etang de longeau

thomas

burcht st oburg

After climbing a hill (byc ar) we came at this ruin of a burcht. It was crowded with families, and that explained all the children's thingies at some places.

altenahr

Altenahr is a kind of place you would never think of going if you don't accidentally end up there. We were driving just like that and apparently we though this was a nice place to stop,place our tent and walk around. There was a small castle on top of a hill, we walked around it, how entertaiing. THen we took the car and drove to the touristic centre of Altenahr. Mostly visited by elderly there was a large danicng bar where elderly coudl dance int he middle and tohers wathcing them, it looked sooo stupid. We had pizza and went bakc to the campingsite. It appeared it was close to a racing track for motorbikes and the whiole night we heard motorbikes runnnig over our tent, just at the other side of the A-river.

nancy

Why did we go to Nancy, just becasue. Like the rest of the holiday we just did it because it was possible. We didn't know anything about Nancy, about it being interesting or not, but we went ther. Parked the car and were looking for a tourist information office, because we also wanted to camp there somewhere. After a few chocolate croissants (finally) we asked an old lady where it was, adn it appeared we were very close. They gave us directions to the cammping site.
But next top that the tourist office was next to a square which ahd tohe most gigantic golden thingies. So we walked around, came in a park, entered a church, had a coffee (french capuchino is not good). and after some chopping went to the camping site.
THe samping site was quite empty when we arrived, but later that eveneing many dutch people with large caravans were using it to spend the night. We played some beach ball on a volleyball field, and read and had some dinner.

expo atomium

After dozens of pictures I now have finally seen it myself. It took a while to get there (we missed some signs, or belgians are not good at it). It is immense and great and just nice. Ther were some peopel playing music, nice music, happy mood.

recyclart festival in bruxelles

After sme wandering in the streets of Bruxelles we finally found this festival. It has to be said, the regualrs were there. smoking, doing acrobatic things, have dreadlocks or bold, and sit to do nothing, but above all drink beer. WE also sat there for a little while, but were not very entertained by the band that was playing, so we left after being there only 15 minutes.

hoge bomen in hanoi

This february I am going to Vietnam with my dad. So I decided to prepare myself for that and bought some boosk about Vietnam. This is one of them. It has a very factual character, but read easy enough to finish it, better than history books. It i snice to read something about the daily life, hwo people are still living with the war and how the different parts of Vietnam are different. This makes it easier to choose between what to do and what not to do.

extremely loud and incredibly close

A very sweet book about a boy who looses his father in 9/11. Actually it has two storylines intertwining and it took me a while to figure out how they were related. Because you read everything from the boys perspective, it is hard to make a good picture of reality. Sometimes I really felt that he was fantasysing. And he is also very naive, which is also sweet.

new: recipes on my blog

In my creativity I combine some ingredients I never thought I would. How to make the most brilliant meals with the few ingredients you have at home. Past two days I made the following:

rice with tomato fish and sperziebonen

boil the rice with salt
Cut one piece of garlic and 3 dried chillies into small pieces and stir it in a hapjespan or wok. Put one small can of tomatenpuree in it with 3 cans of water (first pour out the tomatepuree and then hold the same can under the tap three times and throw the water in the pan). Stir it. Add some kurkuma and coriandre powder and salt. Cut the fish (I used pangasiusfilet) in blocks of 2 by2 cm approximately. Dop the sperziebonen and cut them in half. Put the sperziebonen and fish in the pan, cover it with a lit (deksel) and let it steam for approzimately 20 minutes until fish an sperziebonen are cooked.

pasta with capsicum, dried tomato and yoghurt

boil the pasta with salt
Cut one piece of garlic and heat it with some olive oil in a frying pan. Cut the red capsicum in small pieces and fry it for 5 minutes. Cut four dried tomatoes and two dried chillies in small pieces and add it. Add some salt and fresh basil. wait untill the capsicum is soft enough.
Take a small boil with some yoghurt and mix it with some mayonaise.
Mix the pasta with the capsicum and yoghurt.

VENcE wins bandcontest

After being very tired of Oerol (had I said that before?) I had to go to the concert of Sebastiaan in the Toeter. It was the final of the bandcontest Groningen and couldn't miss this last episode as being their true groupie from the moment I heard them for the first time.
They played like maniacs, sweat all over, cabaret in between, one more cup of coffee, new songs and the voicemail of Sebastiaan was clear: they won. Now they can record a demo which will be promoted which will hopefully give them some more gigs and more people can enjoy their music!

le vagabond - rotterdam

This is a cafe on the nieuwe binnenweg in Rotterdam, close to Rotown. Nice, brown cafe. We (Roos and I) arrived late on the graduation party of Salome. Almost all her friends had left already, because they had to take the last train to Amsterdam. I felt stared at, by all the locals of Rotterdam that were not used to fresh blood and different looks. I chatted with some left-overs, and after they had left, the locals started talking to us. We went home

productiehuis 'n Meeuw - Metamorfose

After being so tired of the Oerol weekend, I did not have the energy to tell something about the most fabulous show I have seen in months. Now is the time!
A group of approximately 15 children aged between 15 and 20 manipulated me into a fascination for 60 minutes. It was incredibly well directed, acted, sung and performed. The theme of oerol was "sterke verhalen" and this group had all ancient greek mythical figures in it. The story of each of them was followed by another and all were interacting in each story. Do I make sense? Just, if you can, try to watch this show, it is great!

