Last weekend in September

I was home in the Netherlands for a few days. Mainly to attend a family reunion on my mums side of the family, but I always find plenty of other things to see and do.Especially now with both mum and dad being heart patients and at home.


I visited the new house of Anita, it is quite similar to the house where my parents live. Went out to Utrecht with Deborah who suffered me being tipsy while we enjoyed a meal at an Italian restaurant along the canal and went to a pub later on. All of sudden it was 1.45AM? And went to see my gandmother who is back in hospital. She had fallen 3x in one week and she looked quite distracted.

The family day was a beautiful September Sunday, near the 65th Anniversary of my grandparents wedding had they still been alive. See some photos below;



My Mother at the family reunion joining in traditional games! 
Mum was one of the first to jump on and try this game.

My mums sister organized the day where there were some activities and plenty of time for all family members to catch up. Although not everyone could be present it was great seeing so many again.


My mum and her brothers and sisters.  
And yes the rainbow!!


My parents! 


My poor nephew who had broken his ankle....  

We drove North to see my nephew who 2 days earlier had broken his ankle in a very bad way. He was just released from hospital after having had surgery the day before. He was so brave and I hope his parents are managing having him in the house incapable of doing anything... He says it itches quite a bit even though he doesnt have the cast. He was the latest in the family to have an accident this summer, lets hope fall and winter dont do too much damage!

Tourist and health

I went to London again on Saturday, I was meeting up with a Sarah fan from Ontario Canada. I offered to show him around London a bit and hang out. It was a gorgeous day and it was nice walking around. Leicester Square, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace, Horseguards Parade and towards Big Ben. At the Southbank there was the Thames festival and it was very lively. Street artists, vendors, food stalls, a beautiful day and great atmosphere. I made some photos again, I never get bored of taking them in this city. There are still things I have not seen or are in a different angle. I went inside St Pauls Cathedral for the first time, and that reminded me of the images of 1997 when I was in Italy working on a campsite and Diana's funeral was on. Now I finally saw the interior myself. I was surprised by how many young people were doing tours inside the cathedral. Interesting.



Blackfriars Bridge and St Pauls Cathedral in the back ground 


St Pauls upclose 

On Sunday I lazied around. I am trying to exercise and eat properly and since I have started it seems I cant stop saying the word food. Or Gym. I joined the local David Lloyds, a very expensice fitness center in between home and work, and am doing about an hour of exercise as often as I can in a week. So far I am doing ok, I do not like the Stairs exercise, but all others I am managing. It does make me feel good and energetic. I am asking everyone, incl online friends about healthy food, and wonder why I never bothered learning what is good or not. I feel so uneducated, or simply dumb on these matters. But I am getting there I think? My fridge-compartment has had a extreme makeover and now has lettuce, low fat yoghurt, vegetables, etc in it. I have started eating breakfast which I never really did. I am eating muesli and so far am liking it. My landlady Dorothy and her family are getting used to my new regime and are hiding their food from me.

I went to an Electronics Store with Dorothy, because I wanted her to have a look at digital camera's. She is going on holidays and would like a digital camera, so we browsed for some models. Then on to Tesco's for more low fat yoghurt, oh yeah baby!

I think all the exercise helps my mood and gives me distraction from things that are bothering me. So far so good!!

Silent Sea - KT Tunstall

Just sharing my current theme song with you, obviously I am not in the happiest of moods, lots of things on my mind, decisions on my future that I need to take... This song reflects me trying to be responsible and having some trouble with it. Don't laugh! I am serious! The photo I threw in because I tried something different! And I had no photo of a harbour.......



I was happy in my harbour
When you cut me loose
Floating on an ocean
And confused
Winds are whipping waves up
Like sky scrapers
And the harder they hit me
The less I seem to bruise

Oh when I
Find the controls
I'll go where I like
I'll know where I want to be
But maybe for now
I'll stay right here
On a silent sea
On a silent sea

Tin Tin In London

Weeks have gone as fast as lightning. All of a sudden I am 3 days off again and my friend Amanda, nicknamed Tin Tin is over from Canada. Certainly a big treat having her over and hanging out together in London. Visiting countless Wagamama's and having long chats, and many laughs. Tin Tin was in London and some of the photos are below;


Amanda and I accross from Westminster 


Top of the Eye 


Amanda in the London Eye 


London Eye from a distance 

What a month

The good news is that mum and dad are back in Holland since Sunday evening. I drove back their car with a Polish friend of my parents on Saturday (almost 1000KM) and have since returned back to the UK. Dad seems to recover very well, but is taking it easy. I will show some photos I have taken of the last 2 weeks below.


Jeroen my brother giving our dad some white colours. 


Welcome Home in Polish 


Mum and dad coming home by special medical taxi from Poland to Holland 


Olga and her brother Mikolai going for a wander 


Mikolai and his Dziadek waiting for the harvest 


Like many of the Polish fields in August 


Me waiting 


Dads floor in hospital 


A beautiful field in the village of Sarbia, Poland 

The family walking to church 


Driving in Poland 


Dad in Polish IC. My mum in the middle, and a Polish friend next to her.