Archive for English

24 July, 2007 | No comments

29mei-22jun2007 - Joseth

Het is nu 22jul2007… Ik ben alweer een maand thuis, en vond het tijd worden om er eens voor gaan zitten om het blog compleet te krijgen, want het zou zonde zijn om de laatste maand er niet bij te hebben. Maar het kost me moeite om te bedenken wat er in de laatste maand nog allemaal gebeurt is, zelfs mijn agenda heb ik in die drukke tijd niet bijgehouden… (dus er zullen best dingen ontbreken, sorry).

Dinsdag 29mei; Eigenlijk zou mijn weekend vandaag eigenlijk beginnen, maar aangezien de drie tijdelijke krachten alledrie een sollicitatie gesprek hebben bij Novartis, en het gewone werk toch door moet, heb ik aangeboden overwerk te komen doen, totdat ze terug zijn. Het gaat allemaal zeer voorspoedig, en ik heb bijna al het dagelijkse werk al af voordat ze er zijn, zodat zij tijd hebben om de ‘Growth Promotion’ uit te zoeken en in te zetten. Vanuit het werk met Christof gelijk boodschappen gedaan. En daarna eindelijk rust… In de maand mei 233uur gewerkt, breekt toch een keertje op. Het enige wat ik me van de rest van het weekend kan herrinneren is dat ik nog naar de bioscoop ben geweest; ‘28 weeks later’ (een vervolg op ‘28 days later’) een verschrikkelijke film, een horror over een virus dat uitbreekt… op zich wel een goed verhaal en mooi verfilmd, maar zo onnoemelijk goor, geen film voor mij.

Woensdag 06jun; Vandaag komt Patrick (Micro manager NL) naar de UK, maar eerst met AnneMiek (Christof is naar Nederland) op stap geweest naar Hale, een klein plaatsje naast Speke waar ooit een man gewoond heeft van 9.3 feet, een houten beeld en zijn begraafplaats zijn niet heel bijzonder, maar wel leuk om te zien, en een heleboel leuke huisjes daar gezien. Lekker op een terras bij een ‘Ínn’ thee gedronken, en daarna naar ‘Speke Hall’; Een Victoriaans huis wat met inboedel en landgoed overgedragen is aan het ‘National Trust’ Ontzettend leuk om te zien, en echt heel bijzonder dat bijna de hele inboedel nog compleet was, geeft toch een heel ander beeld. Wat ook wel heel grappig was; in de eerste kamer kwamen ze er achter dat wij Nederlanders waren, dat ging gewoon als een lopend vuurtje voor ons uit, dus in iedere kamer hebben we een praatje gemaakt met de vrijwilligers, want dat was blijkbaar toch heel apart. Toen we klaar waren Patrick opgepikt, heerlijk om weer bekende om je heen te hebben… En lekker uit eten gegaan met zijn drieen, bij ‘The Taveerne’ een Mexicaans restaurant beland, zeer geslaagd! Daarna nog naar een Australische bar geweest.

Donderdag 07jun; Vandaag weer gesport, naar yoga geweest, en gezwommen. Aan het eind van de dag Patrick opgehaald en weer met z’n drieen uit eten, dit keer naar ‘Alma de Cuba’… Ook al zijn we er nu ondertussen al een paar keer geweest, het blijft zeer bijzonder, een sfeer die niet te beschrijven valt. Het is een super gezellige avond, naderhand nog naar ‘O’Neils’ een Ierse pub met live muziek, Christof is redelijk op tijd terug uit Nederland, en komt ook nog. Het is lang geleden dat ik me zo vermaakt heb. Misschien ook maar goed ook, want het heeft slechte gevolgen… een zware nacht, en vrijdags een nog zwaardere dag. Zelfs op zaterdag heb ik er nog last van, wel gaan sporten, maar het gaat allemaal niet van harte.

Zondag 10jun; Vandaag weer bezoek; Angela v.d.B. (HR NL) is er, we pikken haar op vanuit het werk, en gaan uit eten bij ‘Brittania Inn’ een eet gelegenheid aan de Mersey, waar ik al een paar keer voorbij gewandeld ben. Het is heerlijk weer, en we kunnen lekker buiten zitten, het is geen culinair hoogstandje, maar met een ondergaande zon op de achtergrond is het er heel goed vertoeven.

Maandag 11jun; Vandaag Angela weer na het werk opgepikt, maar nu in het appartement gegeten. Verrassend dat dat net zo gezellig kan zijn, misschien zelfs gezelliger omdat het allemaal zo spontaan gaat. Ik heb er in ieder geval weer van genoten, leuk alle verschillende onderwerpen die zo op tafel komen…

Woensdag 13jun; Vanavond uit eten met QC Micro UK, ik vind het leuk dat ze iets geregeld hebben want vorige keer dat er een etentje was, was het net in het weekend dat ik naar huis ging en kon ik er niet bij zijn. Ik ben blij te horen dat Christof en AnneMiek ook uit eten gaan met hun afdeling (vandaag was AnneMIeks laatste werkdag hier). Wij hebben afgesproken in ‘The Blue Bar’, een leuk restaurant bij de Docks. Eigenlijk zouden we dit soort dingen veel vaker moeten doen, zo leer je de mensen op een heel andere manier kennen. Hieraan merk je ook dat we het druk gehad hebben, je spreekt elkaar gewoon te weinig. Ook al hoef ik maar een klein stukje terug te lopen, ik ben kletsnat van de regen… Nog even nagepraat met AnneMiek en Christof en daarna lekker naar bed, het wordt een druk weekend!

Donderdag 14jun; De dagen beginnen nu echt te tellen… Er is een laatste keer voor alles, vandaag de laatste yoga les, de laatste keer sporten, de laatste keer naar de bieb, en ’s avonds voor de laatste keer naar de film; Ocean 13, een goede keuze, heerlijk ontspannen…

Vrijdag 15jun; Vandaag komen Pap, Mam, Piet & Marian, hier heb ik zo naar uit gekeken… Christof is zo aardig om AnneMiek en mij naar het vliegveld te brengen, AnneMiek heeft het erop zitten, en gaat vandaag naar huis. Ze hebben iets vertraging, dus we drinken nog snel een kop thee. Dan is het zover, gelukkig is alles goed gegaan met hun heenreis. Ik wens AnneMiek een goede terug vlucht en wij nemen de bus naar het centrum. We checken eerst in bij het hotel, daarna een late lunch bij ‘Loyds’ en gaan dan de stad verkennen. We gaan naar; Lush (het zeepwinkeltje) Millets (outdoorshop), St.John (winkelcentrum), en natuurlijk Starbucks voor een kop koffie. Aan het eind van de middag even naar het hotel om op te frissen, en daarna uit eten bij de Italiaan ‘Ask’ smaakte goed, al kost het wat moeite om te vertalen zodat iedereen weet wat die wil. We eindigen de avond bij ‘Walkers’ een engelse pub, maar dan nog in ouderwetse stijl… zeer gezellig, en zeer strikt want we worden er om half twaalf binnen vijf minuten uitgewerkt. Maar zeker voor een eerste dag was dit meer als laat zat.

Zaterdag 16jun; Vandaag hebben we een dagje ‘Docks’ gepland, we beginnen met een engels ontbijt bij de ‘Grill Bar’ net naast het hotel, het is alleen jammer dat Piet last heeft van jicht, hij kiest ervoor om nog een uurtje langer op bed te blijven liggen. Na het ontbijt nemen we een taxi naar de ‘Docks’ we beginnen met de ‘Yellow Ducktour’ een knalgeel amfibievoertuig dat eerst een rondje door het centrum rijdt en daarna een vaartocht door de docks, de vrouwelijke gids die van alles onderweg vertelt, doet dat lichtelijk overdreven, maar dat geeft ook wel een leuk karakter aan de tocht. Daarna gaan we naar het ‘Beatle’ museum, (Piet is nog steeds niet op z’n best, en blijft buiten op een bankje zitten) voor de rest is er een aangename verrassing de audiotour kan ook in het Duits gevolgd worden, en dat heeft bij alle drie de voorkeur. Ik had deze tour al een keer gedaan, maar volgens mij vond de rest hem ook zeer geslaagd. Naderhand lekker een barretje opgezocht voor een hapje en een drankje. En daarna wezen winkelen, ze hebben zoveel kleine leuke aparte winkeltjes bij de Docks. Aan het eind van de middag Piet afgezet bij het hotel en met de rest nog het centrum in, een borreltje bij Yates, een blik op een kerk waar alleen de muren nog van staan, even langs het Liverpoolse ‘China town’, en toen via de andere kant weer terug, Piet opgehaald, en uit eten gegaan bij de Mexicaan (Taveerne). De dames vonden het niet zo geslaagd als de dag ervoor want het was te pittig… dus op weg naar Walkers om te ‘blussen’, je kunt maar een reden verzinnen!!

