Its come to an end..

Well, today is officially the last day i will be with the family. Well i say that, but what i actually mean is its my last day as there aupair.

Ineke, Robbert and the children are all going to Denmark or Tuesday morning for just over 2 weeks, then when they return Melissa will be here to take over my role. So really i dont feeli like i am leaving them.

But even so! To mark the begining of a new era i will be starting a new blog, i am not sure on the address yet but when i know i will be sure to post a link!

p.s. Me, Ineke and Robbert went out for such a lovely meal last night but you shall have to wait as it will be the opening post to my new blog!

Holidays!!

OK, sorry about the huge blogging delay! Time just seems to have flown by!!

Because of this i will have to post a few blogs to update you on my shananigans!

Firstly : School Holidays

The kids started there holidays last week, Monday and Tuesday i had all three of them and Thursday and Friday just the boys (Caroline was locked in the basement)*.

OK - So Monday i cant for the life of me remember what we did, and suggestions?!

Tuesday we went to the Bal-lorig. We have been there before in the last holidays - its awesome. The kids love it, they run off, get up to mischief and play for rounghly 51/2 hours then return, exhausted and ready to go home!

I then speedied off to work, compeleted my shift and enjoyed my Wednesday off.

Thurday i took the boys to the cinema to see Shrek 3. It was fantastic. Now, im not a fan of the old Shrek films but this was a gooden.

Friday - stressful. Enough said. Me and Jack took the boys to the Ondekhoek. It was packed. The staff were useless and we stayed close to 5 hours. The day turned out well but it didnt look like a good start!

This week the kids have pony camp, galloping, trotting, skipping, jumping, you name it - they can do it.

*She was actually at her Grandma's house - you didnt actually think we would do that did you?!

I'm on contract!

Well, not entirely.

I went to my boss a while back to ask for a contract at O'sheas as i need one to rent an apartment.

Ill see what i can do , he said.

Saturday, i went into O'sheas equipted with my Sofi nummer and passport. A few minutesa fter handing it over Jonny (my boss) comes back to our table and asks for a chat with me.

Its blimin marvoulous isnt it. Some 'I've got nothing better to do with my time' customer felt the need to complain about me. Why? Your guess is as good as mine.

If that isnt enough the conversation then went as follows.

'well, Rachel, we have a few new people on trials this week and if they prove to be really good then we will have to re-assess the situation and see who stays and who goes'

So basically, my job is on the line for no reason clear to me. Fabulous.

I've been biten. Again.

Have you ever counted 32 mosquito bites on your body at any one time? No? Well stop telling me not to scratch them then.

I am so loving..

Jimmy Carr.

He is just too funny.

If you go to the youtube website and search for Jimmy Carr you will see what i mean (unless your English - then imm pretty sure you know who he is..)

However, do so at your own risk - if your easily offended.. please re think your decision. Quite a few times.

Its about time..

... i posted again.

This week, ive been sick. Not really really sick, just a little under the weather. Well, apart from yesterday when i woke up early in the morning, sweating like a pig in a blanket, shaking like a mad woman and feeling like the exploisive in my head was in 10 seconds to count down mode. And yet, i still had to work last night. Not to worry though, i lived to tell the tale.

Take Off

I went to watch the children i teach english too in there school musical Monday. Funny. I arrived at 7.25, show started at 7.30. Never mind worrying about sitting next to noisy children, worry more about the imature adult who insists on laughing, making funny noises and tickling his kids the whole way through. To be honest, im not really one to talk. I spent most of my time pulling faces at the kids on stage and laughing at the struggle to keep shtum. Take Off (the name of the musical - unless you were wondering) lasted only 1hr. There was then an interval for 15 minutes and the second half of the show began. Talent. Or lack of.. the first 2 girls on stage sang a song which was pretty good i guess.. then there was an accordian. Yes - you heard correctly. People actually play that thing. After that a lad went on stage to conduct a game hosted on de lamas. Basically, 4 people have to leave the room, the audience picks a person, a weapon and a crime scene. One by one the people come back in, each having to guess who commited the crime etc.. WELL, the person - Pamela Anderson. the weapon - Her boobies. the crime scene - McDonalds. You can imagine the cherades going on throughout this game. Hosted by 10 year old kids.

