I remember sun....

P1110004, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

Hard to believe that this picture of a beach in Sydney was taken only four months ago.

I was reminded of it again last night at the pub when I met a Dutch girl Mandy, who has just returned from a year in Australia. She even has developed Aussie ocker language and a huge accent.

We talked for ages about 'home'... a term she has come to think of when she thinks of Australia aswell.

We reminisced about the warmth of the sun, the people and the culture. The friendliness that overwhelms you - well in most cases, naturally exceptions exist ;-)

It made me think again about my choices.

I enjoy Amsterdam. I like being in Europe. I am surrounded by great people.

Is it enough?

Maybe it's the rain.... BRING ON THE SUN!

I want the warmth and the happiness of people in the good weather.

No more clouds, no more rain, no more frowns....

HAPPY SUN COME!!!

I think I will leave now to do a sun dance out the front of my house, it could be the answer!

CONGRATULATIONS CLAIRE!

IMG_0199, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

My old boss just gave birth to a baby!!!!

How wonderful :-)

Guess who is coming to dinner?

June Guests to Amsterdam:

Jen
Denise
Jacs
Alfy
Pete
Carl
Roi

LOVING IT!

The Buzz...

Don't you just love the feeling when you do something out of your comfort zone...

Something that excites you, that scares you, that makes you anxious...

Something that at the start you think 'sure' but seconds before want to run out of the room for...

Something that once you have done it, and done it well - the buzz can last for weeks.

For me, tonight I took such a challenge.

It all started a two weeks ago when I got a phone call:

"Mazzy, would you be interested in facilitating a discussion on Avian Flu - for the Global European Business Continuity Meeting?"

My response: sure thing. I know nothing about bird flu but I DO know about facilitation - and that I love it. So sounds good to me.

Following this came a few different discussions with the Global Manager of BU Europe and a person from his MT.

"We heard that you are unorthodox - and that is what we are looking for. We want it to be engaging, and memorable"...

O..... K..... NO PRESSURE!

So I said yes.

Today on my way to the Castle where it was being held (yes these are the perks of a global bank) I started to have my doubts.

For me, let's face it - if you know me you can I imagine what I was thinking:

HOW DID I END UP HERE IN THE SITUATION WHERE I AM GOING TO FACILITATE A DISCUSSION ABOUT MANAGING THE BIRD FLU PANDEMIC AT ABN AMRO, FOR A GROUP OF SENIOR BUSINESS MANAGERS IN A GLOBAL BANK?

It is not Kansas anymore, Totto.

But after the pre-hesitation and urge to rethink I focused.

Hey Maz, this is something you WANT to do, indeed LOVE DOING.

Dissipated. My anxiety was dissipated leaving me to breathe again what I love - Facilitating, training, being on the stage, connecting people and ideas.

It went AWESOMELY.

I was also invited to facilitate in London and Uzbekistan which was a random bonus.

But the most amazing thing is that I feel soooo good. This is what I love to do....

I must seek opportunities to live this every day.

EVERY DAY!

ENGAGED!!!

laura, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

WoW, I am so pumped.

Laurz and her honey, have just gotten engaged!

CONGRATS BABE!!!

I am so excited for you... it's wonderful news.

Hugs Maz xx

Your Inner European is Italian!

Passionate and colorful. You show the world what culture really is.

Who's" Your Inner European?

Eurovision 2006 .. WHAT A BLAST!

So last night, I did what any good Australian would do - I watched the goodness and badness that comes with the Eurovision song contest - WITH EUROPEANS!

And boy, what an experience!

I had several key learnings throughout the night:

1. Some people actually take the event seriously.

Ok, so my first shock was the difference in perception re: the event.

Confession: I do not know if it is just my friends, or other Australians share the sentiment - but for my part, the Eurovision contest is soo good because it is sooo bad. I mean, watching it in Australia is definately for the laughs that you will get as you watch completely dreadful performances - one after another.

It's GREAT!

However, confessing this to my roomies I soon came to realise that some people DO take it seriously.

Hmmmm.... o....k....

2. British BBC commentary is essential to the whole experience

Maximising the experience means listening to BBC's commentary. These guys have their finger on the pulse as to the hilariousness that exists within some of the acts.

I especially loved the constant Greece adverts, and their comments on those... CLASSIC!

3. Country voting is BIASED to the extreme.

Being in a room with Dutch, Russian, Ukranian and Finnish friends was completely informative. They KNEW who was going to vote for who - I learned crazy amounts about country allegiances in a SONG CONTEST.

Whoa...!

4. The debate still exists - Should a REALLY GOOD ACT win or is the spirit of Eurovision more about 'dodgy' acts getting ahead.

Another key discussion of the night - I am with the second option. As great as Sweden, B&H, and so were... my heart was always with Finland or Lithuania - just for the goodness of the acts.

So, until 2007 in Finland - (Maja is getting the tickets for us all!)

Goodluck Gina

roomies, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Gina, you will PASS your FINAL EXAM in Mexico!

We believe in you!

Love your roomies,
Me, Masha and Olena ( + the ever travelling Sarika)

Jen is coming in TWO weeks!!!!

pjs, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Alex is in town next week!!!

More October 05 003, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

Carl is coming to visit in June

IMG_0021, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

CONGRATS KRISTIAN

To someone who has really shown an amazing spirit.

Who has given passion, energy, effort and crazy contribution to AIESEC.

Who has stood before his peers, and although not initially selected, continued on in his quest to continue contributing to an organisation he loves.

