Friday, 27 July 2012
Thursday, 26 July 2012
Nervous...
About 5 weeks ago I sent off my application for a new passport, as Stacy.
A couple of weeks ago they took 200 euros from my credit card (though I am not sure that means anything, they warn you that if you apply for a passport they will take your money anyway!).
On Wednesday DHL left me a message saying they had tried to deliver a package that originated in the UK and needed signing for...
Could this be my passport? (And the return of my doctors letter and deed poll?)
Or could it be a rejection saying I did not have the right supporting documents!
I have to admit I am nervous as hell!
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Give me my house back!
A few weeks ago I posted about having out kitchen refitted, about a week cooking in the garden and a week of stress.
Well the kitchen and the stress materialised. The cooking in the garden? Not quite so much!
A mixture of things conspired to get in our way, strangely enough given the last few days bad weather was not one if them!
It all started on Monday. The fitter came and ripped the old kitchen out - all in a couple of hours! In the afternoon the electrician came and annoyed the hell out of me. You see I had worked out all of the energy use of the different bits of kit and had in my mind a way of connecting everything so that we had as much power available on the counter top as possible, and wasting as little as possible with the other circuits. The electrician however had other ideas... He insisted that he was going to do it his way and so now I have hidden circuits using nearly 1KW less that what is available and the counter top plug is shared with the fridge and extractor fan. So that is 400W that I can't use on the counter, which would easily have ran with the other circuits. I think I may have offended him by working out the groups myself... Oh well, it's not the end of the world, just annoying!
I had a bit of a stressful day in the office, got home and to be honest just did not feel like the hassle involved with getting the BBQ working. So I got the camping stove out instead and ruined one of my old frying pans on it. Mrs Stace went to snack bar to get some unhealthy French fries and we had some salad with it to make life a little easier.
Tuesday... The plasterer came, and we found out that he had the wrong instructions so he has to come back again to finish! And the energy company came to fit the 380v 3 phase supply that we need for the hob. The house was built with a supply already, but it was never wired in. When it was wired in it also needed a new meter. And whilst they were fitting it they also fitted a new gas meter.
And that is where it went wrong. We only have on thing that uses gas in the house - the CV boiler. They fitted the meter and left without checking if everything was working (it wasn't) so in the evening Mrs Stace went to fetch a Chinese take-away whilst I waited for the boiler people to talk me through resetting the machine.
On top of that the kitchen was delivered Tuesday morning and it took up the entire living room! We had to climb over the back of the sofa to sit down! After enjoying the take-away and we decided on an early night (seeing as there was not enough space in the room anyway ;p), I went to lock the front door and... Sniff, sniff... Gas. Wonderful! We called the emergency line, opened all of the windows and doors to clear everything away. The emergency gas man arrived and did a simple test, something that he said looks weird but you never know. he tried to undo the pipes with his hands. Well I say tried, what I mean is he succeeded in undoing them by hand. OK... That would be the cause of the leak then! All sorted, he actually restarted the gas boiler for us before leaving and we decided to wait half hour to check that the smell did not come back before going to bed. An early night suddenly became a very late one!
Wednesday and Mrs Stace had to go in to the office so it was my turn to work from home. The fitter cam with someone else and whilst I was working away they fitted most of the kitchen. It's actually amazing how quickly these things can get fitted once people start to work.
By the end of the day everything except for the extractor fan hose and the new hob was fitted; the fitter did not want to put a large glass hob (and single most expensive thing in the kitchen!) in place whilst he needed to drill above it. Smart move :)
Wednesday we went to visit my sister-in-law and her family for food, so yet again nothing outside.
Thursday... The last few bits and pieces were put in place, the hob dropped into it's temporary position and it was done! The people from the stone factory came to measure the for the counter top once everything was in place and then everyone left. We could cook for the first time! A simple oriental dish just for the first use of the kitchen. And... Everything worked! During the evening we ran the ovens for the first time (240c for 1 hour just to burn them in and get rid of the smell) - and were amazed at how quickly they warm up!
