New Year's resolutions.

Making New Year's resolutions, that's something I never do really. Because usually you 'forget' those within a few weeks, and mostly because I think every day is a good day to make resolutions!

Like, earlier this year I was challenged to write more often. And I think I did! I haven't written for 3 weeks now but hey, it's December, I was sick, had really bad internet... And I had to get ready for Christmas!

And I had a wonderful Christmas this year! In the week coming up to the big day I got spoiled by some Facebook friends. Joy, Andy and Frodo sent me a lovely care package with a calendar of their home town, a card and nail-art stuff. So sweet and thoughtful! And Hettie sent me a really wonderful card that folded out to be a snow globe. So cute! Peeps, you made me feel so loved!

Of course every year I get to spend Christmas with my kids and grandkids. Usually my son and I go to see a movie on the 24th but this year he went to have a day with his girlfriend and her family. So I was in his home alone...until my soulsister Patrizia came! She brought me flowers, chocolats and macarons and a lot of fun and gossip ;) 

I don't have much money but plenty of time so I had been buying Christmas presents for a while already and I had to pack everything at Evan's place. Luckily I am good at buying thoughtful gifts -if I may say so myself- so I had something nice for everyone and loads of stuff for the kids!

But the best present was for me! My wonderful kids have given me an Asus ZenPad 7 because my other tab died a while back. I just can't say how much this meant to me! Because somehow the camera on my laptop doesn't work anymore in Skype so I hadn't seen Dan in quite a while and now I can again :D

Erik, my son in law, cooked lovely 'cheffy' food, the kids were wonderful -I got to know Xavi a lot better- we watched a wonderful movie together...it was a lovely day!

And now I am back in 'far away' Alkmaar. Thinking about what my kids asked, to come live closer to them in a 55+ house. I'll have to get to work on that, get a medical declaration and stuff and mostly awknowledge to myself my physical health is not as good as I like to think it is! And the kids want me to come live closer because of that, so they can keep an eye on me.

So, I think that's my main New Year's resolution! Get closer to my kids and grandkids and stay close to all my Facebook friends! Dan decided he won't be coming in April but wants to spend my birthday with me so that's something to look forward to too. And I will be revising the whole smoking thing once again :p 

Got a lot to do and think about! And of course I wish all of you a year full of wisdom, health, warmth, love and friendship!

See you all in the New Year!

Hugs, Anna

Bad internet and the common cold.

Hey there everybody! I am back! From what you ask? Well from fighting a BAD cold! And I mean I had it BAD!!! We have a saying here that goes something like: a cold with a doctor takes a week and a cold without 7 days. Well this one took quite a bit longer, about 2,5 weeks and I am still not 100% but getting close ;) I guess it took so long because I had to get out of the house several times (for shopping, and twice a whole long day) and I got really wet in the rain a few times too. Sneezing, coughing, runny nose: blegh! I went through almost 500! tissues, no lie!

 

What I hate most about it, apart from my brain not working and sneezing all the time or my leaky nose, is that all food tastes like sawdust. I accidentally put too much sambal in my food one day and I only noticed because it made me sweat when I was eating it. Had that food for 3 days LOL. But earlier this week this week I cooked and...it tasted delicious!!! My tastebuds were working again!!! And that made me very happy :D

Starting about half November the internet connection went really really bad! We have wifi here divided over 5 appartments and I know everybody uses it but still, I never had it so bad. Well most of the time I didn't even have it, LOL. I went to the neighbor that has the router several times to complain and see what we could do. She said she had a bad connection too and that she called the provider and they said it was a point in the neighborhood that had disturbances and that they were on it :p 

Sure! I already have no working camera anymore on Skype and now no internet to talk with Dan??? We reset the password because turns out I was the only one paying for the internet here but of course the others found out and got the new password too when they promised they would pay. 

Now it works again most of the time. Yesterday I even had the superfast dl-speed I was used to! But I bought a wifi range extender, and due to my cold I haven't installed it properly yet (via WPS) because for that I have to go to the neighbor's house again and they have a newborn baby. But I'll do it one of these days!

Now you all take good care of yourselves and don't get a cold or the flu!

Hugz, Anna

Ode to my uncle.

Last week my uncle died, very unexpectedly. He reached the age of 83, so it's not like he was robbed from the cradle or something. But still, he was my only uncle left (I used to have 2).

Last Monday my sister called me, the one I never talk to. And she gave me the news. Aunt and uncle were on their way to bed. Aunt fell asleep before uncle came up, which was apparently normal. But then aunt woke up because she had to visit the facilities and didn't find my uncle so she went downstairs and found him on the floor in the kitchen. He was unconscious and was rushed to the hospital. And there he died, without ever waking up.

Willem de Vries, July 27 1932-November 23 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

He and my aunt had been together for 48 years! Never married as the hippies they once were. Uncle Willem was a fun uncle! When my aunt met him he worked for a theatre company, Proloog, quite famous in the Netherlands. He was a very creative man and had so much patience! I remember we were once making a 'death mask' of me but I couldn't go through because claustrophobia kicked in, and he was super nice about it. He was an art teacher to mentally disabled people and great at that. And he used to teach us kids naughty songs :D 

He also loved nature. My aunt and uncle had a boat for 15 years and travelled with that a lot. Later they bought a run down house in Chammeyroux, France, and he did that all up himself (with the occasional help of course). And he went on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela...all on foot, and up until the Spanish border with his dog, who had her own little backpack.

Uncle Willem was a lovely man. My aunt has been having health problems and uncle took a lot from her hands and took care of her. Now poor aunt is going to be all alone...

We will miss you, uncle Willem!

Sometimes I would like

that yesterday never passed, 

because today everything is so much different.

We will miss him so much.

Condolences to aunt Puck, Marga and Pete, Anton and Dikkie and grand- and great grandchildren.

Taking life one day at the time.

Yeah, I'm still not a very happy puppy, alas. Life still tries to knock me down, and Depression is still sneaking up on me so I have to do my darndest to fight it. Being able to talk about it here is already a big help though!

