This is my last week in the Netherlands, and the really great news is that after this, I have two weeks off! I am very tired - the common cold that has been going around the office does not help, but at least I am spared the "bulkgriep", which I think is a stomach flu from the email descriptions I am getting from those afflicted.

I rang my boss today and told him I was tired and would like to take some of my built up days, and he was fairly happy, because they haven't yet signed the contract for my next project. He said I should take all my leave, but I'm not doing that, I still want May holidays and summer holidays (I have about 40 days so far, and it is only increasing).

So this means I can do a few things next week, like finish some of my near-finishes. And get all my summer clothes out, because I will need them in Paris, and I have not worn them for a long time.

I'm also going to get a new sewing machine, which is justified, as I have not had such a thing for over thirty years. My old one still works, and I may sell it, as it is an Elnita which qualifies as vintage now. I've been handsewing anything that needs finishing, but I want to try making a quilt and do some other things that might bore me by hand.

And last weekend when I was in Paris, I succumbed to the yarn sale at Le Bon Marche and bought two lots of Rowan cotton for summer tops, found some good patterns on Ravelry. So I have a few things to do, to take my mind off the horrors of Apeldoorn. I feel mean saying that Apeldoorn is not so nice, but I haven't had a great time here, mostly for work reasons, and I will be happy to go home for a while.

I have stayed at home today, I just couldn't get out and go to work this morning, the last two weeks or so have been very difficult....

It turns out that a lot of our project will be leaving at the end of March, as our client have not made up their mind what they want to do next. This has caused a lot of problems, given the variety of places that people come from and the variety of reasons they have for going or staying. A few people are desperate to stay and have been "securing their jobs" in the most annoying way possible.

I am on the list that is leaving, in fact I was the first volunteer to leave - the bosses asked us all what we wanted to do, with a list of four choices, and staying on the same project was my last one. There's a lot of reasons for this, but the fact is that I really don't have enough to do here, and other things aren't pleasant enough to make up for this. I'm also the only one who has already been assigned to another project, and I have the feeling that a few people will be on the bench for a while. Of course there are also some people who are saying to me, why do I get to go to Paris, they would be much better for this project, etc, etc - and the answer is of course that I live there and speak French, etc, etc.

So I am sort of packing up - I went to Paris last weekend with a large suitcase plus another bag, and I am packing another suitcase to take this weekend. Then at the end of the month, I should have only one not too heavy suitcase left to take. I am still undecided about whether to go straight back the second I can or take a scenic detour, this will depend upon the date I start the new assignment. I wouldn't mind a couple of weeks off, as I do feel run down.

I don't have any exciting stiching news to share, but I have been trying to keep going, so there may be some soon...