Laane on the World

Hats, and hats and....

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:48:17 PDT

Some days are spontaneously linked to a theme.

This morning we were talking a bout a fun TV program we saw last evening about four young women wanting to become shopping queen.
They had to vote for the choice of clothes and accessories of others and the average would be added to the vote of a socalled expert. One woman bought jewelry for over 240 euro!

My daughter said she would have bought a more expnsive dress and bag, but I would have bought a hat.
I don't have hats, but a shopping queen should have one.

In town we have a wonderful shop with hundreds of Hats made by a woman who is very creative. I've seen the Queen wearing one she made and I have to say that the Queen looked even more handsome and royal with the nice swirl of the hat's brim.

When we were finished talking I switched on the TV to see the news before starting working for the paper.
I landed in the middle of a program about people weaving Panama hats by hand.
They buy the straw at the market and weave the whole hat by hand, only for 6 to 8 dollars a piece.
One woman thought they should have better working conditions and she started a cooperation, which was discovered by an englishman who thought he could do more to enable them to make a living.
He buys the hats against a reasonable prize and sells them. The extra money he gets is split and it was shown that he just gave over 6000 dollars to a hatweaver. Boy this man and his wife were so happy. They could finally make a shower in their home.

I've never before been so aware that hats are used, just like coffee in the past, to enrich the traiders and not the farmers and weavers.

It has changed the way I look at things.

When a friend called and said she wanted to go and buy a summerhat my first question was where it was made.
I had a lot to explain, but in the end we've decided that one should be more aware of what we buy.

Buddha Day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:34:54 PDT

Every third saturday of May Buddha Day is celebrated by the Buddhist Temple in Amsterdam.
It's organised by the chinese buddhists, but all nations are welcome.

Eachyear it's a great ceremony, with lions and dragons, ethnic costumes and ofccourse a parade with the golden Buddha statue.

When we arrived in Amsterdam we hurried a bit to be in time for the parade to start.
We had to wait over half an hour, because for some reason they were late.

The weather was gorgeous. I was so happy I took a summercoat with me and left the umbrella at home.
In fact it was far too hot to stay for the festivities after the ceremony. Far too crowded too.

So we tried to say hello to mom and dad Lotus, but they were not at the ceremony nor at home, so I guess they went to China for Buddha Day. And grandma Lotus was far too busy with the organisation of the day to bother her.

We had a look at the favorite shops of the daughter who was with us. I saw a lovely bikini, but she didn't dare to buy it because when it was a misfit she couldn't bring it back. Pity. At home we heard she could have brought it back here in town.

After shopping al she wanted to do was go to the beach.
So we did.

I wanted to go to the toilet at the railwaystation but the woman didn't want to exchange my small money for a 50 cent's piece. Grrr.. Can't believe it.

At sea we had a nice walk with our feet in the sea. It was cold, but refreshing and we were amazed some small kids went in the cold water without any hesitation, and then jumped back. LOL!
When we left the beach we found a very nice location, with toilets, superclean. We'll go there more often now we know where it is. We can also change clothes there, in case. The lady there was very nice.

In the small town we went to my favorite buddha shop and decided to honor our tradition to buy a Buddha statue at Buddha Day.
I have to write the dates at the bottom of the staues to remember these special events.

When going home it turned out people had stolen copper from the system so we couldn't reach our town at all.
But.... my son had the car and he'd just arrived home from his trip south and was happy to fetch us.

Phew!!

Somebody That I Used to Know

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:44:04 PDT

1. How do you feel when you realize that an impasse will cause a relationship (any type) to end?

Depends on the relationship. Ofcourse.
In some cases I realise it's life and different development that makes people grow apart.

2. You’re planning a trip that would be an eight-hour car ride, a four-hour train ride, or a two-hour plane ride. With money and time being no object, which would you most likely choose and why?

Please, please, plane. I would love to fly again. Two hours isn't necessary as an hour takes me to Scotland.

3. What is your ideal past time on a lazy summers day?

Listen to the birds early in the morning with the windows open so the cool air can get in the house.
I haven't experienced a real lazy summerday in a long time, being a caregiver. But walking at the beach with my feet in the sea is OK with me.

