Classes (or the lack thereof), TV Programmes, Poker Nights and Foam Parties

It has been another very interesting week. Just is back in The Netherlands now for his operation on his knee, and we're hoping he'll be back and up and running again in two weeks or so. Also, I had my first classes. Turns out that I only have 4 to 6 hours of class a week, but a lot of reading to do... Incredible amounts of reading actually.

Oh, must take note of another amazing Channel Five programme I have seen here before our digital TV subscription was installed... Highlight of the week must have been "Guys and Dolls" (or something like that), in which seemingly half-normal men (except one who also looked like a complete nutcase) talked openly about their sexual- and strong emotional- (no I'm not kidding you) relationship to their life-sized female dolls. Surprisingly, none of them had a lasting relationship with a woman who doesn't always have a stiff neck and a half-open mouth.

Yesterday I went to play poker at the pad of some colleagues of mine I hang out with a lot (same gang, different day), which was great banter. After that we went to a foam party in the infamous London Nightclub, which was a great night out, or so I seem to remember. Surprisingly, today wasn't a very active day, although I did have football practice for two hours tonight. It has been a long summer, but I can slowly feel I'm getting there again (which isn't that high hahahaha).

Anyways, I do have an interesting week coming up. Class tomorrow evening, Champions League Football in the Union with my colleagues afterwards, then Karaoke hahaha, and class again on Thursday. Also, three evenings of working this week, and Sunday, the football season starts for the local amateur league, in which I play with a team of colleagues from the Union. Also, I am solely responsible for iFish now Just is gone, and I will have to clean the tank tomorrow.

For some reason I do not seem to be able to upload any more pictures, will figure it out soon!

Picture Update

As promised, a picture update, but not after telling you about my last week. Last week was Fresher's Week at the Uni, which basically meant a week-long party, during which I had to work several shifts. It was great fun though. Also, Maurits was here, which was amazing, and Just screwed up his meniscus during hockey last week, for which he will be operated probably coming Thursday... Now, I'm ill, the Fresher's Flu as people round here tend to call it. However, it will all be good again soon.

Yesterday I saw the best movie of my life. Channel Five premiered the long-awaited sequel to Legally Blonde, creatively called Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde. Especially the part where two congressmen walked up to replace Bruiser's Bill with a pink and scented version of the Bill had both Just and me crying. Also, we couldn't handle the suspense when there was only one day to go and 15 autographs to collect and it seemed impossible, but it all ended surprisingly well.

Now for the pictures...

iFish


Just and his father


Maurits in Starbucks

Baywatch in Dundee

It's been only two days since my last post, yet it is time for another update. My father, who joined me to Dundee for a couple of days left on Thursday morning, and that afternoon, Just moved in. So far, living together has been quite brilliant. Considering the fact that we have very little to do just yet, our days consist of chilling. Just has the occasional hockey practice and games now and then (my football will only start in a week and a half), and I have some working obligations for the coming week. Tonight I will be doing my first shift in the biggest club of the Union (recently voted as club of the year in Dundee), the Mono. Should be interesting. Also, I'm picking up my good friend Maurits from the trainstation in a hour, who decided to book a flight and come by already since this is his only holiday this year. He will be with us for 8 days. Tomorrow we got a visit planned to the football stadium with a few guys from my work, to hopefully see Dundee United completely slaughter Hibernians, yet when examining the quality in both squads that seems to be a mere utopia.

Also, Just and I found that the appartment was a little too spacious and pimpy to only share with the two of us, so we decided to adopt three extra housemates. Mitch, CJ and Hobie have found their way from the pet shop to a nice little red fishtank in the corner of our livingroom (hence the Baywatch names). We both have to admit that having goldfish has spiced up our appartment a little (I got them for Just's birthday), and seeing Just hug the tank right before we went to bed last night was indeed a truly emotional and heartbreaking experience.

Last Thursday I had my first staff party at DUSA (the Union), which was absolutely brilliant. Imagine a free BBQ, very fun people, pints for a pound and therefore a fulltime drinking experience from 17:30 until 03:00. The hangover was quite killing, but it was more than worth it! Also, the weather has been absolutely brilliant the last few days, culminating today in an almost clear blue sky, a blistering sun, and 26 degrees. Who said it would only rain here?

Pics of our appartment, our iFish (a white Apple sticker decorates the fishtank) and the city will soon follow...

So far...

... so good! I have arrived safe and sound in Dundee and I'm liking it! My appartment is simply brilliant, the city is nice, and the people are incredibly friendly! It seems that everywhere you go and people hear that you are foreign they randomly start chitchatting with you about where you're from, what you're doing here, etc.

Uni looks good. The convenor of my MSc has been very helpful with arranging stuff for me and finding things out, and I'm actually looking forward to starting classes. Also, I found myself a job as a bartender with the infamous Dundee University Student Association (check it out at www.dusa.co.uk), a building which houses four different bars. I just had two introduction days, and met so many cool people that I'm pretty sure this year is gonna be an absolute blast.

My father just left. My landlord is bringing him to the airport now, which is very kind of him, considering that he had to pick my father up at 6:45 in the morning. This afternoon, the landlord's son, who is a teammate of Just (the landlord is his coach), will pick me up and we will drive to Edinbrough together to pick up Just. He's also gonna love it here.

This afternoon I have my first bartender party for all bartenders of the Union (approximately 100, or so I think), with a free BBQ and supposedly quite some free booze. It will be fun to meet these people drunk tonight, and I'm so definitely looking forward to it! After that, there will be an afterparty close to my place, so I should go and check that out...

I'm going back to bed... I was up at 6 making coffee for my father.

Leon

P.S.: Special thanks to one of the neighbours for not putting a password on his wireless internet :-)