I'm sitting on my couch, the apartment is pretty much finished (yes yes, apart from the bathroom, but that will come) and I'm watching 'What happens in vegas'
It's a funny-ish movie, I do like Cameron Diaz. Ashton Kutcher...yeah, well.
I missed the very beginning of the movie, but then they started with partying in Vegas. I realized how much I miss partying with my friends, specially my girlfriends. I remember the days (Gosh, I'm old!) when we went from party to party. Or jesus, the long weekend in Cancun (back when I lived in NC)...totally crazy, but so.much.fun.
Or the festivals I used to go to -no shower but so much fun for 4 days. God, I loved it.
Moving countries is fun, cause you always meet new people - a lot enrich your life, some are like white noise that fades away quite quickly. Some stay, some don't.
Lately, I miss having my girls around. I love my boyfriend, he is my best friend - just not one of the girls.
Having great friends is amazing - but it hurts when they are far away. It's like a part of me is missing.
I remember the time I had my first motorbike -and my best friend rode bitch and her parents weren't allowed to know. When I had my car driving license - the freedom we felt! The world was our playground - although we didn't manage to get further than the next big town...
These experiences together are memories that shaped me. Made me into who I am.
The worry in my friends' faces when my parents picked me up at a party when I was so drunk (for the first time) that I could barely stand.
The big world-destroying fights we had, the days of silence that felt like weeks, months, if not lifetimes.
The understanding without words, the laughing fits we had for no reason other than being silly girls. Making movies while sitting on the grounds, pretending like we have a camera in our hands: oh looks, butts and knees and feet and butts and feet and knees... again, followed by hysterical laughing fits.
Making first contact with losing a close friend was tough, and still makes me sad when I think about it. They were to young to go- I guess these days where the time when I first started thinking about the religion and faith I was brought up to believe in, and then deciding that it's not for me, and that it's all rubbish.
The unconditional love for and from the people I call friends.
I didn't care about where they came from, whether they were rich or poor, stupid or smart (ok, I never had patience for stupid arrogant people, I'll admit that), what political interests they had and whether they'll ever get outside the country. We lived for the weekends, who cared about school and careers and all that? Ok, yes, some of them did, but they were the boring ones....let's face it.
Life was simple then.
Yes, as probably everyone, I got disappointed and betrayed by someone I thought was my friend - hurting so deeply, literally feeling like I hit the wall at full speed. Again, this shaped me, too.
Getting drunk on one drink (that was bottomless, though) at a bar around the corner, until 3:30 am in the morning on a Wednesday...just because we could. Going clubbing until the birds started singing.
Sleeping until 4pm on a Sunday in the middle of summer cause we went out until stupid o'clock.
I am what I am because of the people surrounding me.
I don't have many friends, but the few people I call friends are treasured and loved and cared for. No matter where I am.
Being an only child, the people I call my friends are my family, my siblings.
It is hard to make new friends because not many can reach to my standards - the standards I have now because I have had the chance to meet great people, and be part of their lifes.
It is important for me to remember that once in a while - or rather, I remember it all the time, yet forget to tell them as much as I should. Life's too short to not tell people you love them.
Friday, October 2, 2009
I'm ecstatic!!
It is finally done. All doors are fixed, they open AND CLOSE properly, I have a ladder into the attic that doesn't threaten to break in half due to being to short every time you look at it and the open fireplace is finished and so pretty. YESSS.
I'm happy. Now it's just small bits and bobs to fix.
Like a new bathroom.
I'm happy. Now it's just small bits and bobs to fix.
Like a new bathroom.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Life is good!
We picked up the boyfriends car from the garage tonight, as it had decided to be a real biatch on the ride home from Germany last Sunday. Imagine you had a lovely yet VERY EXHAUSTING long family reunion weekend, and you're looking forward to a swift 3 to 4 hour ride home so you can enjoy a cup of tea at the beach before the new busy week starts. You leave the family at around 3:30pm because you want to avoid crazy traffic. As we all know, Dutch motorists suck at driving, and Germans are just totally mental on the Autobahn. So - it's always a risk. But what can one do...
Anyways, so, imagine you're exhausted thanks to lack of sleep and slight family overload. You get on the motorway, put cruise control on and cruise gently along the Autobahn.
Until...all of a sudden, there's a lamp on the dashboard that didn't light up before. Hmmm...hey, boyfriend, what's that little sign there? No idea, so let's stop at the next rest area.
