2013 New Year's Resolutions

Time flies! Its already time to make New Year's resolutions for 2013. First though, I'll check in on my 2012 resolutions and see how I did...

Looking back on my 2012 resolutions:

• My first resolution was to learn Dutch to level A.2. I already passed level A.1 in spring and should pass level A.2 by the end of January if I study. So not doing too badly.
• My second resolution was to improve my publication output. Things are going great in that regard, so I am very satisfied.
• My third resolution was to go to the gym 100 times. Here I failed pretty badly! I think I have been closer to 50 times. Something I can improve on in the coming year!
• My fourth resolution was to train our golden retriever puppy. This has gone pretty well, though she remains a bit too excitable around children.
• My fifth and final resolution was to fix up the garden and finish my vegetable patch. This also went pretty well. My veggie patch has been producing for the kitchen since June and the garden looks a lot better

Some resolutions for 2013:

• I will find more time for Caren and I to unwind together.
• I will do at least one local 'fun run' and go to the gym more than last year.
• I will improve our garden and grow my first harvest of mushrooms.
• I will improve my Dutch to at least level B.1.

Overall, I can only home that 2013 is as good for us as 2012 was. I have a lot to be thankful for.

Happy New Year!

First Year in Leuven, Belgium

Caren and I have been in Belgium for a little over a year now, and I noticed recently that I had lots of photos sitting on my phone, so I thought that I would upload a random selection as a kind of retrospective.

Penny at a Cafe in June

New Potatoes in July

 

Summer BBQs

 With Michelle at Zoete Water in October

With Adam and Christie at Ruben's House in October

The Veggie Garden in November

Sunrise over Overijse Fields in December

Its been a great year. Hopefully 2013 is just as good.

Snowboarding in Mont Tremblant, Canada

In late November I traveled to Quebec, Canada for the Middleware 2012 conference and a few days snowboarding in Tremblant. 

After a good flight with Air Canada, I took the Galland bus to Tremblant village, where I had a private room in the HI Youth Hostel. The staff were very friendly and the rooms were pretty good. There was also a good bar, where I tried my favorite Canadian beer 'La Fin Du La Monde'.

Youth Hostel in Tremblant Village

I woke up early and jet-lagged the next day at 5AM, so I decided to go for a walk. I saw some deer, but wasn't quick enough to get a photo and also the sunrise over the frozen village lake. It was -17 when I arrived in Tremblant, but my room was nice and warm and there was fresh snow, so it didn't matter.

Sunrise Over the Frozen Lake

After taking the free bus for the five minute ride from the village  to the resort, I went up the mountain on the first gondola of the morning. Conditions were excellent all day, with a few inches of fresh powder on a deep man-made base.

Snowmaking running on Full

20 runs were open supported by 4 lifts, not bad for the 1st of December! I had a lot of fun cruising down the mountain.

View from the Summit

Riding the Chair Lift

If you are visiting Tremblant I would highly recommend that you try a local delicacy at Smoke's Poutinerie, near the Gondola. The beer is also pretty good at La Diable, and is all brewed on-site. Unfortunately my second day was a wash-out (literally) as the snow turned to wind and rain. I braved the conditions until lunch and then retreated to my room.

Rainy Conditions on the Summit

On Monday, I caught the Galland bus back down to Montreal and by lunch-time I was at the conference.