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!!!)

So much to say!

Well, since I blogged last, my mother has been to stay; It was so lovely to see her and spend some proper time just the two of us.

Mum's flight arrived Thursday afternoon (after a few minor problems about her trip to Rotterdam) she arrived safe and well.

We started her stay with a walk along the River/Canal/Pond like thing and went into town to visit Jack.

On the Friday me and Mum went for the 'nicest coffee you have ever tasted' coffee shop (of course a slice of cake was thrown in there for good measure), did a spot of shopping (mum bought me a lovely purple and white wrap around dress) and met Jack for lunch.

We went to the habour at Blaak for lunch (the same place we went for mine a Jack 1 yearer)

The Cube houses at Blaak, believe it or not they are actually flat inside..

On Saturday our plan was a three hour boat tour to see the windmills in Rotterdam, however, it was fully booked (that reminds me.. i must tell you about the post office system.. ill save that one for a post all of its own..) As it was a sold out tour we decided to hit the shops. Not that i am complaining of course! The Boat trip would have been really lovely as it is something i wouldnt normally do, however, i was in desperate need of some clothes. No longer!! I now have 2 new pairs of summer trousers and 4 new tops.

Sunday me, mum, Ineke and the children all went to the Dunya festival, you can read more about it on Inekes blog (sorry about the lack of link, not really sure how to do them, however her address is on my link list).

Dunya festival

Mum went home yesterday but her flight wasn't until later in the afternoon so we thought we would make the most of it and spend the day in Amsterdam. It rained. Well not all day. When we first arrived we went on an hours boat tour of the canals. I never realised Amsterdam was Venice II.

Me and Mum on the boat

After getting off the boat we decided to head towards the Anne Frank house and stop for food on the way. Well, lets say we got as far as food. And. It. Poured. Anyway, we sat to eat in a nice little pizzaria. It was dissapointing that the weather couldn't hold out for us but still, no point in mopping around. After some serious umberella buying we headed in the direction of Anne Frank (well, her house anyway) but changed our minds half way there because of the rain. Anyway, we ended up in a shopping mall, surprise, surprise. However, only a few minutes were spent here before realising the time and heading back to the station.

Mum cried. I cried. We said our goodbyes and the train left. Although it went very quickly, we still had a lovely time.

Now before mum left she gave me and Jack some money to do something nice with, so me and Jack headed for Madame Tusaudes. The pictures say it all.

Jack playing bongo's with the one and only Bob Marley

He just couldn't resist a grope..

And yet again.. he couldn't contain himself..

Soooo Daaan!!!

On this day, one year ago, the man of my dreams walked into my life.

OK, really, it wasnt that dramatic. But, yes, me and Jack have been together one year today.

To celebrate we are going out to an Italian restaraunt for lunch. Yum.

Shall maybe post some pictures later.

My Dutch Birthday!!

Well, my day began with a spot of present opening!! I really wasn't expecting this as we already had a wonderful day planned to celebrate my birthday but still! whos complaining!! Ineke, Robbert and the children bought me some amazingly comfortable and lushus flip flop, my hunt for them failed so Ineke helped me out!! Along with a box of Celebrations and of course.. after eights!! Ineke either forgot, or liked the idea that they make me incredibly hyper!! Anyway! who needs alcohol!! I was then handed a light silver bag. Incase i hadn't already recieved enough i then opened a gift voucher to get my hair done and a salon in the centre!! I'm thinking of maybe going blond.. Like Golden, not Bleach.

Ineke and I then began our City Safari. In the mail you recieve a list of three destinations and times in which to be there.

Our first was to visit a Morrocan Lady who served us a lunch of bean soup and filled pittas. Whilst eating we sat in a special room lined with special sofas with a special table in the middle with special pictures on the walls. It was a religious room. Thats the word.

Our second stop was visit a lady who would reveal our inner most secrets. And thats exactly what she did.

Last but not least we visited a modernised Mosque!! After thinking we would be shown around by some tall guy with a beard and hat we were surprised to see a young beardless guy in trackies!! He showed us everything, from the prayer room to the toilets! Although this bit was hard for me to understand as the Dutch spoken was on a topic i was not familiar with, the translated information was very interesting!!

After having such a lovely day Ineke and Robbert took me to Hotel New York for a meal with the children. After starting the evening with a glass of champaign next to the river I ate a mushroom ravioli with a truffle sauce accompanied by a baguette and crouton salad whilst Ineke and Robbert shared a mixed fish platter with everything from prawns to snails, lobster to oyesters and many many more paculiar species. Yes people. It has to be said. I ate a snail. Well half. And i more of swallowed it like a tablet than physically ate it.

I really did have such a wonderful birthday, it couldn't have been better.

CHEERS!!

Easter

In Holland we have two easter days. Strange I know. As expected Jack had to work both of them. On the bright side this meant he had Saturday off, first time for everything.

