At Home

It's a month ago since we moved to another house... The photo frames to be hang on the wall are not yet ready but some of my friends wants to see some photos already so here are the photos inside the house... It's not so big, but big enough for us...

It's true what they say there's no place like "Home"...
Just feel at home.....

Blogger

Exactly a year ago, I began writing blog.... I'm glad there's Blogger website that is for free and ready-made template, so having a blog is not really creating a website, but just writing and re-arranging the contents or gadgets you put in your blog...

After the 1st week in writing, that's the time I sent email and informed some of my friends to please try to visit my blog if they have time... I was so consious then if i'm doing it good or not? If my english grammar are right or wrong? Do I have interesting topic or not? Anyway, I did received some feedback then like don't be afraid if the english grammar is wrong or right after all it's just a blog, just writing anything you want... At first, I wanted to write my blog in Tagalog language because for sure I could make it funnier or with some humor in tagalog but I have readers who can't understand tagalog, so I chose english so most readers around the world could understand, although lately writing in english is giving some complict already with my stuying dutch language... especially English and Dutch have different rules in grammar to each other....

By the way, last year I received also a feedback from my officemate before in Tariff, Kuya Eric said to me "Wow! Marge I did not know you have TALENT in writing".... At first I did not gave attention, I thought with my writing was just writing, I did not see any talent... I just wrote down what I want to say, simple as talking.... Then lately I realized, that Kuya Eric is right... it's not just writing, because for me, I need so much thing like some inspiraTION, motivaTION, lots of concentraTION and most of all internet connecTION, hehe! Anyway, I know there are days, weeks and month that i don't have blog, but it doesn't mean I don't have ideas or topics to write about because that's what I have a LOT... I have topic in my mind everyday, I even made some pictures for blog still save in my computer with different topic to write on... but there are more than those -TION I needed in writing blog and those were TIME and ENERGY...

I don't know... I'm just really a BUSY PERSON, it's like I always have something to do and most of the time I'm giving the time for myself to write my blog at night before going to bed but then I would always find myselft so tired already for the whole day activities so I cannot concentrate anymore to write...

But this night, I did reserved my time in writing for my 1st year Anniversary as Blogger.
I do enjoy blogging, anyhow my blog is the best way for me to update all my family and friends about what going on with "dutch my life"... with smile always -marge

Verhuizen (Moving into Another House)

Three weeks ago, we moved to another house, here in Holland the dutch term is "Verhuizen"... It was such a very important day here, some people who are working has even a right to have a free day like vacation leave for that day....

As for me, this is like the first time experience of moving to another house... Way back in Manila, since I was born our family just moved to another place just once. I was 7 years old then, so I was so young to learn things about moving to another house...

Anyway as early as first week of June, we did signed the contract already with the renting of house effective July 1, so at that moment we are sure already that we got that house, then on that day we have the chance to go again inside the house and walk around.... It's one month preparation and somehow it's good... We have a chance to plan on how and where are we going to put the furnitures in the house. I also made a list of the things we needed in every part of the house like in the living room, dining room, bedrooms, kitchen, bathroom and toilet. Then two weeks before we move, my husband brought from his work some "verhuizen dozen" or boxes used especially for those moving to another house. We used about 20 boxes, and I made it organized by labeling the box per room.

After we received the keys, we cleaned the house right away and we did the moving on the following day. Actually we are just about 100 meters away from the old house where we live in going to the new house so we don't really need to rent a truck for the transportation of our things... We thank Papa Willem, Greg, Mama Gea and Marjan for helping us with moving....

I've realized that it takes time before you can put everything in it's proper place especially you have to clean first every part of the house before you put things in it... On the first week the living room and dining room were ready plus of course the bedrooms... Then on 2nd week I made sure that everything in the kitchen was ready. And the clothings were already in the clothing cabinet. Now is the 3rd week, I make it sure that the curtains are complete. This time I used my talent in sewing clothes, I did gave my time in repairing the curtains, somehow it's nice you can buy curtains here that are like ready-made so it's easy to repair and cutting it in its right lenght... Then my husband became busy hanging the things that should be hang in the wall like those three paingtings we received from Daniel, Ivy and Raymunda.

Next week we want to make sure that the photo frames for hanging in the wall will be ready too...

Sleuteks (Keys)

I haven't mention yet here in my blog, but most of my friends knew that for the past few months already, we're busy looking for another house.... It's not really so easy especially in the first Realty office where we are looking for a house, every week we have to register to the house we like, but it's a Lottery system, we have to be lucky because it's the computer who will choose who's in the 1st place or in other words who got the chance to rent the house...

