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Organise All The Things

Tuesday, May 23, 2017 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

I have a week off, so naturally I’ve spent the past days working my ass off. It started Saturday with sorting out Mom’s shed. It was a bit messy on the shelves and floor. But the worst offender were the three cupboards on the wall. This is where my dad kept his tools and related things. However, he wasn’t very organised, and he hadn’t used any of it in years. In fact, the cabinets were taped shut and transferred over as is when my parents moved here four years ago. Now with Dad gone, it’s slowly time to start going through things. And the shed seemed the easiest to start.

I took out everything in the cabinets and sorted it. First into what could stay, what had be thrown out and what can be given away/sold. I found a ridiculous amount of drill bits. Not just boxed sets, but also many, many loose ones. I kept the three sets that were still complete, and sorted the singles in usable or not. Tossed all unusable, and half of the still usable ones for being all the same. I also found a second jig saw, hidden in a corner, and three complete sets of ratcheting wrenches (same contents)… So yeah, the doubles made it to the pile of to be sold/given away.

After sorting, all the tools and stuff turned out to easily fit in one cupboard. Leaving the other two free for new things. I put stuff related to bicycles and cars in there, as well as odds and ends. Leaving the shelves free for planting pots and Mom’s boxes of Christmas decorations, which we moved down from the storage room in the apartment itself.

Then Sunday I went over there again in the afternoon for project two: Mom’s wardrobe. We went through it all, and ended up with four large bags of clothes and other textiles to be donated. We ordered take out, and after finishing that we also tackled the night stand. The three drawers were filled with stuff. After sorting what to get rid off, I consolidated all the jewelry in fewer boxes. This saved so much space that she can now actually see what she has in the drawers.

Monday we took a break since we had a birthday to go to. My Aunt turned 88. You wouldn’t say, though, if you saw her running about. Sometimes literally. She still lives on her own in a house (not an apartment or something like that), does everything herself and regularly goes everywhere by public transport and walking. She used to babysit the neighbour’s kids. But they are now all high school aged so don’t really need that anymore. However, my aunt helps them (and their mother) with their paper route. For fun 😀

I did start organising and sorting through my own shed in the evening. Inspiration and such. I have three large, heavy, cabinets in there that keep stuff. One of them isn’t very practical, though. It has drawers in the bottom, an open space in the middle, and a small cupboard at the top. However, one of the drawers is missing, and the others are hard to open. And the cupboard is too small to hold many of the things that I need it to hold. So I cleared a path and heaved and heaved and heaved until I had dragged it all the way out and against the wall of the house. I removed the drawers and put in an old rug to turn it into a cat box. The top now holds little lanterns I can hang outside when sitting there and it’s getting darker. This was about all I could accomplish in an evening, so I pushed the rest of the crap back inside and locked up.

Today we did the storage room in the apartment. We started in the morning as I have a date with the opera tonight. I pulled everything out so Mom could vacuum and mop the floor. Then we repeated the precious process. Sorting things into trash, donate and keep. I then put all the stuff for keeps back so she can not only find everything again, but also can move around in there. Which is useful as the room also holds the washer and dryer.

We then planned to drive to the thrift store to donate all our stuff but we ran into one of Mom’s neighbours. She works in a charity shop where people who need it can come, a couple times a year, to pick out clothes. So we gave her all the bags of clothes and textiles and Dad’s shoes. This left a much more manageable pile for the thrift shop. We stopped at my place to pick up some things that I’d found Monday evening and dropped everything off. And I have some time left now to continue with the shed before I have to shower and leave.

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Birthday, Dad, Family, Home, Mom, Parents, Photos

Snurgle

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

Best thing that happened today? My new vacuum cleaner hose arrived. The old one tore. At first I wrapped it in duct tape, but within a week or two that started to fail as well. So I bit the bullet and ordered a new one. It’s extra long and I’m looking forward to the next time I get to use it (which I normally hate).

Monday I took a gander to the hospital. Nothing serious, it was just time for the long awaited fix up on my left side. After my surgery last year it left a small pointy blob on my left side. A dog ear, as the doctor called it. Nothing serious, but it doesn’t look nice. So after the final check-up in June when they were satisfied everything else was fine, they said they’d fix that later. Last month I got a letter that later was now.

The whole process is just a minor surgery under local anesthetic. Mom couldn’t go with me, but my uncle was so he drove me. All in all the waiting took much longer than the actual procedure. That was done in ten minutes. Nothing more than extending the existing cut a little and removing some fatty tissue below before stitching me up again. And with it being dissolvable stitches I don’t even have to come back.

The night before I had been to visit my uncle and aunt. For coffee and to ask my uncle to go with me. While there, their cat, Tommy, decided attention was needed. Unfortunately their coffee table is too low to dive under and snurgle that belly.

Saturday was a lovely day where me and the parents went out to dinner with another of my aunts and uncles and their kids and grandkids in honor of my aunt’s birthday. We went to this steakhouse were they had amazing meat.

