orange.index

the orange index is high today. in fact it happens every two years althernating between the europe cup and world cup. today the dutch played against denmark and won.

look at those orange flag, you see these almost at every corner of the street

some in orange, yellow or the red, white, blue flag

the neighbourhood are nicely decorated

a reflection....

actually there are more impressive decoration at the street just a block down, i just haven't got the time to take the photo, i will do it for the next dutch match against japan

vlaggetjesdag

annual herring day at scheveningen

old ladies dressed up in their authentic and traditional scheveningen costumes

a big wheel at one side of the old harbour

looking up and deciding...

finally we are up in the air, the view is superb

a concert, apparently an old famous dutch uncle singer is singing

time for food, fresh new herring as starter of course...they are really fresh...

time to kick off the additional calories by kiting

while preparing the kite

the weather is sunny but rather cold, we actually ended up warming ourselves at the terrace while the guys enjoying the kiting...

team.outing

the weather is not perfect. but nothing can stop you from going to the beach even you have to drive for an hour to reach there. there is an team event that you don't want to miss out. you lost your way as you are approaching the dunes but after awhile you finally reached your destination.

a little cottage at the other side of the beach

it's windy and drizzling...

you look at this and you feel the challenge but you know you are not here for this

but these... the blowkart is awaiting for you...

you stand there and waiting happily because you know you are the next in line to try the blowkart

you enjoy the ride, the wind is your best friend because it gives you green energy but the sand is your enemy because you get stuck due to wet sand... nonetheless you enjoyed the ride even though you are completely wet...

then you have some serious meeting and then while waiting for the bbq to be set up, you watched the first match of world cup on the big screen with your colleagues

then the huge fire place waiting for you to put some meats for grill and BBQ

your colleagues are standing around waiting to attack the sizzling food

it's an enjoyable afternoon and you are glad you made it even though there are some consequences lying ahead next monday but this is just exactly what you needed after a rather bumpy week at your work.

happy friday, a much needed weekend for me and for you too!

.what.a.week.

it's very rare that i don't have my own photo to blog. this is definitely an exception. thanked God it is thursday, this week has been really what a week for me...

i feel like i am a fire brigade....

because i have been dealing with unexpected escalations, exceptional situations, or even politically fishy situation all week... i feel pressurized and a little depressed but i know this is part of the process of growing and i thanked God for a week of wisdom and protection...

i also had an annual meeting one of the evening to discuss about performance of my counsellees and rank them according to their performance and against their peers. it's never a fair game but that what it is. i still remember last year at this meeting, due to economy recession and downsizing, three of my counsellees became the victims.... thankfully this year is just a normal meeting without a call to counsel out...

a.bicycle.ride.to.high.tea

i started today by marathon ironing, i ironed all the backlog of clothing's since may... so you can imagine a huge pile of clothes at the attic... but i got it all done including sorting out the final bit of my summer wardrobe...

then we set off for a cycling trip around our neighbourhood in search for some wall photos. we didn't have a lot of success except the one above that close to my satisfaction.

some wild summer flowers that i saw for two weeks already every day when i drove past in the evening after work but never got time to take the photo till this afternoon

water lilies - reminds me of monet's japanese garden

spring/summer view along the pathway

on our way to the lake, we saw more daisy wild flowers and so we stopped again for some photo opportunity

along the cycling route, some cows also take the moment to sun bathing like many others... we were briefly at the lake before we turned back for our high tea at a terrace just at a converted barn nearby to our house

the cow is the signage of this restaurant

like many others, we have our high tea at the terrace

the high tea start with a glass of rose procesco

and then the tea sandwich, the petite fours, the muffins, cream puff, bonbons and many other sweeties...

and also a plate of savory with quiche, kroket all nicely done and not oily

and of course the scones with clotted cream, strawberry jam and marmalade

not forget the tea, the main spotlight of the high tea and my favorite revolution tea, there is no lack of selection and refill is free!! i will be back next time with my girlfriends...

then i did a quick round of the interior

high ceiling with chandeliers

the interior of the converted barn, quite tastefully decorated

while he waited for me under the sun, then we cycled further after the rather heavy high tea and on our last leg, we came across another old barn...

like this with broken windows...

and now i need to get ready for the women's revival meeting at our church tonight!!

sunny.days

it going to be warm this weekend, yay!!! and the first weekend that we are staying put after a few weekends away.

so what happened during a hot sunny day, especially the long weekend that we were in france?

at vernon, early in the morning it was already sunny. you dressed summery in cotton and in white shade, you put on your sandals, you put on your sun glasses of course!!!

you stood at the seine river bank and let the cool breeze cool you down and imagine you are going on a boat ride

at mid noon you arrived at armiens you walked along the water bank again so that you get some cooling effect



you tried to stand in shade and even taking photo in shade, so that you are not over expose to the sun uv ray

you saw the famous cathedral at armiens and couldn't resist put pose for a photo under the full afternoon sun, and then you

sneak in to the cathedral and enjoy the natural cooling that comes from the marble floor and high ceiling while you enjoy the architecture of the cathedral

you walk further and you take off your shoes, roll your pant and soak your feet into the cold water

while he goes around checking out the city...

that's the way to cool down in a sunny day..