Personal
PhD Thesis
The fact that I haven’t updated my weblog very much lately, doesn’t mean that nothing interesting has happened here these past months. In fact, it has been quite busy at times, for both of us – a lot has happened both on a personal level, but also at work.
The last few weeks have been especially hectic for me, but now I can sit down for a moment and take a breath: the final text for my PhD thesis is off to the printer! A few more weeks and I will have my own book! I still don’t want to think too much about the defence, though…
Anyway, this was one of the reasons it’s been somewhat quiet on my blog (to say the least). I’ll do my best to liven things up a bit around here… starting today.
Sunset in Vlissingen
In the past months I have been doing a course in photography. It was very nice and I learnt a lot – and made a lot of pictures! A hundred to a hundred and fifty a week! And we could only show 3 or 4 of those!
Well, anyway, because I haven’t been using my weblog very much in the past year, I decided that I would start a photoblog. So, the first picture is coming up right now, and hopefully, I can give you regular updates with new (or old) pictures.
All pictures made by me, of course, and with my Canon Powershot A620 digital camera, unless otherwise stated.
Summer holiday
Yesterday we returned from our summer holiday. We’ve been to France, camping most of the time. We started just south of Calais, where we stayed for two nights. My brother and sister-in-law were over from Bristol for a long weekend, so we met them there. After that, we drove on to a small village south of Clermont-Ferrand. We did some walking thereabouts, amongst others to the summit of the Puy de Dome.
Because the weather wasn’t great, we went further south after five days, to the Gorges du Tarn in the Cevennes. There we did a lot of walking (and climbing!) on the steep slopes of the gorges. But we also visited a castle (Chateau de Peyrelade), caves (Grotte d’Argilan), Le Chaos de Montpellier le Vieux and we went canoeing on the river Tarn one day. Oh, and of course we went to see the famous Viaduc de Millau.
Family visit
We went away for the weekend, to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Bristol, UK. It had been more than a year since we were there last time. Luckily they come to the Netherlands more often than we go there! 
We had a lovely, relaxed couple of days. On Saturday, we visited Tintern Abbey and made a walk in the surrounding area. On Sunday, we just strolled around through town. Unfortunately, I was a bit sick both days, but that didn’t stop me from walking.
All in all, we had a nice weekend, some time to read a book, chat with each other, and relax.
On the “professional” level: my first month as a software engineer has come and gone. And I’m allowed to stay! I’m very pleased with the job, so far, it’s nice, it’s interesting, and it’s challenging. And with a bit of luck, before long, I will be able to do most of it from home!
@work
After five months, my unemployment days are finally over!
Last Friday – on my birthday! – I signed my new contract, and starting tomorrow, February 1st, I will be working as a software engineer on database (web-)applications, using MS SQL Server, ASP.Net and so on.
Part of the technologies used will be new to me, as well as the database applications that have already been developped and sold. So, it will be quite a challenge, but I’m very much looking forward to it!
Flaine
This morning we returned from our skiing trip to France.
We stayed in Hotel Aujon in Flaine, in the Grand Massif.
We had a very nice week, although the first few days we had a lot of snow. Because of that, a lot of pistes and lifts were closed. As the weather got better, more pistes were opened, and by the end of the week, we had skied most of the 265 kilometers of piste.
Nice detail about the village of Flaine: the site was not discovered until 1959! In 1968 the resort was officially opened.
LOTR
Woohoo! The postman just delivered a package, I’ve been anxiously waiting for…
It’s the DVD box set of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Special Extended Edition!
12 DVDs containing 35 hours of video!
I wanted to have the DVDs from the moment I heard about the first movie. But I waited… and waited… and waited some more… for the extended versions and the trilogy box.
And then I thought it was a bit expensive, 130 euros or so. So I doubted… and waited… and doubted some more…
Until Proxis reduced the price, a few weeks ago, to Eur. 69.99! That was it, no more doubts, I just had to have it.
So, now the question is: when am I going to watch all that? I don’t know! Let’s see, if I start right now, I’ll be finished… Saturday morning around 4 am! OK, let’s go!
BTW, I just noticed that other shops have lowered their prices as well (of course!), but I’m pretty sure Proxis was the first.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Yesterday, we went to the wedding of two of our best friends.
They looked georgeous and perfectly happy, and the weather was great!
They married in Breda, a beautiful town, first in the city hall and after that in a very nice, little old church. Champagne and wedding cake after that, and in the evening there was a great party.
I videotaped (the most important parts of) the entire day. I’m anxious to see how I did! I didn’t keep the tapes of course, so I’ll just have to wait and see…
They’re off to Thailand for their honeymoon in a few days. Have fun, there, guys! And I wish you all the best and happiness together, for the rest of your lives! *BIG HUG*
Really left Rotterdam
Today I handed in the keys to my appartment in Rotterdam!
On inspection, everything was found to be ok, and I was even able to sell my carpets for a couple hundred euros.
By the way, I did sell my two couches in the past weeks. I didn’t get as much for them as I had wanted, but anything is better than nothing…
WW-uitkering
The past two weeks I have taken a “vacation” to do the unpacking here in my new home. This week we finally got our new bookcases for the study. Up till then, all my books were just piled up on the floor. Now I can finally find most of my stuff back again…
Today I visited the CWI (centre for work and income) to request a “WW-uitkering” (unemployment benefit). Starting today, I will be looking for a job and I will have to apply for a job at least once a week. (Apparently, I should have started with that weeks ago already, so I will probably be cut down on my payments. But hey, I didn’t know that! Nobody told me anything!)
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