Every year, Sinterklaas visits the Hotel Barbacan in Maspalomas, in the south of the island. The hotel is a favorite destination for many Dutch guests, and maybe that is why they have fully embraced Dutch traditions. Sinterklaas comes by for all the Dutch children staying at the hotel, but Dutch residents of Gran Canaria are also welcome, and sometimes even receive a personal invitation.
We have been going almost every year, for nearly fourteen years now. Each time, the Sint arrives in his convertible, sometimes accompanied by a lively band, and always surrounded by plenty of Pieten. Afterward, the celebration moves indoors, where every child receives a small gift directly from the Sint, interspersed with musical performances and, of course, lots of sweet treats to nibble on.
It was fun, but we can clearly notice that the kids are getting bigger. Maybe this was the last time we visited the Sint, or maybe just one year more. We don’t know yet, but it feels like the end to this tradition is getting nearer.
We won 
Ana had an outing with her colleagues. The plan was to do a fun activity and then go out for a bite to eat together. The activity turned out to be a ‘
Yes!, last Sunday Batan Alevín B achieved a convincing 6 – 2 victory. A welcome improvement compared to the 
The aftermatch: As you can clearly see in the photo taken after the match the players themselves were also in the mood for celebration.
Today we celebrate a life achievement. We’re married for 15 years! Ups and downs, that’s (
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.
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.