My tablet died on me a few weeks ago. I use that mostly to read in bed so that's a real bummer. Ever since I had the tab I didn't buy any paper books, just e-books. And to read those you need....right. Now my laptop is showing signs of age too, lol. Well it's turning 6 years old in February so I think it's still doing well! My son is coming to pick up my tablet and my desktop computer soon and he's going to see what he can do about both and in the meantime I took a look for a new laptop, it's gonna be an Acer Aspire E5-772-356S. Mostly same as the one I have now, just newer. But that's gonna happen in May so I have some time to dream left. So bad news--> happy thoughts!

Every now and then I -finally, after a LOT of procrastinating!- perform a task that looked like a mountain (it's the Black Dog I tell ya!) but turns out to be a little molehill. Like today I put away my summer clothes. I know, even though it was 15C outside today, it is NOT gonna get any warmer any time soon! Looking forward to it it seemed a ginormous task...getting clothes from the wardrobe and dresser, exchanging it all with the clothes from the box, folding and putting it in the box, hanging the winter stuff...But it was all done in a jiffy and made me feel so much better!

And yesterday I had to go shopping, with a precise list so I wouldn't buy too much, lol. But the supermarket had something on offer I just HAD to buy: a Phalaenopsis orchid, full of pink blooms, for only €2! Just a wink from the universe to make me smile!

So, everything bad or sad, something happy can be found or presents itself to counteract!

Have a great day you all!

Hugz, Anna

 

The Big Black Dog is lurking again!

I haven't written in what, 2 weeks? But that is because I am busy. Busy staying ahead of that Big Black Dog called Depression. Busy keeping him small and not making him take over my life again. I know he's around and I see him from the corners of my eyes. 

I am not on medication. I don't want to really. Years ago I have been in therapy and my psych gave me tools to fight, and I still use them. And I really hope they will continue to be useful!

So now I try to do things that make me feel good. Every time Depression deals me a blow, I go in the counter attack. Today I had a really bad day, all I wanted was to keep my PJs on and curl up in bed. But instead I got dressed and put my wig on and jumped on the scooter.

I went to a supermarket I know here with a bake-off section and they have the BEST cinnamon buns. And to get there I have to follow a very nice route, past one of my fave buildings here in town (in my opinion of course): Huize Westerlicht (Western Light Mansion). A beautiful old building in Art Deco stile, or rather the Dutch version hereof: Late Amsterdamsche School. 

I love it. And it is in/close some sort of forest preserve. I can sit on a bench there and just gaze at it! It used to be a resthome for elderly people but now it has been empty for ages already, too bad. I am sure they could make it liveable again, make appartments there for elderly people and/or for young professionals.

Anyway, I had a great shopping trip and got me some goodies to eat, apart from the famous cinnamon buns of course ;) So I battled the Dog for another day. Oh and thank him because he made me write again, part of the therapy tools, hahaha.

I'll leave you know with a very nice video about the Big Black Dog, take the 4 minutes and 20 seconds it takes to watch it. And please let me know what you think, I like to get feedback on my writing!

Don't worry and be happy you all,

Hugz, Anna

Time flies when you're having fun!

I am soooo happy I am riding a scooter again! Ok, I was only 5 days without a working one but that really was the limit... I really need it! To get out of the house, to go shopping... Today my son called me. he said for as far as he knows now, the only problem with my scooter was...wait for it:.... NO GAS! He put gas in it and it works like a charm again. Now I can hear you say: no gas? Anna, are you maybe a little bit...stoopid??? All I can say is: OF COURSE NOT! I know where the gas meter is and I see it every day, I knew I had to go tank in a few days but the meter showed I was nowhere near Reserve even, and when it is on Reserve I can easily get to the gas station. So I asked my son to thoroughly check the meter, I don't want this to ever happen again.

In the meantime I have been shopping my petootie off ;) Hey, only stuff I needed of course! But I never knew I needed Colman's dry mustard for example, or onion powder. Told Dan last night: I really have to get me some onion powder, I find it in so many American recipes! And while I was at Sultan's, the Turkish supermarket here -they have the biggest and best selection of herbs and spices!- I also bought some stewing beef, some chicken livers, some chicken breast and a bag of little Turkish bell peppers to stuff and some more veggies. I really have enough food for at least a week and of course I refilled my pantry again!

And then there is the online shopping of course, my dear friends in China! I must say, I am usually happy with what I get. Most of it is at least value for money. But sometimes, really! Like, for example, I ordered a black velvet wig head from one seller. Really cheap, around €3. It arrived packaged wonderfully, wrapped in bubble wrap and then wrapped in some sort of cylindrical bubble wrap too. It was really perfect and I use it happily. Then I tried to order the same from another seller. When the package got here, I was already like: "Oh noooo!" And when I got it out of the plastic, my suspicions were true. The nose was pushed in, there were some ugly 'scars' on the face, a big tear in the neck and some bumps in the base that made it all wobbly. Of course I let the seller know and he was like: ' Oh, ok. Half refund good?' HELL NO! 

My Easter Island wig head ;)

A hat I ordered, as it came out of the bag :p 

But as I said: most of what I get is really nice! Now Patrizia ordered me a wig, cheap as chips so I am not expecting much. But who knows it is really nice? That way I know where I can order my wigs, right? I was already amazed that in the US you can get a wig for €150 that costs €750 overhere...same brand, same model, same color! So maybe they order them in China too? Well, we'll see and I'll let you know of course.

Have a nice day and shop carefully !

Hugz, Anna

Epic fail ;)

Yeah, I know, I lost my challenge Joy! But I really think my life isn't interesting enough to write about every single day...

I believe I told you my son put a new exhaust on my scooter and it worked like a charm again...for about a week. Last Tuesday it didn't wanna start again. He thought the sparkplug might be humid but he didn't have time to get the scooter right away (I do live at a 45 minutes drive from his place ). Now he thinks the problem is with the ignition coil and he came Saturday night to pick up my white scooter(well it's off-white really) and brought me my old night black one so I can get around in the meantime.

