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.