Auteur: Gudrun

Since Catullus found it amusing last week to gnaw on the rug, I had to buy a new one, and today I did.

Spent 155 euro on the big rug and a wee one for the dog to sleep on. When Wolf came home, he was overly enthusiastic about them, trotting and jumping on them… Decided to take a picture of it, as you can see.

Oh, and big note to self: READ THE FUCKING MANUAL before using a tool ! My Dyson vacuum thingy didn’t work properly anymore, kinda lost its suction, which the Dyson is famous for not to. Already checked the warranty but that one expired, so started reading the manual. Hmm. After 2.5 years, finally washed the big pre-motor filter which needs to be washed at least every six months. Dust came off in large chunks, and believe me, chunks of dust DO exist ! Anyway, I hope it will be okay now, cos I really love the Dyson.

Gonna continue compiling my exams. Ugh. Hate it. Thoroughly. With a vengeance.

Know what I just found ? My frigging combat boots ! Been looking for them for like a year or so, and been nagging about them for about the same amount of time ! Thought they were stolen, have played like three LARPS without them since.

I just went to our bedroom to fetch some comics, and I wonder what the plastic bag in one of the (yet) empty compartments is, since I just noticed the surplus books in another compartment. Thought they were in said bag. So I open the bag: my combats ! Yay !!!! Finally !! The cleaning lady put them there, since there was space anyway, and that way she could clean the floors more easily. Grr.

Anyway, me happy for having them back !

Feeling quite accomplished today anyway:
– slept quite long (8.30)
– got myself and Wolf ready, had breakfast
– finished compiling another exam
– found a nice rug (“No ! Really ??? You should have told us about that !”)
– cooked
– finally got to copy the exams for tomorrow (machine had been broken for several days, much to my annoyance, irritation and frustration)
– set up the Chrismas tree
– got several other chores done, like hanging up a mirror, cleaning up papers…
– started compiling the Greek exam too (and hating it. “No ! Really ??? You…” “Yeah shut up already!”
– lost about a litre of fluids by sneezing, blowing my nose, sniffing and coughing.

Yep yep. Happy me (except for the cold “Well duh !” )

Had a barbecue last night. Yep, that’s right, a midwinter barbecue 🙂

We really needed a get-together with our LARP barbarian tribe to clear out some issues and resolve some problems. So we decided to make it a barbarbecue in the large garden of one of the guys, who often does medieval reenactment too. He had set up this big medieval tent for the guys to sleep in (I didn’t stay the night, getting too old for that, and I still wanted to be home with Wolf and Bart before noon as well) some big shelters to bbq under (two big sets, and an awful lot of bread and vegetables) and a large shelter above a wood fire, with a lot of benches and trunks around it to sit on. We all dressed up as our LARP characters, which is with a lot of fur and leather. No being cold at all ! The whole thing was in character, and I loved every second of it.

When we arrived, the others had already been sitting and drinking for like two hours and there was a very fine atmosphere. I didn’t think we’d manage to get a serious conversation going about the spirits and all the related issues, but after the food, we somehow got talking anyway, and we talked and discussed (with a plank: only who got the plank, got to speak) for like three hours.

It really made my day, and we finally felt like one big clan again. So happy we’re getting along once more 🙂

Happy me 🙂

Just got home from a busy weekend. Yesterday, the choir I joined in September had to sing the semi-finals of a big tournament Choir of the Year. We left at 9.30, had camera rehearsals before noon, spent the afternoon being idle, and were so motivated at the performance that we actually made the finals !!! We were actually in second place, out of 10 choirs ! As we hadn’t expected on beforehand that we were going to do that well, we hadn’t rehearsed the program for the final all that thoroughly. Hence today we only got fourth place. But then again, YAY ! We’re the fourth best choir of the country !

Saturday at 13.00 on Canvas: documentary on the semi final.
Next week on Saturday on Canvas: the finals.

Watch it, and check out Furiant !

Part one of the wedding was yesterday, and yes, I made it alive. I wasn’t so sure of that, because when Friday I wanted to iron our clothes, I sprained my back, once again.

