Cambridge Conference and Newmarket Race Horses, England

On September 28, we arrived from Pullborough in Cambridge and started off with a lunch together as the Opening of this MGA Conference.

Always great for seeing friends from all over the world!

Ferd Hensby had opened up his mushroom farm for a farm walk.

We end up going back to the Royal Cambridge Hotel and low and behold, now we had each a twin bed! 
Three years ago at the Cambridge MGA Conference we SHARED one twin bed!

We went for a walk and had a pizza in the city. It is cold, around frost that night!

On September 29, we had together breakfast at 7:00 and at 9:00 I departed by bus with the ladies program. Off to the studs of Newmarket...

Discover Newmarket just click link for more

Visiting Sir Michael Stoute and his stables. 

In the same year during the Queen's birthday honors, on April 21, he had been knighted.

Equine Pool in Newmarket click on link
We also got to visit a lady who had a small equine pool, filled with 60,000 gallons of water and in the center an island.
Newmarket was an entire city, filled with horses!

Just as an example to show my readers how the straw from those stables always has been collected as an ingredient for the mushroom industry by e.g. Walkro

We had lunch and visited an Abbey but I have no info...

We ended the day with dinner-dance at the Swynford Paddocks Hotel and Restaurant.
Lovely evening...

SWYNFORD PADDOCKS HOTEL AND RESTAURANT is now: SWYNFORD MANOR click link to see more about this 17th century hotel.
September 30, we went together to the conference lectures at 9:00. Lunch and thereafter we visited the exposition.
Ruud Thielen from The Netherlands did hand me the Italian study books for my Italian Language course from NTI. He is the son of Jan Thielen and both I've mentioned: Visiting A.G. Linfield Mushroom Compost Facility in England just click link.
We both went shopping and I've found linnen/cotton damask napkins and a black angora beret.
We had dinner with Gerard Derks (who lived in Italy and had worked for the same company we were  planning to work for in Italy) and Huub Aarts who was part of the Dublin, Georgia Campbell Mushroom Plant's construction.

On October 1, we got a ride from Mike & Mary, who dropped us off at the Hilton London Gatwick Airport Hotel just click link.

Convenient hotel, as the airport or train station can be reached from their back entrance!
We left by train at 12:30 to London... stay tuned!

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:
From London by Train to Pullborough and Visiting Linfield Mushrooms | previous post by me
St. Ives - Cambridgeshire, England | previous post by me where we visited Ferd Hensby's Compost Ltd.
Cambridge MGA Conference in England | previous post by me about a three year earlier conference

Our Historic Christmas in Italy - END of Romania's Communist Dictator

As most of you know, we lived and worked about one year in Italy.

That also included one Christmas...

Watching TV on Christmas day, in Italian and also in Romanian, which I understand for about 60% since it is one of the Roman languages.

 old Romanian: 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'

Meaning: 'NOTHING WITHOUT GOD'

On December 22, 1989 the Romanian Revolution had started.
On December 25, 1989 the communist dictator from Romania got executed together with his wife...
Romanian Dictator Nicolae and Elena Ceausescu executed click on link.

Quite shocking to see this unfold on TV on Christmas Day! 
Read more about Romania by clicking this link.
Still former Communists dominated the country till 1996...
The place where both got executed is now a national museum and you can see photos here.
We've never been to Romania yet...

We didn't study politics, but traveling and working almost all over the globe, we have seen too much of the negative impact on the population as a result of communism and socialism. 
Almost all over the globe and including our then neighboring countries close to Italy, like Slovenia where our First Lady Melania is born.
In my work in Italy, I've trained several women from Slovenia who fled before the breakup of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. 

We both lived in the Province of Treviso, near Venice, Italy.
Our cars did arrive per container from the USA, in the harbor of Trieste, which is right on the border with Slovenia.
We had to go there, to pick them up and driving both cars home.
Our First Lady Melania Trump is born in Novo Mesto, not far from Trieste.
Melania did grow up in Sevnica, which is only 2 hours and 15 minutes away from Trieste!

San Lorenzo in Raka, Slovenia where First Lady Melania got baptized

Melania Trump was baptized Catholic, confirms Slovenian Cardinal Franc Rodé click on link.
In an interview by Larry King in 2005 Melania is saying that she left Slovenia 15 years ago, so that means she left in 1990. We left Italy in January of 1990,
Click here and go to minute 12:37 where she starts saying this.
Husband Pieter and I can only admire our First Lady Melania Trump, for having come from such a difficult, communist environment and yet, having made it to Milan, Italy and later to Paris, France before coming to New York, USA while being a super model.
Now she is our classy and elegant First Lady!

