Amsterdam 21 - 26 June 2007

Ryanair flights for 2p (taxes inc) return to Amsterdam, it would've been rude not to.

We got off to a rather anxious start when Sandra had literally seconds to get on the plane before take off. In true latino style she swans aboard and sits down, not a care in the world while Vanessa and I were moments away from nervous breakdowns. After probably the shortest flight in history we land at Eindhoven and kick off the Netherlands road trip with a bus ride to Amsters and embark on finding our apartment. Much to our amusement we found Humphrey's restuarant and had to have a picture

Miss Humphrey outside her restaurant

But google has since revealed this is just one of 14 other Humphreys restaurants around Holland. (V - Ha ha you're a chain)

On the second day we did the Mikes Bikes Tour around the whole of the city followed by a cruise on the canal. Enjoying cycling again after about 10 years without riding a bike I decided I would definitely be buying a bike when I got back to London. Although this thought only lasted for approx 2 days (read on).

Mikes Bikes Tour 22 June

The girlies on the boat

Thankfully friday was one of the drier days and it was only after getting off the boat to take the bikes back that the rain started, and didnt stop for the next five days. Out came the ponchos and we were looking like real sexeee laydeeees.

I dunno how many times I've said it yellow is not my colour

After a few hours r & r we decided it would be a good idea to do the Ultimate Amsterdam Pub Crawl. Although Vanessa and I were feeling ill we still managed to polish off the free beers and shots and we had a ball and met some wicked people.

Sober (ish)

Now probably would have been a good time to stop

Erm.........

The next day we nursed our hangovers shopping and between us managed to buy 12 pairs of shoes which none of us had any space in our baggage to bring home. By Sunday all three of us were ill but we soldiered on through the rain and the wind and decided to hire a bike and cycle around the city and visit Anne Franks House. My degree came in handy and I single handedly guided us all over the city in completely the wrong direction looking for the house. 3 hours and a puncture later we find it. However, we dont have time to look around as I have to push my damn punctured bike back to the hire place. Wet, tired and with a saddle sore bottom I decided no way would I ever be cycling in London.

We ventured out to the red light district on Sunday night and that was certainly an eye opener. Nothing much to say other than lots of naked mingers standing in windows.

City number 2 - The Hague - was scheduled for Monday. Half dead we took the train and tried to make the most of being out of the rain. But the travelling thing all just got too much for me...

Miiiiii!

It was still raining in Den Haag which was a shame because it would have been a lovely place to chill in the cafes and bars after living it up in Amsters. We had a quiet night with dinner and a few cocktails and prepared ourselves for city number 3.

Travelled back to Eindhoven on Tuesday and again it was raining so we did some more shopping and sat in coffee shops and restaurants till it was time to catch our flight. Finally arrived home soaked and dying of some kind of mystery amsterdamish illness. I've never been as thankful to sleep in my own bed again as I was on Tuesday night.

I think I would probably go back to the Netherlands as I'm sure it is a beautiful country if only it wasn't raining.

So how do I sign up for mensa then?

Your IQ Is 115

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Exceptional Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Above Average

A Quick and Dirty IQ Test

V Festival Confirmed!!!

Woo hoo, my summer has now been made with the confirmation of my attendance at V. Forget Glasto or Benicassim, have you seen this years line up for V Festival. Just in case you have been living under a rock for the last few months Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl is my my hero) headline on Saturday and The Killers on Sunday. Could it get any better? Throw in Snow Patrol, The Manics and Babyshambles and you've got the greatest 2 days of music ever.

Full Weekend Line Up

Big thank you to Rez for saving my summer.

BRING IT ON!!!

Celebrity Lookalikes

Way too much time on my hands at work today...

http://www.myheritage.com

SAFC Fixtures 2007/08

The premiership fixtures have been announced today and what a cracking season we have ahead of us. Man Utd at home on Boxing Day and Arsenal at home for the last match of the season. I think the Arsenal match will be the title decider. At least we will get to raise the trophy in the Stadium of Light.

August
Sat 11th - Tottenham -H
Tue 14th - Birmingham - A
Sat 18th - Wigan - A
Sat 25th - Liverpool - H


September
Sat 1st - Man Utd - A
Sat 15th - Reading -H
Sat 22nd - Middlesbrough - A
Sat 29th - Blackburn - H


October
Sat 6th - Arsenal - A
Sat 20th - West Ham - A
Sat 27th - Fulham - H


November
Sat 3rd - Man City - A
Sat 10th - Newcastle - H
Sat 24th - Everton - A

December
Sat 1st - Derby - H
Sat 8th - Chelsea - A
Sat 15th - Aston Villa - H
Sat 22nd - Reading - A
Wed 26th - Man Utd - H
Sat 29th - Bolton - H

January
Tue 1st - Blackburn - A
Sat 12th - Portsmouth - H
Sat 19th - Tottenham - A
Tue 29th - Birmingham - H

February
Sat 2nd - Liverpool - A
Sat 9th - Wigan - H
Sat 23rd - Portsmouth - A

March
Sat 1st - Derby - A
Sat 8th - Everton - H
Sat 15th - Chelsea - H
Sat 22nd - Aston Villa - A
Sat 29th - West Ham - H

April
Sat 5th - Fulham A
Mon 12th - Man City - H
Sat 19th - Newcastle - A
Sat 26th - Middlesbrough - H

May
Sat 3rd - Bolton - A
Sun 11th - Arsenal - H

Monopoly Board Pub Crawl - 2 June

Old Kent Road to Mayfair in 12 hours, 26 stops with stations and a drink in each.... EASY

11.30am, New Cross Gate station, hangovers from friday night forgotten and we were all raring to go. John had failed to mention before that he had added a new rule - you must have a drink to match the colour of the street on the monopoly board.

So we pitch up in the scruffiest place we can find on Old Kent Road and order baileys for the girls and halves for the lads (brown drinks).

After blue WKD's, pink rose, orange beer and red watermelon bacardi breezers we made it to Leicester Square/Picadilly where some fools tried to enforce the rule that "go to jail, do not pass go..." wins by default

Then it all just got silly.......

By the time we reached Oxford Street it was last orders and we struggled to find anywhere to get a drink and just about managed a green drink on Bond Street and Oxford Street

Then the hardcore monopoliers decide to push on and attempt Mayfair and Park Lane. And the sensible ones amongst us (myself included) thought it would be a much better idea to go on to a club in Soho for a few more bevvies and a dance. I'm not sure who chose the most wisely but Lisa and John report tales of hanging over a dual carriageway to get a picture of the Park Lane sign, Natasha boldly strolling into some exclusive Mayfair hotel like she belonged and John almost been picked up by a car full of boyz from the hood.

As for Soho, well who knows.... can't remember much but it looked like a good night