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…

Hectic Days

Things have been hectic for two days and I was really tired last night [Wednesday] when I came home, I didn’t feel like writing. I just went straight to bed asap to catch up on sleep… So I will try to remember what I did: I can’t at the moment because my brain is fried…
Wednesday morning I woke up late because I only went to bed at about five in the morning, I was faffing a bit on this PC sorting out my emails, replying to a few important ones and updating my blog during the night. CH. came over at 10.30 to get changed and go to her physiotherapist and exercise for an hour to build up strength and condition. We had a coffee and chatted a bit before she left and when she got back.
I’d promised DM. to come over that afternoon and stay at her studio for a while so I left at about 15.00 and went to Hoofddorpplein first to go to this particular shop where I bought a pair of sneakers two years ago. It’s an outlet shop that has really good deals every now and then. When I went over to KvD’s the other day I had noticed a sign on the window that said, two pairs of shoes for 99,95 Euros so I decided to check it out since I had been looking for shoes in the UK but didn’t succeed.
I ended up buying some really cool shoes, a pair of Nikes and a pair of Puma sneakers that were 350 Euros all together but I got them with a huge discount. They’re weird but really nice shoes so I will post some pictures once I’m back from my visit, since I have no clue how to describe them. I then went over to DM.’s and ran into some of her clients who were really curious to know what happened to me ever since I left. I have been talking with them for at least an hour and had a great time.
Stu and I planned on meeting up that evening so I rang him to tell him I was running a bit late and to make plans where to meet. I arrived at our meeting point which was at the cinema near the Munt at 18.30. We walked over to the Irish pub at Thorbecke plein and had a few drinks there. I had a cider and again, I didn’t have much food during the day: my brain started to fail on me after a while. So it was time to go to the sushi bar around the corner to have dinner. I’d never been there before and I can’t remember the place either but it was fun and the sushi was really good although I was a bit suspicious about certain dishes. I’d seen this show on TV where they would fry insects and dog and eat them *grin*.
After dinner we went over to cafe de Jaren to have one more drink, it was getting late already. Another place I haven’t been for years. I remember I used to go there while I was studying Graphic Design. It hasn’t changed a bit over the years… I told Stu about my scientific experiments; one that involves exploding mosquitoes by blood pressure and another one on how to tame a fly by blinding it with a knife between the eyes… I don’t think he believed me but I will find some proof online! I think we left at 00.15: I had a great time!!! I then had to cycle home for another 30 minutes, there was a strong wind again so it took me slightly longer and by the time I was home I was so tired I just wanted to get some sleep asap so I did.
Not for long though. I woke up around 03.00 in the morning by the sharp buzzing sound of a mosquito, I didn’t want to turn on the lights to kill it because it would wake me up completely and I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep again for some time. I was hoping it would just leave me alone but it didn’t so I ended up turning on the lights and found it sitting on the pillow next to me. To my surprise it wasn’t a small one; it was twice the size of a normal mosquito! Huge!
I remember CH. told me I had to use this electric device; it looks like a tennis racket with metal wires and it zaps insects with a bit of electric current. So I fried it… and felt horrible about it but also utterly relieved! I tried to get back to sleep but have been awake for another hour and a half before dozing off. So again I didn’t get some proper sleep and I ”slept in” this morning till 08.30. I had to get up and get ready, CH. and TH. were coming over at 10.00 to store some stuff for the wedding. We had planned a whole day of shopping so we ended up walking from her place all the way down to Leidsche plein and back, going in and out of shops looking for things or buying things. I got everything I needed and again found some bargains too.
I also went to Reuter Diamonds to get some diamond studs, AS. has given me two pairs over the years and I needed another set since I have six piercings. The owner, Mr. Reuter himself helped me, he’s a really nice person. He made sure a necklace was adjusted within half an hour and he cleaned the jewellery for me, the necklace, studs and ring that AS. has given me. He also gave advice to CH. on how to clean her jewellery. I think we’ve been there for at least 45 minutes talking to him. I left the stuff there because we had go there anyway on our way back home to collect the necklace once it was fixed. We were back home at 17.30 and relaxed a bit sitting in the garden until I had to leave to meet up with my friends at the Tig Barra.
I met up with Sandra first, I haven’t seen her for two years and it was really good to see her again! Then Stu came over and the three of us had something to eat. Then AS. called to ask me some things and we’ve been on the phone for ten minutes. Then my friends started to pop in one by one. Christiaan told me Inci couldn’t make it because she had to work tonight which was a shame. Also Chantal didn’t show up and I reckon she must have forgotten somehow but everyone else was there even though I didn’t get a chance to talk to a few of them I again had a really great time!!! So thanks everyone for being there!!!
We left the Tig when it was closing time, I said goodbye to Craig and promised him I would be back next year… Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to talk to Christiaan and I’ve been a bit scatterbrained because I totally forgot to bring the DVDs I promised him, they were still in my suitcase so we agreed to meet up tomorrow morning and have lunch. I’m really happy about that!!! So I need to get some sleep now, It’s late and I’m about to crash… There will be typos but I really don’t feel like sorting that out at the moment, sorry…