Greetje Bijma - Campagne Vocale

At festival Etcetera we went to a musical story in the armandomuseum. She could do alot with her voice slash mouth. A perfect resemblance of birdsounds, a door opening, insect sounds in a forest. The story was hard to follow, but this woman surely has a voice to be treated as a precious treasure.

Theaterfestival Etcetera

Amersfoort, always a stop when going from Delft to Groningen or vice versa. I do not know this city that well, but it was our destination this sunday. Together with my parents and sister we went to the theatre festival, in doubt when and where exactly it woudl take place. The lievevrouwenkerkhof was the site for a parade like set-up with small cabins in which short theatre cabaret acts were performed. In the middle was a bar with on top the on the move big band performing as the sunday morning concert. I was in a passive mood, hence a poem read to me in a caravan was too much and only Annet and Yvonne attended.
In the afternoon the sun was shining and we had lunch outside. It's a cosy festival, but hard to say something about; we had to leave at 14.30hrs.

Oerol on Terschelling

Oerol is a theatre festival I was planning to visit for already 5 years. Finally this year it happened thanks to my friend Pim, who is already an experienced Oerol visitor. I took the boat at 8pm on friday night and arrived on the island at 10pm, 2 hours it took us to reach the islan we already could see from the coast of Harlingen where the boat took off. Thanks to Roos we had some excitement, as she had decided to leave from home as late as possible, because then she would not have to wait for the boat. really fancy, but in the end it all went perfect and the group of people who vaguely knew each other or didn't know each other at all arrived on the island and cathced up at the other end of the two hour boat trip.
THe bikes were arranged and we picked up the key and cycled. We had two tandems, which is an experience in itself. Not hte tow, but sititnbg with two on a bike makes you aware of the dependency of the other and the balance organ in your head which constantly wants to do something else then theperson sitting in front of you. Once you decide to just move your legs along with the pedals it's ok. Just don't look in fornt of you. It's like sitting in a rikshaw. Do not try to drive along, the driver knows what he is doing and doens't want to die either! (right Pim?!)
Then the camping place: de kooi achter de tuinen. Also this was arranged thanks to an umbrella in the ground next to the tent of the two wonderful guys who arrived the night before. A reserved spot and the wlakking path was enough to place the next three tents and we were all installed and ready to drink... where?
this ended in a long cycle trip to nowhere. Since I don't know anything about the island (my first time here) I did not wnat to bother with the directions or worrying about where to go or how to come back. I decided to let someone else take over the leadership and lean bakc on the backseat of the tandem (does that exist elsewhere?)
we ended up nowhere. I start wondering, would that have been different if I would have bothered abotu it...? As I did not have a destination I came where I wanted to go and then went home. The trip is better then the destination is something we had to keep in hte back of our head for this journey.
To make this already too long story not shorter but not too long to be boring: we had a great time! the two wonderful guys bought tickets for two nice theatre performances (one better than the other) which I explain in a next post. NExt year I will definitely try to go longer, see more, go with the same people I don't know, or others I don't know, at least somepeopel I don't know and enjoy the fresh air, the camping and the absence of any digital devices whatsoever, except for a cash machine.

Cyrano by Groninger Studenten Toneel

De second production of the GST of this year was Cyrano (the first was the one I was acting in). We were there almost with the full crew of te first production (Iris and Melanie were missing). It was more intense, more emotions, less actors (except for the figuranten of shield people). But it didn't grab me. Am I too spoiled, too wasted on good quality, or just too cold to understand it? Too critical? It can also be because I act myself and would not be proud if the quality of the play would be like this... I can imagine standing there, I can see what can be improved.
But at least I understand the story of Cyrano. Because he had a lot of text and the actors only had limited time for rehearsing, two cyranos took part. Also two roxannes took part. The director did a good job on combining and playing with this aspect (not denying the fact of it). He also did a good job an adding music, piano music that reminded me of my favourite movie before sunrise.

de Twirre - Earnewald

The squashclub Squadraat that I am a member of has a weekend away each year. With some 20 other squash players we vacanted the Twirre in a small village in Earnewald, Friesland. We did some games, drank some beers or more, played in the water, got sunberned (except for me) and got to know each other. IT was a cosy, relaxed weekend that reminded me of camps with highschool (including the corvee lijst en someone telling you what you shoudl do). When you grow up, you don't need a full program to enjoy yourself, besides I only knew a few people, so I had enough to talk about. But it was fun, good, and just nice.

Pirates of the Caribean - at world's end

I do not go to the cinema that often. But I was having a lovely dinner together with Wolter (he is a good cook!) and we decided to go. We only had a few minuites to decide whcih movie, where to go and hop on our bikes to arrive their on time. Apparently Pathe has also ticketing machines, which is much more convenient than waiting in line for your ticket from a lady behind a counter
BUt the movie... we were sitting next to a few very loud guys, the space was packed!
And te movie was great, enormous, gigantic, loud, impressive, funny. Not the best I have ever seen, but good entertainment, nice storyline (even a bit complicated which made you pay attention for 3 hours). Good fantasy and action adn toooo sweet and irrealistic romantic scenes. Need I say more...

