How can it be?

We're moving house this weekend. When we arrived in Holland just over 12 months ago, we arrived with two Kathmandu 80 ltr rucksacks and two tea chests - now we have all of this... Not to mention all the kitchen things such as pans, wok, cutlery, glasses etc. Oh and then there is the sofa, TV and the list goes on. Well at least we got a new house! Rotterdam, well Holland in general doesn't have the best market for renters to find somewhere fast, but we did!

The Ideal Workout!

It's a week now since my gym program was arranged by the trainer. Since then I have worked out in the gym 4 times and been swimming twice. Strangely enough I'm still feeling quite motivated. I've not even had an alcoholic drink since Saturday. My legs are suffering a little. The last 15 minutes I have to do on the bike is always rather torturous. If only working out could be this much fun!

Draadjesvlees

I had dinner with my aunt tonight. She cooked my new favorite Dutch meal. It takes some time to prepare, but it is so very worth it. Eets makkelijk.

This dish has very few ingredients so they should be of high quality. Your beef should be not too lean (nicely marbled with fat).
Two other secrets to success: the flavor of the gravy depends on your patience while browning the beef. You really need to do this very, very slowly.
And one other thing, do not be tempted to add any other aromatics. This dish is about the pure flavor of good beef.
Perfect with brussel sprouts, green beans or braised red cabbage, and mash or steamed potatoes to soak up the lovely gravy.

500 g stewing beef
75 g butter
2 bayleaves
2 whole cloves
salt and pepper

Leave the slab of beef whole or cut into chunks, whatever you prefer.

Choose a sauteeing pan that will accommodate all the pieces of beef lying flat. You are going to brown the pieces for a long time, so it's not very practical to do it in batches.

Make sure your beef is at room temperature, and season it with salt and pepper.

Melt the butter in the pan over moderate heat. When the foam is subsiding slip in the pieces of meat. Now brown them slowly over moderate heat until they pieces are deep brown and the butter is a dark golden brown. As long as the heat is not too high, the butter won't burn. Allow at least 15-20 minutes for the browning process.

When it's browned, I like to transfer the pieces and the butter to a pan that is not as good for browning, but better for braising (like a Creuset). But still make sure the pieces of beef are lying flat in a single layer.

(If you are making a larger amount and the beef cannot ly flat in the pan, just add enough water to come almost to the top of the meat. Your gravy will be more watery so it might be good to reduce it when the beef is done)

Now add the bayleaves and cloves.

Add lukewarm water to come almost to the top of the beef. Turn the heat to low (best to use an asbestos mat or something) cover, with the lid very slightly ajar (I use a lid that has a small hole in it) so that some of the steam can escape, and simmer for hours. 3 hours is good, 4 won't hurt.

By that time the meat should be so tender that it falls apart into shreds (draadjes - which is where it gets its name, draadjesvlees, thready meat).

(Recipe and photo from Recipe Gullet)

Friday Night Madness

As usual Friday night drinks took place at the private work bar. Normally it is slightly more sedate than this night turned out to be. With only 9 people in attendance (many people were at a work BBQ), how could things go so wrong. Here's a little scene from the madness that overtook us. Yes they are glasses of water being thrown over people and you can't see it so well in the video, but the floor is covered in water.





Mixing tequila and beer is not really a good idea. It was comforting to know however, that I was not the only person who found refuge in wrapping themselves around the toilet bowl both on the Friday night and Saturday morning to expel the contents of my stomach. Personally I blame the man in the following video who was in charge of the bar that evening.

I can't shake the desire to...

It was this photo that sparked off my recent battle with the concept of fatherhood. A couple of years back the parents of this very cute, little guy asked me if I would be interested in assisting them to have a child by way of a small donation. I wanted to, I really did, but I declined. Why? At that time I thought I would be going back to Australia and well, I don't know how I would handle having a child, my own flesh and blood living on the other side of the world. For one it would make for very expensive visits. Every second weekend may be a problem and I want to be a part of my child's life - if I ever have one. I've been asked again twice since then and I came very close to saying yes again. In fact I did say yes and then later declined. It was a very difficult decision. I'm of the opinion I would make a good dad, I couldn't be any worse than my biological father. Maybe I want to make up for his mistakes. The reality remains, I'm maybe a little too selfish to have my own child. Unlike my dog, I can't just leave it with my Mum when I decide to take off on another worldly adventure. I can't just leave it crying when I'm hungover after a big night out and don't want to get out of bed. I can't just leave it with a friend when I am doing overtime at work. But I know I could love, provide for, care and support a new life to explore this amazing world we live in. A little part of me to go on after I am gone. This is why I can't shake the desire to be a dad.

