10 Mile Run. The 26th 'Dam tot Dam loop'

Last week Eric and friends took part in the 'Dam to Dam run'. They're a great bunch of people and (most) meet up several times a week for training.

The 10 mile run from Amsterdam to Zaandam is a well known event. Many world famous runners take part in it and use it as a warm up for the next marathon.
I didn't run (no surprise there), but went to wave them off at the start and then hopped on the train to join up with Eric's mum and Henk to see them cross the finish line.

The team was sponsored by one of the team member's employer and they all looked very professional and 'snazzy'.

Group photo in front of 'Schreierstoren'

There was a happy, jovial buzz over Amsterdam. There were 2.700 teams in the 'business' part of the run.
The organisers had put a limit of 35.000 on the number of contestants but there were so many applications, that they'd sold out within two hours.

Hordes of runners, on their way to the start.

And once again there were tv camera's and press present on the ground and in the air.

4 balloons and a chopper (uh-oh)

We were standing by the side of the road, close to the finish. There were thousands of people cheering the contestants on and different types of loud music were blasting our ear drums.
There were people of all ages and sizes taking part. I admired them all.

Watching out for the red and grey T-shirts, we first recognised Ron and Sjors and then suddenly, there was Eric. I tried to take a picture of him, but he was too fast. Never mind, here is a happy, blurry Eric, just before he crossed the finish line.
Turned out, he ran faster this year than he had in the last 3 years!

arrival 'zippy'  Sjors

Eric at finish

Well done Lillian

Report to family

Everyone went home happy, satisfied and with a Medal.

Earring-Lovers

All the women in my family are real lovers of earrings.
We find it fun, to see which earrings go best with our outfits or, I'm ashamed to say, sometimes it's the other way round.
However, the undisputed champion of 'color-coordinated-earring-wear' is definitely my sister Marlies.
She 'manages' many, many special boxes with little drawers and compartments in which she keeps them all and, somehow, is able to find the ones which are at least 30 years old, but which are 'exactly right for the occasion'.
Not only do we love wearing them, but I love making them. No surprise then, what they'll be getting for Christmas, this year!
Here are a few I made last week. Click on the pictures for real detail.

(above) Sterling silver studs, with 'peacock' pearls and zircon in silver. The pearls are 1 cm. in diameter.

(above) Studs. Silver cup-shape discs with swirl, beautiful quality pearls and zircon in silver. The discs are 13 mm. in diameter.

(above) Clips. Sterling silver with pearl, zircon in silver and facetted, Labradorite drop. The Labradorite drops are of a high quality and reflect an amazing 'blue glow'. The pearls are 11 mm. long.

Restaurant Flamingo Paradise + family

One of my family's favorite restaurants is the Indonesian 'Flamingo Paradise' in Wassenaar.
Any excuse we can think of, and we're off for a visit to FP (as I've come to call it).
Yesterday's reason? A short visit from my lovely niece Natasha who lives in England but has just roamed around Zambia, looking after wild animals.
So there we were, with the relatives who still live in Holland.

Quite often, tourists visiting Holland, want to try an Indonesian speciality called 'rijsttafel' (translated into 'rice table'). The restaurant offers a wide choice of different rijsttafels but they always consist out of many, different, small dishes.

Looking at the pictures of the food, some of you may think that you've seen it all before, but I have to say that tasting it will make you realise why we like the place so much (that, and the fact that my mum says, "What's really nice is that the owner recognizes us and comes to our table for a nice chat, every time. Such a lovely man.")
The ambiance is warm and welcoming, the service is very friendly, the trees/flowers are real and people who like to smoke (not me) get a covered, open-fire-lit, comfortable outside area to relax in.
Here are some pictures of the food (and us).

part of a 'rijsttafel'

4 kinds of saté

very tasty chicken + cashew nuts dish

family

family/ambiance

'Pin Cushion Pearls'

Gold and pearl earrings. I have named these my 'pin cushion pearls'.

