Priya turned 11 this year - Her school and family parties

This year, Priya's birthday fell on the last weekend of school year before the start of the summer holidays. Hence, she invited her friends over for a party the week before. We were done with the preparations and were ready around 1400 hrs when the first group arrived.

Some of the parents stayed a while to talk about the weather and when they left the party began.

First it was Priya's turn to close her eyes so that her friends could hide their presents in and around the house. She found all the presents with their tips. Then, they started with decorating the piece of cake they had in front of them with, whipped cream, chocolate and colour sprinkles, m&ms, fruits and so on.

Then we divided the group into 2 and the first group went with me and marked along the way some signs for the second group to follow after 20 minutes. Well, my group decided to give them a hard time, where Jackie needed to call me twice for tips (of course, my team were amused that they did a good job). At the final point, we marked on the ground to look for us.

We found a best place to hide as you see in the picture below. Jackie's team did not succeed in finding the hiding group and I gave them a tip.

We had later some chips and drinks before started playing various games in the dunes. It was a sunny weather.

On the way back, they had so much fun that they were not looking 'normal' anymore. Ha! Ha!

Back at home we ate pan-cakes and french fries.

It was time to give away small gifts to the her friends. I had to hold all the cards with the names of the kids and each of them need to pull the cord through the house to a place where they would end up (the cord has different lengths). At the end Jackie hung the presents randomly.

They were delighted with their presents and played further till their parents arrived to pick some of them up and the rest we brought them home with the bicycles.

Her actual birthday was celebrated on the 4th. July, 2009 with family members and neighbours. We bought a whipped cream cake and Jackie made the "Jackie's Famous Chocolate Cake' again.

When the family members arrived, Jan conducted the orchestra to ensure the birthday songs were sung properly (after 30, 178 times singing these songs throughout his life time, he thought it was finally time to conduct the orchestra. Ha! Ha!).

It was a brilliant weather and we sat in the garden to have the snacks and bites with beverages (alcohol and non-alcohol).

In the meantime, Priya and Ruben took a break while consuming a nice ice-cream.

Mellow was fixated with the guinea pigs (which are having vacation at our garden, since the owners could not take them with them to their camping place in Hoenderloo, Apeldoorn).

I made 'nasi goreng' and roasted chicken for the dinner and after the party the final guests left with the 3 dogs and Jan & Aty to the eastern part of the country. Jan & Aty are having their holiday at Arjen & Astrid's house in Wijchen (they are in the UK on 4 weeks vacation).

Joke the neighbour, was watering the plants outside and of course Ruben challenged her to spray the water on him. He needed to cool down after a heavy party of his sister.

திரு. பாலாவின் 'farewell' இரவு சாப்பாடு - 3rd. July, 2009

மலேசிய தூதரகத்தில் வேலை செய்த நண்பர் திரு. பாலா, தன் குடும்பத்தினரோடு மலேசியாவிற்கு இம்மாத கடைசியில் திரும்பி செல்ல விருக்கிறார்.

அவரை வழியனுப்ப சத்தி, சார்லி மற்றும் நாய்டு என்னுடன் Amstelveen-னில் உள்ள ஒரு சீனர் சாப்பாட்டு (Royal Sang Kong Restaurant) கடையில் (அவரும் ஒரு மலேசியர் தான்) ஒரு விருந்து கொடுத்தோம். பாலா! உங்கள் எதிர்காலம் சிறப்பாக இருக்க எங்களுடைய நல்வாழ்துக்கள்.

4 days cycling family event in Zandvoort - 23rd.- 26th. June, 2009

Every year Zandvoort holds 4 days walking, cycling and swimming family activities during these period of the time. Since the walking event fell on the days Priya and Ruben had final school exams, we did not join in. But, we took part in the cycling event with other friends and family members of Priya and Ruben. There were two choices (15 km or 30 km per day for 4 days in a row where you start every day at and around the same time) and we chose (since, Ruben still young) 15 km per day. Jackie's parents did the 30 km per day. The route was in and around Zandvoort and the organizers chose some nice and diverse routes we ourselves have never been. After lining up to stamp the card at the start point, cycled along the boulevard to the southern part of Zandvoort.

We continued cycling along Zandvortselaan to the golf course and back through the dunes along the railway leading to Zandvoort station. At the final point we were distributed with ice-cream as reward for participating and finished the day under 1 hour.

On the second day we cycled towards the horse stall (Manege) in the north and cycled towards Zeeweg and came along Elswout.

There were some cows having sun bath. We passed along the dunes where the wild horses family living freely in the nature.

We finished the day and met Jackie's parents shortly whom also finished the second day going towards the post to stamp theirs cards.

During our third day, we cycled towards the northern dunes on the Visserspad. This used to be the walking route of the folks of Zandvoort those days bringing their fish catch to Haarlem City. It has couple of hills and that made the cycling extra difficult. We saw two accidents, kids crying falling off the bicycles and that made our group to cycle in silence and very disciplined throughout the rest of the route. During the passed days they were all over the road and were quite noisy. We passed by a group of people riding their horses.

Then it was the final day. According to the organizers this cycling event is the first one which had all the 4 days, very sunny and beautiful days.

We cycled along Leidsevaart and stopped at the check point some where in the woods.

All fun things comes to an end. Yes, we all made to the final day of the cycling and Jackie received a sun flower from the walking mate of Aty (Jackie's mum). We all received our medals.

Zandvoort's mayor was also present to give away presents for the lucky draw event where the 1st price was a bicycle. I was not the lucky one but, Ruben and his grand parents had a 'political' discussion with Mr. & Mrs Mayor of Zandvoort at the end.

(Check-out the news in our local newspaper. Unfortunately, it is in Dutch and Jackie, Ruben en Priya are clearly noticeable)