The first thing I do in the morning is put on my sunglasses. Only then do I open the curtains and window to smell the morning air. As the day before, Boris, the cat from next door, sits on the roof of a shed. I say hi and start babbling something non-sensible.
Meanwhile, in our garden, at hearing my voice, someone else appears. We look at each other and he comes charging up the garden path until he is below my bedroom window, greeting me with a heart-melting meow. Continue reading
Wink, Leap and Giggle
Tour de Fleece Frivolities
Last year, two days before the cyclists of the Tour de France finished their 23-day-long journey on the Champs-Élysées, I started spinning for the first time in my life. As predicted by some, I was immediately hooked.
By now – using spindles, not a wheel – after spinning for well over eleven months, it is a very interesting ride. Continue reading →
A Glorious Moment For The Dutch Government To Step Up The Plate
In 2005, the same year I got ill with an unknown viral infection from which I failed to recover, a council of The Ministry of Health in The Netherlands claimed biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) was needed. The Minister of Health, Welfare, and Sports at that time, Hans Hoogervorst, decided differently.
Thirteen years later, on March 19th 2018, a report by a new council expressed the same urgent message. Last December the current Minister of Medical Care, Bruno Bruins, stated that he would be following up on all accounts.
And today, exactly a year after this second report was made public, I am wondering what his promise can possibly mean? What can this mean to someone who lost her imagination to guess how a life without dealing with symptoms, no disability allowance, and other certainties, might look like. I am that someone, I have to deal with ME and I can no longer close my eyes and pretend I am not ill. Continue reading →
Valentine’s Day Last Year
Do you also think Valentine’s Day is an overrated festivity? Oooobviously, the first thing on people’s mind – since they don’t stand a chance ignoring this phenomenon – Valentine being everywhere right when the cheerfulness of the New Year starts to fade.
However, I have very happy memories to last year’s Valentine’s Day. This was one for the books really, as I had a blind date (with my partner being present) and I got a lovely surprise from my secret lover. Continue reading →
A Ghostly Visitor – Buddy, The Sequel
A quick online search showed that the caterpillar Buddy might be a ghost moth. Apparently, it can take up to two years before such a moth changes into a chrysalis. Nope, no typo, no brain fog, no kidding… it could indeed be two whole years until Buddy will no longer be my bed and breakfast guest.
The good news is that it might not be a ghost moth. The bad news? It might not be a ghost moth, it could be worse. Continue reading →
Meet Buddy, My B and B Guest
The relief when the first butterfly was born was tremendous. Don’t get me wrong: there was joy and lots of it, but relief as well… that those previous few weeks I wasn’t growing maggots as a friend had suggested. Continue reading →
Unfamiliar Body Parts
Winter hasn’t even begun yet, but at the moment I am trying very hard to recover from my third flu this year. Yes, since 2018 has started I had the flu three times already! That is more than my partner and I… Well, you fill in the blanks. Continue reading →
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle – Raising Butterflies
Saturday morning. I am emailing a friend, telling her that we already raised two butterflies and there are five caterpillars and eleven chrysalises left.
For over ten years I used to babysit her children. But despite caterpillars looking small and cute, I kept thinking back to the days I changed nappies. It being far easier, definitely quicker and baby poo was not even half as scary. Continue reading →