Zondag 17jun; Vandaag is het vaderdag, en Marian is vandaag jarig. Dus reden voor een feestje! Aangezien het ook mijn laatste weekend hier is, ook maar gelijk Christof uitgenodigd als ‘afscheid’. We gaan met z’n allen ontbijten bij O’Neils… is niet alleen een leuke tent om te stappen, maar dus ook om je ’s ochtends helemaal vol te eten. Daarna even het appartement laten zien, en via het water naar de Docks gewandeld. Dit weekend is het ‘Liverpool’s Maritime Heritage Weekend’, en zouden er allerlei grote schepen/driemasters aanleggen, maar het is een beetje onduidelijk waar dit zich afspeelt (blijkt een heel eind buiten het centrum te zijn), we besluiten een taxi te nemen en er naar toe te gaan, en het is zeer zeker de moeite waard. Terug in het centrum gaan we nog wat shoppen, de fanclub winkel van Liverpool moet natuurlijk bekeken worden, en op een terrasje zitten en mensen kijken is overal leuk. De avond is weer snel gevuld… uit eten, dit keer bij MEET een Braziliaans restaurant (vandaag heeft iedereen wel een goede keuze gemaakt, niet te pittig) en naderhand toch weer naar Walkers geweest. Het lijkt wel alsof we al als vaste klant gezien worden, want als we binnen komen en er eigenlijk geen plaats is, en wordt er een groep jongelui aan de kant gestuurd zodat wij er kunnen zitten… dit zou je in Nederland niet snel voor elkaar krijgen.

Maandag 18jun; Vandaag zou ik eigenlijk alweer moeten beginnen, maar omdat ze alweer naar huis gaan vandaag ook maar vrij genomen (mijn eerste verlof dag dit jaar). Ik zorg dat ik alvast wat spullen meeneem zodat ze deze voor mij mee naar Nederland kunnen nemen (dat scheelt mij straks weer kilo’s). We gaan bij Loyds ontbijten, vandaag kies ik voor pancakes in plaats van het Engelse breakfast van de afgelopen dagen (ik zal blij zijn als ik weer in mijn gewone ritme zit, met mijn bordje brinta…). We gaan op tijd naar het vliegveld toe, checken in, en drinken dan nog wat. Ondertussen arriveerd Johan (analytisch supervisor NL), hij komt vandaag naar de UK om te helpen met de Tech.Transfer. Dus een strakke planning, eerst het hele stel afzetten en dan gelijk de volgende weer meenemen. Gelukkig is het afscheid nu niet zo heel zwaar, over vier dagen ben ik thuis… Johan ik nemen de bus weer terug naar het centrum, checken Johan in bij het hotel, en gaan de stad in. Eerst lekker bijkletsen, en zodra Christof uitgewerkt is (die moest wel gewoon werken) uit eten geweest bij ‘La Tasca’. We maken het niet zo heel laat, want morgen is het weer vroeg dag…

Dinsdag 19jun; De dag begint al leuk, het is weer niet bekent bij micro dat ik vandaag (en eigenlijk ook morgen) ingepland sta voor Chemistry… dit houd in dat Johan eigenlijk alles regelt met Lisa en Alice, en dat ik tussendoor alleen maar een keer die kant op ga om samples op te werken. Het is jammer dat iets waar wij van gehoord hebben dat zo belangrijk is, overal maar een beetje tussendoor gepropt wordt. Maarja, dat is niet aan mij. ’s Avonds weer met zijn drieën uit eten, we wilde weer naar MEET, maar deze blijkt dinsdags gesloten te zijn… De eigenaar die net op het punt staat om weg te gaan, is zo aardig om ons even af te zetten bij de andere MEET (Argentijns). Bij de Braziliaanse MEET was het al lekker, maar bij deze zeer zeker ook, en ik vond het er bij deze veel gezelliger uit zien…

Woensdag 20jun; Vandaag moet Christof overwerken, hij had geen slechtere dag kunnen kiezen, want ik heb nog steeds helemaal niets ingepakt. Harry (de ‘bedrijfs’ taxi) krijgen we niet te pakken, maar gelukkig is Simon Harwood zo aardig om Marie en mij terug te brengen. Maarja voordat ik terug ben, gekookt en gegeten heb, is het toch stiekum weer laat… dat wordt morgen door werken.

Donderdag 21jun; Vandaag op het matje geroepen bij Mike Austin (General Manager UK)… Een leuke toespraak gehad en een Directors Award gekregen voor de hulp bij het manufacturing seizoen 2007 in de UK. Ook van de rest een leuk dank je wel, doet goed om te zien dat ze het gewaardeerd hebben dat ik er geweest ben, want het was niet altijd even makkelijk. Maar volgens mij kijkt iedereen er positief op terug, en dat vind ik het belangrijkste… ik vond het in ieder geval de moeite waard. Wat ik wel jammer vind is dat het zo druk is dat ik nauwelijks tijd krijg om mensen gedag te zeggen, het is zelfs zo druk, dat we het werk laten liggen om 18.55uur om op zijn minst de laatste dag een bakje thee te kunnen pakken als afsluiting. Na het werk met Christof nog naar ‘Anfield’ gereden, om foto’s te maken van het voetbalstadion, kan ik in ieder geval zeggen dat ik wat van het voetbal heb meegekregen. Op de terugweg is er een mooie regenboog boven de stad te zien… Vind ik zeer tekenend voor mijn periode in Liverpool. In het appartement aangekomen snel aan de gang… Ik heb veel te veel spullen verzameld, en krijg het er allemaal maar met moeite in.

Vrijdag 22jun; De laatste dag in de UK! Christof gaat vandaag naar het werk voor overtime, maar is wel zo aardig om mij met al mijn spullen op het vliegveld af te zetten. Ik heb de vroege vlucht, dus vroeg opstaan… reizen is best leuk, alleen je bent meer tijd met wachten kwijt als met reizen. Bij het inchecken loopt niet alles soepeltjes… 7 kilo teveel bij me, dus bijbetalen, en ik mag maar 1 stuk handbagage meenemen (en mijn rugzak zit zo vol dat mijn handtas er echt niet inpast). Ondertussen dat ik nog lekker een kop thee pak en aan het wachten ben, kom ik op het briljante idee om de inhoud van mijn handtas dan maar over mijn jaszakken te verdelen, ik heb mijn wandeljas bij me, en die heeft zakken zat… het ziet er niet uit, maar het werkt wel. De rest van de reis loopt voorspoedig, zeker als ik op schiphol aan kom, en Maarten me daar op staat te wachten, is toch een stuk gezelliger dan alleen in de trein zitten. Als hij me thuis afzet, is daar een nieuwe verrassing, het huis is versiert, er staan allemaal bloemen binnen en ze hebben zelfs taart bier en wijn klaar gezet… Zo attent van iedereen! Nadat ik Maarten uitgezwaaid heb, ga ik snel naar ons thuis… Het is heerlijk om weer in Mook te zijn, het zonnetje is weer gaan schijnen. En wat is er dan beter dan lekker in de tuin te zitten, een flesje ‘Palm’ bier te drinken, en samen met mam naar Bas en Tim te kijken die in hun nieuwe Liverpool voetbalshirtjes aan het ravotten zijn.

Ik wil bij dezen iedereen bedanken, die er voor gezorgd heeft dat het hele project zo’n succes geworden is. Ik had het niet alleen gekund. Dank jullie wel! Liefs Joseth

 

13 June, 2007 | No comments

04-27 May - Joseth

Friday 04may2007; Finally weekend… although it starts later than scheduled, they’ve asked AnneMiek for some overtime (Christof is going to the Netherlands this weekend) but it turns out overtime till nine o’clock, and that is not nice after a twelve hour work day, a very busy shift, and still not recovered from last weekend. So back to the apartment, eat and straight to bed.

