Come to me

I was out walking the dog today with a friend. We passed a gardener who was working on the street, and after about 20 meters I realized the dog was way behind us, so I called her. "Come, come" I yelled and clapped my hands, and nearly doubled over when the gardener took a few steps towards me. Hahaha!

I can't help it, but I take pleasure in little things nowadays.

Helping out

Some time ago I volunteered to spend a couple of hours a week for needy people in my 'hood. I had an interview with the organization, which I think is good, even though a 15 min session isn't enough to know I have no alterior motive (which of course I don't). Nevertheless, a first impression is not to be sniffed at. And the limit is set to two hours a week, something to do with insurance I think.

Today I had a first meeting with an elderly woman. I cannot say that she was especially needy, but I guess everybody can use a bit of company now and then. And she was great. Despite the quite large age difference we spoke about everything and nothing. We were sitting at her balcony, enjoying the sunshine, sipping at Prosecco and just enjoying chitchatting. Charming!

And she had a black cat. Always a plus in my book.

Kitties have grown

Yesterday my cats were five years old! And with the years they have become more and more like me. This is exactly how I stretch in the morning.

What is wrong with people these days?

Always a pleasure having people over for dinner who appreciate human contact.

First cruise of the year

First cruise of the year yesterday. It was actually a test-run since I am sharing the boat with two friends this year. It went so-so to be perfectly honest. Ok, I wasn't a star when I first got the boat, but they are total amateurs. Just to open up the boat took them three times as long as it takes for me to do it myself :).

Out on the lake they realized it is not at all like driving a car. Water moves, a road doesn't. And when one of them were trying to park it went...well, not good. I had to take over and make sure we didn't crash into anything.

Ah well, practise makes perfect, right?

Me a mosquito?

Ok, so now I know why all Japanese people are so skinny. They eat with chopsticks! I used mine today, and with the meat and veggies it was ok, but the sauce with rice was a bit more tricky. First of all it takes a long time to eat and second, the sauce is very difficult to scoop up. A great diet coming to think of it.

Then I learned what my name means in Japanese. Well sorta. Turns out that European names are difficult to direct translate, so they take syllables and translate them one by one.

My name means "safety" "two" and either "fruit" (gosh, I hope not durian) or "mosquito". Hmmm.

Dark matters

Gosh, I really don't know where the time goes. It flies apparently, and the blog has been sorely neglected the last few weeks.

I have worked with the oldies, I have taken up sports again after the winter where I was slightly lazy (and gained 2 kg's!), I have had dinner parties and been hanging with friends.

And yesterday I got a new flatmate, after the other one moved out last week. The new one seems very friendly and easygoing, and I hope we can develop a nice relationship.

Yesterday evening we talked and got to know each other a little. Turns out that our respective careers are extremely different, I hardly understood anything he was telling me, but it was something about finding dark matter (CERN-like) in the universe. Personally I enjoy sunshine more ;).

He brought me a very nice gift, guess where he comes from?