Christmas is coming!

I love Christmas. I love presents. I can admit it! But I don't like the cold northern hemisphere weather and anyone who is anyone knows that Christmas = sun and beach and days of eating, drinking and being merry.

But when in Rome and all that.

So Nico and I took a trip to Aachen for the Christmas market. This was my 3rd Christmas market in as many years. The first was Prague and the second was Budapest and the third was Aachen. Different countries but very similar Christmas markets. Lots of people, mulled wine and sausages. And very, very chilly.

Mmm, mulled wine...and maybe too many sausages judging from the chins hanging over my scarf.

The city hall marked one end of the market.

And the cathedral the other.

When we were driving home we decided to go the the 'drielandenpunt' where the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany meet.

Unfortunately I couldn't get my legs around the pole to be in all three countries at once.

This place is also the highest in the Netherlands. All peaks around the world are indicated and it's no different here. Silly tourists taking photos are also noticeable.

It was a tough climb.

Yep, all 322.5 METRES of it!

Happy week leading up to Christmas to everyone! And here's to the next one being in warmer climes!

Spammed!

Could my wonderful gmail account actually let spam into my inbox?

That was my thought this morning when I logged on to my email and saw the sender 'Colleen' and the subject 'Offer Letter' and an attachment.

Against my usual 'delete it' instincts, I opened it.

It was indeed an offer.

USQ has let me into their MA in Applied Linguistics starting in March 2007 and with a 'Commonwealth Supported' place, which means the good old Aussie Government will pay 2/3 of the fees for me. This doesn't mean, however, that they will get my vote in the next election!

So gmail has pleased me once again for not letting in any spam. (Unless of course I fail all my courses then this post will be changed to an 'I hate spam' post and I'll have everyone imagining that I never even contemplated doing an MA.)

Naughty or Nice?

5th December marks 'Sinterklaas'.

If you've been good all year, you get some presents, like the first letter of your first name made out of chocolate and a poem written about you to make fun of your idiosyncrasies.

If you've been bad, you get a bundle of sticks or a bag of salt.

But if you've been really, really bad, you get thrown in Zwarte Piet's gunny sack and taken back to Spain where Sinterklaas lives.

Hmm?

I might have to give Sinterklaas the head's up and tell him all the really, really bad things I've done this year!

Sinterklaas and his un-PC helpers arrive in the Netherlands by steam boat in late November.

A couple of the hundreds of Zwarte Piets.

Sinterklaas also has a horse, Amerigo (and a police escort here in Eindhoven). I forgot to leave a carrot out for Amerigo last night. That trip to Spain is looking more promising!

Presenting Leiden!

Most impressive city in the Netherlands? Most beautifully preserved architecture in the Netherlands? Most breath taking views in the Netherlands? Windiest city in the Netherlands? Best tour guides in the Netherlands?

After spending a late afternoon / early evening sojourn in Leiden, in my humble opinion, yes is the answer to most of the above! I'll let you decide on your own yes's and no's.