Una vida Holandesa en Mallorca

Happy new year!!!!!! All the best for the new year!! Here´s the picture I promised...

we spend Christmas in Italy, we were lucky to fly in the 24th, when the airport was reachable again and the snow cleared from the landing track. Since then the snow slowly melted but we still had a white Christmas:-)
We spend our days mostly eating. Gained 3 kilos in 1 week:-( No really, 3 kilos. Cost me a half year to get rid of them. Not sure I will be able to do it again.....

We decided (or I in the case of Sinterklaas) to spend Sinterklaas in NL and Christmas in Italy. Since they stopped the direct flights to either place in winter this was not an easy flight. We only came over the weekend but it was nice, Lucas enjoyed all the presents and we (and he of course) also the company!

Winter came in yesterday. Without knocking, by surprise. I suddenly had to search for my coat and the electrical heating. Wind howling around the house, extra cover on the bed..... How did this happen? Should not have been a surprise the first day of december but I got so used to the mild fall (having lunch in my tshirt on the terrace, that kind of fall) that it caught me by surprise......

Came back from the US of A in one piece and even without swine flu. All the piles of papers on my desk (also the virtual ones) were still there. So swamped in work. And of course have to make up for leaving the family 2 weeks so also swamped with dedicating time to that. If only I would have had holidays those two weeks and had plenty of energy... I feel as if I am not going to make it to the end of the year let alone beyond. Even my hair has a perpetual bad hair day since I am back to reflect the state I am in..... I can only hope for snow so I can wear a hat all the time:-)

I am on a course in WHOI. The acronym puzzled me at first as well but now I am using it as if it was a proper name. I thought I would have some time to finish up papers etc. but as you already guessed I do not. I borrowed a bike from a student here and in general skip the shuttle between labs but cycle (okay, this morning I just MISSED the bus, oh well). The coastline is spectacular, all these low hanging clouds and colorful trees in all shades of fall colors. Unfortunately I gave the camera to the family for happy family (-me:-( snapshots so I got stuck with the dysfunctional one that only once in awhile functions. It is torture. Since 2 days it only gives me a black screen so i think I will not even take it back. Where was that Wallmart you said?

Well, seems fall has started. I changed from flipflops to shoes and can wear jeans without sweating. But let´s see if this year I can break my record swimming in the sea as long as possible. Last year no chance (toooooo cold) but the year before (or was it before that) I took the last dive halfway November. The photo shows the 3rd weekend of October (last weekend), check. In a week I´ll go to the States (nooooooooo) and I will not be back until mid November so let´s see then.