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Dinner of Champions

Friday, December 26, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

20141225_191427I started yesterday morning with making the dessert and the starter. Like last year, I planned a cheesecake, but unlike last year, I went for slightly smaller portions and more decorative. So I baked it in a cake tin so I could press out shapes.

The starter was a combination of two tiny cream-cheese and ham pastries and two pieces of deviled egg. The pastry cups were store bought so I stuffed them with herbal cream cheese and topped it with prosciutto. I then boiled the eggs and made a mustardy filling.

By the time noon came around, the cheesecake was cooling, the pastries and eggs were in the fridge waiting for the evening, and all the vegetables (carrot, potato, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) for the main courses were sliced, diced, shredded and what not.

This left me enough time to have a cuppa tea and relax 😀

Later in the afternoon I finished the dessert by using a ring mold to cut out four circles and decorated it with blackberries on top and sliced strawberry around it.

After that, it was time for actual cooking. I started with a traditional oven roasted chicken and veggies. After quickly browning the chicken in a pan I put the sliced and diced carrots and potatoes in an oven dish, mixed with herbs and spices, spread the chicken on top and shoved it in the oven to forget about it until the rest was done.

20141225_191052Then I put the cut broccoli and cauliflower in another oven dish and made a cheese sauce. When that was done, I poured it over the veggies, and added this dish to the oven, also.

For the third dish, I stir fried shredded Brussels sprouts and cabbage with bacon bits and curry powder.

And finally, I made chicken saltimbocca: chicken covered with prosciutto, spinach and parmesan and then rolled up. First it gets cooked on all sides so it stays together better, and then the pan is filled with a chicken broth and it is boiled in that for a while.

While these were finishing up, I got the rest out of the oven/off the stove and on the table and starter plated up. Time to eat!

The food was well received, even Dad, who normally doesn’t really say anything about it but just eats, came out and said he liked it. Even the dessert, which I think he skipped last year, went in smoothly. I call that a win 🙂

Tonight it’s Nienke’s turn to do dinner. The plan is roast beef with broccoli and cream sauce and roasted potato. Sounds delicious!

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Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Baking, Christmas, Cooking, Dad, Family, Food, Friends, Holidays, Mom, Nienke, Parents, Photos

Ceremony of Lights

Sunday, November 9, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

DSC_1522The cemetery where my grandparents are buried held a remembrance event last night. They covered all the paths and walkways on both sides with tealights in jars and invited people to come and bring a light to their loved ones there. They also offered warm drinks and cake because winter’s nights are cold. If you didn’t have a candle or light, you could get one there. And there was also a rack to place lights on if your loved one wasn’t buried here. All of this free of charge, just asking for a donation if you could.

DSC_1524I went with Mom and my Aunt and were planning to visit not just my grandparents, but also my grandfather’s parents, and my grandfather’s brother and his wife. We had planned in advance, so I had bought two lanterns while I was at Ikea getting my plates. My aunt had also bought a lantern so we had one for each grave. And earlier in the day, Mom and I had stopped at the florist for some pretty plants that can withstand the winter.

The cemetery looked beautiful, and it was really nice to see so many people there. We visit the graves fairly regularly, individually, and then we clean it, or maybe bring some new flowers. But now we were together, not just the three of us, but all of us people, sharing a moment.

We cleaned the gravestones, put up the plants and the lights. And in the background they played music, interspersed with people reading poetry. Once we had done that, we went back towards the entrance to get something warm to drink. I got one of the candles they offered there and placed it on the rack for people not buried there in remembrance of others that have died, both in my family as well as friends.

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Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Family, Me, Memories, Mom, Reflection

Pro Musica

Monday, October 27, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

Yesterday I went to see (and listen to) a performance of Pro Musica, the women’s choir from a few towns over. They celebrated their 25 year jubilee with a concert in the church in their town. To help them celebrate, they invited a number of guest performers to sing with them. Among them, a number of men of the choir my uncle sings in, including said uncle. Because of that, Mom and I decided to go, and it would be more fun for my aunt to have company in the audience.

They started with Alta Trinita Beata before the opening words and followed this with a top five of their favourite songs, as chosen by the members themselves. Then they introduced the Roder Boys’ Choir. A highly trained and well respected choir in the English tradition, robes and all. They sang a few songs and the director explained some things about the English choir tradition and how progressing through the choir works, as two of the boys present were new members of the choir itself (probationers).

This was followed by their regular pianist playing two instrumental duets with an organist playing the small church organ.

Then, it was time for the main piece, the Requiem of Gabriel Fauré. It had long been their dream to sing this, but, as a women’s choir, they lacked the male voices required. So, for their jubilee, they decided to ask a number of project singers to come and help. They rehearsed for months, and it culminated in a beautiful performance of a beautiful piece of music. The only thing I found intrusive occasionally, was the piano. It had a tendency to be too loud, and too persistent in a melody which, to my ear, didn’t quite match the vocals. However, seeing as this was their regular, professionally trained, pianist, I assume this was due to acoustics and my less than optimum seat.

All in all, I enjoyed it, musically, but seating was sub-par.

