Rupert-proofing the house

After weeks of barricading doors with chairs, I finally found time this evening to stop by the hardware store to pick up a) Rupert-proof door knobs, and b) a Rupert-proof hook for the cupboard door. You might think that finding door knobs would be a simple task, but in fact, after 10 minutes of puzzled searching only found me 50+ styles of door handle - completely useless when faced with a determined Rupert, I had to admit defeat and ask for the help of one of the assistants. He also looked confused for a minute, and then triumphantly moved a display rack to the side, revealing the one single model of door knob that was stocked. The question now is, how quickly will he realise that throwing himself at the door will no longer work? Guess I'll find out when I wake up tomorrow morning.

Unfortunately, it seems that as soon as one part of my life is Rupert-proofed, a new breach in the defenses becomes apparent. Now that Rupert is going regularly outside, I'm pleased to see that he prefers to use the great outdoors, rather than the litter tray. The only problem is that his favourite toilet spots seem to be the vegetable patch and the potato growing pot. Looks like the next step is to Rupert-proof the garden...

Haarlem Choral Evensong - 29th March 2009

6 weeks or so ago, before I realised that I would be singing in Amsterdam this morning, I offered my services for the Choral Evensong at the Anglican Church in Haarlem, another 5th Sunday of the month event. Martin wanted to have an up to date picture of the Haarlem choir, so here I am, sporting Haarlem robes for a change. This was the first time I've sung in the Haarlem church, and so I was rather surprised to find out that it was upstairs!

• Introit: God be in my head Nicholson
• Responses: Nardone
• Psalm 51, Morley
  
• Canticles: Wood in Eb
• Anthem: Solus ad Victimam Leighton

Mass - 29 March 2009

Although the main role of the Nicholas Chorale is to sing choral evensong twice a month, on the rare occasion that there is a 5th Sunday in the month, we also sing at the Sunday Mass. Even if the clocks hadn't chosen this rather inconvenient time to change, it makes an early start for a Sunday morning, as I have to catch the train at 7.54 to get into Amsterdam on time.

The service itself was one I will remember for a very long time. Not for the fact that it was the first time I sang at a Roman Catholic mass, or because it was the first time I sang in Dutch, but for a less pleasant reason. During the communion, just before the congregation were invited to commune, a man moved swiftly to the altar, shouted at the priest and congregation, and then swept the chalices from the altar. It happened so quickly that it took me a second to realise what had occurred, by which time the man had already been removed from the church. Despite the interruption, the service continued, but I, and no doubt many others in the congregation will be pondering the why's and what if's for some time.

• Domine Deus Morales
• Agnus Dei J Haydn
• Call to remembrance Farrant
  

Choral Evensong - 21st March 2009

After a quick stop at home to change my clothes into something less muddy, I was back on the train to Amsterdam for Choral Evensong. Given I was so tired, it was lucky that all of today's repertoire, aside from the anthem, was very familiar. It was a particular pleasure to sing the Walford Davies settings of Psalm 23, one of my favourites, and one that I've missed since I no longer sing regularly in Bowdon.

Music:

• introit: Lord, for thy tender mercy's sake Farrant
• responses: Ayleward
  
• office hymn: Audi benigne conditor
• psalm 23, Walford Davies
  
• canticles: Dyson in F
  
• anthem: Lord, how long wilt thou be angry Hayes
  

On my way home again, tiredness overtook me and some time around Leiden I fell fast asleep. I woke up, rather disoriented as the train pulled out of a station. Blearily wondering where I was, I read the sign as we trundled past a rather familiar looking Kiosk snack dispenser - Delft! Off at Schiedam, then, and a 20 minute wait for a train back in the other direction...

Oostvaardersplassen

After a week of interrupted nights, early starts and a lot of traveling back and forwards to Noord Holland, I was more than ready for a lie-in this morning. Instead, I left the house at 5.15 to join a couple of my colleagues for a visit to the Oostvaardersplassen, a nature reserve in Flevoland province (about 100 km NE of Delft).


When we arrived at around 6.30, the sun was still just below the horizon, and as we had hoped, the clear sky had led to a misty morning, with the temperature just below zero. We parked the car by the side of the road and waited for the sun to come up, enjoying the bird song and fresh air.


Our next stop was a bird hide, where we lined ourselves up, 100-400mm lenses at the ready, and brought out breakfast. Thanks to the foresight of Arie, who was smart enough to realize that I wouldn't have prepared anything, I tucked into cheese and salami sandwiches and fruit juice. Although it's still early in the season, and according to Arie, fairly quiet, there was plenty to see.


Aside from the ducks, swans and geese, we also saw a great white egret (zilver reiger), a pair of grebes (fuut)and a grey heron (blauwe reiger). Sadly, no sign of a kingfisher (ijsvogel). No great bird photos to show, but at least some for the record.


After leaving the hide, we drove to the visitor's centre, stopping to photograph the wild ponies, and another (the same?) egret. Walking down to another hide, we spent some time with another herd of ponies, and then managed to track down a great spotted woodpecker (grote bonte specht) and a white wagtail (witte kwikstaart).


We ended the morning with a cup of coffee and browse around the visitors centre, before heading home around 11.30.

SpringSource dmServer Training

After following the CoreSpring training course a couple weeks ago, I'm back in the training room this week for a follow up training on the SpringSource dmServer. This training is being given by the same company, and indeed, even the same trainer. Nonetheless, there are a few practical differences - this time we're based in in an old Herenhuis in the city centre of Amsterdam, a far cry from the tower blocks of Sloterdijk two weeks ago. Amongst the 8 course participants I am the exception to the all the rules - both the only girl, and the only non-native Dutch speaker. As a result, the trainer was able to give the presentations in Dutch - such an unusual occurrence for him that he occasionally forgot and lapsed back into English.

Like the previous course, this was a good mixture of theory and practice - beginning with introductions to OSGi and the dmServer, and then on the second day going into greater details in how to develop OSGi-enabled applications for the dmServer. Whilst the dmServer is still fairly young, and there are some important improvements & extensions planned for the upcoming releases, it looks like an interesting product to keep an eye on, especially given our own experiences at trying to deploy OSGi-enabled applications within the office without any additional tooling or application support.

Leiden Marathon

Let me get one thing straight - I am not planning on running the Leiden Marathon. Inspired by a couple friends who ran the City-Pier-City this last weekend, though, I have signed myself up for the 5km race which is being held as part of the Leiden Marathon event.

Time to get those running shoes back on...