I have been sitting quite a lot, walking all lopsided and crooked, but in the end I even managed to dance a little with my brother.

The outfit was a stunning success: I got an awful lot of compliments, especially about the hat. Pictures later, since I didn’t take any myself, and I have to wait for the photographer to send some. All in all I spent 538 euro on it, and I’m glad I did (her sister-in-law’s outfit was 1700 euro (yes, cuckoo !) and not looking any better than mine).

A fine day was had, with a beautiful ceremony, a nice but long reception, quite a nice dinner, and a splendid party ! Had to leave round 2.30 though, since my back was killing me and it was still an hour drive.

Bizarre enough, there is a part two next week. Yesterday they had 250 guests at the reception, and 250 more for the dinner party. Next week there’s another reception with party (no dinner) for 250 more guests, since they couldn’t fit them all in yesterday. So the outfit will be used twice, at least. My niece already asked if she could borrow the whole thing for a party she needs to attend. Of course she can, I’m not gonna wear the hat that often :-p Not gonna go to the hairdresser again and spend another 35 euro once more. So if anyone feels like doing my hair next Friday, you’re welcome !

Had an insanely busy week, with hardly time to eat, and mostly didn’t see Wolf for longer than 15 mins a day. Ugh.

Just went and spent another € 155, ack: the suite at the wedding is wearing a hat, so I had to do the same thing. It’s a beautiful one, but yes, alas, expensive too. It’s being hand-made atm, will be ready in two weeks. Heh, all I need now is a beautiful necklace and earrings.

Oh, and Bart gave me my birthday present already: a brand new laptop thingy ! Yes ! Need one for school, hence.

Gonna cook now, more about the concerts, the radio broadcast, the television broadcast and the CD later.

° We’re having a glorious Indian summer right now. Enjoying every moment of it, even when I’m locked up inside. It makes me happy 🙂

° Taught my first class in the 5th grade again (17 year olds): I simply loved it ! They were 28 and a bit raucous, but I got that subdued in a minute. God I love teaching Vergilius Aeneis 🙂 It makes me happy 🙂

° Although Wolf refused to sleep (and finally slept at 10 PM, after a bit of crying in his bed once more) I had a lovely evening with him. Just like yesterday, I fetched him at the daycare with my bicycle, and we had a lovely ride afterwards, for about half an hour. He loves it, and cheers for every dog he sees, for every falling leaf, and every time he sees the wind turbines. It makes me happy 🙂

° Oh, and my favourite silly student just gave me a hug when I came in for last class at 15.30. I still don’t know why, and it was all in jest, but yes, it made me smile 🙂

° Even though the upcoming choir contest scares the bejeezes out of me (have to study 5 pieces by heart in like a month, on which the rest of the choir studied for like a year) I really love being in a choir again. It’s demanding, and pretty high standard, but loving every minute of it. Bart says I’m beaming when I get home after practice. It makes me happy 🙂 Johan, when will you be joining us ? You’ll love it !

Happy feelings are back again, even though hormones are raging at this very moment. Me happy girl 🙂

My god I spent an obscene amount of money last week :-s

Since I ripped my leather biker jacket last Monday (due to being so horribly old and worn), I decided it was time to finally get some new stuff.

– helmet € 125
– safety jacket, Goretex, black and sexy: € 250
– leather water proof biker gaunts: € 47

Hmm.

Bought a new pair of fancy shoes, actually to use for the wedding: € 72

Went shopping with my mom in Roubaix yesterday, decided to change my wedding outfit (need new shoes now):
– skirt (I already had that one: € 100)
– top, black: € 66
– long purple see-through vest thingy: € 106

– ordinary black top: € 10
– a couple of new bras (very cheap there, as opposed to the stores around here)
Three bras and one matching pair of knickers: € 59

Ugh. Damn. € 835 in total (about $ 1000). Will need to save up for a few months now.

My day didn’t start quite as well as it should have, but turned out to be quite fine after all.

