It may have gone unnoticed, but I haven’t posted any stories
for a while. For more than a month to be precise, while so much stuff has
happened in the meantime! The urge just hasn’t really been there. And while I
still do not feel the need to scribble down lengthy narratives about all the
bliss I have experienced, I don’t want to lose out on all the memories either.
Thus, a paragraph and a photograph each; that should do the job!
Six years after I last saw Elisabeth, in Kalkaji (New Delhi,
India), we met up again. The venue was gorgeous Lisbon where Johan and I had
started our week-long Portugal trip that very morning. Our trip turned out to
be a success, and the reunion between three former India dwellers even better.
Meeting old friends while exploring a new country; a splendid combination
indeed.
Rabobank tournament in
Valkenswaard
As tradition prescribes ACC bank was yet again present at
the annual Rabobank tournament in the Netherlands. And to pay homage to former Irish
teams and their impressive track record we again secured the runners-up cup for
the second time in a row. With Koen and Tommie as defensive reinforcements we
managed to push through all the way to the final. Apart from a successful
weekend on the pitch, the pints of beer on Friday and Saturday night also
guaranteed a socially enjoyable weekend. More and better next year!
Taste of Dublin
Another annual winner, and I was so close to securing that
EUR 50 bottle of champagne! Can’t imagine that someone beat that record of mine
(89x) with keepy uppy with all those people swarming around. Ah well, the lad
organising the whole thing might have drunk the bottle himself, and I can’t
blame him!
Koen visiting
For the third time already since I moved here, Koen’s visit
made for yet another splendid weekend. Off to Derry Friday afternoon, where we
crawled some pubs, walked the city walls, and slept in a house-turned-hostel. We
kept a lid on the number of pints as the next morning featured an early wake up
as the Causeway walk was awaiting us; 20 km of sandy beaches and rough cliffs
making for mesmerising views. The evening was spent in a 700 year old hotel in
Carrickfergus, whereas we played a decent game of chess in the keep of the town’s
famous castle the next morning. Great weather, great music in the car, and the
best company made for a wonderful road trip that won’t be forgotten!
Birthday surprise
With Bo in Zurich and not too many people in Dublin aware of
it my turning-28 seemed to go by rather unnoticed (despite all the lovely and much appreciated digital congratulations), until I got a phone call
walking home from Pieter asking whether I’d be up to watch the Belgium football
game. Arriving at the destined bar the lads surprised me with some cool presents
and what would have been a rather uneventful Tuesday evening all of a sudden
turned into a great night!
Sports sports sports
The rhythm goes unopposed with football twice a week, tennis once a week, and some decent cycling and running whenever I manage to squeeze it in! In the picture Jesus and I after our game at Rings end.