So that was it. Friday and yesterday were spent trying to get the kitchen, dining area and living area back to some kind of order (hahahahahaha) and today we are just living with it. We have space to eat, space to cook and space to chill. Things can slowly get back to normal over the next week.
Today I try to use everything! I have a lovely meal planned for Mrs Stace and I today, where I can use lots of toys, and I am going to make a banana cake for the office tomorrow. We'll see how everything turns out!
Well the kitchen and the stress materialised. The cooking in the garden? Not quite so much!
A mixture of things conspired to get in our way, strangely enough given the last few days bad weather was not one if them!
It all started on Monday. The fitter came and ripped the old kitchen out - all in a couple of hours! In the afternoon the electrician came and annoyed the hell out of me. You see I had worked out all of the energy use of the different bits of kit and had in my mind a way of connecting everything so that we had as much power available on the counter top as possible, and wasting as little as possible with the other circuits. The electrician however had other ideas... He insisted that he was going to do it his way and so now I have hidden circuits using nearly 1KW less that what is available and the counter top plug is shared with the fridge and extractor fan. So that is 400W that I can't use on the counter, which would easily have ran with the other circuits. I think I may have offended him by working out the groups myself... Oh well, it's not the end of the world, just annoying!
I had a bit of a stressful day in the office, got home and to be honest just did not feel like the hassle involved with getting the BBQ working. So I got the camping stove out instead and ruined one of my old frying pans on it. Mrs Stace went to snack bar to get some unhealthy French fries and we had some salad with it to make life a little easier.
Tuesday... The plasterer came, and we found out that he had the wrong instructions so he has to come back again to finish! And the energy company came to fit the 380v 3 phase supply that we need for the hob. The house was built with a supply already, but it was never wired in. When it was wired in it also needed a new meter. And whilst they were fitting it they also fitted a new gas meter.
And that is where it went wrong. We only have on thing that uses gas in the house - the CV boiler. They fitted the meter and left without checking if everything was working (it wasn't) so in the evening Mrs Stace went to fetch a Chinese take-away whilst I waited for the boiler people to talk me through resetting the machine.
On top of that the kitchen was delivered Tuesday morning and it took up the entire living room! We had to climb over the back of the sofa to sit down! After enjoying the take-away and we decided on an early night (seeing as there was not enough space in the room anyway ;p), I went to lock the front door and... Sniff, sniff... Gas. Wonderful! We called the emergency line, opened all of the windows and doors to clear everything away. The emergency gas man arrived and did a simple test, something that he said looks weird but you never know. he tried to undo the pipes with his hands. Well I say tried, what I mean is he succeeded in undoing them by hand. OK... That would be the cause of the leak then! All sorted, he actually restarted the gas boiler for us before leaving and we decided to wait half hour to check that the smell did not come back before going to bed. An early night suddenly became a very late one!
Wednesday and Mrs Stace had to go in to the office so it was my turn to work from home. The fitter cam with someone else and whilst I was working away they fitted most of the kitchen. It's actually amazing how quickly these things can get fitted once people start to work.
By the end of the day everything except for the extractor fan hose and the new hob was fitted; the fitter did not want to put a large glass hob (and single most expensive thing in the kitchen!) in place whilst he needed to drill above it. Smart move :)
Wednesday we went to visit my sister-in-law and her family for food, so yet again nothing outside.
Thursday... The last few bits and pieces were put in place, the hob dropped into it's temporary position and it was done! The people from the stone factory came to measure the for the counter top once everything was in place and then everyone left. We could cook for the first time! A simple oriental dish just for the first use of the kitchen. And... Everything worked! During the evening we ran the ovens for the first time (240c for 1 hour just to burn them in and get rid of the smell) - and were amazed at how quickly they warm up!
So that was it. Friday and yesterday were spent trying to get the kitchen, dining area and living area back to some kind of order (hahahahahaha) and today we are just living with it. We have space to eat, space to cook and space to chill. Things can slowly get back to normal over the next week.
Today I try to use everything! I have a lovely meal planned for Mrs Stace and I today, where I can use lots of toys, and I am going to make a banana cake for the office tomorrow. We'll see how everything turns out!
Saturday, 7 July 2012
6 months!
