Thanks to R.

X-Mas Diner 2007 - The Hague

Maastricht - X-Mas shopping

Maastricht, December 23th 2007,

Like every year there's a X-mas shopping night and of course the whole weekend every shop's open. Went with Joyce to Maastricht to find some last minute presents and see the 'madness' around X-mas. It was busy in Maastricht but had a lovely day in Maastricht.

Went for a small lunch to De Comedie, almost in the heart of Maastricht (Onze Lieve Vrouwenplein 30B) a trendy place (not from the outside) but visit their website ... very well done, uninterrupted lounge music while looking at the site.


Quick and good service, also for a drink, while almost all other restaurants only serve meals and therefore only a drink is out of the question. Not really something you expect from Maastricht. We went for the Foccacia and the all time favorite of mine shrimp croquettes ... something typical Belgium, and since we're almost in Belgium it's worth a try ... :-)

The menu card looked good and they give a lot of parties, also after diner time ...

C'est la Vie, Amorsplein 2 is also a nice address to go to for a drink, the also serve food but they also allow you to only have a drink and not throwing you out only because of that drink ...

Lavendelhof - 22/12-2007

Working on the first ceiling / floor of the 2nd floor
And now it will be quiet for two weeks because they are on holiday ...

Amsterdamse Bos - 'De Bosbaan'.

Amsterdamse Bos - 'De Bosbaan'
December 21st - 2007

Gusto - Rotterdam 010

Restaurant Gusto Rotterdam
Schiedamse Vest 40
3011 BA Rotterdam
Tel : +31 10 2800812
website : http://www.gusto-rotterdam.nl

Today making a huge leap to 010 from 020. Always difficult making that step ... and yes Nicole it wasn't that bad ... :-) (Yes Rian, Bjorn, Piet & Gert I made it across ...) So after a very long time (last time at Jenny's?) we went out for diner to Gusto this time. Small italian restaurant, with an open kitchen and real friendly people that actually greet you when entering the restaurant. That was something else compared to the place we were before this night ... And since I need to put some fine restaurants still on this blog, I will enjoy some dining these last two weeks from 2007 to catch up ...

A lot of people probably had the idea to go out for diner without making reservations. A lot of full places tonight. Fortunately we only had to wait for a few minutes before we could go to our table.

We started of with different kinds of bruschetta and some antipasti misti. Very nice and taste full, we couldn't determine all the bruschetta but they were very good. For main course we had the aglio olio (a pizza with a hint of garlic) ... the reason why you should only buy pizza with real italians and forget about the s... in the supermarket. Very good indeed. And one of my favourite's the Vitello Tonata. The 'tonata' was very well done!

So after making the journey to 010 it was worth it ... thanks Nicole for a lovely evening,


P.

P.s.
I won't tell about your new 'only N' hobby ... :-)
Next time we make it a 'cake day'

Lavendelhof - 14/12-2007

Placing of the back walls towards the garage
Starting with the ceilings and the foundation of the gardens
A step further again ... :-)

Dedicated to ....

Ayo - Joyful

Ayo with her album Joyful.
Distributed on June 12, 2006 by Polydor.

Brought to my attention last week and I must admit this is some very good music. Little bit different, some other touch ...

1. Down On My Knees
2. Without You
3. Letter By Letter
4. How Many Times?
5. And It'S Supposed To Be Love
6. Watching You
7. Only You
8. Help Is Coming
9. These Days
10. Life Is Real
11. What Is Love?
12. Neva Been

website : http://ayomusic.artistes.universalmusic.fr/index.php
website Ayo - down on my knees LIVE : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbK80TS3aQ4

Lavendelhof - 08/12-2007

Saturday, December 8th


Not much changed last week. The back entrance to the garage has arrived though ...

'Zwarte Piet'

Do I need to say more .... ?

Joris (right) and myself (left ..) together with the 'spoiled' :-) Linde ...
The Hague, December 2nd 2007 (a rainy Sunday afternoon).

Sinterklaas the story ...

The intrigues of Sinterklaas

When Nicolas was born in Turkey from a well to do family and was appointed bishop of Myra (today Demre) in the forth century nobody could have imagined that he would become one of the most prolific and intrigueing patron Saints of the Catholic Church.

Like Buddha and Saint Francis, he was appalled by riches (good for him!) and gave financial support to young women without a dowry and children at every occasion. At the beginning of the second Millenium almost all European cities had their own patron Saint, and Bari in southern Italy was already a beautiful and thriving city; it was, in fact, a bridgehead for commerce with the Orient, though still didn't have a proper patron. It was then that the authorities from Bari asked Pope Urbanus II for permission to adopt this Nicolas the "Moor" about whom had heard a lot on their travel to the Orient.

Therefore a group marines from Bari sailed off a couple of caravelles to Myra, and, taking advantages of the war with the muslim Saracens, emptied the crypt that guarded the bishop's relics without difficulty, to return to the coast of Bari. Venice lacked a patron Saint as well, and wanted the same Nicolas for themselves, but the Baresi protested vehemently and obtained permission from the pope to build a basilica dedicated to Saint Nicolas.

During the same period the 'crusades' were ne vogue that were intended to liberate Jerusalem from the Muslims, and Bari was a point of reference and refreshment for European soldiers before embarking for their adventure in the lands of the Orient. They say the "Templars" often gathered in the Saint's crypt and that the basilica's portals may hide something important.

When the spanish conquered the whole of southern Italy, Bari fell victim as well, but the Spanish, being rather religious, did not rage against the city, but on the contrary, hearing about the deeds of the Saint, adopted him as their own patron for marines and children.

The Netherlands were dominated by the Spanish as well and during this period they brought their traditions to the country: here's the legend of the Saint accompanied by "Moors" bringing presents to children. This tradition was preserved by the ages.

Today not only Bari is protected by Saint Nicolas, but Greece as well, and Russia, Belgium, France, Amsterdam, Barrn, etc, etc ... Amsterdam has its church dedicated to Saint Nicolas. The colors of Bari's football team are : white and red. Both cities face the sea and are seafaring. And then there's a recent history: during the migrations to America in the twenties and thirties, the Dutch brought Sinterklaas with them, where it was adopted under the name of "Santa Klaus".

How many travels, how many stories for this holy Moor, this kind of traveler; from far away Myra, through Bari and Spain, and finally through the Netherlands he has become a symbol of kindheartedness for children ...

And today he hired me to be one of his 'pieten'... wish me luck :-)

Have a great evening all

Lavendelhof - 01/12-2007

Photo : December 12, 2007