Farewell Old Pub

I got an email in two days ago through one of those social networking websites that I try so hard to avoid because I don’t feel the need to expose myself in a way like some of my friends do. I’m cautious about certain things and when I notice some of them mix work with pleasure, publish phone numbers, addresses, bank account numbers, job history and what viral diseases they have conquered over the years, it truly makes me wonder if they realise that ignorance ain’t bliss in this case: there are sickos online cruising for this kind of stuff.

Anyway… The email was from my friend B. one of my former Rietveld students. The reason why I mention this is because she told me some disturbing news. My all-time favourite -best Irish pub in Amsterdam- ‘the Tig’ has closed, the place where I would have a meal and meet up with friends. Where I knew some of the regulars, the owner and the manager: both would always say hi and have a chat with me. The pub that was my second home, served the best salads, English breakfast, roasted potato wedges and battered shrimps in town.

(…)

All those little gems that were mine to treasure and share with friends, hidden away from the annoying tourists, the yuppies and the crowds, the spots that make Amsterdam my home, all seem to slowly disappear. B. wrote me: a shame really because it was such a nice place and it always reminded me of you and all the wonderful times we had there… Indeed, good times we had… Farewell my dear old pub, I will always have the wonderful memories of happiness, friends, too many whiskies and trying to cycle home in an intoxicated state.

My birthday at the Tig, one of many happy, fun and hilarious moments there…

Scots Barn Dance

It’s been so warm for at least a week now. I haven’t slept very well because of this heat and certain behaviour of nice ground-floor neighbours *sarcastic*. So whenever I can, I open all the windows hoping there might be a bit of a cool breeze out there peeping in. The temperature in my office studio has been between 28° – 36° and makes it hard to concentrate on projects that need to be done. I’m often distracted and end up doing other things like getting rid of clutter, reorganising and throwing out stuff. I did this all morning while I should’ve been working on a website but at least the room is all neat again and I’ve thrown out lots of crap.

I’m heading for Scotland Friday morning to visit my best friend IvS [she’s Dutch] and enjoy a party they’ll be throwing for 120 guests in the evening in their barn. Saturday evening I’ll finally see the military tattoo at Edinburgh Castle and a huge fireworks display right after. IvS offered to go there when I visited her in Pitcairngreen, seven years ago but I think I had a bit of a cultural overdose back then since she already paid for a three days tour around parts of Scotland to see some castles, churches, the smallest distillery, the Wallace monument [summit of Abbey Craig] some wonderful [golf]sites and towns near the coast and a lot more.

I’m so looking forward to staying with her, they invited me so many times and I don’t understand why I didn’t go sooner. Last year after the break-up they wanted me to stay there for a while but I had too much on my mind back then to be able to relax. They moved from their cute cottage in 2002 to a wonderful huge old farmhouse, where they keep chicken, sheep, three dogs, a few hens and their neighbour’s cows on their land to mow the grass. So I’m off soon to relax and enjoy nature, a wee dram, long walks with the dogs, jokes about anything expat related and my friends’ company in general.

Bliss… One day I will move here and keep some goats, I’m such a dreamer but I know this one will be real… Below is where I’ll be staying [I’m showing you while walking around the house *hehe*]:

The house in the distance and Mac running towards me, crazy dog! [there’s two more ;) ]

The house on the left, all the bedrooms

The entrance

The stables

All their land on the right side

The office and studio on the left above the stables [partly shown] and dining room on the right

The dining room on the left and the kitchen behind it on the right

The kitchen

The vegetable garden and the children’s playground in the distance

Two Dutch wild women…