Fast Food - Asian Style.

People think anything is possible in Holland, but look what's happening in the Orient - Dog based junk food using the McDonalds branding - Mmm lekker eten!
(Photo courtesy of funny.co.uk)

The transformation begins...

Tonight I had my fitness assessment to set up my new gym program. It's confirmed, I am a fat ass! Anyway, the program is set and tonight I took my first work out. I think it nearly killed me, especially the 15 minutes on the treadmill. I've made a committment with my trainer to do 4-5 visits per week. I hope I can stay with it. Actually I will stay with it - I have to. Not to mention, I think beer will have to fair a little less popular on my menu.
(Picture courtesy of funny.co.uk)

Excerpt from "The Alchemist".

"Our Lady with the Baby Jesus in her arms, decided to come down to Earth and visit a monastery. The monks proudly joined in a long queue, and each of them came before the Virgin to render their homage. One declaimed beautiful poetry, another showed his illuminated paintings of biblical subjects, a third repeated the names of all the Saints. And so on, one monk after the other, praising Our Lady and the Baby Jesus. The last monk of all there was the humblest in the whole monastery, who had never studied the learned books of the time. His parents were simple people, who worked in an old traveling circus, and all they had taught him was to throw balls in to the air and juggle with them. When it was his turn, the other members of the order wanted to bring the homage to a conclusion, since the old juggler would have nothing important to say, and might lower the image of the monastery. But in the bottom of his heart, he also felt a burning need to give something of himself to Jesus and the Virgin. Ashamed, conscious of the disapproving looks of his brothers, he took a few oranges from his bag, and he started to juggle them in the air, saying juggling was all he knew how to do. It was at this moment that the baby Jesus, sitting on Our Lady's lap, smiled and started to clap his hands. And the Virgin reached out her arms, inviting him to hold the baby."
Taken from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

I joined...

I joined the gym today. I'm serious about dropping some pounds off this fat arse of mine. I'm sure the €€67 I'll be paying each month for the privelige will be motivational. Come on David - don't fail me! Even Jamie Oliver knows the perils of dining and drinking to an extravagent extent.
(Photo from BBC News story "Oliver serves up fat suit warning".)

Finally...

It's confirmed. We have our work permits!
I can't believe how long it took for them to come through.
Well at least it means we can go outside of the Shengen area now if we like.
Next task - find a new house.

The Symbol of Misery!

This is the NS logo. NS are the national rail service in the Netherlands. Anyway last week had been pretty rough for Greg and I on the work front. We decided to take tomorrow off work and thought we would spend the night in Antwerp. We booked a Bed & Breakfast, we planned out some things we wanted to see and do, which did include eating lots of traditional Belgian waffles and drinking lots of Belgian beer. It wasn't to happen. We arrived at Rotterdam Central station. We sat on the train. We waited and the train was delayed. We got off the train. The train was sent back to Amsterdam. Then the message came through that there would be no trains going to Belgium because a boat had been driven in to a rail bridge near Dordrecht. It was going to take some time before the buses began arriving and since we were only going over night it really wasn't worth it. We got a refund on our tickets and we walked home. We bought beer on the way. We sat at home and we drank it. Usually this logo has yellow in the background, but it's gone, because there aint no sunshine! Also, to the driver of the boat - who hopefully wasn't injured - YOU'RE AN INCONSIDERATE F@!K...

Half a century plus ten...

Well it really is the week for birthdays in my family. Last Sunday it was me turning 31. Wednesday Mum turned 50 and today my aunt turned 60. While she is still young at heart, her health is not so great so it wasn't a huge event, but I must admit we had the most delicious lunch at Lloyds Restaurant just below the Maritime Museum. It was nice to see her surrounded by some of the people she has met in her very eventful lifetime. I did feel kind of sad that my uncle wasn't there to share it with her; as I am sure she was. Actually one of my problems with going home is Elly being left here on her own. It must really suck not having any family about and I know for sure when the time comes it will be a very sad day and it will not be fun saying goodbye at all. I know it won't be the last time that I see her and I know for sure that there will be plenty of text messages and pictures sent back and forth. Greg and I, along with the rest of the family gave her a digital camera for her birthday, so there will be no excuse. She's pretty up there with technology so I'm sure she'll have no problems figuring out how to use it, plus we're going to give her lessons. But, it won't be the same as being here with her! The best thing is after today, I know she has a few good friends who will always be there for her.