Ok, we did. And read the manual. Bought a magazine (shiny, me), candy (me), drinks (me) and motoroil (the boyfriend). Filled up the oil (boyfriend) and ripped open the candy so it was all over the car (well, me).
Then I tried to start the car again, and it started to die again right away. Question mark in the face of my boyfriend who was standing outside to listen to the sounds and stare the problem down. Retry the start. Same again. I panick A BIT, call my dad, he says: let the car sit for 20 minutes and try again. Ok, I try again after 20 minutes (and all the candy) and it starts, but is really not steady. We manage to head out. Then, we analyze and realize that we can't stop. Even with the clutch down all the way, the car will stall and then just not start again for 20 minutes. Maybe more, maybe less. FUN! And so no pressure.
Ok, we drive. There's a traffic jam coming up. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! I exit the motorway, manage to take the detour and navigate through lovely little towns, always on the edge and SLIGHTLY panicky with a valium-infusing boyfriend on the side. I manage well under pressure, just DON'T TALK TO ME OR ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS. So, we drive in circles for roughly an hour, then the boyfriend takes over, we figured out what to do to avoid it stalling (switch ac off, and open the windows - it was bloody warm still!).
We were home at 10:30pm. Another 7 hours on the road. It's a tad bit fast than last time, when we needed 7.5hrs.
Aaanyways, back to the title story.
We picked up the lovely car from the garage after the boyfriend was done with work (thank Smart Betty is so reliable), took the bus into town, went shopping (almost all for boyfriend, just so you know!!), then had lovely sushi, walked around town for a bit (I paraded around in my fancy schmancy new jeans) and then took the bus home.
Now I'm sitting on the couch, enjoying a cup of tea and loving my life.
Anyways, so, imagine you're exhausted thanks to lack of sleep and slight family overload. You get on the motorway, put cruise control on and cruise gently along the Autobahn.
Until...all of a sudden, there's a lamp on the dashboard that didn't light up before. Hmmm...hey, boyfriend, what's that little sign there? No idea, so let's stop at the next rest area.
Ok, we did. And read the manual. Bought a magazine (shiny, me), candy (me), drinks (me) and motoroil (the boyfriend). Filled up the oil (boyfriend) and ripped open the candy so it was all over the car (well, me).
Then I tried to start the car again, and it started to die again right away. Question mark in the face of my boyfriend who was standing outside to listen to the sounds and stare the problem down. Retry the start. Same again. I panick A BIT, call my dad, he says: let the car sit for 20 minutes and try again. Ok, I try again after 20 minutes (and all the candy) and it starts, but is really not steady. We manage to head out. Then, we analyze and realize that we can't stop. Even with the clutch down all the way, the car will stall and then just not start again for 20 minutes. Maybe more, maybe less. FUN! And so no pressure.
Ok, we drive. There's a traffic jam coming up. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuun! I exit the motorway, manage to take the detour and navigate through lovely little towns, always on the edge and SLIGHTLY panicky with a valium-infusing boyfriend on the side. I manage well under pressure, just DON'T TALK TO ME OR ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS. So, we drive in circles for roughly an hour, then the boyfriend takes over, we figured out what to do to avoid it stalling (switch ac off, and open the windows - it was bloody warm still!).
We were home at 10:30pm. Another 7 hours on the road. It's a tad bit fast than last time, when we needed 7.5hrs.
Aaanyways, back to the title story.
We picked up the lovely car from the garage after the boyfriend was done with work (thank Smart Betty is so reliable), took the bus into town, went shopping (almost all for boyfriend, just so you know!!), then had lovely sushi, walked around town for a bit (I paraded around in my fancy schmancy new jeans) and then took the bus home.
Now I'm sitting on the couch, enjoying a cup of tea and loving my life.
Ahh the excitement...
...of sorting through months of unfiled papers. As my internet is NOT working today and I'm not really in the mood for stealing internet off other people in the neighbourhood, I am being productive.
TV down yesterday (at least today I get my fix of homeshopping channels), Internet AND phone down today. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
TV down yesterday (at least today I get my fix of homeshopping channels), Internet AND phone down today. Let's see what tomorrow brings.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Home Shopping
Now that I've had some time for daytime TV, including Home Shopping, Teleshopping and however else these channels are called, I am delighted to say that there's so much stuff out there that is so ABSOLUTELY AMAZING and DEFINITELY WORTH SPENDING MY MONEY on...
