Nimavenl - Nicole's Random Ramblings

I´ve just finished reading Twilight´s Dawn , the latest book in Anne Bishop´s Black Jewels series. I was hesitant about reading the book, and especially hesitant about the last story in it, as I knew what it would hold before going into it. However I did not expect to be so captivated and so moved by it. By the whole book, actually. I´ve been a fan of these books for over a decade now (my, how time flies!), and have looked forward to each and every new book that comes out. I read the books as hard copy at least twice a year and listen to the books on my iPod. They make me smile and laugh and grin and cry and think about life and the wonderful world we live in - both the real word around us and the various fantasy worlds created in stories. And this book, while I hoped I would love it, I wasn't completely sure about before starting it.

Happened to visit The Voyager Blog today as I wanted to read a post by Anne Bishop about the world of the Black Jewels post-Twilight's Dawn . I love all of Anne Bishop's books and characters, however have to admit to a real fondness for Surreal and Marian. Jaenelle too is an amazing character, and Lucivar's ways of shoving life into submission are second to none. Well, perhaps Daemonar's when he grows up... Having read the post by Anne Bishop, I had a look around the blog and came across a few stories about books by Traci Harding . Traci is one of my all-time favourite story-tellers and Tory, the heroine from her The Ancient Future series is someone who has really helped shape who I am today. I used to re-read Traci's books every few months (now it's more like every year or so), and would be inspired by Tory time and time again. She's courageous and bold, smart and sassy, knows her way around ancient languages as well as a fighting arena, looks goo...

Just logged on to Twitter, saw Jerusalem was (is) a trending topic. Decided to head straight to Ha'aretz to find the headline story to be: Bomb explodes in central Jerusalem. As tears flooded my eyes reading the article, I just wondered one thing. WHY??? Why do humans feel the need to kill and maim each other to get their point across? Why does violence seem to be the answer and the solution instead of the problem ? Why??? Bomb explodes in central Jerusalem Bomaanslag bij busstation Jeruzalem

Browsing Facebook for anything fun, new and interesting, a post from the Doctor Who Facebook page popped out at me. Following the link, I came to a Radio Times article on Matt Smith doing a movie. Cool for sure and kudos to him, but gimme more Doctor Who news already!!!!! I'm always happy to find a new website with interesting articles and pictures, and The Radio Times did not disappoint. First article that grabbed my attention --> Doctor Who's Karen Gillan on being 'too sexy' Apparently Amy Pond's short skirts are too short, according to some. Seriously???!!! As the actress says herself in the article, "It's what any girl on the street is wearing." And that's exactly right. Take a look around at the local mall or any place teens hang out and short skirts are pretty much everywhere. Stop moaning about Amy's clothes already and start worrying about those cracks in the universe, I say! Personally I find Amy Pond herself a lot more in...

I haven't spent much time in front of my computer since Friday. Instead, I've been spending time in front of my TV watching the news and the updates on the situation in Japan. It's unbelievable. Just completely unbelievable. Not only do the people of Japan have to deal with the aftermath of an extremely strong earthquake, there's also a tsunami, and to top it off fears for a possible nuclear disaster. I'm no stranger to earthquakes, however I'm used to 3, 4, and 5-point quakes on the Richter scale. A quake as huge, as enormous as the one in Japan, with as many aftershocks as there have been, that quite frankly scares the crap out of me. The feeling you get when the ground you stand on starts rumbling and shaking, that feeling of utter insignificance and smallness, that feeling is incredibly humbling. It is also incredibly scary. My first big earthquake was a life-changing experience. It really made me realise (even more than before) how small and insi...

Saw a falling star last night around 9pm. At first wondered if maybe it was an airplane crashing or something, coz it was so bright. Checked the local stations and no reports of crashes, so I'm glad I made a wish! Checked Twitter and am not the only one who saw it... Now just wonder how/where it 'landed'. Gisteravond rond negenen een vallende ster gezien. Dacht eerst dat het een neerstortend vliegtuig was ofzo, omdat het zo fel was en zo dichtbij leek. Heb vaker vallende sterren gezien, maar nooit zo dicht bij! Ziehier nieuws berichtje van RTV Noordoost-Friesland: zondag 20 februari 2011 DOKKUM - Verschillende mensen hebben zondag omstreeks 21.00 uur een vallende ster in de buurt van Dokkum gezien. De nieuwsredactie van RTV NOF kreeg diverse meldingen binnen van het gebeuren. Er werd melding gemaakt van een heldere meteoor, die boven Nederland te zien zou zijn. De vallende ster verscheen om ongeveer 21.05 uur en duurde een seconde of vijf. Er was een nalichtend s...

