Where previously I had help cleaning my room in Leiden [read: With a little help], this short vacation (I'm off from work for a week) will be spent partly to clean out areas of my house. After two years of living here, I seem to have collected (again!) things I can only describe as STUFF ...

Follow my progress here at flickr: Cleaning 2009 Photo Set.

Hehehe, just got asked by a posh couple (with a very 'country' accent) the way to the Schilderswijk [NL]. They were driving a huge Audi SUV, with all the bits and bobs.

The Schilderswijk is quite a different neighborhood from my own, the Archipel [NL]. Extremely different. Hard to explain how different without angering any of either borough's inhabitants.

Still, quite funny to think that this couple might been guided towards the Archipel neighborhood, because its streetnames in most other dutch towns are usually part of the lesser areas in a city, instead of - as it is in the Hague - one of the poshest areas!

Hi hi!

*Glee*

Life is good. Even though at work it feels like I need a vacation again (it's a bit busy, but we don't use the word b.u.s.y. anymore).

And life in my own little house is great!

For all those who have not yet had a chance to visit me, below an impression:

Sitting outside, Mac laptop on my lap, cold drink on the table within reach, cigarillos waiting to be lit.

Is this what Summer is like?

I can certainly see myself enjoying life in the sun more, now that i have an actual garden!

My friend Joeri made me these awesome book shelves for my birthday.

Check out the shelves from various angles: Book Shelves @ Flickr

[idea via instructables]

With all this lovely Spring weather, the need to start on my garden was ever present. So, combined with the gifts I received from my work colleagues and some new stuff, I have managed to do some serious gardening.

I think this was the first time in a loooooooooooong time that I actually mucked in the dirt. Last time around must have been about 20 years ago, if not longer!

Of course, I had to make some photos of the amazing results: Gardening @ flickr

(and now I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that all the bulbs I planted will actually appear)

For Rent:

Lovely one-room apartment.

Original features.

Houses small family.

Waste-disposal available.

Almost a month after moving in, my house is getting closer to being fully furnished. Next week I'll pick up a couch at my sister's house, and today my dad and I picked up my table from Ikea.

Finally, after almost 1 1/2 months of "no stock", the Ikea in Haarlem had a few left. I've put on one coat of special tincture, and tomorrow I'll apply another coat, but tonight I wanted to see my table 'in action' :)

Next up? Light fixtures. I have no idea yet, and currently, I only have lightbulbs fixed to some wire.