Almost vacation

.. but I'll give you this

This might not be completely original and very new, but I just discovered it and thoughht I would share it with you, dear reader.

I love bananas!

.. honestly I do

But I am not too fond of banana republics. Usually dictatorships and people with a very narrow vision.

But bananas: they have great taste and good nutritional value.

Who could live without the occasional banana?

Hood to Coast

.. seems like ages ago

Well, it's about four years ago now. I suddenly was promoted from one of the reserves to runner number two of the Lowland Express and we finished 936, offically.

And I found myself runnning leg 2 and leg 14 in the dark and finally leg 26.

Thanks to the wonders of mashup and Web 2.0 I can now relive part of that experience on a Google Map.

Well, fellow runners of 2003 thanks again for a wonderful experience!

Fully certified!

.. and now the season finally ends

As I mentioned earlier I passed the exams for Youth Hockey Trainer and yesterday I received the accompanying certificate for the coaching part. This makes me a complete Trainer and Coach! And yes, I am very very proud of doing all this amidst all the struggles at my previous job and the fresh start I am still in.

Now, finally, the season ends. It's been a weird season.

Just a quick look back

Just two years ago I moved back to the town my wife and me grew up: Steenwijk. We left behind the town of Hoevelaken and the hockey club where we've both been rather active. I pulled a line for myself and I said that I would not be active in hockey for at least a year. Well, that's exactly how long it lasted.

I was asked during that year to train the Ladies team the next season. And then it was silent for some time. And then on a Wednesday evening I was asked again if I could train the Ladies team starting that coming Friday. I said yes.

On Friday some players of the team decided to call it quits and the team fell apart and my career was over before it started.

Then I was added to the staff of the Girls A team. They became champion at the end of this season. A great achievement.

Sometime during fall I was asked if I would be interested in a course for Youth Hockey Trainer. I thought the question was about trying to find out if there would be enough people interested in doing it. I didn't know if I would be able to find the time to do it, but yes I am always interested in learning new skills for things that I love to do.

Then I got an email that the course would start coming Saturday and that they would come and pick me up. Right, fine, so the decision was made for me.

When the Coach course popped up later, to be held at our own club, I decided to go along with that one as well. It would mean that I would round off the entire course in the same year. And have it over with.

I had some great teachers: Paul Hamers and Monique Beyer. Their enthusiasm, humor and teaching skills made it all very endurable.

And now it is over. Usually the hockey seasons ends in May with some great tournaments early June. But now it dragged on a bit into July.

Now onto a well deserved couple of weeks until the next season starts in August.

This a bit blurry shot of the great closing evening of the coaching part with Monique in the back in the middle. Thanks again Monique and Paul!