Amsterdam saga continues...

Amsterdam is becoming more and more a part of our lives and the cultured, laid-back lifestyle is also becoming more appealing by the day. We love it here. We have flitted between Amsterdam and London a few times, seeing friends and having great parties. The last big party, was spent celebrating the wedding of Amanda and Martin in the Lake District. Its was a stunning setting. Neither of us had been to the lake District before and we were speechless. It was so wonderful to be standing at the foot of a great big mountain (we’d call it a hill in SA- but compared with flat Cayman and Holland….. these were gigantic mountains!). The odd week end that we have been here in Amsterdam, we have cycled down to the big market and packed Lee’s bike full of fresh veggies, fruit, lamb from the Halaal butcher and huge bunches of flowers… of course! What a laugh to see Lee wobble on his little dutch bike with back-pedal brakes dodging trams and other more-experienced cyclists! We had Ange pop over and stay for 2 nights this week- so great to see her again. We had an impromptu dinner in Edam, a little village that still makes the Edam cheese- it’s a beautiful spot with loads of character- a firm favourite with the visitors. Bronnie came to visit for the week end while Lee was in London- so great to have a girlie week end again. It meant spending a few hours in Zara (of course) and stopping off at little local bars and restaurants for snacks and drinks… We had loads to catch up on and thus had two seriously late nights. It was fantastic! And besides, I now have 2 super sexy stiletto heels…. Thanks Bron! This week end Dad arrives and we cannot wait to show him around and spoil him a bit. We have all sorts of things planned- even a trip to Belgium. Will update asap. xxxx

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

Steph's trip to Ireland

I had a wonderful trip through Ireland with some mates from the school where I worked in Cayman. Meredith, Chanel, Jen and I went to Jill's super wedding and then did a little tour through the ring of Kerry to Galway and back to Dublin. It was superb!! Then Chanel came over to Amsterdam with me and we did a trip to Brussels and Brugge and some dutch towns nearby.

cayman signing off....

Its been pretty hectic the past few months. We had Lee's birthday and farewells before he went skedaddling off to Europe to embark on a new journey, this time in Amsterdam. We had to cram as much quality Cayman time in before he left and so went diving, snorkeling and partied with all the mates. The day after Lee left, Summer officially arrived, bringing with it puffy clouds that stretch into the heavens, resounding thunder storms and lightning shows that would make Disney look like child's play. The humidity has risen ans we are all sweating once more. Man oh man its hot! And even the sea or our once-inviting pools aren't as refreshing as before.... so the air con is back on and we tend to stay indoors more. I have just had my wisdom teeth out. Yep, all 4 under local anaesthetic with only Jason's ipod for protection... and boy did he have some nasty songs on that machine... at least it kept my mind adrift from the drilling and crackling of bone and tooth. My recovery has been 200% better than the anticipation. I was most definitely in a worse state before the op than after. The worry and the dread by far outweighed the slight swelling and lifeless lips. So that was a good experience if you ask me. A piece of cake. Now its just childbirth to look forward to...one day. Work has also been nice and busy, making my days go faster and bringing me closer and closer to the day I will once again see my smiling hubby. He's been wheeling and dealing (as expected) in London and Amsterdam and set up a lovely home for us... or so he has led me to believe. I did leave it in his trusting hands so we shall see... Other than that, I am off to conquer the day and make best use of the limited sunshine before the storms are upon us.

April and May 2007

At Sarah's birthday bash at Yoshi's. Batabano street parade in front of our place.

Lee's birthday braai at sunset in front of our place.

Lee loved his home-made cupcakes... Spanish Bay Braai on the beach near Rum Point before the storm set in...

The storm setting in...

Oh Captain, my Captain...

What a star... Near Rum Point for our beach braai. A dive before the beach braai.

Sting ray.

Giant blue Parrot fish Sunset at Tamarind Bay

Coconut Joes for 2 for 1 Mudslides on a Sunday

Spanish Bay

With only a few weeks left, we have crammed lots of fun stuff into the week ends. We had a week end away at Spanish Bay with Moose, Clare, Matt, Colleen and Se and Jas. It was lots of fun, great pina coladas and three awesome dives. Unfortunately my camera battery died after the first two photos... so sadly, you won't get to see the most beautiful spotted eagle ray or the numerous turtles. We have been wakeboarding too, had Se and Lee's birthday celebrations and also had a great day out on the North Sound with yet another dive, a beach braai and some stormy weather!Here are some pics...

California Dreaming.....

we had a superb two week trip in California. It started with the best part (for me that is)... a 5 day gastronomic feast in the wine country north of san francisco. Sanoma and napa were beautiful and the surrounding towns just gorgeous. I loved cruising in our mustang convertible, stopping at beautiful wine farms, tasting gorgeous californian chardonnays and picnicking under the lush trees. In the evenings we would go for a run through the mountainside or vineyards as the sun was setting before going to the fancy shmancy restaurants I had booked well in advance! We had some amazing meals with local, organic produce.... so yummy! And our fair share of fresh seafood and oysters!! We then drove via San Francisco to highway 1 down to Monterey and Carmel, where we stayed for 2 nights. Carmel is my new favourite place- one day when we're millionaires we might get ourselves a little trendy shack on the beach... ha ha! It was freezing cold though and I had a few spells of major complaint.... Cayman has really turned me into a woosy. Then we followed the Big Sur to San Luis Obispo, the student haunt for some steaks and margheritas.... and then onto Santa Barbara for real mexican cuisine (which is rather different to how we know it!) and lastly to LA where we got onto our fabulously large cruise ship. We sailed for 5 days, to San Diego, Catalina Island and Ensenada in Mexico. We played bingo, had some fun in the casino on board, danced, drank champagne and fought through a night of very very rough seas! The food was excellent, not even spoilt by the fact that we were placed at the kiddies table. Yip- Lee and I were the only ones allowed to drink! The mormon missionary couple were on there honeymoon (about 18 yrs old) and the rest were an interesting bunch of yanks and a german. Each night dinner consisted of everybody gawping at us and asking us questions... we were 'old and wise and well-travelled'... we regaled them with wonderful stories of africa (snigger) and European trips filled with adventure. It kept us amused too. Then after a day at Universal Studios in LA, we flew the 'red-eye' midnight flight back to Cayman... and now we rest. xxx