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Music makes the world go round

Hi y'all,

So what have you been up to last weekend? Well....My weekend was filled with a whole lot of fun.



Now you've probably guessed it by now but I absolutely love country music and Irish folk music. I love playing my guitar and singing the big old classics and I love learning to do new fast reels pretending I am half as good as Barney McKenna (the immortal Dub) or all the dixie chicks (epic musicians all of 'm). Ofcourse I am not but hey a girl can dream right? And if anything...I can sing along whenever the opportunity arises. Now...when it comes to the immortal Barney that change will no longer come along since he is playing on Fiddle's green and all we can do is keep his legacy alive by playing the music he loved as much as the town he was from.



The chicks? Didn't tour in about ten years but I am one hell of a lucky girl because just last saturday I got to see them perform live in Antwerp and it was opening night of their world tour as well! I can assure you this: IT WAS EPIC! If you have the change (even half a change) I would highly and strongly recommend you do anything within your power to go see this show. I am so sad to say that as I'm writing this down only a few yards from my desk they will perform two nights in a row and both shows here in Amsterdam near the Arena at HMH (I work very close to the Heineken Music Hall) are SOLD OUT. I would love to see them again but that is impossible. How aweful right??...so close yet so far away. Back to the subject: if you truely have a big heart for country/bluegrass or whatever you name it than make it your priority to see this show.


Now after all that singing and dancing and feeling like the luckiest girl alive I got to have even more fun because as it turns out that next day the DVV Antwerp 10 mile race was to be held in Antwerp. Couldn't be more perfect timing since I am running a half marathon in five weeks from now. I ran that race once before and back than had a hard time. Around mile 3 I guess I felt the need for a porter pottie and the rest of that race I was frantically trying to not shit myself (sorry people but that is the truth!) I got lucky than but boy that was no fun race back than. So obviously I was a little anxious but as soon as I set out I calmed down and just found my own rythm and I stuck with it. I had a blast. Seriously. I had so much fun I couldn't whipe that smile of my face and it even hurt. A little like my wedding day when my face hurt from smiling and I coulnd't stop myself.



Along route I met some interesting people. Had a few nice conversations and some good laughs too. I paced myself at 7m/km and made it over the finishline perfectly within the time I had set out for myself. Now this race gave me a good perspective on a time to aim for at the Leiden half marathon in 5 weeks. I'm hoping to cross the finish line there at 2 hrs and 27 minutes. That would make me 20 minutes faster than my slowest half marathon and 10 minutes slower than my fastest. By the way I only ran two so far. If I am able to keep this steady pace up all the way during the full marathon than I will cross that finish line faster than I set out for when I started this madness. Funny how things can change so rapidly right? My weekend was totally epic. Having some good old fashion 'just us two' time with the love of my life, went to a brilliant show by the Dixie Chicks and ran a good 10 mile run. It doesn't get any better than that. Love, music, run.

That's it for now. Until we read again.
As always, love Marlies


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