Hearty Welcome in Cochin

Last Saturday I missed the cricket matches of my teams. From one perspective that was a pity (they booked great results!), but on the other hand it was great to be with our agents in the south of India. The Cochin area was hosting an event where our three southern areas presented the very good results of a contest the drove over the last two weeks because I was visiting them.

Next Launch

On Thursday 16th we launched the next and last part of our NextGen platform, this is the portal specifically for our bancassurance channel. The launch coincided with a visit from Ageas HR colleagues.

Everyone to Portugal

Well, I am the last of the family to fly out to Portugal and will do so tomorrow evening (hopefully the conditions at Frankfurt will improve, I have to pass through this airport). Ivone left already two weeks ago, Melissa arrived Tuesday morning (just saw a picture of a small part of IMG and I have to admit I am always impressed), and Camila had the worst trip arriving late Saturday. Her plane from New York was delayed, she missed her connection at Lisbon and has been sitting there almost for a day to catch another flight. Almost reunited with the girls and Christmas, I look forward to it!

(outer part of IMG from the air, close to Melissa's home)

Launch

Last Friday we launched a new customer services' portal at our call center with vCustomer in Navi Mumbai. Three of the agents who are working for our account since the beginning supported in the cake cutting. After that we showed them the new commercials we are going to launch soon. These ads are mainly meant to trigger attention and be humoristic; at least everyone in this audience was enthousiastic.

Still as beautiful

Sometimes you receive really interesting mail. In the envelop I received this week there was a picture of Ivone (May 1998) while she accompanied (guiding and translating) a group of realtors of the NVM - SOM in Lisbon and surroundings. Ain't she beautiful? And she hasn't changed a thing!

(Ivone - May 1998)

(Freek, many thanks for sending the picture)

Pic(nic)

Yesterday we were for a picnic with my departments in Khandala (close to Lonavla), a hill station with beautiful views and cooler climate as Mumbai. It was very enjoyable and we had a sketch artist who made a picture of us too.

India Netherlands Business Association

Yesterday we had the kick-off of our India Netherlands Business Association in Mumbai. On the picture the board in front of the new logo. Our name is still INB Association, as for the use of "India" in the name we need the approval of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra ...

PDP Environmental Awareness Race

Today there was a 10 km running race that started in PDP, the park next to our home. Why it was called 'Environmental Awareness Race' I don't know. Here is also the race course I use for training when it is not more than ~1 hour. It was a nice run through the surroundings of Malabar Hill and Chowpatty Beach. And I finished in 49 min, not bad for the circumstances with high temperature and humidity and some steep climbs. No photos yet ...

Welcome to Boston

Last (long) weekend we spent with Camila and Melissa in Boston. It was quite cold (at least when you come from Florida or Mumbai), and still in beautiful autumn dress. And it was very, very good to be so close to each other and share the stories of the last months face-to-face.

Lazy Sunday morning

This morning Kunal came along. He always comes in the evening, so for the first time we could show him the garden by daylight. Conveniently he could shed light on the Diwali rituals. Thanks Kunal! Always a pleasure having you around.

Garden Dinner

Another post still waiting to be published! Some time back we had Mike and Elain visiting us, together with two of Elain's sisters and a friend. We had dinner in the garden (Ivone made a great lamb stew) and a very pleasant evening.

Hong Kong

Sorry for being somewhat late with posting, but we have been traveling a lot lately. One of our trips was to Hong Kong. We staid in the W Hotel at Kowloon side (above the Elements -a big shopping center- and the Airport Express) and had a beautiful view of the skyline of Hong Kong Island. This picture was taken standing at ground level next to the 112 story ICC building.

Footwork

Melissa lately attracts a lot of Nick Bollettieri's attention. He likes very much her technique (both in handling forehand and backhand) as well as her footwork. Melissa has been put in a new group and currently they have pre-competitions and they are working very hard towards the upcoming tournaments. A lot more to follow ...

Upcoming family reunion

Next week we will have a kind of belated Halloween gathering for the family. We will travel from all directions to Boston for a family reunion. We will arrive Wednesday 3^rd November and meet Camila. Next day Melissa will join from Florida. And Sunday 7^th we will fly back again ...

Spring Tide at Petit Hall

Spring tide at Petit Hall means the sea battering the wall that separates the from the Arabian Sea. When the waves hit the wall you feel the ground shaking and a second later you see the sea water showering the garden. Most times I look at it during the night, but this weekend I was lucky and could take some pictures by daylight.

Trafic Light in Bombay

Everything stops were she goes ...

Family

I totally forgot to share these great family pictures, late August in Viana. Thanks, Kiki!

Neighbor

Very close to our home, almost a neighbor, at Nepean Sea Road (even with an entry in Wikipedia) we found the honorary consul of Portugal. Doesn't she look at home?

Ready to party!

Here is Melissa at her house, with one of the friends, ready to go out!

Melissa and Aislin

Milo e Milou: 50 years!

Today is the 50th anniversary of Camilo and Maria da Luz. What a milestone! Many congratulations!!
There will be a mass in Fatima, lunch with suckling pig, and a few glasses of good wine. We join you in spirit from Mumbai.

After 50 years of marriage still great fun!

Ladies in NYC

Grand Central Station

Fifth Avenue (ready for shopping)

Times Square

Paramount Building

Camila NYC

Love and Liberty

Bradenton Beach Beauties (continued)

Bradenton Beach

Siesta Key Beach

Turtle Beach

Money is taken out of all machines daily

Washing our stuff somewhere at a coin laundry in Bradenton ...

Still a Dutch girl

The house where Melissa now stays is further on the campus from the courts and the school (more than half an hour walking, it is a big campus). Although there is a tram and golf carts are driving around, as a real Dutch girl (with an American accent) she prefers to do that by bike!

Manatee County

Bradenton is part of Manatee County, and Manatee County is more or less Bradenton (and Bradenton is by the way not so much more than Nick Bolletteiri's academy ...). I had no idea what a manatee is (in Dutch we call these animals zeekoeien - "sea cows") and always thought you would only find them in the Indian Ocean. But, Melissa is living in Sea Cow County!

Bradenton Beach Beauty

Without comment, I present you: