Here are some photos I found depicting the typical Dutch fan in their favourite oranje outfit.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Dutch fans
Honestly, how can you not love the Dutch fans? They bring their own bands to sporting events, they sing songs in support, they smile and have a blast in the stands. No hooligans on "E" running around stabbing people and flipping cars, just plain everyday people enjoying their sport and encouraging others to do the same.
Here are some photos I found depicting the typical Dutch fan in their favourite oranje outfit.
Here are some photos I found depicting the typical Dutch fan in their favourite oranje outfit.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Torino 2006
I love the winter Olympics. Aside from hockey, I enjoy watching the skiing, the ski jumping, and all the various toboggan events - luge, skeleton, bobsleigh. And now that I've got my first bonspiel under my belt I even enjoy watching the curling.
And having been born in the Netherlands, I especially love seeing the Dutch compete in the speed skating events. Day 4 and so far they have been to the podium 3 times. In Nagano they scooped an amazing 11 medals in the speed skating events, cleaning house with all 3 medals in the men's 10,000 metres and gold and silver in the men's 5,000 metres. Hup Holland hup!
Today I managed to catch the 500m women's race. Although no Dutch skaters nabbed a metal here, I did get to watch one "Manli Wang" (say that out loud... kinda reminds me of the famous "Long Duk Dong" of the movie Sixteen Candles) from China skate to a silver.
And having been born in the Netherlands, I especially love seeing the Dutch compete in the speed skating events. Day 4 and so far they have been to the podium 3 times. In Nagano they scooped an amazing 11 medals in the speed skating events, cleaning house with all 3 medals in the men's 10,000 metres and gold and silver in the men's 5,000 metres. Hup Holland hup!
Women's 3,000m:
| #1 | Ireen Wust Netherlands | 4:02.43 |
Today I managed to catch the 500m women's race. Although no Dutch skaters nabbed a metal here, I did get to watch one "Manli Wang" (say that out loud... kinda reminds me of the famous "Long Duk Dong" of the movie Sixteen Candles) from China skate to a silver.
Monday, February 06, 2006
The Haircut
This will have to go down in history as my worst haircut ever. But to be honest it was my own fault for going cheap.
I had been to Magicuts only once before and although the hair dresser dude did spook me a little when he mentioned that his other job was at Kanata Auto Parts, he still managed to pull off a reasonable cut. Today however I should have darted for the door. Here's a snippett of the conversation that should have tipped me off.
"Where do you normally get your hair cut?"
"Ah, here and there but my last cut was by a guy here at Magicuts."
"Oh that must be Alvin. Actually he was just starting to teach me about cutting men's hair before he quit on the spot last week."
"Oh really. Where did he go?"
"I think he found himself a mechanic's job or something."
Great. I was screwed. By this time I was already half way through the cut and she had me trapped in the chair.
Here's another tidbit of information that she decided to share with me and the 90 year old lady that was getting her hair permed next to me. I found it somewhat entertaining but unfortunately I think it distracted her somewhat from concentrating on my haircut.
"Tomorrow's my father's birthday. He's been spoiled a lot lately, what with Christmas and all. So yesterday I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, Whadda ya want dad, a card or a pack of smokes? He said, shit that's easy, a pack of smokes."
I wish she had given me the same option, haircut or a pack of smokes? At least then I could have sold the smokes on eBay and bought a real haircut. Oh well.
No photo will follow.
I had been to Magicuts only once before and although the hair dresser dude did spook me a little when he mentioned that his other job was at Kanata Auto Parts, he still managed to pull off a reasonable cut. Today however I should have darted for the door. Here's a snippett of the conversation that should have tipped me off.
"Where do you normally get your hair cut?"
"Ah, here and there but my last cut was by a guy here at Magicuts."
"Oh that must be Alvin. Actually he was just starting to teach me about cutting men's hair before he quit on the spot last week."
"Oh really. Where did he go?"
"I think he found himself a mechanic's job or something."
Great. I was screwed. By this time I was already half way through the cut and she had me trapped in the chair.
Here's another tidbit of information that she decided to share with me and the 90 year old lady that was getting her hair permed next to me. I found it somewhat entertaining but unfortunately I think it distracted her somewhat from concentrating on my haircut.
"Tomorrow's my father's birthday. He's been spoiled a lot lately, what with Christmas and all. So yesterday I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, Whadda ya want dad, a card or a pack of smokes? He said, shit that's easy, a pack of smokes."
I wish she had given me the same option, haircut or a pack of smokes? At least then I could have sold the smokes on eBay and bought a real haircut. Oh well.
No photo will follow.
Monday, January 30, 2006
BvT does the Bonspiel
I spent last weekend curling in Kingston in the Whig Standard Bonspiel. There were over 200 teams competing in four different Kingston area clubs. It was a blast.
As you can well imagine, having only curling once before at a divisional Christmas party, my curling skills were a little ... ahem ... lacking to say the least. Nevertheless we did win one of our 4 games and I managed to fall only once or twice coming out of the hack (and yes, I at least made the shot).
The guys I curled with were a great bunch and we had a lot of laughs between and during games. One of the unforeseen highlights was the house we stayed in for the weekend. It was my friend's wife's father's rental that had recently been vacated by the former residents. As luck would have it, it was located just around the corner from the Royal Kingston Curling Club on University Ave. The very same street where thousands of beautiful university women parade up and down displaying their and winter wear (more like spring as there was no snow on the ground). It was uncanny how these women looked so much alike. Tall, long-legged blondes with their hair pulled back in pony tails. Unfortunately this would represented an exact contrast to the short beer-bellied grey haired men that littered the curling clubs. Oh well, you can't have everything.
The big question is.. will I ever curl again? Yes. But possibly not with this team if they ever want to win.
As you can well imagine, having only curling once before at a divisional Christmas party, my curling skills were a little ... ahem ... lacking to say the least. Nevertheless we did win one of our 4 games and I managed to fall only once or twice coming out of the hack (and yes, I at least made the shot).
The guys I curled with were a great bunch and we had a lot of laughs between and during games. One of the unforeseen highlights was the house we stayed in for the weekend. It was my friend's wife's father's rental that had recently been vacated by the former residents. As luck would have it, it was located just around the corner from the Royal Kingston Curling Club on University Ave. The very same street where thousands of beautiful university women parade up and down displaying their and winter wear (more like spring as there was no snow on the ground). It was uncanny how these women looked so much alike. Tall, long-legged blondes with their hair pulled back in pony tails. Unfortunately this would represented an exact contrast to the short beer-bellied grey haired men that littered the curling clubs. Oh well, you can't have everything.
The big question is.. will I ever curl again? Yes. But possibly not with this team if they ever want to win.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Snowblasted
After an afternoon skate (nope not on the canal, it's still closed) the kids and I headed over to the Kanata area for a hike. We found a tiny parking area near an old wooden train bridge and while I strapped on my snowshoes and grabbed my backpack with my camera and GPS the kids started off down the snowblasted trail.
It was a complete white-out as everything had been blasted yesterday with nice powdery 16.6cm of snow.
Kids had a great time. Running, sliding, tackling, and dumping snow ladden branches on each other.
One of the geocaches we were looking for brought us to some old stone ruins. Hard to imagine that somebody once called this home. I would love to know when the building last had people living in it.
It was a complete white-out as everything had been blasted yesterday with nice powdery 16.6cm of snow.
Kids had a great time. Running, sliding, tackling, and dumping snow ladden branches on each other.
One of the geocaches we were looking for brought us to some old stone ruins. Hard to imagine that somebody once called this home. I would love to know when the building last had people living in it.
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Blizzard of '06
A snow storm! Yeah baby!!
With nearly 15cm of fresh snow on the ground, and still falling, Mike and I set out with the intention of going for another x-c ski in Gatineau Park. Well we didn't get far (Greenbank and Hunt Club) before we decided that this was not a good idea. The plan then changed from an afternoon adventure in the GAT to touring/pushing/pulling the car down the snow clogged backroads of Ottawa.
