The second postcard also had an advertisement. This time it features a nice broom from the Gamma, but rest assured. There is no deeper meaning to the card as our home is always nice and clean.
Postcard 2 (send on the 3rd of October):
This month is a special month and to celebrate I have send a couple of postcards to Spain. Each card has a commercial on it, and together the cards form a riddle. I wonder if Ana will figure it out.
Postcard 1 (send on the 1th of October) :
Progress can’t be stopped and it looks like we’re moving ever faster to a new digitally oriented society. Payments are done using plastic and the future promises even more advanced possibilities using your phone to pay for things. Everything turns digital which makes things easier and faster. Except where there is a power outage. In that case we still need to rely on old bank notes and coins.
To keep the market for coins alive the Dutch mint is researching different approaches targeted at the various market segments. One of the markets identified is the collectors. Coins collectors have by definition access to financial means, and most are happy to spend a little bit to keep their collection complete.
Since a few years coins are packaged in a credit card format. A little piece of added carton which raises the price about 400%. The same way old coins are release in a new package, and for a much higher price. These carton versions are very popular. More recent the Dutch mint also started experimenting with colored coins. These have existed for a longer time, but now they have reached a more official character; specifically because they are being sold by the Royal Dutch Mint (KNM).
Since a few years the KNM started creating colored coins. Last week there was another one, and this time it was a colored two euro coin minted in honor of 200 years of Dutch kingdom. The 1500 sets of colored coins were sold out within the hour.
It still remains unclear what is the status of the colored coins. According to the KNM the coins are “Official 2 euro 200 years Monarchy 2013 in Proof-quality with color“. The coin might be official, but legally it is a modified (painted) coin, which means it cannot be used as legal tender. Based on the low amount of coins being minted it seems clear this colored set is solely aimed at collectors.
The (official) colored coins minted so far by the KNM:
| Year | Coin | Quantity | Introduction price |
KNM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 200 year kingdom combinationset | 1500 sets 3 two euro coins per set 1 colored two euro coin Nominal value 2 euro per coin |
€ 75,00 | info |
| 2013 | Vrede van Utrecht color set | 1000 sets 6 silver coins per set Nominal value 5 euro per coin |
€ 275,00 | info |
| 2012 | Lucky 10 cents | 15.000 coins Nominal value 10 cent |
€ 4,95 | info |
| 2012 | Tulpen vijfje color set | 750 sets 4 silver coins per set Nominal value 5 euro per coin |
€ 200,00 | info |
Party, dancing, music, fun. For Alex there is a handy name to address all of these fun things. Takka! Could that be influenced by the following piece of music?
Tacabro – Tacata
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Alex clearly enjoys himself. Once he hears music his Spanish genes just take control and he can’t resist moving his body. Dancing (Takka, as Alex calls it) clearly is his favorite pass-time!
In two weeks a lot can change, and even more so if you are just a little boy. Two weeks ago Alex started going to school, and he was very unhappy about it, but slowly his attitude changed. Now he seems quite adapted, and walks to school without any problems. He stays there from 9 in the morning to half past 1 in the afternoon. The focus is not on learning, but on getting used to other children, a different environment and a different authority figure. All very important issues to start with at a young age.
Learning things is working very well and comes easy to Alex. When he was allowed to stay at home one day because he was sick he suddenly was sick again the next day. His illness didn’t have the desired effect, because he had to go to school regardless, and suddenly he was all better. It’s clear that Alex is a very smart little boy.
What can you do when you find a little critter near your home and suddenly you get curious about what you found? Sometimes it can be very nice to investigate a little more and find out a little more about the bug you found. Lots of little animals have very positive properties and most of them would never hurt a human. Some of them are beautiful, and some have a important role then you might realize.
At Naturalis I contributed to the creation of the Bugfinder app (Dierenzoeker, for now only in Dutch). This fun free app is made for Android and iPhone. You can use the app to find out what bug you found and read all about it. The app is easy to use, made specifically for children from 7 to 11 years, but also very nice for all adults.
If you always wanted to find out what the strange yellow ladybug you sometimes find in the garden really is? After a little searching you will find out all about the little bug, including the fun fact that the little animal ‘plants’ his own crops.
With 300 little bugs and critters for sure you will be able to name a lot of the animals you find around your home.
All new things are difficult and even more so when you’re just two years old and suddenly find yourself in a strange new environment called a school. Yesterday Alex went to school for the first time in his life. Only for one and a half hour and in his new school uniform, but it gave him quite a scare. He left the school crying.
Today it was even worse. Crying even more and vomiting all because of the stress of being in a very new situation. Lets hope he adapts soon.
Poor boy!
It was a nice adventure. Fishing on the North sea was a fun experience. Sailing for a while, trying to catch something, sailing a little more. This is how it went a couple of times and during each of the stops our bucket stayed empty and clean… until father Kees caught the first fish. Quickly loads of fish followed until we had the bucked totally filled. The result was 29 mackerels.
The result:
The route:
Tough sailors who defy terrible weather and the hardships of the endless ocean. The fierce life of hardship and suffering. Risking your life in a storms and in the pouring rain just to catch a few measly fish. On a ship adrift on the wild ocean praying to the mighty god of the seas to be allowed to see your home again. Knowing your family is home, living in fear and anxiety.
Most likely the trip will not be so bad as the previous paragraph depicts, but you never know. With some family and friends we are going fishing on the North Sea. With shipping company Trip we’re leaving tomorrow early in the morning to spend the entire day fishing for Mackerel. The fish we catch we can take home, so we’ll be eating lots of fish.