Me, You and Everyone we know

Sweet movie, but not as incredibly good as a friend once told me. It has a mysterious, melancholic, romantic, crazy kind of vibe and rolls on. It's a dream world in reality with some fantastic conversations, confronting as well.
Two people walk on the street and imagine that the wlak on the street till the crossing is their life together. They have met at the start and seperate at the crossing. What will be the beginning and the end... just that walk or is it a metaphore for death, other cruelty or is that just possible when you believe in coincidences, strong feelings and the connection between two people.

bar pepper

After the atelierroute we had dinner in Bar Pepper. This is a fancy looking restaurant on the Boteringestraat and beforehand I was not very enthousiastic about it.
But it appeared to be surprisingly good food. Fresh vegetables, pure ingredients and original meals. Well done and recommendable. In a wide range of prices as well

Atelierroute

Last sunday my parents came by in Groningen. I introduced them to my new lovely little two rooms en suite and OWN kitchen and bathroom. And after a good lucnh we went into town for the atelierroute.
I quite like art and different kinds of art, but after 10 ateliers I got tired of it. And actually the best thing about all this, is that you can look behind the doors; all doors that are normally close, open and let you into their own reality. A view on groningen from different domestic perspecrives. What hides behind the wall and window is something you can't imagine... in groningen it's lots of nice little spots.
We finished in the atelier where Vence was playing (because I have posted about this band for already so many times I will not botehr you with a separate post). They performed in the Silo; a nice place to give a party and to let hem play acoustic vence music... and to expose some paintings.

De waag terrace (Delft)

I had a coffee with Joost in front of Waag cafe, it was lovely weather and that evening it appeared my nose had been too long in the sun. It must have been the two hours I was sitting on the terrace and we drank one coffee; a record I would say. Good that the service wasn't too good.
Oh and I had lunch with applie pie, which was NOT as good as it is in Kobus, though it had to go for the lunch. And Kobus is always full, because everyone says it's great.

Jazzcafe Bebop in Delft

After a long period of not being able to an unconsciously not wanting to visit this idyllic town I got independent, I came to visit some friends. One good friend just came back from 6 months travelling and since I had some other friends I finally wanted to catch up with I went to Delft on friday night after my yoga class.
We started and ended in jazzcafe Bebop in the kruisstraat or something. I had already spend many hours in this pub during my colllege years (yeah I'm getting old...;-)) and now again I experienced it as a new environment. All the guys, approciamtely 99 % of all customers was male, turned their head as long as my frined (good looking, tall, friendly) and I (blond, tall, and unaware) were walking into the pub. We had a hard time finding a place, and finally we ended up sitting halfway in the walking path... the guys didn't mind. Fortunately her boyfriend and another friend came quite soon, and the attention was gone. Good to be living in Groningen!
Though, just as a remark, this is one of the best pubs in Delft!! Most of the time sehr gemuttlich and a wide range of beers and the like...

Alles over Tristan by Tommy Wieringa

I came across this book at my parents'place, just after I had finished Joe Speedboot. Even though I was not very enthousiastic about that book, I decided to start reading this one. And it was quite OK, not amazingly stunning story. It just doesn't touch me in any way, but I can finish it.
The struggle of a man between love and work, quite a hot topic nowadays, poetic surroundings of a klooster somewhere on a mountain and a deep deep secret that is harder to keep than love can survive.

New cool Collective

opname van het concert
nog een

pand 48

I got home quite late

queens day in Ede

VENcE in cafe de Hertog

The weekend I was moving from the Carolieweg to the Jozef Israelstraat Sebastiaan had a gig in cafe de Hertog. I was one fo the best I have visited and I have visited many of their gigs in Groningem, if not all. I am a groupie, yeah!
But this was just perfect and I needed it. My head was occupied with some guy I will not mention and this music touches me each time again, in a good way, a melancholic way. It feel slike something is about to happen, but it also feels like I can't see what and don't know where.

Alice in Glamourland

Roos and I were at my parents' place and wanted to watch just some movie. It appeared my mom had bought this movie. A dutch movie with Linda de Mol starring. It entertained us and as romantic as we both are, we coudl believe in it, wanted to believe in it. Yes it never stops and that's why I still like this kind of movies.

Hannahannah

A dutch tele-movie with Antonie Kamerling and a girl I knew from the Koppels Series. It was a nice movie, romantic, recognizable unforutnately. But it gives me hope for the real one, for the man that can understand me and wants to and can even love me irrealistic demands of everyday life and dreams with me. I can't stop dreaming and this movie shows I shouldn't, a little bit, that's what I make of it.

der Witz

This is a pleasant brown cafe at the grote markt. Fancy interior and good service. Mixed public. I had been here before with Sebastiaan, but this time I went there with Anne-Marije to catch up on the facts and figures of the Vuurproef

Chaplins

About a month ago I went to this cafe on a sunday night with a very nice guy. I haven't seen much if the cafe itself, we mainly talked and were more absorbed with each other as it became later and the alcohol started to do its work. But I was there!

de maronnier

A nice living room restaurant. We arrived wheni t was completely empty and left wehn comepletely full and a well sprayed woman sitting next to me (with perfume and lipstick).
The food was really nice, finetuned, but later on my stomach was hurting... maybe a bit too fat?? The service was good as long as it was not too crowded, but hey, I will come back I think.

