Life the universe and everything in between


Tot Ziens Nederland!
May 14, 2008, 9:00 pm
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Wow what a blast. What can i say. Ive had THE most amazing time here in Holland. Ive met beautiful people beautiful places and had beautiful experiences. I only hope that i return in a few months for this was truely a awesome trip and there is much more to be do and time to be spent with the wonderful people ive had around me. Pieter took me to a very flash resturant last night by the name of Boreas ive never seen or tasted such divine food. It was like Science and design infused in this equisite aray of flavours you can just not imagine. Im really struggling to describe our meals, everything was so inventive and so delicious the texture, flavours technique and time put in to such a incredible sight and taste was just incredible. What a special night i will not ever forget…. and at 150 Euro i should hope not!

The last ten days have been so hot and so enjoyable, visiting lakes that once were frozen when i arrived here. Biking with Anna to the A3 which is a huge lake and many thousands of dutch and belgium people visit and soak up the sun in the summer months. Relaxing with family in the garden sharing laughs and eating and talking amongst eachother, het was zoooooo Gezellig !! Its been so special…..  yeh.. im pretty speach-less now, but its home time for now, mum is where its at. Thunderstoms today so it seem like im taking the good weather with me.

Tot ziens Nederlands (see you later Holland)

love Nina

 

nina going for a swim in the Sahara  The Sahara lake  27degrees  the Sahara

yip... thats my lense cap you got there cheeky!  leuk kindje  Sarah en Ik

lekker wandel in de bosen  \  \

There have been extensions tot he family, dill, basil, chives, taragon etc       Pieter and Sarah       Pieter at the Sahara lake reserve in Lomel belguim 5km form home      Pieter and I before going to dinner

 



In the summer time

Hey all

Well the weather has been delightfully warm here, infact the the most sun Hollands had in the first weeks of may! The 70 hour average has been busted by the 130 hours we have had in the last week.  so as you can see theres been alot of outdoor doing as 20-4 drgrees has been a nice temperature to be getting out ad about. I joined pieter as he starts his fitness sceme back up. i was his refreshments assistant as he ran 16km in 1hour 10mins. Had some nice photo oppotunities on the way too as you can see… With all the sunshine, we’ve recently had a brief wizz around the yard on one of Franks 4 kids motorbikes got a deal on, picniced out in the sunshine and had a BBQ at Franks with Pieters other brother & Anna ( his sister). This weather has been is a real treat before I head back to New Zealand its been super cool to be out and about in the sunshine, as i seem to be following winter around the globe. As for work; I have been assured I remain first choice of the position I applied for and as it is not currently vacant I have a primary need and want to be with my mum and be there for her until the vacancy frees up for me. Taking life as it happens.

Nin’s

 

Off on a 16km bike ride with pieter while he runs     Stream 13km through the run. border Netherlands/Belgium     6km through pieters run. Canal in Belgium     Stretching time      2 day old filly

What a meadow! about 12 km through pieters run  2min energy boosting banana eating rest. Canal in belgium  Sweet sweet fresh grass

Me on my Oma fiets   smaklijk eten!!   Picnicing at home. with my brand new 1euro retro find in a Belgium garage sale!

)        Picnic lunch on the lawn       Pita toasting       Pieters creation with New Zealand Lamb rack.

BBQing in Franks back yard  LEKKER! bbq feast! felafel and all  Anna & Pieter

Pieters dips, guacamole, Tzatziki and dutch style cocktail sauce  10.30 and still going.... Goodtimes!  the Pigeon nest.



Grow my Pretties!
April 23, 2008, 2:14 pm
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Garden Analysis

 Well aswell as attempting to sow my ’career’ seeds here in the Netherlands I’ve also been doing it in a a litteral sense too, and im talking strictly in the way of plant germination here so dont jump to any conclusions!  :P

I had fun this morning taking some photographs of some of the projects Pieter and I have been manifesting. And also the result two days plant searching 6 shops and one afternoon of planting by Mieke & I.

   Petunias and daisies  so beautiful...  The set up 

             Basil Babies  Taragon, coriander, parsely, oregano  daisies and .. its little blue friends  Hanging pots

                                                oriental-flowers  Water feature

 



Snow snow snow
March 25, 2008, 8:26 am
Filed under: Holland & Europe | Tags: , , , , , ,

Woke up this morning to a winter wonderland…  just thought id share it with you all. Falling snow really is stunning to watch.