It all started when Mike got his car stuck in my driveway. (not overly surprising as his front tires are nearly bald - apparently you can't drive more than 3 years on the original dealer tires Mike). Being the good passenger I am, I pushed him out which he immediately thanked me with a face full of slush. This was a sign of things to come.
Not long after leaving the house (Greenbank and Fallowfield) we watched the guy in front of us roll down his window and rather awkwardly reach out with his full sized windshield scraper to clear off the snow and ice from this front window. I nearly got a picture before his wet frozen arm slunk back inside. Personally I think it was my laughter that caused me the photo.
Anyhow from that point on the day was doomed to be a series of mis-adventures. We spotted cars stuck on islands, another car somehow managed to plow into the snowbank of a completely empty parking lot, an OC Transpo bus stuck and smoking his tires at a stop sign, and then it was our turn (again).
PHOTO: Two girls slammed into a snow covered island. It wasn't long after this photo that there were 8 lonely guys helping the poor ladies get there car out.
PHOTO: Bruce Pit parking lot. How they managed this move, I don't know.
PHOTO: Bus stuck (I just missed the smoking tires with this pic but not the reverse lights as he navigated his way out of this predicament. I don't know why the door to the engine was open).
After travelling the sideroads looking for the "perfect" spot to park a car in a snow storm with absolutely no traction we decided to go for it. It was a cleared parking lot with only one other vehicle (a supercab truck). The only trick would be to get up the small incline to the lot. Well we didn't make it. Stuck. After some manoeurving we then managed to slide down sideways completely blocking the parking lot entrance. Well done.
PHOTO: Mike t-boned in the parking lot entrance.
Thankfully the owner of the monster truck came back from his walk and asked if we needed a hand. (like he had a choice, what was he going to do sit in the parking lot all day and watch us?)
After that we did one more loop around the Kanata trails passing two other busy parking spots before we found what we were looking for - a completely snowless surface with a slight downward grade. Perfect. Time to ski. Kind of...
Turned out that everything was so blasted with powdery snow that we could not manage to find the trail let alone stay on it.
After about an hour of bushwhacking we stopped for a beer alongside a large pond. Standing there staring out over the pond and sipping a cold Grolsch we quickly recognized where the trail should be (we'd been here once before last year). After the refreshing drink and a laugh or two at Mike's tumble in the snow (he managed to get fall down after his skis entangled and soaked his glove in some stinky swamp water) we slapped the sticks back on and crossed the pond to hook up with the trail. It was smooth sailing all the way back to the car after that.
With nearly 15cm of fresh snow on the ground, and still falling, Mike and I set out with the intention of going for another x-c ski in Gatineau Park. Well we didn't get far (Greenbank and Hunt Club) before we decided that this was not a good idea. The plan then changed from an afternoon adventure in the GAT to touring/pushing/pulling the car down the snow clogged backroads of Ottawa.
It all started when Mike got his car stuck in my driveway. (not overly surprising as his front tires are nearly bald - apparently you can't drive more than 3 years on the original dealer tires Mike). Being the good passenger I am, I pushed him out which he immediately thanked me with a face full of slush. This was a sign of things to come.
Not long after leaving the house (Greenbank and Fallowfield) we watched the guy in front of us roll down his window and rather awkwardly reach out with his full sized windshield scraper to clear off the snow and ice from this front window. I nearly got a picture before his wet frozen arm slunk back inside. Personally I think it was my laughter that caused me the photo.
Anyhow from that point on the day was doomed to be a series of mis-adventures. We spotted cars stuck on islands, another car somehow managed to plow into the snowbank of a completely empty parking lot, an OC Transpo bus stuck and smoking his tires at a stop sign, and then it was our turn (again).
PHOTO: Two girls slammed into a snow covered island. It wasn't long after this photo that there were 8 lonely guys helping the poor ladies get there car out.
PHOTO: Bruce Pit parking lot. How they managed this move, I don't know.
PHOTO: Bus stuck (I just missed the smoking tires with this pic but not the reverse lights as he navigated his way out of this predicament. I don't know why the door to the engine was open).
