarm will sound. At 3.15 am. Wish me luck!

The cost of moving continued

Only a few coins in there

I spoke about the financial consequences of my move (basically flat broke right now), and only a few short sentences about the physical and mental state. However, they are not to be overlooked. Or overfelt in this case and yes I know there is no such word, but you know what I mean.

The first thing I noticed was a couple of weeks ago. While sitting on the couch on a morning, my fingers would go completely numb. Then a couple of days later, I felt a tingling sensation in the knuckles of my fingers while driving. Paracetamol helped, but it kept returning. 

I had to go see my gp yesterday anyway (cervical smear which turned out to be pointless as I no longer have a cervix apparently), so decided to add on a visit about this problem with my hands. Result? Carpal Tunnel Syndrome! Great!

He told me there were a couple of ways to go: try splints at night or see a neurologist who would most likely tell me to try using splints at night. Guess which way I went? Yep, option number one. I then had to get the splints from somewhere and there they told me some more as they have experience with that type of thing.

First thing is: use the splints and hope the pain/discomfort will diminish. If not, the next option is the neurologist. Who by then does not need to prescribe splints, but can go straight to cortisone injections. If that too won't help, it will be a case of operating. The lovely guy helping me said I was lucky though: I got myself medical attention quite early on. Some people wait for over a year! 

One for each hand

Anyway, I sleep with splinted braces now. Which keep my wrists from bending while sleeping, giving rest to the carpal tunnels and hopefully make them return to normal. The first night was not the best, but I will get used to them.

On the mental side of things: I phoned my sister yesterday. After a few trials and a lot of errors, we decided that seeing each other might help and the phone call became a video call. An hour later we had several things sorted.

Firstly: our walking trip to England will be moved from May to September, to give me more time to get my finances sorted to actually pay for the trip. Secondly, a short city trip might be possible in May, most likely to London, but other options are available. Thirdly, despite my empty piggies, I will go over to see her (Corona permitting) in October. 

Along the Mourne Coastal route back in 2018

As I said: I am tired in my head and really need some rest. Staying in a cottage close to the sea would be just what the doctor ordered. If I had asked him that is...

Erasmus

A 3D printed version of an older statue.
Not too sure about the colour though.

During our recent visit to Rotterdam, we saw several things to do with Erasmus. He was a Dutch philosopher and Christian Scholar who lived from 1466 to 1536. He was reportedly born in Rotterdam (not entirely certain), but only lived there for 4 years. He always called himself Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus though and is still a legacy to the city.

'The whole earth is your fatherland'

There is a Erasmus University (which some people think was designed by him: not true) and of course the Erasmus Bridge. Internationally speaking there is also an international university exchange programme that gives students the chance to study temporarily in another country. 

His book 'The Praise of Folly' is shown here.
On the other side were books by John Locke and Pierre Bayle.

He is perhaps most famous for all the works he has written and the many quotes taken from them. We saw several while walking through Rotterdam. 

'The most important condition for happiness is that you want to be what you are'

The first quote I showed you is particularly fitting for Rotterdam: there are over 170 different nationalities living there. The second quote is fitting for the times we live in now: everybody has to be happy all the time. Often at some considerable cost. Sometimes it is just enough to change your mindset and be happy with what you have and what you are. 

The clearing in my head

Lately I have been telling you about my walks. I see animals, views, castles, grass, trees. I walk in the sunshine, the wind, the rain, the hail, the snow. And one reason I do walk, beside the medals and the getting fit, is the fact that it clears my head. 

I find that when I'm walking, I can't keep a thought in my head for very long. It's not meditation as such, but it does come quite close. Lately however...

... I find that things are getting to me again. Like they did back when I lived in Northern Ireland. Not as bad mind and not for the same reasons, but the grrr feelings are returning. 

I talked it over with someone, explaining how I felt, saying how this Corona virus has me stopped in my tracks regarding making friends or even acquaintances. The answer I got: 'well, that is the same for everybody'. This person knows my history. Knows what I went through. Yet, I felt I had been dismissed with that answer.  

Don't get me wrong: I know a lot of people have the same or similar problems. But that doesn't make it a lesser issue. Not for them, not for me.

I walk. It clears my head.

Developments

There have been some developments in my life recently. The first one and one that I had eagerly anticipated was the opening of the archive concerning that young gentleman that died in Burma (now Myanmar) on the infamous railway line. That led me to ask a question on a genealogy forum which led to a question back which led to severe searching. I still don't think I have it all sorted, but mostly. 

The things in the archive however, did not relate to the camps he was in (only very slightly anyway), but were mainly personal letters written and other assorted correspondence. It gave a small insight in life in the Dutch East Indies just before the war and how they looked at the threat of war in Europe. It also made me review the piece I had written about him originally and I have now rewritten most of it, going from two pages to almost 25. Including his letters and all the other information I have now. And I am not quite finished yet.

I wonder how many rooms this home has...

Another development concerns a home for me. I have been looking into buying, but unless I want to buy a barn without any facilities whatsoever... So, buying is out of the question. I have been registering for every rental home available, but even though the waiting list is moving forward, it is slower than molasses up a thin pipe. So, I had a plan and I thought it was a doozy.