  Tree tops from the house  0730am - good morning nina  View from the house

  Soccer green next to pieters house  off on a small snow adventure  the neighbours dog having a field day

                       Hoi from pieters car    Pieters home, and surrounding park/playground area    Snow and spring



Zeeland road trip
March 17, 2008, 7:59 pm
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Hey people

Pieter and I had an awesome day road triping to the west of the Netherlands today to visit the province of Zeeland, and yes it is the area that New Zealand was named after. Its a delta area of islands and man made islands aswell as dams to stop the sea from flooding Holland. It was rather obvious from the top of the man made hils/storm walls that the houses were significantly lower than the sea, pretty interesting sight really! You will also be glad to know we didnt leave the house with out a kite and most importantly a frisbee!

  Wow its a hill!! hmmm i wonder whats on the other side?!  wow its the beach!  Excellent place to play a spot of frisbee i think

  Us two characters  img_6950.jpg  )

         more pictures  The kite that flew… for 10 seconds..  Another kite that flew  Pieters sand angel

  beachyness  Soaking up the sun and salt air  One of the sea dams

  Driving across the dam  Sea side  the other side

  on the man mad land/island the dam works off to the mainland  Driving driving driving  Nothing like a few Dutch “Stroopwaffles” to keep you going!

                           The layers of the beach  the beach  the piles



New Zealand, you’re so Beautiful.
March 12, 2008, 10:27 pm
Filed under: Home; New Zealand | Tags: , , , , ,

Look what i fished out of my photo folder ….  Mmm warm fuzzies about home :) 

  90mile beach  Sunrise Queen Charlotte ttrack  2006 Tall ships

  Long Beach up home  Tararuas  Out in the Bay for a sail with dad

  Tararuas  Home



“A Coruna” Spain & “Porto” Portugal
February 15, 2008, 11:36 am
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Hi all

Heres a bit of a pictorial story again… A Coruna is on the very north west point of Spain and a stunning sea side city with delicious fresh seafood everywhere you look. We wined and dined both nights we were here and it such good food here and such a variety of seafood too. A Coruna`s speciality in Octopus.

We went on the Portugal after that as you can see, to Porto which has been a really nice city to experience. we have had lovely warm weather and have now gathered anappcreciation for traveling at this time of the year, the crowd and mass holiday-ers would change your experience of theres beautifull places an incredible amount.

 On to Lisbao now… take care everyone, miss ya.

  A Coruna Marina area  A Coruna`s stone hengey thing  A Coruna city coast line sculptures

  Walking about the coast line of the city  Surfing sculpture on the surfing beach base right in the city centre

  Healthy looking dinghys  A Corunas stunning coast  Pieter being Pieter on our first day in Porto Portugal! yipppee!  Riverfront strip of Porto

  Me and an epic church wall  View from high up in a residential part of Porto  Pieter and Porto

  River boats  “Croft” Port caves/cellars  Ruby and Pink ports  One of the 6 bridges

  Port Tasting! YUMMMMMMYY!  Porto from the centres bridge  River side port caves and city centre

  Rowers on the river  Ninzor and Speedter  Washing day

  The Central bridge



Spain; Barcelona & San Sebastian
February 9, 2008, 5:51 pm
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Hi all

Ive decided to post as i go, the thought of a the task at the end of two weeks sounds like a mamoth effort so heres some pictures of what we have been up to, Temperatures have been 18-20 degrees in the day which is nice. I”ll let the captions say the rest.

Nins

Barcelona toppless tour bus. Excellent choice and fun  catching some sunshine and breeze  Olympic park

Central Market Barcelona  Organic vegeterian meal delicious! 6dishes &over 20diff veges&riccota in this one!  Barcelona market again, sooo many stalls mostly fresh fish, meats &produce

Spot pieter in the locals  Pigeons! Pigeons! Pigeons!  hadcore spanish guys doing acrobatic brake dancing moves

One of many wacky weird street statue people  Mr froggy  Famous partially finished Gaudi church Barcelona  Part of Gaudis park also a world heritage site along with his unfinished church still in construction

Pillars in Gaudis park  Optimists on San Sebatian main waterfront  Fishing boats on the main waterfront of San Sebastian  SAn Sebatian beach/soccer feild

San Sebastian  Saturday soccer field  Us on the beach

Arrived off the night train at 7.45am to this  watched these guys for 20mins.. scurfboading the rebound waves  i went for some time out up here, diary writting, reading and soaking up the atmosphere

Another part of Gaudis world heritage park that over looks Barcelona