Saturday 05may2007; In the morning slept as long as I could, and did some groceries. In the afternoon packed my backpack with a thermo flask of tea, something to eat, something sweet, and a good book, then walked together with AnneMiek to Otterspool to sit on a bench and enjoyed the river. After tea (dinner) the two of us went to the cinema; to the film; ‘Next’ with Nicolage Cage, I think it was a very surprising movie, with a good plot.

Sunday 06may2007; In the morning finally to the gym, felt good… but I notice that I should go more regular to get the best of it. In the afternoon I walked through the city centre, and ate at ‘Burger King’. And then started at a new adventure…Today it is Sally’s wedding, a colleague from the micro department UK, so I’m going (a little bit nervous) with the car to Bolton. I haven’t driven much in the UK, and I’m not used to the names of all the villages which are mentioned on the signs, but I’m well prepared with a car map and the route description I’ve received from Sally, so there are no problems getting there. Lucky I know myself good enough, so I brought some CD’s, my book, a bottle of water and something sweet with me, because I’m an hour early, but I had a good time. Then I go inside, she looks lovely, and she is shining…it’s beautiful to see. Robert is not there at that time, so I liked it very much when she came to introduce him later on. It is very nice to be at an ‘English’ wedding, most of the things are the same although there are some small differences, and I keep my eyes open. It is nice to see Scott again, and just have time to chat with everybody (although some of the conversations are still going too fast), to see who belongs to who, and the buffet looked and tasted very good. It was a very successful evening…The way back home also went fine, with a thank you to Alice and Lisa from chemistry, it is nice when you can follow someone in the middle of the night when you are not familiar with the way to go.

Monday 07may2007; Today to the gym again, and very fanatic, this results in a very lazy mood for the rest of the day, a little bit at the computer, a little bit reading, and the day has passed…

Tuesday 08may2007; To work for ‘overtime’ I’ve been scheduled for some days to do ‘EMSS review’ this is review of raw data, and compare results which are put in the special environmental monitoring software, but at normal workdays there is almost no time to do it, today it worked fine, it is just when you can spend time on it without getting disturbed every time.

Sunday 13may2007; Mothers day, it is strange to be away from home…Last week I sent an E-card, today a text message, but it is not the same… Today I woke up late, did groceries with Christof and afterwards on the couch with a book. AnneMiek and Menno (who is here this weekend) are going out for a meal to celebrate their first wedding anniversary, and when Christof also mentioned he was going out for a meal, I decide to do the same. I end at the Italian restaurant which we’ve passed a several times. I enjoy my pizza, the red wine, and the people which pass running through the rain… Afterwards I’m going to the cinema, this time a movie with Anthony Hopkins; Fracture. This is really my kind of movie, not much action, but a very thoughtful murder, which is very predictable, but hard to prove. Only some parts were familiar to me, if I had seen them before…maybe in a trailer, or they used parts of other movies, I don’t know. It was a at least a succesful evening.

The rest of my weekend 14, 15 and 16may2007; I’m not in the mood to do a lot of things. I’m glad I have the gym, so I can get rid of some energy. I did not do much more than working at the computer; Translation for the blog of my weekend home, preparing my evaluation of the project which I have the 22nd, preparing some e-mails, playing Solitair, and thinking what is going on at home; Tim’s birthday, hospital visit, weekend away…  It is strange to say, I’m not looking forward to the next shift…all the business, but it will give me some distraction.

The shift wasn’t that bad; Jo came back from holiday, she didn’t take all days off, but also swapped some days, which means we have an extra person for two days, this makes so much difference… I like it to get everything sorted.

Monday 21may2007; Christof and AnneMiek are at work today for overtime, so I have the day for myself… I start the day at the computer again, to finish my evaluation, and I’m lucky our illegal internet is working again; I love it to mail and have the time for it…This means it a little later than planned, before I go to the city centre for present hunting… there is not much time left, and it’s difficult to find suitable presents for everyone. When I’m at the apartment again, AnneMiek and Christof are already there, and have done the groceries, nice… After tea, made my sandwiches for the next day, and had a little chat with Christof about where I could find some presents I want to look for. To bed on time, tomorrow it is my turn to do overtime…

Tuesday 22may2007; Today I’m nervous… Today I perform an assay at chemistry to see if we can find some difference between the UK and Nijmegen. So I have to do work which I didn’t do for four month’s, in an unknown lab, and with different apparatus than I’m used to. And Jan Bohle (QC manager Nijmegen) is coming over today, to evaluate the project so far. It took a while before I found everything and ran the sequence. At the end of the day it seems I’ve rushed too much, when I look at the retention time from the calibration table instead of the actual retention time, but the actual retention time is 6 min. later, so out of specification. The test needs to be repeated…Lucky enough my evaluation goes very well, first with Jan to see what I want to say, and afterwards with James Wong (QC manager UK) and Steve Griffiths (Micro supervisor UK). We are all aware that maybe there were more possibilities, but it had benefits for everyone, (so nervous for nothing, although we didn’t go very deeply in to it). In the evening we went out for a meal at ‘Alma de Cuba’ with Jan, James, and David Foulkes (QC UK), it was a really nice evening… a lovely meal, and great fun…

Wednesday 23may2007; Today I didn’t do much, after breakfast I did my laundry and I want to find out some things at the internet, like the flight for my parents and their friends, but our illegal network is not availible. So instead I worked on this story, and of course some games of solitair. After lunch (dinner) to the city centre, first to Albert Dock where I did find the presents in the right size which I had in mind for Bas and Tim. Today is the final AC Milan – Liverpool… it looks ‘red’, of all the people, Christof and AnneMiek are going to watch in the city centre tonight, but I’ve decided to stay at home… on Thursday to work for overtime, and Friday my normal shift starts again. I’m going to the library for the internet, and because it is not busy (Strange isn’t it, everybody is drunk in a bar) I can add another hour. Afterwards I stopped at Tesco to get something easy to eat, and in the apartment I eat and watch the game, it is not really excitend… But I would have liked it when they had won, but they don’t

Thursday 24may2007; Today back to work to repeat the assay from Tuesday, it goes much easier and better than Tuesday… when the system suitability is running (this takes more than four hours) I prepare the rest and go to micro to do some EMSS review. At the end of the day the baseline is not very stable, but it meets all specifications, so I prepare all my samples, start the sequence and hope everything goes well…

Friday 25may2007; Today my normal shift starts again, although it feels I didn’t have a weekend…First do my daily work, so I can see if the assay passed, but it is already midday before I’ve time, there is less support from chemistry, Lisa has a day off and Alice is on her way home (people in normal dayshifts in the UK don’t have to work on Friday afternoon). So I fill everything as well as I can, scan some results to Nijmegen, and hope they can explain the purpose to me on Tuesday. Back to my normal activities.

Saturday 26may2007; Today is a good day, only Marie, Kay and I are in, although it is still very busy, and not everything goes very smoothly, because it seems everything we need is run out, so lot of things need to be sorted out… but it is much more relaxed at the weekend when there are just a few people. In the evening after tea (dinner) I cleaned the apartment, took a shower, and then watched telly… on BBC2 there is a rock program tonight with special attention for Pink Floyd, it is really good to see how they made their music, who inspired them, and performences from that time (also David Bowie and Roxie Music)… I’m glad they told me about this at work (the week before it was Jimmy Hendriks, should also be very good).

Sunday 27may2007; It is very early, I finish this story quickly, so at least there is finally a story on the blog… two and a half day to go, before I’ve weekend…Tuesday the three temporaries have an interview at Novartis, a similar company, so I make a few extra overtime hours, I really need to catch up some rest, I feel like a wet cloth…

For everyone a nice pentacost weekend, and speak to you soon (Note: the countingdown is started…)

24 May, 2007 | No comments

26-30apr2007 - Joseth

Thursday 26apr2007; The time has come, after 101 days I’m going back to the Netherlands… At work it is very busy again,  it takes some effort to get finished at five, and I have to hurry to be on time for the taxi, so in the office it is just a general; Have fun and enjoy your meal, for everyone who is going to the QC dinner (which was unfortunately planned for this evening). The journey to Schiphol goes successfully, but than the misery starts… we’ve just missed the quarter to ten train (this should not have been a problem), but because the quarter past ten train and the quarter to eleven train don’t go, it is. We take the train to Amsterdam Central, and are lucky enough to catch the direct intercity to Nijmegen from twenty-three past eleven. This involves that at half past twelve when we entering Arnhem I phone my dad, and ask him if he will go to Nijmegen to pick me up so we will be there at the same time. It is over half past one when I’m back in my own house… although it was a long journey after a 10-hour workday, it felt great! 

