15 years

Onze trouwfoto, 15 jaar geleden!
AI: Our wedding picture, with us a lot older!Today we celebrate a life achievement. We’re married for 15 years! Ups and downs, that’s (still) the best way to describe it. After fifteen years, we know what we have in each other, and that doesn’t always meet expectations. Fifteen years ago, we started a shared adventure, and by now it sometimes feels like we’re on a rollercoaster you can’t get off halfway through. Busy with work, busy with family. Kids we have to keep in check, and who gladly create even more work. Sometimes it feels like I get maybe half an hour a day to myself, and that’s not much.

When the kids go to bed, I usually follow soon after, falling asleep the moment I close my eyes. Is it all worth it? When I look at my kids when they’re happy, or working together, then it’s without a doubt worth it. But when I look at everything else, I’m not so sure. It’s not easy.

Guiniguada B – Batan B

Unfortunately, we didn’t win. This time it was an emotional match. Two of our coaches were sent off the field. The other team had some bigger players who were playing very physically. One of our players ended the match with a shin guard that had been kicked in half. Many players went home with a few new bruises. Luckily, Alan is alert and quick. I saw him jump over an outstretched leg a few times to avoid some unwanted pain.

The next match is against one of the strongest clubs, so we don’t have high expectations for that one. But after that, we’ll be in a group that’s more at our level, so it’ll be more fun again and hopefully with plenty of chances to win.

Results

Date Home Result Visitor
26 Oct, 09:00 Guiniguada B 3 – 0 Batan B
18 Oct, 09:00 Batan B 1 – 10 Carnevali
11 Oct, 09:00 Simusetti C.F. A 20 – 3 Batan B
4 Oct, 09:00 Batan B 0 – 10 San Lazaro U.D. A

Batan B – Carnevali

Despite the heavy loss, it was still a very exciting match. Our team attacked fiercely, and there were many near goals. They just missed, bounced the wrong way off the post, or the goalkeeper jumped in just in time. The match could just as easily have ended 6–10. Still a loss, of course, but that doesn’t matter at all. The kids had a great time playing together as a team.

Results

Date Home Result Visitor
18 Oct, 09:00 Batan B 1 – 10 Carnevali
11 Oct, 09:00 Simusetti C.F. A 20 – 3 Batan B
4 Oct, 09:00 Batan B 0 – 10 San Lazaro U.D. A

Batan B - Carnevali!

Different path

Both of my sons are clearly related to their parents. They resemble me, are intelligent like their mother, and clever like their father. They’re both slim, just like us, and strong like Ana. In many ways, they’re very similar, but even now it’s clear that each is choosing his own path and those paths are quite different.

Alex is calm and cautious. He observes first, evaluates, and only then takes action. He knows the best way to approach things, but if someone has a different opinion, he has no problem solving something in a less-than-optimal way. He’s extremely diplomatic. He clearly thinks about his future and makes plans that influence it. Alex is the friend you can trust, the helping hand in times of need.

Alan takes risks. He often acts on intuition and relies on his instincts. He’s impulsive. It’s hard for him to concentrate on his homework, and he prefers to postpone it. His priority is enjoying the moment; he’s not yet focused on his future. Alan is the life of the party. If you’re feeling down, Alan will make sure you feel better again.

As parents, our role is to guide them, not to shape their paths. not to shape their paths. This can be challenging, as their differences require distinct approaches to parenting, and that demands both skill and sensitivity to avoid any perception of favoritism. Education is more than schoolwork; it’s about helping them discover who they are, what they value, and how they want to contribute to the world. Whether through structured learning or life’s everyday lessons, we aim to equip them with curiosity, resilience, and empathy. Our hope is that, whatever direction they choose, they’ll walk it with confidence, kindness, and purpose.

Simusetti C.F. A – Batan B

Uf, this game did no go as planned. Somehow you just know that when the keeper starts to cry you are basically in for a losing match. Still, Alan scored a goal, so the defeat was quickly forgotten and we had reason to celebrate.

Results

Date Home Result Visitor
11 Oct, 09:00 Simusetti C.F. A 20 – 3 Batan B
4 Oct, 09:00 Batan B 0 – 10 San Lazaro U.D. A

Batan B - Simusetti A

Batan B – San Lazaro U.D. A

Here we go again! Saturday, 09:00, on the field by 08:00 for preparations, so no sleeping in today. There goes half my weekend. The football season has started again, so it’s time to play. A few things have changed. Alan’s team has been revamped with some new players. The team name has also changed again, this year they’re called ‘Batan’ (last year it was ‘Inter Colonia‘, and in the official listings it’s still ‘Atletico Fomento‘). They also have new outfits this year, but we’ll have to wait a bit for those. At least now (if everything went well), each player has their name and number on their shirt.

