I got back to my bike yesterday to find the following items missing:
- 2 x handle bar grips (2 years old)
- 1 x bike bell (broken)
- 1 x detachable light (broken)
I’m not sure what the street value of these items are, but I would be surprised if it were enough to purchase a tulip at the end of tulip season. Of course my bike wasn’t the only one, many around me were also missing their grips. The strange bit was that some were only missing one, indicating to me, that the rubber raiders were actually being selective, picking and choosing their targets carefully. Perhaps I should take some pride in the cleanliness of my hands.
One thing I don’t like about Amsterdam is….That the birds have evolved an ability to shit directly, and accurately, onto bike seats. The first time this happened, I was in a hurry, and had very few options. Today, Daniel has evolved to carry some “Wet Wipes” in his bag at all times.
You can imagine my surprise when I arrived at a customer site this morning to find none other than good old Johnny Farnham belting out the little speakers we have here in the office with "You’re the Voice".
Apparently it was a big hit here. I’m not sure which question comes first, How? or Why? I’m still trying to understand…..
If the Dutch are amazing Ice Skaters. I remember going skating with Petra and her family last winter, and I learnt never to do it again. Not only did every member of her family appear to be Olympic standard, but every other person, including the 2 year olds, also looked Olympic standard.
To feel better, with Winter well and truly here, I thought I would dig up Australia’s greatest moment on ice. It’s a clip that shows an Aussie triumphing in the most Aussie of circumstances.
So, Stephen Bradbury, I salute you sir!
I can hold my head up in Holland thanks to your stunning Olympic Gold victory. Aus As!
Reading up about it, the thing that surprised me was that he actually got through the the final by winning a semi-final in very similar circumstances. So it wasn’t a fluke! <Grin>
Its rare that Petra asks me to take her photo, but today, while enjoying another beautiful cold winters day in Amsterdam, she demanded I do just that.
Looking outside my window today revealed not just more beautiful ice frosted trees, but canals that have frozen over. This is not so common in the era of global warming, and it is getting everyone pretty excited about the possibility of “elfstedentocht” (eleven cities tour). Which reminds me, never, ever, go ice skating with a Dutchman, its the equivalent of suggesting they kick around an Aussie Football with you for a while, deep embarrassment will ensue.
We are going for a walk, despite the temperature, it really is a beautiful, beautiful day!
This is the picture that sat next to my computer desktop all day, only most of the day it said -5 not this relatively warm -3! For those at home in Australia this means that right now it really truly IS like a fridge outside.
The thing that puzzles me, is why, when it gets this cold, we continue to bother with temperature? It strikes me that the human body is unable to tell the difference between, say -5 and -3, and that what would in fact be more useful would be to describe it in terms of the amount of pain you feel in your hands while riding your bike.
I went out for a coffee this morning, and stupidly forgot my gloves, DAMN that hurt. For those at home, imagine you are behind the bar at a party, in the middle of winter, and people are asking for a beer at an average rate of once every .3 seconds (not unusual for a moderate size party in Aus) and to serve it up you have to plunge your hand into an esky full of ice. OK, now times that by about 10, and THAT is how much my hand hurt this morning. On the positive side, the lovely prosecco (thanks Thomas!) I was carrying was cold enough to drink (I didn’t, but it may have helped the pain go away!).
Anyway, the upside of all this, is a really beautiful city of Amsterdam. I had my breath taken away when I looked out my window upon getting downstairs to find the following (complete album):
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