4. Name a CD you own that no one else on your friends list does.

First tell me which CD's all my friends have. LOL!
We bought one of an eastern European band when the wall was still keeping people apart.
Teh band was here for a few days and we were at the concert. I didn't particularly like it, but the sounds were new.
They were far ahead of time it turned out.

5. What's a wish of yours?

Just one?
I want to have a garden house with electricity, a vegetable garden, and I want to live at the western coast of the UK in a small house. My biggest wish is to win the money to make it all come true.

6. What is something your going to do a lot of this week?

Tidying the house. We want to make some huge changes.

7. Is there someone you wish would just fall off the face of this earth?

That's not very buddhistic, is it?
But I have a person in mind, yes. I'm not far enough to wish her well, so might she drop off quietly and smoothly.

Want to see other people's answers or take part yourself?
Click the logo.

8. What did you do last night?

9. Where is the next place you'd like to go vacation?

Her final exams started today

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:32:17 PDT

One of my daughters had her first final exam today.
I guess I was more nervous. LOL!

Funny things is that I told her she should take it as just another test, be well prepared and she should certainly not worry about the outcome. If she would fail she just had another year at school and an opportunity to do it again.

I can say it this way, because she takes school serious.
And she wants to leave that school as soon as possible.
The misjudgement of those two teachers have hurt her badly.
They said she was afraid to go to school, looked depressed, was weird because she dared to be herself and dress the way she wanted and some other things that were way past what teachers can say about a girl and her family.
In fact one of them even made statements about me and my husband he could and should never make. He's never been at our home and he certainly doesn't know how we interrelate and who's boss.
The result of it all was a lot of troubles that not only made the girls question themselves (which was not bad in itself as they became more aware of how secure they feel and how they dare to be themselves far more than their classmates), but it also resulted in official statements about us which are not true at all. We can't defend ourselves against things like these, and I think we've made some serious mistakes by thinking it didn't matter what we said to a person who was so consumed by herself that she didn't even want to hear the truth about us and who certainly had no intention to listen or to be kind. We thought others would listen to us, so we took referrals. Well, people rather hear the bad things about people than see the good.

So these teachers harmed my daughter and even though she has taken a distance from it all, the burden will come back this summer because they won't stop the hunt for their own phantasies.
I guess I'm clear enough for those who have followed my blog.

It tears me to bits people don't use common sense, not even now the organisation this woman is part of is accused of ignoring massive abuse. I don't want to think about her role in this, but the way she's witchhunting others and the language she uses makes me feel sick. Really nauseated.

Well, my daughter did her exam and came home all feeling free and happy. She did well, she said.
Because of some special religious days which are still celebrated in our country she has a few days off before she has to take her next exam next monday.

We saw the Queen (2)

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:31:51 PDT

After the concert we went away through a small and a bit dirty street which ended in a shopping street.
After a few hundred metres we had to cross a bridge over a canal again. The buildings in that corner of town were old, well kept and very spirited..I don't know another word.

Soon we were near the location of the closing concert of freedom day.
We heard the rehearsal of one of the songs, but it was far too early to go there.
So we got off our feet, had a hamburger and a drink, enjoyed sitting down for a while and then slowly walked to the concert area.

On a bridge, straight in front of the stage we found a nice spot.
It was clear other people were also trying to find a nice place to watch the concert and the Queen, so we sat down on plastic bags and started the waiting of....two hours.

Imagine: on a high bridge, with the wind raging, a temperature of about 7 to 9 degrees. In front of us open water, and further away a canal, and behind us a street. From two sides canals.
I know, I know, we couldn't have frozen to death, but it was so co-o-o-old.
When it was time to stand up for the arrival of the Queen it took me ages to gain control over my left leg and it took quite an effort to get up.

But it was well worth it.

When we looked down we saw many boats on the water filled with people drinking and eating and having a good time.
In front of us was a large area for the invited people, like the Queen and the prime minister.
We were right behind them.

After that there was an area with water and then the double stage. One on the water and above it a huge stage with the orchestra.

On top of that we saw what we thought what was broadcasted, but afterwards it turned out that the people in the country saw other shots. But they were just as interesting as what we saw.
Pity I haven't seen what was in the country, because I was on camera quite a few times, with my yellow coat. (sailing coat)

Well, we enjoyed the concert.
For me it was very special because some songs were featured of artists I've known.
It brought me to tears...

