NT2 II

In the middle of September I took a Dutch exam, known as the NT2 II in this neck of the woods. I had spent nicer days in Utrecht than the two days it took to get through the test, but at least I got to drink some good coffee at the Coffee Company.

A few days ago, the results came in the mail, and I passed! Not with flying colours, but Ps mean degrees and all that. My worst score was in listening which I literally scraped through. Nico thought that was hilarious and appropriate all at the same time because apparently, I don't really listen sometimes! Can you believe it?!

Proof!

So now with the Dutch that some examiners think I know, I might just go upstairs and tell our noisy neighbour exactly what I think of him!

Football fanatics fantastic

Way back on the first day of the Olympics, the Dutch team had bagged a gold medal in swimming and the Australian team just one bronze. A certain Dutch friend, let's just call him JURGEN, thought this was fabulous enough to send a nanananana text to me. By the end of the games, it was blindingly obvious that I had to send one of those very texts back to him.

So in an attempt to get even in the sporting arena, Jurgen decided to join Patrick, Sam, Nico and I at the Netherlands v Australia football match in Eindhoven. Now this football match took place quite a few weeks ago, but, being the football fanatics fantastic that the above mentioned Dutchies and honorary Dutchy are, I thought I would be kind enough to postpone this little post to a time when the salt wasn't so raw in the wounds. That time is now.

According to FIFA, the Dutch team is currently ranked number 5 in the world - just one place behind the brilliant Brazilian team. Australia is sandwiched between Colombia and Northern Ireland down at number 34 (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html).

Football fanatics fantastic thought this would be a walk in the park for their beloved Oranje efltal, and it certainly appeared that way after they scored the first goal within only a few minutes of play. But helaas, sometimes it rains when you take a walk in the proverbial park. When the final whistle blew it was still just ONE for Oranje and a massive TWO for the Green and Gold.

Thanks to the football fanatics fantastic for arranging this fun night out!

Our front row seats ensured we got all the close up action

Jurgen and Nico (and his divided loyalties)

Patrick (in a state of shock at the final score), Sam and I

Run, run as fast as you can!

Sunday 5th October was not only Nico's birthday, but also the day we had been training for: the run in Breda, or as the locals call it, de Bredase Singelloop. There was a choice between a 5k, 10k, 15k or half marathon. We went for the 10k.

We woke up to lots of wind and light but cold rain and after a quick cycle to the station and an hour train ride later, it was still cold and rainy. Our good friends Jessica and Geert gave us a safety pin and 2 earrings to attach our numbers (we're not that organised, you know) and we were off to run on the mostly cobblestone, puddle-filled streets of Breda.





After 57.24 minutes Nico crossed the finish line and I came in at 67.50. We were both happy with the times but the next day our legs felt as if they hadn't really spent the last few months training 2-3 times a week!

Although no one carried me back to Jessica and Geert's place, I somehow made it there and up their stairs of death in one piece. After a hot, hot shower we filled up on food and liquid and I think I may have snoozed on the couch as the Wii monsters started eating people. When I woke up it was just in time for more food and drinks - how convenient!

So now it's Tuesday and my legs are just a little bit sore, but that may also be thanks to running into the corner of the bed yesterday which has left me with a bruise and long, thin graze from my knee to my shin. Nice.

Come fly with me

Nico and I have lived in the Netherlands for a little over 2 years now and during this time we have spent many weekends visiting cities, towns and villages by car, train, bus, bike and on foot.

But time is running out on this adventure and, although we'll be back here, we still want to see places that we haven't managed to fit in so far.

Enter Nico's dad, Bart, and his Cessna!

We were lucky enough to have clear skies for our 4 seater light aircraft trip which started at the little airport in Budel. We flew over Weert, Roermond, Kessel, Panningen (over Nico's parents' house), Venlo and Nijmegen (over our flat). We then followed the rivers Waal and Maas to the Biesbosch area where the rivers meet and the Netherlands comes to an end. We continued over Zeeland province, taking in the oosterschelde kering (part of the famous Delta Works), the Zeeland Bridge (all 5022 metres of it) and Bergen op Zoom. We followed the Dutch-Belgian border and then landed back in Budel 2,5 hours after setting off.

What a great way to see a country. Thanks Bart!