Well actually it's nearly 7 months!
7 months of living as Stacy... I wasn't actually counting, but someone in the office asked me a few weeks ago and I was surprised that it had been so long...
So how's life been treating me for those months? Well so far so good!
My colleagues have been amazing over the that time. From my team when I told them what was happening, to the department when my boss told everyone, to the company as a whole when they were told by their bosses.
There were only a couple of people who didn't quite know how to deal with me, but neither one of them was a problem. One of them told me outright, 'Sorry, I don't know who I should speak to you any more; so I am just going to treat your normally OK?' I liked that one! How else could you treat someone? The other person just remained civil, but didn't speak that much - just said hello in the corridor. It was a shame as we used to talk more, but at least he wasn't making an issue out of it.
And working for an internet insurance company really helps, it was a nightmare trying to get the life insurance organised for the new mortgage, it would have been much worse if I didn't have colleagues who could sort everything for me.
Outside of work my friends have all been amazing, both those left in the UK and those that I know in Holland. The people I was expecting to be the biggest have been fine, shocked yes, but the have been fine :) The next trip to the UK is going to be interesting though - I have to start the whole stress process of meeting people for the first time again, I was hoping that I was going to be over that by now!
The biggest complaint so far has come from my French colleague who keeps on asking if I have to wear heels as I was tall enough compared to him before I transitioned. I tell no, I don't have to wear them. I just like them :) I just think he needs to get taller ;p
Due to personal circumstances I did not start hormone treatment before I transitioned - this has led to quite some delays in documentation. Being an ex-pat really does not help here, I have to fulfil the laws of the UK, as well as the laws of the Nederland. And... They are different... Ergo I only sent off for my passport a couple of weeks ago. Who knows when it's going to turn up! And most of my documentation in Holland (driving license, residency permit, bank account, tax records etc) can't be changed until I get it back. I see a day off of work to organise everything once it arrives!
And, lastly, one of the biggest surprises that I have had. Living as me made the world of difference. I had two trips where I still needed to be him in December. That was only weeks after I transitioned at work but even then I felt more uncomfortable going out in my suit than I did the first time I went out as Stace!
About 14 weeks ago I started on blockers for the medical study I am taking part in. Apart from a bit of tiredness and a few hot flushes I didn't feel that different. Then about 6 weeks ago I started in hormone patches and again... I've not noticed that much. The difference between living as him and living as Stace had a much more profound impact on me than the hormones have had so far!
Here's to the future
7 months of living as Stacy... I wasn't actually counting, but someone in the office asked me a few weeks ago and I was surprised that it had been so long...
So how's life been treating me for those months? Well so far so good!
My colleagues have been amazing over the that time. From my team when I told them what was happening, to the department when my boss told everyone, to the company as a whole when they were told by their bosses.
There were only a couple of people who didn't quite know how to deal with me, but neither one of them was a problem. One of them told me outright, 'Sorry, I don't know who I should speak to you any more; so I am just going to treat your normally OK?' I liked that one! How else could you treat someone? The other person just remained civil, but didn't speak that much - just said hello in the corridor. It was a shame as we used to talk more, but at least he wasn't making an issue out of it.
And working for an internet insurance company really helps, it was a nightmare trying to get the life insurance organised for the new mortgage, it would have been much worse if I didn't have colleagues who could sort everything for me.
Outside of work my friends have all been amazing, both those left in the UK and those that I know in Holland. The people I was expecting to be the biggest have been fine, shocked yes, but the have been fine :) The next trip to the UK is going to be interesting though - I have to start the whole stress process of meeting people for the first time again, I was hoping that I was going to be over that by now!
The biggest complaint so far has come from my French colleague who keeps on asking if I have to wear heels as I was tall enough compared to him before I transitioned. I tell no, I don't have to wear them. I just like them :) I just think he needs to get taller ;p
Due to personal circumstances I did not start hormone treatment before I transitioned - this has led to quite some delays in documentation. Being an ex-pat really does not help here, I have to fulfil the laws of the UK, as well as the laws of the Nederland. And... They are different... Ergo I only sent off for my passport a couple of weeks ago. Who knows when it's going to turn up! And most of my documentation in Holland (driving license, residency permit, bank account, tax records etc) can't be changed until I get it back. I see a day off of work to organise everything once it arrives!
