On my way to Cozumel

As if going driving around Miami in a Limo wasn't good enough... I decided to go to Cozumel... what a way to spend my birthday... went on this cruise ... 12 floors...over 2000 people... (ya I made a lot of friends:))

A friend of mine caught me thinking on what life is about... I guess we all need to take a moment and think.... I just chose my moment...

For those of you who do not know Cozumel, it is a small Mexican island... not really Mexico, as 2000 tourist arrive the traditional Mexico goes out of the window...
However I really tried to find a local bar... and ya... finally found one... and challenged with a friend the locals to a game of pool...

I must say after a few tequilas and beers... I was in no condition to play... but we both put up a good game... and just lost!!!

It was still very close... and we made lots of friends with the locals... 20 dollars is not that much anyway!!!

It was all about the experience!!!

I guess this photo kinda of puts everything into perspective....

Gareth

My Birthday...the big 27!!!

Hi guys,

Ya 4th of Feb was my birthday....I thought I should do something special....

So I decided to go to Miami eheheh... not a bad place... well actually it really rocks:)

This is the skyline from an interesting perspective.

As if going to Miami wasnt enought I decided to share my birthday with some friends... I rented a limo.... 10 people Limo!!! and was driven around Miami for 3 hours!!!

The truth is... people with lots of money live a very diferent life style to you and me...this one night I really felt special.... as we stop at the front door of really cool club...

Lots of people are waiting to get in, the Limo driver comes and opens my door... me and my mates we get out one by one... and go straight to the club!!!!Straight to the VIP room.... what a life!!!!

What can I say about the VIP room... well ya.... there is a lot of alcool!!!


Anyway... I really enjoyed my 27th birthday... had the time of my life and could not have had better company... no... I am not talking about Sharon, but my friends who came to Miami with me... they really made my night!!!Thanks guys:)

Gareth

Cooking Lessons?!

Hi guys,

Second week in Eindhoven, second week at The MathWorks, and it was time to put my cooking abilities to the test. The company organized a cooking event!!! This was a completely new concept for me... team bonding in a kitchen!? Well to tell you the truth it really works well.

So here is how it goes:
Get 20 to 30 people together
Take them to:
http://www.kookstudiolisette.nl/
Split into teams of 4 or 5
Each team has his own cooking bench with the recipe (in Dutch) and the help of one of the wonderful cooking masters.
The team cooks part of a 4 course meal which we all eat at the end.
Is there a better way of getting to know your colleagues?! I don't think so.

I really enjoyed it, and it taught me a few tricks.....

Here is an overview of what we cooked:


Wintermenu Kookstudio Lisette



Voorgerecht:
Paté van huisgerookte zalm, een tomatensalsa met pijnboompitjes en Hollandse garnaaltjes,
Grote gebakken garnaal met dragonolie en zelfgemaakte Melbatoast.


Tussengerecht:
Bouillon van Kwartel met een vleugje anijs, gekonfijte kwartelhammetjes en krokant gebakken filetje


Hoofdgerecht:
Hertenbiefstuk omwikkeld met spek met een rode wijn chocoladesaus, aardappelsoufflés met Gruyère en geroerbakte romige Cantharellen, sugarsnaps en kastanjes


Nagerecht:
Tarte tatin van stoofpeertjes gestoofd in Aceto balsamicoazijn en rode wijn. Met pruimen en crème fraiche. Geserveerd met ijs van geroosterde pistachenoten

I couldn't translate this even if I wanted to, as it would not do the plates justice... Just take my word for it.. IT WAS AMAZING!!!

Here are the 2 wonderful ladies who helped us and pointed us to the right direction... it was so much fun... I really think that this could take off in other countries around the world...

I love my job... I love the Netherlands... I love this new life....
If any of you are thinking, my life is not going anywhere, just take a chance and change your life completely and you will see how much fun you have been missing....

CARPE DIEM:)

Gareth

First week at MathWorks!!!

Hi guys, I have just joined MathWorks and all I can say is that the company is even more impressive on the inside than it is from the outside;)

I was really well received at the company starting with some flowers on the first day:)

It all started on the 5th of January... I woke up and got ready for the first day, a little nervouse as one would expect... I then look out of my window and see the snow... Ya it had snowed all night.... I have never really cycled in the snow but I thought it would be alright... much to my suprise the roads had been cleaned (including cycling lanes some of them at least). It was still not easy and I did woble a couple of times but I still made it on time. I was amazed at the number of people who actually do comute on a regular basis with their bikes...if only the rest of Europe would follow suit...