After travelling the sideroads looking for the "perfect" spot to park a car in a snow storm with absolutely no traction we decided to go for it. It was a cleared parking lot with only one other vehicle (a supercab truck). The only trick would be to get up the small incline to the lot. Well we didn't make it. Stuck. After some manoeurving we then managed to slide down sideways completely blocking the parking lot entrance. Well done.
PHOTO: Mike t-boned in the parking lot entrance.
Thankfully the owner of the monster truck came back from his walk and asked if we needed a hand. (like he had a choice, what was he going to do sit in the parking lot all day and watch us?)
After that we did one more loop around the Kanata trails passing two other busy parking spots before we found what we were looking for - a completely snowless surface with a slight downward grade. Perfect. Time to ski. Kind of...
Turned out that everything was so blasted with powdery snow that we could not manage to find the trail let alone stay on it.
After about an hour of bushwhacking we stopped for a beer alongside a large pond. Standing there staring out over the pond and sipping a cold Grolsch we quickly recognized where the trail should be (we'd been here once before last year). After the refreshing drink and a laugh or two at Mike's tumble in the snow (he managed to get fall down after his skis entangled and soaked his glove in some stinky swamp water) we slapped the sticks back on and crossed the pond to hook up with the trail. It was smooth sailing all the way back to the car after that.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Ricky Gervais podcasts
Ricky Gervais, creator and star of the BBC original The Office and Extras has started a weekly series of half-hour podcasts, along wth Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington. Freakin' hilarious! Check'em out.
Here are the direct links to the mp3 podcasts for you...
Latest episode
Previous episodes
And if you still haven't seen the original The Office then check that out too. What are you waitin' for?
Here are the direct links to the mp3 podcasts for you...
Latest episode
 | Episode 7 January 16 2006 In which Ricky, Steve and Karl discuss... The pictorial canonisation of St Karl the Bewildered; how fingers that do dishes can feel soft as your face; sound advice on maintaining good neighbourly relations; Karl's choice alter ego; the philosophical truth that is 'cogito ergo Karl'; sowing the seeds of doom; medical technology in the 21st century; monkey news. Download the mp3 file here |
Previous episodes
 | Episode 6 January 9 2006 In which Ricky, Steve and Karl discuss... Karl's cranial appraisal via email; Oriental homelessness - a global phenomenon; Karl's pick of the freak; Karl's advocation of choice cuts; advice for residents in glazed accommodation; trials and tribulations of the trichologically challenged; animal psychology in food production; experimentation with decapitation; monkey news. Download the MP3 file here |
 | Episode 5 January 2 2006 In which Ricky, Steve and Karl discuss... Cosmetic therapies and facial prejudice; the penile habits of Papua New Guineans; medical applications of single-wheeled transport mechanisms; consumer demand for Russian iconography; some rather woolly thinking about woolly mammoth and the inevitable monkey news. Download the MP3 file here |
 | Episode 4 December 26 2005 In which Ricky, Steve and Karl discuss... the suitability of ungulates as charitable donations; space, solitude and casual nudity in low Earth orbit; shrewd choices of super power; aphorisms remixed in a Mancunian stylee; atavistic elements within Western contemporary nuptials; Orientals of no fixed abode and, as improbably as ever, more monkey news. Download the MP3 file here |
And if you still haven't seen the original The Office then check that out too. What are you waitin' for?
Monday, January 16, 2006
Disappear... POOF!
Ever wish you could just make somebody disappear? Well this is a public post read by family and friends so I won't be putting anything on the record here for all to make note of. Let's just say that I sometimes wish it were only as easy as demonstrated in the following photo. Poof!
(photo taken April 2005)
On a lighter note, the canal has reopened for skating. Now I may be going out on a limb here but I don't believe -31°C is the ideal temperature to hit Dow's Lake in the hopes of some family fun - no matter how many hot chocolates you drink.
(photo taken April 2005)
On a lighter note, the canal has reopened for skating. Now I may be going out on a limb here but I don't believe -31°C is the ideal temperature to hit Dow's Lake in the hopes of some family fun - no matter how many hot chocolates you drink.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Yaktrax
What with all the freezing rain, ice, and slushy snow in Ottawa I thought now would be a good time to suggest the following innovative product - YAKTRAX.
