Orange 11 give football lessons

The European championships have started and on Monday the Dutch were playing the Italian, current World champions. Dressed up in Orange we headed to the local pub to be welcomed with laughter and free drinks cos Marco van Basten still makes the Italian like the Dutch.

The match started off in good spirit and we were all surprised by the free flowing play of the orange army (and of course the 30,000 supporters turning Bern into a Dutch town) and the difficulties they were causing the solid Italians. With lots of screaming and gestures the match was being followed by about 50 people in a tiny bar that was heating up every minute.
Than Holland scored (with a debatable goal) and the Italian were not happy, but we were !

The game progressed and the Italians were getting more and more fired up until Sneijder kicked from close range a beautiful goal behind Buffon. Tears were getting visible and all of a sudden those orange dressed supporters were less fun, this means war!
During the break, the bar served drinks on a table outside and the Italians compliment the us on the display of the orange 11 and told us there favourite Holland moment. It is incredible but everywhere I have been in the world somebody seems to know Dutch players and the way we play. We on the other hand couldn’t believe the performance, being Dutch means we are never satisfied with the way the Dutch team plays and the number of goals or the defensive play but today…it seems to be all ok!

The second half was a closer call, since the Italians decided to attack. The entry of Del Piero was greeted with huge cheers in the pub, Torino (Juventus) is close to Bordighera and very popular. He was straight away dangerous and the Italians were getting back their confidence.
But Gio van B, crushed their dreams and made it 3 : 0 for the Dutch!!!
The supporters of Italian left the pub and the streets were crowded again with people returning to their houses. The night belonged to the Dutch and the sky turned Orange.

Moving yet again

Last weekend was moving weekend with the Bleu friend and my parents and I started to pack things at 9.30 in the morning after an inspirational cup of coffee and a sandwich. We loaded the blue friend up and noticed that the weather forecast was wrong again and granted us a sunshine and soon many pearls of sweat...
It still amazes me each time that when you actually start packing your whole life is literally in your hands and they are really full!

In order to get it all done asap we decided on clear roles. My mum would be logistic manager and find creative ways of making moving life easier. (basically using all types of transport) My dad was the Organiser, making sure that all was well coordinated and packed and put in the right areas. I was the donkey ... I drove the van and carried the heavy boxes. Quiet a sight the three of us in the van in the front racing through Bordighera to Seborga.

We managed to get it all sorted (more or less) before 22.00 in the evening, we an exhausted team sitting at the table eating a pizza and showing eachothers blues.
The Bos Inc managed to get it all done and still share a pizza at the end of the day...
If that is not the right family spirit than I dont know what is ! Big thanks to the oldies did proof that being old is just a state of mind.

My blue friend

When I left Nice at the beginning of Nice I rented a little van via Locauto at a good price. For this weekend I need to do the same however I am no longer in Nice so I need to find a rental company that provides the same service.

A quick search on the internet learned that Maggiore is the rental agent and they are based in Sanremo. Great, not too far. Even better all can be booked on the internet. Registration on the site, selection of the van, the right pick up and drop off times, click to confirm... Error message. This van is not available. Merde, I select the other ones and each van is not available, which either means they are very successful or their system sucks. Frankly, I believe the later part.

A quick call to them learned me that I wasnt wrong. All are available but the system doesnt allow vans to be hired through the internet. Basically you can go through the complete procedure but at the end you can confirm. I wanted to say that it might be better to indicate that straight but didnt bother.

I confirmed my booked and the guy replied; thank you for booking at Amico Blu. Excuse me? Yes, the van rental part is called like that.

Right, so Saturday I will be driving my Blue Friend to the heights of Seborga, a real adventure.

Headache V1.0 for Wii?

Yesterday and today I am at war with a splitting headache and sofar the headache is winning. I tend not to take to quickly any form of medication but I have been drinking the 1000mg dose as water. The headache has taken away the desire for coffee, which is strange cos generally you will get an headache if you dont take any, being slightly addicted ...

But when you sit behind your desk and dont move too much it is fine. However when you start picking up pieces of paper, running from left to right, taking and making calls, the effects feel like a Wii overdose.
Movements is great but while your brain is trying to leave its shelter it enjoyed so long, it becomes a bit more annoying.
This sounds indeed a bit like complaining but luckily I am hardly ever ill so maybe it was just a little test to see if I can cope. And men generally have a great pain
threshold...

