Hi I’m Frank. Welcome to my world

As promised I started a weblog. The goal of this project is to keep you guys informed about me and my life. I can’t see you as much and as often as I want and I know some of you worry about me, by visiting this website you can see for yourself that you don’t have to worry about me too much. Thanks for carying for me and thanks for thinking of me. Please leave a message and/or a reaction when you have visited my site. I would really appriceate to know your opinion and I’ll be glad to answer any of you questions.

I have just started this weblog and for now, there’s only an introduction of myself. Soon my journal will appear here as well. So please come back again.

Feel free to read and leave reactions or comments.

Have fun during your visit. Keep smiling.
Frank

I know it has been a while since I last posted a story here, so here is an update.

Let me begin with expressing my thanks, for all your support and emails, postcards, textmessages.  THANK YOU!

What can i say about my condition? Well i’m doing a litle better. The recovery process is one that takes a lot of time. At the moment I have gained some weight and strenght is improving too. But maybe the best news is that i’m not completly depressed! Although it’s pretty ovious that this isn’t the best time of my life it seems that i can deal with it.

Over 5 weeks my next doctors appointment will tell me what the strategy will be for the final part of the recovery process.

Untill then i have to waite and make sure that I take care of myself (don’t worry I am).

Sorry for not being in touch lately as I should be. The keyboard of my mobilephone is broken so I can’t send any textmessages at the moment.

Hello readers.

I know it has been a while since I last posted a story here.  For those who don’t know yet, here’s  a short explenation.

I believe it was on a Monday, I was in the office and didn’t feel right. I called my boss and told him that I was sick and went home. I thought I had the flew or at least a cold. I decided to go straight to bed and visit the doctor a day later. The doctor told me I had a irritated stomache and gave me some medication. Two days laters the paine was even worse, so much worse that I decided to go to the emergency desk at the hospital. They send me to a specialist and took X-ray pictures as well as a CT-scan. After that I was send home with stronger painkillers and a appointment with another specialist. So I had to waite a week.

Within this week I lost a lot of weight. In fact in two weeks time I almost lost 12 KG!!! So when I saw the other specialist he told me I should be commited to/in the hospital as soon as possible. The next day I was commited.

I had to take several tests to know what was wrong with me. Eventually the doctors diagnosed me with Crohn’s desease (ziekte van Crohn), this is an inflametory vowel desease (chronische darmsontsteking). They told me that at first they would try medication and see how I would react to it and don’t operate.

I was reacting good at the medicati0n (Prednisolon). The pain went away and I gained weight. So after 3 and a half weeks I was allowed to go home. And that’s when it really went wrong. After being at home for 4 days the pain came back, but much worse then before.  So much pain I could hardly walk. So I went back to the hospital.

After some quick research they came to the conclusion that I had an abces and it had to be taken out. So the doctors had to operate quickly. After the operation which was just in time there were two of three days of improvement, after that it got worse again and an another operation was nescessary, another abces. After this second operation I stayed in the hospital for 4 weeks. In the fourth week I needed another operation to clean out my inside, this was a minor operation compared with the first two.

Conclusions.

I have Crohn’s desease and will have this the rest of my life.

I still have a wound wich needs to heal in time

No vacation for me this summer.

I have the ideal weight of a supermodel.

The next 3 to 6 months will be for recovery.

I need two more operations in time.

I know I have been very sick, but I think (and hope) that things will improve from now on.

In the time I spend in the hospital I got the confirmation that I have some wonderful friends (THANKS for all the support).

Now it’s time to answer all those e-mails (over a hundred) so I don’t know when my next post here will be. I’ll be busy.

Have a good week.

Frank

Hello readers,

The last 10 days were very busy for me. So I couldn’t write anything here. For those whom I haven’t spoken on the phone here’s an update.

Two weeks ago, the company I work for was asked to participate in a convention about construction and Urban Renewal. This convention was held from last tuesday untill friday.