When the concert was over we sang according to our tradition: "We'll meet again" of Vera Lynn.
The Queen went on a boat and which went around the water a couple of time.
She clearly enjoyed it.
At a special moment she stopped wavinf while the boat turned and when she looked up she saw my coat and when I started waving she smiled and started waving again too. First to me and then to others. People around me said: "She was waving to you, especially to you." Well, I think it was my coat that drew the attention. On the other hand...we've had a special moment in the past and it's said her memory is fenomenal.

Well, regardless of it, I enjoyed the concert, and everything else and then we had to find a way to get home.

Walking between all he thousands of people would bring us to the main station, but it would also mean arriving too late for the train.
So we tried an escape away from the crowds and then to another station.
It was quite a quick and long walk, but we made it just in time and we arrived home in the last train.

Tired!! Tired!!!

But with a good feeling.

We saw the Queen (1)

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sun, 20 May 2012 16:14:50 PDT

So we went by train on Queensday.
First visited Schiphol to watch the planes.
We were far too early for any festivities in Amsterdam and it's always nice at the airport.

Then we went to Amsterdam and visited our friends to say hello and bought something for lunch. Just a sliced loaf of bread and cheeseslices. Even less luxurious than at home, but it tastes far better. Maybe we should always have lunch this way. Saves money. LOL!

It was still too early for something else, so my son proposed to go to the beach.
It's my favorite part of free traveling.
When we arrived we heard the noise of the racecars nearby.
Me oh my! In the tourist season!!!
Even when we were standing beside the sea we could hear those cars. And don't think it was a mirror sea. Not at all. Rather large waves, lots of wind. Most of the time when one stands there under those conditions one is consumed by the sea.

So we took a firm walk to the small towncenter and went into the shops.
Could hear those cars even there.
We decided to go back to the nice buddha shop, found out one of our favorite shops was still there and walked the main shopping road, joking that a vacation would get expensive because of the restaurant food. Those prizes!

Back in Amsterdam the festivities had started.
There were lots of tourists so it was a relief to escape to the first floor of one of our favorite shops. They often have a surprise bag for a few euro and this time they had only one left. I bought it and had a value of more than 5 times. Lucky me.

We expected the concerts at the dam to be great. Me oh my, it was no music at all. Not even modern music or something. Just garbage. A band was playing called: go home. Well, apart of some 10 people, probably family and friends, everyone left.

We still had far too much time, but not enough to leave amsterdam again, so we started roaming the streets.
There's no better way to learn your way around in a city.
In the past we had been looking for a theatre, now we found it by accident, when I wanted to walk in an almost hidden allee because I heard some good music from a hidden area.
We landed in a small square between houses where lots of people where listening to a band.
The music was awesome!

Freedom Day

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 11 May 2012 03:00:07 PDT

It's freedom day and we're almost ready to leave for Amsterdam.
We've got a ticket for free traveling by train and even though the weather forecast has given the warning for rather cold weather, we want to go.

I would have loved to go and watch the parade, but it's held such a long way from a railwaystation that we skip that and try and go to the national concert in Amsterdam this evening.

So watch out for tomorrow's blog and wish me a happy day now.

Bye!

Remembrance day 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 11 May 2012 02:50:47 PDT

We planned to go the the war museum to meet the veterans.
It's one last chance to meet former collegues of my father, who served in the RAF.
Many questions about his activities in the war are still to be answered.
We have some ideas now, because we've been able to research a lot of losse statements he made, but i would love to meet someone who has known him then.

The people he stayed with are all dead.
I'm happy to have visited them with my father, but contact with my generation got lost.
It really feels as a loss.

So we thought it best to go and meet the veterans.

We didn't go.

Yesterday evening I found out we have to pay 10,50 euro just to be there at the museum and we wouldn't even be granted the chance to be present, not even on screen, at the remembrance service.

Now I understand why the local papers didn't mention the event, why the council didn't want to subsidise the event and none of the local bands had the visit on the schedule.

I don't want to pay to be able to meet the veterans.
Not this way.
I'm quite willing to invite them for lunch and pay for it, but I don't want the museum to make any gain on remembering my father's collegues.

It's like they are put behind fences.
Actually, they are.

