January Catch up

First month of 2005 is almost over. It was action packed, fun, love and also had some worrying moments. I guess it had a bit of everything?

The start of the New year with friends; Milky, Chloe and Texas whom I all met in Sydney in 2004. We had a little reunion in downtown London which was really nice and a great beginning of 2005! Lots of chatting, catching up and drinks kept us occupied. Had to work on the bank holiday Monday because we were so unfamiliar with what was expected from us. But we managed. Quite the challenge though.

Went to see a movie with Milky mid January. She came with her car to pick me up and drove to Woking which is only 15 min away. We saw ‘Closer’ with Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Nathalie Portman. Not your typical Julia movie, but quite interesting though. Great performance by Nathalie. The following day I had arranged to meet Dimitri, a Dutch-Greek collegue from Sony who lives nearby. Went for a walk to Weybridge and then hit 2 pubs. About 6 hours later we walked back. It was very interesting conversation, definitely some work topics, but also traveling, music, politics and stuff I can’t remember!

Mum had heart rhythm in consistencies and had to be defibrillated to correct this, she knows how to worry us, that is for sure. So far so good, although she has taken it a great deal easier, she does feel better. I went home for 3 days to check up on her and for my cousin Marjolein’s wedding and managed to see lots of aunts and uncles. The dogs and I went for a walk with Deborah who happened to be around, and even though we didn’t have a lot of time to hang out, the 1,5 hour was great catching up. On the Saturday Kim, had the evening off from being a mum to Mabel and came over to spend some time. We went to the Lage Vuursche, famous for its pancake restaurants, and after that we went back and together with Danielle, one of my neighbors we went to the local party of the sports club. Danielle was on a 15 month trip through New Zealand, Australia and Asia and had only returned end of December 04 …. Before she left back in Maartensdijk, NL we hardly ever talked, but when my mum realized we would be able to meet in Australia we got eachothers mobile-phone number and email addresses, and managed to meet in both Melbourne & Sydney! And got to know my neighbor on the other side of the world!
There was an ‘après-ski’ theme and some familiar faces, some decent dance music and just great to be talking to my friends in person again. Anita who is the only member of the club was there too, part of the organizing committee and a wintersport person herself… The following day I went to see Oceans 12 with my nephew Patrick and sister in law Ingrid. Cool to see Brad and George in Amsterdam!! Drove home with Ingrid and patrick, and later on my brother Caspar joined and we had dinner together. On their way home they dropped me off at the airport and I made my way back to the UK.

During this last week I went toYOGA for the first time which is held in the restaurant at Sony. WOW, I had been having some shoulder pains, and it just seemed so effective. I think also the fact that you come to such relaxation, is great. I am often very tense, always feel like I forget to do stuff and while I am not able to do every exercise, it was definitely worthwhile.

And last Friday I went to London again! Milky would have a job interview in London and since Chloe & Texas live in the centre, I thought I would make my way over there as well. Chloe made a beautiful Mexican meal before we headed out. Milky had heard back from another job interview which she really wanted and now has a job in Oxford Street. I am not sure what officially it is called but it has to do with Java & internet. More reason to have a little celebration. Unfortunately trains don’t run all night, and as I knew I was meeting Milky the next day as well, I stayed over at her parents house in Buckinghamshire, to save on loads of travel time. And help her get home reasonably LOL!!! After eggs on toast (mmmm yummy) we headed back into London around Saturday noon-time. First to Camden, just to browse one of my favourite London areas. Back in 1999, when I lived in Finsbury park, with Aussies Lara and Janice it was a challenge not to go there every weekend. The atmosphere is so laid back, cheap clothing and shoes, great international affordable food. I like it! We checked with Chloe and Texas to find out where they were, and went back into the city to meet up again. I left them around 9PM and was back in Byfleet via metro, train, bus and taxi around 10.45PM. Normally it doesn’t take THAT long but there is construction work being done on the rail tracks and so I had to get a bus from Surbiton to Weybridge…

It has been a year since I arrived in Sydney, Australia. Walking the riverbanks surrounding the Opera House, walking to Darling harbour and watching a thunder and lightning storm hit the city for about 5 minutes, and seeing the sun back bright and hot. Swimming at Bondi beach, and thinking I am never going to handle this heat for any longer… and meeting Milky in the hostel and first thinking she was sooo quiet. I am glad we have been able to enhance our friendship, through times of sadness, sometimes lonelyness and lots of moaning and Sarah McLachlan moments from my side and to be able to see her again here in the UK.

And today is laundry day, it is almost done which is why I thought I would type up the main events of January 2005 for all of you to read. The landlady is not here, so I have the house to myself and 5 cats. I have nothing else planned then to relax anc lean up my bits and pieces, maybe prepare a nice meal, and have a catch up chat with my dear friend Amanda from Ontario,Canada. Usually a weekly thing. And having known eachother 5 years at the beginning of February 2005… that is a big donation to international phone bills. Well we skipped about 2,5 years either living in the same house (Dublin) and not being in touch for a while… BUT the last 2 years and a bit we have had extremely good contact and a friendship full of memorable meet ups in Canada, Holland, London, Dublin, New York and Hawaii. Someone that has a the wonderful quality of listening and challenging me in many aspects. My appreciation for our friendship is endless. And I hope we will be able to see each other real soon again as well. I will tell her that on the phone today!

And perhaps sort out my laptop. I need to order my photos, send some photos of and work out why I am not able to upload photos to my website currently….Hopefully I will have worked it out later today so I can share some shots with you!

This First month end of 2005 is in sight, so the next week is going to be really busy. First I need to ensure accounts are clean of old items, and then sent off the customer account statements and reconcile the replies I get....

See you later in February, should be an intersting start as Holland plays a friendly against the England team!!

S