Both of us also have visited another communist country, Hungary and we have seen with our own eyes the impoverished people's suffering.

We only pray that more and more people in this world, still under communist rule, will get to experience their FREEDOM.
God forbid that our own USA is going the Socialist route...
We both have come a long way for escaping its vicinity and at times it looks like we're heading right into it!

Related links:

{Romanian box with Royal Blazon: Nothing Without God} | previous post by me

Google.com/+MarietteVandenMunckhofVedder

The Roosevelt New Orleans with View of Mississippi and French Quarter + New Orleans Cooking School

Okay, in my previous post I did write about the reason for ending up at The Roosevelt in New Orleans. So let's look around a bit in this remarkable city.

We did stay for one night at the Howard Johnson, Downtown New Orleans.

Next day after Mass, at the Moorish Jesuit Church across the hotel, we did walk with a Dutch business friend and a Chilean business man to French Quarter.
We moved to The Roosevelt in the afternoon.

On the wall to the left are the letters The Fairmont, as The Roosevelt was still called on March 6, 1988.
But our view was spectacular!
The mighty Mississippi river...

This photo is a bit more zoomed in.
We viewed actually the New Orleans Cruise Terminal!

Right from the back of our hotel.
2nd from right is the Sheraton hotel.

To the left is the Marriott and to the right the Sheraton, as we walk on Canal St. near Carondelet St.

French Quarter with its typical balconies and lots of wrought iron.

Husband Pieter took this photo as we stand here on 500 Bourbon St, New Orleans.
The Chilean gent to the left and Dutch business friend Anton van Overveld in the center.

Yep the exact same sign from Chris Owens, 500 Bourbon St is still hanging there!
From Google Street View, click on link.

From the same link here above, you get a perfect view of what I was looking at in the above photo.
A bit scared for those protruding balconies with tables and chairs of Bayou Burger Balcony Dining!
The sign from 1988 with Takee Outee is gone...

La Louisiana Restaurant at 725 Iberville Street, built in 1837...
To read about the History of La Louisiana New Orleans, just click the hyperlink.
You do have the feeling that you're back in the Old World, in France!

Crossing of Iberville and N Peters Street.

Yep, this Google 401 Iberville St New Orleans Street View shows it still is there!
Click on link to be shown the exact wall in photo.

A bit around the corner shows you this Google 199 N Peters St New Orleans Street View, just click it.
We're walking towards the Mississippi River...

Near the cruise terminal at the mighty Mississippi river...
The Chilean gent to the left of me.
That day I had a perfect Spanish speaking adventure; good practice!

Pieter is now showing the other side, with the Mississippi river and the bridge in the back.

While Pieter took the above photo, Dutch business friend Anton van Overveld took this one with Pieter in it, to the right of me.

Happy together on the mighty Mississippi river...
Such a perfect sunny Sunday in March!

Dreaming of one day being able to make a cruise with such a boat...
On Monday, March 7, both of us had early breakfast with the conference participants and while Pieter did prepare for his lecture in the afternoon, I joined the Grand Tour bus at 10:00 AM and got to see beautiful New Orleans, together with Peter and Els Janssen, from my hometown area.

Card bought: Jackson Square with its famous General Andrew Jackson on his bronze horse statue set against the
beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis King of France
This is the oldest Catholic cathedral in continual use in the United States.
Daily Mass is at 12:05 and I wish we could have had time for that.
By 12:30 we had all lunch at the Roosevelt hotel with all conference guests.
Also would love to visit the Old Ursuline Convent Museum...

Card bought: Creole Queen on the Mississippi river against Chalmette Battlefield monument.

Card bought: Steamboat Natchez a Harbor Jazz Cruise would have been fun!
That afternoon, Pieter did present his lecture and I also was successful selling my own design, brass mushrooms for window decorations, see link below post: My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms.
On Tuesday, March 8, we did have the exhibition opening after a lunch buffet and in the evening Grand Ball with Dinner.
On Wednesday, March 9, after breakfast I went by bus at 10:00 AM to the New Orleans Cooking School where we learned to make Gumbo and Jambalaya and ate that for lunch...

Still have this great apron that was included for wearing while preparing our food!
Just click on above link, you can have this HANDS-ON CLASS still today, ever since 1980.

By 15:30 we were in our car and drove the 590 miles or 950 km home to Dublin, Georgia and arrived on Thursday at 2:30 in the morning.

