Tag Archives: blogging

Something old, something new

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A New Year. Like any proper New Year, 2015 demands some changes from me. Or better, I decided on some changes… have you noticed the two new pages I added to my blog? Starting 2015 I’ve decided to make life a bit more logic and easy for myself. I’m determined to continue writing this blog and developing my own little business, but I can use a bit more focus and funnelling instead of drifting. And here’s my first step.

If I were in London right now
You could say London is a project of mine. Or at least, writing about it. It’s a place on the planet that stole my heart and after having lived there in 2011 I started my first blog If I were in London right now, sharing my favourite places and hidden gems.

As of January 2015 If I were in London right now will be part of Tessie’s Projects. It makes sense to me. I love writing, I love going to London as often as I can. But right now, writing and maintaining two separate blogs is not what my body and mind need. The old blog will keep on existing. However, when I feel the urge to share some London-related stuff I will do so at Tessie’s Projects. It will be neatly categorised under If I were in London right now.

Expat meet Local
Moving on to the other new page. A page that might be interesting for you if you a) live in The Netherlands, b) are a local Dutchy living in The Netherlands who likes to meet other people or c) are an expat living in The Netherlands who likes to meet other (Dutch) people.

Expat meet Local was set up by me in June 2014. You may have guessed: it’s my intention to bring expats and locals together by organising little events. During Summer these events may be picnics, in Winter we go indoors. No sane Dutch person picnics during Winter.
Expats hang out with expats, locals hang out with locals. When you’re an expat you seek like-minded souls, when you’re a local you may just love your life as it is. Being a dreamer, I dreamed of changing this… wouldn’t it be just great to meet people with different backgrounds, from other countries and cultures? Then, from dreaming I moved on to realisation!
In 2015 I will continue bringing expats and locals together by organising little meet-ups. Knowing that people go home after an event with a new friend or squash-buddy, having learned and tasted something new. It brightens up my life. Simple as that!

So all you expats and Dutchies, all people dreaming of moving to The Netherlands or wanting to meet new (Dutch) people? Have a look at the new page for more information on Expat meet Local and be welcome to join us at our New Years reception Sunday the 11th of January.

Proost! E-flyer

 

Yes, a New Year. I hope you all will have a good one! And remember; most of the time you yourself can make your year as good as you want it to be. It’s in your hands, you are in charge. Most of the time…that is.

 

Dreaming of an #AirmailChristmas

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Short notice, but it has to be shared: Rebecca got in touch with me last week. She tweeted. If I were interested in joining AirmailChristmas. A worldwide Christmas card exchange that she’s now been running for 3 years. Obviously, that got me curious. So I did some digging.

Turns out a patient of Rebecca (who’s a nurse) died of cancer just before Christmas a couple of years back. This same patient had told her how she would send a card to a random stranger. Every Christmas! Ain’t that kind and heart-warming? This inspired Rebecca to start AirmailChristmas. And that inspired me to join in and tell you a little about it.

Every year AirmailChristmas is in memory of someone. This year it will be in honour of Anna Basso. I didn’t know her and probably you didn’t either. But that doesn’t matter. It’s about the gesture. It’s about thinking of those who are not with us anymore and those who may need some extra love, strength, friendship and the feeling of not being all alone.

For some reason these gestures are easier for us to make around Christmas time.
For some reason that’s when we tend to think of others instead of just ourselves.
For some reason that’s when we find our inner Altruist.
For some unfortunate reason this spirit fades away as soon as the Christmas days are in the past.

But I’ll stick with that Christmas Spirit and say “that’s also just fine”.

Back to the subject. AirmailChristmas. As I like to spread happiness and put smiles on faces, I had to share this initiative with you! I’ll be sending one of my own Christmas cards to “a random stranger” this year. And hope you will too. Can you feel it already? All butterfly and bubbles at the thought of Christmas and making others happy? Get into that festive mood!
If you do, see Rebecca’s blog. Make sure to email her before the 1st of December – I told you it was short notice and I’m fully to blame. Rebecca will then get back to you with someone’s address and the fun and goodwill can commence!

 

This is about a journey.

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I travel. I don’t go to India or Peru. But I travel. And so far I’ve come a long way.

Every day I come a long way. Some days the roads I travel were not made for travelling. But I travel anyway.

We need to talk about ME. About why most things I do, I do “on character”. My head tells me to cook. Eat. Get up. My body tells me I can’t. My legs tell me to give in and collapse. Sometimes my body doesn’t tell me. No cues, no notice. Instead it simply does.

But I just want to be. Young. Healthy. Living my life. Strong.

So I keep trying.

Trying when everything feels like shutting down and giving up.

~~~

Sometimes it gets the better of me. And even though I want to, there’s nothing I can do.

This is why sometimes I can’t write. Why sometimes posts won’t be regular, daily, always happy. This is about why even a trip to the supermarket sometimes takes hours, if not days, to recover. And why all the fruit and sleep in the world won’t fix it.

Nothing I can do about it. Other than giving in. Accepting. Trying to charge the battery. Dealing with and dividing my little energy.

~~~

The day I got the diagnose I found my personal manual. I found ME.

This is about Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.

And from here I can continue my journey.

One month of blogging

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Today marks one month of blogging for me, here at Tessie’s Projects. One blog amongst a gazillion other blogs. I didn’t think anyone would find me. My parents would probably be my only followers.

Surprisingly people from all over the world read my thoughts and figments during this first month. And some of those people even started following or liking (or both!) my blog.

Unbelievable, flattering and humbling!

It’s motivating to know you’re out there reading. Motivating to keep on writing. Motivating to keep on entertaining or boring you with my projects, ideas and struggles. So as a symbol of gratitude I made this little confettied art work. Especially for you.

Thank you!

A confettied thank you!

A confettied thank you!