Sch3lp’s Blog

Under the motto “Out with the old, in with the new“, I bought myself a new car. I closed the deal last thursday, and my car should arrive as soon as June.
I’m so excited! I just can’t wait to trade my former car (a 4 y/o Chrysler PT Cruiser) in for this one (a brand new Volvo V50). I had a chance to test-drive it and I was amazed by the comfort and easiness of driving.

Then earlier this evening, we finally got rid of our _super_ old Volvo 440 (my very first car), sure I’ve had a fair share of memories to it. But it was just standing there anyways, blocking the view of our “redecorated” front-yard.

Also worth mentioning (at least to my opinion), is the fact that I’ve read a book again. I think it’s been 8 years since the last time I actually fully read a book.
The Davinci Code, by Dan Brown, pulls you in from the start and it doesn’t let go until you finished it. Same thing happened to me. I started reading it last sunday in the afternoon. I just picked it up (my mom bought it and still needs to start reading it), and started reading the first pages. And it kept me excited and wanting to read more of the story all the time. I had a great time reading it, and I finished it yesterday evening. I guess it really _is_ a “page-turner” like I’ve read in a few reviews. Although, I was a bit disappointed about the ending. It felt so…empty. I don’t know, I might be wrong.

The movie, starring Tom Hanks (yay) and Audrey Tautou (wrongly cast if u ask me, Gillian Anderson would’ve been much better), will shortly be “available in theatres”, more precisely on the 19th of May. (I hope that is also the release date for Europe)
Visit the site, it’s worth visiting.

Update: European release is on 17th of May (thanks Kiff).

So I’ve been back for a week now from our snowboarding trip to Folgarida, Italy.
We had good weather, first 3 days sun was shining a lot and almost no clouds. Then we had 2 days of snow and fog, but that went away and the sun came through once again.
The snow was good as well. Most of the days, we waited on the highest point in a bar until the snowcats came up the hill and had just plowed the slopes. Needless to say, this caused for an exhiliarating experience. The speed, the effortless turns, the sound of the snow as you board over it, all those feelings and memories will forever be mine.
On one of the days when it was snowing and there was a little fog, we managed to go down the hill on the moment when the snowcats were coming up the hill. The group of 7 people, together with the red snowcats with their orange blinking lights in the dark snowy mountains, surrounded by trees was a great photo opportunity…I came to realize afterwards… I hate myself for not thinking about getting out my camera at the right time. And it sucks I can’t share it with you guys.

As for after-snowboarding activities, we had 2 (two) “borrel-parties” (borrel = schnapps) this year. The schnapps flowed wealthily among our group of boarders. It was consumed with a ritual in which the consumer held the schnapps cup between it’s thumb and pinky finger, put the other thumb against its forehead, lifted only but the pinky finger on that hand, then there’s only two things left: yell as loud as you can “TALIBANAAAAAAAAAAN!” and drink the schnapps in one gulp. This ritual that I speak of is demonstrated here.

Overall it’s been really great, I really didn’t want to leave that place, but as they say here in Belgium: “Beautiful songs never last long”. Sadly enough, this time wasn’t an exception.

While I was there I made some pictures. You can find them along with the pictures of Tim and Kristof in the pictures (duh).
There were also a “couple” *ahem* movies made, and if I find some space to put them on I’ll post links here.

Folgarida, I miss you already.
Also, a big shout-out to our friends from Free-Out Travel, who were also present this year in Folgarida. Thanks for the party!