Friday 27apr2007; I’ve tried to stay in bed long, but I also wanted to go as soon as possible to mum and dad. First a quick hello at Fam. Hovestadt and a quick stop at the shop for some ‘krentenbollen’ for breakfast…In Liverpool you can’t do it quick because you have to walk a while, overhear you can’t do it because you meet to many people you know. At my parents house we sit in the garden, one of the things I really missed, we talk and eat some ‘oranje tompouche’ => an orange pastry, ( for the honorary of the birthday of prince Willem Alexander), a small tour through the house to see what has changed, and of course a cup of tea, in the meantime Aunt Joke and Märy arrive  to have coffee, and my dad has to start cooking because he is on a late shift, so I get a nice sandwich with meatball. Because Wienie is also on a late shift, he is bringing Bas and Tim to my mum… they are very surprised to see me in the garden, especially with the kids I can see I’ve been away for a long time, they’ve grown. Of course they want to see the pictures I have taken from the airplane. At two o’clock I leave, first to Malden to collect the pictures my mother brought last week for processing, and to buy some cake and crisps for in the afternoon. And after that going to work… it is lovely weather to bike, especially beside the canal, it is at work that I notice how hot it is, and that my head turned red. It is very nice to see and speak everyone (unfortunately Erik Z. has already left, you can’t have it all) and to see the ‘Clean room’ like this, or should I say to see it not…I try to keep up to date, and see if there are new pictures available (Facility Modification photo’s; Sorry, can only be accessed by MedImmune Pharma) but I didn’t see it like this. First time for a break ‘vrolijke vrijdag’ => Happy Friday, one of those things I’ve missed. Afterwards to the lab, where it is very quiet… but a nice talk with everybody, seen the pictures of Michiel’s new home, and sit for a while at my own desk. To the Technical department to have a chat, and afterwards a talk about the Tech.Transfer with Johan and Jan. Time is flying, and it is time for the Friday afternoon drink, lucky enough Edwin did arrange an extra box of beer (Thanks), because it is crowded!!! Very nice to see, that so many extra people took the effort to come (Andy and Erik v.H even came by bike). It is a little bit later than usual before everybody went home (I think it was half past eight). On my bike back to my parents house, because mum would save some dinner for me, and afterwards back to my own house to fresh up, because my dad is coming to pick me up for the ‘Soos’ from the Scouting (the Pivo’s had really good timing) it is an easy way to meet everybody in a short time, I really enjoyed it… I think I have had more conversations today, than in all the months I’ve been in Liverpool. Only I notice that I’m not used to drinking anymore… The same will notice Pien unfortunately when she arrives at four o’clock midnight, and she finds the door locked (sorry)

Saturday 28apr2007; In the morning I went on time to Maureen and Wienie, sitting in the garden again (my skin is colored already). While Wienie and Bas have to go to football, Tim is playing in the sand pit and we chat. Until Wienie comes back to get the car, Bas has fallen and has to go to hospital with a hole in his head (this is not the first time they have to go to hospital when I’m in). When they return you can see a big bump with a scratch in it, in hospital they have sealed it, but they have to wake him each two hours at night to see he doesn’t have concussion. Bas was a little shocked, so he is much more quiet than this morning. On my way home I made a little stop at Gerwin and Petra’s house to see how the renovation is going, they’re just closing the cellar of the garage so they will have a lot of extra space, although it will take some time before they are finished. Back home I put a pizza in the oven and finally find the time to speak to Pien, in the meanwhile Märy has arrived and I have to hurry to be on time for the ‘Kabouters’ => girl scouts. It is nice to see everybody, and they are very surprised to see me. We did some sculpturing with bread dough outside, and some games with water because the weather is still lovely. At home afterwards I have a drink with Pien, and I have a nice phone call from Erik Z. which takes almost an hour. I have to hurry for the shop is closing to get some crisps for tonight, I’m going to fam. Hovestadt to have my tea (evening meal); (white) Asperges, lovely! But first we chat, see my turtles and hear all the stories of the children, especially Hanneke can’t get enough… The food is delicious and it is very nice all of us together. After the dishes we go outside to drink some coffee/tea, when the little ones are going to bed we prepare ourselves for ‘the battle’ we are going to play ‘Risk’, and there is only one rule; Every one is allowed to win, except Ronnie. You can see we’ve played the game before, because tonight we’re all about the same level. When I say I’ll go home around twelve o’clock, the tactic changed…we all want to win. Unfortunately Ronnie is in the last turn, so he got most out of it, but there is no real winner, or I should say; there are four winners!!! After a very succesful evening, back to home and to bed, tomorrow the schedule is busy again…

Sunday 29apr2007; Awake on time again, when I hear some noise at my neighbors’ house, I’m going for a visit, we have tea in the garden, we talk, and they show me their renovation, it is marvelous… unbelievable that it is the same kind of house as mine…if I had some money to spend…Afterwards to aunt Tineke and uncle Eef for breakfast, first a tour through the house, it is almost empty, because they’re going to move next week. We have our breakfast in the garden; luxury breads and boiled egg, and we talk about everything. At half past twelve my dad phones he wants to drop some stuff, so back to home because at one o’clock we’re leaving to Oosterhout, for the party of my grandma. It is nice to see everyone, and the party is great, there is a very tasteful buffet, and we’ve tried the new game  of Bas; ‘Kwartet spel’. We also get some news of the Dutch football competition (telephones, radio’s and text messages). I’m glad PSV is the winner, I did not do very well at the ‘football game’ => a game were you have to predict all games in front, so maybe now I’ll end at the upper half. At the end of the party I’ve spend some time with grandma, and admired the presents she got, she enjoyed the day, but you can see it was enough… It is time to go home, when mum is sitting by the tellie, my dad and I are going to the Bar ‘de Pimpel’, on our way I’ll send Pien a text if she wants to come, because I didn’t have much time to speak to her. We’re the first people in, so also some time to spend with Rietje, although soon it is getting more crowded… like always, I even have danced (seems ages ago), the evening is over before I notice…

Monday 30apr2007; Today it is Queens day! When I’m going downstairs, Pien has made some biscuits with strawberries, I’ve been spoiled this weekend… Afterwards I’m going to Maureen to help decorating the children’s bikes, we talk too much, so we have to hurry to finish on time. When we’re finished they go to the parade and I’m going home to pack my bag, dad comes to pick me up, and on my mums bike I’m going to the endpoint of the parade where all the children get an ice-cream, it is a beautiful sight to see all the colorful bikes. Maike, Ronnie and their kids are also here, so I can say goodbye to all of them. Back to my parents place, they specially have their warm meal now instead of in the evening; asperges again, lovely. And then it is time to go, mum and dad are taking me to the station in Nijmegen, time passed to quickly this weekend… the way back to Liverpool is without troubles, I think we arrived around eight o’clock. It was a very succesfull weekend, although I was fully knackered when I was back, it was worth it. Thanks to everybody who has put effort in this weekend!!!

 

20 May, 2007 | No comments

11-14 April Annemieke

Wednesday 11th of April, I had a nice sleep in, after I woke up at 6 and decided I didn’t need to get up that early today. I had quite a lazy day, walked up to the Albert Dock together with Joseth who was meeting Maarten there. Until he arrived we’ve been sitting in the sun. Afterwards I went to the city centre and spend the afternoon shopping. I was looking for a swimming suit which I had seen before and a short. I didn’t find the shorts I was looking for, but did found some other things. At the end of the afternoon I went for a short run, nicely along the river. The weather wasn’t very cold, so it was a bit to warm in the clothes I was wearing, but the running went fine.