So I wrote the museum telling them that this not why they freed our country.

Ofcourse they didn't answer my mail in time and grant me free access.
But they changed their site.

So I'll remember all those boys and young men that fought for our freedom, and I'll stay critical about all those present day's limitations of our freedom.
We're losing it, step by step. day after day....

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Best envelopes

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:27:43 PDT

Being on the board of the paper and taking care of daily matters made me look into the materials we use.

I've found out that setting targets for myself keeps me well on track, and spending a day at the office with a critical attitude makes a lot visible.

When the paper is ready part of the distribution is done by a group of volunteers.
But there's also a considerable amount of papers that needs to be mailed.
The adreslabel is sticked on a band of paper which is taped around the paper.
In many cases it damages either the topside or the bottomside of it.
I don't think we should accept this, because we always put a lot of work in finding the right photo for the front page.

Most envelopes though get damaged in the mail, especially when they carry a few papers at one time.

Looking on internet made me realise a choice should be made between cost and performance.
Looking better made me find tyvek envelopes.
The expandable ones are perfect, because they allow different amounts of items while keeping the protection high.
I love the fact that the strength of the material is displayed on the site, so one can make a proper choice.

So this will be one of the items on the agenda for the board meeting next week.

Autistic boy with special gift

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:13:21 PDT

It's all over the internet: the autistic boy of 6 playing the piano better than might be expected for his age.

He's called the piano man here, because that song is featured on the online papers here.

He plays on the paino and his father, I guess it's his father, sits right beside him with a guitar.

The boy is completely emerged in the song, commanding his father to sing when he wants him to.

The level of performance is not high. In the beginning it's best, but as soon as he takes more tasks upon him, the notes slip under his fingers.

He's a perfect example of autism for teachers. Especially the former ones of my sons.

Concentration on one task is enough.
Saying something when an autistic person is concentrated makes the performance drop.

I never accepted my kids ordering me around. I never wanted my kids to develop automatic behaviour that is unwanted, because unlearning takes so much more effort than learning proper behaviour right from day one.

Still I smiled when seeing the video.

He completely fits in the image of dark hair and eyebrows, round face, etc etc I've spoken about before.

And I like his enthousiasm.

A dress for the gala and ....

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:49:03 PDT

Time to buy a dress for the school's gala.

We didn't even bother to go to the centre of town, but went straight to Germany.

First we visited a small shop with a nice dress in the window.
She fitted it... was eh...nice.. but when she turned it immediately was a nono.
The zipper was not white, as the colour of the dress, but ironcoloured. It wasn't even well sown in.

Then we went to the shop I had in mind.

We made a choice of ten... and then I picked a blue one.
She said "no", I said "Just try".

She fitted all the dresses.
One we liked very much, so we put that aside.
Then as the last one, the blue dress came.
It's brught dark blue. Lovely blue.
I heard the sounds in the fitting room and knew it was a straight hit.
It was.

She was happy, looked wonderful and she knew she had the dress of her dreams.
Well, it had her.

When we looked at the prize tags we nearly fell on the floor.
So it was decided to buy both dresses.

The didn't have online payment at the shop, so it needed to be fetched at the bank.
I stayed at the shop with my daughter, looking for one of those small cardigans they have these days.
Found one fitting the first dress.
Even the girl of the shop was pleased to see they really coloured well together. "I didn't know that", she said.

We even got a discount without asking when we paid.
Before she gave it she looked at my mala. What is it about buddhists recognising each other and always pleasing each other?

Well, my girl has two dresses and a cardigan that goes with both dresses, not even for the amount of money we would need to buy a simple one here in town.

When we came home I suddenly realised that the first dress was absolutely perfect for the graduation ceremony. So no need to wear the gala dress then, as most girls do.
My daughter has two dresses, perfect for the occassions.

Now we need shoes....

White and blue ones.
We'll manage.

He was stubborn

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:23:14 PDT

We often buy our groceries in Germany. It's one of the positive things of living in a border region.
We buy Dutch vegetables in Germany for less than we would have paid in our own country.
27 cents for a large bunch with huge radishes. For instance. Here we pay....tadam..... 1.19!!
The same goes for tomatoes, carrots and potatoes, and a lot more.
The bread for toasting is half the prize, the cheese 1/3 less.
Laundry softener is 75 cents, and not 3,65.

