Went shopping in Apeldoorn with my mom and Moniek the 12th of January. They've got a lovely shop there called Ursula with gothic/punk clothing. At the day we were there they had a sale. The old collection of Stuka pants was 50% off so Matthijs and I both got one. I also bought a purple shirt with points at the hem and pointed sleeves and we had a lot of fun dressing Moniek and my mom in clothes they would never wear in public.

That evening when we went to Monieks house for dinner, there was a surprise in the garage. The Kia Pride stood there, freshly washed with a red ribbon from nose to back and a bouquet of (fake) white roses on the hood. My mother had finally gotten her new car and the Kia was mine now. We could drive home to Enschede instead of going by train.

That evening we immediately arranged insurance for the car and the next Monday we went to the postal office to get the car put on my name. So I am now the owner of a car (and payer of road tax).

My three trial lessons of Taekwondo are used up now, so I'm going to become a member of Arashi. The good thing is; when you're a member of Arashi, you pay contribution once a year but you can participate in all sports. The second and third taekwando lesson I stayed to train with the advanced class as well and I didn't have half as much muscle aches as after the first lesson. It feels so good to be training again!

I already did the first two kata's (taeguek) and I found a site which has diagrams and videos of these forms. Last Wednesday I had a little time for myself when I didn't have a partner, so I did the two first kata's of kempo again. I still remembered them! I'm curious how far I get when I'd try to do them all. I think four will be a problem, because I never liked that one and it was one of the hardest to do.

I met a yellow-band, whose name I forgot, who had also done some form of karate (both kempo and taekwando are often called forms of karate) and he agreed that some of the taekwondo forms and kicks are just weird. I mean, what use is it to kick your oponent 4 times in a row, when (if you do it right) he's already down after the first kick? So I am a bit sceptical sometimes, but I like the exercise, so I'll continue. In February there will be an informal meeting about a possible new martial art for Arashi. I hope it will be something like kempo. ;-)

Short news:

• Matthijs and I are trying new recipes from the Allerhande.
• I'm at book 7 of the Wheel of Time series.
• I hope to become part of the Badawi group at Aon 3.
• I'm playing StarCraft again. I'm at level 4 of the Zerg campaign.