Thanks for your visit!

7th North American Mushroom Conference at The Roosevelt in New Orleans | previous post by me

{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | my previous post by me

Google.com/+MarietteVandenMunckhofVedder

{Second Languages}

In husband Pieter's magazine: 'The Rotarian' from February 2015, there was a very interesting article about Facts of the Matter - Second Languages.

TWENTY-SIX PERCENT of U.S. adults and 25% of British adults speak a 2nd language. In the European Union, 63 percent of adults know at least one foreign language. Ninety-eight percent of people in Luxembourg speak at least one foreign language, and 84 percent speaks three languages. In Latvia, the percentage of people who speak at least one foreign language is 95; the Netherlands, 94; Malta, 93; Lithuania and Slovenia, 92; and Sweden, 91.

GLOBALLY, the most widely spoken language is Mandarin Chinese, which has nearly two billion native speakers, and the most popular second language is English, which has 335 million native speakers. More than one billion people are studying English today; it is the most studied foreign language in China. In the United States, Spanish is the most studied; Chinese is seventh.

THE GOVERNMENT of India recognizes Hindi and English as official national languages, but most Indians speak a third language as well: that of their region. All three are usually taught at school.

BILINGUAL SPEAKERS outdo monolinguists at problem solving, planning, decision making, multitasking, remembering directions, and other mentally demanding tasks. They're also better at staying focused and shifting their attention when needed. Speaking two languages may help delay Alzheimer's symptoms.

YOUNG CHILDREN are assumed to be the best language learners: They have twice as many brain synapses as adults and haven't yet burdened their minds with such things as remembering social security numbers or learning to drive a car. But researchers say their real edge is a heightened ability to mimic pronunciation: Studies show that, with ample practice and instruction, adults learn new languages almost as well as kids do, except for pronunciation. Also, adult learners have to master much more vocabulary than kids to seem proficient.

THE EASIEST language for native English speakers to master include Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Italian; each requires 23-24 weeks or about 600 class hours, to become proficient. The hardest languages for native English speaking are Arabic, Chinese, Korean and Japanese, which require 88 weeks, or 2,200 class hours.

THE TOP FIVE languages for business are English, Mandarin, French, Arabic and Spanish. The British Council says English is the lingua franca of publishing, airports, air traffic control, international conferences, science and technology, diplomacy, sports, pop music, and advertising. Eighty percent of the world's electronically stored information is in English. The market for digital English-language learning products is forecast to reach US $ 3.1 billion by 2018.

RESEARCHERS AT THE Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculated the return on investment for English speakers of learning a second language: It boosts earnings only about 2 per cent. For Spanish, the return is 1.5 per cent; French 2.7 per cent; and German 4 per cent. Similar studies in Turkey, Russia and Israel, however, found a 10 to 20 per cent return on investment for people learning English as a second language.  — KATE NOLAN

google.com/+MariettesBacktoBasics

{Are you using the word Husband or Hubby?}

When I did study Oxford English, I never came across the word Hubby. But it is showing up more and more on Blogger. So I did investigate its search ranking on the Internet and the ratio versus Husband is quite surprising. Let us have a look at those facts: 

Hubby showed about 78,400,000 results...

 Husband showed about 794,000,000 results or in short over TEN TIMES AS MUCH!

The Oxford Dictionaries did not list 'hubby'... it refers to British & World English.

As for me personally, I will continue do refer to my Pieter as Husband. What is YOUR take on this? Are you adapting to Hubby or sticking with (your) Husband? If using Hubby; how long have you used that definition? LOVE to hear from you - worldwide.

Related links:
{English: A tricky language indeed...} blogpost by me
Why Poor Grammar and Spelling Are Bad for Your Blog in relation to one of my replies to comment on this post by: It's me.

Mariette on Google+

{March 14, Written Life Message for me by my Favorite Great-Uncle}

On March 14, 1963 my most favorite Great-Uncle and Priest, Dr. Sjang Nelissen (brother from my paternal Grandmother) or in Dutch 'Heeroom', wrote the following words for me in my (poezie) poetry album:

Lijk op de Zon,

Look like the Sun, ☼

Straal licht en warmte uit,

Radiate light and warmth,

Altijd en overal,

Always and everywhere,

Waar ge ook zijt.

Wherever you will be.

Horst, 14 maart, 1963

Horst, March 14, 1963

Heeroom

Priest-Uncle

♥♥

Heeroom became a priest in 1929 and he studied Church Law in Rome. This photo shows him, to the right, in Rome.

