We planned to move early February but as we increased the scope of renovation works we shall be happy if it can be March 1st. So we are very happy that dear friends like Rob and Henk offered their help and also showed up for doing all kinds of things. Our contractor Mart is working very hard as well and he even had to open "a can with extra hands".. During January Johan could also spend some extra time in the new house. After Feb 1st that luxury will stop because He has a new assingment with Q-Park. Q-Park is the leading company in the car parking business. As Director Business Development expansion will be his responsibility. Lia is doing fine, specially after Merle informed us that we shall become grandparents in the summertime. That could be a wonderfull birthday present for Lia...As you can see, besides working ourselves to the bones in the house we still find some time for nice activities, like having dinner with Suzanne and Joris and going to the vacation fair in Utrecht.
We keep you informed and love from Lia and Johan

Hello there.. Just before 2007 is running out of gas we would like to wish you all a very happy 2008. With many ups and as few downs as necessary. We are enjoying the Christmas season and in the meantime we keep on working in our new home. As promised some demolution pictures. Sometimes it gives a good feeling to take down some walls. Now we are going to build up again and we think that should give more positive energy. 2008 should start with all good intentions. We hope to stick to those.. Are you doing the same? See you all soon and don't overdo the firecrackers..
Love from Lia and Johan..

Dear Istolbul visitors.. Lia and Johan whish you all a very happy Christmas!. We hope that you have a nice holiday time. We plan to give you a more detailed entry about all demolution works taking place in our new home momentarily. In the meantime we enjoy the mini vacation..
Love from Lia and Johan

This time even more than one month silence at Istolbul. The good news however is that we have more than enough materials to put on the webside, because many events passed and we love to show our dear viewers some insight. We also received some complaints that our update frequency is to slow. Ok ok we got the message and we keep on trying. Early november we took a full week all-in-vacation in an Egyption hotel resort at Hurghada. From the world weather report we understood this is about the only place on this planet with 37+ degrees (Celcius!). Lovely to have a week of relaxation. Some books to read and Johan could prepare his Saint Nicolas poems without disturbtion. Yes in Holland Sinterklaas arrived from Spain and all little children are excited if they receive candy and goodies in their shoes. This old Dutch tradition gains popularity again and Santa eat your hart out!! hahaha. Last friday we had our traditional (early) last year dinner with the old Vendex KBB collegues in Amsterdam. Johan could not resist his old habit and appeared in his old Saint Nic role. This time Suzanne -our daughter- assisted him as black Peter. We enjoyed the evening very much. As you can see many more activities occurred during the end of october and early november. Time flies and so do we. December will be also a busy month; Many events - so do not worry - pictures will be in abundance next time as well. Coming week we shall recieve the (new) house keys and we hope to start the renovation works.

We love you all and talk to everyone later.
Lia and Johan

Shame on us.. Exactly one month ago we updated this log and now 30 days later we can inform you that lots of events took place. As you learn from the entry heading Lia went to Stockholm with her collegues for business and Johan spent two days in Paris with his KPN collegues to celebrate a (deal)closing dinner with TDF. Raymond and his family moved to a new home in Zoetermeer so during the moving activities grandma Lia and granddaddy Johan took care of Marijn and Jade. Johan met with his brothers Andries and Sip and we had a wonderfull day of sailing in Friesland. As you can see some of our children visited us as well. The arrangements regarding our new (old) home in Berkenwoude are taking a lot of our free time. We plan to refurbish the bathroom and the kitchen. Due to the monumental status of the house we might need a special licence . Next week we shall learn from the authorities if so and under what conditions. Anyway lots of nice things to be arranged before moving in feb (or march) 2008.
We hope to be more considirate to our readers and we shall try to do our best.
Love from Lia and Johan.

Hello there,

Lately we heard a lot of knocking.."Anybody home?".. : The updating of the Istanbul site took quite long this time. Sorry for that. Time was flashing by and so were the parties, sailing weekends and the yearly family sport day, organized by Johan's Wassenaar Lions. We raised lots of funds for good projects (o.a. Villa Joep) and we even had reasonably good weather. Last weekend we spent with Han Wil Maarten and Nathalie exploring the beautiful city of Gouda; a wonderful place.. 10 minutes drive from Berkenwoude. We also went to Rene's and Roelie's 98'th bithday (combined) party. The thema was black and white. Great concept!. Besides all parties and fun we also had our regular business activities like work..
We are looking forward to move to our (new) home early next year. In the meanwhile we connected the architect and the contractor in order to make the place even nicer. After we shall receive the keys in december we expect to have some works done before we can move. We shall inform you about that as well of course.

