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Jun
02
2013

More of the Princess’ Diary (3/3)

Although time really flies when you’re having (this much) fun, I enjoyed every minute of the evening with my lovely friends (almost) all there. They spoiled me with presents as well. I’ve been showing off on my flickr page, where you can see the Queen ‘Days of Our Lives’ and Brian Cox’ Wonders DVDs. I also got a card with commander Chris Hadfield on it and a lovely English teapot. Marcel gave me a ukulele and Anja is working on a painting of my dear friend ‘in doggy heaven’; Janey.
 

I also got the Hitchhikers books (on Towelday!) which is good, as I’m planning on taking Dirk Maggs up on his invitation to go and see his show of this story. Anyway, the memory of the evening was the best present of course, especially when Marcel and I took our guitars out to jam a bit. We did some of the Eagles, Brian and Kerry’s new Kissing Me Song and a couple of requests. When Marcel spontaneously set in that Little Mermaid tune, you should’ve seen my cousin’s face!
 

Afterwards she asked if I would stay the night here to which I said yes, as some of us where staying at the Bed & Breakfast across the street. She went on to ask who else stayed here to which I answered that basically everyone who talked funny stayed over (she had impressed my English friends by counting from 1 to 10 in English, like Dora, earlier). As I was saying bye to the guests who were leaving, Erik commented on how he thought I had such truly lovely friends around me.
 

I couldn’t agree more. The B&B we stayed at turned out to be Snow White’s place actually, as I had to watch my head going in. The room was unexpectedly spacious behind this tiny door though! And my pillow had butterflies on it and phrases I use often on twitter (my rooftop), like ‘I love my life…’ I do love my life. And the weekend wasn’t over yet! Though a tad knackered, we went on to be tourists in Maastricht on the Sunday.
 

We visited the Natural History Museum, where we saw Jurassic Park in real life: they’re working on a new fossil of a Mosasaur! We also saw badgers and a lot of other animals and fossils. Oh and they sold the ideal brollies for stargazers in Britain: with star signs on them. We didn’t need them today though, when we walked to a nice restaurant that did typical Limburgisch dishes. Rona and Nigel had already travelled back at this point, but we will all see each other soon in Oxford for ZooFest!
 

And after that I might actually stay in England all summer. But my British friends also need to come back again soon, as they didn’t even drink half of all the bottles I got! We had played some card games on Sunday evening, but I had to get ready for school on the Monday morning too. A few days later, on my actual birthday, my students sang for me. I also received many very nice messages online, even from those who’d already been there on Saturday.
 

Graham had given me two cards: one for the birthday weekend and one to open on the 30th. Marcel picked me up for lunch on this day and I saw both my parents. So that still felt like a birthday too. Especially when I found a huge bouquet at my doorstep! I never had flowers delivered at my door (thanks Edd)! At the end of the day I looked around and concluded I have much to be thankful for. I have gathered the most lovely people around me in my 30 orbits around the Sun.
 

THANKS to everyone who thought of me! The number is really no biggie. The fact you’re in my life, is!
 

By Hanny | Posted in Private | Comments (3)
Jun
02
2013

Once upon a time… I turned 30! (2/3)

I toasted to birthdays, as I always liked parties and what better reason to celebrate than the very fact that you’re alive. My gran did a big party like this when she turned 70 and that kind of inspired me. I just thought doing it at 30 would be appropriate; carpe diem and all that. Furthermore I toasted to all of the lovely people around me. It’s a good opportunity to tell them all that I love them and that I’m happy they were there to share the evening with me.
 

Both my parents were there with their wives. My uncle Cor, aunt Joke, her twin sister and my friend Anja, and my little cousin Valesca. And some of my mum’s friends, who became my friends as well; Erik and Johanna. When I was inviting them all, I smiled when I realised that a good friend ‘stuck’ from every stage in my life. There was Angie, with whom I became instant Best Friends Forever when we met in primary school. Ange made me a cute drawing of us as princesses, like we used to (!)
 

