More Photo's of Holland

I went to see the Tulips in Keukenhof, here are some pictures

You have to take a tram, a train and bus to get there from Vlaardingen here I am on the train.

This is the special sign by the bus stop with the Tulip pictures on it

I took some pictures of the swans on the lake that's how close I got to them, we don't have swans in South Africa so these were stunning to me. According to my Dutch friends they are a pest.

Here is the Ultimate tourist shot, foot in over sized Holland Clog, I had so much fun. (More Photo's to follow)

Here I am with the Lady in traditional Dutch dress who stands at the entrance to Keukenhof

I took a thousand photo's of Tulips here is just one cause I don't want to flood you with them

I am back Marillion Week End Photo's

And I had a really lovely time. I thought I'd share my photo's before I move on to posting about my next goals.

I thought I would have to do my photo's in stages. The first photo is of me and my Marillion Week End Room Mates from left to right Is Illona from Germany, then Me, then Valeria from Italy and Katharina also from Germany (Illona's sister) My room mates were fantastic we all got on so well and have agreed to share accomodation again next Marillion week end.

This car in this shot actually belongs to a Marillion fan, I think he is a member of a fan group called the parrot heads but I was really impressed that he took the time to do this to his car.

This a picture of the Camera crew mans T-shirt I was right in front and he was standing at the stage making the Marillion Week End DVD. Which I hope we don't wait to long for.

This is just to give you some idea how close to the stage I was, the blurry pretty lady in front is Hanna Jameson of The Wishing Tree I decided against further concert photo's because I cannot take nice photo's without a flash, that was my one attempt.

So I am sure you are wondering where are my photo's of the band, well I have one but it's still coming watch this space.

Count Down

The Countdown on my calendar at work says 4 days, even though there are 8 days until I leave, there are 4 days well more like 3,5 until I am on leave from the office, and there are so many things to do until I fly.

Firstly I need to collect some gifts in Paarl for my friend in England, then I need buy various things locks for my suit case, etc and hopefully my suitcase weight stays within the allotted 20kg's that's the tough part staying with in the baggage limit, most of the weight is gifts and I have packed very little clothes 3 pairs of pants and a few mix and match tops that will have to do.

Any way I am excited :0)

Weight loss

I set about to lose some weight and ridiculously I lost 9 KG's so far. It's actually at the point where it's beyond being a good thing, I am starting to look gaunt :o/

Random stuff

So it is one month and two days today until I go on this holiday which it feels like I've been planning forever. I am excited, I am also a little nervouse there is so much I need to get together before I fly more over before I apply for my visa, I think the thing that I need to sort out first is my travel insurance. Once that is done I need to get my manager to write a letter saying that I still have a job to come back to, unfortunately that is true, once this trip is over I will put my nose back on the grindstone and focus on my career and my other dreams and I will still use this blog to document it. I was thinking that I want to move out of my mothers place before 2010 is over that will be my next goal, I have to think of how to do that short of winning the lotto, but I miss my privacy and I need my space. Any way I am rambling. I'll write a bit more soon.

Bummer

So in the past if a South African went to the UK, you didn't need a visa to get entry. And until yesterday that was still the case. The UK are now requesting you to purchase a visa before setting foot in their country, see Cape Times article http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4834211 and this is of course causing me tremendous stress.

Reason being I have no clue where or how and what you need to apply for a UK visa in addition it's beeping expensive, at R990,00 for three days entry alone, I feel cheated since I am a good honest person who has no intention of not returning home. GRRRRRRR beeping heck this sucks.

Marillion Week End Room Mates (weight loss)

The Marillion Week End team emailed me the names of my Room Mates a little while ago and today I got an email from one of my room mates, she's from Italy and from what I understand she will also be there on her own, so that is fantastic, my Italian is non existant but her English seems great so that's a relief. I know I shouldn't be wishing my time away but just thinking about it makes me so excited.



Helping me with the time is my weight loss programme, I really wanted to be two kg's lighter than my ideal weight (IMO) for this trip reason being, if I was two kg's lighter I'd have two kg's to play with as far as what I eat is concerned, so I've been dieting since 29 Jan and so far I have managed to lose 5.7 kgs I am so happy about that, of course my friends think I am a freak as none of them lose weight as quickly as I do but I have a great metabolism, which I cannot deny, my metabolism rocks. Any way :O) I am so happy at the moment. Things are looking up.