I was at the club house y’day for lunch. I decided to check the view of the club pool from the terrace. And gee, i thinks it’s really great! And hey! There’s this man in an orange shirt who keeps following my every movement! He’s getting on my nerves! Don’t you have anything better to do than to stalk me? Like, talk to mom? Where is she by the way?

It’s a sweltering hot day - mercury reaching 35 celsius…

We were all ready for a hike through the hills this morning, but after the short walk from home to the plaza with Matthijs on my back, we decided to call it quits as it’s just too hot to walk!

Instead we’re off to the pool this afternoon. Swimming and doing as little as possible.

Here the view over the city at noon.

Well, since today the little King is really walking by himself!

Two weeks ago he started to realize that he could stand up by himself, without holding anything. Since then he’s tried to make one step, two steps, three steps, but always quickly fell down to hands and knees.

Today he suddenly realized he can actually walk if he wants to, so he’s been taking some strolls around the plaza.

Mum Nadine was delighted it happened while she was here and not on a flight somewhere else! As for dad - I had to do with the video of the whole thing upon coming home today.

Here’s the video - by chance I have just found out how to get video on my site using Youtube.com. A great opportunity to share with you Matthijs first steps!

(just click on the image below and it should start playing)

I received this old picture from cousin Pim - thanks dude.

It’s an old picture of the kids on the beach. Must have been ‘79 or ‘80??

We’re at “Strand paal 69″ in Zandvoort, Holland. A slightly odd beach cause it’s a nude beach and that’s where our parents would usually take us. Was it because it was just much less busy than the normal beach, or was it out of a determined liking for nudism?

We seem to have fun posing for the camera and sitting in this hole. If you read the faces correctly, could it be there’s a sense of pride or victory in each of them? This is making me wonder whether we actually dug the hole ourselves or hi-jacked it from other kids.

From left to right it’s got my sis Barbara, cousin Pim, Tom, Kim, and myself.

There’s a couple of nude people in the background - but it’s hard to make out, and you can see the “Pole 69″ standing behind us.

Those nice but rare summer days in Holland!

click on picture for larger version

How come every year the winner of the Miss Universe pageant is from earth?

This show must be rigged.

Seeing cars like this in the streets of Hong Kong is actually more a rule than an exception.

The Rolls Royce Phantom - nice…

I’m taking a nap here under these trees.

Beautiful view.

Life can be wonderful because of the smallest things.

How did this happen? We’re in a mall again…

I must have got lured into this by my wifey!

Anyway - shopping is Hong Kong’s favorite hobby.

We’re going to Hong Kong park to show Matthijs the turtles and the ducks.
The weather is turning better - about time after the stormy weather in the past few days.