Our weekend started with a trip into Ridderkerk on the back of a bike. Well, me on the back and Jack riding it. After a hunt for some super-stylish but also bug-like sunglasses we stopped for lunch. For those of you who know me, especially my mother and Jack know i have a tendancy to strop about things that aren't important. Such as the stoopid woman in the new Bread&Butter cafe in town who gave me crappy bread with my lunch.

Now, what annoyed me about this was as i was reading the menu i asked Jack if you can chose which bread you would like, he said he was not sure but he would ask, went up to the counter, ordered our food and came back. So, why may i ask did he order a fantastic crusty roll with his and i got some funny little fluffy thing???? Was not ammused. Got quite stroppy. We had a little lovers tiff. Then realised we were having quite an intence arguement about a bread roll. Laughed. And ate.

So that was that.

We then went to the new Ice Cream parlour next door, three scoops each please, white chocolate, tiramasu and cookie dough for me please and cherry, pineapple and some other flavour that i fail to recall for Jack. Super.

Straight after this (OK so maybe not the most magnificent idea) we went to the funfair. Couple of topsy turvy rides a complaint of slight sickness for Jack and a bike ride home.

Saturday night Jack went out for a poker evening with his friends leaving me engrosed with the film Twister and The Mummy Returns.

Bringing us to Sunday.

Waking up bright an early me and Jack left for Rotterdam, him to work and me to Ineke's.

Ineke's family came over, her sister with her husband and 4 children, her mother, two aunties and cousin, along with me, ineke, Robbert and the 3 children bringing it to a grand total of 16. Thankfully the weather was beautiful so we ate delicious pizza curtousy of Robbert, sat in the garden and tanned ourselves.

Sunday evening i went to Coconuts to meet Jack. Now, Jacks mother gave me a lovely dress, black and white, long sleeves, short skirt. I would say it is a classy dress, not slutty. Unless you wear it to ride a bike. Which, of course i did. I have to say, I am pleased Ineke wasnt about to snap a pic of this one!!!

Altogether i had a really lovely easter weekend.

The Burger Beater

Last night i met up with Kathrin, we met at five PM outside Centraal Station. We hit it off straight away (well at least, i think we did, maybe she would have a different view!!!) and went to the American Dreamz cafe.

I ate the Nachos (obviously) and Kathrin had an egg roll. As we were finishing up a group of American 40 somethings came in. Now, in this cafe you can buy a burger for 45 euros (only!!) which weighs 1250g. Now, if you eat this burger, along with all the crap that goes with it in under half an hour then you get your money back plus the chance to win a holiday in Florida. Not bad hé! (oh.. did i forget to mention that last year only two people managed to accomplish this?) Anyway, so we spent the next 20 minutes trying to persuade them to do it, failed miserable, got invited to sit with them and drank for free the rest of the evening!!

Winner!!

Post in a Post in a Post

OK, so i have been slaking a little lately when i comes to my blog.. So heres the lengthy post to update you on the Wonderful World of Rachel.

Lets start with Thursday.

Hannibal Rising

Thursday Evening me and Jack went to see this very fantastic film. Now I love the thrill of watching a horror but am very easily scared. However, this was not so bad. The film in itself was incredibly good, the story behind why Hannibal Lectar became who he did, it is actually quite sad!

Anyway, What I found far more disturbing than the film itself was the fact that I got asked for I.D. Please could someone explain to me what that is all about!! I know I look young for my age but i am 19 next month!! The film is a 16!! Anyway, I am sure I will be more than happy about this when i reach 30 and am still getting I.D'd to enter a club. Wahoo for me.

St Patricks Day

This is a day I have never ever celebrated, haven't the foggiest who the ever-so-famous St Patrick is, however, seen as I am no longer a resident of one of the 4 places that make up the UK i felt it my duty to represent Ireland (OK, so i am not technically Irish, in fact i am no way Irish.. but work with me..) So me and Jack made ourselves look pretty and paid O'Sheas Irish bar a visit. It. Was. Packed. However it was well worth it just to hear some English voices. So that was saturday night. How fantastic.

Church

Now, i haven't been to church since leaving England. And really haven't been looking. However, Austin is leaving next Sunday and asked if i would go along with him to the Sunday morning English service he attends at the Beurs World Trade Centre. So i did. Along with 7 others. Yes, just seven. And 6 of those 7 were Dutch!! However, I enjoyed it. Everyone was really nice and welcoming. Infact, i went to lunch with Austin and 2 others. Very nice, had a spicy chicken wrap. Super.

I then spent the remainder of my Sunday sitting around Coconuts, eating, drinking and reading.

Lovely Jubely.

So i guess thats my update, not so exciting after all.