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Cats, Eating Out, Family, Health, Home, Photos, Transgender, Transitioning

Friends and Family

Saturday, June 18, 2016 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

Sunday I had the girls, and their boys, over for dinner. First time in my new house, with my new table and my new chairs 😀

Wednesday it was time for grocery shopping. On the way, Mom and I decided to stop by at my aunt and uncle’s. My aunt was home alone so we joined her for some coffee. Afterwards we made our way to the store and quickly got our groceries done.

And today we were in Harderwijk for my aunt’s 80th birthday. Like a few years ago the party was at the day care facility my cousin works at. This has the advantage of enough space for the adults to sit and chat, and more than enough space and fun toys for the kids to play with. And get a fun picture taken with Dad 😀

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Dad, Family, Friends, Mom, Parents, Photos

In the Jungle, the Mighty Jungle, Kung Fu Panda Sleeps Tonight

Monday, April 18, 2016 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

It was Mom birthday yesterday. Happy Birthday, Mom!

(My parents are very good at having their picture taken… )

Last week I saw The Jungle Book with Gert. It is an amazing movie, absolutely stunning in visual quality. The story is familiar but re-told in a good way, with some added darkness here and there to make it more realistic. I love that they kept the magicality of the whole by still letting the animals talk, and sing. Neel Sethi performs a good Mowgli, it it occasionally uneven, but I didn’t mind as that only underscores the fact that Mowgli’s a kid an really in over his head.

Today we saw Kung Fu Panda 3. I’d never seen the first two, so over the weekend I watched both of them on Netflix. I was pleasantly surprised by all three of them. They are really good. They tell good stories, I like the characters and the animation is very nice.

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Birthday, Family, Friends, Gert, Mom, Movies, Parents, Pathé, Photos, Review

Chairs ❤

Tuesday, March 29, 2016 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

These first few days of my week off have gone rather fast. Did some more sorting of things around the house and such. Sunday it was Easter. So I had Easter brunch and later dinner at Nienke’s. Which was fun. And in between I wandered off to the parents to visit them.

Monday I spent watching movies (Boychoir (good!), Boyhood (quite good!) and Winter’s Tale (mediocre)) and baking a cheesecake with ‘lange vinger’ crust and topping.

Yesterday, Mom and I went to Ikea where I bought some of those ultra small Billy-like things to store my movies. We also ordered a table and chairs-set for Nienke. And of course we got small stuff, because it is impossible to go to Ikea and not buy small stuff.

The furniture will be delivered this Saturday, can’t wait to start building. *bounce*

And, this morning, my chairs came. I’m in love. I’ve been eyeing these Eames-replica chairs for quite some time now. And with having my own dining table, I have space for my own chairs. While the chairs aren’t very expensive, they were too expensive to get all six at once. So I was planning on buying them per two or three. However, when I was at the parents, last Sunday, Mom and I got to talking about the chairs. And she said they would give them to me o.0

I was flabbergasted, and very grateful. We immediately ordered them, so I could finally have a table people can sit at. They came in pieces this morning. The seat is one piece, but the legs I had to build myself. This was a pretty easy job to do, so they we’re up and running standing in no time.

 

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Family, Food, Friends, Home, IKEA, Mom, Movies, Nienke, Parents, Photos, Shopping

Cupboard

Monday, March 21, 2016 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

Now that Nienke has moved, the need for a new kitchen cupboard has become rather more urgent. I’ve been scouring Marktplaats for a while now looking for a good match. But I’m pretty picky and hadn’t found anything yet. I wanted a white cupboard, with an open space in the middle, at least two drawers, a shelf with glass in the doors in the top part and tall enough that it sort of matches with the bookcases. Oh, and also affordable and requiring little work 😀

I saw some that matched most of what I wanted but weren’t quite it. I found a gorgeous cupboard that structurally was exactly what I wanted. Except it was of this brand that has the stupid, stupid habit of putting their brand name in flowy letters all over the piece. Why the fuck would I want furniture that says Riviera Maison in giant ass letters! I could sand it off, but then I’d have to repaint probably the whole thing. So, not worth it.

Other cupboards were too short, or had no drawers, or no glass doors at the top, and so on. Eventually, however, I stumbled across one that was perfect. Except it wasn’t white. But, based on the image, it seemed the wood was mostly unvarnished so it should be easy to paint. I mailed back and forth with the seller and he confirmed it wasn’t varnished. If the only thing I had to do was paint, I’m good. So we agreed I would come pick it up Friday Morning.

The night before I went out with Kim to eat at Subway and then see Allegiant. Which is not a very good movie. Taken separately as an independent scifi, it’s okay. As a part of the Divergent series, no. It has veered so far off track it looks nothing like the book. And what they replaced it with…

The next morning my Uncle, whom I ‘d chartered to drive and help, and I headed for the rent-a-trailer place in town. I’d reserved one the day before with a hood on it in case of rain. Once trailered-up, we headed to Friesland to pick up my cupboard. And it is glorious.

It splits up in two pieces and it isn’t very heavy so it was easy to transport and get it inside. I spent the rest of Friday and this weekend painting. So. Much. Painting.