The plan was basically: I would win the lottery! Easy, right? I bought a ticket and waited in antici... pation (sorry, Rocky Horror connection here), but when the time came, I had not won anything. The doozy had bombed. Ah well, I have a roof over my head so not all is lost.

In Rome in 2019

Yet a further development and this concerns the whole family. As you may be aware off (unless you have been living on a rock, on Titan!), a certain little round thingy with spiky ends is doing the rounds around the world. Very annoyingly I hasten to add, as it is interfering with just about everything. Like travel.

Last year, my sister was due to come in May for both my parents' 50th wedding anniversary and Eurovision. My parents didn't celebrate with a party as nobody was allowed to come anyway and Eurovision was cancelled. Unfortunately, so was my sister's flight. No worries though, she would come in July, at Christmas, for Easter, in May this year. Until the flight was cancelled yet again. Hopefully she will now be able to come in July. 

Concerning that big C that is bothersome to the gazillionth degree: my father should be the first one to be called up for his first vaccination. My mother after that and wait for it and wait a bit longer, then me. But, so far: nothing. Ah well, it will all happen. My sister will come to see us, we will get vaccinated, I will find a home and the story about my step cousin once removed will find more closure. 

Stumped

On my recent 'Friends' post, Anvilcloud posted a comment which went as follows: Do you wish that you had stayed in Norway, or at least have stayed longer and not gone to Ireland?

It was a question which I have had before and every time I have given a 'sort of' answer. This time however, I will attempt to give you a proper honest answer. 

My life in Norway was pretty good. Especially on the social side I was doing fine with friends and nice colleagues that I actually did things with. Swimming, walking, cycling, even on occasion going out. I still miss that a lot. 

The work side of things was not that great which had more to do with me than with the job if I am going to be honest. That especially made me think about moving to be closer to my sister a bit more often. Then my mum got sick (all better now) and it hit home even more. And that's when I did the wrong thing.

What I should have done was look at my options, do my research, the way I had done when I moved out to Norway (even though that was inadequate as well). Research into the job I eventually got would have been a bit pointless, as it was a new company. However, research into the country I was moving to would definitely have been a good move. What actually happened was that I moved within the space of six weeks!

The fact that my sister already lived there got me over the line faster than it would have done otherwise. In fact, had my sister not lived in Northern Ireland, I would never have contemplated even to move there. Scotland, Wales, England: yes. Northern Ireland: no. 

To be clear here: Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and Ireland is a separate country to the south. I had severe prejudices about Northern Ireland. And in my time there, I barely got to meet enough people to prove me wrong. The fact that I worked all the time didn't help either. 

Do I wish that I had stayed in Norway then? Not so much, yet subconsciously.... I dream about Norway and moving to Norway a lot. In different forms, guises and such, but a lot. Should I have stayed longer? Yes. Definitely. 

Do I wish I had never moved to Northern Ireland? No, I don't. Even if it was a failure, I did give it a go and did learn more about myself. Should I then have moved back to Norway instead of to the Netherlands? No, as that would have meant being far from family yet again.

The big question now is: will I ever move abroad again and where to in that case? Never say never of course, but for now the answer is no. I don't know what the future will hold and perhaps in two years time you will find me back in Norway, but for now my home is in the Netherlands. Even if it is only an attic room at my parents'...

All photos taken on a recent walk in and around Kampen

Loss

Training for the annual rowing race

Several weeks ago my great aunt died. I had never met her, but she was the last living sibling of my grandfather (who has long since passed away). It was sad, but she was in her nineties and at that age you can expect it somehow.

After the annual rowing race

Then only last week, an uncle passed away. He was in his eighties and suffering from Alzheimers. Again sad, but expected. 

Going fishing

This week I got a message from Norway: a colleague and friend had died. WHAT??? He was only in his early fifties. And whereas the passing of great aunt and uncle didn't really make any impact, this passing did. 

During a union meet

Because this was a friend. I had helped him out, he had helped me out (yesterday's photo showed us both doing silly faces when I was packing up to leave Norway).

Being a Viking during the Company Games

He will be missed, even at this distance!

Movember

Weighty matters

4 kilometers of cycling and this is the view

It really has started. The losing weight that is. It's not going fast, it doesn't fly off, but it is coming off. As of last Monday it was nearly 4 kg. I am pleased with that. I still eat chocolate (only a small bit though), I still eat what I like to eat, but smaller portions or a bit more controlled. With the occasional extravagance of course...

Like late last week when we went to see the sand sculptures. Afterwards we had lunch in a lovely pancake restaurant and I chose the ham, pineapple and brie pancake. It was so yummy! I don't think it's a bad thing either, eating something like that. 

Spinach pancake with lime butter and a small green salad

I may have told you this before, but I have a basic three goals. Goal 1 is to get in double figures kg wise. That goal is fast approaching. Goal 2 is to get to 90 kgs, which by the way things are going now could be achievable by Christmas. And Goal 3 is to get down to 75 kgs, which would be a much healthier weight than what I am now. 

Me back in 1992, around my ideal weight

The ideal weight for my length would be around 65 kgs, but I am not sure whether I will make that Goal 4 or not. Anything between 55 and 70 kgs would be a healthy BMI, but 55 is too low for me, so that is definitely out of the question. As I said though: let's get down to the 90 first and then continue.