Hi everyone. I’m once again joining #WeekendCoffeeShare on Sunday, as yesterday, I had a busy day and was too tired to write.
Today’s the day we commemorate Dutch people who died in World War II (and in every war, conflict and maybe they now count terrorist attacks too since). Only 5% of Dutch people currently were alive during our liberation on May 5, 1945. I never was all that much of a May 4 and 5 follower, but I have over the past few years learned to be more mindful of the freedom and rights I and those I love have, since they are more and more being threatened. For this reason, I think I’m going to do the two minutes of silence at 8PM this year. I hope I’ll have finished my post by then. I’ve just had dinner, so no coffee for me, but I’d love to offer you a drink.
If we were having coffee, first I’d talk about the weather. On Wednesday, we had our first day when, at the national weather institute in De Bilt, the temperature climbed to above 25°C. On Thursday, here it even got to 28°C. I read that the first day of temps above 25°C usually doesn’t happen until mid-May. I appreciated it though. Today, the daytime temp didn’t get above 13°C.
If we were having coffee, then I’d tell you I’ve done a lot of walking again, as well as riding the side-by-side bike. My May challenge on my Apple Watch is to double my movement goal twice. I already did it once so far, so that should be ridiculously easy.
If we were having coffee, then I’d share that one of the sick staff whom I’d made the polymer clay frog for last week, let me know via her colleague that she was really happy with it. I had originally asked another staff to pass the frog for the other sick staff on to her. Then, on Tuesday, that staff said it may be nice for the two of us to pop by the sick staff’s house on Wednesday so that I could personally give the frog to her. I did ask the staff whose idea this was to text her colleague to ask her permission for us to stop by, since some care workers with good reason don’t want clients to know where they live. Now I for one never even look up my staff online and would certainly not violate their living space. The sick staff gave her permission so one of the side-by-side bike rides was to there. The staff’s kids were home too and one of them asked me where I live. I, being awkward with young kids that I am, originally mentioned the institution town and then said I lived at [staff’s name]’s work, only to realize that [staff’s name] is “Mommy” to the kid.
If we were having coffee, I’d share that the other side-by-side bike ride was to a market once again. I resisted the urge to buy something, as I’d already been to the supermarket on Monday and I reasoned even just strolling the market is a nice experience. Besides, we did have lunch at a fish diner.
If we were having coffee, then I’d share I’m still struggling with the temp worker situation and how much energy goes into explaining everything to them. Sometimes, I think staff get me, while at other times, it seems as though they’re absolutely clueless.
If we were having coffee, lastly I’d tell you that, yesterday, I went to Nijmegen for a cerebral palsy meeting again. It wasn’t the nationwide CP day. That had been in early April but was held in a city that’s a two-hour journey from here, so I hadn’t gone there. Nijmegen is about a 45-minute drive in good traffic. This meeting lasted three hours total and there was no theme. Rather, we gathered in a restaurant and had lunch and some drinks and just chatted. I have met many of the participants a few times before, but there were a few newcomers too. With one of them, I chatted almost the entire time, because we had so much in common. She recommended a few resources to me too.
After the meeting, I had decided to go to my best friend’s parents’ house (ack, “in-laws” is a lot shorter 😉). My best friend picked me up in Nijmegen and drove us there. My best friend’s sister was there for a bit too with her one-year-old son. I really don’t do well with kids, although this one is a lot less loud than my nieces.
I didn’t get back to the institution until 8PM yesterday and went to bed shortly after 10PM. I’m honestly still quite tired.
A Multitude of Musings 
Sounds like you’ve had a social week. Well done with your May movement challenge! Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
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Yes, I did. Thanks for your kind comment.
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That was a nice outing going to the cerebral palsy meeting, and also going out on the side by side bike twice, glad you got to do that. X
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Thanks so much for commenting! I’m glad I experienced these things indeed.
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I had actually never seen a side by side bike before, so I looked it up. Looks like fun.
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Thanks for commenting! The side-by-side bike is absolutely great! It’s like a tandem bike but rather than one person steering and the other person sitting behind them, the two people sit next to each other. This has the advantage that it’s less bothersome if the two people don’t have the samen cadence. Besides, it’s a lot easier to talk to the other person haha.
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That side-by-side bike sounds very interesting. Glad you had a good week.
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Thanks. And yes the side-by-side bike is great.
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That sounds like a very social week! Good job on doubling your movement goals once already.
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Thank you! I am happy to report that today I doubled my movement goal again and as such have completed my May challenge.
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It is so important to remember those who fought and died for us.
It sounds like you have had the same weather as us. Last week with record temps and yesterday was much colder.
Well done with all the walking and moving.
How lovely that you got to visit the care worker, go to the cerebral palsy meeting and visit your friends parents house! You have been busy!
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Thank you so much for your kind comment. I have definitely been busy and that’s a good thing.
By the way, the May 4th remembrance day is in honor of everyone who lost their lives in the war, including the Jews and other groups persecutedd by the Nazis. There was an “inclusive” alternative remembrance event in The Hague (the regular one is in Amsterdam) which also highlighted other confliccts in which the Dutch government has a role, such as the current war in Gaza.
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You had a busy week! No wonder you are tired. I am glad you were able to give the staff member the frog in person and she liked it. Glad you are getting your exercise in with the bike. And what a nice thing to be able to attend the CP meeting at the restaurant. Sounds like you made a new friend. Thanks for the coffee! Have a good week ahead!
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Thanks so much for your kind comment. Yes, it certainly was a busy week.
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You’re welcome.
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I noticed May has a lot of major holidays around WWII in Europe. I believe France had theirs today (May 8th). I quickly looked up that the US has officially commemorated today as Victory Day but a lot of people still went to work. Oddly enough, out of all the states, Rhode Island recognizes Victory Day to happen on the second Monday in August.
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Thanks for sharing. That’s really interesting that RI sees the second Monday in August as Victory Day, as if I’m correct World War II ended on August 15, 1945, which was the third Wednesday in August, not the second Monday. Then again, maybe it’s because of another victory.
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I think they chose Monday because it would make it a three day weekend rather than having a day off during the middle of the week.
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Ah yes, that makes sense. Here, Liberation Day (May 5) is only an official holiday once every five years, so it was this year but not last year or in 2026, for example.
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Liberation Day in the US has taken on a completely different meaning now *face palm*.
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Ah yes, I understand.
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