Unfortunately, as I don't have a steady income at the moment it is not likely that I will be able to obey all their great advertising preaches. I agree - magicTOES is worth buying and will totally invigorate me. The swinging abflexer looks like fun, yes. And the scratch remover for your car - no matter what colour it is - is absolutely fantastic. Not to mention the lids for boxes, cups, sauce pans etc. Unfortunately, I forget all the proper names instantly. Once I have TV again I will note them down and put links up so I'll never forget
It's a true dilemma.
Unfortunately, as I don't have a steady income at the moment it is not likely that I will be able to obey all their great advertising preaches. I agree - magicTOES is worth buying and will totally invigorate me. The swinging abflexer looks like fun, yes. And the scratch remover for your car - no matter what colour it is - is absolutely fantastic. Not to mention the lids for boxes, cups, sauce pans etc. Unfortunately, I forget all the proper names instantly. Once I have TV again I will note them down and put links up so I'll never forget
It's a true dilemma.
TV subscriptions and things
...so, we finally got our own TV & Internet about three weeks ago. We told the provider what we want:
TV - basic
Internet - fast
Telephone - working
For three weeks, we got roughly 7 Million TV channels to get lost in - including Gay porn channels. There you go, following the rule of trying everything once in your life. The boyfriend flinched, I was amused.
So. After three weeks, all the extra channels were supposed to stop and just the basic 30 channels should remain.
Today is a rainy day and I wanted to watch a movie to wake up before doing the house chores. Lazy slacker, I know.
I switch on the TV with the funky box and all it says is: Preview period over.
I have one channel. Nederland 1. No movies but loads of Dutch commercials.
Great. I guess I have to bite the bullet and start the work on the house right away.
TV - basic
Internet - fast
Telephone - working
For three weeks, we got roughly 7 Million TV channels to get lost in - including Gay porn channels. There you go, following the rule of trying everything once in your life. The boyfriend flinched, I was amused.
So. After three weeks, all the extra channels were supposed to stop and just the basic 30 channels should remain.
Today is a rainy day and I wanted to watch a movie to wake up before doing the house chores. Lazy slacker, I know.
I switch on the TV with the funky box and all it says is: Preview period over.
I have one channel. Nederland 1. No movies but loads of Dutch commercials.
Great. I guess I have to bite the bullet and start the work on the house right away.
Lessons learned...arm the laser!
My life in the Netherlands so far has been quite a few things:
Yet, most of all, it has been a test of my very LITTLE patience. I've learned a lot last year during my hardcore Water damage in the apartment in Berlin. DON'T ever trust people to do the work they promised in the time they promised.Stay on their ass. Be German. Be a pain in the ass and treat them like puppies that need housetraining - stuff their noses into the shit they created. In a nice, friendly, but VERY FIRM way.
So.
As I moved to the Netherlands, I decided to take a step back and watch the ways business is done here. I decided NOT to unleash Arnolda (when I get mad I have a very thick German accent, according to my former coworkers Mary & Jon).
Then the search for a bathroom happened.
A short story about what can happen when you trust Dutch bathroom companies. What it does to your mental health, your wellbeing and your personal hygiene.
So - how exciting!!! We can look for a shiny new lovely bathroom - wooohoooo. We went bathroom window shopping.
Store 1: 20,000 Euros for a bathroom the size of a big closet? Thanks, dude, but no.
Store 2: erm...yeah, looks really plasticy. So, well, one store, can't be always like this.
Store 3:Gosh, this is awful!
At that point, slight doubts about Dutch bathroom style creeps into my thoughts - then: DON'T JUDGE, be openminded and stuff.
Store 4: We decide to make an appointment with a guy to sit down and look at options. The stuff in that shop is almost bearable to look at. The guy had taken down all our notes, our requirements, measurements and said he'd put it into the computer so we'll see it 3-D and all that crap.
Store 4, second try: We were going to pick bathroom furniture, based on his 3D thing. Turns out, the guy hasn't put it into the computer (we came back one week later,and made the appointment 3 days before - with him) and is not prepared at all. *shocker* He keeps bothering us about tiles - we should pick the tiles and based on that the furniture. Erm, dude, I don't care so much about the tiles, I want to pick the furniture I LIKE. Turns out - he doesn't have the furniture we want or the washbasin we want for the style we want - yet tries to convince us that we like the fugly stuff. At that point, 45minutes after we entered the store and so far achieved nothing but waiting on this guy to get his ass into gear, I'm about to unleash Arnolda. I'm mad. I'm boiling. But then I think: ok, this is NOT your country, Ariane, shut up and be nice. Let the boyfriend handle it. We walk out, and he tells me he wished he had witnessed the Arnolda.