EQD comedy cafe in Huis de Beurs

Together with my brand new colleagues, we had dinner in huis de Beurs, and a comedy night afterwards. Imrpovisation with familiar games such as, each says one word at a time to make a story, a blind date, dubbing, and even a song. They were ok, but in Dutch would be better!

VENcE in cafe de Toeter

My favourite band in the quarterfinals of bandcontest Groningen. And they won, which means I can listen again on the third of June in my favourite cafe, cafe de Toeter.
Nice songs like bang bang, just my vice, god is where you put him, and many many more...

King Khan and the Shrines

My first Vera experience
Vera is a Popstage in Groninge, famous for its underground music... good underground music.
I was really tired of two exhausting days and kinda forgot I promised to go to the concert and since already tickets were bouht, I had to go.
It was a party, this is a really nice live band. I doubt if I like it on CD, but it was just party and splendid performance. 8 people, an canadian Indian brought back memories. But this Indian could sing!!

the Terminal

Catherina Zeta Jones is way too handsome to be the character she is playing. It was an entertaining movie though, in which the friendships and the sympahty towards allt he employes grows. It is not very credible though... but it is supposed to be based on a true story. Based, inspired, what does it mean...?

bevrijdingsfestival Groningen

TO celebrate our freedom (we were freed from the germans in 1945), we have freedom festivals across the country. Groningen is not famous for it, like Zwolle or Wageneningen. We had some beers on the field, because the weather decided not to rain for 40 days in spring. We listene to bad music, and chatted. It was only in the evening that it started to be entertaining, when leaving the festival and going for a beer in de Spieghel together with sebastiaan.

Huis de Beurs

Before going to the movies, we had dinner in Huis de Beurs. Despite all the stories I had heard about it, I had never been here. The food was OK, atmosphere good, with live piano music. We almost forgot to be silent for 2 minutes at 8 o'clock... memorial minutes for victims of the 2nd world war.

Angel

Together with Annet we went to Images and decided to watch this movie. On overacted shitty movie. It was hilarious, to some extent romantic, but not really good. Cult movie. Casablanca, meets monty python like...

de Heksenjacht by het Nationale Toneel

One week after we did our performance in Martini Plaza, the national theater of Holland did the same play in the stadsschouwburg. some wellknown actors took part in this play, so it was supposed to be a good one.
But it appeared that a boring play can even with good actors never become vibrant and entertaining. I knew the lines (were the same) and the stage and characters (also those were the same). We were not worse, not better, but the witch hunt in Salem didn't become very interesting.

de Vuurproef by ME

One of my active cultural achievements; acting in the play the Crucible by Arthur Miller. for three nights we possessed the Martini plaza in Groningen. A theater which has place for approximately 350 people per night.
The production period has not been one of the greatest I have ever had. It was chaotic and not well arranged, communicated , produced so to say. Together with some fellow actors we gossiped a lot about the organsiation (groninger studenten toneel), which is actually bad, but they were bad.
Each thursday we had rehearsals from 5.30 to 10 pm, dinner before with Robby, Daan en Marijke.
And standing on stage was not as overwhelming as it used to be. I was fed up with the lines, with some fellow actors, the director and the whole play to be honest. I was glad the third night was over and I was done with it.
But now one month later, I realised it has given me something special. If not only nice people I have met (which I only realised in the last few days and days hereafter), also some open mind, peace, and just knowing I stood in front of 1000 people, doing something stupid without feeling I did so.

Joe Speedboot by Tommy Wieringa

This book is a nig hit in the Netherlands. Though I have to say, in the end it touched me. In the end I couldn't stop and read it through the end. THe book is about a disabled boy that actually can't speak. You read his mind and the funny thing is, the actual author of the book really makes you belief you do, which is actually quite amazing. Now I am not the one that doens't think everybody is beautiful, but personaly I find it hard to communicate with someone who can't talk. Some other people in this book can find te peace and pateince to enclose him in their heart, for better or for good. So in the end I would recommend it.

afrika museum

Although my heart belongs to India, I became very intereste din Africa becasue of what friends tell me. A visit to the Afrika Museum has only strengthened this feeling and it is now on th etop of my travelling list (which does not mean it will be the first place I will visit). i can recommend this museum near to Nijmegen to eveyrbody. Very informative as well as triggering and illustrative.

het boek karna

Also the last of the trilogy was a page turner, although it was the least interesting on eof all three. From beginning I already knew what was going to be the end. it was not really about Karna, it was merely about the whole family, Benjamin and Dina included.

ice-age and sinbad

nice children's movies, always a pleasure to watch if you don't have anything else to do.

het boek Benjamin (the book Benjamin)

As a follow up of the book Dina (het boek Dina) of the swedish writer Herbjorg Wassmo (or norwegian or something) I again enjoyed the tension and emotional bonding between family members. Themes as love, friendship, betrayal and jealousy remain interesting topics to read about. The struggle a person had (in thsi case Benjamin) to give meaning to his life without really knowing his mother, trusitng her and being able to rely on her. It's a long struggle in which he makes the same mistakes in a different category as his mom... as all kids we are predetermined not to... Now I am reading the last book of the trilogy the book karna, more about that later.