From a hectic Abbenes we say "take care and see you"

Lia and Johan

This early morning we found Kedi near the road after she was fatally hit by a car. Needless to say that this is a very sad event for us. We enjoyed the thought that Pasha and Kedi would have a wonderful farm life to come. This is a bummer after we spent so many joyful days in Maastricht (Preuvenemint), visiting Merle in Arnhem and last weekend sailing at the IJsselmeer with Klaas and Pauline. Pasha plays the tough guy so life goes on and we have to take his example.
Love from Lia and Johan

We just returned from a wonderful mini vacation we spent near Oxford. Yes .. one of the few places in the world where there has been fallen too much rain in a short period of time. Two weeks after the severe July floods we cruised on a long boat (23 meters) the river Thames and some of the adjacent canals with our friends Jan Willem & Anita, Evert & Geertje, Rob & Jet and Erik. We had great fun together. England is a beautiful country in the summer time. The weather however s unpredictable and its inhabitants are also a little bit "special" as you can see on the images. Despite some heavy rain we noticed the sun several times as well. We also had to get accustomed to beeing greeted as "Hello chaps". Oxford actually is a chain of universities with as many rowing clubs..

A country you should put on your list to visit next time!!!

Love from Lia and Johan.

p.s. if you click below "Continue reading..." you can see some more pictures of our England trip.

For many among us not a surprise but ..... for us a very important next step. We just signed the contract for our next home. We hope to move just after new years to the 'new' house beeing a special old building known as a "Rijksmonument". It used to be a farm and it was built in 1667: at least the front part.. After we come back from our short vacation in England we start prepare our moving arrangements. Good bye Abbenes,... Berkenwoude here we come.

Şerefe!
Cherio Lia and Johan

Before we describe one of the nicest weekends here in Abbenes we would like to inform you that our 16.000th hit was made by Patrick (Istanbul). He is a loyal viewer and his price is an all inclusive weekend in a resort area south of Gouda and east of Rotterdam. Next update we can tell you more about his price..
Yes indeed, summer temperatures peeked during one weekend into our wetlands here. During three days we enjoyed Istanbul temperatures. Suzanne showed her (one weekend) cabrio and we even got Grandmother so far to have a swim in the pool. Great!!. Merle and Mike stayed also a sunny day. We collated some summer pictures and as promised we say something more about the "resort area south of Gouda" in the next update. Thrilling... Stunning...
Love from Lia and Johan. (England here we come..)

How low can you go? Just 15 cm and Johan tripped down from our sunroom doorstep on to the terras spraining his right foot. Fortunately the foot was not broken, but he has to avoid walking so the best place is having fun behind the workstation and spend some time updating the summer edition of Istolbul. We are looking forward to our one week vacation in August. It happens to be planned at Oxford (UK) one of the wettest places on earth. We shall see.
In the mean while all the best from Lia and Johan.

Although the weather in Holland is not that great these weeks, we are having fun hunting for houses. It is very difficult to make a choice. Every plus point is confronted with a minus point for each home we visited during the past weeks. We are looking for something special and we even looked at an old Dutch windmill to live in. Needless to say that the grandchildren would love to see us move there because the premises accomodates goats, pigs and chickens. As we said before in this log: we keep you posted..
As you can see on the images we spent some time with family and vice versa. Johan had a wonderfull evening out with his "old" Vendex KBB colleagues (bottom images).
Hope the sun will return soon in our frog lands..
Kisses from Lia and Johan

07 07 07 turned out to be a very special day for (our) Gyas Ladies, who stayed another weekend here in Abbenes. Despite the fact that Nereus was favourite they won the race saterday in a splendid time and became National Champions (first year Ladies ). Congratulations from all of us again. Jan Willem must be a very proud coach. We had 14 guests in our home last weekend! In the meanwhile we picked up Merle and Mike (in the middle of the night) from Schiphol and due to the weather our gandchildren wanted to play in the pool. Now you can imagine that Pasha put his head under the pillow and is begging for some quiteness around the house!!.
We keep you informed and have a nice summertime.
Lia and Johan

If you look at the weather maps nowadays you notice that Istanbul is the place to be right now and The Netherlands is - despite global warming - a cold place like the North Pole. Just in summer time we miss our Turkish climate so much. And of course even more our dear friends over there! We hope you do not melt down over there.. hahaha.
Not much news from Abbenes this time. Still home hunting. Although we saw nice examples we did not decide yet. The images above show you how Holland can be at summer time.
Keep up the good work and talk to you soon.
Love from Lia and Johan.

We celebrated Lia's birthday and had a great time organizing party in the garden. I had not the opportunity to update the site sooner so for us it is old news already.
These weeks we spend time househunting because our contract termination is coming closer and closer. We may extend the lease but we would like to settle in a house of ourselves. As soon as we find something we let you know.
Hope to see/speak you soon.
Kisses from Lia and Johan