Groot Glimlag

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I have been working for Red Planet marketing for about 9 weeks now and was given the incredible opportunity to travel to Amsterdam all expenses paid for the Dutch convention. It was very flattering considering she only chose 4 people out of the office of 35.
Backed my ruck sack the night before, jumped on the Northern Line tube from Clapham Common to Kentish Town. Went to a meeting, jumped on the train to Luton airport. 42 minute flight to Amsterdam. Went to the Tulip Hotel way the hell out in west Amsterdam. Very nice but just far away. Rubia, Kalim, Hewlan and myself then went to the head office of the Dutch division where we met with the owners. Friday night is beer night (good idea) so we grabbed a couple Heini s and went from there. The Dutch were a pretty excitable bunch, maybe a bit on the crazy side!
I then caught the 17 tram to Egneight something something to meet up with my old friend Reinanke who I have not seen in nearly two years. I was a little nervous but at the same time so excited to be seeing her again. We met at the station and then headed to a bar down the road called 'The Cow' where we had a some very nice red wine from France. All in all it was just a fantastic first night in Amsterdam. It was amazing seeing Reinanke again, such a nice girl.
The next morning I awoke with a heavy head; trudged to the hotel breakfast buffet which immediately lifted my spirits. Awesome spread, most notably the fresh hot croissants. We all caught the tram to the centre where we were picked up by some coaches and were shipped to the Dutch Rally out at some convention centre, De Sparrenhorst. Beautiful setting in the middle of this forest. The rally itself (which was basically a end of year pump up for the new year coming up) was incredible. I could not help but think to myself that I wanted to be one of the owners standing up there talking to everyone, giving my advice to them. And one day I will. JTD marketing will become a reality.
After the rally we were served an incredible dinner with lots of wine and beer. Jumped back on the coaches and headed back into Amsterdam. Oh the Dutch people as a whole are such nice people. So friendly, easy going and always willing to help. It is amazing how entire nations of people can on the whole fit a certain description and then just a few KMs south an entire country full of Germans live. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy German people, some of my best mates are german but they are not the most welcoming of people.
Got back to AMS and met up with my dear friend Nelleke who I met in the islands of Halong Bay, Vietnam. She rocked up riding a bike ( so dutch ) with a big puffy white thing on her head. It was fantastic to see her again, such a sweetheart. I then jumped on the back of her bike and we met up with her partner, Teun and some other friends at the ferry. We caught the ferry to the other side of the channel where we wasted 10 Euros each going to some wierd club in this old shipping yard. Back on the bikes, met up with Kalim and Hewlan and off to Melkweg where we drank and danced the night away into the wee hours of the morning. I hope to remain friends with both Reinanke and Nelleke for years to come. Simply put, they are good people.
It was brilliant to have partied in Amsterdam, I have not had the chance to do it for a while over here in London due to the fact that I have been working crazy hours, about 65 a week. And I work saturdays! This is certainly the hardest I have ever had to work, but what an opportunity. Speaking of opportunities. When I first came to London I was offered a position by an overseas real estate company based here in London where I would have been selling properties over the phone. I decided against it due to the fact that I thought it was madness. Then completely out of the blue I received a phone call from them this week, they want me to relocate to Bansko, Bulgaria for 3 months to meet with clients from the UK and sell and market properties in this ski town. If I took it I would be moving in exactly a month, free accommodation, free flights, base pay and commission. On top of that I would be living in BULGARIA, and also learning so much about the ins and outs of property sales and development. I should have made my decision by next week. Really crazy!!!!
Oh, another interesting thing that happened in AMS was that on the runway, the front tyre of the plane got a puncture. So we had to sit there for over an hour whilst they changed the tyre. Who would have thought that they can change plane tyres that easily! I suppose it just has never crossed my mind.
I love Amsterdam. I love the hundreds of canals reflecting the surroundings, the beautiful architecture, flowers everywhere, good cheese, great bars and clubs, good beer and great people. I can't wait to go back. But first I have to see the rest of the country!
TOTSIENS, gee vir jou 'n lekker dag.

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