Guus Bosman

Mieke and I celebrated our birthdays together in Middenmeer. She had a birthday last Friday and my birthday is tomorrow.

I had a great day! There were a lot of guests and some very nice presents. One of the things I liked a lot was a shower-radio, a present from Ettie and Gerben. Radio in the shower... that's feels rich.

Yesterday evening we did indeed play Steden & Ridders. Ettie, Mieke and I all won a game.

Tomorrow will be my real birthday; I've invited a few people to celebrate in the evening.

I try not to go there too often, but it's a difficult temptation: the coffee-to-go shop in Haarlem. I like the coffee here at Chess a lot, but the fresh espresso in Coffee To Go is extremely delicious. Today I bought a customer card that gives me a 10% discount.

The people working in the shop are often involved in coffee- and espresso making contests; on their website there's a short manual on making espresso's.

Tonight and yesterday night were rather relaxing compared with the last few days. Yesterday I had dinner at home for the first time in a week. I liked it very much to see a lot of people and I had a really good time, but some time for myself is nice too.

I started reading a new book, "Don't Know Much About History": very good.

I had dinner in Leiden, with Rob and Kirsten in their new house.

They live in a very peaceful neighborhood in Leiden, and they are (also) looking out to a real Dutch windmill from their window. I had real fun with the cats; there was a little black one of only a few weeks old.

In the last few days I have been visiting three friends' new houses, in three different cities.