Programme:

Pro Musica

  • Alta Trinita Beata

Opening Words

Pro Musica

  • In Humility our Savior (M.J. Gabbott, T.H. Prichard)
  • I Will Sing With the Spirit (J. Rutter)
  • Pater Noster (A. de Klerk)
  • Nigra Sum (P. Casals)
  • Cantique de Jean Racine (G. Fauré)

The Roder Boys’ Choir

  • Wohl mir, das ich Jesum habe (J.S. Bach)
  • Wash Me Thoroughly (S.S. Wesley)
  • Nunc dimitis (from the canticles in G) (C.V. Stanford)
  • If Thou Shalt Confess (C.V. Stanford)

Liesbeth Wildeveld & Jan de Roos

  • Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit BWV 106 (J.S. Bach)
  • Slavische Dans opus 72 nr. 2 (A. Dvořák)

Pro Musica with Project Singers

Requiem by Gabriel Fauré

  • Introit et Kyrie
  • Offertoire
  • Sanctus
  • Pie Jesu
  • Agnus Dei
  • Libera Me
  • In Paradisum
Posted in: General Tagged: Family, Mom, Music, Review

Koos, Thomas and Robert

Friday, October 3, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

Social Media can be a really useful thing 🙂 After my birthday party last Sunday, my little (second) cousin lost his favourite stuffed animal Koos while on the way home. He was seated on the back of the bicycle and fell asleep and probably dropped it. Since it was his favourite, he was devastated. Monday I discussed this with Kim and later that day she sent me a link and said “isn’t this it?”

The link was to a Facebook post in a a local group, someone had found a stuffed animal and was looking for the owner. It sounded just like Koos. So I posted there, saying it was probably my cousin’s and warned my cousin that it looked like Koos had been found. She contacted the lady and indeed, it was Koos! Yesterday they picked him up there.  Lucky for them he’d already fallen off the bike still in town, and luckily there are people that are willing to put in some effort to return lost goods. Faith in humanity restored 🙂

Monday I also went to the movies with Kim. We saw The Mazerunner. It was entertaining, but a bit too fast and easy. It also reinforced that it’s really not a good idea to read the books that close to seeing the film (I finished the book that morning). The differences really stood out, and I think if there had been a week or twee between, I would’ve liked the movie better. Not that it was bad, but was okay-good, not good or good-good.

Then yesterday I went to see The Equalizer with Gert. I don’t normally watch straight-up action movies, but I’d seen the trailer for The Equalizer a few times among the previews before other movies and it seemed interesting. I’m glad to be able to say that the movie lived up to my expectations.

The story revolves around Robert, a middle aged man with a hidden past, who lives a quiet life with set routines. During the day, he works at a big hardware store where he tries to help his co-workers. At night, when he can’t sleep, he goes to a diner to read his book and talk with another regular there: Alina, a young prostitute. One night, he sees her being abused by her pimp and stands up for her. When she is then so severely beaten that she is hospitalized, he decides to act.

He seeks out Slavi who ‘owns’ her, and offers his savings to buy her freedom. Slavi ridicules him and declines the offer. Robert then kills Slavi and the four other gangsters present in about 16 seconds. Later, Robert is called in by the authorities and we learn he used to be a special ops agent who is now retired, and that the gangsters he killed were hotshots in the Russian mafia.

This is the start of the main action. Robert is pursued by a mafia hitman named Teddy and has to use all his skills and wits to outsmart him. Of course he succeeds, but the twists and turns in that are interesting, and not always as expected.

Posted in: General Tagged: Family, Friends, Gert, Good Things, Kim, Movies, Pathé, Review

30

Sunday, September 28, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

Today is my 30th birthday 🙂

Yesterday I celebrated with my friends. We talked, ate, drank, listened to music and played games. An iPad, combined with a smart TV and a app to do presentations with makes for an excellent pictionary setup 😀

Today was family day, which I always enjoy very much. Especially when almost everyone is there 🙂

I was also spoiled with awesome presents. Eva gave me a wooden box that she had decorated by pyrographing my original birth announcement on it, but then with my new names instead of the old ones. Gert gave me a glorious book-in-a-book-in-a-book that I can’t wait to read. Kim gave me If I Stay (and its sequel) which was on my list. Aunt Zwaan made me a file folder with a custom fabric cover and ribbon closure and so on.

And with that, I’m going to bed! Partying is exhausting 😀

Posted in: General Tagged: Birthday, Family, Friends, Games, Me, Party

The Angel of Oz

Thursday, September 25, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

24-09-2014Had a needed lie-in this morning. Last night I went out for dinner with my aunt and uncle, their kids and grandkids, and my parents. All in honour of my uncle’s 80th birthday. We went back to Yankee Doodle, where we’d also been with them last March. Had a great time, but didn’t sleep well. I woke up around three and lay awake until seven. I entertained myself playing iPad games and messing with the cats.

20140925_121146When I got downstairs, I found Captain had slept on the sofa 🙂 So much progress in just a few days!

And in the afternoon my new Pop Vinyls arrived. Special ordered from Australia a few weeks ago, which is not something I’ll probably repeat soon. The shipping charges are atrocious. I picked the cheapest option and it still was half of the cost of the dolls while taking weeks and offering no tracking or anything. I figured it would be okay, but it is still weird waiting for it. Ah well, winged Castiel and the mystery item I bought for Nienke for December gift giving make up for it.