NOTE: DON'T EVER EVER EVER go to Breugman Keuken and Badkamers , Den Haag. Incompetent idiots.
Store 5: total coincidence that we find it. HappyBad Delft. We go in. I like what I see, I like what the pricetags say. The guy that takes care of us is nice. It is the 16th of May. Life is good!!!
Store 5, second try:We go back in on June 1st, and fix the deal:
A washbasin, a closet for underneath, a big mirror, a fosset, a shower column and a big glass shower wall. Expected delivery time: 8 weeks. But that's the maximum time, don't worry. So, it should be here by August 1st. woohooo, well within the timeframe.
We're happy people that just bought a lovely bathroom that will look splendid!!!
The 1st of August nears. The boyfriend calls up the delivery company to see when they will deliver. Yes, sir, we do have the mirror and the fosset! ...that's great, but where is the rest? We don't know sir, we're only the delivery people!
So, we call the HappyBad Delft people. The guy who answers puts us through to the guy we ordered with. OMG, I'm SO SORRY! There was a problem with quality control. NOTHING got through. The stuff is manufactured in China, and yes, whoops, I think we made a mistake when ordering your washbasin and closet. My baaad, sorry, will be with you in Week 40. All of it. And yes, we offer you 300 off and free installation. But I need to clarify that with the headquarters, but that's it.
A week later, we still don't have confirmation and I still have a throbbing vein on my neck. We call them up - yeah no, it's EITHER 300 off or free installation. WTF??? We get a loan shower cabin that makes the whole bathroom stink as it doesn't fit into the drain properly. At least we can shower.
OK, I still decide to keep calm, yet urge my boyfriend to send a letter to the manager of the shop. AND, potentially to the Headquarters, so they are aware that they royally fucked up. I mean - do you NOT check on your orders and their status BEFORE the actual due day? Or is that just asked too much?! So far, the letter is still not sent, cause -well, let's just say the boyfriend isn't confrontational. Let's wait.
So. Week 40 is this week. It is supposed to be with the guys this week.
We just went to look at dining room tables tonight. While in the shop, the phone rings and it's the HappyBad Delft people. Now. Guess what. The shower column AGAIN is not ready, neither is the shower cabin wall. Another 8 weeks. He is SO sorry. yes yes, we'll give you money off AND free installation. We order the flipping bathroom on June 1st and it is now expected to be delivered on December 1.
I have NOW decided that it's time to unleash Arnolda. I am getting ready to arm the laser and fire their asses on Saturday. We will be going to the shop, I will be firm, NOT friendly (but respectful) and tell them to shove their shower up where the sun doesn't shine. I mean, what. the.heck? Did you again wake up this morning, realizing: oh crap, I have a job! I need to check on what my customers want. Damn it, yes, it was due today - I could have checked on the progress the whole time, but I was busy looking at myself in the mirror or playing with my toes, so, of course I couldn't check it, so, yes, I screwed up AGAIN but hey, what do you expect? I'm a damn bathroom sales person, not someone who satisfies their customers.
I will tear down the place on Saturday and tell every single customer that comes in there to NOT buy there. What a bunch of incompetent imbeciles. I hate it when people waste my time.
Argh!
Now: time for chocolate and more lessons.
Full of love, thanks to my great (well, mostly great) boyfriend.
It has been educational, thanks to learning a new language and getting to know the city of Den Haag.
It has been tough, thanks to being on a construction site every flipping day for almost three months.
Yet, most of all, it has been a test of my very LITTLE patience. I've learned a lot last year during my hardcore Water damage in the apartment in Berlin. DON'T ever trust people to do the work they promised in the time they promised.Stay on their ass. Be German. Be a pain in the ass and treat them like puppies that need housetraining - stuff their noses into the shit they created. In a nice, friendly, but VERY FIRM way.
So.
As I moved to the Netherlands, I decided to take a step back and watch the ways business is done here. I decided NOT to unleash Arnolda (when I get mad I have a very thick German accent, according to my former coworkers Mary & Jon).
Then the search for a bathroom happened.
A short story about what can happen when you trust Dutch bathroom companies. What it does to your mental health, your wellbeing and your personal hygiene.
So - how exciting!!! We can look for a shiny new lovely bathroom - wooohoooo. We went bathroom window shopping.
Store 1: 20,000 Euros for a bathroom the size of a big closet? Thanks, dude, but no.
Store 2: erm...yeah, looks really plasticy. So, well, one store, can't be always like this.