Due to projects in weeks before neither my boss or myself had time available to prepare for the convention. So at the last moment we needed to make a decision on our participation off this event.

I knew this could be an important event for the company. So I was in favour off it. The problem was that I had to do all the preparation myself, because of the lack of time my boss had. This wasn’t the only challenge, also the role of our company was to be carried out by only me!

So it were a couple of stessfull days before the opening of the convention, but everything came together at the last moment.

Doing the convention by myself wasn’t easy. Sometimes I tried to be at more then one place at a time, which didn’t work ofcourse.

But I did get some intresting leads and my speech was well received. And as thanks for that I got a chess game made from glass as a gift.

Because of the fact that the convention was held in Amsterdam, I stayed in a hotel for a week. Due to the long days there wasn’t any time left to see some more of one of my favourite cities. But the hotel was good, and the staff took good care of me.

It’s too early to call the convention a succes for the company. It’s up to the magical two weeks after the convention to see if my efforts will be paid off.

Last year we participated in a convention/exhibition and that one was a succes, so i’m hoping for the same results this time.

Last week was busy, stressful, long, but also fun.

So friday after the convention was closed down I drove home. I arrived there at 11.00 PM and was so tired that after a hot showere I went directly to bed.

Saturday I slept untill late. And when I finally got up I decided to go to the shops to buy some new stuff for my appartment.

First I had to go to shop, where I ordered a mirror last week. It’s a tailor made mirror with a wooden frame. I did not expect it had so much weight. But after a long strugle it’s now in place. I aldo got the idea to buy some flowers. I love flowers, but i didn’t have many in my appartment. So i went to the market and bought Lily’s, tulips and Narcisses.

The flowers I already had needed to be replaced, so that’s what I did.

My last purchase is a wine-rack. It’s made off stainless steel.

After doing all that it was time to put my feet up and watch some tv, and that’s how i spend my evening.

On sunday I was still a bit tired so I dicided to take it easy that day. I didn’t do much, just some DVD to watch and that was all.

I watched Requim for a Dream (great movie) and Crash (also very good).

So there you have it, my update.

Have a good week, take care.

Frank

Yesterday I planned a evening just to relax. I made myself a good meal and after dinner I decided to watch a DVD. I had chosen the movie ‘Be Cool’. It’s the sequel off ‘Get Shorty’ and it’s with the actors John Travolta, Danny De Vito and Uma Thurman. It’s a comedy with a thin plot about a gangster who gets into the music industry to become an agent for an upcomming singer (Christina Millian). I bought the DVD because I really liked Get Shorty.

The movie has some funny moments, but isn’t as good as the first part. While watching this movie I remembered that I also had bought a bottle of chocolatemilk. And thought it was a good idea to get a glass of it. So I went into the kitchen and got the bottle. On the bottle there was a description which said, ‘shake before opening’

So there i was in my kitchen shaking the bottle. After doing this for a while it was time to open it. I pulled the lid off and then in happened. ssssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhh the chocolate milk exploded out of the botle. Almost my complete kitchen was covered with this brown stuff!!!! Not just my kitchen, but also my clothes, my face everything was covered with chocolate.

So i’m standing there, trying to ‘Be Cool’ about it…….

So I spend most of the evening cleaning up the mess I made.

Don’t worry the bottle wasn’t made of glass, so I wasn’t hurt. Well not hurt physically that is, but my ego was certainly hurt in this.

Have a good day, take care.
Frank

P.S.
No there aren’t any pictures of this accident available!

Now that the majority of the work on my new appartment is finished. A new phase has set in. The phase of changing the house into my home. Ofcourse a big part has already been done with the re-painting, my choice for the color of the paint, my choice for the type of furniture. But it’s now time for details. And that’s something I also like to give enough attention to.

So it’s now time for flowers, art, plants, small furniture. And considering all that has been done, this is probably the most fun part.