And, lastly, one of the biggest surprises that I have had. Living as me made the world of difference. I had two trips where I still needed to be him in December. That was only weeks after I transitioned at work but even then I felt more uncomfortable going out in my suit than I did the first time I went out as Stace!
About 14 weeks ago I started on blockers for the medical study I am taking part in. Apart from a bit of tiredness and a few hot flushes I didn't feel that different. Then about 6 weeks ago I started in hormone patches and again... I've not noticed that much. The difference between living as him and living as Stace had a much more profound impact on me than the hormones have had so far!
Here's to the future
Sunday, 24 June 2012
On Kitchens and Camping!
It's hard to believe that we are already nearing the end of June. That is half the year gone!
It seems just a couple of days ago that we were signing for our new kitchen and I was thinking: 8 weeks! That's a lifetime away! (I've never been any good at waiting for things...)
Well the time flew past, in about a week the builder comes to start ripping out the old kitchen (and a few other bits of the house that we don't like). Then we have a week of the plasterers, plumbers and electricians working to get the room ready for the new kitchen to be fitted at the end of the week.
I say almost as there are still a couple of things that need to happen before we have the kitchen of our dreams. The first is the new work top. It can't be fitted until the new units are in and everything has settled as it's stone and can't be cut on site. Then the kitchen shop will come in and remeasure everything to ensure that it fits perfectly. Thankfully we are going to get a temporary worktop until the new one is cut and fitted!
And of course the colour of the kitchen :) When the builder has finished everything is going to be plaster coloured - not really what we are after... So we went paint sample picking yesterday. 40 minutes going through every single colour in the DIY store picking the ones we liked (and joking about some really nasty colours) and then leaving with a handbag full of sample sheets to take over to the kitchen shop and compare against the sample worktop and cupboard blocks.
We knew what colours we needed - something neutral to match the other walls as the downstairs of the house is open plan, and something to match the grey of the counter top and the white of the cabinets. Both of us were thinking of an off white to smooth the colour transition of the counter to the cupboards. We had also got some sample for when we repaint the bedroom and just for a laugh I threw it in. Wow! It worked perfectly! And what's more Mrs Stace thought the same thing! So there is going to be come colour in the new room, art-deco style! Now, the shapes of art-deco have never really appealed to me - at least not for interiors, but the colours I love! I'm now even more exited about getting everything finished and looking good.
The camping? That is how we are going to be cooking for the week whilst we have no oven or hob (or sink, or water downstairs!) We brought a griddle pan for the Weber BBQ in the garden so that we can grill food, or make pan dishes, and have we a duel burner camping stove in the attic that we can use making rice or noodles. All in the great outdoors, well back garden anyway :) And it couldn't have happened at a better time! June in Holland is a wonderful month of sun, low winds and outdoor eating!
Well it should be... However, today I cancelled my run as it's tipping it down with rain and the outlook for the next week is not much better. Thunderstorms, strong winds and a subtle lack of sun do not give me a positive outlook cooking in the open air!
It seems just a couple of days ago that we were signing for our new kitchen and I was thinking: 8 weeks! That's a lifetime away! (I've never been any good at waiting for things...)
Well the time flew past, in about a week the builder comes to start ripping out the old kitchen (and a few other bits of the house that we don't like). Then we have a week of the plasterers, plumbers and electricians working to get the room ready for the new kitchen to be fitted at the end of the week.
I say almost as there are still a couple of things that need to happen before we have the kitchen of our dreams. The first is the new work top. It can't be fitted until the new units are in and everything has settled as it's stone and can't be cut on site. Then the kitchen shop will come in and remeasure everything to ensure that it fits perfectly. Thankfully we are going to get a temporary worktop until the new one is cut and fitted!
And of course the colour of the kitchen :) When the builder has finished everything is going to be plaster coloured - not really what we are after... So we went paint sample picking yesterday. 40 minutes going through every single colour in the DIY store picking the ones we liked (and joking about some really nasty colours) and then leaving with a handbag full of sample sheets to take over to the kitchen shop and compare against the sample worktop and cupboard blocks.