Could sleep long (ie. 9.30) since Bart took care of Wolf this morning 🙂
Wanted to take a shower, but the water supply had been cut (kinda missed the announcement, d’oh !) so felt kinda grumpy, which wasn’t enhanced by the fact that the milk I poured over my breakfast cereal turned out to be sour. Ugh ! Dog liked it though.

Finally got dressed and did some paperwork for Netlash. Left for delicious lunch with Faust and his love Jurryt, had coffee and crême brulée there too 🙂 And since they were both so very enthusiastic about tiramisu, we went for groceries and I made them a large pot of tiramisu. Hope they enjoyed it.
A most enjoyable, very housewife-like and cosy afternoon was had, chatting merrily and laughing a lot. I REALLY need to see that guy more often, it’s so good for my mental health. Every woman should have her own gay, believe me !

Played tag with Bart once more, being that he left as soon as I got home with Wolf. Played with him, fed him, played some more, and put him to bed real early for him, being 19.45. Haven’t heard him since, so all’s well 🙂

Had a long (1.30 hours) phonecall with my former eloquence teacher, who is very ill, and finally finished the books for Netlash after that. Tired now, gonna take a shower and sleep.

And yes, still thinking a lot about the LARP, but it’s wearing off slowly. 🙂

Long story from over the weekend, and last week.

Spent nearly a 1000 euro, ouch (over 1000 $)… 600 on the table and the two chairs, but I’m really happy with them, so they’re worth every penny. I had bought some offwhite fabric a while ago to make a new tablecloth, but with the new table, that wouldn’t work anymore. I decided to make some …

Ugh. Failure of English vocabulary. Hmm.

Long pieces of cloth, about 50 cm wide, that are draped over the table as well, leaving most of the surface to show (tafellopers dus). Three for the big one, two for the little table in the living room. Which will, incidentally, be replaced by an exact copy of the new dining table. To cut a long story short there: the small one was maimed, under guarantee, but no longer in production, so I have to choose a new one for the same price. Luckily they make the dining table in a smaller format too. Anyway, the new pieces of fabric look really nice on the tables. Yay for my sewing machine !

Then I spent 200 euro on glasses. Hmm. One of the glasses in my glasses (yay for English language) was chipped and had to be replaced. Which made me ponder the following thought: I’m blind as a bat without my glasses, and with a toddler around, something far worse than a chipped glass is due to happen any day. So I ordered a new pair of glasses as a back up. Nice little thing, and with tiny specs, so they can recut the old specs to fit into the spare pair. Did take quite a lump out of my budget nevertheless.

And then, on Saturday, my eldest brother got married. Well, the legal part anyway. The church wedding, with the white bridal dress, the reception, the gifts and the big party is due on November 12. I was a witness nonetheless, and wanted to look my best. It poured all bloody day though, and was really cold too, for a day in August. I had this green (yes, folks, green!) Chinese top, with a very special pair of black pants. Went to the hairdresser at 2 PM (wedding wasn’t untill 5.30 PM) and decided afterwards that the green top looked a bit plain without anything to go with it, besides being a little chilly. So I went into town and passed by my favourite boutique. And yes, she had the perfect green shawl to go with it. Have been complimented on it all evening :-p 25 euro though. Hmm.
And then I saw this really beautiful long black skirt, heavy linen, special cut. Fell in love with it right away, decided to buy it for the actual wedding. Haven’t got a matching top yet that I like, but still plenty of time. Another 100 euro though.

The wedding itself was really nice. Small ceremony in the town hall, with champagne afterwards, and then off to this really fine restaurant, the Nenuphar in Afsnee. A delicious meal, a great time was had by all. My brother positively beamed. Glad he got finally married though: he’s 35. I sure hope the marriage will last, cause I still have my doubts about that, as does my mom, dad, husband and brother. Oh well, it’s his choice. At least he’s happy for the time being.

Today the weather is nice again, but sure to rain once more tomorrow. Half of Europe is flooded by now. So glad I took advantage of the one real nice day on Thursday, and went to the Blaarmeersen with my mom, Vallery and Wolf. He played in the water for hours on end, loved every second of it, and was positively exhausted afterwards. I so enjoyed that day !

He’s sleeping now. Gonna read a little 🙂