mannen van staal

The first book of Elizabeth Gilbert is less interesting than here biography eten bidden en beminnen that I read before. Although it was funny it was talking about the crazy people in a fishermens island and I was visiting small Bozo villages at the shore fo the River Niger in Mali. It showed some resemblance. I left the book at Yvonne's place, as I didn't want to carry it around the rest of the trip.

mali blues

I only liked the book, because I was in Mali at the time I read it. It made me understand Mali a bit better, but furthermore I didn't really like the style of writing of Lieve Joris. The last story about Kar kar is the best.

norwegian wood

An amazingly good book! Beforehand I didn't expect much of it, although Jaap-Henk sad it was a very nice book. But somehow the fact that it was a Japanese writer didn't really attract me. Bu it was a very nice book! It is smoothly written, and it has a sense of fatalism in it, somance, melancholy, philosophy and then he described his life from his 18-21.

lustwandel

Carnaval started in Dusseldorf just on my return to this concrete city. I brought my pink hat from the Jut and Jul act I did together with Fleur, and I could finally wear my strange skirtof IO festival again. A whole bunch of Vodafone people were inthe Lustwandel, so Elisabeth and I also went there. Had to wait very long in a queue, but in the end, had some good dancing.

the kite runner

I missed the start of the movie, but as I had read the book I could still follow the storyline. And as with many movies that are based on a book, the book is better. The time that amir jaan in Pakistan is, seems so short in the movie, and in the book it all seemed so much more intense. Though I have to admit the actor player Amir jaan was very good, nice eyes!

Nights in Rodanthe

This is the movie I saw on my way back from Bamako. And although not a very strond sotryline it touched me somehow. Richard Gere is still the mister for romance and the stranger in the crowd.

Vicky, Cristina, Barcelona

One of the movies I saw on my way to Bamako. Lot of passion in this movie, and also the romance. A feeling I am familiar with. The dreamy chracter of Scarlet Johannson and the passionate one of Penelope Cruz and then the third one, can't remember the name, that thinks she should do something but doens't feel it. All three are characters I can relate to. I guess anyone can.

ice skating on paterzwoldsemeer

For the first time in 12 years it was possible to skate on nature ice again. I didn't have any skates, but could buy some in Delft and the day after when ice skating with Johanneke in Groningen. It was possible to skater around the lake, where otherwise many boats would be. It looked absolutely amazing. My skating isn't quite as it should be, but I was doing reasonably well for someone who is skating on noren for the second time.

kobus kuch

After a night in Bebop with some JongTNO colleagues, the morning after I went to Kobus Kuch together with Renate and Gabrielle. We had some lunch, anis milk, and tea. No apple pie this time.

city squash

mona lisa smile

Salsa night at Tanzhaus

Just before the christmas break I went to a Salsa dancing night in Tanzhaus, same place as I sometimes have yoga. Although I have to admit I am not as good as I hoped, I did enjoy it very much. Elisabeth is really good at it and I guess it is a matter of doing it more and then I will learn it. Will definitely go again

Shantaram

Almost 1000 pages about the life of a criminal in Mumbai. Was great to read it, especially over my Christmas break that I could completely immerse myself in the story and Indian life that was described in there. Although it is about the criminal life it made me want to go back there. When realizing I walked on the same places he was describing in the book and then knowing that there is so much illegal, criminal, maffia things going on, is partly scary and partly intruiging.

ocean's thirteen

As a follow up of twelve and eleven now Ocean's thirteen. Same concept, same quality with nice actors. It was the second time I watched it, still ok.

love actually

Unbelievable that I have never mentioned this movie on the blog, although I watched it already many times (4, maybe 5 times). So here it is. It is an all time feel good movie. Liek alles is liefde, only English. Christmas movie as well, watched it in Appelscha during new years eve.

the departed

I think this was really the best movie I have seen during the christmas break. On a small laptop screen, but still very strong. It is so incredably good how I instantly hated the chracter of Matt Damon. And it is hurting to realize that good people have to fight to come in good places and when there is money it is all much easier.

het Viadukt

And after the pintelier we went to the Viadukt for some live music of bands that usually practise there. If I remember well it was something garcia band and a singer songwriter. From the singer songwriter I couldn't hear the lyrics, but it was remarkable to see so many ladies on stage. Then the other band was a reall swingband. THe piano player was very fashionable with his shoes on heels and white trousers and longer hair that flls in his face. The saxophone player had three different saxophones, also quite impressive.

brussels lof

After climbing, Johanneke and I went for soem cheese fondue in brussels lof. I had one with goat cheese and she had one with tomato and basil. They served really wuick, but eventually we staid really long with our irish coffee. A nice restaurant, no music, good food. After that we went for a drink in the Pintelier.

climbing @ Bjoeks

At the start of the Christmas break I went climbing with Johanneke in Bjoeks. It was the second time I did it and again I had wobbly legs. But after some time it goes better and the last time I went up I actually did a route.
The picture is from the first time I went climbing with some colleagues.

Thermen de Waterlelie

On the 2nd of January I really wanted to go to the sauna. I hand´t been yet in the christmas break and had to do it. I had never been in this one and then it is a bit hard to see where you can go and what the facilities are. It is in an old farm and has a big lawn with two sauna cabins outside. Unfortunately it was too cold to sit outside and lie in the sun. Maybe in summer it is better. I had the aufguss with honey, the Cleopatra Aufguss. I also had a massage, but it wasn´t that good. That is always disappointing actually.