Moving further East

Not that they felt all festive or anything. I guess it’s different when you don’t understand the language or customs but it seems to be alot more Christmassy at home.

Oh well, have to accept change. Speaking of which my new job starts next week. I’m quite looking forward to being locked away in an office building somewhere 5 days a week actually. It’s all new for me so it’s a bit exciting. Was also offered a job in Keith’s office but had to turn it down on principle- it wouldn’t be very cool working together I think.

We successfully managed to find a permanent abode aswell which we’re very pleased about. City centre, spare bedroom, proper bathroom and a savage balcony which will be perfect for barbecues during the summer months. The commission for the estate agent was a bit cheeky, and we’re going to be a bit broke for a while because we have to furnish it aswell but considering location, price and layout we think it’s more than worth it. Our landlord has been lovely and helpful aswell, he’s a nice fella and it’s a pity we haven’t seen more of him to be honest.

Missing home as usual, can’t wait to go home in March and see as many people as possible. Aoife and Paddy are coming to visit at the end of this month aswell so at least we’ve got that to look forward to.

Keith has organised weekly go karting with Legal Aliens in De Uithof starting tonight, it will be interesting to see what happens there. Feel a bit better about going this time because it’s not my first time…

Hope everyone at home is doing well, Keith wants to start putting pics up here but for the moment they’re all on my facebook so if you have it, add me and have a look!!!

Una xxx

We have survived Christmas and are onto New Year’s now. It sounds like Iraq outside at the moment, I swear to God I heard a firework knock a slate off a roof outside a while ago… Not the safest…

So I’m doing an induction for a job on Thursday in Rotterdam…. Can’t wait to meet people and start doing something, hope it works out ok and they arent just a pack of weirdos…

The bastard sugar was a discovery I made in Richard and Elinors Kitchen on Christmas Day, I was hysterical for about 10 mins, then Elinor proceeded to tell me some other words that sound funny in Dutch, such as funeral and builder’s bum…. Who’d have thought it? Sure she’s a mad yoke anyway.

Keith loved the nintendo wii, as I knew he would, and I got a lovely new bag which I’m delighted with..

Spoke to Trevor over the weekend aswell, great to hear from him and really hope he visits soon.

Going to have an uneventful New Year’s really, just going to hopefully eat out, go to the fiddler, watch fireworks and drink champagne.

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

Una xxx

Well I never thought spending Christmas here would be enjoyable and while it’s not the same as being at home with my family it’s shaping up to be a good one.

The people we’ve met here are a brilliant lot, and even though I’m the baby of the Legal Aliens family everyone has been so friendly and it seems we get phoned every day for invites to stuff and even just to talk!! I guess all of the expats are in the same boat with missing home and friends and family but they’ve been so welcoming that it feels like we’re building a new network here really quickly….

Put some presents under the tree yesterday while Keith was at work, can’t wait for him to open them!! I had them hidden in a box next to the TV, was so funny because every day he’d come in from work and look straight at it but he still had no idea where it was!! Going to town today to get a couple of bits and pieces for the people we’ve met here aswell. I know I’ve gone really overboard this year but I love Christmas and presents no matter how big or small. Trying not to spend too much but it’s Christmas, dammit, and I’m going to spread Christmas cheer.

Hope people at home are reading this and know how much we both miss everyone, at times I think I’m going to go insane with homesickness but I wouldn’t give up this experience for anything.

I’ll miss the monopoly and the fights over answering the door, the peeling of potatoes and other vegetables, watching Christmas TV (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), eating four boxes of chocolates in two days, having three different types of meat for dinner, a million presents under the tree (happens in a family of eight), and going out on St. Stephens night to see everyone who has been away for the rest of the year.

Next year I swear.

Una xxx

I got my first interested call today FINALLY!!!!

Bluelynx rang yesterday and asked me if they could interview me over the phone this morning and I gladly agreed….. Very exciting stuff for little old me who thought I would have to work in a bar or restaurant and not looking forward to it.

So they rang at 11am and asked me all manner of interesting questions and told me what they were all about and what kind of employment I could expect etc etc.

Now I know that any type of position I might acquire will be a junior role and not very well paid but I just wanted something different, a new role and something that will make it easier for me to settle here. So I rang my lovely office at home and spoke to my lovely ex boss and before I knew it there was a lovely reference letter attached to a lovely email and I knew Christmas was going to be lovely….

That’s all really, it’s put me in a much more optimistic mood for the next little while anyway. And we’re getting a Christmas tree tonight! Hope we can find something nice, everyone seems to get them really early here.

I may be jumping the gun but hopefully very soon I won’t be annoying the s#*$e out of poor Keith when he comes in from work anymore. Poor thing is finding it just as strange as I am but he’s been so patient with my silly boredom antics. Would say something very geh right now but would prefer to keep that between himself and myself so as not to risk any pukey public display of affection moments. I agree that they are most off- putting.

Tóg go bog é

Una xxx

Keith is going to Dusseldorf tomorrow for the night so I’m going to have to keep myself occupied.

Going to go for dinner with some of the crowd from legal aliens because the rest of them are going to Vienna for the Christmas market there.

Im a little bit apprehensive about going out and having to get home on my own because it’s a new city. It’s funny that once you become part of a couple you do lose some of your independance to it. Although having said this if I wasn’t part of a couple I wouldn’t be in the Hague so there’s an upside to everything. Not at all homesick this week, I think I’m getting the hang of things here really. Keeping in touch with everyone at home, spending time getting to know new people here….

Keith’s friend from work at home has been staying with us this week too, he’s looking for somewhere to live in Leiden because he’s starting work in Schipol in January. I was in town with him on Tuesday and I could see alot of myself during the first few days here in him. The poor thing was shell shocked!

Donna and Rupert are back from Columbia aswell, they sent us the pictures and it looked AMAZING. Maybe a trip to South America is on the cards.

Really have to order a turkey for Christmas this week.

Una

We’ve actually got a formal invite tonight. Our friends Elinor and Richard that we met at legalaliens have invited us out to their house in Delft for a lil drinking which sounds cool. Feel alot better this week following a little bit of paranoid outbursts. Probably not good to keep things to myself I guess….

Bought Keith’s Christmas present and it’s the best one ever if I do say so myself… He’ll never find it and I can’t wait to see his face when I’m already drunk on Christmas morning!!!

These be the days I tell ya. Living in another country makes me feel a little bit cool….