Ik ben Zwarte Piet!

Yesterday I got to take part in a crazy dutch tradition - dressing up as Zwarte Piet (Black Peter) and giving candy to lots of children! It was so much fun!



Sinterklas is the Dutch Santa Clause, only 100 times better and the Zwarte Piet are his helpers. Everyone in Holland gets into it and lots of the kids really believe the story. So my boss (Martin) invited me to help out at his son's soccer practise by surprising the kids with a little visit


Martin's son is the boy on the right in the picture below - he's just like his Dad! Really cute kid!



Another nice part about it was the fact that when I was young we also celebrated Sinterklas. Good memories!

You'd be scared too!

A while back I got a visit from some friends back home - engineering and focus buddies Jerome and Simon! We caught up in Amsterdam and decided to go bike riding... and I thought it would be smart idea just 'dink' on the back of Simon's bike.

Nothing against Simon's bike riding ability, but it was one of the funniest/scariest experiences of my time in Holland.

Jerome in the background - having a little trouble?

And I finally got to see the famous "I Amsterdam" sign... lots of tourists, lots of posing

It was great to see the boys from Tassie, I believe their back home probably enjoying the warm weather (I hope!) I wonder if they're keen to go for a bike ride through Hobart's streets together...?

What is worse than a bad moustache...?

Two bad moustaches

Noud and me.

See you later!

I worked with some amazing people this year - I couldn't have asked for better collegues!

I've been working here in Holland for a year, and finished my initial contract. I'm taking 3 months off of unpaid leave and heading down to Australia for a month, then to Africa for 2 months. I'm really looking forward to it, but I will have to say that I will miss the fun of working with everyone in the celhuis!

p.s. the trophy was made by Noud - the craziest, funniest and most helpful mechanic I will probably ever meet...

Movember in Holland

I think I'll shave it off tonight...

A week in Portugal

I'm in Portugal! I flew into Porto late Friday night and have been seeing the site, enjoying the weather and meeting new people.

I tried my hand at 'funky shots' in a door frame... didn't really work!

I met my room mate Andrew on the first night in Porto and we've been hanging ever since which is have great!
And yesterday I went for a 2hr run! I have a 21km race this Sunday (the day I get back to Holland!) so I'm trying to keep fit - needless to say I got a few strange looks when I got back to the hostel

A photo which never should have been taken....

I found this photo on my camera after leaving it at a friend's house...

And in other news - I'm off to Portugal for a one week holiday!