They're hilarious lookin' but I'm telling you right here and now this is what I want for my retirement gift. No broken hips for me folks. Until then I'll just depend on my cat-like ability to land on my feet to get me through these Ottawa winters.
BTW, I take a medium.
Where cows fear to tread
Another winter photo. This one was taken on my father's farm during Christmas. In the Netherlands farmers use a set up similiar to this rather than an actual gate to keep cows penned in. The system consists of steel bars spaced just far enough apart to discourage the cow from crossing and breaking a leg. And who said cows were stupid?
BTW, it actually works. My father built it about 12 years ago and we have yet to see a cow cross it. Now if my brothers could only figure out how to cross it safely we'd all sleep better at night.
BTW, it actually works. My father built it about 12 years ago and we have yet to see a cow cross it. Now if my brothers could only figure out how to cross it safely we'd all sleep better at night.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Ice and snow
Headed out this morning for a x-c ski with the family. Weather was overcast but warm and the freshly fallen snow made for perfect ski conditions. We ended up doing a loop that was about 3km and by the end I had to promise McDo Happy Meals all around in order to avoid a mutiny. 
The conditions on some of the back trails made from some ideal photo ops... I just wish I had a little more time to snap the pics before getting yelled at by hungry family members.
These last two pics were taken at my parent's farm over the xmas break but they seem to work themselves nicely into this winter wonderland theme I have going here.
The conditions on some of the back trails made from some ideal photo ops... I just wish I had a little more time to snap the pics before getting yelled at by hungry family members.
These last two pics were taken at my parent's farm over the xmas break but they seem to work themselves nicely into this winter wonderland theme I have going here.
First x-c ski of 2006
Today I headed up to Gatineau Park for a x-c ski with a buddy of mine. The fresh snowfall provided a perfect opportunity to test out my new x-c skis from Bushtukah. What with all the freezing rain we've had lately my outdoor activities have been somewhat curtailed (not that the recent holiday gorging helped any either). As such I was a little concerned about my ability to ski nearly 20km up and down the hills of the GAT in -18 °C weather. Hence my response when my buddy described the skiing adventure he had planned for us, "It's all good until I spit blood."
Route: P19 to a beautiful lookout just south of Lac Taylor... and back again
Well folks I am happy to say I surprised myself. I managed to ski the entire way with requiring artificial resuscitation, my skis worked great (once I got the wax right), and after a hot shower and warm meal I am ready to get right back out there again tomorrow... well at least back out to ski the nearby Greenbelt with my kids.
A panoramic view.
Still smiling at the end of the journey. Note the shiny new skis.
Route: P19 to a beautiful lookout just south of Lac Taylor... and back again
Well folks I am happy to say I surprised myself. I managed to ski the entire way with requiring artificial resuscitation, my skis worked great (once I got the wax right), and after a hot shower and warm meal I am ready to get right back out there again tomorrow... well at least back out to ski the nearby Greenbelt with my kids.
A panoramic view.
Still smiling at the end of the journey. Note the shiny new skis.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
testing the new blogger
This is just a test. All original blogs were posted under bloglines at the following URL:
http://www.bloglines.com/blog/bvt
BvT
http://www.bloglines.com/blog/bvt
BvT
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Christmas Eve Day
It was about 9am before I had finished sleeping off last night's Quebecer homebrew. After a couple of cups of coffee I headed out to pick up some groceries and a couple of last minute gifts. Finally the stores were running ALL the checkouts and the lines were no big deal.
Arrived back home to find that my daughter had made a nice snowman family in our front yard. I love how she always has them face us inside the house instead of the street.
(is it just me or does my snowman butt look big?)
Nearly collapsed with back spasms after shoveling the heavy slush off of the driveway (and the neighbour's). Then headed inside for some hot coco and lunch.
Now it's time for the ritual xmas eve t-shirt iron off where we print up a few pics on some iron-on transfers and make some last minute gifts.
Cheers and Merry Christmas blog readers.
