Christmas tree

Hello December, Hello cold whether, hello Christmas Tree. Today my boyfriend and I put up the Christmas Tree. Even though in the Netherlands today (December 5th) is Sinterklaas, we already put up the Christmas Tree. Mostly because tomorrow we have a birthday, and also next weekend we have other plans. The time of Christmas songs has come. From tomorrow on I think we will hear them a lot on the radio. It always is a cosy time of the year.

Hopefully it will be cosy at all aspects in life. At work it is quit troubled. Our projects are not going as wanted because ideas about what we expect from each other differ quite a lot. Hopefully everything can be worked out.

Ciao!
Isis

1 day till Christmas

It is just one more day until it is Christmas. But it will be a sad one this year as the family is not complete. We miss our beloved Tinky. A beautiful cat to cuddle. Unless she let you know it was enough. She joined us at Christmas dinner together with her son, our other cat. They had their own scratching post which was also used a some sort of chair. This year there will only be one instead of two. I believe it was the right thing to do. Our little thing was really sick as the vet told us. But you always wonder if there was something more you could do. Or well, if there was something you could do which was not so intense for the poor thing. You don't want her to cause more trouble for a few months / years just for our own pleasure. No I want what's best for her. Well, I wanted what's for her. Tiny I love you. Rest in peace my love.

If love could have kept you here, you would have lived forever. 

Ciao!

Ixis

3 days til Christmas

Only 3 days til Christmas. 2 until Christmas eve. Last week we had a christmas drink at work. While there I was told my contract will be prolonged until the end of 2015. So that is nice! At least a stable period around our trip to Indonesia. It is nice to have that bit of financial security and vacationdays for 6 more months. So we will see what it will bring after that. Enjoying the Christmas holiday now!

Ciao!
Ixis

14 days till Christmas

Two weeks left until Christmas! Yesterday at work there was a mystery aggressor. Together with a colleague we arranged it and staged a scene of verbal violence, to create awareness. The company chief was in on it, and it was especially meant to create awareness amongst the department chiefs (so my boss). And it worked. Got some great compliments about it. But I also heard that the company chief is really strict in contracts and prolonging them permanently. So probably my temporary contract, which cannot be prolonged anymore by law, is most likely to end in about 6,5 months. So form January on I think I have to seriously start looking for another job. Not only because I keep murmuring about not knowing whether or not I want to keep doing this this for the rest of my life, but because I have to.

Ciao!

Ixis

16 days till Christmas

Only 16 days left in this years countdown ;) I got some very nice news this weekend. My niece is pregnant! As I don't have any brothers or sisters, this is the closest of a family pregnancy I got. How lovely! Next to that, the next day we heard a befriended couple is engaged and they will be getting married. Love is in the air! What do you expect this December month ;)

Ciao!
Ixis

23 days till Christmas

Let the countdown begin! ;) We already have some presents in the attic which can be given and unwrapped when it's Christmas. Only 23 days left!

I have been working full-time for a year now. It's okay, I am used to it by now. The salary is nice because of it. But I won't deny loving the 4 day work week. It has also been a year since I became the advisor of this new organization part. Eventhough there can, and will be a lot of sh*t going on, it is also really fun and challenging to do. Today I also had a chat with an upcoming head of the new social domain department. Just to get a better feel of what is going on there so it can help me choose my own career and make a career step in that direction. Because, let's face it. In about 7 months it might just be the case that I am looking for a new career then. In about 2 months, February, I am going to talk to my boss again about my contract. Because I need to give me some time in searching for a possible new job. It makes me nervous writing about it because it might just as well be reality. From the beginning they have told me it is a temporary position. With my new colleague starting the day after tomorrow there might me hands enough so they can let me go. I have to keep in mind that were one door closes another one opens. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Hello December!

                                    It's the last month of the year, make it count!

I have been lousy at writing blogposts lately. I just don't take the time for it. Which is too bad, because it is fun. It makes me think about stuff, or at least it makes me wright about stuff I think about. In my last blogpost I wrote about new people at work. Today our first new colleague started. A girl my age, she seems nice but I still have to get to know her. And this Thursday the second new colleague will start. Very nice to have some extra hands to help with all the work, but also worrying about what it might mean for me. As i probably have written before my contract will end by the end of June. It cannot be prolonged (only if we are going to be creative), but I am doubtful whether or not my colleagues and especially boss want to be creative like that. Yes I am insecure. Just last week I got some nice compliments. But then others stuff happens and just the tiniest thing makes me doubt myself again. Just like these new colleagues. Will they be better than me? Will they be nicer than me? In the eyes of others? It is not a question in my own eyes, I am sure they will. But apparently what others think (still) matters to me a great deal. 

The last month of the year. As the last few years, this one flew by as well. I am very much looking forward to christmas. I love that holiday, with the warmth it holds. Being with friends and family, having Christmas diner and give each others presents to show them how much you love them. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Hello November

Hello November! If you are this warm and sunny the entire month, I am going to love you. about 20 degrees Celsius and lot's of sun. Love it! You don't expect that in November. Waauw, it has been a very quit October. Only one post. About a week and a half ago my friends and I went to see a stand up comedian in Tilburg. We all took the afternoon of this particular wednesday off and headed off to the theater. We enjoyed the city for a bit, grabbed some nice dinner and saw the show. I had a blast! As a dutch saying goes 'I have gotten a good taste of it' and now I want some more. So my boyfriend and I are looking for some shows in the near future from other comedians. We also have some new holiday plans! Considering Indonesia as our next travel location. Together with a friend who has an Indonesian girlfriend. Thinking about going there September/October 2015. Hopefully I still have a job by then, or have found a new one. Because my contract will presumably end July 2015.