Just ½ a day in Amsterdam

Whenever I spend time in Amsterdam, I'm always amazed at how much there is to do over there.
I got to A'dam in the afternoon and then Eric and I went to one of the best films I've seen in a loooooong time: 'El secreto de sus ojos' (the secret in their eyes). It's really worth going to, so I hope y'all can see it. For Dutch reviews, click on Films (Eric), under 'Links' (right hand column).

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After that we met up with Sjors and Lillan at a restaurant of their choice.
However, when they walked in, they got 'decibelled' by a sound which only 'hundreds' of little, screaming kids can produce, and changed their mind.
They decided that few people could be that 'child-friendly' and took us to a nice restaurant called Zabayon instead click here for menu (also in English). They served some 'alternative' but good food  (i.e. creme of corn soup, with a deep fried wonton, filled with goats cheese floating in the middle). The service was very friendly and, more importantly, we had fun.

A nice meal at Zabayon

Sjors and Lillian took their turn in going to see 'El secreto de sus ojos' (it's so good, I feel I can mention it at least twice) and Eric and I cycled home, only to run into the 'Uitmarkt' (loads of outdoor events all over Amsterdam) on the way.
We 'parked' our bikes and watched a fantastic, outdoor, Live Soul Music concert, together with hundreds  of people there and thousands of others who were watching it on tv from the comfort of their homes.
It turned out that we were standing right next to the 'box' where all the interviews were being filmed 'live'! Highlight of that moment were 'The Trammps' (remember them? Disco Inferno, Hold back the night, etc.)

The Trammps at the 'Uitmarkt'

Just another 'ordinary' day in Amsterdam

'Lace of Hearts' necklaces

Silver 'Lace of Hearts' is what I've called this line of my jewelry.
Every heart (Sterling Silver) has been shaped and (beaten) by hand, separately. Here are just a few examples.

SILVER AND PEARL

GREY PEARLS AND SILVER

PEARL, GARNET + SILVER

ROSE QUARTZ AND SILVER

GARNET AND SILVER

Sail Amsterdam 2010

Sail Amsterdam is an event which happens every 5 years.

It's all about the gathering together of a lot of Tall Ships from all over the world which will then sail into the city on the river 'IJ', surrounded by thousands of smaller (to tiny) boats. All of this under the watchful eye of our Crown Prince Alexander.
Last Thursday, the 19th of August, it took place again.

As it happens, Eric lives on 'het IJ', the river that runs through the heart of Amsterdam. What an opportunity to be able to see these magnificent ships glide by! We had 'front row seats' in his very appartment.

I decided to go the night before, to escape the mayhem on the roads on the day itself. That evening we were treated to an outdoor concert of Sea Shanty singers on the building's terrace. It was a warm evening and our windows were open. Then suddenly this beautiful music filtered through the air and 'wafted' into the lounge. We decided to go downstairs and listen up close...'t was heavenly.

Eric had invited family (+ some of their friends) over to join us the next day. We made sure there was enough food and drink in the house, planted ourselves in front of the windows and enjoyed the amazing view. At times it felt, like we could reach out of the windows, and almost touch the stays, supporting the immense masts.

Het 'IJ' had turned into a slow moving mass of boats of all shapes and sizes. Loud music emulated from many of the boats below, some even had live acts (on a space of 1.5 sq. metres). For video and sound effects go to very bottom of page.
                    Front Row Seats!

The first ship was the 'Stad Amsterdam' with Crown Prince Alexander on board. 

Stad Amsterdam

All sailors danced in sync. to a beat
(without falling down)

Environmentally friendly 'space ship'
with TWO rotating booms

Busy

Bring on the Bubbly and 'yummyness'

A creative moment

There were boats of all shapes and sizes. St. Nick. turned up. There were tropical islands, tiny boats with lamps, couches and mooring-masts (incl. seagull), a sailing portable loo, etc.

The Dutch do love a party!

Tropical Island

spot the lamp and seagull

Saint Nicolas and 'zwarte Pieten'

Portable Loo

Here's a short video. Turn up the volume and you will hear the sound coming from all the boats, incl. some Dutch voices in the backround.