We knew what colours we needed - something neutral to match the other walls as the downstairs of the house is open plan, and something to match the grey of the counter top and the white of the cabinets. Both of us were thinking of an off white to smooth the colour transition of the counter to the cupboards. We had also got some sample for when we repaint the bedroom and just for a laugh I threw it in. Wow! It worked perfectly! And what's more Mrs Stace thought the same thing! So there is going to be come colour in the new room, art-deco style! Now, the shapes of art-deco have never really appealed to me - at least not for interiors, but the colours I love! I'm now even more exited about getting everything finished and looking good.
The camping? That is how we are going to be cooking for the week whilst we have no oven or hob (or sink, or water downstairs!) We brought a griddle pan for the Weber BBQ in the garden so that we can grill food, or make pan dishes, and have we a duel burner camping stove in the attic that we can use making rice or noodles. All in the great outdoors, well back garden anyway :) And it couldn't have happened at a better time! June in Holland is a wonderful month of sun, low winds and outdoor eating!
Well it should be... However, today I cancelled my run as it's tipping it down with rain and the outlook for the next week is not much better. Thunderstorms, strong winds and a subtle lack of sun do not give me a positive outlook cooking in the open air!
Friday, 15 June 2012
Finally, how to make a Mac useful!
About 12 months ago I brought myself a 13" MacBook Pro to replace the Sony TZ 21 that I ruined by dropping a sheet of metal on the screen (DOH!).
For the last 6 months or so it's been languishing in the spare room, unused and unloved as I have come to hate the thing. And hate OSX even more.
What's more Mrs Stace hates it even more than I do so I couldn't even give it to her.
What to do then... Well after trying it again this week and wanting to throw it through a window within 20 seconds of starting it I decided I had to give boot camp another go.
So... I'm typing this on a Windows 7 MacBook Pro :)
And... First impressions are not bad. Performance is acceptable (actually better than it did under Lion) and I can live with the screen (though it's still not great - why people rave about the non-retina Apple screens I don't know).
But... It does feel like a workhorse again, rather than toy. Now for the Visual Studio and SQL Server tools and I'll be ready to go!
For the last 6 months or so it's been languishing in the spare room, unused and unloved as I have come to hate the thing. And hate OSX even more.
What's more Mrs Stace hates it even more than I do so I couldn't even give it to her.
What to do then... Well after trying it again this week and wanting to throw it through a window within 20 seconds of starting it I decided I had to give boot camp another go.
So... I'm typing this on a Windows 7 MacBook Pro :)
And... First impressions are not bad. Performance is acceptable (actually better than it did under Lion) and I can live with the screen (though it's still not great - why people rave about the non-retina Apple screens I don't know).
But... It does feel like a workhorse again, rather than toy. Now for the Visual Studio and SQL Server tools and I'll be ready to go!
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Sugar, Sugar
Over the last month I have started to get get into some kind of routine - from going running again, cycling and building my own machines.
One of the cycling trips that I did over the last couple of months was to visit an old sugar factory and try to get some nice shots. It had been a while since I have really tried to get some nice pictures and I was really happy with the results. I hope you like them too :)
One of the cycling trips that I did over the last couple of months was to visit an old sugar factory and try to get some nice shots. It had been a while since I have really tried to get some nice pictures and I was really happy with the results. I hope you like them too :)
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| I was playing with HDR for the first time here. I love how the clouds have come out. This is a cycle path next to the Polderbaan runway at Schiphol what we had to travel to get to the factory |
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| This time I was looking for something akin to the plates that you get in 1950's and 1960's books |
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| Different angle, same building and going for a more 1970's feel |
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| No one at work believes me that this is just from playing with Saturation . No HDR or other PhotoShop trickery :) |
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| The old sugar factory chimney juxtaposed with the new 'Sugar Silo' office centres being built to regenerate the area |
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| Honestly, I have no idea what these buildings are, I just liked the shot through the reeds :) Though my knees and back didn't! |
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