Store 3:Gosh, this is awful!
At that point, slight doubts about Dutch bathroom style creeps into my thoughts - then: DON'T JUDGE, be openminded and stuff.
Store 4: We decide to make an appointment with a guy to sit down and look at options. The stuff in that shop is almost bearable to look at. The guy had taken down all our notes, our requirements, measurements and said he'd put it into the computer so we'll see it 3-D and all that crap.
Store 4, second try: We were going to pick bathroom furniture, based on his 3D thing. Turns out, the guy hasn't put it into the computer (we came back one week later,and made the appointment 3 days before - with him) and is not prepared at all. *shocker* He keeps bothering us about tiles - we should pick the tiles and based on that the furniture. Erm, dude, I don't care so much about the tiles, I want to pick the furniture I LIKE. Turns out - he doesn't have the furniture we want or the washbasin we want for the style we want - yet tries to convince us that we like the fugly stuff. At that point, 45minutes after we entered the store and so far achieved nothing but waiting on this guy to get his ass into gear, I'm about to unleash Arnolda. I'm mad. I'm boiling. But then I think: ok, this is NOT your country, Ariane, shut up and be nice. Let the boyfriend handle it. We walk out, and he tells me he wished he had witnessed the Arnolda.
NOTE: DON'T EVER EVER EVER go to Breugman Keuken and Badkamers , Den Haag. Incompetent idiots.
Store 5: total coincidence that we find it. HappyBad Delft. We go in. I like what I see, I like what the pricetags say. The guy that takes care of us is nice. It is the 16th of May. Life is good!!!
Store 5, second try:We go back in on June 1st, and fix the deal:
A washbasin, a closet for underneath, a big mirror, a fosset, a shower column and a big glass shower wall. Expected delivery time: 8 weeks. But that's the maximum time, don't worry. So, it should be here by August 1st. woohooo, well within the timeframe.
We're happy people that just bought a lovely bathroom that will look splendid!!!
The 1st of August nears. The boyfriend calls up the delivery company to see when they will deliver. Yes, sir, we do have the mirror and the fosset! ...that's great, but where is the rest? We don't know sir, we're only the delivery people!
So, we call the HappyBad Delft people. The guy who answers puts us through to the guy we ordered with. OMG, I'm SO SORRY! There was a problem with quality control. NOTHING got through. The stuff is manufactured in China, and yes, whoops, I think we made a mistake when ordering your washbasin and closet. My baaad, sorry, will be with you in Week 40. All of it. And yes, we offer you 300 off and free installation. But I need to clarify that with the headquarters, but that's it.
A week later, we still don't have confirmation and I still have a throbbing vein on my neck. We call them up - yeah no, it's EITHER 300 off or free installation. WTF??? We get a loan shower cabin that makes the whole bathroom stink as it doesn't fit into the drain properly. At least we can shower.
OK, I still decide to keep calm, yet urge my boyfriend to send a letter to the manager of the shop. AND, potentially to the Headquarters, so they are aware that they royally fucked up. I mean - do you NOT check on your orders and their status BEFORE the actual due day? Or is that just asked too much?! So far, the letter is still not sent, cause -well, let's just say the boyfriend isn't confrontational. Let's wait.
So. Week 40 is this week. It is supposed to be with the guys this week.
We just went to look at dining room tables tonight. While in the shop, the phone rings and it's the HappyBad Delft people. Now. Guess what. The shower column AGAIN is not ready, neither is the shower cabin wall. Another 8 weeks. He is SO sorry. yes yes, we'll give you money off AND free installation. We order the flipping bathroom on June 1st and it is now expected to be delivered on December 1.
I have NOW decided that it's time to unleash Arnolda. I am getting ready to arm the laser and fire their asses on Saturday. We will be going to the shop, I will be firm, NOT friendly (but respectful) and tell them to shove their shower up where the sun doesn't shine. I mean, what. the.heck? Did you again wake up this morning, realizing: oh crap, I have a job! I need to check on what my customers want. Damn it, yes, it was due today - I could have checked on the progress the whole time, but I was busy looking at myself in the mirror or playing with my toes, so, of course I couldn't check it, so, yes, I screwed up AGAIN but hey, what do you expect? I'm a damn bathroom sales person, not someone who satisfies their customers.
I will tear down the place on Saturday and tell every single customer that comes in there to NOT buy there. What a bunch of incompetent imbeciles. I hate it when people waste my time.
Argh!
Now: time for chocolate and more lessons.
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