I bought myself graphics tablet a month or so ago, but due to other commitments, I hadn't got much further than installing it.
Since my latest OU assignment involves writing an illustrated essay, I've been trying it out this weekend, and am slowly getting the hang of using it (although I do still surprise myself by sending the cursor to unexpected places when I have the mouse in one hand, and the pen in the other).
Here is my first drawing, created using Inkscape.
As long term readers will know, on Jen's last visit she fell in love with that humble Dutch snack - the kroket.
As an incentive to last the journey home from Amsterdam, I promised her that we'd pick one up during the stopover at Hollands Spoor station, as we'd done on her previous trip.
Imagine therefore our shock on arrival to discover that the Kiosk on platforms 3 & 4 has been completely renovated - all very nice and beautiful, I'm sure, but not a kroket in sight! Fearing mutiny, I led her out of the station, and braving the tram lines with the wheely-suitcase, took her across the road to a snack bar. Krokets in hand, we made it back on to the platform with a minute to spare before the train arrived...
... it was delicious!
I picked Jen up from the airport today on the way to Amsterdam. With perfect timing, we had just enough to find some lunch (sushi, what else?) before I went to my rehearsal, leaving her to explore Amsterdam for an hour or two.
Knowing that you have family or friends in the congregation always add something special to the singing, especially today, as this is the first time a family member has come to hear me sing in Amsterdam. But at the end of the service there was an extra treat in store - during the final procession I caught sight of my friends Frank and Brenda, who had also come along to listen. I was really pleased to see them, and also to have the opportunity to introduce them to Jen. We had a couple drinks together in a cafe before heading off home.
I was somewhat disoriented today at my third choral evensong with the Chorale. The reason, I realized, was that it is the first time since I have been singing there, that it was still daylight at the start of the service. What a relief that spring is finally on its way!
Part of the French course I'm following at work involves giving a presentation to the rest of the class (in French, of course!). Today was my turn, so I was to be found before work this morning, frantically putting together the finishing touches on the slides, and preparing my transcript.
Over the last couple years at work, I've given quite a few presentations, and I must confess that I still suffer from nerves every time. Giving a presentation in French however, causes stress of a new level of magnitude. Normally, I concentrate my preparation on the slides, and I don't put together an exact text which I plan to present. Since my French isn't fluent enough to allow me to speak off the cuff, I prepared a transcript for this presentation, which had the advantage of making sure I knew what to say, but the disadvantage of breaking up the flow of speech, and causing a higher level of stuttering than normal!
The presentation was titled "Voyage en Antarctique", and gave some general information related to the Antarctic and some more specific information relating to the trip I will take at the end of the year.