Mortens Birthday

Monday was Mortens birthday, you can read more about it on Inekes blog (sorry - link is on my side bar) We had such a nice morning with presents and stuff - and lots of delicious home made apple tart. At least i got the important bits in there!

Ok, well thats all for now chaps!

My Weekend..

Kralingsebos

On Saturday me and Jacky boy went off to Kralingsebos. For those of you who don't know, Kralingsebos is a lake. One huge lake.

Around the lake there are three restaraunts (well.. two and a pancake house..) Anyway.. two were on the right hand side of the lake.. and the other on the left.

The left looked closer.

So we headed left. The restaraunt was closed. But of course by this time we had to just keep walking to the next. This is Jack taking a little rest.

After about an hour we reached the restaraunt, which to be honest looked far nicer than the first one we saw.. sat down.. had lunch and went on our merry way.

Saturday evening i stayed at Jacks, of course, calling for chinese and settling down to watch 'Crocodile'

Wahoo!! I found my old template!

I promise i will find something more interesting to blog about soon!!

p.s. Im sorry for the lack of titles on my blog.. the mouse wont click on the title box.. any suggestions?!

So!! I've been tagged!

The Rules: "Each person posts the rules before their list, then they list 8 things about themselves. At the end of the post, that person tags and links to 8 other people and then visits those peoples' sites and comments letting them know that they have been tagged, and to come read the post, so they know what they have to do."

8 things is pretty tough when i have already posted 50 useless facts about me but ill give it a go..

1. This is my first ever tag. See.. that wasn't so hard.

2. I wrote a post a while back about 'Dave' from O'sheas. He read it. Nobody told me there is a link on the O'sheas website to my blog.

3. I dont have 8 people on my link list to tag. Going to have to find some randoms.

4. I would really love to design a fantastic template for my blog but really have no idea how.

5. I am a complete chocoholic. And proud.

6. I don't like it when people say 'wow! youve lost weight! You look so much better for it!' What they reall mean is.. 'Frig me! shes no longer the fat lump of lard she used to be'

7. (i'm starting to struggle now..) Oh! I am the tastiest bit of flesh you will ever have tried. The mosquitoes told me. I have counted 34 bites withing the last 2 1/2 days.

8. I love horror movies, roller coasters and anything that gets my adrenilin pumping. Whilst on the plane to America a few years back i was sat next to some huge guy putting in his contact lenses. To be honest i blame it on him. He should have known i was watching a horror movie.. the cusion in front of my eyes was the clue.. it really wasnt my fault when i jumped, knocked his elbow which consiquentially knocked his hand which poked his finger in his eye and sent his contact lence flying across the plane.

OK.. so thats the eight complete.. oh p.s. I never really was a huge fat lump of lard.. just a bit porky round the edges..

Now i guess i have to tag 8 other people.. slight problem.. i dont have 8 people to tag so im just gonna tage the one.. Ineke.. this should be good..

Temp.

This is just a temp template until i get a better one sorted.. i seem to have lost the old!

New Direction..

I have decided to take my blog in a new direction.. i havent quite decided what direction that will be yet but watch this space.

My template will be changing again shortly.

You see, i am leaving the family i work for in 4 weeks time. Another new begining. Well, not a new beginning as that would indicate a fresh start and i really dont feel like i need another fresh start as my old start was nothing but fabulous hahaha.. However, i will be working full time at O'sheas (fingers crossed..) I have a whole bunch of new friends, there just seems to be a few changes going on in my life at the moment, therefore i am going to change my blog to suit them!

Dont hold your breath though.. it could take a while!

Watch this space!

Another little rant..

OK, so i know ive been ranting a lot recently.. but i really have to say this.

I called an anti-kraak organisation this morning. To begin with i was put through to 4 or 5 differnet people. When i finally got to speak to somebody, this is what i was faced with.

'Hi, my names Rachel Cornford, i wondered if you could talk me through your anti-squat accomidations'

'PardON?' (Yes - ON is in capitals to put the emphasis where she did.'