BvT
Arrived back home to find that my daughter had made a nice snowman family in our front yard. I love how she always has them face us inside the house instead of the street.
(is it just me or does my snowman butt look big?)
Nearly collapsed with back spasms after shoveling the heavy slush off of the driveway (and the neighbour's). Then headed inside for some hot coco and lunch.
Now it's time for the ritual xmas eve t-shirt iron off where we print up a few pics on some iron-on transfers and make some last minute gifts.
Cheers and Merry Christmas blog readers.
BvT
Friday, December 23, 2005
Don Ross does the Black Sheep real good
Dec.23rd
It was a slippery, sloppy, snowy drive to the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, QC but it was worth it to catch a glimpse of the one and only Don Ross - the only person to ever win the US National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship twice. What an amazing show. This white boy can play like wildfire on fire. You'll never see more hammer-ons, pull-offs, smacks, slaps, knocks, harmonics, strumming, plucking, and picking in one 2 1/2 hour show ever. Truly a one man show.
Don in action...
Don meets BvT...
People say we look a like, whatta ya think?
It was a slippery, sloppy, snowy drive to the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, QC but it was worth it to catch a glimpse of the one and only Don Ross - the only person to ever win the US National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship twice. What an amazing show. This white boy can play like wildfire on fire. You'll never see more hammer-ons, pull-offs, smacks, slaps, knocks, harmonics, strumming, plucking, and picking in one 2 1/2 hour show ever. Truly a one man show.
Don in action...
Don meets BvT...
People say we look a like, whatta ya think?
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Lighting up the 'haven
We did another tour of Barrhaven in the family van tonight to see the Christmas lights. Although there's no one single house in the area that stands out as a must see, overall the neighbourhood seems to be showing their Christmas spirit with various light displays and outdoor decorations. Here's a couple of pics:
This one was off of Cedarview...
This one is just me playing with the aperature setting on my camera and shaking it a bit. What do ya think?
This one was off of Cedarview...
This one is just me playing with the aperature setting on my camera and shaking it a bit. What do ya think?
Monday, December 19, 2005
Last weekend before Xmas
Not too much to say. The weekend was on the books as "Papa's birthday weekend" but that somehow fell through the cracks. Instead we built snowforts and gingerbread houses.
The funniest thing was when one kid started laughing at the other saying that their gingerbread man's eyes were crossed. (what the !?@?)
I also got some more Christmas shopping done and I even wrapped a few while watching my new Jack Johnson DVD and having a whiskey or two. I'm sure Christmas morning will be "as per usual" when I fail to remember which gift it is that I wish to save as the "big one" for last. Sorry mama.
The funniest thing was when one kid started laughing at the other saying that their gingerbread man's eyes were crossed. (what the !?@?)
I also got some more Christmas shopping done and I even wrapped a few while watching my new Jack Johnson DVD and having a whiskey or two. I'm sure Christmas morning will be "as per usual" when I fail to remember which gift it is that I wish to save as the "big one" for last. Sorry mama.
Thursday, December 08, 2005
AYH hits the nation's capital
Dec. 08th
Alvin Youngblood Hart... a true bluesman visited the nation's capital last Thursday evening.
Alvin Youngblood Hart... a true bluesman visited the nation's capital last Thursday evening.
This was an awesome show. Although Alvin's better known for his acoustic blues, tonight he served up some hardcore electric blues backed by a Native American bass/harmonica player and an ex-skinhead drummer. What more can a poor white boy like myself ask for? The only downside to the night was that it was my turn to drive the Barrhaven Blues fan club and as such I was forced to go easy on the bourbon, scotch and beer. Nevertheless a good time was had by all.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
The shiny chrome knob
Well another year has come and gone and it is officially time to pack away the shiny chrome knob and all its summer time accessories. The tent trailer and camping gear, and the bike rack and bikes have all been crammed into our single car garage where they will have to wait patiently for the spring of 2006. To the front of the queue are now the cross country skis, toboggans, and snowshoes. Now all we need is the fluffy white stuff.
PS: Anybody know how to get rust off chrome?
PS: Anybody know how to get rust off chrome?
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