So yesterday I bought some candles, some vases and a small square table. I had to search a bit for the right kind of table. The shape of it wasn’t what caused the trouble. These kind of tables are at many stores, but what striked me is that these kind of wooden tables, often looked like plastic. And there WILL NOT BE any cheap looking plastic furniture in my house! So I didn’t buy it at IKEA, but went to another store which had the table on stock, which doesn’t look like plastic, but shows the wood structure, although it’s black.

It’s back to work for me now. Have a nice day!

Frank

It has been a while since I have written a new story here. The reason why is very simple. I have been busy with work. Many hours ‘on the road’ so there wasn’t time to place a new log. So for the people who worried. I’m still alive! I have just been busy! Busy whith what, you might want to know. Well busy with work I must say. To give you an example, i’ll describe my day at work like it was yesterday.

Yesterday started at 5.30 AM (!) It started this early because I had a long drive ahead of me. I had to go to Leeuwarden. This is the capital of the county (or provence) Friesland.

From my hometown, Dordrecht to Leeuwarden is a distance of 216 km. The county Friesland is in the top North-East of the Netherlands. It a charactaristic county with lot’s of lakes and agriculture. Some of our dutch counties have a dialect (a distinctive accent) but Friesland has an official language, Fries. I don’t speak it, but ofcourse the people overthere also speak Dutch.

After a 2,5 hour drive I arrived at the Tjeukemeer (Tjeuke lake) and thought it was a good moment for a cafe.

This lake is the largest lake of the county.

It’s located very near the motorway. But it does have some nice spots to have a cafe. I must admit that the skies above added to the attractiveness of the moment there.

Then is was time to continue to Leeuwarden. I had a meeting with a prospect and after that (possitive) interview, I had to go to Amsterdam.

The distance between Leeuwarden and Amsterdam is 142 km.

When you drive this route you drive the ‘Afsluitdijk’ or Closure-dike. This is a major dam, which connects the county Friesland and the county Noth-Holland. It’s 32 km long.

The construction was finished in 1933. It damms of the North Sea from the Zuider zee (now called IJsselmeer, IJssel lake).

This dam is constructed with large bolders (or rocks).

No I did not count how many of these were used. I can tell you I need a lot more exercise to lift these kind of rocks.

5,000 people worked for six years to complete the dam. And I’m glad I wasn’t one of them.

It’s still sunny, so the view is clear and if you look closely you can see one the Dutch islands.

And after eating my (homemade) sandwich. I continued my travelling towards Amsterdam.

In Amsterdam was my next meeting. Also this meeting was a succes and the client and I agreed to have dinner in Amstersdam that evening. I thought it was a good idea.

I really love the city of Amsterdam, although I don’t know many good restaurents overthere, my client does. So I was looking forward to a good dinner in Amsterdam that evening.

The downside was I had to drive to Rotterdam first, for other business.

The distance between Amsterdam and Rotterdam is 76 km.

The traffic was good for me, so it didn’t take too long for me to get to Rotterdam.

The work in Rotterdam was done pretty quick. So I could return to Amsterdam. (again 76 km)

Again I love the city Amsterdam, but what strikes me everytime I go overthere, is the ammount of tourists. I hear all time different languages around me (not Dutch I mean). It gives me the idea, i’m the only Dutch man there. But this is probably the same in other capitals in Europe, which have a great tourist attaction, such as Paris or London (amongst others).

The dinner was a good idea. The food was good and the company entertaining. After dinner we went to a local cafe (pub) to have some drinks. So far it has always been fun to get a client drunk !.

After dropping off the client at his home, I drove home (97 km).

Dordrecht was my next destination.

I arrived in Dordrecht past midnight. And after a long hot shower it was time to go to bed.

So yesterday I drove a total of 607 km (all without accidents).

As this isn’t a very extraordinary day in my working life, you can imagine why I didn’t have the time to write much.

But as you can see i’m doing ok.

Regards
Frank

As you could have seen in one of my previous stories here (http://franky.web-log.nl/log/4869746) We have had pretty much snow and ice this winter. Because in Holland we are near the sea the snow usually doesn’t stay long.