Now I have to go and get ready. I’m off to the Oosterpoort tonight for my birthday present to myself: a concert by the St. Petersburg Chamber Choir singing the Vespers of Rachmaninoff.

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Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Captain Blackbeard, Cats, Family, Funko, Me, Photos, Toys

Family

Wednesday, August 20, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

My mom’s cousin and her husband from England had come over while on holiday, so all the siblings from this side of the water came by as well 😀

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Family, Photos

Off With His Hair

Thursday, June 26, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

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Yesterday I shaved my head again. My hair was getting waaaaay too long. In the afternoon we went birthdaying at my aunt’s birthday. It had been a while since I had seen them on their turf. Usually I see them when they come over here for Mom or Dad’s birthday. It was fun to see their house, which was new to me, even though they’ve lived there for quite some time now.

Today was funday 😀 That time of year again, Fire Drill! Fortunately the sun shone so it wasn’t too bad being outside for an hour or two.

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Birthday, Family, Me, Photos, Work

A Week in the Life [+ The Normal Heart]

Sunday, June 8, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

The_Normal_Heart_PosterI came home Tuesday to a new edition of Flow on the door mat as well as next season’s theater catalog. After the first run through, I was on 9 shows I wanted to see.

My Uncle’s birthday was Wednesday so went there in the afternoon.

BphOiMBIUAAKrBFThen Thursday I had planned to go see The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared after work, but it rained so much I decided against it. Instead I went to the Bruna at the train station and bought books (including The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman). Once home, I watched The Normal Heart (I had recorded it when it premiered on HBO Sunday).

It’s a movie, after the play of the same name, about the beginning of the AIDS crisis in New York City in the early 80’s. Main character is the, gay, writer Ned Weeks. As more and more people around him get ‘gay cancer’ and die from it, he notices that mainstream medicine and the government choose to look the other way. He and his friends form Gay Men’s Health Crisis, an advocacy group to raise awareness and money and help those affected and afflicted by the disease. Ned favours a more aggressive, vocal approach which conflicts with the more diplomatic way the rest of his friends choose. Meanwhile, in his personal life, he falls in love with journalist Felix. The two start a relationship, but then Felix gets AIDS as well.

It is a difficult movie to watch. It is raw and deep and open, quite literally like a festering wound. It is beautiful, intensely fragile and strong at the same time. Watching it left me devastated and in pieces. I will be watching it again, and I will definitely be buying the blu ray when it’s released. And I only buy blu rays of movies I really, really, love.

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Saturday: Lounging on the bed with Milo 🙂

The Normal Heart stars Mark Ruffalo as Ned, Matt Bomer as Felix and has, among other, Jim Parsons, Julia Roberts, Jonathan Groff and Alfred Molina in it.

Friday I went to the cinema with Kim to see Maleficent. I liked the movie. The visuals were very pretty, and the back story they gave for Maleficent was nice. The acting was okay to good. Angelina Jolie was good, as was the guy playing her lackey. But the dude playing the king sported the most awful fake Scottish accent. And later on, in a scene at his castle, all of a sudden mid-scene half the men there acquired the same horrible accent… And the ending felt rather rushed.

Back home, I went through the the theater catalog again. Got it down to 7… But am talking with Mom about going to see War Horse in January…

Saturday I played a lot of Warcraft, and I read The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It’s a lovely, lovely book. It tells the story of a little boy who meets the people who live at the end of the lane, the Hempstocks. And there is something odd about this family. There are no men, and they have an ocean in the garden. And then an old evil manages to enter this world, and he needs the Hempstocks to survive. It has magic and supernatural stuff and all those things you find under the veneer of modern day life (well, modern day sixties life). It is definitely a recommended read.

Also,  the new birthday calendar I ordered to hang in the downstairs toilet came. Unfortunately packed, but very, very, pretty 🙂

 

Posted in: General, Photos Tagged: Animals, Birthday, Books, Cats, Family, Feels, Friends, Kim, Milo, Movies, Photos, Reading, Review, Shopping, Theater, TV

Confetti and Streamers

Sunday, June 1, 2014 by Tse Moana Leave a Comment

Tomorrow is my Dad’s birthday, he turns 71. Sometimes it kinda scares me when I consider his age, and keeping in mind he has heart problems and an ICD. But everything is actually going really well, the meds are doing their thing, the ICD is doing its thing, so I expect to have him around for quite a while still 🙂

We celebrated today, because the weekend is easier.  I gave him money for a present as he has said he would like a new bicycle. Together with the rest of his prezzies, he made a good start towards one 🙂 The day itself was the usual family gathering fun.

Friday and Saturday I watched a bunch of movies (Hancock, Mirror Mirror, Holes, Oz the Great and Wonderful, Robots, Epic) and hung around the house in chill mode. And tomorrow evening? Tomorrow evening I go to see Daniel Lohues at the theater with Mom.

Posted in: General Tagged: Birthday, Dad, Family, Movies, Theater
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