Life is good. Even though at work it feels like I need a vacation again (it's a bit busy, but we don't use the word b.u.s.y. anymore).

And life in my own little house is great!

For all those who have not yet had a chance to visit me, below an impression:

Sitting outside, Mac laptop on my lap, cold drink on the table within reach, cigarillos waiting to be lit.

Is this what Summer is like?

I can certainly see myself enjoying life in the sun more, now that i have an actual garden!

My friend Joeri made me these awesome book shelves for my birthday.

Check out the shelves from various angles: Book Shelves @ Flickr

[idea via instructables]

With all this lovely Spring weather, the need to start on my garden was ever present. So, combined with the gifts I received from my work colleagues and some new stuff, I have managed to do some serious gardening.

I think this was the first time in a loooooooooooong time that I actually mucked in the dirt. Last time around must have been about 20 years ago, if not longer!

Of course, I had to make some photos of the amazing results: Gardening @ flickr

(and now I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed that all the bulbs I planted will actually appear)

For Rent:

Lovely one-room apartment.

Original features.

Houses small family.

Waste-disposal available.

Almost a month after moving in, my house is getting closer to being fully furnished. Next week I'll pick up a couch at my sister's house, and today my dad and I picked up my table from Ikea.

Finally, after almost 1 1/2 months of "no stock", the Ikea in Haarlem had a few left. I've put on one coat of special tincture, and tomorrow I'll apply another coat, but tonight I wanted to see my table 'in action' :)

Next up? Light fixtures. I have no idea yet, and currently, I only have lightbulbs fixed to some wire.

Everything's solved again. Apart from about 15 ruined books. Haven't heard from owners yet, but I have good hope.

In the end the plumber was able to explain the leak.

The faucet was not attached properly, and the water - instead of coming out through the faucet - disappeared behind the tiling into the wall, and through my ceiling downstairs.

Faucet has been replaced completely (and attached very thoroughly), and I'm happily running loads and loads of washing again!

Yesterday however, my neighbor came by asking if I'd had any problems with leaks. Uh, yeah!

Seems she's been having problems with her heating system ever since moving in a year ago, and she has a nasty leak coming through another wall downstairs.

This happens to be connected to my wall where all my other books and computers are. Luckily my wall is dry and there are no signs of leaks coming through this wall.

All in all, it's great having your own place, though - wish I'd had the chance to do this years ago!

... that the faucet of my washingmachine didn't let any water through.

I phoned the housing association.

Tomorrow morning a plumber is coming by.

And just now I thought - what's that noise I keep hearing?

I look up at my ceiling (right along the wall where my fridge and one of my bookcases are) - hell yes, drops!

So that's where the water is!

About 10 of my books are ruined for ever!

What kind of inept people have been renovating this house?

I've turned off the main water supply, and luckily I have 2 toilets, so that I least have enough water for that for tonight and tomorrow morning!

ARGH! I don't bloody need this!

I've finally moved to my new house. On December 29 a group of my friends and my sister arrived in Leiden and we started moving the boxes and other stuff into the van.

It only took about 45 minutes, and I was surprised how fast we managed to clear my old room.

Off to The Hague - sister and I in the van, feeling like real truckers!

On arrival in the Paramaribostraat, my mom was waiting for us with coffee and cookies, and we unloaded the van.

In less than an hour, the van was empty, and my house was filled with boxes!

As I moved so close to New Year's Eve, I was glad my mom and sister stayed behind to help me unpack. Books are not in the right places, and I feel as I have misplaced some things, but things are slowly coming together.

I rang in the New Year in company of my good friends Michiel, Nancy, Sofie and Vera. They left again on Monday, and after a quick text-message to my manager, I took another 2 days off. I guess I need more time to settle my stuff before I join the work-force again.

[Complete Flickr Set of Move]

Today I officially reveived the keys to my new house. Sadly I won't be able to move until later this month (try at the end of the month!), because the floor I have ordered won't be ready until December 18 - and then it's Christmas, and no one likes moving house at Christmas!

So, I'll have to wait patiently until December 29 (still have to communicate this exact date to my lovely friends who will help me move).

In the meantime, I've taken some photos and I've posted them on flickr.

Have a look: Paramaribostraat @ flickr

Making a list and checking it twice.

Thanks to Google Docs, I can even add things I think of when at work.

I have a huge list of 'one-time' expenses, and unfortunately another long list of monthly expenses.

On another note, below is an overview of my new neighborhood. It's posh ;)

ALL MINE!

well, at least one of them ;)