Because much to my chagrin I found out once again I can't walk distances anymore. Wednesday I went to the tobacco shop -which is quite close, 570m.- and halfway I looked a bit at the water from the bridge. And before I got back home I had a smoke on a bench. Now this was doable and I could have taken another way back home even, same distance, just takes me to the back of my home. But I wanted to get the mail.

Now grocery shopping is a whole different ballgame. For starters the shops are much farther away -800m. and 1.2km- and of course I would have a heavy bag of groceries. When I knew my scooter was dead for the moment I asked a friend if I could come with her if she had to get groceries and that was allright. But then her father in law who was at a hospice, was passing away. So she was with him all the time and not at the supermarket! (Of course!!!)

 Now that meant no shopping for me. I was gonna run out of milk and bread and diet coke but since Monday was my Lidl day I had a bit of everything so I wasn't gonna die, haha. I always have things like bacon and grated cheese and canned tomatoes and pasta and stuff. You know, a little bit of a 'pantry' in my miniscule kitchen.

So, I really ate like a princess I must say. I missed my caffelatte and my bread in the morning but I had Senseo coffee and crackers with cheese and a delicious dinner every single day! My son was going to be here either Saturday or Sunday he said so I could go shopping with him. But then much to my surprise he came Saturday evening after work and he didn't just bring me the replacement scooter but also a pound of frozen chicken gyros and one of his delicious pizzas!

And of course I could go to the supermarket again on Sunday!!! Oh and I have learned 2 things this week: ordering groceries online is a hassle, because you have to order 4 days in advance...and I did order food online here for the first time! I have to do that at least once a month I think ;) 

Have a nice day you all!

Hugz, Anna

Such a lovely sunny Saturday...

It's a lovely sunny day, although the temperatures are surely going the 'wrong' way: down. And yes, I've been out again. Yesterday I had a lot to do: visit the pharmacy, the Action for some retail therapy and the Lidl for groceries. Got some towels and yarn and needles to crochet: thinking of taking that up again!

Oh and I ordered a hat from China, lol. It was very very cheap so if it's not what I expected, I won't have lost much. Yesterday I got two packages in the mail again, very cute bow nail charms and a set of chopsticks with a spoon. The nail charms were lovely, really spot on, but the cutlery was a bit of a disappointment. I asked for a pink set but I got grey. Oh well, it could have been worse, they could have sent me the green set!

So today I just had to get some groceries. And while I was in the supermarket, I met a supervisor from my old job. He had never seen me with my wig and new teeth so he said he had to look twice.Well as a matter of fact, I can't remember his name, not even if I got paid for it, hahaha. Something with an R I believe...

And my laptop very sneakily has installed Windows 10! Have to say: I have been working with it for a few days now and I can't say I really like it. Too many bugs still. The other day Dan and I wanted to videochat on Skype but 'something wrong with the recording device'. Very annoying.

Patrizia called me yesterday: she's coming back and will start to look for a house and work overhere. She saw there are many Italian restaurants in the area so she's gonna get them all her resume. Told her she's always welcome here!

Now that it's fall a lot of tv series are starting again and there even are a few interesting new ones! Like yesterday I watched Heroes Reborn. I used to love Heroes and this one looks promising. Doctor Who has started again too, Dan is over the moon. What I like is that they promised to kill off pesky companion Clara, I really never warmed up to her.

Well this is it for now...as you can see my life is quite...boring!

Have a great day you all and keep warm!
Hugz, Anna

I am the Queen of flat packs!

When my son came to bring back my scooter, he also came bearing gifts. Well, he got me back my Legolas' Elven Hunting Knives, I love those dearly ;) But also a very heavy little box from...IKEA! With a drawer insert for the Expedit bookcase (I have the 2x4 version from Maaike with 3 textile insets). 

So today I set myself to making it. Had the electric screwdriver charged so I was ready to go! And really, I don't understand people who complain about IKEA furniture, or at least, complain about how to put it together. Through the years I have learned that if you follow the instructions exactly and count out and put all the stuff like screws and punches and thingies in a row, you just can't go wrong! So I put the insert together in no time and I am f*cking proud of myself, there!

Doesn't it look freaking awesome? I am really soooo happy with it! And I was happy to see I am still the flat pack queen! 

So, DIY safely you all and cya soon!

Hugz, Anna

Guests are welcome!

I am living where I live for 2 years now. And I simply HATED it! Of course most of the time I was depressed, sometimes more and sometimes less. Since my last vacation in Chicago I am feeling rather well though, and that led to me doing all kinds of things around the house to make it more...comfortable.

Like, I bought a little table and Maaike sold me a bookcase for a good price and I finally got a curtain rod to hang the lace curtains on I bought about 3 years ago. And of course I threw away 4 big bags of old clothes and other stuff. I even have a coffee maker now, a real Senseo!

I am starting to feel as snug as a bug in a rug here. Oh of course there is still a LOT to complain about, especially to the landlord who promised to make everything allright here... We're in September now and to be honest: he has taken care of some of the problems here like ventilation and the leaking roofs but he still hasn't done anything about dividing the utilities as promised.

Oh well. I have said what I think is important: I need electricity every single night for my CPAP. But since we're going towards the colder weather I don't expect much will get done here this year. Let's just hope we'll get a winter like last year. Because if everything's covered with snow....

But more fun has happened! As I told you all, Patrizia has been here for almost 10 days. And she gave me something totally awesome: a foldable guest bed! For her to sleep on of course, but also: other people can stay here now. We picked up the guest bed with Monique in her car...that was a lot of laughs! Her car is small and she had her shopping in it and Patrizia's suitcase and that big bed! So you can imagine...

It was the most expensive one at Leenbakker, the store where we bought it, but it was priced down to €80! I just checked to copy the pics and now it's €120 again. It is a rather comfortable little bed and it has even a nice (free) cover. So it's standing nicely folded and covered now. Patrizia will probably be using it again soon but it is good to know (for me) that I can have guests staying overnight now. Not like I expect that's gonna happen anytime soon, but it is a possibility! 