On Thursday, Christof and I had offered to do some overtime, so we had to get up early again. At the beginning it seemed like we were going to finish early, but it wasn’t to be. At 5 o’clock we finally went back to the apartment and had a quick dinner. Tomorrow it is Ladies day and I wanted to go, but I didn’t really have anything nice to wear. I wanted to get to the retail centre close to work; the shops are open until 9 o’clock. But just before I went, I found out that the shops in the city centre stay open till 8 on Thursdays. That is easy! So I quickly got some things together and set off towards city centre. Finally there, I got plenty of time, but only managed to find something nice and simple just 5 minutes before closing time! I walked back to the apartment, quite happy.

Friday I started off with doing some laundry I still had to do… While I was waiting for the machine to be finished I spend some time on the computer and tidying up my room. After hanging my clothes to dry I walked to the city centre to catch the train to the races. Just before I got to the train station, it was already clear who was going as well. All ladies dressed up, wearing skirts or dresses and on high heels, some of them wearing hats or something nice in their hair. Very nice to see. The lads looked well too, all dressed in suits or dressed well in neat pants and blouses. It was not yet busy in the train when I got in, but the closer we got, the more people came in. When we all got off the train, it was just one big queue of people towards the entry of the racecourse. I just followed everybody else, bought my ticket and got in. The racecourse is quite big, so I spend some time looking around before I actually got to the course itself, they sold some race programs which had a little map in it, that turned out to be handy. I’ve found my way to the course and had a look around, trying to find a nice spot to watch the races. After a wander around I walked into one of my colleagues and spend most of the time with him and his lady. It was fun to see, just before each race a lot of people queuing up in front of the bookmakers to place a bet. Another funny thing was the shouting, the first bit of the race it is quite calm, but after the horses take the last turn, the shouting gets louder and louder. We had a nice view on a big part of the course and we were standing right in front of a big screen, so we could see the whole race. We also had a good view on one of the hurdles; it is nice to see all those horses going over it in one big group. I had a good day, watching people and all other things going on and catching the atmosphere. At the end of the afternoon I left the course before the last race had started. Just before the exit some people were giving away flip flops, I got a pair as well! It was funny to see, all ladies on high heels, very keen on getting a pair of flip flops. When they got a pair they took off their heels and used the flip flops instead! A really funny thing; someone really nice dressed up with a pair of non-matching flip flops. I was really lucky catching the train, I just missed a train which was crowded, the next train was very quiet. Just when I got back in the apartment, Joseth asked me to go out for a meal with her and Maarten, so I got changed quickly and got myself some proper shoes to walk. As we reached the city centre again, it was getting very busy with people returning from the races. Some of the girls, the lucky ones, wearing those free flip flops, the others walking just barefoot, their high heels in their hands. Any blisters??

I didn’t really have any plans for the Saturday, so I took it easy, spend some time at the computer and did the groceries. Just when I returned from the shop, Joseth wanted to go to the city centre and because I had some things to do there as well, I joined her. After we got back to the apartment again, we went outside to enjoy the good weather for a little longer, it was really nice!

11 May, 2007 | No comments

03 - 07 April Annemieke

Tuesday April 3rd; I was really looking foreward to these days off, Menno is coming over!!! So, I got up nice and early this morning to go to the airport and wait untill Menno arrived. Luckily the plane was on time and Menno was very quick passing security and collecting his bag. We had a cup’a tea and took the bus to the apartment to put the bag away. After lunch we went to the city centre, I had to collect a parcell at the post office, but somehow they decided to close at the moment we turned up. Oh well, try again tomorrow. Since we were next to Lime street station we walked to the Liverpool museum (world museum) to see a few exhibitions. They have a few nice ones; about how they made the move ‘Wallace and Gromit’, about the world of insects, sports and more. After some shopping we walked back to the apartment for dinner and an easy evening.

Wednesday April 4th, we started off with a tour on the yellow duck marine,(www.theyellowduckmarine.co.uk). Very funny, first a tour through the city and at the end you splash into the water and have a cruise allong the docks. It is a funny way to see the city and hear some of it’s history. After our tour we had a quick visit to the Maritime museum, which was interesting, and did we spent the afternoon in the city, walking around and a little trip with the car, to show Menno where we work.

Thursday April 5th we took the ferry across the Mersey, which first cruised towards the Irish see before going to Seacombe. We got off the ferry there, just to see the aquarium (about ‘wild’life in the river Mersey) and enjoying a cup’a tea. We took the next ferry to Birkenhead, where we visited a park and sat on a bench looking at the squirrels. Funny animals, not quite scared of us. After returning to the apartment we went out for dinner and later catched up with our shift for a night out. We had a good night visiting some bars, it was a good night out!

Friday 6th fo April we went to Chester for a day, we planned to take the train, but it turned out we had to take the bus for the first bit of the trip, which was parked another 10 min walk away… In the end we arrived in Chester, just in time for lunch in the park, nice sunny day. After this break, we found a walkway allong the river, and after a while changed to a walk on the citywalls. We had some good views on the racecourse, the citycentre, a canal and the cathedral. We ended the walk at the river, and after having an icecream returned to the railway station to go back to Liverpool. I really liked Chester, and hope to go back to see more of the city.

Saturday 7th of April should be my first day back in, at work, but having Menno in Liverpool, I took that day off, so I could take him to the airport. At first we had some plans for the morning, but we both got tired of the last days, so we had just a relaxing morning watching the telly. After lunch we took the bus to the airport, drank a cuppa tea and had to say goodbye again….

I really had a few nice days, Menno as well. I am really looking foreward to the next time! Unfortunately I have to wait a little for that, first I am going home for a visit!

