Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year

WE WISH YOU AND US
GREAT HAPPINESS, LUCK AND SUCCESS
IN 2009 !

Our 2009 resolutions

Well it's 1st of January 2009 and Yilin and myself have thought all evening about possible resolutions for the year to come. After some wishful thinking we decided the following:
  • regular sport, at least once a week
  • a more healthy diet
  • search for a house or an apartment to buy
  • Christophe to learn cooking if Yilin takes driving courses
  • Christophe to watch more scientific documentaries instead of (stupid) movies
  • establish a basic social network in the Netherlands (means read less, go out more) ;)
  • Yilin's submission of a proposal for her Phd thesis
  • Christophe's submission of a first article on the issue of sovereignty and conflicts
Ok, it seems a lot, but with some good will we believe it's achievable. Anyway, our post next year at around the same time will allow to reflect on what we achieved and what will have to be reiterated for 2010.

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...

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Shredded Chicken and Vegetable Salad

suitable as a starter, or a light main dish for summer

Step I. Prepare two pieces of chicken breast (portion for 2~3 persons)
Cook the chicken in water with several pieces of ginger (if you don’t have ginger, use onion or garlic). Medium heat is the trick to have tender chicken. Don’t overcook: the best is 7~8 minutes or short after the chicken turned white. Take out the chicken, cool off. Tear it into slices BY HAND, the thinner the better (this takes time).

Step II. Add any vegetables you like
The most commonly used is celery or soy bean sprouts. You can also use green salad, cucumber, different colors of paprika, etc, whatever you like. Cut them into slices when necessary. Vegetables like salads can be added directly, while some others as celery and soy bean sprouts need to be cooked. (Boil some water. Put in the veges and cook them shortly until they JUST turn soft. Celery and soy bean sprouts will need only approximately 30 seconds.) The photo below has more chicken than veges because we don’t have enough veges left at home today, but normally the proportion shall be 1 to 1. Add in some well cut basil and garlic; some white sesames or pine nuts as well.

Step III. Flavoring
A little salt, sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, chilly oil or powder upon your taste. Mix well with the chicken shreds and veges.

Step IV. Serve
Drip several drops of sesame oil on the salad before serve.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Move On

Bought my flight to The Hague on 11 July. Time to go... many things I hesitate to leave behind. Still remaining fresh in my mind is the first day I arrived Vienna. And now, almost time to leave. 30. September, short after the wedding, will be my check out.

My parents will come to The Hague mid of August, and my sister beginning of September. Christophe and I plan for a two-week caravan tour with them down to France and back through Switzerland. We will be in Vienna a week before the wedding and return The Hague on the day after my apartment check out.

So few days I can count that I'll be in Vienna. Hope will still have time to say good-bye to all my friends. Grill party next week!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Getting Married

http://www.yilin.info/wedding
Started preparing our wedding. A job we wanted to do since three years. This time it goes. A right moment, before I move to the Netherlands, beginning of out new life together :) And I'm specially happy today to know that Christophe will come over to Vienna on Friday night. What we've done till now:
  • booked the civil wedding at Magistrat
  • wedding day at Kaiserloge
  • menu and table settings still in arrangement
  • night museum visit at MOMUK
  • a photographer and a cameraman still in arrangement
  • a pianist for the afternoon
  • a bus to transfer the guests
  • our wedding website
  • sent the invitation per E-mails
We know that it is an uncommon way to send the wedding invitations by E-mails. However we believe it is the most convenient and simplest way for the guests and for us, as our guests are spread in different countries. With the assistance of our website, info is sufficient. Well, what is going to be done:
  • complete what are still in arrangement
  • book a guided city tour after we know how many people what to attend
  • choose wine
  • book a car for us for the wedding day
  • print the menu, table settings and stationary cards
So, if we invited you, please reply us as soon as possible if you will come and tell us what events you want to join. An affiliated matter: I found a company to drive my stuffs to The Hague. I will move soon after the wedding which also will become a farewell party.

I'm excited that my parents will come to The Hague mid of August. After three years, finally I have a chance to stay with them for two months :o) can't wait to see them -:¦:-•:*SO*:•.-:¦:-•*HAPPY*•-:¦:-