Amsterdam here we come!

So much has happened since I left Cayman to come be with Lee in Amsterdam. We had an incredible birthday week end in London, we got to see many mates and partied to the early hours at Henley Regatta. I had a small birthday dinner and Beth & Colin and Jason & Sarah joined us (call it a family meal rather!) and then we jetted off to Dutchmanland. Our first apartment (yay we moved!) was rather interesting to say the least. It was spacious and with luxurious fittings... and lets not forget the sunbed (in working order) over my side of the bed! It was rather eclectic and must have been the bees knees in the late 70s, with faux suede wall paper and brown-tinted mirrors lining the walls! So..... we moved. As it happened, I had developed really bad hayfever and so Lee made the call to ABNAMRO and asked for us to be allocated a new property. Phew. The new flat is amazing. I love it. Bright and airy and everything is new.... and from Ikea! Yip, it looks like it came off the Ikea showroom, but I don't care... its white and light and neutral and huge windows covered in dappled sunlight and lime green leaves from the Plane trees lining our road. And its even closer to lee's work (lucky bum) and to the Amsterdamse bos entrance. Meanwhile I had a great week long road trip to Ireland with some friends from work in Cayman. We started off at Jill & Johnny's wedding..... boy oh boy. Evrything you have ever heard about Irish weddings is true! 7-30am to bed. And up at 12pm for a 7 hr drive. Nice. We had a super fantastic time touring round and were all sad to say good bye at the airport when we all got on different planes... except for me and Chanel... who I had convinced to join me in dutchmanland for a few days. We had a great time here (I had a job interview) and we went to the red light district and we drove to Belgium for the wk end.. Brussels and Brugge. It was fantastic. Not soon after Chanel left, did I get a call from Citco and was asked to join the Investor Relations Team.... How exciting! So my priority, of course, was to get some work gear.... trousers and super duper high heels, because Lee says i have to wear high heels in the office (bah!). But they're great heels, so I'm happy! So now I have had one week's training and one week's work. Phew. Its been pretty hectic (all these looong hours!)and me concentrating all day. Its definitely a first for me. And now.... I have the flu. Apparently this demanding job (wait till month-end they all say) is trying for my sad little not-so-strong immune system! Oh well... I will persevere. We also had a fabulous Hen and Stag wk end in Bournemouth with Jax and Steed. Us girls wore overalls and went on a party bus and picnicked by the sea... and the guys played paintball, went quadbiking... and then we all met up on Saturday night at about 12am. Was fantastic! Yesterday Lee and I went to the local market and bought the most amazing fresh foods and nibbles.. and managed to get awesome lamb from the halaal butchery. We then had a canalside picnic in the Jordaan area next to a classical concert they have once a year. It was like a Kirstenbosch sunset concert, but the stage was floating on the canal and we were sitting along the canals with our nibbles and vino. It was incredible. Everyone had their boats out and the canal was chockers.... we then headed to a house party in the one cobbled street where they invited a famous folk singer (young and trendy) and he sang to the crowds while leaning out of the first floor window. (a mate's lounge)Very different to what we're used to. And then......... we had to cycle home! Which is another story. (Lee came off his bike on the way there and fell into the road... shame his second wipe in a month!) Hope you're all well, S xxx