I am still getting mail from my 'friends' in China regularly. The day before yesterday the mailman brought me 2 packages, yaaay! One was a black 'velvet' wig head and the other one the much expected Hello Kitty tote bag. The wig head was awesome, I immediately ordered another one. But the bag was a big letdown. The zipper was broken, the handles weren't finished and the lining feels like paper (and sounds like paper too). In short: not the quality I expected and it wasn't exactly a cheap bag! Of course I complained, and they had the gall to offer me $1 in recompense, that is €0,91! Well, I let them know they can stick that where the sun doesn't shine.

Since my stepdad sent me a bit over what I asked him, I ordered 2 pairs of shoes, I really needed those. So I am hoping and praying they will be nice, good quality ones. And there is some other stuff in the pipeline too! Some nail charms, 2 brooches, some kitchen gadgets...all from different sellers so all coming one by one. And of course the wigs Patrizia ordered will be arriving here too! I am gonna have fun opening my mailbox every day... Although some items will be delivered at home by my friend the mailman!

Well, you all too live in happy expectation!

Hugz, Anna

Thelma & Louise part 2

The visit is over, Patrizia left. She left so fast she even forgot to greet Nerys, lol. Oh and she forgot her hairbrush. But she had an appointment in Wageningen today and the trains on Sunday are really hopeless, a 2:05-2:25 hrs travel while the rest of the week it's just 1:35 hrs.

She's going to see if she can find living space overthere but she left the option open to return here, she fell in love with Alkmaar apparently. Well, while my scooter was still working I took her to see some sites and we visited the local second-hand stores and the shopping center. We even went out to dinner once, at a Greek restaurant! And when we were scooterless, we walked towards the train station and the easiest way back to my place.

And as I said before, we had long talks about everything and nothing, we cooked, she helped me clean and made my place look even better with some little changes. Of course we made our Thelma & Louise selfies too!!! We're still just as crazy as 35 years back.

Thelma & Louise 2015

On daily life now: thanks to my stepdad my money problems are solved, that's a HUGE relief for me, big bills and debts drive me crazy! And I never had any problems with the Tax Office but now I hate them BIG time :p Oh well...they'll get their money (well, MY money, I am still very pissed off but can't do anything about it) and my scooter will get fixed and I have money for eats until the end of the month. So all is good in my world ;)

And Oh My God, as I am writing this a terrible rain and thunderstorm started! And I mean a big one...raining cats and dogs (luckily I got my cat inside in time!). But...I am inside and I love the sound of the rain on my roof and even the sound of the thunder, so relaxing! I pity all the poor people outside though...

Have a great day and stay dry you all!
Hugz, Anna

Thelma & Louise

My friend Patrizia came to visit me. We've been friends ever since we were 18 years old and between us there's only a 2 month age difference. So this year we've been friends for 35 years! We hadn´t seen eachother since my divorce more or less but I´ve been to see her in July and now she´s here.

And as good friends: we picked up where we left off almost 6 years ago! Been showing her the beautiful city of Alkmaar, we talk a lot (and eat a lot ;) ) and are having loads of fun. Yes, Thelma & Louise are back!

We gave ourselves those nicknames after we had both seen the movie 100 years ago and it still fits.We still do stupid stuff together. Like the other day, we ordered me a wig on one of those Chinese wholesale sites :p Only €10 so even if it is a horrible one, we won't have lost much LOL.

The only thing we haven't done yet is make a selfie of the both of us. So for now you'll have to do with this photo here ;)

Ok, I wish you all a BFF like mine!
Hugz, Anna

News from the cleaning front!

When I got up today I didn't have time for breakfast because...I had to go to hospital to get the results of those eye pics. Well they looked well enough so no need for lasering yet. But I'll have to return in 3 months because they wanna keep a closer look. Ok, I can do that. That was in and out of the hospital in 15 minutes!

After my belated breakfast I went to the Action, my retail therapy store! Not for the therapy, I don't need that now, but to find a cleaning tool to use on those pesky walls. But I bought one of those air duster cans too for the laptop and some of those microfiber 'rags'. And I found the (almost) perfect tool! It's called a sponge mop.

I have the exact same one only mine is turqoise. Of course I tried it out immediately and it does what it has to do! Just not under the heating pipes but I don't really care. I have a half white bathroom now! Tomorrow the other half, my back started to play up and I had to go cook too.

Oh my, and I put the air duster to the test too! That was fun. The laptop was very clean after I passed it...it's just, my desk was covered in gunk, lol. Unimaginable how much dust and stuff was under the keys of the lappie.

I cooked some delicious food: stringbeans, panfried potatoes and breaded boneless porkchops. And of course I had my cleaning fun! And of course I learned something new, about sponge mops. Think I'll use that one for the floor from now on...(and for the bathroom walls on occasion).

Clean carefully you all!

Hugz, Anna

Wow, did the weather change! (with recipe)

As sunny as it was yesterday, as rainy it is today. Wow! Last night it started in the southern part of the country and before the night was over, the thunderstorms and rain had reached here too. My stupid little doormat cat kept meowing near the door to be let out and of course I obliged...several times. But she always came running back in after a few minutes! 

I tried to get the cleaning job done I had set out to do. Remember I bought a floor cleaning implement to wash my higher-than-normal bathroom walls? Well the idea was excellent, and I got a part of the walls done but apparently I had bought something to sweep with :p Leave it to me to buy something not appropriate! I would be a terrible cleaning lady (guess that's why most of my marriage I HAD a cleaning lady, haha).

So now it's back to the shop tomorrow and buy something that really WILL do the job! But I made a nice attempt at least and what I bought was cheap enough to not get me crying plus I can always use it to really sweep the floor. 

But my hamper is really happy now, I did a load of laundry and have that hanging on the rack now. Whole place smells of 'wild roses' now. Yes, that's my fabric softener. And when this load is dry the second can go in and it's done for a bit! Usually I have one load a week just for myself, sometimes two, but now the hamper overflowed because of all the sorting I have done lately. I am not a totally useless housewife!