What's the deal with people who follow you on Twitter and then unfollow you almost straight away? I'll get an email that such and such has subscribed to my Twitter feed, that they are interested in what I've got to say, in what I'm doing or thinking about, in the photos I share... Yet I click on the link to their profile in the email and where it should say "Follows You", it doesn't say that. Which means people followed my account only to unfollow me again almost straight away. Leaves me to wonder: Why do that? I'm not a celebrity or a famous author or a politician or a well-known journalist or anything of the sort. I'm opinionated and straightforward and not afraid to speak up, however that's not unique to me. I speak two languages, call two countries home, enjoy being a citizen of the world, enjoy knowing what it's like to have lived elsewhere, to have experienced life in different countries. Also not unique. I am interested in the wo...

A few days ago I left work with a half-full cup of hot chocolate. Managed to walk a few metres incident-free, then tried drinking and walking at the same time... and of course managed to get a mouthful of hot choc all over my coat! It was dark outside, there was pretty much no-one around. I laughed at myself and just for a 'caught up in a funny memory' moment, had a huge smile on my face imagining what one of my best friends would say about my choc-covered coat. I could hear his voice so clearly, could see the half mocking smile as he'd hand me a tissue to clean my coat. Just for a sec, I was totally convinced we were meeting up after work, just as we used to do. The thing is, he lives on the other side of the world. I haven't seen him in person in over a year. We still talk online, however it's not the same as laughing and joking in person. And yet, as I spilled that mouthful of hot chocolate on my coat I was completely convinced I'd be showing him my coat an...

I'm not usually one to add videos to my blog, I'm more a pictures / photos kinda girl. However, I just HAD TO post a link to this awesome band. Check out Bring Me Home by Square Attic!

I'm looking to buy a new phone. Have been looking around - online, in shops, at phones my friends have. I've pretty much narrowed it down to a list of four. So now what? Ask the nice people at the shop if I can pretty please try each one out for a week?! Fat chance. Still, if only! Guess it's back to asking friends if I can pretty please play with their phones for a minute. Ok wow - that sounds rather dodgy... I'm currently looking at the Nokia N8, the iPhone, the HTC Desire HD and the Samsung Galaxy S. Being female (or just me!), I love pretty colours and pictures. The HTC has the prettiest colours. And NO - I refuse to base an important choice on pretty colours. So, it comes down to statistics. Every cellphone I've ever had was simple, easy and straightforward. It calls, it sends txts and it might even take simple photos. No internet, no eBooks on it (which is what makes some of these phones sound so awesome !!!!!), no music, no Twitter or Facebook or che...

I picked up my very first Marion Zimmer Bradley book about 14 years ago. The Mists of Avalon was an eye-opener for me, and since my first experience of MZB's amazing story-telling abilities, I've made sure to pick up a book written by her at least once a year. Whether she writes about Avalon, Atlantis, Darkover or Truth Jourdemayne's America - I am fascinated, inspired, and awed. I write down quotes from the books, look up more information about things written about in the books, and find myself adding places from the books to my "Places I want to visit" list. Each and every time I read a book by MZB I love it and finish the final page with a feeling of intense pleasure, yet also with deep regret that the story doesn't go on and on and on.

Some photos from last month. Haven't been out with my camera yet this month as I've been working lots of extra hours, however will attempt to brave the cold and the crazy weather and snap some new shots! This is - as one can see - a tree.   I love the way this building looks, as I love the huge glass front. I absolutely love how this picture came out.

I keep promising myself that I'll write more blog posts. Really, I do. Actually intend to write, and even think of stuff to write about. Thing is, when I'm not working, eating, sporting, playing Scrabble and Restaurant City on Facebook or spending time with friends and family, I'm asleep. Yes - really. Turns out working full-time again is really amazing, however it also means I suddenly have about 50ish hours less a week to just blah and think of crazy stuff to write about. I pretty much always want stuff I write to be profound and meaningful and all "I'm making a statement here"-ish, and when my writing is not like that it tends to be filled with really long sentences, and lots of "so yeah"s and expressions like that. The way this post is - if you know what I mean!  The words don't flow as easily as they used to. Might be 'coz I don't speak English on a daily basis anymore. Might be 'coz I think in Dutch when I'm at work...

Alfred J. Kwak Zag net een berichtje van een vriendin op Facebook. Vervang je eigen foto met een plaatje van een tekenfilm waar je vroeger gek op was. Dit om geweld tegen kinderen tegen te gaan. Okay, leuk idee. Goed idee ook. Nu nog een leuk plaatje uitzoeken. En even bedenken wat nou eigenlijk mijn favoriete jeugdserie was... De Smurfen, Ovide, Alfred J. Kwak, Boes Boes, Dommel, David de Kabouter of misschien toch Inspector Gadget... Na wat wikken en wegen besluit ik uiteindelijk toch voor Alfred Jodocus Kwak te gaan. Een mooi getekende wereld, een sympathieke eend en een verhaal met een positieve boodschap. En ja: Ook een jeugdserie met een fantastisch aanstekelijk liedje. Als ik deze dagen - en ik ben nu 27 - een vreselijk rothumeur heb, dan dans ik en zing ik luidkeels "Ik Ben Vandaag Zo Vrolijk." Het is me nog nooit gelukt het hele liedje te zingen zonder minstens een keer te glimlachen!