Monday, September 25, 2006
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
My new hobby...
I know this blog seems to read more as a diary than as a thought-provoking, interesting travellog, but for the moment I am overwhelmed with everyday stuff, so that is unfortunately what you´re getting!
Hopefully when I settle down I can do some serious writing again...
For the moment, I am painting again! I thought to start with a copy of Van Gogh´s Starry Starry Night. Just to get back into things. Here is the original and then my humble attempt:
(I had to paint the whole thing without any black paint, and I know the proportions are not 100%)
Hopefully when I settle down I can do some serious writing again...
For the moment, I am painting again! I thought to start with a copy of Van Gogh´s Starry Starry Night. Just to get back into things. Here is the original and then my humble attempt:
(I had to paint the whole thing without any black paint, and I know the proportions are not 100%)
My new place...
I moved today to a cute little town called Zeist.
Much smaller and I think better neighbourhood than before.
It´s a small hotel apartment, but much bigger than the previous place and with a nice table to work at.
Here is a picture...
Much smaller and I think better neighbourhood than before.
It´s a small hotel apartment, but much bigger than the previous place and with a nice table to work at.
Here is a picture...
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
The Circle of The Netherlands - elementary drawing...
As you can see... this is my circle of life for the moment...
Now: Check the order in which things should happen.
Then: check the dates when I am able to do these tasks (for various reasons...)
I feel like I am in Taiwan!
Now: Check the order in which things should happen.
Then: check the dates when I am able to do these tasks (for various reasons...)
I feel like I am in Taiwan!
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Moving on..
My current accommodation in Utrecht is only available until next week, so then I have to move again until the end of the month. After literally hours and hours of searching on my friend google, I found the following:
http://www.steynhotel.nl/appartement.htm
I promptly called, and made a reservation for the DeLuxe Apartment. Yay! Hopefully it would be ok enough to stay for two weeks.
Onto more practical and permanent matters, yesterday I went to look at an apartment to rent in Hilversum. It is quite spacious, with two bedrooms, a kitchen, bathroom, sitting and eating areas. There is even a little space under the stairs (kind of) where one can put a desk and a chair. In true lisl-impromptu-fashion I immediately signed a pre-contract, that will be presented to the owner for approval. Hopefully he will like me (and the fact that I have IBM next to my name!) and pick me for his apartment.
I have decided to decorate everything in white, and my chosen one-stop-shop is http://www.ikea.com/ms/nl_NL/local_home/utrecht.html.
I am even considering buying a flokati carpet - who can remember those!!!
There is a spar bedroom, so please feel free to book any overdue european trips!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Bad news...
Oh, forgot to post this...
With sadness I have to announce that my 250GB harddrive did not make the trip here, and wants to be formatted. This seems to mean at the moment that all my data will be lost. This includes all old emails, addresses, photos and some music.
With sadness I have to announce that my 250GB harddrive did not make the trip here, and wants to be formatted. This seems to mean at the moment that all my data will be lost. This includes all old emails, addresses, photos and some music.
Small steps...
Today I managed to:
- Wake up before 11am
- Find out where to rent a house
- Phone the belastingdienst to make an appointment to get a tax number - they will call back
- Get a Vodaphone Dutch mobile number and load some credit on it
- Kind of sort out the mess with the TravelWallet from Standard Bank - they will call back
- Register on a website that will help me to find a house
- Extend my current place for another week
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
That´s what friends are for...
That´s what friends are for...
Originally uploaded by lislvp.
Beautiful flowers received from Constant & Godfrey today!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Amazing Race Day 1
As I am sitting the The Artemis Hotel in Amsterdam again I am reflecting on my day.
Firstly, from my hotel window I could see about a 20 minute fireworks show (through the trees!) from the Madonna concert that is in Amsterdam today. All green monsters raise their hands! Unfortunately the only tickets that were left were about 400 euros, so I didn´t get to go...
Secondly, I truly felt like an Amazing Race contestant today. It went something like this...
Starting point: 42 Narciss street, Utrecht.
First challenge: Pack everything you need for second day at work as well as maps, passport, money, laptop and birth certificate into a small backpack.
Next: Walk to the next point in your journey - Hoog Catherijne shopping centre. No indication of distance or direction given.
Stage 2: After finally making it to Hoog Catherijne without any detours, I had to find a place to eat. After sleeping most of the day, I was starving. A nice meal at a coffeeshop did the trick, and I received my clue for stage 3: A sign that read ´Station´.
Stage 3: Without too much hassle, I managed to buy a ticket straight to Amsterdam. On arrival I saw my next clue. A blue ticket machine for the metro.
Stage 4: After negotiating my way through many Chinese and American tourists, I was on the metro platform. The question was just: which way do I want to go. I followed my trusted method: My gut said the right one, so I took the left one. Always works!
