Our Christmas and New Year's holidays were very quiet and relaxing. We started with four days visit in Seville, which brought us some warmth and pre-X'mas sensation. The city is beautiful and people are passionate. We're a bit disappointed by the food though. Landing at snow covered Schipol airport, I am somehow happy to be back as well.
The two days before X'mas were mainly for shopping, food, drink, and household stuff. Chris and I had two big lobsters (from the Chinese shop) for the eve dinner ;) He is enthusiastic baking his pies and tarts. We for the first time spent new year at home, relaxing and pleasing. Meanwhile I had plenty of time to paint, picking up my old hobby...
Showing posts with label The Hague. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Hague. Show all posts
Monday, January 3, 2011
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Summer review
Well, hadn't been here for quite a while. These days have been a great deal of bustling for me. One event after another. Christophe didn't really have had a rest before he started working again. Finally we have all my stuffs moved to The Hague. After several days packing and unpacking, I feel totally exhausted. Today I've a bad cold, got a runny nose, red eyes... oh, my...
Although hectic, our holiday was nice. One month passed much faster than it actually should. We spent wonderful moments visiting Paris, walking the mountains, making jokes. Ten days traveling with camping car brought us lots of fun together.
We had a compact and pleasant wedding in Vienna. Our program was from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. which ended eventually at 11 p.m., first, civil wedding at the city registry office, then reception and lunch at Rennbahn-Freudenau. The city tour we arranged was from 5 to 7.30 p.m. and night visit in MUMOK 8 to 10 p.m. Most guests liked the city tour but not the MUMOK visit. The "bad painting good art" exhibition was not quite the type of art we may understand and appreciate, and both the English and French guides were not fluent, or they probably didn't prepare themselves very well. However, we believe most of our families and friends enjoyed the day being together with us.
The packing directly followed our wedding. (I've lots of stuffs ;) I was unwilling to part with the city I'd been living for 7 years, my first station in Europe, where I learned Christophe. Now I'm in The Hague, at another beginning of my live, starting with my new job at the Uni. The appointment with the personnel department was a kind of lousy. The one who's dealing my case didn't know that I'm holding an Austrian resident card instead of a Holland one, so the application of my working permit had not yet began. Thus I may need to wait quite a while until the administration issues are solved. I wish I can start my job as planned on 15th this month, but I know it's unlikely.
Christophe is sitting beside me now reading news, and meanwhile laughting at my runny and red nose. Packs of tissue paper are lying around me being prepared for my catarrh. Whoever kisses me now is taking a great risk to be infected. Poor love...
Although hectic, our holiday was nice. One month passed much faster than it actually should. We spent wonderful moments visiting Paris, walking the mountains, making jokes. Ten days traveling with camping car brought us lots of fun together.
We had a compact and pleasant wedding in Vienna. Our program was from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. which ended eventually at 11 p.m., first, civil wedding at the city registry office, then reception and lunch at Rennbahn-Freudenau. The city tour we arranged was from 5 to 7.30 p.m. and night visit in MUMOK 8 to 10 p.m. Most guests liked the city tour but not the MUMOK visit. The "bad painting good art" exhibition was not quite the type of art we may understand and appreciate, and both the English and French guides were not fluent, or they probably didn't prepare themselves very well. However, we believe most of our families and friends enjoyed the day being together with us.
The packing directly followed our wedding. (I've lots of stuffs ;) I was unwilling to part with the city I'd been living for 7 years, my first station in Europe, where I learned Christophe. Now I'm in The Hague, at another beginning of my live, starting with my new job at the Uni. The appointment with the personnel department was a kind of lousy. The one who's dealing my case didn't know that I'm holding an Austrian resident card instead of a Holland one, so the application of my working permit had not yet began. Thus I may need to wait quite a while until the administration issues are solved. I wish I can start my job as planned on 15th this month, but I know it's unlikely.
Christophe is sitting beside me now reading news, and meanwhile laughting at my runny and red nose. Packs of tissue paper are lying around me being prepared for my catarrh. Whoever kisses me now is taking a great risk to be infected. Poor love...
Thursday, January 10, 2008
The Hague - Day 1
Well well, it as been hectic since I returned from Congo, this is the least we could say. (For latest adventures see Yilin's post, I'll take it from there.)
Just back from Switzerland where I went to see Florian, a friend I made in Congo. Went skiing a bit, just enough for me to acknowledge that advance in ski technology allowed me to retain my level over the years. Hadn't been skiing since 7 years.
Presently I write you from The Hague where I just moved into our new apartment, Yilin and I. Checked out WIFI connections available and found one with up to four bars at my window which was not encrypted.
I rent a car for the third time in three weeks and managed to bring the necessary to squat my own apartment until I buy a mattress. Signed the rental contract and met the plumber who will ensure the bathroom looks like a bathroom. Otherwise all other things go well. Heating is fine and electricity and water run proper, kind of a change for me.
The place is cool. Yilin will tell you I'm trying to sell her The Hague. But frankly I like the place. Old and modern center, a city at men's size, actually. Lot's of green and room to bike. And no governmental crisis like in Belgium at sight. Where we (will) live is quite popular and international. Reminds me of other places I lived: Brussels of course, but also Vienna.
In our consumerist societies it is very easy to get the basics you need when you move in a new town. When I entered my apartment, there was lots of advertisements for anything and everything which awaited me at my doorstep. No welcome from the community, but definitively from the supermarkets where maybe I will get to know my neighbours.
Tomorrow I will only get the necessary to sleep well and will then wait for the actual move to take place, probably next week. Until then I will relax and rest, which means I will read and spend time discovering The Hague.
Will tell you more after few nights here...
Just back from Switzerland where I went to see Florian, a friend I made in Congo. Went skiing a bit, just enough for me to acknowledge that advance in ski technology allowed me to retain my level over the years. Hadn't been skiing since 7 years.
Presently I write you from The Hague where I just moved into our new apartment, Yilin and I. Checked out WIFI connections available and found one with up to four bars at my window which was not encrypted.
I rent a car for the third time in three weeks and managed to bring the necessary to squat my own apartment until I buy a mattress. Signed the rental contract and met the plumber who will ensure the bathroom looks like a bathroom. Otherwise all other things go well. Heating is fine and electricity and water run proper, kind of a change for me.
The place is cool. Yilin will tell you I'm trying to sell her The Hague. But frankly I like the place. Old and modern center, a city at men's size, actually. Lot's of green and room to bike. And no governmental crisis like in Belgium at sight. Where we (will) live is quite popular and international. Reminds me of other places I lived: Brussels of course, but also Vienna.
In our consumerist societies it is very easy to get the basics you need when you move in a new town. When I entered my apartment, there was lots of advertisements for anything and everything which awaited me at my doorstep. No welcome from the community, but definitively from the supermarkets where maybe I will get to know my neighbours.
Tomorrow I will only get the necessary to sleep well and will then wait for the actual move to take place, probably next week. Until then I will relax and rest, which means I will read and spend time discovering The Hague.
Will tell you more after few nights here...
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