I repeat the above line.. my names Rachel.. etc..

'Ik spreek nederlands' (said in a who the frig do you think you are to call this number sort of way.)

'OK, well could i speak to somebody that speaks English please?'

'Well, you didnt explain that you were English did you? you just went right ahead and spoke it'

So what may i ask was her little outburst all about?!?!


So now i am starting to get a little pissed at the way she is talking to me

'So you do speak English?'

'Yes i speak English'

'OK, well could you tell me about the anti squat accomidation you have please?'

'i have no idea what you are talking about - i think you have the wrong number'

At this point - if it was possible, i would have dived down the phone and put a stake through her heart. (OK, so maybe thats a little over dramatic..)

'No, i definatly have the right number, i was refered to you by a friend, i want information about the anti squat accomidation you have'

'We dont have anti squat accomidation, we get you to fill in the forms and put you on a waiting list'

Sorry - correct me if im wrong but has she not just completely contradicted what she said?

'Ok, well could you tell me how to go about it then please, where i get the forms etc..'

'Everything is on the internet - goodbye'

Everything may well be on the internet.

The internet is Dutch.

Seriously, some people are so rude.

Babys!

Jack has recently found out that his step mum is having another baby in June.. blimy.. if our families get any bigger we could fill a school..

I'm one of six and he will be one of four.. that nakes ten of us to those of you who are not quite sure.. not to mention his mother alone is one of ten children!!! yes you read correctly!!

Anti-Kraak

Anti-Kraak AKA Anti-Squat is an organisation that hires people to live in homes that will be demolished in a year or so. The idea of this programme is to preven squatters from taking over unused property.

Me and Jack are looking into being a part of this. There are several advantages, extremely low rent (100 euros a month!!) can be huge houses which would normally be 900+ a month etc etc..

The disadvantages are you could be kicked at with as little as 2 weeks notice. However, doesn't this make everything just a tad more exciting!!

Please let me know if you or anyone you know has experience with this sort of accomidation, it would really help us make our minds up!!

9 things that really niggle me.. (because i cant think of 10)

In no particular order..

1. People who don't blog in English.. ENGLISH IS THE INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGE OF THE WORLD PEOPLE!!! however.. what annoys me more is people who dont blog in words at all.. just those stoopid little square things.. whats up with that?!?!
2. People who walk along the bike path.. The name gives it away guys.. BIKE path.
3. Remote controls with no batteries. How annoying to have to get out of bed every time you want to turn the channel.
4. Arrogance. Enough said.
5. People who dont practice what they preach, why tell someone to do something if your not willing to do it yourself.
6. My tongue. However, it is nearly ok now.
7. Rain. Have you noticed how the sun always shines when your inside and the rain always pours when your out?
8. Having to pay 3 months rent up front when renting a house/flat/apartment. Why exactly am i paying 750 euros to this woman for showing me around a house which i found on the internet?
9. Drivers who speak on there phones whilst driving, the law is there for a reason. I wouldnt mind so much if you were just risking your own life, but your risking the lives of others too.

Superiority

This is one thing that really gets on my wick.

As you well know i have been working at O'sheas for the last couple of weeks now, everything going pretty well - even if i do say so myself.

However, last night was my first all nighter there.

The evening started off a little crap really, i was feeling really tired, hungry and fed up with my piercing, matters not being helped by a rather arrogant member of staff, more about him later!

Anyway, so as the evening went on (very slowly to begin with i may just add) i started to cheer up a bit.

I love working there, i really do, but i cannot cope with being spoke down to. By anyone. It is rude, arrogant and unnecessary.

Lets call him Dave. For arguements sake.

Dave* is a guy who i work with. Same level. Same pay. Same authority.

Dave has an issue with superiority.

Well, of course, i told him this.

I personally see nothing wrong or offensive in what i said, i merely stated that i do not appreciate being spoken to the way in which he speaks to me. To which he replied (i quote) 'if i am not a bitch, you will never learn' well, this pushed me over. I cannot believe that he was consciously treating me the way he was, i at least half expected him to be oblivious to his rudeness, apologise and get on with his life. But oh no, Dave here actually knows that he is a bitch, takes pleasure from it and gets an authorities thrill from it!!