Like, for example, I think I perfected my Tuna Zucchini Patties! I will give you the recipe but I'll have to warn you: I cook like an Italian mama, so a little bit of this and a little bit of that until it's just right! Don't they look delicious?

Tuna Zucchini patties

For 6 patties you'll need 

1 big zucchini, grated

1 can of tuna

1 onion

1 egg

1 cup of breadcrumbs (divided!)

1-3 cloves of garlic

1-3 anchovies filets (optional but very much recommended!)

Some parsley, some chives, finely chopped

1 teaspoon of salt

lemon pepper

So you start grating the zucchini and putting it in a colander with a teaspoon of salt, somewhere that the outcoming liquid won't bother you. Then chop the onion, garlic and anchovies (I use 3 and 3 of course) and let that get soft in some olive oil in a skillet on a low flame. When it starts to get a little color, let it cool down. Oh and drain the tuna of the water or oil, depending on what you use.

Now put the zucchini, tuna, onion mixture, parsley and chives, egg and about half a cup of breadcrumbs in a bowl. Add some lemon pepper and mix well. (And taste to see if it's seasoned enough!) Put this in the fridge for about half an hour so the breadcrumbs can soak up all the liquid.

Put the rest of the breadcrumbs in a dish, form the mixture into 6 patties and cover them well with crumbs. Pan fry in some oil until they're nice and golden. On the picture I served them with sweet potato fries and ranch dip.

Cook and eat well you all, 

Hugz, Anna

Another sunny Sunday.

I was really gonna write yesterday, I swear! But just after I typed the title, Dan came back from his walk with Loki (it was raining apparently 'so Loki wanted to get home', yeah right!) and he turned on the cams on Skype. And since it had been a while...I obliged.

Not like I really had anything to write. Or like I have much to say now. You know, life just....goes on and I go with the flow.

I was a good girl yesterday, paid all my bills and went to the supermarket. It was a glorious sunny day, as it is now. So after the shopping I sat a bit outside and watched the roller coaster. Today is the last day of the fair, everything will be back to normal tomorrow!

Now of course I forgot to buy kibble for Nerys -I hadn't put it on my list even!- so today I have to visit the super again. I think I will buy one box of the Junior kibble she had all year and one box of the adult stuff, preferably with fish and mix them together so she can get used to the big ones.

I said I was gonna make the zucchini tuna patties yesterday but I forgot once-a-month-fried-fish! And it's not like the zucchini are gonna escape or something so that's dinner for today. I even found a bag of sweet potato fries on offer at the supermarket so that's gonna be a nice side! Well, I heard it's nice, never had them yet ;)

So, just another normal day! Tomorrow the weather is supposedly gonna be really bad so I have some cleaning on my list for then. Help the exploding hamper out of it's misery and make a plan for the bathroom walls (and execute it too :p).

Just got a ton of pics of my grandbabies via Whatsapp so if you don't mind...I'm gonna enoy them!

Enjoy life you all!
Hugz, Anna

A somewhat better day than yesterday....getting there!

Today was lovely and sunny, not too hot, not too cold. Perfect weather to go out a bit. Now I said yesterday I had to go tank gas and get some groceries and so I did. I went to the posh supermarket this time, they had some nice offers and so I got home with a full basket! Greek yoghurt with cherries, drink yoghurt with raspberries, some quiches, the pasta sauce I really like...many things were 2 for 1 and I even found the cheapish olive oil :p 

Put some more stuff away, and my house starts to look more and more like a home. Have to say, I like it ;)  Should have done that long ago, I live here almost 2 years now! But then again, I have nobody to share it with and I think that's what kept me from doing it.

Been planning some meals: tomorrow the zucchini tuna patties again with some alterations to make them even tastier, like garlic and some anchovies. And the day after Hokkien noodles, glass noodles and 'normal' ones with chicken and veggies. And that'll last me at least two days.

I have been contacted by a HR lady of some company, wanting to know if I am still looking for a job. It has to do with land development and I am asked for the 'telefonic aquisition'. When I just had lost my job a colleague of this lady called me and after some talking she said this might not be the job for me. I told the lady that contacted me now via email and she asked if she could invite me for an introductory evening. Well of course she can and I already have some questions in mind. I looked the company up of course and I also searched the internet for the bad side of it ;) And I found some stuff... Well, I'll keep you informed! I really want to work again but I am not taking just any job, my last two jobs gave me 'phone fear' ;)

Okay, have a good time you all!

Hugz, Anna

Quiet day, love the rain on the roof.

Time flies, even when you're NOT having fun ;) See, this was one of those days I kind of dreaded when I took Joy's challenge. 

The weather was beastly here so I stayed in. Although I have to say it again: love the rain on the roof! There just shouldn't be so much of it sometimes. 

So I did some really mundain household chores today: did the dishes, folded laundry, swept the floor... Oh and I cooked of course! 

I was gonna make pasta with ragù but I didn't have an onion. So I did it a little bit different today: some extra garlic and lots of fresh herbs! Last time I was in the posh supermarket they had PET bottles of Cirio passata (ehm, sieved tomatoes) so I got one and I tried it out today. It was nice but not so special I'm gonna buy it again. I'll just stick with my cheap passata. The Cirio canned cherry tomatoes on the other hand...I gladly pay extra for them!

But I didn't use those today. One of these days I'll make pasta alla Puttanesca again and I really like the cherry tomatoes with that! This was just a run of the mill but delicious plate of spaghetti.

I really hope the weather will be better tomorrow. Have to tank gas and get some groceries, I am almost out of all my fresh stuff! And who knows, I may run into an adventure ;) I always keep on dreaming...

Dream big you all!

Hugz, Anna

 

Haha, what I did yesterday really was different ;)

Yeah. I kinda sorta forgot to write. Not like anything earth shattering happened! 

I got mail again from my 'friends in China'. 3 kinds of nail charms I ordered almost 3 weeks ago and very much to my surprise also the Hello Kitty handbag I ordered less than a week ago!