I think it makes a pretty scenery.

All the houses have white roofs. The threes look a bit magical.

Although snow creates pretty pictures, i’m a bit glad the weather forecast tells me that we are getting warmer temps here, so it could be this was the last snow of the winter. Why am I glad about this? Well snow doesn’t improve the driving conditions and it looks like I’ll be on the road most of this week.

Have a good week!

Frank

Last weekend I had a discussion with a friend, the topic of the discussion was if and how we (the Dutch) had an influence on the History of the world.

The opnion of my friend was ‘we are just a small country, so we had a very small influence in the world of today’.

I agreed on the idea that we are just a small country and that we only have litle influence on what happens in the world of today. Surely we have a minor influence compared to the United States, Germany or France, when it comes to rules, laws, United Nations and so on. But I do think we have left a big mark on the history of this world.

I can give some examples.

Some of the stuff we use on a daily bases or items which have enriched our lives were invented by Dutch people!

Everybody, all over the world listens to music. Most music we play at our homes in our cars is music from a CD. We have invented the CD (compact disc).

Nowadays we all have DVD-players, and probably all over the world DVD has replaced the video. Well also the video was a Dutch invention.

Although chocolate was invented by others, the chocolate bar was invented in Holland.

Next time you need to go to the hospital or doctor to get ‘something’ checked out, remind yourselves that the microscope was invented by the Dutch.

We have inveted al sorts of products to improve the efficiency of our agriculture, which makes us the third best country when it comes to profuctivity and turnover in the agricultural sector.

Due to our experience and logistical systems the Dutch are leading the industry of Flowers. All over the world our Tulips, Lily’s etc are enjoyed.

All over the world people enjoy Dutch cheese. Although most famous is the Gouda cheese, it will take you a life time to test all of our different types of cheese.

The above are just some examples and certainly not all, but it does help ‘to paint the picture that the Dutch did have a considerate influence on the world of today.

We have achieved a lot. There is also a dutch saying how a small country can be great I think it’s true. It also give you litle proudness a being Dutch. Some of things we think is very normal, really isn’t when you give it some more thought. (but again isn’t that with everything…..)

Frank

As you could have read in one of my previous stories here (Out with the old) I’m not taking much with me to my new apartment. Firstly I thought about putting everything out with the trash or sell it on ebay. Pretty soon after that I got the idea of giving it away for charity.

I’m not really into charities, surely I have donated money before, but this is different.

I went through all of my stuff and I really mean ALL of my stuff. This really brought back some memories, some good, some not so good.

I divided all the items into two groups. One group with stuff I just can’t give away, because I have a special feeling with it or I still need it, which is the small group. The other group has to go away.

The variaty of the stuff i’m giving away is big. It’s from furniture to old toys from my childhood.

I looked at it and realised I needed to rent a van to bring it away. And that’s what I did.

After I loaded all the stuff into the van I drove towards a home for mentally challenged people. Last year I was sort of introduced with a charity wich organises the special olympics. A sports event for people with the syndrome of Down and others.

Surely I made a phonecall in advance to check if it was ok to deliver my stuff. They said it was more then ok, because they don’t have much money to buy items for themselves.
I think that during this phonecall I made a mistake. I didn’t tell them exactly how much stuff I was going to bring by.

So when I got overthere I was welcomed by a girl who worked there and she expected that I would just bring a small bag for them. So when I told her I had a van-load for her, her eyes became very big!

So I started unloading the van and she said she couldn’t believe her eyes. And I had to keep telling her I didn’t needed it anymore and that from now on everything was theirs. And that it would make me feel better if it was still usefull instead of it going to be trash. Well she started crying. Somehow this always gives me the idea I did something wrong. And besides that there is one thing in life off which I’m allergic to and that’s a woman in tears. And now I began to think this wasn’t such a good idea.

Although I now know she wasn’t crying because I did something wrong or hurt her. A girl in tears is just something I can never get used to.

And I know I have to go over there to give the rest of the stuff….

Frank