Need I go on?

Because the male brains rested at home and not on the job due to vacation and female brains hardly ever rest, I told him last week not to plan a trip to Germany on may 1 because it's labourday there and all shops will be closed.
He said yes, ok.

This morning he stood dressed and ready to go at the front door.
"Come on, come on...what takes so long?"
"We'd better not go."
"I want to"

I hesitated for a moment, remembered I told him, decided I like to see the wonderful trees and new green en route and stepped in the car.

Gradually he noticed there were less Dutch cars on the road.
"Guess many Dutch are camping out with this weather", he said.
"Don't think so"

When we arrived at the shops he said he was happy it was not as busy as on wednesdays. One could see the difference with a tuesday.
"Yep, you're so right. And what a tuesday."

He should have noticed the maypoles in front of the houses....
Well, it pleads for him he had his eyes on the road.

When he was already on the parkingarea he suddenly realised.

Hahahahahahhaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Queensday 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:11:26 PDT

Today it's Queensday.
A very important day in The Netherlands.
It was the birthday our our former Queen Juliana and when she resigned she asked her daughter to keep that day as special as it is and celebrate her birthday with the country on that day.
Our Queen Beatrix celebrates her birthday in january, so the weather is never well enough.

On Queensday the country turns orange and nuts.
People dress up, children decorate their bycicles and have a parade, or collect old stuff and toys and sell it on the children's markets.
At many places old fashioned and modern games are organised and those who want to stay at home can watch TV for hours, because the visit of the Queen and her family to two towns in the country is always broadcasted.

This year the girls went to the main market in town, where sportclubs presented themselves, musicbands played, and free icecreams and sugarfluffs were handed out.
More of us planned to go there too and join them, but when we were already dressed and ready to go we saw on twitter we'd better stay at home, as the trafficjams were enormous and we didn't want to sit for hours in the car in the hot sun and arrive after it was closed.

Wise decision.

We enjoyed the TV, the sun, and the sun.

It was a pleasant relaxed queensday, worth to be remembered.

Oh, the girls bought a book for their collection, a balletbureauset and a few other little things.
Never found what they were looking for.

That's Why God Made The Radio

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 04 May 2012 03:42:09 PDT

1. The Beach Boys are back together (everyone alive, Dennis and Carl have passed, including Brian) for the first time in 25 years. It's their 50th Anniversary tour. Their new single is called, “That's Why God made the Radio”. Did radio play a huge part of your growing up years?

Yes. When I was very young we didn't have TV, so we would sit around the radio to listen to the music or stories or recorded theatre.
I was very happy to get my own radio, with lamps and relais inside, and copper wiring. Once in a while something burned through. Most of the time a relais. So soon I could repair it myself.
Later I heard my father had been a radio technician in his younger years.
Genes?

2. What is something that you are disappointed about right now?

I was saving money for a trip to england, but we need the money for other things, so it's gradually disappearing instead of growing.

3. What are you really anticipating right now?

The final exam of one of my daughters.

4. When was the last time you watched your favorite movie? What is it?

Out of Africa.
It was on TV about a month ago, but I watched only a small part. Visitors.

5. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be?

One woman, and one man: gram and dad. Can't make a choice between them.

6. Who was the last person you hung up on?

I try not to end a phonecall as sudden. So I can't remember. Guess it was one of the boys moaning for more money.

7. Does it bother you when meme makers separate questions that could've been combined?

Noop, but I do feel bothered when they're about american issues, about american tv shows etc. I'm not american.

8. What is the first animal you would run to see if you went to the zoo?

So you want to see me running? Haha!!! You won't. LOL!

When I would go to the zoo where I went as a child I would go to the elephants. They say elephants can remember well. I wonder if he remembers me.

9. What is the food you always buy at the grocery store that you can't live without?

A kind of gingerbread I eat in the morning. It's the only food that keeps my sugarlevels in order in the morning.

Want to particpate or read more answers?
Click the image.

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Spring storm hunting blossom leaves

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:42:05 PDT

I feel pity for all those who need to leave their home.
Me oh my, it's storming, and not just a bit.
On TV I saw a large curl, so we can expect a few days more of this weather, because there is hardly any movement in the weather system right now.