Yes, I confess: I order really cheap shit from China on one of those websites. No clothing or shoes because that may really go wrong but stuff like phone covers, wallets, nail tools and nail charms, wig stands, hair bands and clips, a flash drive...

That was mostly a way to get over my depression 'mailbox fear'. During my last depression I opened my mailbox once or twice a month. And that's not good! So I needed an incentive to go to the mailbox more often. I had heard about those Chinese websites like lightinthebox and aliexpress and decided to have a look around.

And I found my incentive! They have some really cheap little things (and I am talking about 50 cents to €10) and the fun thing is: you have no idea when they arrive! So I have to check every day. 'Unfortunately' I have found a few favorite stores so if I order from them, I get a few lots together.

See? And then the fun goes on because I have to pick a nice color to go with the new charms and polish my nails and stick the charms on... It's hard work but I love it ;) As I said I had to wait almost 3 weeks for these but it's worth the wait.

 

What I really didn't expect yet was the postman knocking at my door yesterday! I really didn't expect the handbag to arrive yet so that was a super nice surprise. When I opened the package, I was starting to get a little bit disappointed because the bag looked really small. But it has two separate pockets on the front too so when I tried to put in all the stuff I usually have in my bag...it fit! So now I have a very nice black Hello Kitty handbag wìth a shoulder strap, but that can be taken off too (I'm not really a shoulder strap kinda gal).

 

I didn't go out today because the weather was expected to get really ugly. Forecast even predicted supercells in the province where I live. And I am sure we had one coming over: after a lovely warm and sunny day I suddenly didn't hear any more birds and that usually is a sign a (thunder)storm is on the way. And oh my, did we get a thunderstorm! With a wailing wind and lots of hard rain, maybe even hail but I didn't really look. The sound on my roof and windows was really enough. It took quite a while for it to finish.

 

Well, I really hope the weather  was better where you all are!

Hugz, Anna

Today I didn't get to do half of what I planned...

We had a few nice and sunny, although too hot, days, but as ever, nice weather never lasts long here in the Netherlands! Because it already started raining last night and today it rained or drizzled most of the day.

I did have an appointment with my doctor, the GP. Two weeks ago she gave me a home blood pressure monitor and I had to measure my blood pressure twice daily and write it all down. That was fun homework! I told her my blood pressure was always way too high in a doctors office and it came out I was right, those 2 weeks at home it was much lower! 

When I left though, it started drizzling and raining a bit harder on the way, but luckily the real downpour came when I was inside already. Was a real thunderstorm too!

Going home it was dry and so I passed by the supermarket. They had such a wonderful surprise there: 4 croissants or 4 kaiser rolls for €1! And the best thing was: the croissants were fresh out of the oven so nice and warm. So yeah, I had 4 croissants and I chose some nice lunchmeat too: roast beef, roast pork and grilled chicken. I still had some soup left from yesterday: 'Queens soup', that's a cream soup with carrots and peas and I added some smoked chicken breast. So that was dinner today! Soup and rolls, me and the kids used to have that on Saturdays back in the day.

Now I was gonna go to the gas station where my friend and neighbor Monique works part time but every time I wanted to go it started raining again. So, no.

Nerys is starting to become a real outside cat. Guess she has that from her mom, that's a real little slutty cat and she had at least 2 litters a year! Nerys is from the 4th litter I believe. But I had her castrated when I came back from Chicago (that's when they remove all the reproductive organs) so at least she's safe. Now with the rain she runs inside some more when I open the door. I get a soaking wet rag inside every time! I hear you say: why don't you keep her inside? Well, because she doesn't want to! She keeps meowing by the door until I open it!

I have put a nice blanket on my bed for her, the red one with the white polkadots I bought for Evan's cats Ezri and Jadzia. But at the moment the doormat seems to be good enough for her! She's waiting for it to get dry again...but I hear the rain on the roof and the windows. I love that!

Well, stay dry you all and have a nice day!

Hugz, Anna

Every now and then...

...you have one of those really uneventful days, the ones 'you don't write home about'. But I was challenged to write my blog every day so here I am, just ehm...winging it :p 

Yesterday I almost had a bit of a mishap: I was talking with Dan on Skype and all of a sudden my blog disappeared! And I know I save it every few minutes but had no idea where to look for it. So of course I blamed Dan...(no I didn't, I blamed myself :p). But luckily I found it again and immediately published it! Should I have to do the same again today, I would panick just as much as I did yesterday because I don't exactly remember how I did it, LOL.

Anyway, after I published it, I suddenly remembered I hadn't told how happy I am with my fly swatter! I already murdered 8 flies ànd a daddy longlegs spider! Yay me! It's just one of those things you know...when you think about the fact that you could really use one you're just going to shops that don't have 'em and when you are at the right shop you forget you need one. Oh well I have one now, bright pink with a telescopic handle so I can also get those pesky far away flies (or spiders).

Here's a random cat picture because cats are cute ;) Nah, it's my kitty Kira Nerys 2 weeks old, 2 months old and 1 year old. I posted this pic on Facebook on her birthday, August 12. Just wanna share it with you again because she is so cute!

Ok I guess this is it for today! I hope tomorrow will be more interesting but the weather is gonna be worse -it is raining now already- but I have to go to the doctor.

Have a great day you all!

Hugz, Anna

It was a sweltering hot day...

...and that is why I am writing now, with the fan still on high.

What I dislike most about days like this, is that my house (1 story, flat roof) warms up inside so much. I was sitting outside earlier, smoking a cigarette, and it was really nice. But when I came back in....blegh. Oh well, there won't be much days like this left this year so I better enjoy the sun and the warmth, right?

The yearly fair has started here. There are attractions everywhere in the city centre, one street is even closed off for traffic! I watched that bit yesterday from the other side of the canal and although there were many gambling tents and scary stuff, I also saw a merry-go-round. I wish I could go sit on a horse once again :) 

Today I went to the supermarket and in front of that is a nice size square. Usually. Now there is some sort of scary roller coaster and a kind of vomit-comet that turns 360 degrees in a few directions. The noise is horrible, not just from the attractions but also from the people yelling. I swear, I can hear the screaming here at home!