Stage 5: This was one of those Decision Points - not sure what is the correct 'Amazing Race' term... A sign on the metro noted that certain areas of the metro is out of action due to repairs.. But there is a pendelbus. Mmmm... Now, not understanding exactly where I am going, and if I will be affected, I had to choose. Get off at the station where the supposed bus is, or try and continue and see what happens. As with all winning contestants, I decided to try the quickest (but most sure to fail) route.
Stage 6: I am happy to announce that I arrived safely (and probably quicker than the bus) at Stage 6, otherwise referred to as the Henk Sneevlietweg Metro station. Good!
Stage 7: For the final stage, my common sense and general knowledge was put to the test. Being given a map of the area by my dad (pictured above), I had to find the hotel. By foot. Mmm... I will just say one thing. Jokes about me not having any direction and not being able to read maps have officially e-x-p-i-r-e-d! I walked straight there without turning around once.
The homecoming: I was greeted as the winning contestant at the front desk and promptly presented with a room card and a Wieckse Witte beer as my prize. I am the champion. For today.
Tomorrow of course, I do it all over again. Just in the other direction...
Firstly, from my hotel window I could see about a 20 minute fireworks show (through the trees!) from the Madonna concert that is in Amsterdam today. All green monsters raise their hands! Unfortunately the only tickets that were left were about 400 euros, so I didn´t get to go...
Secondly, I truly felt like an Amazing Race contestant today. It went something like this...
Starting point: 42 Narciss street, Utrecht.
First challenge: Pack everything you need for second day at work as well as maps, passport, money, laptop and birth certificate into a small backpack.
Next: Walk to the next point in your journey - Hoog Catherijne shopping centre. No indication of distance or direction given.
Stage 2: After finally making it to Hoog Catherijne without any detours, I had to find a place to eat. After sleeping most of the day, I was starving. A nice meal at a coffeeshop did the trick, and I received my clue for stage 3: A sign that read ´Station´.
Stage 3: Without too much hassle, I managed to buy a ticket straight to Amsterdam. On arrival I saw my next clue. A blue ticket machine for the metro.
Stage 4: After negotiating my way through many Chinese and American tourists, I was on the metro platform. The question was just: which way do I want to go. I followed my trusted method: My gut said the right one, so I took the left one. Always works!
Stage 5: This was one of those Decision Points - not sure what is the correct 'Amazing Race' term... A sign on the metro noted that certain areas of the metro is out of action due to repairs.. But there is a pendelbus. Mmmm... Now, not understanding exactly where I am going, and if I will be affected, I had to choose. Get off at the station where the supposed bus is, or try and continue and see what happens. As with all winning contestants, I decided to try the quickest (but most sure to fail) route.
Stage 6: I am happy to announce that I arrived safely (and probably quicker than the bus) at Stage 6, otherwise referred to as the Henk Sneevlietweg Metro station. Good!
Stage 7: For the final stage, my common sense and general knowledge was put to the test. Being given a map of the area by my dad (pictured above), I had to find the hotel. By foot. Mmm... I will just say one thing. Jokes about me not having any direction and not being able to read maps have officially e-x-p-i-r-e-d! I walked straight there without turning around once.
The homecoming: I was greeted as the winning contestant at the front desk and promptly presented with a room card and a Wieckse Witte beer as my prize. I am the champion. For today.
Tomorrow of course, I do it all over again. Just in the other direction...
Artemis Hotel Room
Saturday, September 02, 2006
My first day & Utrecht
I know I didn’t write immediately after my first day – and that you are probably waiting in an-ti-ci-pation! But here it is!
The first day @ IBM Hoofkantoor went as expected. Lots of information, new people and procedures. The good news is that I received my laptop and the bad news is that I did not receive my mobile. Maybe Monday or Tuesday.
After watching a video that might have been narrated by Mel Gibson (not 100% sure, but really sounded like him) - about the history of IBM and a bit of Ra-Ra about IBM thrown in; there were some presentations from people already working there. Very interesting, and it seems like a fantastic place to work for. But time will tell.
Of course, as with any gathering of people, we had the ‘Miss-I-have-a-problem-with-everything’ in our group. Her questions (or maybe they were accusations) were mainly focused around escalation and hierarchy within IBM. It went something like this…
Miss Irritating: ‘So what do I do if I have a problem with IBM?’
HR Representative: ‘You can raise it with HR’
Miss I: ‘What if I have a problem with HR?’
HR Rep: ‘You can raise it with your Manager’
Miss I: ‘That didn’t work’
(At this point, please note that she has not worked one day for IBM yet!)
HR Rep: ‘Well, then you can try your Manager’s Manager’
Miss I: ‘Nope’
HR Rep: ‘Then I guess you should go straight to Harry’
(The boss of IBM Netherlands for our area) followed by a cold stare
Miss I: ‘So it’s Harry then?’ (In an all-knowing tone)
HR Rep: ‘Yes’
L-o-n-g- silence and icy stares….