For 4 years he had been a professor at the seminary but that asked too much of him. In 1938 he left for Indonesia where he stayed a total of 30 years, in Kupang on the island of Timor. He was a pastor, spiritual head of the seminary, leader for the regio Timor and adviser to several Bishops. He died in Manilla, Philippines, while at a conference there. Heeroom did marry my parents in 1949 while on his first leave from Indonesia. Times were tough for Priests at that time, they were not allowed to go home soon; nor often... Kind of cruel I think. 
How I would have loved to speak with him, while ending up working and living in Indonesia; HIS country. But in my heart I know that he has been with me very close, always. 

Heeroom on his horse in Indonesia

How I longed for his letters with beautiful stamps that I did study with a magnifier. I was so in love with Indonesia's flora and fauna. Heeroom must have lead me there...

While on his leave from Indonesia for the Second Vatican Council in Rome, Italy, he did write this message in my poetry album. He also presented me with a special gift, as a thank you for all those years that I'd written letters to him. That was a package with Second Vatican Council stamps for my collection. I have no idea where they are now... I've always lovingly passed everything on to my siblings and thus I lost them. Hope that someone is still keeping them as they were very special.

Heeroom's Dutch Memoriam Card.

♥♥

Certainly Heeroom was a male role model for me and I guess I inherited his love for languages and writing... So far, I've followed him to two countries as well: Italy where we worked and lived for one year, speaking the language and Indonesia where we lived and worked for about three years, speaking the language. Even adopting a foster daughter from his beloved country...

~~☼~~

{English: A tricky language indeed...}

Just like to share this story with you, from the Jakarta Post from the time that we lived and worked in Indonesia. March 1997. My friend Orchid from Japan will appreciate this. She wrote recently about loanwords in the Japanese language Tea Cup and (Sweet) Loanword in Japan♪. Just click on the photo to enlarge so you can read it clearly and enjoy!

Mariette on Google+

{My 6th Blog Award & Secret for my Size and Weight}

Okay, it is long due but I had way too much on my plate for doing this right away. On March 15 I received notice from Rose Marie, from the blog El arte de Rosiña about my Stylish Blogger Award...

Well, it is not that easy as I am supposed to tell seven things about myself and than pass this on to 15 other bloggers... That takes time to work this out.

There are 4 duties to perform to accept this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.

4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

So here are 7 things about myself:

1) Dark chocolate is my favorite.

2) Avocado is yummy for breakfast (we eat a half one each day!) and great for skin.

3) Love to set a pretty table with fresh flowers and candles...

4) Love china with roses and linens with roses...

5) Love people in general.

6) Love languages as each one is a window to the world.

7) Love to read and love to write!

These are the 15 bloggers that I want to pass it on to:

1. Janny from Roses pour toujours

2. Lene from THE ESSENCE OF THE GOOD LIFE

3. Christie Chateau De Fleurs

4. Edith Mit Liebe zum Detail

5. Bikim Un peu plus jolie

6. Lilo Moment

7. Mari A pocket full of roses

8. Victoria Slightly Shabby

9. Celia's FurBaby Dolce's Adventures

10. Cecilia desde my ventana

11. Chelle French Charmed

12. Spreading the Love Roba Dolce

13. Michela Mami G Maison

14. Rosabella 'Rosabella ~ la vie en rose'

15. Zondra Zondra Art

Please do have a look at their blogs!

Related links:
{SUGAR is your #1 enemy!} | previous post by me

Flat Belly Diet Foods - Meet the MUFAs! | previous post by me

Foods that Support the Skin | previous post by me

Natural Healing Chart for almost all Sickness | previous post by me with a wealth of information!

{9 'Harmless' Habits That Age You} | previous post by me with great tips

Mariette on Google+

{Romanian box with Royal Blazon: Nothing Without God}

This is a very unique, vintage box from Romania.

The blazon reads in old Romanian: 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'

Meaning: 'NOTHING WITHOUT GOD'

That was the blazon of the Royal house of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen in Romania before  WWII.

In Latin 'NIHIL SINE DEO' and translated into Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEZEU'.

Pronounced in old Romanian as 'NIMIC FARA DUMNEDEU'.

Have a look here for more info and click on all the other hyperlinks from there.

This very unique box is again available at my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics.

Lined in burgundy velour this is a very special treasure.

Sorry Sold out...

In 1989 while living and working in Italy near Venice, I did watch often the Romanian channel on TV as I could understand that for about 60%, with my ability to speak fluent Italian at that time...