It was too hot to do much and I wasn't hungry at dinner time even. So I have to admit, I didn't really do much today. I went shopping as I said and I read a lot (reading the Sookie Stackhouse series at the moment, you know, the books TrueBlood was based on) and watched some series on the laptop.

And I started cooking really late, hahaha. I already made the meat yesterday: Ajam Pedis or spicy chicken. But I had to accompany it with some veg and some carbs! I was gonna do stirfried white cabbage and rice but I found a pack of stirfry noodles!

So I chopped an onion and 3 cloves of garlic (sorry but I love garlic!) and put that in my wok with some oil, and when it was getting soft I added the shredded cabbage and stirred it for a while on a high flame. Added some kecap (indonesian soy sauce) and sambal brandal (spicy shit) and the precooked noodles. Ready in about 5 minutes! Finished it off with some sesame seeds.

Have to say: it was deeeeelicious! And of course I have some left so I cut up the Ajam Pedis and mixed it through the noodles and cabbage so it's easier to warm up tomorrow. And I'll add some scrambled egg: whole new meal! I might even pickle some cucumber like the other day when I had my sushi bowl: that was yummy too!

Dan must be coming back from his walk with Loki and I don't have anymore to tell so, have a nice day you all!

Hugz, Anna

Some shopping....and some cooking!

My ceilings are higher than in a normal house and my bathroom is tiled from floor to ceiling. I don't have a stepladder but I do have ventilation finally. And so my bathroom walls are rather...dirty. I washed them often as high as I could reach of course but the difference started showing :p

So, what to do? I tried with my mop but to no avail. I needed something to wash and it had to have a telescopic handle so I could reach all the way to the top. Something for windows, or floors.

Only one solution: I had to go to the Action! Here in the Netherlands Action is a cheap...warehouse. I go there when I am in dire need of retail therapy because I know whatever I do , I get out of there with loads of stuff for hardly any money!

And oh, oh, oh...did I have fun there today ;) I found  a cleaning tool that might do the trick and otherwise I can use it for my floors. It's bright pink. I also found a pink soup bowl with polkadots and a matching plate. (Oh did I ever tell ya I collect bowls? :p ). And a sewing necessaire. And a pink flyswatter. And pink wash cloths. And...Well to make a long story short: I left with 3 bags and €17 lighter.

Now I also had a lot of chicken to cook today. One recipe I found online a few days ago was Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken. It looked amazing on the photo and I love lemon, and garlic ànd I found a cheap chicken the other day at the supermarket. And the other thing was Ajam Pedis, Indonesian spicy chicken, was gonna do that to put in the fridge because that'll taste better after a day or 2.

Of course I should have put the chicken in the crockpot before I left for the Action, it needed 4 hours on high after all. But I'm stubborn! So I did it after I came home (at 5 o'clock). Cut the garlic bulbs in two and 2 lemons and put them on the bottom, stuffed the chicken after seasoning it inside and out with another garlic  bulb and half a lemon, and the rest of that lemon got on top, sliced. Lid on, crockpot on high, timer on 4 hours.

In the meantime I made the Ajam Pedis and since I had one chicken breast left and was a little hungry, I breaded and panfried it. And four hours are LONG so I got to hang my laundry, decide if I wanted to do some more today (nah) do all the dishes, re-arrange my kitchen drawer and watch some episodes of Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. (really nice series!)

When I went to check the chicken after 4 hours it wasn't done yet so I put it on low while I took my daily nap (so I can chat with Dan all night). When I took it out, it broke, LOL. But it was deliciously moist and tasty so I might give it another try. Unless I find an oven first!

So have a nice day and cook and clean safely,
Hugz, Anna

Appointment in hospital...EARLY!

You all know I'm diabetic right? Flexible regime, 4 injections of insuline a day. And it's been like that for almost 20 years now. 

Unlucky for me, diabetes usually comes with all kinds of complications. And so I am having my blood tested several times a year, have pills to lower my cholesterol, pills to manage my blood pressure (3 different ones!!!) and I get all kinds of exams...feet, eyes, the works.

So today I had to come back at the eyedoctor in our hospital. They have been looking at my eyes for a while now but thought they saw what they didn't wanna see so I got an appointment for a fluorescence angiography. That's when they make pics of your eyes while you're injected with contrast fluid.

I was a little bit ticked off because I had to be in hospital half an hour before the appointment for eyedrops. And the appointments could only be in the morning. So that meant I had to get up 2 hours before that, because I simply hàd to have breakfast, nausea was predicted. 08:30 in the friggin' morning!

Well, eyedrops went ok, test went ok too and the doctor said that I could go home if I felt allright. Man, you shoulda seen me RUN! Yes I felt nauseaus but you think I was gonna tell them? No way José!

Luckily I had my sunglasses on because the bright light was ehm, bright. Of course we had a lovely sunny day today! I went home for my daily standing appointment with Dan...and my house is a little bit darker and cool.

But damn! I couldn't see right! But I looked damned sexy with my big black pupils, pity no one could see it ;) After Dan went to work I had to go do some shopping. Went ok but oh the light! Really! Did it absolutely HAVE to be so sunny today?

When I got home I went for a nap...the early hour rise and the not working eyes took their toll. And so I didn't get to cook what I wanted to but I had some delicious medium rare steak burgers (home made on cheese onion buns) and Tom Kha Kai soup. Cant say that was totally home made but my fave supermarket puts noodles and fresh veggies and chicken in a container with a little packet of flavoring and all you have to do at home is add some boiling water. Usually I think that's too expensive but today with the eye exam I could do with some extra pampering ;)  ( Oh and it was 35% off LOL). For extra vitamins I had some Innocent Tropical Fruit Juice, that was on offer also: buy one get one free.