In the bach garden the trees are full in blossom.
If each flower would become an apple I would need to give them out through my blog to have them eaten all. LOL!

Right now the garden slowly starts to be covered in the small whitish, pink and red blossom leaves.
It looks nice, but I prefer them to stay on the trees.

Yesterday evening the weather was still quiet.
We had a meeting in town and it was nice to walk through the sunny streets.
Got ourselves some take-away food at the wok restaurant. It was absolutely great. And far too much for me, so I took the rest home.

After dinner I had a talk with someone who applied for a training job.
Then we had a meeting.

Well, we didn't make the meeting.
No problem, as none of the paper ever attended those meetings, feeling an outsider because we only rent some space there and are not part of anything of the organisation there.

Instead of stumbling in far too late, we decided to do some other jobs at the office.
They're done now.

One step forward to a diploma

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:11:09 PDT

Just a few days more and the lessons for one of the girls are over.
Nect week it's vacation, then a week with two days of lessons and a few days to ask the last questions and then it's final exams.

Today we had to look through all the testresults and check if they were written down a 100% correct.

At the beginning of they year I gave her a nice box to save all her stuff and keep them at one place.
It was the best I could have done.
We took the box and all we had to do was put the content on the table, bottom papers on top and read the results aloud. One reading, one checking.
After reading each paper we put it back in the box and that was it.
Checking finished in a few minutes.

All was OK.

We both signed the list off and that was it.

She's doing well.
Just one subject poses a risk, but she'll spend extra time studying it the next weeks.

Keep your fingers crossed, please.

The government tumbled down

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:05:28 PDT

Much to our surprise we got a socalled minority cabinet after the last elections.
And not even that, the minority cabinet had to deal with a party that was not part of the government itself, but allowed them to function by "accepting" them. Only that way they had a majority in the parliament.

Never ever has a government created so many laws, large and small ones, which came through parliament, but were sabled down in the process of holding them beside the law and ethics. This is done in the socalled Second Room.

After 7 weeks retreat to agree on massive cutbacks to get out of the recession, last week they agreed for what they had accomplished so far.
The last step was send it to a special organisation to be officially reviewed financially.
So one could say everything was done and it only needed to be signed off after controling the calculations.

This came back on saturday and then the acceptance partner, Geert Wilders, said he didn't agree with it after all and pulled the plug.

In a way I'm happy this government will be gone.
It was a mess, kind of a bunch of amateurs.
But in the middle of a recession? When cutbacks need to be agreed on?

The Queen didn't agree to the resignation straight-away, offering them time to agree after all.

They won't...

Outdoor fans and quality of living

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:27:16 PDT

The neighbourhood party was fun.
Meeting new people, talking with the old friends.
We are among the people who live the longest here and we were happy to see some of our friends and get into a good conversation.

The subject was quite unexpected: whether to buy an outdoor ceiling fan for this summer.
The past summers have mainly bee too wet, but when it got dryer we had very high temperatures that drove us into our homes with the windows closed to keep the heat outside.
That's a real pity because we all have very nice back gardens with gardenfurniture to sit outside and so we want to do during those hot summer days.
So having an outdoor ceiling fan is not a strange idea. On the contrary.
It will enable us to stay outside and feel well, and an additional gain is that the flow of air keeps insects away.

As it's normal here to live in a rented house, we have to talk with the house owner to enable those fans. They can take damp and moist, but no direct contact with water, so we need to have a kind of roof over the patio.
We already have a plastic one, which can be removed at will. And one of the houses in the street behind us has a fixed wooden roof with anti rain protection on it.
So we can show the house owner it's a nice addition to the house and it enhances living comfort.

I think there's a task for the new board of the neighbourhood organisation here.

Autism and hypersensitivity

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:19:15 PDT

As most readers know one of my sons is diagnosed with classic autism.
One of the symptoms is hypersensitivity to sounds.

That the neighbourhood party opened with a percussionband right in front of our house was not appreciated by him.
I gave him a headset to listen to his own music at the back of the house, but the sounds move through the walls and floor and arrive at him as soft tremblings.
Just like a deaf person he's able to read them well and he still feels bombarded by sound.

My experience is that not many people are aware what hypersensitive people experience.
Light is an issue for him too.
We ignore so many lights and reflections and we don't realise it at all.
It makes me see what a miracles our brains are.
They filter out what would make us mad in the end.