Then my husband tried to put a post in the internet that we are looking for a house here in the Winschoten... Although every now and then we did tried to apply also for house in another place... As for me, I asked my family and friends to please pray also for us that we could have the house... We did prayed and I told my husband that when we will have it, for sure the blessings will be with it...

So after few weeks that my husband posted in internet that we are looking for a house... Suddenly an owner of the house for sale here in Winschoten wrote email to Ron... Supposed to be it's for sale but for us she's willing to let us rent her house... Anyway, this is not yet the moment for us to buy a house...

Actually on my birthday, that was 22 of May, we did have a chance to visit already and to look inside the house... I feel like it's like a birthday gift for me... It's an apparment style and we are going to live in the 2nd floor... Then on 1st week of June we met the owner already and we did signed the Contract...

Finally we got today the SLEUTELS (KEYS) of our new house....
Thank you to all my friends and family who prayed for us to have the house...
and we Praise and Thank God for this blessing....
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About the photo, I want to acknowledge the source of the photo... (of course I cannot post here the real photo of our keys for security reason, hehe!)... But I got this photo from this link of www.accessibility.nl ... But i did saw this photo also in this link of www.schoolmetdebijbel.com...
And also in this link of www.dag.nl - a news website here in Holland... they used the photo with the news titled "Software vervalst sleutels" or "Software forged keys", it's in dutch but somehow the summary is be careful in showing the photo of your keys in the internet because there are software that can copy the details of your key. I did thought about it that's why I tried to search photo online... Make sense ha!

De Band Nuchter in Zwembad Hoogkerk

Today, Ron with their band Nuchter just have a performance in the Zwembad Hoogkerk for Dorpsfeest Hoogkerk (Hoogkerk Village Party). Normally, me and Mireille could be with Ron to watch because it's a nice time 5:00 in the afternoon... But I have schedule to work in the afternoon too so that's not possible... maybe next time... Ahh, Ron knows I have my full support to his music and to their band... De Band Nuchter...

Filipijnse Buurvrouw (Filipina Neighbor)

Today, we have a sort of BBQ Party at the house of Klas and Ivy... They are living in another street near to where we live, but I always say that Ivy is my Filipina Buurvrouw (Filipina Neighbor) or kapitbahay here... We have another Filipina kapitbahay here named Rhoda, she is living with Pim (dutchman) in few streets away from us... Tina came also with her kids, she is an Indonesian friend of Ivy... Today was such a good weather and we really have a nice day at BBQ Party...

Ivy and Rhoda were not only my filipina kapitbahay here, they are also my klassmates in the Dutch language lessons in the school, but they sit now in another group... I'm in Level 2 group, Ivy in Level 3 and Rhoda in Level 4 group... Sometimes, mostly on Friday we make schedule to eat lunch mostly at Ivy's house... The typical food for lunch here is bread... but whenever we made the schedule to eat together in lunch, then for sure it will be Filipino food, like rice with sinigang na isda, dried fish, pusit, adobo or nilagang baboy... sarap!

I'm glad I have Ivy and Rhoda as my filipina neighbors here... talking tagalog, eating filipino food, talking over bringing-up the child in dutch and filipino way, talking about the reality that filipino culture runs in our blood and sometimes we have to combine it with the dutch culture that is around us.... of course, we are inbracing dutch culture the way we embrace our dutch husbands... Still, we may be streets away from each other but we are neighbors in a filipino way....

Influenza Pandemic alert raised to Phase 6

Influenza Pandemic alert raised to Phase 6

11 June 2009 -- On the basis of available evidence and expert assessments of the evidence, the scientific criteria for an influenza pandemic have been met. The Director-General of WHO has therefore decided to raise the level of influenza pandemic alert from phase 5 to phase 6. "The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic," she said at a press conference today.
Read Dr Chan's statement to the press
-WHO (World Health Organization)

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Lately, I didn't noticed any Swine flu update here in TV News... But I know exactly how it's spreading fast, almost 1,000 per day were infected around the world... I know it, because my husband is informing me, every day or at least 2 times a day, his checking out in the internet particularly in the website of WHO (World Health Organization) about the updates of Influenza A(H1N1) known as "Swine Flu"... He's informing me the updates of how many were in infected around the world, how many in Netherlands, then in Germany, because we are living near to the boundary of Germany... And then how many were infected in Philippines of course...
I'll admit, I'm so busy lately with my own health situation, busy with studying dutch languange, busy preparing for moving to the new house, busy everyday here in the house... busy writing in my blog, busy in facebook account..... but later, I will really try to search more about Influenza A (H1N1)...
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Influenza A(H1N1) - update 47

11 June 2009 -- As of 14:00 GMT, 11 June 2009, 74 countries have officially reported 28,774 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 144 deaths.