So that means tomorrow I will have to do some serious cooking because I have a pack of chicken breast and a whole chicken and they both expire tomorrow! Already picked the recipes though so that's gonna be ok :D 

Take good care of yourselves all!

Hugz, Anna

Not really different but...

Today I am f***ing proud of myself! I am finally at the end of a long and painful house cleaning project... You know, I had too many clothes. Most of them from when I was still married, nice representative stuff. So in fact all rather timeless and neat...but I had 4 vacuumbags full, an almost exploding wardrobe and dresser oh and a box (that's important, remember the box!). And an old suitcase full of blankies and bedlinnen. All on top of my wardrobe.

Now I have only one body (although a rather big one) and enough clothes to dress a small village. And the main reason I kept holding on to all these clothes was that I was/am afraid I can't buy any more now. Well that's my theory. But OMG something had to go here! And next to the clothes I had a whole box of handbags and a box full of knicknacks...

So I put the bags and the knicknacks up for sale. Just to see what happened. Well I sold one pretty picture frame :p But the rest I could give to a friend! She was really happy with it all. The bags...well I tossed one. (I have a bit of a bags and shoes fetish :p ) The old suitcase I put for sale too and luckily that sold the same day.

But all them clothes...I wanted to get rid of them and making pics and putting them on various websites and having to send them off to people...I knew that was gonna take too long! And I looked for those charity containers you can put clothes in but couldn't find any near where I live. So I Just.Threw.Them.In.The. Trash!!! Yes. 4 whole vacuumbags of clothes. Well almost 5. And now I have room left in my wardrobe and dresser and a box (remember the box?) of winter stuff on top of my wardrobe!

Today I finished folding and hanging everything I had left (and ironed some stuff too) and washed the clothes that had just gotten dirty from hanging in the wardrobe. I put the box on top of the wardrobe and my place looks somewhat like a house again :)  (Instead of like an exploded fashion warehouse.) 

And I have to admit: I feel soooo much lighter! Well, emotionally. I didn't just throw away old clothes but also old emotions, an old life. Good on me!

I had to do something different today though. So for dinner I decided to 'posh up' a new fave dish: the sushi bowl. I looove sushi but am really too lazy to make all them rolls just for myself. So a sushi bowl is, let's say, deconstructed sushi. Sushi rice and all the stuff you put in the rolls. And in my case today that was surimi, avocado, cucumber, nori and sesame seeds. But I added chopped chives and sesame seeds to the rice, I pickled the cucumber, rolled the rice into little balls...made a pretty plate and scattered it with nori and more sesame seeds. And made a picture of it, before I put on the wasabi mayo and soy sauce ;) 

Doesn't it just look nice? Oh and it tasted delicious too! Another thing I am proud of myself for :) 

So, all of you: be proud of YOURself and cya tomorrow!

Hugz, Anna

A little bit different every day!

Today I did one of those 'stupid' quizzes on Facebook. Titled "What would be your perfect job." And my perfect job would be...author! I was like...'ehm...okaaaay' because I don't think that would be a very good job for me really.

And then my friend Joy commented. (I always thought she has the most appropriate name, she knows how to bring joy to the world!) She said I better blog more often then :p WOW! For starters, I didn't know she knew I have a blog and probably reads it too. You know, I don't get that much feedback. For all I know I am blowing my words in the wind, or, as Shirley Valentine* would say: "Hello wall!"

I told Joy that in order to write, I'd need to have a life. Not too interesting for you all to read every day 'I got up, had my caffelatte and toast, fed Nerys, went to the supermarket...' And then she suggested something that made me think. She kinda challenged me to do something a little bit different every day! And write about that. Not to get hung up if I don't make it every single day but still.

A different route to the supermarket. Observe the people I see and invent stories about them. Sew something, sketch, sing a song...

And she is right of course! I don't have to write endless blogs about it, just a short observation every day would be nice. So I'll try! No promises, but I really will try.

So cya tomorrow!

Hugz, Anna

*Shirley Valentine: A rather frustrated housewife (with a husband and daughter) who out of pure boredom talks to her kitchen wall. But then she goes to Greece, without the hubby! Marvellous movie, I have seen it about 184 times already... ;)

Oh wow, it's been almost a year already!

Guess I should really be ashamed :p When I wrote my last blog, Nerys was still in 'the pipeline', and now she has already celebrated her first birthday! I have to say, she has been a big help in making this old garage a home...

My circumstances haven't really changed yet, still no job, still living far from everyone I know except for the few people I know here, like my old neighbor Maaike, my new neighbor Monique and of course my old co-workers Coby and Wies.

I had to fight one of my bigger depressions but the fact that in April-May I have been in Chicago for 3 weeks has been a great help in that! And when I came back I started working slowly but surely on my house.

Found some cheap stuff, like a litte table, an IKEA bookcase from Maaike, a coffeemaker...got a curtain rod so I could finally hang the lace curtains I had lieing around for years (still in the plastic :p ) so that was a start.

 And then I decided to start throwing away stuff! I had a wardrobe full of clothes and 3 big vacuumbags and a big box of clothes on top of it! (Oh and don't forget all the blankies and bedlinnen in my old blue suitcase...)I sold the suitcase and tossed about 4 bags full of clothes... I have some left in my wardrobe and dresser and the one box on top of the wardrobe, the winter stuff.

I can't tell you how good it feels to have so much less stuff! I feel so much lighter! Well, emotionally of course ;) I also tossed some of my handbags and gave most of my nice little knicknacks to Monique, together with a shopping bag full of make up. I sorted out my papers and have just little left to do, some stuff in my kitchen and an old hamper with things to sort out but mostly toss. 

So now I have something that looks like a home, I have a cat, I have some nice friends and my boyfriend is preparing to come to the Netherlands! All happy happy joy joy. Of course there are some less nice things happening in my life too but I choose not to dwell on them and just handle them when it's time.

So, now you know I am still alive ;) And I'm not gonna make any promises I can't or won't keep but I'll try to write a bit more often. Like, I have some ideas I'd like input on! Anyway, see you around...

Live life to the fullest!

Hugz, Anna