Jacob Van der Borchstraat 17

I thought that my flat here deserved a blog all for itself because im really so stoked with it and how everything has turned out so well.

My first night in the flat was pretty cool. I had fun unpacking all my stuff and putting everything in its place and exploring all the nooks and crannys and ways of how the flat operates. I think my favourite thing about it is that it has central heating which you can adjust the temperature all the time, i always put it up really high cos i like to be nice and toasty cos its so cold outside. The flat is in a pretty good location i think. Its about 100metres from the supermarket and its about a 10minute bike ride into the city centre which is pretty sweet. (Photo-view from the street)

So my address is Jacob van der Borchstraat 17 (pronounced Yacob van der Borkkk-straat sayvan teen). I say it in such a kiwi way though. And its kind of odd getting used to the way that they say the number after the street. Oh the funny ways of the dutch. My flat is three stories high, like most flats here. On the ground floor is my room, and Diannes Room. I have met Dianne a few times, she is very lovely but is not here very often. She spends alot of time with her parents and also her boyfriend, and i think that she is moving out soon. Hopefully the new girl who moves in will spend a bit more time here. There is also a kitchen on the ground floor next to my room which i think is the absolute coolest. Its really small and cosy so no room for a table or anything, so i eat in my room. The only dumb thing about the kitchen is that there is no microwave or toaster...so i have to do everything in the oven. Its just not the same. I miss microwaves so much! There is also no electric kettle so i have to boil water on the stove. Thank goodness the kettle has a whistle though..so many times ive forgotten that im boiling water.

Climbing up the steep step stairs to the second floor. The stairs are so steep ay its really amazing. They actually have handrails that MUST be used otherwise you get canned and are garanteed to fall down the stairs. I thought i was tough and didnt need the handrail..but sure enough i was sent tumbling down the stairs. So ive learnt my lesson. Anway, on the second floor are two bedrooms. One is Nienke who i havent met yet (shes currently in NZ coming back in april), the other is Jelmer (such a typical dutch name..pronounced Yelmer of course). I have only met him once the other day. He too is not here often, he lives somewhere in town with a friend and only uses this room when he wants time out i think. But he is lovely. He works at the musiekcentrum called the Vredenberg (sort of a concert hall) where he does promotional/marketing stuff. He promoted it pretty well to me cos he said if i ever wanted to go watch something then to let him know and he would put me on the guest list! HOOKUP!There is also a storage room and a bathroom/laundry on the second floor. I really rate the shower, it is really hot and has really good pressure.

Climb another set of steep stairs up to the attic and you will find Rob's room. He is all set up there so not often does he have the need to come down, except to maybe collect his mail. But he is the flatmate i have probably seen the most of, and hear the most off. He likes to make trumpet noises whilst running up and down the stairs. Rob works for a film company doing website design stuff. So my flatmates are cool and all, but they are not often here so i find that i spent alot of time by myself in my room.

My room is flippin awesome, im just really stoked with it. Hannah has left most of her stuff here so i have heaps to keep me entertained. The room is quite spacious and furnished with a single bed, a large shelf where i can put my belongings, a wardrobe, a really comfortable fold out couch, a piano, a tv, dvd and video player, stereo and a table where i place my computer. Cor hooked me up with a sweet computer. I have become a real computer geek because i like to make use of the free broadband internet!yeah! So its great, i have lots of things to keep me entertained here. (Photo - my room..a bit messy)

My room has a backdoor out to what the dutch call a 'garden'. I wouldnt call it a garden at all...its more like a concrete courtyard/dumpyard at the moment. But i think thats maybe because its winter. Hopefully when the sun comes out maybe i can tidy it up a little bit and it would be nice to sit outside. If the sun ever comes out. (Photo - the 'garden')