Angie’s family was there as well. They always made me feel like an extra daughter, for which I’m very grateful. Ange and I both went to the same secondary school (the one I’m a teacher for now), where I also met Rianne. I told everyone how Rianne always hated being TWO WHOLE MONTHS younger than I was, but now she gets to be 29 that little longer… I then went on to mention Richard (at the end of this speech, everyone would be introduced).
 

Richard (who’s like my twin brother) and I met in college and we agree to go and live in the same retirement home one day (and drive each other nuts). His lovely girlfriend Yara came along too. I then went to yet another school, the university at which I became a teacher, and here I met Marcel. He is still in this uni, as he’s the best music teacher one can wish for. I’m still not there yet, as I’m currently at another uni, but my biology buddies couldn’t make the party unfortunately.
 

They thought of me though and called, which made me smile. Anyway, this brought me to the last (but of course not least) great group of people, who I met about five years ago – after Brian mentioned Chris’ Galaxy Zoo project and I ended up discovering this thing in space, etc. It always felt as if we’ve known each other for way longer than that though and as I was thanking them for coming over all the way from the UK, my family applauded them.
 

Graham had brought me a carrot cake, complete with candles, although I didn’t have all that many wishes left. We saved the cake for dessert, when my dad concluded you don’t really taste the carrots (you should look at his face in one of the pictures on my flickr page)! It was a lovely evening and everyone seemed to have fun. I think all my guests have commented on how amazing the venue was and the friendly people there really did arrange everything very well.
 

They usually do kid’s parties. Complete with real ponies visiting the attic! My cousin Valesca had looked forward to this and Rianne’s son Mika seemed to enjoy himself as a cowboy protecting the princesses. Angie’s cute daughter Zoë asked in amazement if I lived here now. I think she would’ve wanted to move in with me if Ange had said yes. Desiree, the actual owner, had asked my cousin if she wanted to wear a princess-dress.
 

She said yes, obviously, but also mentioned I am really a princess, as I (still) have Rapunzel hair. Before I could explain to Valesca that the dress wasn’t my size, Desiree came out with two dresses which were! Angie and I didn’t think long, we needed to take this opportunity and finally be real princesses, or Dancing Queens. I thought I had planned it all, but this was a nice surprise. We did the balcony scene and everything. Growing up is optional, right.
 

To Be Continued
 

By Hanny | Posted in Private | Comments (0)
Jun
02
2013

It’s the not so final countdown (1/3)

On the 30th of May this year, I turned 30. Although I kind of celebrated it for a week. Preparations had started months ago, as I wanted to throw a party for everyone who’s dear to me. Friends from abroad would stay the whole weekend. In the days prior to the event I lost my hairdressers-virginity. Friends, colleagues and students had expressed their shock and had even specifically told me not to cut my hair. I ended up with just a few hardly noticeable layers, for those who’ve asked.
 

As ever, it was Friday before I realised it, but everything was taken care of before the first three guests arrived. Except for the minor detail that these guests forgot to look up my address, or bring the invite. Due to excellent orientation skills on Julianne’s part, she managed to direct Nigel and Rona to somewhere in Heerlen. Then they called me. This turned into a slightly hilarious situation as I couldn’t give directions to save my life. Not even in Heerlen, no.
 

Fortunately they managed to find the station and I printed a map for Nigel and Rona, who would stay in a lovely castle for the weekend. Julianne and I went out for dinner and had a nice chat before we walked back home to wait for the boys. Or Team GB, as we called them. Their Estimated Time of Arrival went from 22.30 to 00.30, but with the M25 (on their side of the channel) turning into a parking lot, they eventually arrived a bit after four in the morning!
 

Julianne and I had taken our sleeping bags out and were camping in my living room (it’s things like this that make me happy). In texts and tweets back and forth, Julianne had reassured Graham and Todd that she (and I quote) “probably wouldn’t be able to drink all six bottles tonight”. When the boys landed we had just had an hour of sleep. So we got up, drank a glass of something and went back to ‘bed’ at what must have been around 05.30.
 