Click this link -Influenza A(H1N1) - update 47 -To see the table with the breakdown of the number of laboratory-confirmed cases, commulative total and deaths by country as of June 11, 2009, 14:00 GMT.

Mastopathie (Fibrocystic Breast Condition or Fibrocystic Changes)

Yesterday, I got right the result of my Breast Biopsy last tuesday... The Surgeon, named Dr. De Vries of St. Lucas Ziekenhuis (Hospital) where I have my breast biopsy, said... it's "Mastopathie" or known in english as Fibrocystic Breast Condition or Fibrocystic Changes)... He told me there's nothing to worry, it's normal for many women... it's just because of changes in hormones every menstruation... or As for my case, it could be possible that those were still the milk that was left in my breast after i stop giving breast feeding to my daughter, 3 weeks after I gave birth or way back 2007... I asked the doctor if I still needed to undergo operation for them to remove it.. but he said, it's not necessary, no medication needed as well... But I have new appointment for Ultrasound afte 6 months or November 2009, for control....
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I PRAISE AND THANK GOD for blessing me with result of the breast biopsy I have... Thank you also to all your prayers.. May God continue to bless us all.

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As usual, I tried to search again about Mastopathie (Fibrocystic Breast Condition or Fibrocystic Changes)... and the MedicineNet.com, have it well explained again...

Fibrocystic breasts are characterized by lumpiness and usually discomfort in one or both breasts. The condition is very common and benign, meaning that fibrocystic breasts are not malignant (cancerous). Fibrocystic breast disease (FBD), now referred to as fibrocystic changes or fibrocystic breast condition, is the most common cause of "lumpy breasts" in women and affects more than 60% of women. The condition primarily affects women between the ages of 30 and 50 and tends to become less of a problem after menopause. ... read more - MedicineNet.com

Borstbiopsie (Breast Biopsy)

Last May 20 or about 3 weeks ago, I went to the St. Lucas Ziekenhuis (Hospital) and have a mammogram and ultrasound of my breast, because since February I always have breast pain everytime my monthly period will come... Actually my only appointment on May 20then was to have Mammogram but after it, the doctor requested me to stay and have directly the ultrasound, because they saw something in my breast... The doctor then said, I have cyst in my right breast but at the same time, she wanted to investigate the spots they saw from my mammogram in the side of my right breast... Then the doctor recommended me to have an appointment for Borstbiopsie (Breast Biopsy), that was today...

Yes, I've waited for 3 weeks since then, oh! deep inside I really got worried, and I know my family too... but for three weeks i tried to avoid to give so much attention about the word "Breast Cancer"... I did not even had the courage to write it here in my blog last May 20... I did not even write emails to my girl friends about my situation then... I just don't want to talk or write about it... But of course, I started to ask my family to pray for me for the coming biopsie then... But I heard my name is sometimes included in the Mass intentions for the sick to get well in holy masses in Parish of the Holy Family (in Karuhatan)...

It's only last night before I went to bed that I tried to search about the biopsie, and the youtube video i attatched here somehow gave idea for me on what's going to happen...



I think the doctor uses the Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to me...

I did some research and the MediceNet.com had well explained the Breast Biopsy...
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A breast biopsy is a procedure in which part or all of a suspicious breast growth is removed and examined, usually for the presence of cancer. The growth sample is suctioned out through a needle or cut out using a surgical procedure. The sample is then examined and evaluated under a microscope by a pathologist to identify non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant) tissue.

Words used to refer to the abnormal area or growth before and after diagnosis may include lump, mass, lesion, and tumor.... read more (-MedicineNet.com)

Pinksterdag (Pentecost)

Yesterday was Pinksterdag (Pentecost)... If there is Easter Sunday and non-working holiday here on 2nd Easter day (Easter Monday).... Today is non-working holiday too because it's Tweede Pinksterdag (2nd Pentecost day)... Even they say there are not really so much Catholics here in Holland, I just noticed they still have some non-working holidays here that were related to Catholic Feast day..

Anyway, in the evening after eating dinner, Ron went to the Stadspark (near to our house) and do the fishing there... But it was not really a success because of the birds that fly around and tried to get the bread that Ron throws for the fishes, hehe (as you can see in the 1st photo)...
Me and Mireille went there and stay for few minutes... By the way, I just noticed Mireille likes to carry her Hello Kitty bag today as you can see in some photos too in Slide show below... :)