Burping, Fajitas and a bit on the side

Carolines sick. Well, was. Tuesday evening we were all minding our own business whilst tucking in to a rather scrumptious meal when Caroline lets out the most unbelievable belch! Seriously, you have never heard anything like it. She is four years old. Yet what came out of her mouth had surely been brewing for a fair few years longer than that. And that's not all. To follow the most unbelievable belch came a ridiculous amount a fluid. Poor thing. I really hate being sick, the taste it leaves in the back of your throat is really gross, I can't imagine what it must feel to be that young and feel so poorly. Not that I was never ill as a four year old. I just can't remember it.

Anyway. So that was that, Wednesday Caroline stayed off with me and Ineke. Oh, yes, I worked yesterday and have tomorrow off!! Which is actually quite nice!!

Last night Jack took me to the Pictures and followed it up with the most lovely meal in Dream.

We saw 'Blood Diamond' This was an amazing film, very heartfelt but very true. Make sure you have the tissues!!

Now, Dream. This is were me and Jack went for drinks last week. We sat upstairs this time and had such a wonderful evening. The food was so good, maybe even better than 'Zin', where we went on Valentines Day. I had Steak and Kip Fajitas. They were cooked in a sweet chilli sauce and served with rice, so yummy!! and Jack had the mixed grill, which was also very lovely.

So here I am. Sitting in front of the computer, waiting to head over to Jacks.. for a 3 day break - Lekker hoor!!!

The 1st of 3 Posts - Valentines Day

I have 3 different things to write about today but am going to do this in 3 different posts as they are completely irrelevant to each other!

So the first - Valentines Day.

Well, yesterday morning i woke at about 8.30, my body has got in to this ridiculous pattern of getting up at this time, of course, this highly annoying Jack. I didn't quite get my breakfast in bed as i was up and about before Jack had even opened his eyes, but he did make me a very lovely English breakfast along with croissents and Orange Juice. Just before breakfast we did presents, Jack got me this very lovely bracelet with 'always loving you' written on it and a silver necklace with a fairy pendant on the end (like Tinkerbell!!) and i got him a Valentines game (which sucked may i just add.. as if 'my partner and I are going to re-inact a scene from the Titanic..') and some candy from Jammin.

Then it was time for the pictures!! So we headed into town (showing Jack the 'oh my goodness these boots are the nicest i have ever seen' boots, him offering to pay half as he also agreed that they are 'the nicest boots of the planet') arrived at the bioscoop and bought our tickets. Now you will not believe this. You'll never guess who was behind us in the queue.. it was only de lamas!! OK so none of you really have a clue who they are. Basically there is a Dutch show called de Lamas and Jack absolutely loves it, and the guys who present it were all in the cinema!! Not only that.. but they went to see the same film as us, 'The Prestige' (this is a film you must watch Wendz.. very good.)

Went home, got change and met Jack back at Zin for a really fantastic meal.

Although it got off the a pretty rocky start, Valentines Day turned out to be amazing. And.. JACK BOUGHT ME A ROSE!!!!!!!

About to burst with excitment

Tomorrow is Valentines Day!! Now, this can either be fantastic, or, in some cases, highly depressing. Well to all you depressives out there, I truly am sorry. However i am not one of you!! My excitement is too immense to handle!!

Tomorrow will be the first full day off that me and Jack have together in ages!!

Tonight i will be staying at Jacks house, having a lazy morning (hopefully this will include breakfast in bed.. maybe a little optimistic..) a gentle stroll around the town, a trip to the Pictures and a beautiful meal at Zin.

Will update you on Thursday!!!

What a loveerly day

OK, so as you already know we had snow today!!

So here's what i did.

I woke up bright an early to see to the children's lunches etc. I then smiled happily to myself for quite sometime at the sight of the snow outside (also at all the little kids slipping over, but felt a little harsh..) Put some music on and had a little sing song whilst checking my mail.

Next i went upstairs (whilst continuing my sing song) to do a little drawing, today was 'the little mermaid', took a shower, got a little over-excited about our ice skating trip and went to collect the kids from school.

You see, Morten was suppose to have Chess Club after school, but because of my excitement about ice skating i let slip the little porky he told me about it being cancelled. We then headed into town, had a few snow ball fights and went skating!! The kids loved it!! After some serious skating and snowballing we sat down for a chocomel and porffetjes in Coconuts before returning to the ice rink!!

Ineke and Robbert then made a surprise appearance and took us out for dinner!! Lekker hoor!! We went to one of the beer restaurants (Betty Beer to be precise) ate a huge amount of honey coated spare ribs and came home.

What a loveerly day.

P.s.

Food for thought..
Breakfast - a small bowl of Cocopops.
Lunch - Hagelslag sandwich.
And dinner.. yes dinner.. was honey coated spare ribs!!
Didn't snack at all, see im doing quite well on that aspect of things!!
Drinks - Glass of milk with lunch and a Coke with Dinner

Ok.. so today was a little unhealthy..

Truste!!