Brumminghamland

The girls stuck in a smelly, but oh-so-English phone box.

All the girls (yes, I count myself as a girl!) on the way back to the airport.

Happy faces all around, we had such a great weekend!

And then they all left......... see you on October 12th!

As we are off to Finland later today, I thought I'd give you an update on the party marathon of the last days. In the past week or so: the arrival of my mum and sister, my birthday including surprise party, the prep-party for Sarah, the wedding, the garden hog-roast party the day after the wedding, Jan-Willems goodbye outing.... Here is a visual, non-chronological representation of the madness.

Hmmmm... I just realised most of these pictures are of two people looking into the camera. Apparently, that is the type of picture I choose when hurried. Another thing I learned about myself today. I also learned I start to pluck my eyebrows sulkily in stead of doing anything useful when I get overwhelmed by to-do-lists.

JW and Marty wearing Dave and Caroline's glasses.

I wonder what her hand is doing under the table.

Mr and Mrs Brophy.

Nina and James.

Schwester und myself at the afterparty.

At the 3D cinema, watching scary fish attacking us in Deep Sea.

JW and Dave and their Sexy Serious Boy Band look.

Dancing to 80's trash in Reflex.

Dave wearing a fascinator. Fascinating.

The lay-dees all dressed up.

Monkey girls Nina and Eleonor.

Rietje enjoying herself. Dave looking worried. Or was it his strawberry?

Rob, Dave, Gareth. Kind of a reverse perspective picture: they get longer in the distance.

I think I might need a holiday now. On the menu: lots of books, scrabble, sleeping, music, sauna. And trying not to fight with S.

We finished two recording days for To buy or not to buy.
We saw a house. We fell in love. To be continued.

Jorgen and myself went to the Isle of Arran for a few days and we had a fantastic time. The people were ricidulously friendly, the evenings were filled with drink and good conversation, the island was beautiful and we climbed Goatfell, the highest mountain of the island (874 m).

One of the highlights was 'the last supper' - not because of the food (a plate full of soya-sauce anyone?) but because of the view of The Mull of Kingtyre, the wine and the good conversation.

Another highlight was learning about the nuclear war between earth and Venus, around 2000 BC. A Dutch guy who was into white witchery appeared to know it all, and if we wouldn't pay him any attention in the pub where Jorgen was jamming with the locals, he'd just hoover his hands over people's heads to 'feel their energy'. Hmmm...

Jorgen made some pictures, click HERE to see them. My pictures are HERE.

The Midge. What can I say about the evil little f***ers?



Here is a selection of my 72 bites, spread out over legs, face, neck, bum, stomach, arms and hands. They itch like mad and make me want to cut myself open with a sharp knife.



More pictures on my holiday to Scotland will follow soon.

Ok, time for some updating.



After coming back down hill from a week in the French mountains with a group of wild teenagers (pictures HERE) my productivity went down hill as well. But after a good flu, including sinus infection, I am back to my old self.

Nina was here and had a great relaxing time - we didn't even fight!


Other stuff:
* Last week I was presenting at three different events and was stunned and appalled at the way most PhD students (ab)use Powerpoint.
* The band, Junction 2, kicked ass at a wedding last weekend! We were really really good: we had good sound, good stage presence, lots of audience interaction... people were raving afterwards. It felt gooooood.
* Next week I am going camping in Scotland with Jorgen!
* After the camping trip, we are going to The Royal Ascot - rara tata cheerio how do you do pip pip (I've trained myself to drink Pimm's with my pink in the air). And no - I don't have a hat.
* On Sunday the 24th we are seeing AEROSMITH in Hyde Park!!! The festival atmosphere is hitting the UK hard, tv and radio are reporting a lot of gigs on festivals. We aren't going to a fectival this year, so Aerosmith had better be really good!

I'll be back - soon!