Expeditions

Shopping

Posted on May 7, 2012May 6, 2012 by ghotiindustries

I have been checking out some of the local shops, as I am want to do, and discovering that I could spend an awful lot of money here, and need a residence ten times what we’re looking at living in!

We shall begin with de negen straatjes, the nine little streets. These are located on the West side of the Dam. And check it out!

One for Nita.

One for Naomi.

One for the fun.

And one for me!

Then, just as you find ducklings in the canal and think it can’t get any better …

you see that the canal is full of floating Nemos!

Damn I love this city!

I may have to go back and buy this little girl. She looks so lonely!

The Bloemenmarkt

Posted on April 25, 2012April 26, 2012 by ghotiindustries

I have so much fun wandering through the tightly packed floating flower market. Dense in population, produce, and kitschy touristy tripe. I get the same joy from it that I do when I go shopping for Christmas decorations.

So much blue and white pottery. And I haven’t even made it to Delft yet!

Then there’s the vaguely creepy staring eyed dolls in traditional dress.

Of course there’s tulips everywhere which weirds me out only because they are being sold as souvenirs. And of course, given where I’m from, I keep thinking, “but you’ll never get plant matter through the border!”

The orchids are spectacular, and I can’t tell you how much I want to try growing some!

And in living areas where space is at a premium, bonsai are the perfect answer.

I love this mainly because it’s so weird and a carnivore.

This wall just makes me want dozens of window boxes growing everything possible! Just think how much better my cooking will be when I have fresh herbs!

And finally, when you don’t actually have garden space to put ornaments in, they make them in pot size! *squees!* I’ll be getting a flamingo *nods*

Hope you all had a good ANZAC Day and remembered that we still have people out on the front lines. And I hope all our people out on the front lines are safe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Hitting the Streets

Posted on April 23, 2012 by ghotiindustries

With so much to see and do, and not much time before Himself needs to begin at the office, we decided to hit the ground running. Armed with a batch of brochures helpfully provided by the hotel we were staying in, we headed to breakfast.

With the assistance and input of a local, we reached the conclusion that we need to see everything, just not necessarily all at once.

So we headed off to wander the streets of Amsterdam and soak up our new environment.

The architecture is magnificent.

We keep being blown away just by staring at the buildings.

It’s so different from Australia and New Zealand.

Did you know the front of the buildings leans inwards in order to move in furniture? The stairs inside are too narrow and steep. These are still in use today, we’ve watched them be used.

Before street numbers, it was the different shapes of gables that identified your house.

And it doesn’t really show up in the picture, but can you see how the side wall heading back from the front of this house is slanted and not at right angles? I can’t imagine trying to furnish a house of this shape! *grins*

Houses built into the canal. I’m in love!!!

I laughed out loud when I saw this house, and yet there are many like it. I honestly am not sure how some of these buildings are still standing they are so far from square! But they have been for centuries now, and it’s beautiful!

I can’t wait to discover which one we’re going to live in!!!

The Last Few Days

Posted on April 22, 2012 by ghotiindustries

Let’s step back in time to last Tuesday. The movers arrived, packed everything, and took it all away.

Wednesday in the rain, we began early and shoved everything left over into a skip to head to the dump. Then we had final inspection of the property (passed with flying colours!). Then we completed final errands in town, and met up with our ride to the airport.

Quality time was spent, and goodbyes said.

Then began the first leg of the flight. 14 hours to Dubai.

After a lay over of … I forget how many hours, enough to get through security and find a wifi hotspot, we got on the next leg of the journey. 7 hours to Amsterdam. This flight was going to have some turbulence so they headed us over Iran, Turkey, and Poland.

Then there we were.

It’s kind of reassuring to know that tourist souvenirs are the same the world over.

In a taxi we headed to our hotel where we would reside for an indeterminate amount of time.

Stashing our bags and determined not to be done in by jet lag we went out for a walk and found our first canal!

We discovered quite quickly the need to be constantly aware of your surroundings, as the highly prevalent bikes move at speed and can be unforgiving!

Then I found the floating Bloemenmarkt. After having read so much about it, I was in heaven!

There is so much to see and do, and suddenly all I want to do is have a garden! I guess I’ll need a house, and at least some window boxes first …

Stay tuned for our next exciting episode!

The Long Weekend

Posted on April 10, 2012 by ghotiindustries

The Easter long weekend will always be a special one for me. It is a time to spend with friends both old and new, renewing old friendships and forging new bonds up in Lawson. We spent a fair amount of time catching up with our ANZAC who is heading back to the sandpit just in time for ANZAC Day this year … but more on that later!

This year there were special guests that arrived all unobtrusively and invaded. Like good ninjas should! This one is the coffee ninja.

As with all great Aussie back yard BBQs, it ended in a backyard bonfire. I’m glad it was cool enough and there weren’t fire restrictions!

On Saturday night we were again with a friend, catching up over heinous amounts of meat on swords.

The carnage was rather epic.

I’d like to point out that the first person to turn over the little stick from green (I’m up for more meat) to red (stop with the meat) was Himself. I think it just goes to show how unwell he was with his cold the poor blighter!

The only other thing that could truly make my weekend complete was knitting. And boy did I achieve that! I’m finally nearly finished the socks that I began WAY back in April last year! (I can’t believe it’s taken me a year to finish these socks. I wonder where my mojo went?)

I only have to kitchener this one closed, and decrease the toe and kitchener the other and they’ll be done! Just a little something to keep Himself warm and snugly!

I guess I’d best drink my coffee and get on with the week! What did you get up to over the weekend?

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