Tuesday, May 22, 2012

A great number!

Today is a day with a great number, today is a day of a great figure!
Today Camilo (O Milo), the patriarch of the family, strong as the Chinese Wall, reaches the magic 77!
Many congratulations, many returns of the day!


Friday, April 27, 2012

Gulmohar

The Gulmohar (Delonix regia or Royal Poinciana in English) is an abundant flowering tree, that grows in many places in the world. And is also common in Mumbai.

This Gulmohar stands nearby Melissa in Florida

Today I was gifted a Gulmohar, 25 years old! Not as big as the tree on the picture above, but a beautiful bonsai. Full of promise to flower as fervently as you might expect of a flame tree, for many more years with the right care, the right soil, right watering, and of course: with the right sunlight.




We share a lifespan of 25 years, the bonsai and I. And we are hopeful for another great 25 years. Of flowers, sunlight and water. Hopeful and eager, of a future as we were.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

CONGRATS for Melissa!

Many CONGRATULATIONS for Melissa, today turning 17!
Far away in Florida, working hard on tennis and in school, we want you to know how GREAT you are.
We love, care for you, and see so many great virtues in you.
And we wish you all happiness in life!

Beach Beauty at 16
American school girl with a real smile!




Strong and always carrying others!

Lovely ...


Some years back ...

Friday, April 6, 2012

Parabéns mamã!



Parabéns mamã!
Muitos anos bem dispostos!
You rock!



Keep fabulous!   Cheers!!



50 lived well



I thank you Maria da Luz e Camilo, my parents, for the depth of your love, and for holdind me in high regard.
Thank you for helping me define my core, develop a strong sense of self, and showing me how to live up to it.
Thank you for teaching me how to bring meaning into the otherwise trivial daily actions.
Thank you for providing a firm emotional background from where I fearless and confident can face the world and embrace life as it comes.

I thank you my sisters, my closest companions in life, for with the strength of your caracters and your bold honesty, reducing my self importance to zero.

I thank you my friends, for your trust and support, and for allowing me to devide my sorrows and to multiply my joys.

I thank you Hans, my husband, for coping with my imperfections every day and for inspiring me to become a better person.

I thank you, Camila and Melissa, my dear children, for loving me no matter what.


                                    A huge lot to celebrate!       Let's do it!!         Cheers!!!



Parabens! Gefeliciteerd! Congratulations!

Today is a manifold Good Friday: three generations Matos celebrate their birthdays, all born on the 6th April. Many congratulations to Ivone ("seeing Sarah"), and many congratulations to Maria da Luz - both young forever and sharing their birthday with their mother and grandmother! Let the champagne flow on this celebrate day ...


Sunday, March 25, 2012

Counting sheep

Camila went with Freek on a 20 km hike in Friesland (Frisia - a northern province in The Netherlands). And on their way back they missed train and got lost in Workum (4,000 inhabitants ...). Some pictures (nice weather and counting sheep):




Monday, March 19, 2012

Cheers, Hans!

Wonderful day: Hans is "up and running"! Well... not quite yet, but he is back to work and will be better soon.
Let's keep the spirits up, cheers voor Hans!

Back in town

2012, March 8th. It's Holi, the festival of colours!
Last year we had the girls with us, it was "spring breack" in the USA. They celebrated it with Kunal and his friends, Melissa had more prawns than she could take, and it was impossible to recover Camila's clothes.
This year I decided to fly back 'home' earlier and alone, (leaving the others celebrating Holi and whatever else they might wish), after my well savoured break in Goa. Enough diversion for now!...



Just in time! Hans picked me up moving a litle funny. The next day he was confined to bed, giving his back the necessary rest after a visit to his orthopedist!!! Intuition?...
Big relief: I am not the cause of this disconfort!... ;) And yes, Hans has been "a good boy!", as the doc advised on a personal note. The nurse is pleased, sir!



 

When may we welcome you?



Empty beaches, clear water, waiting for you people!





Entrance to the Spa of course, what else?!
Shiva and Sita did enjoy God's gift of life!
"Chest ok" remember, girls? ;)





I wish I could send you the fragrance of the pecan tree (caju) in a botle!...

Time to leave and get ready for the party!... Want to join?...

Enjoying Goa


Cola beach, hidden treasure: the lagoon, the see and... me!
One of the many churches built by the portuguese, still proudly standing all over Goa!







Great opportunity folks: lovely place at the riverside by the see, believe me! "Cola beach" just 5 km away... In your company it would have been paradise!

Magestic "Forte do Cabo da Rama", also built by the portuguese. See that beach in the distance? I can take you there!...















Sunday, March 18, 2012

Fun and relaxation in Goa

Yes!!! Twoo weeks ago I finally decided to accept an invite from kind, funny, thoughtful friends to spend some time in Goa. I gratefully shared those days with them and want you to be also part of the joy.

Beautiful, empty beaches as it is "low season" now. Super!

Voila Yolaine Heldman, my "partner in crime": we rented a bike and took off for twoo days, leaving the confort of  the "Taj Exotica" to embrace some real adventure!...





Wonderful view, crossing the river close to Agonda. Wish I could have shared it with you on the spot!...



Another day on our way, thinking of you, while enjoying fully!

Welcome Spring!

First gifts of Spring, the bouganvilleas we got from Mike and Elaine florish joyfully.
Happy to enjoy once again the power of creation!!!
Wishing you all the plesures of life!  

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Some more pictures of Camila

Yesterday Camila left for Amsterdam where she will stay the coming months. Before leaving she had a portfolio shoot (and indeed, the picture of the earlier post was Camila too!). Some more pictures ...



 

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Who is this?

Make a guess: who is this pretty girl? And how old is the picture?


Sunday, February 5, 2012

Camila preparing for Amsterdam Winter

Friday Camila will be leaving for Amsterdam. Room has been arranged, Freek will pick her up, and she looks very much forward to it! But it's very, really very cold ... Last days at night it was about -20 C ... So, last evening we bought warm stuff like sweaters. As temperature here during daytime is around +30 C chains like Zara don't sell a lot of the more wintery clothes, except to Camila yesterday ...


Sunday, January 15, 2012

Mumbai Marathon 2012

Today was the Mumbai Marathon. The day started early (out of bed at 4 am) and nicely cool. The start was at 5:40 am. After 5 km I catched up with the 4:30 bus (a group lead by a pacer to finish in a certain time), I started 2 minutes later than the group (the puntual start surprised me and I still had to undress my extra t-shirt).
The bus was perfect and driven by the incredible pacemaker, we ran continously around 10 km/h. Until 30 km all was fine, at that point I slowed down to have a drink and couldn't move forward anymore because of my knee. Even walking hurts ... No other option then to continue walking, stop for icing, a sad experience after such a good first 30 km. Time: 5:23 :(
Medalist ...

After finish, Victoria Station in the background


Victorious on Azad Maidan - Mumbai's holy cricket ground

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Happy New Year

For all of you a very Happy New Year, may all your wishes come true in 2012!

The Christmas holidays started in Mumbai with decorating the tree (doesn't it look great with the angle in top and Henk's 7 grasses in the background?). Christmas and New Year we spent with many friends in Soest, enjoying Krijn and Heleen's marvelous hospitality and their beautiful Christmas tree!

Christmas tree with angel

Christmas tree with angels