Home sweet home

It’s been a week now since I got back from France, and unfortunately it already feels far away. Luckily, there was enough fun to distract me from this fleeting memory loss. Or maybe that is actually the reason why Le Vigan feels like it happened a month ago, instead of just one week. Anyway, yesterday I got some great news in the morning mail: my internship at Oxford has been approved by the board of examiners! I’m officially going to Oxford! :D Hooray! If the finances don’t get in the way, that is. I’m a little worried about raising funds, but my dad has assured me that I will be able to go even if I’m not able to get any grants or funds. Which is a real relieve, but doesn’t mean I’m not going to work my ass off to get as much money as possible (Oxford is a little more expensive than I thought… And I don’t want to borrow any money from my folks, I’ve leeched on them long enough ;) ). Another celebration later that night was for my good friend’s 22^nd birthday. She had a lovely stay-in party with lots and lots of food and friends (I got completely stuffed!), and my other good friend was kind enough to pick me up with her car so I wouldn’t have to ride (which really is only 15 minutes by bike, but I’m lazy, so bear with me). I love those girls to bits, and I’m so happy we’re celebrating our vacation together again this summer! Last year we went to London, but for this summer we wanted to seek out the heat, so we decided to go to Lisbon. We’ve had such a cold and wet winter, so we agreed we needed to go somewhere to soak in the sun. Although today wasn’t too bad. The first proper Spring day actually. Since its Pentecost/Whit Sunday (or whatever you call it in English, we Dutchies call in “Pinksteren”) there was a Pentecost/Whit Sunday fair nearby (I don’t think it has anything to do with the holiday, just a good excuse) with all kinds of food, clothes, plants, bags and home decoration stuff, which I went to with my parents (some quality time while we still can). And of course we didn’t go home empty handed! I got two paintings of horses in this sort of old, study-sketching-style for only 5 buck each! It totally reminded me of the work of Gerti Bierenbroodspot, who’s work I absolutely love (but can’t afford). So I just couldn’t let this bargain go by. By the way, if you don’t know who she is, check out her work at her website, you’ll love it. And then we came across another incredible bargain: a dubarry bag for half price! My dad fell in love with it even more than my mum and I did, which was hilarious. They ended up buying it for me, because they were so proud I’m going to Oxford. They’re such sweethearts, and I’m really really going to miss them when I’m in Oxford. And I know what you’re thinking “yeah, because of the presents”, but I am quite close with my parents. Being an only child, and especially since we don’t see our other relatives very often (we don’t get along too well, things happened…). So I like to cherish these moments, even if I’m not leaving until January. Family and friends is all that matters, right? So I’m happy to have spend time this weekend with both.

With love,

Willemijn

p.s. Maybe I'll post pictures of the paintings later...

p.p.s. Did you watch the Eurovision song contest 2013? I think Norway's Margaret Berger with "I Feed You My Love" should have won! Not Denmark... lame song. Our Anouk with "Birds" was also good, of course ;)