To someone who is a close friend, and who I know will do amazing in his role as

PD DIRECTOR OF AIESEC IN KENYA 2006-2007!!

KRISTIAN!!!!

I am SOOO proud of you and all you have achieved. You will be what you want to be, because you can be...

Me - RIGHT NOW.

What is making me excited right now?

- Laura is arriving on Friday for her traineeship in Amsterdam
- Jen, Denise and Jackie are arriving for a super chillaxing weekend in the beginning of June
- I am starting acting classes on June 2nd - Boom Chicago style
- Alex is visiting Amsterdam next week... YOU LOSER!
- I am going to a castle to facilitate a discussion for business continuity management on Avian Flu... all because I am apparently 'unorthodox' - COOL
- A possible roadtrip with Jen, Veds and Carly
- Pete is FINALLY coming to Amsterdam, leaving the Copenhagen cocoon for a weekend in June
- London Business trip coming up, and conference to attend
- My first 1920's dinner party
- and........... MY BIRTHDAY!

Now thats a nice few things on the radar screen!

I have to say...

I love the message of the Vodaphone May fly advert MINUS the Vodaphone part ;-)

I love the message of 'Make the most of now' and the way they have done it....

http://www.vodafonemayfly.co.uk/

SPRING FLU

So, the sun has been shining in Amsterdam for an unpredecented period of time. In other words, there has been no clouds or rain for over a week - the temperatures have been soaring, the locals have been smiling... all has been good.

What happens to an Aussie when good weather comes out to play?

We join the fun - and that means abandoning jackets, putting on the thongs, and getting out into the heat of the day.

The problem?

When it turns cold again.

FLU HITS IN A BIG WAY.

So, today I have been at home all day.

It has been a day of:

Sleep
TV
Sleep
Book
Sleep
Shower
Sleep
Food
TV
Book

I have watched the traditional sick shows:

* The Days of our Lives
* Oprah Winfrey
* Dodgy midday movie....

and a suprise for the Netherlands ... Aussie great, ' The Flying Doctors' ... ok RANDOM.

Now I wait for my roomies to come home.... desperate for human contact!

"There are two ways of being creative.

One can sing and dance.

Or one can create an environment in which singers and dancers flourish."

Warren G. Bennis

My Personality DNA

My Personal Dna Report

Happy Mothers Day

mum, originally uploaded by Mazzy2.

I wish I could have spent the day with you, and been at the family dinner.

Know my thoughts are with you,

You are the BEST xx

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique woman like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

Happy happy faces

04boats_otherboat, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

SUN... 8 Days in a row -

06boats_ourboat, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

and THAT's a record!

Here is a photo from Brendas birthday last Saturday. Seriously, what could be better:

In Amsterdam
Sun shining
On a Boat
In a canal
With good food
and wine
and good company.

CHILLAXING is THAT easy.

SNEAKING: The End???

Bad Movie II, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

So, we came back tonight to the scene of the Slither crime from a week ago CERTAIN that it could not be a worse movie experience than a movie about killer worms.

We were wrong.

It was fundamentally savage.

'The Hills have Eyes' should not been seen under any circumstances - repeat, if there is one thing I can tell you, it is to stay clear of this one.

The funny thing is the speed in which we spun into action. We were ready to regain our lives - we could not justify another moment to bad movies.

So, the decision remains:

Next week - To Sneak or not to Sneak?

SNEAKING: The Start...

Bad Movie I, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

So last week Russ, Lu and I decided to go to the movies.

Upon arrival we saw that the only movie that we could see in the time was called 'SNEAK'. Curious, we asked what it was about... and this started our SNEAKER movement.

A Sneak movie is a SNEAK PREVIEW.

You do not know WHAT they are going to show, it is a suprise.

Ok, sounds cool - let's go SNEAK.

I mean, it cannot be THAT bad.... can it?

SNEAK MOVIE I

SLITHER

Ok, seriously, no words can describe how bad this movie is.

Think about the worst movie you can imagine - then add the movie 'Attack of the Killer Condom' - yes it does exist - and you have a sense of the terribleness that we endured for 30 minutes last Tuesday.

Seriously I have never seen such an evacuation from a movie cinema....

The crowds were talking.

But the badness, only fuelled our determination to come again - we had done the time, we wanted the shine!

Ahh, Queens Day Memories :-)

bedcre2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Smile when I say... ORANGE!

105cre2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Leaving the house...

41a0re2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Gina, Karel, Julien and Olena

8a8dre2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Hmmm....odd.

3562re2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Eoin, Sandy and Colm - Crazy cats!

f03bre2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

The Dutchies...

b82fre2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

The canals ...

d6care2, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Fab News...

Julien my friend from France just arrived in Amsterdam for a permanent job

Andrea and Paul from the UK are working in Den Hague

Laura - Hoebagger - is coming to work in Amsterdam!

Is the world converging in the Netherlands? Or is just the people I seem to know uniting under an Orange banner?

Weird how life works.

Queens Day 2006 - Amsterdam

boat, originally uploaded by Mazzy.

Queens Day lived up to expectations, and I am still in the long road to total recovery.

Some Highlights:

- Throwing yourself through the massive crowds at Cafe Dante
- The Flea Markets with bargains galore
- The amount of Orange ... seriously, these people are equipt to 'go national'
- Dancing and drinking on the street ... THE WHOLE DAY
- The boats in the canals - each with a different music and approach

THE CITY CAME ALIVE!

Life list tick:

GREEN - St Pats Day in Ireland
ORANGE - Queens Day in Netherlands.

BRING IT ON!