HOND, MAN EN NACHT...

"Ik liet de hond uit, of andersom: de hond liet mij uit. Het was een opmerkelijk stille avond. We liepen niet oons vaste rondje. Dit was een initiatief van de hond.

We kwamen langs het water te lopen. Het lag er roerloos en donker als een verweerde spiegel bij. Op de kade achter was geen verkeer. Er hing een geheimzinnige stilte over de stad en de dingen. Zelfs de hond was er beduusd van.

Zij trok mij zachtjes voort, en draaide kek met haar heupen. Af en toe keek ze om. Ze wist naturulijk dat ik er was, ik had haar aan de lijn tenslotte, maar kennelijk wilde ze af en toe toch even checken hoe het met mij ging.

Alles was in orde (...)"

This piece is from the book “My life as a dog” written by Martin Bril. He was a Dutch poet, novelist and columnist that died few months ago on the cancer. I did not know him before. Now, when finally I got in touch with his work I want to have all of his books, poems and read articles that has been published weekly in the Dutch newspaper.

Luckily on his website I can find most of the work … and my first two books I will take on holiday …

Memories come with the smell…

There is an Asian fair in The Hague. The big tent has been placed on the Malieveld and the “other” world has been build. Invitation is simple “If you don't have the time or money to travel all the way to South-East Asia, come to the Tong Tong Fair in The Hague and imagine that you are in the East.”

For me it was more like going back to my time in Thailand: Chatuchak market (จตุจักร), MBK center (มาบุญครอง), Damnoen Saduak floating market(ดำเนินสะดวก) or Khao San Road (ถนน ข้าวสาร). The atmosphere, the crowd, the smell, the feeling, and plastic tablecloth in the eating places (calling those the restaurant would be a bit to much) … almost the same,only the prices in Euro instead of Thai bath….One day I will go back...for holiday ofcourse.

Sdu The Hague Royal Ten...

Finally, I did it…my first 10K in 1:00:51. The run was very close by, in the park where I walk and run with Fuyo. I was nervous like a child before the first day of school… It was heavy, warm and very sunny. Last 2K I thought “why am I doing that, I am dying…” but what a satisfaction afterwards… searching for new runs and now the goal is not only to finish but do it within 1h …

Fuyo’s day…

What a day, what a day…

God said that the Sunday should be the day to rest, well this was not a case today…I feel as I have created the whole world just today.

Morning, around 7:00 o’clock I have waked up before the alarm went off…nervous before EG exam (Elementaire Gehoorzaamheid – Elementary Obedience) for Fuyo which was scheduled at 8:30. The exam went good. Not perfect, but come on, both Fuyo and me are note the “morning people”. The exam is build from 12 parts (see below, with the star obligatory part) and I think Fuyo’s score will be as follow:

1. Greetings * => 5,5 points ;(
2. Standing, being checked and showing the teeth * => 6 points
3. Walking on the lash* => 6 points
4. Sit and wait (at 5 meter distance) 30 seconds => 10 points ;))
5. Down and wait (at 5 meter distance) 1 minute* => 10 points ;))
6. Coming and sitting in front* => 10 points ;))
7. Sit next the foot from sitting in front => 10 points ;))
8. Attention exercise down/sit on the hand signal => 9 points
9. Bringing the toy and lay in hand => 9 points
10. Sending forward => 10 points ;))
11. Running the triangle => 7 points (I hope)
12. Total picture of all => 8 points (I wish)

10 minutes went fast, no time for corrections but as far as I know we have passed the exam. Fuyo’s diploma will be sent home and she is first on the list for the next curse which starts in September.

(Source: KC de Hofstad in Den Haag)

We had to hurry home because at 10:00 need to start our trip to Drenthe for Fuyo’s version of Sensation White.
Location: Forest in Drenthe
Dress code: White
Doors open: 13:00
Entrée: Free

There ware approximately 15 white shepherds, running freely and playing with each other. Most of the owners and breeders were from the northern part of Holland, we had to drive 2, 5 hours to get there but it was worth. First 15 minutes Fuyo was nervous, a bit disoriented, not knowing what to do with all this dogs running around. Eventually, she has relaxed, started to play, snuffle around, run with the other dogs and even participated in stealing the sticks and swimming. We came back at 6:00 p.m. after the whole day of excitements …

Some pictures below…

Crisis…

You can feel it in the air but even more see in the work environment. I am not going to talk about people that got laid off but about something else…As you might know I am in the container biz. and has got a pretty unusual request. “Are we able to ship a dead person in a reefer container?”
First of all, I thought my colleague was making fun of me. I am not working that long so I start laughing saying “come on, be serious” Actually, she was. Because, of the crisis and high flight rates the company was searching for an option to transport their dead employee from UK to Australia, where the man come from.
I was shocked. I do not know if this would be even possible…we declined the request but…I am curious if one of other shipping company has agreed.


http://www.menkent.dk/lexapics/lexa_sternview.jpg

time, time...

I have just finish the next book "Time Traveler's Wife "... by Audrey Niffenegger. Amazing story about love, life and the traveling in time. Have you ever though how it would be to be able to meet your younger self or your future partner when she/he was six years old… what to say, what to do and how to behave…

I was taken by the story, wanted to know what will happen and how all the problems will be solved… On the other hand, I did not want the story to end. It was beautiful and refreshing … a lot of feelings, colors, sounds, scents and extraordinary incidents…

The book is back on the shelf but there will be movie released in coming August … something to look forward to.

33...

Second cake in the oven, over one hour will be ready and me one year older… when did it happen???

Nespresso, what else…?

I like coffee, I like good coffee and must say that Nespresso has stolen my hart and my taste from the beginning… For the first time I got the cup with milk from F. after my arrival to the Netherlands. 12 hours in the bus, 2 hours at Rotterdam bus station waiting for W. with the two big bags, so heavy that I could not carry them to reach the phone hanging 100m from me, scared to death …

Eventually, he came with two oldest children and we went to The Hague. After bringing my belongings up-stairs in to my new room, we sat at the table and I had Voluto with thick milk froth. I was here, in NL with 4 children to take care of, no clue about Dutch and little about English drinking the best coffee ever….

As per Nespresso description -“Lightly roasted but full-bodied, Volluto's flavour is round and fresh with a cereal hint. Volluto's character is reinforced by a touch of acidity”

So it was and it is. Now we have our set … but still keep dreaming about the new coffee machine.

Corner of Holland...

First of all, Fuyo want to say or actually want to write on my blog the following:
?0opp?ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppkpoiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

What does it mean, I do not know, but who knows what the dogs want to bark about. Maybe she just wanted to woof that last Sunday we visit Hoek van Holland … no, not the city, but the beach and the dunes. The weather was nice, blue sky, sun and the small breeze. There is long white beach and the dunes where you can easly walk. In the summer the beach is closed for the dogs and opened partly for the naturists. From the distance you can see the Europort and the Maasvlakte with the typical industrial skyline.

Some pictures below.





And of course when there is accidentally an empty beer can on the picture made in The Netherlands…it must be … no, not Heineken but LECH (Polish beer) … ;))

And she can jump...

Fuyo became a woman, well… not really “a woman” but she got her firs period ;))
She is behaving quite normal, not cranky or moody, only less concentrated. The walks take ages since she is snuffing everything and marking her territory using few drops of pee every meter.

We have to be careful, walk with her on the lash and get rid of all the “gentlemen” trying to charm her. For the rest, she is usual her eating, drinking and playing…