The picture says it all.

Yes this picture just about sums up my whole day. Firstly it's Friday. It's been raining all day. I forgot my umbrella and had to walk 20 minutes home in the pouring rain. This is why I am looking like a drowned rat. I may have got home quicker if I had run, but everytime I walked faster the rain got heavier. I felt like I had some strange power over the weather which meant that it would rain heavier if I moved quicker and it would rain less if I moved slower. I stopped walking at one point to see if my theory was correct, but I just got more wet.

Smile Device.

My colleague is normal, even though this is a picture of her lying in a coffin adorned in a gothic wedding dress.

I thought maybe she was depressed - I mean why else would you dress in black and lie in a coffin? So I made this device. It was to help her smile. All you need is two paper clips and two rubber bands.

It really works! Here's the proof! She's smiling!

Fifty Years Old.

My Mum turned 50 today. I'm not there to celebrate it with her. Originally I was hoping to be there, but plans changed. Now I regret not being there. As a young boy I used to think 50 years of age was old and over the hill. Now I'm not so far away myself, my perception has changed and I see it as quite an achievement. The rest of my family are with her and of that I am jealous. Unfortunately while my new work permit is being processed I'm not allowed to leave the Shengen countries. I made her a video to let her know how I feel. Happy Birthday Mum!

A beer with Mum in Barcelona.
(Picture taken January 2004)

Greg's mum departs.

Well after a week with us, it was time to go home... After Greg's recent loss of his grandma, I am sure it was important for him to have his mother here, but for me - it's always nice to have someone from home. It's funny after 5 years away I still get homesick, but it's not so strong that it makes me want to rush back. That said it's so very nice to have a familiar face to say good morning when you wake up, to wish you good day at work. To welcome you home when your working day is over and to wish you a goodnight before you go to bed. When you're away from your family and friends for so long you realise how much the little things count and how much you take for granted when you're at home. Anyway after some initial check in problems, such as "your plane is delayed 11hrs" - whatever! Christine is finally heading home after 5 weeks away via Kuala Lumpur and not Singapore.

On the train to Schipol.

Dutch Tradition Sucks!

When its your birthday, you expect people to take care of you and buy you things. Oh no - not in Holland. Here, when it's your birthday, you have to pay for and take cake to work for all your colleagues. So what did I get for my birthday? The pleasure of watching some people who I have to work with, not that I would choose to work with partake in eating a portion of my €€30 of Multivlaai.
(Note: not all people in this photo are included in my last comment.)
A big thanks goes to those who organised my gift; sweets, elephant underpants and gift vouchers!

éénendertig!

Well today I turned 31. I liked turning 30. I didn't feel like I had to prove myself anymore. I must say though, I don't feel the same about turning 31. It feels like I'm now on the down hill slide. It worries me sometimes that I am getting older, yet I'm still traveling the world, messing about and generally not taking life so serious. Do you think it's possible to sustain such a lifestyle? To be perfectly honest - I don't know if I'll ever be ready to settle down in one place. There's just so much to see and do and I want to do it all while I still can!

From this...
To this...
Anyway Greg did a great job organising the birthday festivities. 3 hours cruising the Muse and eating pancakes on the Pannenkoekenboot and a funny little website for people to leave me messages and some funny pictures - check it out: Leo's Birthday Page. For the rest of the birthday photos - click here!

Thanks Greg - You Rock!!

Birthday Dinner.

After all you can eat pancakes last night today it was time for a more cultural meal. Normally on my birthday I love my Mum's "porcupines" (meatballs with rice in them in a tomato sauce). Today however, I had to bring myself to eat this... Lekkere eten!

Did you ever wonder what a gay crab would look like?

Well, apparently like this...
(It's not actually gay, it just looks like it. Maybe it's the first Metrosexual crab found.)

Photo from Wikipedia.

Greg's mum has arrived...

She may have arrived a day late, but she was finally here! Last night after a couple of bottles of wine we decided to show her around town. Now this is the way sightseeing should be done.

Westermeijer Building - Oude Haven

Erasmusbrug