It was on Christmas day of 1989 that we witnessed the execution of the communist Romanian dictator  Nicolae Ceauşescu and his wife Elena... This communist dictator ruled for almost 30 years. 

It was therefore a joy to help some wrestlers from Romania from the now free nation, when they were here in my town, for some Olympic training, in 1996. 

You all know that the 1996 Summer Olympics were held in Atlanta; my capital.

They all needed special gifts for their wives and girl friends and thus the local Chamber of Commerce called on me. 

They asked if I spoke any Romanian. 

No I said, but if they speak slowly and I speak slowly Italian we can converse. 

Indeed it worked and they got their list translated and stores mentioned for finding their loved ones' wishes...

A young lady from Romania did help me out with the translation of the old Romanian, which I was not sure of... Her name is Alexandra.

Mariette on Google+

{Share this Profile}

Below is the profile I had on National Association of Professional Women.

Owner Industry: Selling Upscale Silver Jewelry from Giovanni Raspini Charms & Co, Italy ~ Basics & Lifestyle Classes

Location: Dublin, GA

Education:

Associates in Fashion Design - NTI Netherlands Language Institute in Roosendaal, College in The Kingdom of The Netherlands.

Fashion and languages. My family history and culture has inspired my career. 

Expertise:

Published booklet for Sylvan Inc.; Recipe contribution for Southern Living; Partner with husband Pieter J.C. Vedder at The Vedders Mushroom Consulting; Written articles & publications for The British Mushroom Journal; Written articles for Australian AMGA Journal - Official Journal of the Australian Mushroom Growers Association; Written articles for Canadian Mushroom World; Translation of my English Harvest Booklet into Dutch Oogstboekje by Sylvan, Inc.; "THREADS OF LIFE: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S TEXTILE ART" at Georgia State University; Journalistic contributions for Atlanta Holland Times; Training for Harvesting and Post Harvesting at Funghi del Montello, Italy; Free lance writer and features for The Courier Herald, Dublin Georgia; Practical training at Vedder Consulting (Self-employed); Teaching how to Crochet and how to Knit at Home Training; Best in show "Roses" by Mariette Vedder won in three-dimensional media at Fine Arts Association; Features & Ads at Article in Courier Herald; Harvest Department manager at Practical Training College for Mushroom Growing CCO; Published poems in Saturday edition at Dutch Newspaper Dagblad van Noord Limburg.

Hobbies:
PEOPLE, Maintaining a botanical garden with my husband, Decorating, Fashion, Cooking for Friends, Making Pâtisserie and Chocolates Healthy Style, Giving Teas, Arranging Fresh Flowers From Our Own Garden, Filet Lace Crocheting and Bridal Handkerchiefs, Nature, Traveling, Animals, Reading.

 

About Mariette:

For complete profile see also LinkedIn

Being born in The Kingdom of The Netherlands, in the southern most province of Limburg I finished my formal education in Fashion design. Then I joined the Practical Training College where I met my husband Pieter J.C. Vedder. My husband, who was the founder of that first and only Practical Training College in the world. Editing his English book Modern Mushroom Growing, was one of the language related things I've done. Continued with studying foreign languages as that is a must when educating people from around the world. The College did provide courses in Dutch, German and English beside the three year formal education. We came to the US in 1983, as my husband was being asked by Campbell Soup to work here in the US. So in that function as VP Training & Development he continued his job as teacher. When he retired from Campbell's we lived and worked in Italy, in the Venice region. Since then we lived and worked also in Indonesia on the island of Java. Working in India, South America, South Africa and Australia as well as in Germany.

After having traveled the world, as international mushroom consultants with my husband and partner, I did want to bring home to the US all the fine upscale gifts that I'd discovered on our many trips. So now I can offer you the fine Italian solid silver from Giovanni Raspini Charms & Co as well as their silver frames and desk items. Bringing this exceptional quality jewelry to the US market from Europe. We have lived and worked in Italy and know their design and superior quality. Charms have always been produced by the greatest jewelers of the world, yet jewelery today is more personal and individual. A sort of identification code.

Further I did find rare vintage Lampe Berger in France as well as the sought after Limoges porcelain table lamps and items by famous ceramic artist CamilleTharaud, for Limoges. Antique Christofle silver.

An artist friend Françoise, who lives outside of Paris, does intricately hand paint beautiful wooden boxes and such, with romantic real life roses.

