Blond moment #6

Ok, So am working on my MacBook in excell, the language is set to Dutch. Am used to working in English settings... I just lost my file and have no idea where it went... I just pressed "verbergen" (hide) and it disappeared. What to do?

Lesson learnt: Don't work on your day off!

Will continue reading Vogue now

Big buildings in Abu Dhabi!

Abu Dhabi is booming with plenty of stunning developments and architectural highlights!

This is a huge big building just next door to my place. When I just arrived in Abu Dhabi in March 2010 they just started and year and a half later, they are nearly done! You feel tiny when you stand next to it.

Few blocks away five towers have been built, can't wait for it to open as it will have stunning views of Abu Dhabi islands.

And finally... They just started on the tallest building in Abu Dhabi, see below. Wonder how long that will take and if Ill still be in Abu Dhabi to go up to the top floor!

Blond moments 4&5

Plenty of blond phone moments to share

1. How to put your iPhone on silent? Took me four months to figure this out. Few days ago my phone stopped making sounds and I had no idea how this had happened.. Apparently there is a switch on the side of the phone to put it on silent, makes sense, was wondering what that button was for, pressed it couple of times, never thought of pushing it from one side to another.. Lesson learnt

2. How to insert a 0 in your text message with my good old fashioned Nokia? This one took me over 6 months, before that time I put in my text: lets meet at 2:59 or used the letter o.. Anyway, it's easy, just press the 0 button and it appears by magic!

That's it for now!

Master Class at Gordon Ramsay!

Dear K, Last time I made a meal was....... Can't even remember :-)
Except for last Friday when I made nachos with cheese for Srini..

So you can image my fear when we had to create a three course menu according to Gordon Ramsay standards at Verre, Dubai a few weeks ago. It was great and the meal we had to prepare was delicious! Even though I was the only one who managed to burn my risotto.

It looked and tasted GOOD! We were also treated to a blind wine tasting, guessed three out of four.. All those tastings in Stellenbosch paid off :-)

With love from AUH, xx c.a.

                                          The Menu

           First course: Risotto with Butternut

                                                                     After

                                       Before - Fillet of Beef

                                                              Still Smiling

                                                                      After

                                        Before - Tarte Tartin

                                             And After

                                            Blind Wine Tasting

   Whohoo! First white and red were great

                                                     The Final List

                                                           View of Dubai Creek

Goalicious!

Lieve K,

Long time no blog! It has been a hectic but great couple of weeks.

Goa was great! We stayed in the southern part of Goa in the middle of the villages on the sea side. Palm trees, colorful houses, cows on the road, temples and shrines and really great Goan food...
We even experienced the first drops of the monsoon.

Herewith some impressions of our trip!

                              First Day at the Beach

                                                       Flowers at the Local Market

                               View from the Room

                                         Goan Sunday on the Beach

                                Portuguese Garden

                                      My first Temple 

                                   Old Goan Church

                                        Hippy Market

                          One of the many Shrines

                        One of the many Temples

                                                                             Lucky Elephant

                                                                 Goan Pork is the Best

Dubai by Night!

http://bit.ly/Burj_Khalifa_2

Dear K, Please check out this link, it's a stunning pic of Burj Khalifa.

Speak soon, with love from Dubai, c.a.

What to wear?

Hi lieve K, Don't be jealous! Have to do a lot of activities outside work, otherwise I'll go bonkers.. Too much work and no play makes me very sad and cranky :-)

Yesterday I worked till 2345 and today nearly 12 hours.. But the nice thing here is that even though everyone works hard, the moment you have some fun, it's double the appreciation.

So today, after work - herewith me in my office in my suit - I went for a walk to Marina Mall, it's just 15 minute walk away with an amazing skyline of Abu Dhabi, and after I went for Peking Duck with the girls. The last time I had a proper Peking Duck was with you on the canals of Amsterdam, remember?

Have to admit, haven't done any planning for Goa (so not me, think I have changed since I have been living in the ME). Exchanged some Rupees, got my packing list ready (see picture), checked the weather (thunder and lightning and 30c with some sunshine), bought the Lonely P, hotel and flights are booked and the rest.... we'll see when we get there. Luckily Leena has the same attitude. Just want to see a temple, a church, buy some silk, eat lovely curries, read my book, lie at the pool, do some yoga and chill out! Oh, and the most important thing - I am buying loads of flowers for the room - can't believe I have lived without fresh flowers for 2,8 years now, boo!

Have to request my summer holidays, but planning to be in Haarlem mid July. We can do all the lovely things we can do, will be lots of fun!

With love from AUH, love to all, xx c.a.

                                                                                        Hi Ka

                                                 Skyline of Abu Dhabi

                         Peking Duck Wednesday

                                                         List for Goa

Working @ Amsterdam Sinfonietta

Hola Cor,

I feel so jealous reading your stories; it's one exciting trip after the other! Have you finished planning your trip to Goa? Already thought about which clothes to bring with you?

As you know I work at Amsterdam Sinfonietta, a professional string orchestra. Last week they gave a performance at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ and I had to work during the concert. The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ is a very modern concert hall and is overlooking the water on one side and the city of Amsterdam on the other. I think it's a very beautiful building. Luckily for me, the offices of Amsterdam Sinfonietta are also situated in the building and so I get to work there!

The concert last week was very nice. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see them play before the intermission, since I was too busy preparing the reception for our sponsors and business relations. But after the intermission, my work was done and I was able to relax a little, while listening to Mahler and Mozart.

Hope you will join me at one of the concerts in the near future! Maybe after you're fed up with Indian music...?

Big kiss from Amsterdam,

x Ka

The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ

The main stairs

Reception hall verlooking the water

The view from the office!

Busy Busy Weekend!

Lieve K,  One week to go and I'll be lounging in Goa, soo looking forward to it.

This weekend was fun and busy. Started off with a Singaporean evening out, followed by a road trip to Al Ain, where it was so hot the car engine nearly blew up, another blond moment: Where to put the water... Some lovely dips in the pool and drinks at the pool bar with the next day back in Abu Dhabi a lazy lunch at the golf club at Yas Island and finishing off with a mani/pedi/massage.

Herewith some impressions of my weekend. Hope you had a fun filled weekend too!
Speak soon and lots of love from AUH, xx c.a.

                                  Abu Dhabi by Full Moon

           Road Trip to Al Ain - no cars on a Friday morning

                        Blond moment: Where to put the water?

                                                   Lounging at the Pool

                                     Al Ain by Sunset

                                                                  View from Yas Links

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Hi Cor,

Yesterday our Amsterdam soccer club Ajax won the national soccer competition and thus, yet another reason for the people of Amsterdam to celebrate. But while everybody partied in the streets, we quietly went to the cinema theatre and finally saw "Black Swan"! A must-see for a ballet fanatic as me and now we finally found time to watch it. I loved the dancing parts, but was also really scared watching the movie. Even had nightmares last night!

After the movie we had to catch our breaths a bit and went to have some drinks at Grand Café De Jaren. Also, I wasn't ready to have dinner after watching so much blood. So we had a late night dinner at French restaurant Flo. I had the honey glazed duck breast with a port sauce (nothing too bloody), which was very tasty. And for dessert... Crepes Suzette, yummie! As you can see for yourself, I was very happy with my choice: 

I have to get ready for tonight's ballet class now. I hope that I am not that inspired by "Black Swan"!

Big kisses from Amsterdam,

x Ka