Twisted Logic Tour

Coldplay @ Earls Court this evening was a thrill to watch. My friend Milky joined me and we were blown away. The lighting effects were good, Chris was dancing like crazy and seemed very happy and they just rocked! Favourites like Yellow(see photo with huge yellow balloons in the crowds) Don't Panic, The Scientist and Clocks, and a few new songs were all received with roars and the crowd just loved the show. They even did a acoustic version of Ring of Fire, hilarious! Support Act Richard Ashcroft, Ex The Verve was singing quite a number of familair songs like The Drugs dont Work, Lucky Man and Bittersweet Symphony. A great concert.

Kubb @ Scala

The Visitors

...:Things Will Only Change if We Change Them:...

I came accross that line today and felt it was so applicable to me currently. In regards of my job, my frame of mind and a cause I have found to put my shoulders under and make a difference.

Back in 1998, when I was on holidays in South Africa I met a lady called Irma. She was looking after two abandoned orphans. Beautiful cheeky little boys. I remember one would come up to me and put his hand on my belly and saý; "Fat Tummy". Obviously a bit insulted at first,(even though he was right) I found out that he had been in another foster family with a lady who was pregnant. He and his little brother received so much love from Irma and her kids, you could see the difference it made for these 2 boys.

Fast Forward to 2005. Although I havent been in touch frequently with Irma over the last 6 years, we have been emailing the last few weeks. She now has an official Safe House for Abandoned Children called Tzadokah Home and currently 8 children are in her care ranging from 2-9 years old.

WOW. WOW because there is not a lot of subsidy from the South African governement and Irma does her work voluntarily. She has been receiving help from locals & foreigners, some of them have adopted children that were in her care. If any of you that know me would like to make a contribution to this beautiful initiative the Dutch part of Tzadokah is an official charity and send monies received on their bank account every 2 months over to Tzadokahs account in South Africa. These funds pay for example for food, nappies, clothing, electricity and other essential parts of keeping Tzadokah make a difference to abandoned children.

43.86.50.123 ABN/AMRO
FAO Tzadokah Home - c/o E.E. v/d Molen

Of course any other donations are welcome as well! Tzadokah can always use good condition childrens clothing, toys, drawing books etc.

Tzadokah Home
FAO Irma van Rooyen
PO Box 77,
Somerset Mall,
7137,
Republic of South Africa

Or email me and I can provide more information, legal backup, newsletters etc.

...:Things Will Only Change if We Change Them:...

A rainy Sunday afternoon

Hurricane Bitter

Its been a weird year, our family has been going through illnesses and diseases like hurricanes through the alphabet. And just like hurricane season is not over yet for another 5 weeks, neither is 2005 and I am already wishing for 2006!

The real hurricanes make me curious, I want to know as much as I can about them. I am not sure what the draw to them is, but I have always felt overpowered by Mother Nature. Back in Holland or most of England you dont get to see the true beauty of this planet. I have been very fortunate to witness a lot of that beauty so far in my life.The other side of all that beauty is the natural destruction processes....In Holland we (luckily) don't get earthquakes, tsunami's or hurricanes. It's hard to understand what it must be like, except very freightening. And also the horrible consequences of these forces. So much death & destruction, paradises turned into nightmares. Sometimes boring old England is not so bad I guess.

The fictional hurricanes do happen in Holland, or wherever I have family and friends. They always sting, and mess up your feelings and strengths. (Random order)An aging grandmother, an ill friend, parents with heart problems, a terminally ill uncle, a dog with a serious infection, or a friend in need. It makes you think about them, the times spend, the future, when will you see eachother again, and how lost you feel without them. Its been bothering me a lot the last few months. I guess being away from most of my family, friends and my dogs makes me realize what I keep on a distance every time I am abroad. It's hard to really be there for people. But on the other hand I know that there is a world out there, with a place for me. Somewhere to call my own home. Where I can put all my things on the wall and dont have to live out of a suitcase.Where I can live without feeling like I need another holiday......

Donna died today. Known for her excited wagging of her tail targetting plenty of glasses on the surface. She was a mix of golden retriever and labrador, but fierce and alert as a shepherd. For the last week she was not doing well, vet couldnt pinpoint it but it seems a tumor near her liver was doing the damage. It was my sister in law Ingrid, my brother Caspar and their son Patrick's dog.

Visiting Canada - Autumn colours

I sneaked in a last minute visit for my friend Amanda's Birthday and Canadian Thanksgiving. I managed to get a week off of work, I finished all the Half Year Closing work and Audit requirements. It was so good to be back in Ontario. She and her dad picked me up from the airport, we did a few trail walks with her dog Makawe, which was a good replacement for the gym.


I tried to watch my food, but her dad really makes the best burgers and I have a Taco Bell addiction.... And in order to enjoy every moment, and staying awake talking I had to raise my Coca Cola consumption. Only the last night we were able to say goodnight before 2AM. The trails near where she lives are really great, and all was in Autumn mode. Beautiful colours.



For Thanksgiving some family members came over, and we enjoyed a nice meal and an AirHockey tournament!! I even got muscle ache from it!!

We watched a few DVD's just to give our voice a rest! The Notebook was a beautiful movie,I forget the name of the other movie. I also watched Indian Summer and Alexander. I thought it was a great movie, and will be mindful of believing critics reviews in the future.

On Friday we crossed the border and went shopping in Niagara Falls USA Outlet stores. They have quite a good choice in those shops, I got some GAP stuff, and a suitcase,.. maybe the days of back pack are really over?? And a CSI game for my landlady who loves that show. We are planning some CSI night now! Also some small give aways for friends... Which I cant reveal yet! We stayed near Buffalo NY for the night and then went shopping again the next day. I usually am NOT like this at all, but in North America are so much cheaper compared to UK and Holland. VAT is only 7% (?) in NY state. We got back Saturday afternoon. Sunday we went for our final walk and lunch (burgers my her dad) and drove to Toronto. The flight back was ok, but I was very tempted to add on a few days...Sometimes life feels very simple when you have a close friend near.


Makawe & Me 

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.