The temperature was below 0 and there was about 10cm of snow covering the ground... What a way to start:)
All I know is that when I got to the MathWorks I had a smile as wide as Xmas day. I was so happy for
a) being in the Netherlands with a bank account, flat
b) starting a new job at MathWorks
c) Made it through the snow!!!


The rest of the week was really cool, meeting the team and figuring out how the company works... I am still blown away by how friendly everyone is.
Monday night we have a team building event... well we are all going to a cooking studio to make our own dinner. What a great idea...
(they dont know how bad a cook I am !!! ehehehe)
I am still up for learning... so bring it on;)

Gareth, Bumper,Kamone, Gerritt!

2008 what a year!!!!

Hi everyone this is just a quick entry to wish everyone a Great New Year ... 2009 is going to be GREAT!!!!!

But before I get all enthusiastic about it I wanted to share with you the adventures I had in 2008.

2008 was a really good year for me with lots of traveling as it:


Started 2008 (new year) in Madrid
Drove to Lisbon
Stayed in Paris on my way to Aberdeen
Drove to Manchester (saw Old Trafford)
Discovered the West Coast of Scotland on weekends
Bought my Mazda 323:)
Played for Bridge of Don (11 a side amateur football team - like 6th Division in Scotland)
Went to Amsterdam for a holiday
From Amsterdam went to Brussels
Flew from Aberdeen -> Amsterdam -> Lisbon
Went with a few friends: Lisbon -> Heathrow -> Doha ->Bangkok
Stayed in Thailand for a week and a half
Went to Phuket and visited the Phi Phi Islands:)
Flew from Phuket -> Bangkok -> Doha -> Heathrow -> Lisbon
Stayed in Lisbon for a few days and flew back to Aberdeen (via Paris)
I met my girl friend on the plane from Doha to Heathrow. She is a Dutch nurse who had just finished 6 months voluntary work in Nepal and New Zealand:) She lives in Amsterdam...
Went to Colombo (Sri Lanka) on work
Worked hard at Oceanscan and organized Oceanscan Football Team and continued playing for Bridge of Don (as well as a couple of other 5 a side leagues in Aberdeen)
Flew from Aberdeen to Amsterdam to Beijing then to Dalian for work
Stayed a couple of nights in Beijing on the way back
Stayed in Amsterdam for 7hours on the way to Aberdeen from Beijing (it was good to hook up with Martine)
Went to Amsterdam for a wonderful romantic weekend.
Joined Potterton amateur football club (11 a side)
Flew from Aberdeen to Amsterdam to Beijing to Dalian for work
Worked hard in China (in places you could not imagine....) GREAT experience
Stayed in Beijing for a couple of nights and took some leave to visit China
Caught a train from Beijing to Shanghai
Stayed and discovered Shanghai all by myself (made lots of friends while I was there)
Flew from Shanghai to Macau
Stayed in Macau for 3 nights
Flew from Macau to Beijing
Went to see the Great Wall of China
Flew from Beijing to Amsterdam and back to Aberdeen
Martine came over from Amsterdam and we drove around Scotland for a week and a half (very romantic trip:))
I flew back with Martine to Amsterdam (met her parents) and flew to Lisbon for a friends wedding
After the wedding flew back to Aberdeen via Paris (lost a few flights stayed in Paris for a night), not that great all by yourself... but still good fun:)
Flew to Amsterdam for a weekend. And discoverd Eindhoven with Martine
Had 6 interviews with MathWorks in Eindhoven
Got the job at MathWorks in Eindhoven
Resigned from Oceanscan
I am flew to Amsterdam->Beijing->Dalian on work
I came back a week and half later, Dalian->Beijing->Amsterdam (see Martine) ->Aberdeen
December I packed my things in Aberdeen to live in Eindhoven
Arrived in Amsterdam stayed there for 1 week
Amsterdam -> Lisbon
Lisbon-> Armacao de Pera, Silves
Back to Barreiro and Lisbon
Flew from Lisbon to Amsterdam
Xmas in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Eindhoven
Got a new flat and moved in
Started 2009 new in Eindhoven...

I would have never have guessed what 2008 was going to bring me... but working for Mathworks in Eindhoven was not on the list... I guess one just has to go with the flow:)

All I can hope is that 2009 will be as challenging and fun as 2008:)

Gareth