Author Archives: blackmagic

Stolen

After having gone to Rotterdam to have some lunch with my former colleagues and walking around my old department and catching up with people, then going to the other company to catch up with other friends, I left around 4:30 pm to go down town and pass some time before my 6 pm meeting with yet another friend.

When I came outside, my foldable bike, which had been chained to a tree, was gone!!!

Not much one can do at that time, unfortunately. So I took the tram down town and passed some time. Bought a book, met someone I know and talked to her for a while, then went to the restaurant a little early, because I didn't feel like passing more time, since I couldn't do the things I had planned to do with the bike.

Had a great dinner at my favorite restaurant, Betty Beer, and had an excellent t-bone steak. My friend had the same (not really a surprise, since we take that 9 out of the 10 times we meet there for dinner).

On my way home, I went to buy a new foldable bike, since I'll be needing it for my course xe1nd for my new job, where I start coming Monday. Sent back the signed contract yesterday. :-D

So, apart from the bike being stolen and having to spend a lot of money on another bike, I had a great day. Always nice to catch up with friends!

9 November 2010
By on 12:56
In memoriam

Today I found out that last week Gerard Sanderse has passed away.

I had gotten to know Gerard when I was a referee with billiards. I met him in person for the first time in 2005 and unfortunately have seen him last in September 2009.

The funeral was yesterday, so unfortunately I have missed that.

Gerard, I will miss you. You were a very pleasant person with a lot of humor! Hope you have found your peace.

29 October 2010
By on 21:05
Born!

Today Jumira gave birth to a baby boy, David James Joshua. A little bit too early (actually way too early), but according to father Marko mother and son are doing ok. The baby only weighs 950 grams.

Congratulations to mother and father!

28 October 2010
By on 17:12
Confirmed!

I just received the salary proposal and final information.

I will be starting work on November 15th.

I can hardly wait! Very Happy

18 October 2010
By on 10:54
New job!

Woohoo!!!

Well, it seems like I've got myself a new job!

I will put down how I happened to get this.

I had put a comment on my LinkedIn page saying I was looking for a job effective immediately. That I have my experience in the financial administration, but that I wouldn't mind a job outside that field, so to speak.

One of my connections responded asking what exactly I was looking for, for how many hours a week and if I would mind it being in Amsterdam.

I sent him an email explaining what I was looking for, saying that I prefer fulltime, but because of the massage course I'm doing, I'm only available 36 hours and that Amsterdam is doable. I asked him if I could assume he had a job opening?

Well, we emailed back and forth, I gave him my resumxe9 and it seemed that I'm exactly what they were looking for, so last Tuesday I had a job interview there with 2 of the partners of that company.

It's a small company with some lawyers and tax advisors. I will be filling the function at the financial administration. The meeting went very well. There was a click, as far as I could tell and all 3 or us had a good feeling about it.

This morning I got a call that I will be emailed a salary proposal tomorrow or next week. So that seems clear… Very Happy

The start date is not clear yet, but it's probably November 1st. Well, if that will be the date, I will only have been unemployed for 1 month. Who would've thought that?

Networking pays off! I would suggest it to anyone!

14 October 2010
By on 11:39
Well…

This morning I had my job interview. It went very well! I have a very good feeling about it and if everything indeed goes as well as it looks, then I might have a new job starting November 1st…

On Thursday I will hear more. Keep those fingers crossed! :-)

12 October 2010
By on 21:30
Nervous…

To be honest, I'm a little bit nervous for the job interview tomorrow morning…

11 October 2010
By on 21:09
Delayed spring cleaning
These last two days I've been doing some delayed spring cleaning. ;-)

Yesterday I washed all the windows upstairs and downstairs, inside and outside (I even borrowed a ladder at my next door neighbor's house). I also washed the curtains.

Today I vacuumed the entire house, upstairs and downstairs, I even moved the couches. Next, I used my H2O mop to clean the wooden floor downstairs and the carpet upstairs (I love vomiting cats… *sigh*).

Now I'm beat! Tomorrow I will get a massage at my masseur's place and later in the afternoon some more when I go to lesson 4 of my course "relaxations massage". Hhhhmmmm… already looking forward to that!

5 October 2010
By on 20:55
Job interview
Next week, Tuesday October 12th, at 10:30 a.m. local time, I will have a job interview with a company in Amsterdam…

Quite excited! Wish me luck. I will keep you posted, of course! :-D

4 October 2010
By on 19:49
Foldable bike
Today I bought a foldable bike. This seemed quite necessary, since the location where my course for relaxations massage is given, is not too close to the train station and I keep missing my train home and then have to wait for more than 20 minutes for the next train… And a foldable bike can be taken onto the train for free. It was discounted to half the price it usually costs.

Here are some pictures:

Foldable.bike01
Foldable.bike02
Foldable.bike03

29 September 2010
By on 17:20