HR Rep: ‘Okay, let’s continue….’
And so it went the whole day! Quite amusing I think.
As far as accommodations go, I stayed in a beautiful hotel (as mentioned below) booked on the internet by Godfrey. 10 Brownie points for that!
Today, I moved to Utrecht, and after driving around for 20 minutes (with taxi fare ticking!) we managed to find Pension Iris – my new home for the next two weeks. Now, it wasn’t like we couldn’t find the place (even with the help of the taxi driver’s GPS), but there is a faire/market in a big street here today. The street we needed to get to Pension Iris! Eventually we found an alternative route, and I rang the bell.
Chantal and boyfriend Walter opened the door, and they were very happy to see me. (Not nearly as happy as me!) Anyway, my room is upstairs, and Walter promptly displayed his manliness by carrying all my heavy bags up the stairs.
It is worth writing something about the stairs: I am not sure if it is because these are quite old buildings, or if there is no space of simply if it was a stupid contractor, but these stairs would definitely not make any building regulations in SA. Or in any country for that matter. They are about 15 cm deep and 20cm high, with a gradient of possibly 88 degrees! Very,very steep with a rope for a railing!
So after checking out the room – which consists of two single beds with yellow blankies; a kitchenette; a small bathroom and closet – I set out to the streets and the market! I managed to find a grocery store and bought a couple of necessities.
Now I am back in my room, and Walter kindly bought me a wireless card for 10 euros, as my Taiwan laptop does not have wireless and my IBM laptop is not allowed to have Skype installed. So now I am online and ready for action again.
I will take some pictures tomorrow and upload as soon as I can – that is if Blogger plays along.
The first day @ IBM Hoofkantoor went as expected. Lots of information, new people and procedures. The good news is that I received my laptop and the bad news is that I did not receive my mobile. Maybe Monday or Tuesday.
After watching a video that might have been narrated by Mel Gibson (not 100% sure, but really sounded like him) - about the history of IBM and a bit of Ra-Ra about IBM thrown in; there were some presentations from people already working there. Very interesting, and it seems like a fantastic place to work for. But time will tell.
Of course, as with any gathering of people, we had the ‘Miss-I-have-a-problem-with-everything’ in our group. Her questions (or maybe they were accusations) were mainly focused around escalation and hierarchy within IBM. It went something like this…
Miss Irritating: ‘So what do I do if I have a problem with IBM?’
HR Representative: ‘You can raise it with HR’
Miss I: ‘What if I have a problem with HR?’
HR Rep: ‘You can raise it with your Manager’
Miss I: ‘That didn’t work’
(At this point, please note that she has not worked one day for IBM yet!)
HR Rep: ‘Well, then you can try your Manager’s Manager’
Miss I: ‘Nope’
HR Rep: ‘Then I guess you should go straight to Harry’
(The boss of IBM Netherlands for our area) followed by a cold stare
Miss I: ‘So it’s Harry then?’ (In an all-knowing tone)
HR Rep: ‘Yes’
L-o-n-g- silence and icy stares….
HR Rep: ‘Okay, let’s continue….’
And so it went the whole day! Quite amusing I think.
As far as accommodations go, I stayed in a beautiful hotel (as mentioned below) booked on the internet by Godfrey. 10 Brownie points for that!
Today, I moved to Utrecht, and after driving around for 20 minutes (with taxi fare ticking!) we managed to find Pension Iris – my new home for the next two weeks. Now, it wasn’t like we couldn’t find the place (even with the help of the taxi driver’s GPS), but there is a faire/market in a big street here today. The street we needed to get to Pension Iris! Eventually we found an alternative route, and I rang the bell.
Chantal and boyfriend Walter opened the door, and they were very happy to see me. (Not nearly as happy as me!) Anyway, my room is upstairs, and Walter promptly displayed his manliness by carrying all my heavy bags up the stairs.
It is worth writing something about the stairs: I am not sure if it is because these are quite old buildings, or if there is no space of simply if it was a stupid contractor, but these stairs would definitely not make any building regulations in SA. Or in any country for that matter. They are about 15 cm deep and 20cm high, with a gradient of possibly 88 degrees! Very,very steep with a rope for a railing!
So after checking out the room – which consists of two single beds with yellow blankies; a kitchenette; a small bathroom and closet – I set out to the streets and the market! I managed to find a grocery store and bought a couple of necessities.
Now I am back in my room, and Walter kindly bought me a wireless card for 10 euros, as my Taiwan laptop does not have wireless and my IBM laptop is not allowed to have Skype installed. So now I am online and ready for action again.
I will take some pictures tomorrow and upload as soon as I can – that is if Blogger plays along.
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