the curious incident of the dog in the night-time

Many people recommended to read this book. It's about an autistic boy that is determined to find out who has killed the neighbour's dog. For the few people that haven't read the book Iw ill not tell you about the exact story, but about the many times I though I was autistic. But hten again I relaised I do have emotions, and more than anything, I think about what other people think and about the subtle differences in meaning and understanding people can have. The reactions of peopel towards the bhavior of the boy where therefore sometimes very rude, because in a way I understand the boy. If this is indeed a relfection of how an autistic person thinks then it is very well written, but isn't this only the interpretation of the behavior of autistic people that makes 'normal' people think they think like that... well think about it and let me know :)

het Curryhuis

Great Indian food. When asking if they also served roti, the waiter said roti was turkish... he was not an indian nor had he ever been there. Luckily the owener of the place was a real Indian from Calcutta and he admitted that roti is also Indian but that they don´t make it, because nobody orders it and they have to throw it away.
It´s good Indian food... I want to go again!

argentinian Tango

I wanted to do argentinian Tango already for quite some time. I finally found someone crazy enough to be my partner and now we are attending the class of Rob and Inez on friday afternoon. It seems quite hard to fit the lessons in all the other activities we both have and can hardly make it each time. But when we attend we have great fun and it is a hard but very sensitive and emotional dance. I hope to improve a lot and in the end get the feeling instead of the thinking.

Raindogs

One of my temporary flatmates in Groningen, Tim, is the singer of the band ´Raindogs´. I saw their gig in the spieghel. All the other temporary flatmates were present as well. It was a guitar band, and I have to admit, though good, not very special. I seemed like they could not choose between a style and hence played many.

Cafe restaurant Vlaanderen

Before going to the drink and party at Bierhuis de Klomp I first had dinner in Cafe restaurant Vlaanderen at the Beestenmarkt. Very delicate food and the easiest fish was prepared so good it was just delicious not overly served and well decorated. I was there with my parents, Annet, Tjitske and Jody.

bierhuis de klomp (delft)

This cafe was the nice place I celebrated the end of my student life. In the afternoon I did my presentation and people that could not attend that could attend my drink and party in this cafe to congratulate me. Nice atmosphere and also cosy when there are not too much people. Jacco brought his camera, Arjen and Natasha showed up, parents left early, Joost came late and even some people from Groningen took the time to be here. I really like my friends!!

Veronika besluit te sterven - Paulo Coelho

I finished the book in one go, going from groningen to delft and back (this is approximately six hours). I didn't read it in my best mood and it depressed me. Though quite some visions Coelho tries to bring naturally, were familiar, it was also confronting. It decided to be crazy, act crazy, refind the directness and boldness I used to be famous for. I decided to use that strength, be crazy among the normal, and to find the other crazy people. Only to be crazy, you can truly enjoy and survive.

Half of Heat

It appeared to be a very long movie. It's a classic though and I quite liked the first 1,5 hours. Then it was more tempting to drink a cup of tea with a friend than to sit home on my couch... Next time better.

Before sunrise

I have seen this movie already five times. I can recommend it to everybody and so I do, which makes me watch it over and over again, because I watch it with them. The conversations, the romance, the connection, eveyrhting is just right and makes me feel good. Each time I hear something new that makes me think. I have watched it two times in the past month, can't get enough of it.

hotel Huettenberg

I went to this hotel in Switserland. It's a peaceful family hotel in Braunwald, Linthal. THere are no cars allowed in Braunwald, so no traffic jams in the morning. Unless it's for skiing of course... Nos kiing for us in the ten days around christmas and newyears. On our last day there was finally enough snow but we enjoyed ourselves with walking, reading and playing card-games.

The Italian Job

As I am a fan of Edward Norton, I enjoyed watching this movie. Not just because of Edward Nroton, but also becasue I liked the plot. Though it reminds me abit of Ocean's Elelven and Charlize Theon will always have a sad face I can't stand. It was enjoyable.

the Great Gatsby

On my extremely relaxing vacation in Switserland I read this classic novel. Reads easily. It leaves a lot of imagination to the reader, which makes it like a play almost. I could not prevent myself to having Robert Redford in mind as the Gatsby... never seen the movie though

de asielzoeker - Arnon Grunberg

Well, what can I say, I have finished the book, but not because it was a very good book. It took me six months I think, and it has not really fascinated me. Though I have to say, it is depressing, and it is quite nice if a book gets a certain atmosphere with it. I didn't feel any sympathy for the main character but I could feel his distance to the other people around him. His unwillingness to commit to social rules and the disagreement between him and peopel aroudn him. the feleing ofn to being able to say what you wnat to say, and to feel constantly less than others, not worth it.

my super-ex-girlfriend

Don't watch it. Uma Thurman is Kill Bill.

The Crucible

Last week I started rehearsing for a play I am acting in; the crucible by Arthur Miller. I have the part of Elizabeth Proctor, which was acted by Joan Allen in the movie from 1996. We have a nice group of actors and one of my friends from the squash club also joined. It's going to be some nice and exiting months till March.