10 May, 2007 | No comments

18-25 apr 2007 - Joseth

Wednesday 18apr2007; Christof arranged a ticket for the footballmatch tonight so he left work a little earlier. Annemiek and I decided to do the shopping tonight. It is already late when we left work; I phoned home, and they made me jealous with the news they had already eaten (white) asparagus…At ASDA’s looked around at the clothing department, saw (and bought) some nice things, and did the groceries. By the time we were eating back in the apartment it was a quarter to nine…
Thursday 19apr2007; Today I finally got to go to the gym again, although it cost me effort to be active, in my mind I’m already at the yoga lesson, I’m looking forward to it, and it is very good again. Back in the apartment I hope internet is available, but bad luck… so I have to go the Library, I really have to arrange a hotel for Saturday night. Lucky enough it is not a problem to get that fixed. Back in the apartment, we eat, and changed for the evening; the three of us are going to the Empire Theater; ‘Two pence to cross the Mersey’ a play/musical of Helen Forester, she is the eldest daughter of a family of nine, she describes the poor life she has around 1930 in Liverpool. The thing I really like is the Scouse accent. It was a very successful evening.
Friday 20apr2007; Today I started quietly, un- packed my bag with stuff I think I’ll not need anymore, so I can take this with me to the Netherlands on Thursday, because 20 kilo is not very much, when you buy as much as I do! I had lunch and went to the gym again … this time I was very active, and it felt good. There was a nice surprise in the post; my lab colleagues from Nijmegen have sent a postcard with a picture included, this kind of thing is always welcome. Because her parents are over, Annemiek is not eating at the apartment today. Christof and I decide during dinner to go to the cinema this evening, the choice is ‘Mr. Bean on holiday’, I’m not really a comedy fan, but I have to say, there were some nice jokes, although the story was slow. Christof was a little disappointed about the film, maybe that was my luck, I didn’t expect anything.
Saturday 21apr2007; At last, tonight is the concert of James Taylor!!! Although my day didn’t start very well; Last week I bought some train tickets for this weekend (when you do this in advance, you can save a lot of money. There are a certain amount of seats which are used for ‘train saver tickets’ and you have to book them in advance, the journey to Sheffield cost £9 and the way back £7). Only, they forgot to tell me, the train would leave from ‘Lime street Station’ and not from ‘Central Station’, so I missed my train and had to buy a new ticket (single ticket Liverpool-Sheffield; £17.10) So I went to the train office to get a complaint form and to see if I can arrange for a refund of this ticket. Ok now the good part…It is quiet a distance to get to Sheffield, almost two hours by train, but there was a lot to see, I was amazed this area was also very undulating. The first thing which caught my attention was the very good mixture between old and modern, and that a city seems friendlier when it has a lot of pedestrian areas. I start in the sun with a cup of tea from ‘Starbucks’ listening to nice music from a street artist, it is nice to see people so devoted in the thing they are doing. Afterwards I went to the information centre, because I wanted to see some of this city. They are very helpful, it seems that my hotel (Sheffield Park hotel) is just outside the city (about 5km), but they phoned for me to check if the reservation was good, and to say I’m not checking in till late that evening, so I don’t have to go there before the concert, they find out which bus I have to take to get there tonight, and they show me some nice things to see in the surroundings. Because it is already three o’clock I decide not to do too much, there is a sort of indoor garden which contains several museums, I only had time to see the ‘Russian’ and a ’metal work’ exhibitions before they closed. Just walked a little more in the city centre, and had my tea at the ‘City Café’. Then it was time to go to the theater, the concert is great, James Taylor’s one man band! This evening he’s  only accompanied by a piano while he plays the guitar himself, although he has some nice solutions for the songs which need some more background; There is a ‘drum machine’; a big thing which works likes a music box with a big rotating thing on it which makes the drumsticks fall on the drums exactly at the right time, and he uses a slide show to show all kinds of background information for his songs, and he used this also to play a recording of a choir as a back vocals for some songs. It was really great, I had a marvelous time, although I have to say it was a little hard to do this on my own, he played all my special songs…it brought back a lot of memories, of all different people. Also the hotel afterwards reminded me of a weekend in Amsterdam app. a year ago. But when I look at the bright side, it makes me aware of the good life I have… I have to remind myself more often of this.
Sunday 22apr2007; It took a while to get to sleep, but I slept wonderfully, and deep…Dark curtains, a bed which is large enough, and no noise at all. I’ll take the bus back to the city centre, and I notice most shops are open, and there is a local farmer market, here I get some baguettes and smoked salmon (and it is just breakfast…), I’m going to the park to enjoy this meal, there is a lot to see; there is music again, some guys are practicing acrobatics, and at the fountains there are children playing. After a while I’m going to explore the centre and I see a big outdoor shop, this is for me like a ’day out’… it should be time for me to win the lottery, because I’ve seen a lot of nice stuff, and in my mind I’ve planned a whole vacation. The way back is fine, I was very lucky with the weather, it seemed that it rained all day in Liverpool. Around five I’m back at the apartment, and I have some time left to work on the BLOG, because I’m a little behind, last weekend, this weekend, and both translations (but I‘ve worked on it). The normal preparations have to be done, and I’m ready for the next shift.
Monday 23apr2007; Today there’s big news, it seems that MedImmune has been sold to AstraZeneca a British/Swedish company, over here it causes a lot of worries, also in Nijmegen, but different…Over here everyone is looking for more news, and more information. This evening after work we have to hurry, we’re going out for a meal, Angela from HR Nijmegen is over for one day, so we’ve to be at the ‘Marriott’ at half past eight. We’re going to ‘La Tasca’ a tapas restaurant near the Marriott, it was a nice evening; good food, nice chat, and much too late for a weekly evening. On Tuesday HR-UK arranged a lunch meeting, so a nice meal again…I think someday soon I need a new bet, to loose some weight…
Wednesday 25apr2007; This morning the fire alarm went off after less than an hour in work, all of us had to go outside…waiting half an hour in the cold, and then back to work. It was a nice interruption (when you hear afterwards that nothing serious happened) but there are also disadvantages; the HVAC was off for a while, production areas were opened which were not allowed to be open in normal circumstance. So extra cleaning for manufacturing, extra samples for us…
Ok, everything up-to-date… For your information; the next up-date will take a while, first this weekend to Holland, and the translation of the last two times has to be done, so be patient…See you next time, Love Joseth

10 May, 2007 | No comments

11-22 apr 2007 - Joseth

Easter passed without much celebration, although some people really did their best, I’ve got chocolate eggs from work and from Christof. But I did miss looking for eggs with Bas and Tim, and a picnic like we had last year.
This weekend Maarten is coming over for a visit, nice… visitors from home, I’m looking forward to it. We did our grocery shopping straight after our last shift day, so more free time to spend.
Wednesday 11Feb2007; this morning Annemiek and I walked to the Albert Dock, that was the easiest place to meet, and waited in the sunshine. Maarten arrived around half past ten, while Annemiek went to the city centre, we went to the apartment, parked the car, brought his luggage to the apartment, and also went to the city. First to Starbucks to chat, afterwards showed him the city; the ‘08’informationcentre, and the library, and of course we went to ‘Subway’ to get a sandwich, which we took to the park (because the weather is lovely, like summer). Tonight is the football game Liverpool-PSV, it is strange to walk through the city and hear so much Dutch, although it is most of the time only EindhoVEN, EindhoVEN, EindhoVEN, we Dutch people are not very original). In the afternoon we walked back to the Albert Dock, first we did the Maritime museum, but didn’t stay long because the weather outside was too nice, the shopping gallery is better to do with sunshine. The four of us had dinner in the apartment, and we made some plans for the next day. Afterwards Maarten and I walked back to the city were we had a few pints at ‘Walkers’ (an old fashioned English pub).
Thursday 12apr2007; This morning we’ve put on our walking shoes and prepared, because today we’re going to Snowdonia, a mountain area in Wales (south-west of Liverpool) to climb Snowdon (3560ft/1085m). I’m still surprised how differed the view can be; One time your in a city, then you can see the fields, the woods, the dunes, the mountains or even like today the Irish sea, and most of the time you only see it at the last minute. It looked like we had made the wrong choice, the walking trail is a very good gravel path, and there are lots of people walking, even little children, grandpa’s, grandma’s and dogs. But when the climbing began it was hard work, I thought I was in a pretty good condition, but I had to quit, too short of breath…but I loved the view and the rough nature. The trail to return was not too bad, because you had to step from rock to rock, so you didn’t have to force you feet to brake, because there were some steep places. On the way home we stopped at a nice restaurant, although when we saw the menu it looked like a take away, but we were not in the mood to look for anything else, lucky enough, because the food was very nice. Back in the apartment we’ve had some drinks with Christof and Annemiek and went to bed early
Friday 13apr2007; Today we put our walking shoes again, this time going north; Crosby, Formby and Southport are on the program. First to Crosby, there is an exihibition ‘Another place’ of statues in the sea, it was nice but I expected something different… I thought there were some big statues which will look different due to the tide, but it seemed to be all the same statues (about 100), all a replica of the artist himself, at different distances in the sea, I think I just missed the total picture of it. Then hitting Southport, this is in a way comparable with ‘Scheveningen’ (only smaller), first to the information centre, and then we walked through Lordstreet, a large shopping street with a Victorian gallery, which gives it a different view. We drank tea/coffee on a terrace because the weather was lovely again, and enjoyed the live music. We went to a lawn mower museum, which was not more than a grown hobby, three rooms above a shop which sells lawn mowers fully packed with all kind of mowers. Afterwards we went to the beach, this was nice, they have a pier like ‘Scheveningen’ only smaller, but because the tide was low, it was just sand instead of water, for several kilometers we walked on the beach which was very big due to the low tide. In the afternoon we went to Formby, we lunched at an ‘Inn’ outside on the terrace, and did a city walk, which was very nice…first in the surroundings, saw some lovely houses, but also straight through the fields. We decided to have our evening meal in Liverpool, so first back to the apartment. Christof had already eaten, but Annemiek had just arrived back from ‘Ladies day’ (Grand National) and wants to come. I don’t know why but it seems we always choose the wrong day to go out for a meal, because it is very busy in the centre. It’s funny to see all the fancy ladies walking on bare feet (or wearing the free given flip-flops from the Grand National), with the high heeled shoes in their hands, because their feet hurt too much, and the gentlemen can’t walk because of the amount of beer they’ve had. Again we go to ‘Sultans Palace’; it’s nice to know a good place just outside the centre (although it is very busy this time). It is a nice end to a fine day…
Saturday 14apr2007; Today Maarten and I have breakfast at ‘O’Neil’s’, it’s something different than my normal breakfast of oatmeal… I’m not really fond of breakfast, but I have to say, it tasted very good. What was very surprising; today is the big day of the Grand National (Christof is also going) and a group of guys all dressed up in nice suits, have the same breakfast but also have the usual pints…We do some more site seeing in the city centre; Matthew street (Beatles), St.Johns (Shopping mall), John Lewis (sort of ‘Bijenkorf’) and the two Cathedrals. Afterwards back to the apartment, we don’t know how busy it will be on the road on Saturday afternoon, and Maarten wants to check in on time at the boat. After Maarten left, Annemiek and I went to the centre again; I had to go to the post office for weighing and posting a big envelope, and I went to the train station to buy some train tickets for my trip to Sheffield for next week. Back in the apartment the three of us decide to enjoy the lovely weather a little more before our tea (this is evening meal in Liverpool), we take some crisps and a flask with tea to a bench at the river…It’s nice to think the whole weekend over…But back to reality, eating, making my sandwiches for tomorrow, cleaning and to bed early, the weekend is over.
This shift cost me lot of effort, it was busy again… there are important guests in the building, who will have a strange impression of us, because each time they are in the neighborhood everything goes different from normal, there are some special requests, all very nice to do, but cost me a lot of concentration; walk with the analytical department and watch the tech.transfer, translate a procedure from German to English, and Ben Machielse invited us for a meal (not really unexpected, because he said when he would be again in the UK, he would invite us, but unexpected in the context that at 18.30h they tell me we’re going this evening…) it was a very nice and alternative evening at ‘Chung Ku’ a restaurant beside the Mersey, I pass it every time when I’m going to the gym, so it’s nice to have seen the inside, especially with a sunset at the background…
It is now 22apr and I’m glad I’ve finished at least this period… I don’t know when I’m able to finish last weekend, my schedule is packed already; Angela v.d.B. (HR-Nijmegen) is coming over tomorrow, so tomorrow we will go out for a meal, Tuesday we will have a lunch meeting, and next Thursday I‘ll leave two hours earlier from work to get the evening flight to the Netherlands… Hurray!!! So, to be continued, but when???

