Nimavenl - Nicole's Random Ramblings

Spotted this message and image of a bowl of rice at a local skate park while out walking during the eclipse back in March. As the sun wasn't exactly shining brightly, the image came out quite dark and has a bit of a post-apocalyptic feel to it. Hope to go back on a sunnier day to take more photos of the funny, colourful and inspirational art on display. For now - I hope you Have a Rice Day and enjoy this photo! Have a Rice Day | Nimavenl

Becoming a better photographer through participating in challenges. I like the idea and know it from (when I used) Instagram . My current mobile phone is an older model HTC that often 'freaks out' when trying to do simple things and on which I can't uninstall certain apps that all have permission to collect my data and personal information which means I don't use it to connect to the internet (as it's no-one's business but my own who I text or call, as far as I'm concerned). That means no Instagram for me since my old smartphone broke and I started using this one. New smartphone will possibly probably mean a return to IG (however even with a new smartphone I'm still undecided about returning to IG). As for now, the BBC.com article directs me to their own challenge and the 12 by 12 website (and Flickr group ). Colour me intrigued. When looking for a way to challenge yourself photographically it can pay to scan the online photographic community in se...

Hieronder een gedeelte van de speech van minister president Jan Peter Balkenende ten tijde van de huldiging van het Nederlands elftal in het Catshuis. Zie de link onderaan voor de volle tekst. Verliezen doet pijn, want een sportman wil winnen. Zo dichtbij en toch net niet.  Voor het WK zei Bert van Marwijk: “We hebben een beetje geluk nodig”. En dat hadden we dit toernooi. Tot die 116e minuut van de finale. De beelden staan ons allemaal op het netvlies. Dat Spaanse schot was een klap voor Nederland. Een klap voor de spelers. Een klap voor de Oranje supporters. Spanning maakte plaats voor stilte. Verslagenheid. Ook bij mij en al die duizenden en duizenden andere Oranjefans in Soccer City in Johannesburg.  Alles wat oranje is en van oranje houdt is terneergeslagen. Begrijpelijk. Maar ik hoop oprecht dat die teleurstelling snel plaatsmaakt voor trots.  Trots op de prestatie van dit Nederlands elftal. Op het hoofdpodium van het mondiale voetbal was zondagavond 11 ...

Well, to say I'm disappointed would be the understatement of the century. Watched the game last night on a huge screen with friends and neighbours. The kids were all playing together, the grown-ups were all watching together, I talked to people I'd never met before and others I've known my whole life. It's amazing how football and the national pride we feel brings people together the way it does. For the duration of the World Cup, it didn't matter whether someone was a supporter of Ajax or Feyenoord or ADO Den Haag; things like race, religion and skin colour didn't matter. What did matter is that we all supported our boys, our team, our country. We all lived, breathed, and wore orange. Our dream to finally win the World Cup didn't come true. Spain won. We did not. We did, however, make it to the finals of the World Cup for the first time ever IN MY LIFETIME. For only the third time ever in football history, and for the very first time since 1978. We r...

Being female, people are often surprised that I'm a football fan. Some are still not quite convinced I actually enjoy the game even after asking about my favourite team and favourite players. They seem to think I only watch because apparently, football players are all "hot" and "sexy". Right... While I agree that some of the players do look good in shorts, is it really that hard for people to accept that "OH EMM GEE they're so cute" is not why I watch the game? Now that that's out of my system, on to today's random ramble... The Germany - Uruguay game for third place was held tonight (and daaaaamn I really was hoping that Forlan would strike gold... instead of the crossbar...), which leaves only one match to be played. The Netherlands vs Spain. And oh by the way - When it comes to football / soccer, I am definitely Dutch and I really really really hope we'll win. We've played in the finals twice before - in '74 and in '...