News Cafe bar & restaurant

Right in the middle of Groningen you have the News Cafe. A trendy place, where you can have good coffees and chat. It is somewhat un-Dutch, but that's why I and so many people with me, like it. I went there for four times already. First time was with my mom, after a day of shopping we had dinner here, as I said, nice food, nice decrated plates :-). The other times were with friends to have a coffee. It's almost like the Kobus in Delft, just wihtout the good apple pie.

Groen

restaurant close to my new home. Went there together with my dad and sister after four hours of moving stuff from one room to the other. We deserved a good meal. Very refined, orginial and tastefull food. A good diversity, good service, nice atmosphere, just a very good restaurant.

de eerste kamer

This restaurant in de peperstraat in Groningen has decent meals in relation to the price you pay for it; 6.20 euro for the meal of the day. If you don't want to cook or do the dishes it's fine. If you want refined food, don't do it, nor for the perfect atmosphere, it's more like a mensa, a good mensa though.

Babel

A movie in which Brad Pitt is not Brad Pitt anymore. In which cultures are combined and melted together in such a way we see wordt of them. Why people can't listen and don't think and see. What is wrong with power and hierarchy, we need to accept the differences opr bridge them? A low movie, with wonderfull scenery, with real people, mkaes a realistic story... or is it a coincidence?

groninger museum - miguel rio branco

A photo exhibition with some cruel some beautiful pictures in it. I especially 'liked' the car windows with many bullet holes in them. The projection of red light and videos of the street of brazil makes youf eel the danger that the street is breathing and the people breath in and exhale. cruel, hard to imagine and like india beautiful in its ugliness, just a different ugliness.
I went here together with Joost in september I think and when I visited the Herman Brood exhibition with Jon last weekend it was still there.

groninger museum - herman brood

The exhibition opened on his birthday. The dutch rock legend died a few years ago by throwing himself of the hilton hotel in Amsterdam and the latest weeks he is full in the picture again. They made a movie baout his early years and they exhibited his working space, his work and quite some pictures in the Groninger Museum. They give lectures about, parts of, his life and show the look-a-like on TV. Herman Brood is dead, but still alive.
Apparently many people liked him or pretended to like him on last sunday. I have never seen a museum so crowded as on that day. It was an excentric exhibition and especially the realisitc view in his living sapce is amazing. It was a shame so many people were walking there, because it would have been nice to stand there alone and feel the space. Although I was not a big fan of him, I liked it.

radio and juliet

An Amazing dans show from slovenia. Also the requiem from mozart before the break was fabulous. The first time I enjoyed dance so much.

de pintelier

This is a belgian beer cafe. THey have an enormous list of beers and it will take me quite some times before I have tasted it all. It is hidden in a small street at the kleine kromme ellebaoog. THe first time I came here was with Bote, and after that I haev taken quite some people. It has some luxury, the waiter is wearing a jacket, and I have to say, some of the people have a fititng attitude. However you can sit privately and have good conversations. I discovered the verboden vrucht here, since then one of my favourite.

de minnaar

A bar near the faculty of sociology. We went here twice up till now after the toss on thursday night at the aclo. Sebastiaan, Patrick, Taco, Kristian and Hilde were present last time. nice time...

het zwarte schaap

Yesterday we had a lovely dinner at het zwarte schaap on the shcuitendiep. Refined food, nice wine, good service and good company. The coffee is accompanied with quite some sweets, which was a surprise for us. And besides, they have a very spacious toilet.

egoism

I went to a lecture about egoism. It was one of the lecture about 'the bad life' of studium generale. Sins. Interesting to see how the philosopher is struggling in words, gets lost in presumptions and exceptions and exclusions to make A point. Other than that it was interesting and it keeps me awake. What is egoism is however still not clear... it depends how you define it. Why is it a sin? because we see it as a sin. Apparently the values we have do not match with someone who acts out of egoism. Would it match our values, than egoism wouldn't be a sin.

Padang Bar & Vence

The day I moved to Groningen we had dinner in the Padang Bar. In the van we followed a friend of mine through the small and big streets of Groningen and we ended up in the Padang Bar. We had a lovely dinner, maroccan, tajin. But I had no clue where the bar was and how to find it again.
A few weeks ago I went to Patrick to have dinner there. I crossed the street, and there it w; the Padang Bar. I just had to cross noorderplantsoen.
A week after we went there after toss.
Yesterday there was a goodbye of Taco and Vence played some songs life. Nice bar, nice music, what else can I wish for...

de spieghel

A few weeks ago I went to de SPieghel; a jazz cafe. On mondaynight they have jamsessions. I am not that expert on music and moreover not with jazz, but I love live music so I took a chance to see it. I was with Jeroen, ex-boyfrined, who plays the saxophone and is a major fan and quite knowledgeable about jazz music. So he explained me the basic and I could sit back and relax. There was a drummer, guitarist, tenor saxophone and a contrabas. Thye first play a basic (all jazz musicians know these) and then each has a solo and you appluad when the solo is finished.
At approximatlye 11.30 other people could join and the jam session started. Many people form the conservatorium present and a good atmosphere, as always happens with live music.

