Huub on the Run - Iron Knee

If it's a Saturday, you can usually find Huub on the North Shore, running his ass off in the trails.

This is Huub finishing off a 12km run at Deep Cove.

Big event is the 25km Iron Knee from the base of Grouse, along Powerline and Baden-Powell trail to Deep Cove. Estimated time about 2 1/2 hrs. Jan, Steve, Liam and Gary all expected to complete along with our buddies from Mountain Madness.

Next event is Summer Solstice on June 20th. Come and cheer us on!

Barbara's Birthday Bash at Chambar

Huub and Yasmeen at Chambar living it up. A couple of Dutchies in a Belgian bistro enjoying a few Gulden Draak to celebrate Barbara's brirthday.

What is now Belgium has been variously described as the Austrian or Spanish Netherlands as well as the Southern Netherlands. Belgium became an independent country from the Netherlands in 1830.

Today, there's a Dutch speaking majority in the Northern part of Belgium (Flanders) and a French speaking majority in the southern part of Belgium (Wallonia) What both have in common is their love for the good life. Several of Huub's Dutch friends, Benny, Pieter and Esther, now live in Belgium.

Looking forward to celebrating next year (January 2011) at Belgianfest at Georgetown Studios in Seattle- road trip!

The Battle of Bangkok

This morning, the Thai military moved to clear the Red Shirt area. There were several thousand people here before they did that. After some very deadly clashes with a lot of violence and gunfire and explosions, the Red leaders effectively surrendered and told their people to flee.

And where was Huub during the crackdown and chaos? Yes, well, this pic is taken of him at the airport heading home from Bangkok this morning. Apparently, Suvarnabhumi airport is operating as normal.

The new international airport in Bangkok, pronounced "su-wan-na-poom" and meaning Golden Land, was opened in 2006 and is known for its airy and futuristic structure designed by architect Helmut Jahn.

Celebrating Netherlands Remembrance

Here's a pic of Huub and Prem marking the 65th anniversary of the liberation of Holland by Canada.

The warm relationship that exists today between Canada and the Netherlands can be traced back to the Second World War when Canada played a key role in liberating the people of the Netherlands.

More than 7,600 Canadians gave their lives for freedom in the Netherlands and Canada would play another important role for the country. During the war, some members of the royal family of the Netherlands found sanctuary in Canada and, in 1943, Princess Margaret was born in a section of the Ottawa Civic Hospital that was temporarily made territory of the Netherlands so the princess could be born on Dutch soil.

The evidence of the enduring connection may be seen in the tulips- gifts from the Netherlands- which bloom in Ottawa each spring and ongoing friendships, like Prem and Huub.