A few hours later, Graham said he slept like a lamb, if that’s a saying. We had the delicious banana bread for breakfast, which Nigel had baked for me. The plan was to meet Nigel and Rona at the station, where both Geoff and Els would arrive for lunch in the city. Els arrived earlier though. Julianne and I (the caterpillar people) hadn’t even crawled out of our sleeping bag – cocoons yet. So this butterfly went to collect Els in PJs.
 

There was a cycling event going on in Heerlen this weekend, but we managed to find a lovely, quiet restaurant for lunch. Another plus was that they still know how to serve tea (I’m planning on boycotting every café not serving English tea, because that’s ridiculous). The staff was very friendly and even though I got to be 29 for five more days, it felt very much like my birthday, with the foreigners being here. We all went back to my place, basically to get ready for the evening part.
 

I wasn’t aware of the British tradition to change outfits during the day yet, but every day’s a school day, isn’t it. I was also surprised to be asked about a dress code. Dutch people don’t really do dress codes (don’t ask me why though, we do often make an effort for parties). Thinking back of these girly conversations and what I eventually ended up wearing for some of the evening, this was rather fun too. The weather was never this grey at the end of May, but we had sinshine in between.
 

It didn’t matter. I had set my mind on a summer dress anyhow. The plan for the evening was a barbecue, at a truly wonderful location, where we could just do this inside the café. My dad and stepmum came to pick us up, as we didn’t all fit in Graham’s car. We made sure we were there at six, so that I could welcome everyone. After unwrapping some awesome gifts (I was spoiled really) and a speech, we had a lovely dinner…
 

To Be Continued
 

By Hanny | Posted in Private | Comments (0)
May
23
2013

I have a bug

Several, actually. After my recent visit to Amsterdam, I travelled on to Zwolle, where I’m still studying biology too. One of the teachers was clearing out a cupboard this Saturday afternoon and he found a couple of bugs. Collected by a student back in the nineties (according to her notes – I think it was a ‘her’). The teacher wanted to get rid of the bodies and my study-buddy Ed and I were both keen on adopting them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not starting yet another hobby and I’d certainly never put a needle through a live creature, but they’re beautiful and I figured I could use them in my classes.
 

So we divided the not so creepy crawlers (as if we were playing quartet) and we went for a drink. In a lovely hotel/restaurant. We had to bring the bugs along and to my surprise this led to at least four different people coming round to our table to have a look. Like moths to flames, sort of. I also ended up giving a lecture on bugs on the platform. And in the cramped train home, as I was sitting on the stairs, a nice guy asked if he could see the other box too. People like biology. This pleases me. So I figured I’d show them here as well. Before I get back to my study books and birthday party and….

By Hanny | Posted in Biology | Comments (0)
May
23
2013

We Will Rock You… Again

It’s no secret I’m still a big Queen fan (naturally) and I’ve seen We Will Rock You a couple of times in London over the years. I also went to the Dutch version a few times, when it played here in the Netherlands. Currently there’s an amazing crew touring Europe with this production, celebrating its 10th anniversary.
 

So the original English show, but in Amsterdam, in an arena (the Heineken Music Hall). I have seriously lost count. But I had to see this. On the train I thought of the very first time I went, back in 2005, which was when I first met both Brian and Chris. What an evening. I’ve seen the show evolve over time and I still enjoy every minute of it.
 

I was a bit worried that the Dutch audience would be a bit too tame for this, but we gave a standing ovation from We Will Rock You all the way till the end of the Bo Rhap. They deserved it. Later I heard ‘we’ were the most enthusiastic audience so far… See on the train I ended up chatting to a lovely guy, who turned out to be the Musical Director (so we have a common friend)!
 

We went for drinks with a couple of his friends (I’m so rock and roll, I had tea) and we stayed up much later than I had expected. Serendipitous? Yeah. But that’s just the sort of thing that happens to me really. Thanks again Pablo, I had a wonderful evening! (They’re still touring, go see them!)

All pictures by me, except the group one (done by the waitress) and the one from the band. (I always love it when the band comes out). This wonderful picture, with from left to right: Rufus Taylor, James Barber, Pablo Navarro, Bob Broad, Matthew Wharton-Lee and Matt Mclaughlin, was taken by Zoe Hitchen.
 

By Hanny | Posted in Music | Comments (0)