 

26 April, 2007 | No comments

02 April 2007 - Annemieke

I should be a little ashamed of myself, I didn’t post anything for a while now….  I have to admit, I don’t always feel like writing down the things I did. Shall I try again?? I think last post was early last month, so in short what I did from then until now.

Early this month, I have been to Crosby to the beach. I went together with a Polish colleague, just for the afternoon. Unfortunately, it was low tide. On the beach are statues, and it should be nicer to see them partly in the water. And if you really want a nice view, you should see it during sunset. We just were not that lucky, low tide and early afternoon. Being there was ok, but not that interesting. I liked being on the beach, though, feel the wind and the sun in your face. We had a nice time, but I still like the beach in Oostkapelle (a beach near the place where I grew up) more. Later on, when we walked back to the station, we saw the warning signs; don’t to further than 50 m onto the beach, because of soft sand (?). Funny, when we were on the beach we wanted to see a statue more close. At that time we were on sturdy sand, but 2 steps further my colleague got her foot down and sank just a little more than expected, nothing bad, just a dirty shoe, but we decided to take another path instead.

The second week we had some colleagues from Nijmegen visiting during our shift. We had a good time, we went for a nice meal. Unfortunately we had to work the next day, I had some troubles getting up, but it was worth it.

One day Joseth and I went to Albert Dock, they have some nice little shops there, different from the ones in city centre. We spent some time there and when we walked to the city centre we got a phone call from Andrew (a colleague) if we liked to go out for a drink, of course we will. So about half an hour later he picked us up and drove to a nice bar/restaurant in a park. Really nice place, we had a good time.

The third week of March I spend my days off at home. A colleague gave me a lift to the airport, straight after work. When I looked at the information panels in the airport, I found out my plane was delayed by an hour, ok, that can happen. Luckily I had a nice book to read, so it wasn’t that bad. My four days at home were very nice, I really liked spending some time together with Menno. We didn’t really do very much, I have visited my colleagues in Nijmegen, which was very good, and saw some friends.

Last week I took the ferry to Birkenhead, on the other side of the river. Had a walk around, visited a little museum and sat in a little park enjoying the sun. When I took the ferry back to Liverpool we came past the apartment, which was nice. The other days of my shift I didn’t really do a lot. I spent some time in city centre, in the apartment and have been walking a bit. I have enjoyed myself.

Today is my last day of the shift, and tomorrow I am going to the airport. Menno is coming over for a visit! Just for a few days, see our apartment and explore Liverpool. I really can’t wait, strange isn’t it???

15 April, 2007 | No comments

30 mar - 06 apr 2007 - Joseth

Last day of the weekend, it’s time for an up date…    

- Friday 30mar2007; My appraisal conversation which was planned for today can not go on, the seniors didn’t know anything about it, and there were only two technicians in, so there wasn’t time. Lucky enough Patrick and Jan were able to postpone it to Monday. What seems very odd to me is that HR can arrange with my manager that I can come in 3 hours later the next day, because the landlord wants to collect his mail, so there should be two people in according to HR. I don’t stay in the apartment because I don’t have time for it. The other two also think it is a little bit over done to stay with two people, so only Christof stays. No real news for the weekend of the shift, there were no managers and seniors in, so it was especially quiet. I’ve started with my resolution to work at my backlog from LMS (this is a trainings program at work). I had some overdue trainings from September last year… so I really have too

- Monday 02apr2007; Today I finally have my appraisal conversation, although I think that is the wrong name, because we’ve done that the week before I came to the UK, but now my raise and bonus is known, and do we talk about how to go on in the future. That is a dis-/advantage to have so much time over here, to think about things like that, the meeting was scheduled for one hour, but took almost two hours. At least I’m glad there was time for it…

- Tuesday 03apr2007; Annemiek is picking up Menno from the airport (he will stay for the weekend) so Christof and I will do the shopping. A bummer; the films which I turned in last time are not developed (hint; Don’t use films of ‘Kruidvat’, they don’t have a code on it which is needed in the UK), so I’ve to take the films back to Holland… and I was so curious. Afterwards I first went to the gym and there after to the city centre. I had seen a notebook that I liked, but I didn’t buy it on that time because I didn’t know where to use it for (Note: aware buyer!!) Afterwards I got the idea to use it for a handwritten version of this BLOG, but when I went back the notebook was sold out, I even asked if they had any, but no, and I looked also in other shops. So today I went back to the shop because I want to ask if they could order one, when I entered the shop, the lady of the shop recognized me and went to the back of the shop where she got the notebook. After I left last time, she found one and saved it especially for me, if I might come back for it again… I think it’s special, for happening in a big city like Liverpool.

- Wednesday 04apr2007; Today is my dads birthday, and my mum has to go to hospital for pre examination, so it is one of those days I’d rather be some where else. Today I’ve planned a daytrip to Chester, so I will have some distraction… The train system works as worse as in Holland, I missed the train of 09.30h and the one of 10.00h is cancelled without any reason. So it is almost half past eleven before I arrive in Chester. But it’s worth it, a nice city… old, cozy, and sociable. First I had my lunch ‘Jacked potato with Tuna’ very nice… And afterwards I walked the city wall (it’s one of the less cities which still have most of the walls standing), it’s a beautiful walk. I went to the Cathedral, but because of a mass I couldn’t enter at that time, so I went shopping first, I bought a nice skirt (yes, a skirt again…). Tried the cathedral again, this time I could go in, and afterwards I walked in the park of the cathedral. I checked my mail in the library, and visit the lokal market… So it was a very good day, especially when I phoned home, and heard everything was ok over there.  - Thursday 05apr2007; Today I went to the gym early, so I can do all the things I want to do before I’m going to attend my yoga class for the second time. This time it goes much better, because I get used to the terms they use, so I can concentrate more on what I’m doing instead of repeating all the others. Back to the apartment were we having an inspection of ‘Cuddly Bears’ the organization the company hires the apartment from. No big, deal she left within half an hour. Afterwards I went to the city centre to collect my boots from the shoemaker, and to the library for the internet, it was very quiet so I could spend two hours. The day went by before I noticed… In the evening Christof and Annemiek went out with the manufacturing group, so It was just me, and I did nothing… Oh I had a text contact with Maureen my sister, the news so far was good… I’m glad when I can speak my parents myself on Saturday morning.- Friday 06apr2007; The weather was lovely all ‘weekend’ (not ‘the’ weekend, but ‘our’ weekend). Also today… but I can’t make up my mind what to do (without spending a lot of money again). In the morning I started reading in a book of David Baldacci, and at lunchtime I’ve prepared a picknick, put on my walking shoes, and walked to ‘Otterspoon’ (this is just following the boulevard). Sitted on one of the benches beside the river for three hours reading my book, and afterwards walked home got on the couch in continued reading… Because I didn’t want the day to end with only reading, I get on the computer, and did a marvelous invention !!! A wireless network detected, with an un-secured connection. I think it’s as illegal as can be, but it’s good to know that it’s possible to read my mail and up-date this BLOG from here sometimes. So see here the first illegal copy of the BLOG… I’m going to bed, and continue with my book (it’s very exciting) and of course go to sleep early… because tomorrow my next shift starts (while most of you will have a long weekend)

Happy Eastern everybody, Gr. Joseth

 

 

5 April, 2007 | No comments

19-29 mar 2007 - Joseth

Hi, here I am again… The overview I’ve finished 18mar2007 about the difference in work between UK and NL, I’ve forwarded at 19mar2007, there have been some surprising responses. At least it is nice to know my effort is not been done for nothing.   

