Part 1.... chapter 4

Yes, I've been away. Sweet Amsterdam what can I say, I love it there. I lived in Harlem about 20 minutes on the metro from Amsterdam, for a short time with my daughter when I was in my twenties, and I've been going back to the Dam as often as I can ever since.
I feel different when I'm there, a completely different person comes out to play or maybe that's the drugs ;-).
I can't do hotels and B&B places, they just don't do it for me. I rented us an apartment in Nieuwmarkt square, a nice part of Amsterdam's Chinatown, just off the red light district and it is bigger than my flat.  It has every thing I wish for in style and location for a holiday home, which by the way, is on my dreams list.   
The front entrance is on the busy market square with the apartment above a restaurant called Poco Loco with tables and chairs outside. Most of the time in front of the front door, so sometimes feeling like I was levitating rather than walking, I got quite confused as to where the front door was. I thought it was funny if no-one else did, meaning my partner. The spiral staircase leading up to the apartment is so narrow and steep I'm sure I had vertigo, although again maybe that was the herb ;-).
After unpacking a very small rucksack we headed straight off in search for beer. We went to the Greenhouse Effect, a personal favourite of mine, that I've been going to for years and years. It wasn't long before we started talking with some of the locals and getting back into the Amsterdam vibe. How many ridiculous conversations can the mind endure is always a mystery to me and when the giggles take over, well, my eyes are streaming with laughter tears, and I wonder how many ribs I can hold on to before they snap. It was a good start to the weekend, so I thought. Then when we got back to the apartment my other half fell asleep before I had time to rip my knickers off.... Hmmm.... Although we only went for the weekend I felt something wasn't right between us. Sex was just not happening and we were in Amsterdam, God dammit... Hells bells. What's a gal to do....
I hope we perk up because we're coming back in September with a group of friends. Some of which have never been before so I can't wait to see them get right off it ;-)....

God time goes quick, we've hit November and well, I've gone and done it. I've bought a house. Not my dream house, I'm not going to be living in it, I'm going to rent it out. Life never stands still. My daughter wants to spread her wings, and why not! She is almost ready for total control of her own path. She would like to move out and live with her boyfriend. Children aren't children for long. A new start with a new meaning in life. This doesn't fill me with great joy. It's another level of change for my life also, so I decided I would buy a house as an investment and rent it out to her with other tenants.  It's a three bedroom house in the Sandfields area on the sea front, 2 minutes walk to the beach, 10 minutes walk to town, everything close. 
It's going to be hard letting her go, on a decision I don't think is right. Who am I to preach when after all I got married to her dad when I was 17 years old, going against me peers advise. But alas, when your children are ready and they let you know, all you have to do is give them the opportunity, and the best possible start. Trust them and be there as their guide and most of all their best friend....

I'm not going to expand to downstairs after all. The price is a bit high and there's a lot of work that will need doing, which will need more cash. So I think I should sit back and wait to see what happens, especially when the smoking ban begins in April 2007. it's all going to change. I'm gonna have to look for somewhere with an outdoor smoking area. Somewhere with a sun trapped garden, outdoor table and chairs. 

​It feels good having time to myself even if it is on the computer. Expressing my thoughts and feelings on everything happening at the moment. A lot of changes are taking form in my life, all for the better I hope. It's going in the direction that I'm pushing it to go that's for sure. I'm moving very fast, even for my must have it now impatience. Not quite sure where it's all leading, even though it's only me directing it. 

Me and my partner are not as close as we used to be. I don't know why, or what's happening there, but something is changing.... Strangely....