Tag Archives: Amsterdam

Granted Aspiration

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The Gods must have been pleased or something: yesterday, right after I posted about my frustration with Barclays all the pieces seemed to come together all of a sudden. All problems got solved one after the other and best of all, even the Barclays problem was finally solved. I thought it wasn’t real… yesterday wasn’t real, I must have been dreaming *pinch me!*

I’ve sent out an email Sunday evening, the first job application I sent to NL, which I found online. Closing date was ‘before May 4′: Monday morning basically. I was late and probably too late if you’d calculate in office hours but I didn’t want to let this opportunity pass so I explained why I was that late and sent it off 22.45 UK time (15 minutes before midnight NL time).

Tuesday I received a request for a digital portfolio. I worked all night and stayed up till 07.00 Wednesday morning, slept for four hours and got up again to finish a new designed, improved and updated-with-all-the-recent-stuff-I’ve-been-doing digital portfolio. I sent it off in the afternoon 14.00 NL time. That evening I had an appointment with a client to discuss new projects.

Yesterday morning I received a call from the company in Amsterdam about an interview. They explained the procedure and asked if I happened to be in NL within the next few weeks. I wasn’t but I wouldn’t mind booking a flight if I had to. Later that day they called again after meeting up to discuss this. They really wanted to see me so I booked flights ten minutes later…

Right after I received the long-awaited phone call from the local business banking manager who was extremely apologetic telling me that what happened should never have happened. They’ll reimburse all charges and she’d personally make sure the account is closed. A little voice in my head tells me that she must have been afraid to get it in the neck from her boss *hehe*.

Like I said in my other posts something is going on in the Universe… everything seems to go so amazingly smooth lately and it all turns out so incredibly positive and inspirational for me that it scares the hell out of me. Why? Coz it’s going too smooth *LOL* And this Capricorn doesn’t trust smooth transitions…which doesn’t necessarily mean that she can’t get used to it ;)

Flights are booked, days are planned and a place to stay is arranged so while I’ll be going to have an interview I’ll also be treating myself to a mini vacation while I can. I so deserve it.

Have a great weekend!

Farewell Old Pub

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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…