Relaxed Day.

 
Serge Poliakoff.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Poliakoff

Relaxed day today had a very nice visit from Anja, a good friend of 26 years now, brilliant to see her this afternoon, especially as I was just thinking it would be pleasant to see her.

Wonderful to get her mail yesterday asking if it was ok if she popped by this afternoon, which of course it was, in fact it was very alright.

Lovely to have a visitor, felt like the first one for ages, I enjoyed chatting for an hour, very nice to give Anja a present, also for Erik, her partner and Bosse, their son.

Have enjoyed that this Christmas, it is such good fun to give friends presents, felt good to do especially this year, particularly because I am enjoying the moment..

Richie and I had a pleasant time this Christmas, we always do have a good time together, but I still miss also sharing the holidays with friends and having friends coming by.

Thirty years here in Amsterdam, yet despite everything that I do like here I still miss the community that I had in Reading.

Writing that I am immediately aware that of course looking back in time tends to imbue the past with a rosy glow, everything looks better.

Probably just how I chose to remember it, memory is like that it seems to have airbrushed out all the things I would rather not remember.

Becoming very aware that if I want something different that I need to do more to make it happen, which I will try to do more of.

First of all I am going to talk to Richie and suggest we have a party in January, be nice to make up for the cancelled party on the 19 December and have it either on 23 or 30 January.

Especially nice if we can have it then as January is such a long dark month, a get together with friends sounds like a great idea.  

  

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Party Time Tonight.

Shinkichi Tajiri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkichi_Tajiri

Rained all night and was still pouring at 8.30 this morning and then at 10.00 the sun came outand everything looked wonderful.

Gareth and Paul went off for a walk in the Vondelpark and a coffee in the Blue Tea House in the park.

On their way back the clouds came back and it started to rain, luckily not as heavily as it had done during the night.

It is just about 15.30 now and every now and then there is a promise of sunshine which is immediately covered by thick clouds.

Today I do not mind what the weather does as here inside it is sunny with happy anticipation of the party this evening.

Richie has gone out to get bottles of proseccio and rum and some tahni for the humus and Gareth is cleaning the front room.

It is all happening here which is great feel quite excited about tonight, Webster is right saying ‘’ Anticipation is an underrated joy in life.’’

Have had a lot of pleasure all week looking forward to tonight and right now am finding it quite hard to concentrate.

Richie just arrived back with a bargain box of proseccio and a bottle of rum for rum punch, Trini style.

It is all happening here now, looking forward to getting out of bed again at 17.00 so that I am ready when people start arriving.

We have all the makings of a memorable party, shame that all our friends can not be here too that would be brilliant.

Two hours to go going to stop and post and relax.

Exciting Perspectives.

Nell Blaine
American Abstract Expressionist Painter, 1922-1996


Sadly the weekend was not pleasant, a real shame especially because of the Gay Pride Boat Parade which took place on the wettest day of the year.

This is an event that is eagerly awaited by many, costumes and boat decorations are planned a year in advance and a lot of hard work goes into making it all happen.

Glad that it still took place despite the rain, which got less before the start and luckily even stopped at times during the procession down the Prinsengracht.

I was very happy that the weather did nothing to diminish the event; I read and heard from friends that the party went on regardless of the weather.

With lots of happy people in skimpy clothes dancing on the boats and thousands of spectators taking photos and enjoying the colourful annual spectacle.

Very glad that the summer weather seems to have come back today; it was good to see blue skies and sunshine once again.

Makes me extremely hopeful that my trip to the market at the end of the week will be pleasant and the weather is warm and sunny summer weather.

I really needed the sunshine today, especially as I was suddenly feeling down, I even cried abit and told Richie I felt pointless.

He cuddled me and comforted me by telling me that this was not true, that I was a lovely woman who he adored and who made lots of people happy.

That was good to hear and of course I do not really feel useless and without any point, but occasionally being so handicapped really gets to me big time.

It was lovely sitting in the front room until I started to feel frustrated that I can no longer say ‘’ I am off up the shops’’ and go there independently.

Feel like a caged bird, I am well looked after and life is good but I am no longer free to come and go and be independent.

It really is not easy to deal with glad I told Richie and cried and did not try to keep the tears and pain hidden.

Now I feel better, feel like my usual optimistic self once more, now the tears are gone I am looking forward to seeing friends and having trips outside.

Richie wants us to have a party as soon as I can sit for long enough, I love the idea think it will be lovely to do.

Hope we can do have a party when Gareth and Paul are over visiting Amsterdam in September.

That would be glorious, an exciting perspective for the near future and exactly what I needed.