Maarten's 32nd Birthday April 21st, 2007

Maarten thinks he's pregnant too... Harmony and Evo
Dave the poser!
Having a good time!
Maarten making his wish(es)

Ad, Kim and Todd

Ariane's pictures... Maarten and Ad Danielle and me
Party people Maarten getting bumped

Maarten, Dave, Matt and Aman
Singing Happy Birthday for Maarten

Getting ready for candles



The Baby Shower in Carol's home

Marije, Marieke, Emily and Janneke
Marieke, Monica, Carol and CZarina with Emily
Irene (escaping as far as she can from Jake the Snake, Hans

Mitra and Monica

Wonderful Birthday for Maarten beginning with a 'simple coffee' at Carol's house in Surrey....turned out to be a surprise Baby Shower with all the Consulate staff dropping in one by one... we wondered what was going on... there were excuses such as Janneke was in the area and thought she'd pop by too, Irene was going shopping with Janneke, etc. tch tch. Really lovely surprise with the best cheese cake, chocolate brownies and a scrumptious lunch to follow.

Carol took the day off on Friday to prepare for it... it's such a beautiful thing they did for us. I really appreciate it.
We stayed till about 3.30pm. The weather was perfect.

We got a lot of cute baby outfits, book, toys and baby vouchers.... not long to go now... before the baby can see them for her/himself. ;)

On the way home, we picked up a tiramasu cake from Sweet Obsessions on Trafalgar and 16th (awesome dessert place for late at night treats), got some alcohol and rushed home to set up for the 8pm party... we had 17 friends over....you'll see the photos. It was a lovely night...everyone came by about 8ish and stayed the latest till 12.30am. Perfect night...lots of talking, catching up with some and meeting new friends like Kim (Todd's sister) and Matt (Dave's friend), Karli (Sascha's friend). Monica met some of the Vancouver crowd too... the actual birthday cake was a hit again....got that at Second Cup in the Bental Centre for all your curious ones.

Maarten got Bumped (Canadian tradition...where friends hold the birthday person's arms and legs and bump them up and down depending on how old they are.... 32 was a lot of bumps for some who's hairs were getting pulled by Ad and who's knee had been bunged up on the ski slopes the week before...it was funny though....Maarten yelling "Addd...stopppp!!")

Quotes

"You're challenging all these truths you were raised to think were self-evident and god-given. That's the value of travelling," Rick Steves

"Travel at its truest is thus an ironic experience, and the best travellers . . . seem to be those able to hold two or three inconsistent ideas in their minds at the same time, or able to regard themselves as at once serious persons and clowns." -Paul Fussell

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." -Albert Einstein

"Internal burning . . . wandering fever . . ."- Kalevala

"I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train."- Oscar Wilde

"I think it would be a good idea."- Mahatma Ghandi (1869-1948), when asked what he thought of Western civilization

"I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine."- Caskie Stinnett