Fortune Sweets
As I walked out of the metro today, I went to the biggest supermarket to get titbits such as cakes, chocolates, sweets and cookies. I got an idea this afternoon when DT, GF and I were having lunch at the best-recommended Chinese restaurant in the city. As usual we had dimsum and fried noodles with all sorts of mushroom and shitaké. After lunch, we made a reservation for the next day’s lunch with 20 people at the restaurant.
This restaurant is the best but they don’t have fortune cookies which was a minus point. So, I thought of doing my own fortune cookies and distribute to all my colleagues tomorrow after the meals. But I was too lazy to bake the cookies so I just bought the stuff I mentioned earlier. I divided all titbits in 20 plastics with a piece of paper that I wrote by hand with sayings that I found from the internet. So, this I will call Fortune Sweets.
I don’t celebrate my birthday at work, but I hope I can do a bit of fun for my belated birthday which they may not realize. 
Trip to Zeeland
I had a day off today. Again.
We went driving to Zealand to show the 5-km long bridge in Holland, which is the longest bridge in the Netherlands. (More info and images at: Wikipedia / Deltawerken)
We also went to Zierikzee to make some pictures on the beach. It was chilly and all we (the ladies) wanted to do was, to get back in the car.
Quiet Birthday
Twelth of April. It’s my birthday and I’m turning “tuttttt”. Not an even number so what I did was adding the first and the next number to get an even number. I am a perfectly happy person to celebrate my DAY of birth on this quiet and calm day.
My cousins arrived last night from London through Paris and arrival in Rotterdam. It was my day off today as I planned for us to go to see the vibrant colours of tulips, lelies and other type of flowers in the biggest Tulips Spring Exhibition in Holland. Unfortunately both my cousins were so tired that they slept the whole morning and only got up almost noon to get some food and drinks.
Later that afternoon we went to the shops nearby my home and guess what? The sport shop was having a clearance. All branded sport footwear and apparels were on 75% discount. I got myself a pair of sandals and a medium-sized windbreaker for less than EUR30. My cousins bought bags, Nike shoes and more. At least it made our days with the huge discounts for them to bring home as their souveniers.
Nice Feedback For The Mistake
Today I am back to work without really recovering from the fever. I called up the receptionist and reported of me being back to work.
I had 2 deadlines to meet for the March close. It was supposed to send out on last Friday but who to blame, I was ill although I did try to do my job at home with my heavy head, dizzy and fever. Surely I could make mistakes.
So I made one this morning. I had to resend the emails with the analysis to all the management. I felt miserable as I did not like it when I did mistakes. I received a nice comment back from my counterpart cc-ing all the people in the email I sent out. I only realized it after a call with my US Manager. He mentioned about the good email and it made me think, “He appreciates what I have done.”
Tenth of April
I woke up with a nice sunny Sunday. The dreams took me to so many places and with my mother, siblings and all that I cannot remember now. (I should have written down all my dreams as advised to me by my astrologers.) So, the dreams made me a bit down. I was lying and thinking of what I had done the last 3 days. It was fun and lovely. I had a lovely moment which I shared with the one I love.
Trying the new game on my mobile phone, it gave me a shocking discovery. I COULD not think quick with this word game! So, there was that. An idea, lots of ideas. But first, I need to go back to school, to educate myself AGAIN. My empty little book that’s in my handbag all the time will have a good use apart from jotting what comes in my mind.
Back to school, it is! Write at least 5 words for a character per day.
Q: quote, quake, qualify, quality, quadratic, quantities, quadraple, etc.
The longer the word, the more points I shall get.
That was the first idea. An idea I will start before my number turns to plus+1 in a couple of days. What a wonderful idea!
Keukenhof 2011
Spring is here in 2011! The tulips exhibition at Keukenhof in Lisse has started in March. The theme this year is ‘Germany: Land of Poets and Philosophers’.
I can’t wait to visit the park of tulips and nature again. It’s a calm place with lots of colours and varieties. I wish to bring my books and write what inspire me there. But I won’t be going alone this time (as usual) so I might not experience that piece of luxury for the hours I wish. It’s a huge park and lots to see and to shot beautiful images.
Next week, my cousin and partner are coming to visit. I plan to go to Lisse by public transport. So from Rotterdam Central Station, I will go to Leiden to catch bus 54. With luck, I’ll be at Keukenhof after 25 minutes of travel. The total combi-price is EUR21 inclusive entrance fee to the park.
For more info, click here: Keukenhof 2011
Morning Sun
Morning sun
You bring the smile on my face
You make me feel beautiful
You create the energy in me
Morning sun
I can promise you one thing
I will be smiling all day today
I shall make the best of the day
Morning sun
Let our faces be cheerful
Let the world be peace
Let our dreams come true
Morning sun
You will leave soon but
You will be back tomorrow and
You will never let us down
Tax Return 2010
For the third year, I did my own tax return to the Dutch Government. A pat on my shoulder. Well done! Saved my Euros from all the blood suckers. If I convert it to Malaysian Ringgit, it would be a month’s salary for a sales girl at one of the emporiums in Kota Kinabalu. Indeed! Euro money doesn’t seem much. What is €100 eh! It could be smart but knowing that I did the hole in my own pocket was not a clever thing to do. Let’s just say, I was just being lazy and lived my life to the fullest without having to think of the worst. (Let me tell you, the language did give me THE headache.)
That was before. Now, I can smile. It’s easy peasy as most of them are already filled in as I already have my logincode and my DigiD password (still with the dirt from the bin when I realised I threw it away 3 years ago). Once I’m in, I download the program. Most of the boxes are already filled in. My details (and spouse’s), my annual income, and some other details relate to the income tax. Since I have my own house, I have to fill in the details of what’s the market value of my house in 2010, the amount I’ve paid in the fiscal year and the amount that I still owe to the bank. Last year’s market value for the property was not favourable. So, if I were to sell this house, I would lose more than €50K. Not a good bargain indeed. So, a wise advice is to wait till the property value goes up again. I just hope I don’t lose all my teeth waiting.
Then, there are other details to be filled in. It’s interesting to know that I might get back the money I pay for the good cause monthly.
Check! I did. Once I read that I had to provide the bank statement showing those amounts and any other type of proof of payments, I uncheck the box. Why should I go through all this hassle and let strangers see what I do with my money (my bank statements show many transactions per page you see) ? I’ve never reported these as I remember the reason now. Let the gifts be gifts.
Once I reach the overview of my tax return, I feel relieved. I don’t care about all the amounts. My eyeballs work on finding the money I will get back for paying more than I should for my income or property. I do get back. Just a little but it is always nice to know to get a little (or nothing at all) than having to pay back. The signed and send button is there for me to press. But first. SAVE (as my printer’s cartridge is asking for a new one). Now send!
I got a notification that the “belastingdienst” received my declaration at “date” and “time”. Phew!
So, if you haven’t done yours. Please do it before the end of March 2011.
Download the digital Declaration form => Go to Aangifte 2010/ for Dutch or Tax Return 2010 for English
You must already have your logincode and DigiD password. The password you have to request yourself.
GOOD LUCK!