The other is You- Statehouse opera

An experimental play in three european cities at the same time: Berlin, Brighton and Groningen. We entered an arti building which I found out later was an atelier for painters and other figurative artists. For this occasion the exhibition hall was trnaformed to a theatre. Seeing the stage, they do that more often. It was the first time I went to the theatre in Groningen, and it was probbaly the most exlusive one I could have chosen. Three screens on at the back of the stage, each screen of pne of the city. Through a live video connection the nine actors were directed by keypoints that were told to them through an earphone.
The guy changing the stage all the time was not viisble for the people in the other cities and wore the most extravagant outfits. It was nicely done, I enjoyed it very much. I went here together with Kristian, a guy I know from the squashclub

Ajax - Noord Nederlands Toneel

During a weekend away with my parents and sister to the lovely city Zutphen, we went to Apeldoorn to see Ajax. A greek trgaedy I belief of the Northern theatre club sort fo group of people. It wasn't really good, but not bad as well. Some jokes, some bad jokes and some not supposed to be jokes.

cervantes

for my birthday I had dinner at this restaurant in groningen. Lovely food, nice atmosphere. Mkae reservations!

Hooverphonic

My first visit to the oosterpoort in Groningen (will many more follow...??). A few years back they were also in groningen when I was datings omeone here. We broke up a few weeks before the concert so then I couldn't go there anymore (i still lived in Delft, and that is not nextdoor). But now I moved to Groningen and I could go there together with Joost, a friend whose parents live in Groningen. I am a fan of this Belgian psychedlic melancholic rock since quite osme years, but only have two CDs. The show was great, the lightshow was also great and fitted the atmosphere of the music. Really dark and msyterious a bit like the sun was going down. THere was not much interaction with the crowd, but the music was fantastic, and she can sing... my favourite song Oil & Vinegar with a piano only. just love it.

Stuck on you

Another movie with Matt Damon, not that I am a really big fan of him, but this movie was on TV and I had nothing else to do. Stupid movie about siamese twins.

the talented mr. Ripley

Fabulous movie in which you can understand the guy acted by Matt Damon but morally it is just not right. The inner fight someone can have, it is just too frustrating, but this is how a serial killer must think and act upon (this is a very shortsighted explanation, sorry). But another thing: I jost looove Jude Law... When I saw it he reminded me of a good friend from India, too good looking, jummie

Guru

A bolly-hollywood movie. The girl who also acted in Austin Powers was again doing a nice job in this movie. It is a very easy story, the main actor has a terrible smile, but the indian accent grabbed me and the indian dancing as well. The small touch of spritituality, that is in every indian according to themselves, was now taught by a blond american girl. He acts like he is a guru and becomes famous for that... this is typical. I would expect a real indian to be capable of doing that as well... the means are not that important, the goal is to make money, be famous, get power, be powerful, once you have reached that, the maens don't matter anymore.

Bharati

This was an Indian dance show in the New Luxor theatre in Rotterdam. I went there together with my dad, who thought it was nice to take me to this dance show. As the tickets were over 50 euros I didn't mind, I actually loved it... I just really like India (as you can also see in my previous post) and I like to go out wiht my dad. The dance show was, though a bit commercial, beautiful. The moves adn the music, the sound and the smiles made me think back of the time, made me actually feel that time again when I was dancing with some indians on the 19th floor in blooming heights in Mumbai. The moves are typical, and the grandeur of so many people on stage in so many colours is absolutely beautiful. It was a coincidence that on the day we went it was approximately a year ago I was with those people... A year before my birthday.

Gandhi

Because I have been in India for some time, I got a fascination for the free fighter Gandhi... although he wasn't a fighter of course. This movie took three hours, I had to zap every now and then. It was an interesting movie, but didn't really bring any emotion to me, I am a bit neutral. I couldn't really feel why the British behaved as they did and why they reacted in such a way to him, as well as I didn't understand exactly his ideas and conceptions... I am not saying he is not a legend, because he did make a difference, it is just not avery believable movie.

bomme berend

In the parc I always cross when going to my job, there was something going on... I could see that during the day, but didn't really pay attention to it. When I got home my german flatmate told me it's a special day for Groningen, they were freed on this day many many years ago. For this occasion there was a lot of fireworks later that night in the Stadspark. On beats of old dancemusic when the rain just started to kick in, we had 15 minutes of fireworks in the air. What a show...

noorderzon - kraak en smaak

A good dj group, alternative dance music. Disco retro and new beats. Last night of Noorderzon unfortunately. I shoudl walk in the park more often, it's almost in my backyard.

noorderzon - Vence and Salsa Caliente

The second saturday of the noorderzon festival started fabulous. I woke up really late and because I went to bed early I was feeling great. I grabbed my saturday morning newspaper and could read it together with my breakfast consisting of a cup of tea and yoghurt with cereals. It had been 4 weeks since the last time I could do that. I decided to take a little walk in the nice city of Groningen, and of course ended in het noorderplantsoen. i heard some nice music and walked over there. I was surprised knowing the cello player of the band. I liked the msuic even better. Later on I met some other peopel of the squash association and we sat there for two hours listening to the music of Vence, the name of the band. Melancholy rock songs, pop folk, with a violin, guitar, cello, accordeon and drums adn a characteristic singer. I felt great.
later that night, after dinner, I again went to the noorderplantsoen for some slasa musis. As music always makes me smile, especially if it makes me move, as what happens with salsa music. I danced, and I was one of the few. We came across some people I had met once, she had met them more then once. And we went to the city centre. There we visited the three sisters (which was really toto crowded with underaged people and bad music, bu fun though) and chadrak, which had nice music and we danced the whole night through... I was hom eat 3.30 am.