I just cant take it. I find it so hard to understand these people that make there way through life believing that they are more important than others. I can accept being given advise, or even critasism from someone who knows better than me, which of course he does, being there a longer period of time, but to purposly talk to me like something he has just stepped in, patronise me and make me feel smaller than a pint glass is really frustrating.

Anyway, he also added that he treats me no differently to any other member of staff here. I replied that my issue is not with how i think he singles me out but with the way in which he treats others around him. I then closed the case and left. I have to work with this arrogant plonker again tonight. Should be fun.

*name changed to protect person or persons involved.

Little bit of everything.. all roled into one.

• O'Sheas is going really well. I love the pub, the people and the atmosphere. I have met so many great people, both behind and at the bar. My hours vary depending on the week. This week i have to work Friday and Saturday nights, from 9PM until 6AM!! tough ha! considering i have to be up with the children at 7.45 in the morning!!! need a bit of thought on that one please!
• Jack got fired yesterday. Well, not exactly. Basically, everyone had an individual meeting with the manager yesterday. Jacks was going really well, starting of by congratulate him on how well he is doing. Leading to there next point of Jack not getting his promised pay rise untill September (Jack is earing a lower wage that every other person working there) Then continuing to say they are docking 40 euros from his pay packet as he forgot to put a spare rib (yes - a spare rib) in the fridge.. leading to Jack letting lose of a few 'rather rude' words and walking out. So, there you have it. House hunt on hold.
• I got my tongue pierced yesterday, (sorry Mum..), Anyone who says it doesnt hurt is a liar. I have seriously never been in so much pain and the piercing seemed to take forever!! I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon at 1 o clock and probably wont be able to for another day or so as i cant fit anything in my mouth besides my tongue!! Anyway, less about that, im sure i will love it when the healing process is over.. if it ever is.

Did you know....

OK.. so i have completely copied this idea from Ineke but i am pretty sure she wont hunt me down and eat me for breakfast.




So.. Did you know...

• Me and Jack went to a party in Utrecht last friday evening. It was soo good, there was about 60 people there, therefore very busy but it was nice to do something a bit different to what we usually do, plus i met a few new people which is always a bonus!!


• My Dad thought Utrecht was the name of a nightclub.


• I got the job at O'Sheas.. Wahoo.


• The electric went at Inekes a couple nights ago.. only in my room and her room. Convinient seen as they were the only two rooms that electric was actually needed.


• I found the upload disc for my MP3 player this morning.. allowing me to actually charge the bloody thing. Seriously, how much hassle has this little white cube cost me!!!


• Me and Jack are still in the process of looking for a flat. On Monday we should have 400 euros in our savings. We need 2100. Donations welcome.


• Mortens English is surprisingly brilliant. After our little translation session with Timo and Caroline, i think he felt rather proud of himself, boasting on the fact his English was better than theirs.


• My Dutch lessons are going well.. simple, but well..


• My Dutch teacher is trying to set me up on a TEFL course (i think thats right) to enable me to teach British English abroad.


• I have had so much to blog about over the last few weeks but havent had the enthusiasm to write anything worth writing. Hence the bullet points.

And last but not least....

• It is Inekes birthday on sunday.. she is going to be 41.. I think we are going to Hotel New York for breakfast on Sunday morning (However, i am not so sure i am still invited!!!)

OK.. so i haven't been blogging to much lately, i have got loads of exciting stuff going on in my life at the moment.. i just don't have the inspiration to write about it..

I had my job interview at O'sheas.. i have my trial tomorrow.

Me and Jack are still flat hunting.. not going to good.. we have found loads, but they are all available immediately.

We are going to a party tonight in Utrecht, should be good.

Think that's about it.. see.. i really am struggling to elaborate on my life!!

P.s....

Sorry about the lack of link list, i really have no idea how to add one to this new template.. here is Inekes blog link.

http://itaintmuchifitaintdutch.blogspot.com

Its worth reading. She can be rather amusing.