Results

Date Home Result Visitor
4 Oct, 09:00 Batan B 0 – 10 San Lazaro U.D. A

Batan B - San Lazaro U.D. AUf, the competition was tough, the kids were a lot bigger, and about one or two years older than us. The first couple of matches is going to be difficult, and then the matchs will be more equal. We’ll see.

The match schedules are all available online, but unfortunately, the websites that provide this information are complicated labyrinths, packed to the brim with ads, popups, cookies, and just about every bit of junk you can imagine. Every time you have to accept all sorts of things, and after a lot of searching, you can finally see the match lists through all the ads. Of course, while viewing the lists, you have to keep clicking away popups every 20 or 30 seconds, and you have to be careful to click correctly, otherwise, you’ll be ruthlessly redirected to a site full of ads, and it’ll take ages to find the list again. So I just made a brief overview myself, at least now I can see when, where, and what time Alan has to play.

Need for speed

It was all there, a complete set of emotions and feelings… Speed, fear, overtaking, adrenaline, noise, vibrations, (small) crashes, sweat, winning, loosing. A complete birthday party of one of their friends at the kart tracks in the sun. A nice event, and the kids really liked it, so maybe we need to try this a few more times.
Alex, lord of the asfalt!Alan, master of speed!

In the middle

Inter Colonia B!Not bad at all! Alan’s first football tournament has finished, and they ended up right in the middle. His team has secured fourth place! Super good! Alan turned out to be one of the top scorers on his team, and we’re naturally very thrilled for him.

Results Statistics
Ranking Team Points Won Tied Lost
1 Muelle Grande 37 12 1 1
2 Las Coloradas 36 12 0 2
3 Guiniguada B 30 10 0 4
4 Inter Colonia B 18 6 0 8
5 Alcotan Canarias 17 5 2 7
6 Pedro Hidalgo 15 5 0 9
7 Victoria C 9 3 0 11
8 Atletico Isleta B 4 1 1 12

Last game: Inter Colonia – Las Coloradas

Inter Colonia!Las Coloradas!The last match of the tournament! It would be very nice to finish with a win. It is a home game, so we have an advantage.

Ai, the first half started not so good, with three goals by the other team. The second half was even worse with at least four six more goals. I even lost count.

26 apr Inter Colonia B 0 – 9 Las Coloradas
Complete list all results
26 apr Inter Colonia B 0 – 9 Las Coloradas
11 apr Guiniguada B 3 – 2 Inter Colonia B
4 apr Pedro Hidalgo B 1 – 0 Inter Colonia B
29 mar Inter Colonia B 7 – 2 Victoria C
22 mar Alcotan Canarias 5 – 2 Inter Colonia B
15 mar Inter Colonia B 7 – 0 Atletico Isleta B
8 mar Muelle Grande 8 – 3 Inter Colonia B
1 mar Las Coloradas 10 – 3 Inter Colonia B
22 feb Inter Colonia B 4 – 5 Guiniguada B
15 feb Inter Colonia B 5 – 4 Pedro Hidalgo B
8 feb Victoria C 6 – 8 Inter Colonia B
1 feb Inter Colonia B 2 – 1 Alcotan Canarias
25 jan Atletico Isleta B 4 – 7 Inter Colonia B
18 jan Inter Colonia B 2 – 4 Muelle Grande

Inter Colonia B!

Guiniguada B – Inter Colonia B

Guiniguada B!Inter Colonia!Another game that is played on a Friday. A bit earlier this time, so I won’t be able to make it. It will be a difficult game, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

Alan did not play, he did not feel good, so he stayed home and was reading his new hamster book in the evening. Sadly his team lost but it was a close call.

11 apr Guiniguada B 3 – 2 Inter Colonia B

Only one more game to play, next week.

26 apr 09:00 Inter Colonia B Las Coloradas
Complete list of results
11 apr Guiniguada B 3 – 2 Inter Colonia B
4 apr Pedro Hidalgo B 1 – 0 Inter Colonia B
29 mar Inter Colonia B 7 – 2 Victoria C
22 mar Alcotan Canarias 5 – 2 Inter Colonia B
15 mar Inter Colonia B 7 – 0 Atletico Isleta B
8 mar Muelle Grande 8 – 3 Inter Colonia B
1 mar Las Coloradas 10 – 3 Inter Colonia B
22 feb Inter Colonia B 4 – 5 Guiniguada B
15 feb Inter Colonia B 5 – 4 Pedro Hidalgo B
8 feb Victoria C 6 – 8 Inter Colonia B
1 feb Inter Colonia B 2 – 1 Alcotan Canarias
25 jan Atletico Isleta B 4 – 7 Inter Colonia B
18 jan Inter Colonia B 2 – 4 Muelle Grande

Inter Colonia B