noorderzon - lefties soul connection

It was nice music, but didn't really listen to it. was drinking beers with some colleagues and another guy at the love terrace. That was my mainpalce in the noorderzon festival... very nice people her, great atmosphere.

noorderzon - gogol bordellos

I thought this band is from slovenia, but htye appeared to be from the USA... They make really good music though. It's a bit gypsy, as the description said, but to me they appeared more like pirates. The neglish is really hard to understand, but the music is great and the act is fabulous. Two asian looking girls in disco clothes (yellow panties, short skirts...) screaming along, I had so much fun at Noorderzon. It was quite a suprise for me; I just saw them on lowlands TV that afternoon and was impressed, and then they were at noorderzon that same evening

niemand houdt mij tegen

A children's book about the 22nd century, bu talso very intersting for adults. A real adventure story with the romantic influence of love as a driving source for the adventure. I borrowed the book from good friends who called it the best book they have read. I liked it, though it is in some aspects a bit repetitive and too bovious or unrealistic or something.

Million Dollar Baby

I watched this movie in the train from Groningen to the randstad in two episodes. I have it on a CD for a long time, Brought it from India but never thought I would like the movie so didn't take the time to watch it. But now in my many hours in the train I did watch it and I quite liked it. It grasped me and that was only becasue of the sweet female boxer and not becasue of clint eastwood. I was irritated by how he talked with the rough voice. Anyway, I liked it and I can recommend to someone who doesn't know what else to rent from the video store

komt een vrouw bij de dokter

A Dutch book, by a Dutch writer then of course. He writes about his wife dying of breast cancer. He is quite a nasty man, but loves his wife, you can read it between the lines. But I would not be able to cope with someone that always has a second agenda, is with his mind somewehre else. Then it might very well be he is inlove with me (her), it is not giving enough affection, but maybe I demand too much form my guy...
I liked the bok, I read it in three days only, whoch indicates the easy way it is written and the tension is brought up. At the end of the book she dies and he takes his new girlfriend to the funeral.

coach carter

A highschool movie with Samuel L. Jackson as Basketball coach Ken Carter. Feel good movie. With a lot of lessons and values for the kids that watch this movie. It's like a Disney movie with a realistic ending, well sort of...

TNO culture

I am sitting on my new workplace in TNO. On my university the image of TNO is to be dull and very technical company. When applying for my graduation project at TNO I knew they also have a User Centered Innovation department. This sounds new and trendy and innovative though...
In my room there are 7 guys, also graduating, all doing infromatics, either on university level or hbo. They are constantly talking in programming language (they are working on the same code) which makes me realise this is really all about technology. who knows best?? I go crazy and quote Alan Cooper about how programmers are.... it happens here.

Mooi Weer Spelen

This year I again participated at the Mooi Weer Spelen with my Street theater group "ViaViaWegtheater". We made a little surpriseparty which ended as a surprise party casting agency. It was great fun acting again, I have decided to continue doing it, preferably doing more than now.
The day after I also watched the great sepctacle on the "grote markt" in Delft. Also very nice to see, was over too soon.

bike lock

I went out to take my bike to go to my job. My bike was locked with another lock besides my locks (I have 2 to prevent it from being taken). What to do...
During the day I figured out that I could call the city ocuncil who has a special bike cleaning service that also removes all the illegally placed bikes at the train station. But since they work only 8-12, I had to call back again the nest day.
When I came back home, the lock was removed. A coincidence? A mistake? A joke? or somthing typically Grunnings?

Netherlands - Ivory Coast

To be in Delft on time for io festival, meant I had to listen to this match of the world championship soccer in the train. You would expect nobody in the train, but like me there were others who had to be somewhere at a certain time and then Groningen is far away from the place to be.
First I was sitting with two guys, of which one was listening to the match and the other one was reading our faces. Then I had to change trains and I came to sit next to a Frisian girl with a little dog who had a small radio with a big antenna. We were both listening and each time there was scored or in an exiting moment (there are a lot when you can't see the green field) we looked at each other. It is special to listen to this match in the train while the whole country is captured in the world championship and has a beer with it.

io festival 2006 imagination

Last friday was probably the last io festival I will visit. It was great. When I did drink too much, I was planning not too, my feet couldn't stop moving and the day after I couldn't walk anymore. I liked themusic, though 2005 had the best line-up. It is always good to see that hte things we (in 2002 with Inkijk) initiated are still being used, I can enjoy it so much, because I also know the other side of the coin. It was 6 o'clock and ti was light outside, it was a great feeling, I was with the right person.
As good as the festival was also the preparty with Hanneke, Salome, Cristina, Chiara and Merijn. We had a little make-up and change festivity and good food.

code 46

Fantastic movie. Second time was much better than first ime, because then I could watch it in one go, going from Delft to Groningen. The first time a drunken flatmate came in halfway, I got lost somewhere, watched it the day after, but lost track. So see it in one go!
It has a lost in translation feeling, the sophistication of a starwars movie and it it's uber romantic, but still realistic (yes I'm a woman). Watch, you will like it, as does my flatmate who has watched it several times, and that's a guy.