24 May, 2007 |

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!!!

 

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