Another French friend Agnes, makes one-of-a-kind linen sachets, linen bags, hearts and other items with roses and angels from French and Japanese fabrics. Making your Home more Romantic in this hectic Cyber Age time with the highest quality gifts. You are welcome to visit my Zen Cart powered on line boutique: Mariette's Back to Basics for more detailed info.

Other things I offer are my Basics & Lifestyle Classes.

**Discovering Lost Arts Class Series about Pen & Paper: In a fast-paced world where it seems every idea is communicated via email or text message, penning a special note or beautiful letter by hand becomes an art to be preserved. Join me for an afternoon class where I introduce the basics of good penmanship and heartfelt communication. Learn why creating an artful communication on paper can lead to deepened thoughts expressed with grace. Includes Crane & Co Paper and warm conversation over coffee/tea.

**Manners do Count: The basics of good etiquette, speech, grooming and table manners is information every individual should master…and the younger, the better. Each class ends in a dinner event. Especially designed for 10+ year-olds, but older teens and adults are also welcomed.

**Creating Heirloom Pieces: Learn to crochet lovely filet lace that can be used as a perfect, decorative touch to garments or as a stand-alone work of art to be handed down through the generations. Framing services with clear acrylic is also offered for your finished piece or for preserving Grandma's heirloom.

**"A Stitch in Time" Wardrobe Care: It’s not difficult to hem a garment neatly and invisibly; sew on, reinforce, or change out buttons; and other everyday sewing tasks. Preserve the good looks of everything you and your family wear by mastering these sewing basics and learning how to care for fabrics properly – washing, ironing, storing. A wonderful gift class for brides-to-be or newlyweds!

**Especially for New Brides and Brides-to-be- Class Series; Learning About Linens: All the secrets of choosing, using, and preserving fine linens that your grandmother and great grandmother were taught as young ladies. Discussion includes choosing environmentally-friendly fabrics for the home, proper linen care and more.

**Setting a Pretty Table: Is anything more satisfying than setting a beautiful table for family and guests? Learn artful napkin-folding techniques, the use and care of silver and linens, silverware and crystal placement, and how adding special touches like place cards and fresh flowers can make the meal an even more delightful experience.

**Consulting Services: A sense of personal style is needed to create a signature look, but how do you know if your taste in fashion enhances your look or detracts from it? Allow me to assist you as your personal fashion, image, and wardrobe consultant.

**Your Own Clothes, Only Better! Color, style, fit and more! I can help you restyle your existing wardrobe to create a fresh, new look that’s right for you. I will peruse your existing wardrobe and suggest ways to alter selected garments for a better, more flattering fit. I will also provide personal shopping advice, giving tips on shopping with thrift and quality in mind.

**Foundations of Style/2-Day Shopping Trip: Eighty per cent of all women wear the wrong bra, resulting in a poor silhouette and ill-fitting outfits. Knowing that every woman should have a wardrobe of several bras to wear with various styles. Learn how to build the most flattering foundation for everything you wear. This 2-day trip to Neiman-Marcus/Atlanta, with an overnight stay at Hyatt Place Hotel includes expert bra fitting at major department stores, lots of excellent “girl talk,” and lunch at the Grand Hyatt. This fun-filled, memorable trip will make a great bridesmaids’ or debutante party gift!

~~0~~

Associations:

New Netherlands Institute; Member of the Dublin-Laurens County Chamber of Commerce; Netherlands American Chamber of Commerce for the Southeastern US

Charities:
We've guided and educated a deaf girl in Indonesia. While living and working there, we got to know her, and many other girls at the boarding school. She's a young woman now and got her associates in graphic design and administration just by reading lips. Later we provided her with a state-of-the-art Danish hearing aid from Oticon for both sides so she could hear for the first time ever. The phone call came and she said: "Mama I can HEAR you! Made for misty eyes of course...

Another charity that is very close to our heart is the Leprosy Project through our local Rotary Club. Also going to Indonesia where we personally hand delivered the moneys for years. It is so rewarding and this year we managed to pull of a huge Matching Grant Award from Rotary International where our club provided 75% and the club of Jakarta Sentral 25%. Than that got doubled by Rotary International. So we feel thrilled about this accomplishment. Leprosy exists since biblical times but so little is being done for them. It seems to be more politically correct to spend it on HIV related projects, even though that is often related to lifestyle. Leprosy is not because of lifestyle, but fate! Annually about half a million new cases are added globally.

It opened our hearts and eyes and yes, we also learned to listen from the deaf... by paying close attention and reading a persons body language too. That has helped me tremendously in doing training in seven languages...