But the autistic brain doesn't filter that out.
When I open a door and a reflection is caught in it, it can arrive at his brain as a forceful flash of light.
It can take him off guard and influence his mood within a second.

At school they had absolutely no understanding for it, and using matted paint was not in their repertoire of taking care of autistic pupils.
Here at the house I've changed the paint over the years after I became aware of the reflection problem.
It's such a minor adjustment and can means so much.

The best drums

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:12:46 PDT

This week our neighbourhood exists 25 years.
We were among the people who started the neighbourhood organisation.
Our first goal was to welcome people in the neighbourhood. Later we got more and more issues to deal with and the organisation grew and after a few years we considered it time other people took action as well.

That we were involved people are forgotten, but not that it started in our street.
Right at this time a percussion band is drumming amazingly well.

As a former band member I can distinguish between good and bad instruments and these sounded so well that I had a quick peek at the instruments they are using. Right. Just as I thought: GMS Drums.

In the bagpipe band we used quite some snare drums and they used a few different brands, because people brought their own drums with them. Even though all of them could be adjusted, the sound was not as good as when a band uses high performance instruments of the same brand. Especially when playing outside under all sorts of weatherconditions.

In the past I used to play pipers and when the sun started to burn on the instrument the pitch changed a bit. People didn't hear that well, but as I can hear very well it was not a nice sound.
So at that age, I was about 8, I decided that it was important to have the same brand instruments for the complete band.

The new band leader took me with him to shop for new instruments when the band finally could afford them and the advice of the expert impressed me. I never forgot it.

It's a pity the band outside has stopped, but within a few minites theyll start again, so I'm going to enjoy their wonderful music.

Autism and black hair

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:59:49 PDT

Last week I saw a program on the BBC about autism.

Most young people with autism had black hair and had the same bodybuilt.
The resemblance between them was striking.

The first time my eyes caught this was about 15 years ago.
An online friend showed me some photos of her brother. He was diagnosed as autistic and displayed the same behavior as my son.
By the looks of them they could have been brothers.

Since then I've seen many autistic people and I think these people with the thick black hair belong to a certain syndrome within the autism diagnosis.
They all have a strong need to be in company, even though they have a hard time dealing with social behaviour and they tend to exclude strangers from their needs, thus limiting the social environment.
Most parents feel they are dedicating a lot of time to care and attention. And as learning is slow, they have to invest much energy in repeating small lessons, like "eat with a closed mouth", "say hello", and such.
Most of them, if not all, have eating disorders. Their hunger is profound, resulting in obesity.

Most parents of these young people complain about their lack of control over their own eating behaviour.
The costs are in a time like this a real problem, and the financial problems are enlarged by the fact that often new chairs need to be bought.

We've dealt and are still dealing with the same problems.
We've had a lot of chairs in our home that kept their identity for about a month. Then they were wood again.
It was not only the weight that caused that, but also a kind of tight repertoire of body movements.

Another feature which impresses me is the delay in development in dependency.
It's like they won't develop further than a certain age in their attachment to people.
My son behaves like a kid of 8 to 12. That's it.

When you're not aware that you have to look for small changes and should not expect clearly visible progress you're having a very hard time with these kids,even though they're very kind between the meltdowns.

Stamps and coins

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 17:36:39 PDT

Yesterday I received some very nice stamps.
Collecting stamps has been one of my hobbies even though I wasn't able to invest much money.
In the past friends and family used to give me stamps. Sometimes I got a small bag they bought at the local stamp collector's shop.
The past years I've had some very nice ones when ordering beads for bracelets and telling the seller I also collect stamps and would prefer stamps on the envelope.

It's funny some people remember things and forget some important associations.

The same person who gave me the stamps yesterday told me he knew a trusted site online where they offer bulk morgan dollars for sale.
I was amazed, but also amused.
He thought I had a coin collection too?

Well, I do have a few ones, but they never were considered a collection.
I've never been able to collect the ones which were named after the famous coin engraver George T. Morgan.
Buying them in bulk is great as it's a good way to invest or to get presents for other collectors.

Be sure to educate yourself about the rules of purchases of these investor's and collector's items.

We escaped by fate.