I bought standard white paint for the exterior. I also snagged a jar of deep red base paint from the sale bin. I didn’t know what I would use it on, but I loved the colour. In the end, I decided to use that for the interior of the cupboard. Which turned out to be best decision ever 😀

 

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: DIY, Eating Out, Family, Friends, Home, Kim, Marktplaats, Movies, Pathé, Photos, Review, Shopping, Subway

Treasures

Saturday, October 31, 2015 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

20151030_131423I hit the treasure trove yesterday and today! It’s been a while since I’d been to the thrift store in town so I decided to pay them a visit yesterday. I came home with seventeen books for just € 3,95.

The pile of red books on the bottom is a series of fairy tale books. They were published when I was a kid. I had two back then. Each book had a main fairy tale and some smaller stories and came with a cassette to listen to the stories and read along. I got a couple more of those a while ago at the thrift store, but now I hit the mother lode.

Snow White, Aladdin, Rumpelstiltskin, Cinderella, Heidi, Sleeping Beauty and Thumbelina. I can’t wait to read them while playing the matching audio from this playlist. Ready to be a kid again 🙂

I also found two picture books, two books on calligraphy, a beautifully bound copy of the Pickwick Papers, a dictionary of Saints, three Nancy Drew books and the Tales of Beedle the Bard. Be still my heart 🙂

20151031_121418Then today I went over to my Parent’s building. They put together a small autumn fair where local crafters could sell their wares. This was the second time they did something like this. I missed the first time, but I wanted to support them. It’s nice when there’s things like this in town. Plus, it places them more into the community at large.

My Aunt turned out to be there as well with a big grab bag stand for her local cat charity. I grabbed for myself a few times and got lucky. Then Mom made me grab for her a few times, I got lucky. Then Mom’s neighbour made me grab for her, and I got less lucky.

I aso bought two hand made christmas cards, a crochet pumpkin, candle holder, two stoneware bowls and cookies. The cookies were very, very tasty.

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Books, Crafts, Family, Mom, Photos, Shopping, Thrift Store

Birds & Butterflies

Sunday, October 18, 2015 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

This afternoon I went to see my cousin’s new baby together with Mom and my Aunt.  She a very cute baby and so far, as I understand from the new parents, a very easy baby. Let’s hope for them she stays that way.

I managed to finish the hanger yesterday, right on time 🙂 I’d been working on it over the last few nights while watching Mutant X and Andromeda. I forgot how bad Mutant X is, and how good Andromeda is.

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Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Crafting, Family, Mom, Photos, Scifi, Sewing, TV

It’s On!

Saturday, August 15, 2015 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

20150810_174854The past few days have been exhausting, but so worth it.

I got the keys to the new house five days ago. I had taken that day off work so right after that we got the show on the road. My Mom started cleaning, and then shortly after Joran arrived to help move. We’d borrowed a little handcart from Eva so we could go back-and-forth across the hundred or so yards between the old and the new house. Joran and I spent the day moving big cabinets and related stuff to the new house with the handcart. At the end of the day, we had another barbecue with the left over meat from Nienke’s birthday.

Over the next few days we just moved things whenever we could. Me around my work hours, Nienke throughout the day. It’s damned convenient she’s home right now 🙂

And whenever we’re not moving things over there, we’re moving things in the old house from upstairs to downstairs.

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Today, the 15th, was the big moving day. My aunt and uncle came to help, along with their big cart and toolbox. We moved even more big stuff, including the sofa’s and beds. Tonight is the first night we’re sleeping at the new place!

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Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Family, Friends, Furniture, Home, Nienke

We Bought eh… Went to the Zoo!

Saturday, March 28, 2015 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

1987-08 Noorder Dierenpark EmmenI went to the zoo in Emmen today with Nienke and Kim. I hadn’t been there since I was about three, when this picture was taken. That’s my aunt with her children, my other aunt, little me, and my Mom. I don’t really remember anything from when I was that young, thus I have zero recollection of the zoo. So everything was new, and I had a great time.There was some rain early in the afternoon and again near the end, but on the whole it was nice. There were not that many people so we had good access to everything. And most animals were present and willing to show themselves 😀 

I’d brought my camera and am very pleased with the results I got. I ended up, after culling it, with 169 pictures. I’ll show highlights here, if you’re friends with me on Facebook, you can see the rest there. So, without further ado, let there be pictures! I’ll also be featuring a few in bigger sizes over the next few days.

Butterflies

Butterflies

021 Citroenhaai

Lemon Shark

 

027 Koraalduivel

Red Lionfish

 

037 Koningspython

Ball Python

 

052 Kim & Nienke

Kim & Nienke with a goat

 

083 Gewoon stekelvarken

Crested Porcupine

 

103 Jaguar

Jaguar

 

130 Leeuwen

Lioness

 

142 Witte neushoorns

White rhinos

 

149 Giraffes

Giraffe

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Animals, Cats, Emmen Zoo, Family, Friends, Kim, Memories, Mom, Nienke, Parents, Photos, Zoo
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