Let's see what November will bring. Going to the end of the year. Hope the winter will be soft as last year. Christmas is around the corner. Although, with this weather you wouldn't say so. 

Ciao!

Ixis

Spoiled for Christmas - predicaments

Book eat, pray, love

I was really spoiled with Christmas. Two beautiful days surrounded with family, warmth, love, good food and presents. Lots of presents.  My boyfriend really surprised me by giving me a book I have wanted for some time now and a lovely game! I am truly blessed. Not because of these materialistic presents. But because we were able to spent Christmas together with the ones we love and were able to buy presents. Which means we can worry about what to buy for one another, because we don't have to worry about much more serious stuff like money issues of health complaints. Not fot these few days at least.

You know you are blessed in life when you worry about the little things. What to wear, what to eat, how busy you are at work and the one stupid colleague who doesn't listen to you. In my eyes, these all are actually nothings when you compare them to what really matters in life. Your loved ones and your (and theirs) health. Everything else doesn't matter anymore when somethings is up with that. So, when you catch yourself think about the business at work, or why your boss chose that project while you think it is completely wrong, just stop for a minute and realize that. Realize you are able to worry about these things because your base in life (your friend and family) are doing fine.

I did, after everything that happened to dad. But it sure as hell goes 'back to normal' very fast. This perspective of knowing an feeling what really matters, fades really quickly. Thank God my dad is doing ok now. I which and pray it stays that way. In a blink of an eye my day to day worries began to predominate again. Especially work, as that aspect in life is one which is giving me a lot to think about. Leaving me now, writing this, contemplating; do I work to live, or do I live to work? Knowing it and truly feeling it are 2 different things. All these adult responsibilities come into play which makes a decision much more hard.

Ciao!
Ixis

Best wishes!

Hope everyone had a wonderful christmas. Just a couple more days and 2012 will come to and end. So I want to wish everyone all the best for 2013. That you may find love and happiness and a bit of security in these times of crisis. 

Last year I wrote about 2012 hopefully being the year of living together. Here we are, one year later and I am typing this in my own home :) I also wrote about being happy in my job. Well that turned out a little bit different. Hopefully 2013 will bring me a new job in which I can develop myself professionally. And then let's see in december 2013 what has come of it.

Happy Holiday's

Ciao!

Ixis 

Wrapping presents and baking cake

It's windy outside, really windy and rainy. Not exactly how you picture the surroundings to be around Christmas. But hey, in the 24 years I have been around there have been like what, 2 maybe 3 white christmases? 

Did some final shopping for the christmas presents yesterday. They are all wrapped up now, and ready to be put under the three. Tomorrow, on christmas eve, my parents and my boyfriends parents are coming to visit. starters and main course is quite small and simple. Just little bites because in the two days after there will be enough food already. The desert however, not that simple. I am making my own tiramisu in little glasses. And now... I am baking a cake :)

Since I have all this spare time now, for the past three weeks. My boyfriend said he thought I would  have started baking already. But it may be that I won't have all this spare time much longer. Last week I was approached by someone in my network to talk about a possible job. Well the vacancy is there, inside the company at the moment. But because they expect that no one will be suitable for the job they already started to look outside the company. And that is were I came into the picture. How awesome is that! This networking thing really works in two ways! So in the second week of January an exploratory 'job interview' is planned :) If it works out and they find me suitable for the job, then what about my former company? If there is still an option to come back? The what? I don't know yet. Maybe let it be christmas first and let all this job hunt sink in a bit. Hopefully it will clear my head and then first of all, let's wait and see. Maybe they don't want me for the job and then all the worries are for nothing.

Ciao!

Ixis

Christmas feeling

It is not exactly the christmas spirit, so hereby some pictures which for me capture the christmas feeling.

Ciao!

Ixis

It's coming...... Christmas!

I am becoming in the mood.... Now that I am home most of the day I am (in between of applying for jobs) watching tv shows about christmas or listening to christmas music. And of course already decorated the christmas tree!

So I am becoming in the mood. I love it. Especially last friday when the world was so beautiful in the snow! Surfing on the internet I stumbled upon this beautiful picture on weheartit.com

How cute! My little precious cat aged 14 is sick. She may not even be here anymore around christmas. So being without a job means spending most of the time left with my cat love.

Ciao!

Ixis

Happy holidays!

I would like to whish everyone a merry christmas and lot's of love and health for 2012! That a new year may bring everyone new opportunities, love and happiness. I hope that 2012 will bring me insight into my job and interests. That I may discover what direction I would like to follow concerning my career and that I may be happy in my job. Hopefully 2012 will be the year of living together for my boyfriend and me. It is an entire new period in my live with all related new issues.

Merry Christmas and a happy Newyear everyone!

Ciao!

Ixis