So, I can honestly say, there wont be lost of Wii-ing at this stage and I think that the new Wii fit wont help either. That is a Wii bit annoying but I am sure it will be all over tomorrow.

Parents Holiday Facts

My family asked me if my parents are ok in this new part of the world... well I can confirm a number of things and add some interesting facts !

Reading books is fun, even more with over 300 pages.
Sun is the preferred weather for holidays
At their age you dont cook anymore you go to a restaurant, everyday!
Small trips are ok, but dont overdo it.
White wine is healthy.
Cookies, chocolate, crisps and panini's are yummy.
An espresso comes in varies forms and shapes, let's try them all.
Watching sport is fun, certainly with 50 village men in a pub.
The bed is so comfortable it should be used for lots of sleeping.
Shopping for groceries is fun and cheap.
Being not in Holland is great but why does Elma make headlines now?

Well, you get the point, there are having a good time and Bordighera for them is like a small Nice but more friendly with lots of good restaurants at good prices.
I guess they will never leave...

Flower Powerless

Yesterday the Bos family opted for a trp to Imperia to check out a famous flower decoration parade. This was big so we better take the train. In the whole of Bordighera there are only nice people the only not nice one is sitting behind a big window selling train tickets. First attempts we got two tickets for Genoa one way...and many no capito's. The three people standing in front of her asking for three tickets seemed a hard one.

Next phase taking the train, not easy cos all indicated trains work but not on a bank holiday or Saturday or when it rains or ...well you get it.
Finally we arrived at Impera at a little train station with no bus in sight we decided to walk. There was not a flower in sight and I started to worry. We entered the first bar to ask the lady who had never heard of the festival and mentioned that there is a second Imperia town 3 km further on. Interesting. We decided not to give up and than at least have a look at the dome. We struggled up the hill and arrived at the dome which was massive and very nicely decorated, worth the little walk.
A quick stop to get a lunch in a bar that was used to play cards or play slot machines eg LOTS of noise but fun.

Just before we left, my father gave a last attempts to get the info on the flowers and he came back with a smile, 200 meters from the bar was the start. Well that is a good surprise BUT the owner told us that they have started the work on it for tomorrow morning, about 50 meters but only 1 meter was actually done. A builders deja vu feeling came across me...

When we finally reached the place, plenty of women were decorating drawings on the floor with cut up flowers and different types of powder, legal stuff of course.
Interesting but not so interesting as we thought.
We took a close look at the 1 meter and discovered the tiny city further and decided to head back to see if we got catch a train.
Ours was at 18.35 but funnily enough we arrived at 17.25 and there was one at 17.41 although nowhere indicated.
It seems that the world of trains and flowers is still a mystery to us...

Flappy strikes back

Yesterday evening was of course the biggest night of the year in terms of the Champions league football final in Moscow.
For the first time two English team that reach the final and battle it out for the cup with the big ears. Unfortunately due to some business commitments I didn’t manage to see the match but I was lucky when at the 90th minute the score was 1-1 and 30 minutes needed to be added to decide the winner. Chelsea was of course the ‘local’ favourite thanks to the cheque book of uncle Roman (800 million euro spent) and Man United the international favourite (and they only spent 100 million).

The English fighting spirit was definitely present, although the majority of the team is cover a multitude of countries. I don’t really favour any of the teams (Ajax is my team although I now tend to be shy about mentioning that) but ManU had a slight preference for me simple because of Flappy ! Who? Flappy van der Sar, the Dutch goal keeper of ManU and previous winner with …Ajax. This old windmill is capable of keeping the ball out of the goal just by waving his ears and he is a nice guy.

So I did place my bet prior to the match and I predicted 1-1, overtime and penalties and ManU as the final winner. I placed the huge amount of 5 euros on it and ordered a Panini cos diner was forgotten a bit. In a thrilling final where the rain was pouring down, the English supporters drank all the booze available on the Red Square, it looked like it would be heading to penalties and THAT would be the best time for Flappy to sign!

Indeed, Erwin Hiddink was not wrong and penalties were taken with ooooppss Ronaldo missing for ManU, pretty strange after having scored 41 goals this season but thanks for the additional excitement. Than Terry of Chelsea thought it was nice to slide before kicking and things were tied again. Now it is one after the other and the first person to miss will loose it all, what a poetic justice…

And and, FLAPPY managed to grab hold of the very simpatico (not) Anelka and It was all over ! Flappy strikes again and he will be happy to get hold of a trophy that has even bigger ears than his !