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:40:18 PDT

A while ago we planned to go this weekend to Amsterdam to find a dress for the gala event of school for one of the girls. She's petite and grandma Lotus has dresses of the perfect size in het shop and otherwise would want to make one for her.
But one way or another we forgot and yesterday evening, when we suddenly remembered the plans, we decided not to go.

The train we would have taken on our way home collided with another train. About 56 people were seriously injured. 13 of them are fighting for their lives. Over a hundred people had injuries which were less serious.

It's such a strange thought that we could have been on one of those trains, and that so many people were injured.

I have escaped a serious accident before.
When I was still living at home, I used to watch my father shave and talk with him before he went to work.
The routine was that he went to the bathroom and when he had passed my room I would leave it and walk behind him.

That day, for some unknown reason, I walked in front of him.
Would I have stayed in my room, like all the other days, just a few moments longer, I would have had the large marmor lamp on my head. I would have been killed, as the monstruosum was large, and tremendously heavy. For a long time I've felt very grateful that I escaped that ill fate.

Today I feel tremendously sorry for all those who were on the trains there. It must have been awful!

We're all different.

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:20:21 PDT

Being a mom of sons I've been confronted with a lot of questions about all sorts of subjects.
And because I'm a psychologist and I've worked at a hospital, people tend to think I know everything about everything. Which isn't true, ofcourse.

The other day a boy living in the neighbourhood was send to me by his mother because she thought I knew something about products some men and some sporters use.
The boys was fond of sports and thought he could boost his muscle growth with xanogen.

Ofcourse I was interested to know who gave him that information. Turned out he overheard some older guys talking about it.
As I think that kids never should use hormone supplements or something else to make them discountent with the size of bodyparts or their identity I told him this product was not meant for kids his age.
I turned to his mother to give her more information about the lack of knowledge about the product and about the cost of it. She nearly got a heart attack when she heard this was a testosterone booster and when she realised that she'd sent her own son to me with questions she should have researched herself well on internet, she uttered a thousand appologies.

All I can say about products like these is that a good upbringing and sound self-reflection should make a man aware that what he can't change with practice he shouldn't try to change. We're all different and that makes life so very interesting.

'Til I Hear It From You

noreply@blogger.com (Laane) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:32:44 PDT

1. If someone, that you trusted, told you that your lover was cheating, would you believe them or not?

I'm too old for that question.

2. What is something that you are disappointed about right now?

I planned to do more this week, and there were too many things going on to stick to my plans. So no tidy attick.

3. Jonathan Frid, who was the original Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows from 1967-1971, passed away in Canada at the age of 87. Who is your favorite vampire?

None.

4. Should there be age limits on social networking sites such as facebook?

Well, I worked out a good system with the girls when school forced them to take a facebook account. I play at their facebook a game I like, so when something goes on they can easily ask me to have a look.
And they do.
Now I think the girls are old and wise enough to make good decisions at social sites, but I think parents should involve themselves far more than some do. Kids can write so easy: "Tomorrow we all have to go to the dentist at once" thus informing people about an empty house. And it's not only kids who are not aware of the implications of their writings.
So an age level and good information are requirements.
I also think that children shouldn't use their won names on internet.

5. Tell us about your pets. Do you have one that you wish would run away?

No pets here. But I would wish the allergies would run away. Does that count?

6. Do you ever have a hard time with morals?

No. Not at all.
But I do have a hard time with some people who think I do.

7. Did you make 'a plan' the first time you made love or did it just happen?

No plan, but we didn't jump on the bed the first time we met either.

8. Do you agree that fame is lousy or would you love to give it a try? Why?

Depends under what circumstances fame is an issue.
I've been on TV, at the first page of the paper and such, all in a good way, and it was a bit annoying to wait for the elevator at a large shop in town and being stared at, and people pushing elbows and whispering "that's her", but a friendly nod and just moving on was OK.

9. Do you believe in forever, as in 'love forever'?

I think some couples expeirence love forever.yes.
But many should split up when the kids are grown.
Maybe there are far more different kinds of love than we are aware of and we should incoorporate that difference in life far more.
I see many couples dealing well with life when they have kids to focus on, but when the kids leave there's nothing that binds them.
It should be easier to split up then. Like starting your life anew. Wiser.

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