- Monday (19mar2007); Today to work for my Bioburden training, the training includes more than the one from Nijmegen, but is similar in most things. So instead of the full day which was planned, I finished around 14.00h (whilst I’m typing this (29mar2007) I heard that I’ve passed my training, I’m glad because otherwise it would have been a strange situation). On Wednesday the FDA is expected, so I stayed at work to participate a preparation meeting, and to help in the lab to clean things up. It seemed that ‘Novartis’ a similar company to ours just behind the plant, had an observation that the cupboards did not include what was labeled on the cupboard. It took a while to get that fixed, and to get most of the paperwork out of the lab. It was already 17.15h when I left.    

- Tuesday (20mar2007); This morning I went to the gym, I’ve planned to go at least 2x a weekend so it is worth the money. I decided to go to the movie ‘Music and Lyrics’ (a very soft movie with Hugh Grant) and because this one started at 18.00h I left a message for Christof that I had already left and that I’d eat in the city centre. First to the library for the internet, and afterwards I went to St.John’s to have a meal at the Indian ‘take away’, it was nice only the naanbread is nothing compared to the one we had at 

 

Sultanes Place

. The movie was fine, but you have to be in the mood, and it is as we say ‘a chick flick’ 

- Wednesday (21mar2007); First Christof and I did some groceries, I bought some crumpets, it’s something I have seen at work, and was something I wanted to try (I’m not going to try to eat everything I see at work, because there are really some strange combinations) Because I don’t how you cook crumpets, and I don’t know how our microwave works, the first one is black… and the house smells awfull. But the next one was better, at work they only put butter on it, but I added also some honey, the taste is like ‘poffertjes’ mini pancakes. Afterwards I prepared to go over the Mersey by Ferry, I’ve missed the 12 o’clock Ferry because I couldn’t cross the bridge at the Maritime Museum and I had to walk a lot further, and because the Ferry uses another pier at this time, during all the constructionworks. This gives me the advantage of enjoying the sun while I’m waiting. It’s a little bit chilly on the boat, but the sunshineis brighten it all up. I’ve bought a ‘River explorer’; you can only use this ticket between 09.30 and 15.30. From Liverpool to Seacomb, and from Seacomb to Woodside. Here, I got of the boat, and went to the visitorscentre, and still decided still to go to the Wirral Museum which I already had in mind. The museum was not really ‘something’, it is an old town house, which they emptied to use some rooms for exhibitions. Lots of the rooms were closed, or messed up, most of them were full of dust, but the ones which were in use were nice to see. There was also a room which explained the connections between the building of ships in Birkenhead and the Civil War of America. I have to say this brought up some memories, it has been a while since I’ve seen and read anything about that. I turned out in a nice ‘text’contact with Ronnie… Afterwards I went to the ‘Birkenhead Priory & St. Mary’s Tower’. I expected too much, I didn’t have much time left, but it was all old and broken down, and in my opinion the tower could have changed it, but it was closed, so I had plenty of time to get the Ferry back. It went back to Liverpool with a detour at ‘Otterspoon’ this is a suburb at the other side of Liverpool, which was really nice because we’ve passed our appartment. (Altough we couldn’t get evry close because of the tide). I hope the pictures will be ok, because the pictures from my phone were not very clear. It was a lovely day, and a nice way to close the weekend.    

- Sunday (25mar2007): Today I’m off because I’ve swapped my workday with tomorrow (26mar2007), so I can participate an other ‘Ramblers’ walk, this time; ‘The Lancashire Witches Country, Clitheroe’ a trail of 21km (13miles) and an ascent of 580 metres (last time it was 620 metres), With ‘Pendle Hill’ on top, very impressive. Today the weather was nice, a little bit chilly, but lots of sunshine, so it looked beautiful, blossom in the trees, little lambs in the fields, you would almost forget it is spring when you life in a city. The climbing of ‘Pendle Hill’ was gradualy, so more easy than last time, we have picknicked on the grass, and then further to the top, the weather was not very good at the top, hard wind and it was hazy, but still the view was unbelieveble, it seems like your at the top of the world… Altough it wasn’t that much effort this time, It’s stange to see people running in short trousers and a shirt on this rough ground, and not one… but more. Going down was a little bit more steeper and we came out in a little village, I forgot the name (the auteur from ‘Lord of the rings’ lived there for a while, it feels that way). It was very nice to see to look back at ‘Pendle Hill’ and see the footpath we’ve went. I hope the photographs will be clear). Afterwards we walked on to Clitheroe, also this time we had to cross some streams. But we returned on time, so we had time to enjoy a nice (dutch) beer from the tap.    

- Monday (26mar2007): To work instead of yesterday, today we were with 7 people, only one senior, I don’t think we had this much technicians in at one time. They thought it was a harvest day. Which was nice because I could review all day in the office instead of doing the daily work in the lab, I don’t mind doing it, but it is nice to do something different, and speak to other people, I didn’t have the time to speak to the people of virology very much. And you are more aware of the inspection, altough I don’t know if that’s an advantage, because it’s a tough one this time.    

- Tuesday (27mar2007): Today I’ve planned a quiet day, first to the gym; biking and swimming, and in the afternoon to the city centre. First to the hairdresser to arrange an appointment, but it could be done straight away, afterwards just nozing around in different bookshops. I bought some postcards and a cd with irish intrumental music (for background, if I start with yoga), it is coinsedince that the cd includes the song ‘The water is wide’, it’s a small world. In the evening I’ve written all the postcards and treated myself on red wine.    

- Wednesday (28mar2007): In the morning we did the groceries, and I give 2 sets of photo’s to process. Afterwards I’ve been very sportive (for my behavior). First I went to the gym (to and back = 2.5km), biking for half an hour (= 10km), rowing (15min) and swimming for appr. 45 min (= 1km) Lunch in the appartment, a walk to the Toxteth library, received lots of nice e-mails including one of Maarten with the news it is almost surtain that he will come over 11-14apr. that should be very nice. Afterwards I went to the Ang.Cathedral to light some candles, and back to the appartment (to and back in total = 2km). Cooked diner and eat, and in the evening to the cinema (to and back = 8km). I went to ‘Amazing Graze’, a movie of the discusion to abolish the slave trade in England in 1797… I thought the film was very impressive, I had some times goose bump on my arms.    

- Thursday (29mar2007); Today Christof and Annemiekeare in to work for overtime. I start again at the gym, I subscribed for a beginnersclass of yoga. First I biked for half an hour, and the rowing of yesterday was a good thing so did that again (first found out how the the meter worked) 3km in 20min. And then it was time for the yoga, it doesn’t seem to be a ‘beginners’ yoga, it seems everyone knows each other and knows what to do, but I believe I’ve managed very well, altough I didn’t understood everything I just followed the rest (it means it is not really relaxing yet). Lucky enough they have a relax moment at the end (I love it), it has been a while ago that I’ve been thinking ‘nothing’ for more than 15min. I definitely want to know more of yoga. Afterwards I went to the Toxteth library (with a small break at ‘Subway’ for a nice sandwich and a cup of tea), it wasn’t busy at the internet so I was able to spend two hours, but it also passed to soon. Still didn’t finish everything… Therefore I’m now working in the apartment at this BLOG (the translation has to wait till later, because it is pretty much, and I want to prepare my performance review because I’ve a teleconference tomorrow with Jan and Patrick. Unfortunately they were not able to come over.    

I found a nice proverb; each time you walk against a light bulb take some light with you… Ok this is it for now, it’s your turn (doesn’t have to be as big as this one…)    

 

Gr. Joseth   

 

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