This last one is P and Maj bracing themselves for cannon fire on the 'pirate' ship which is in the dock alongside the kids science museum, NEMO. Amsterdam. can't believe i've made it to very nearly 35 and not been somewhere this fabulous that's only a 45 minute flight away. makes you wonder . . .what else are we missing out on that's only a 45 minute flight from home?Am in week six of the prozac regime. I went to my referral appointment with the big famous shrink at the big famous place last week. She asked A LOT of questions. and she would interrogate all the answers a half dozen times. I felt she was quite aggressive for the first hour or so. then she put her pencil down and smiled at me. She said she thought i was very brave to finally take the recommendation to see someone like her. She said she thought I'd been doing a great job to get as far as I had virtually on my own. And have the (albeit slightly random) jobs i've had. and have a baby. and some other stuff. basically she seemed impressed that i've managed to get this unruly brain to jump through hoops when really it would rather be by itself in a dark corner somewhere and left to its own devices. She said she had never heard a story like mine from someone so bright and creative. I cried a lot. I didn't know the answers to half her questions. She used this word. And some others that i've heard before across big desks. Then she shrugged and said "doesn't really matter what it's called, does it?" She doubled my dose of prozac over 12 days by increments. which is fine, because i have been feeling a bit different and am almost kind of excited by the idea that I could feel even more different. But not sure about the addition to my pharmaceutical shopping list of this. She said to read up about it ("you seem like a google sort of girl to me") keep it in the medicine cabinet, and use it at night during periods when my brain is particularly unruly if i wanted some respite. she said not to be frightened of the word "antipsychotic."she said just because i'd "always just got on with it" didn't mean i always had to for ever and ever. she said I could have a rest if i wanted to. she said i could take it every night if i wanted to.
she also recommended a new therapist and said to go back to see her in october.
Meanwhile, back in the real world . . .
and she's off! (running over the bridge towards the pirate ship)
Auntie Maj does bubble magic . .
Every morning there was an even bigger floating city outside. we never once heard them arrive or leave . . .
on the other side of the hotel, the city centre side, pianos had been left out on the dockside. in the rain. every afternoon the would be retuned and played. and there would be random percussion on the broken pieces while people sat around drinking coffee
first ever wrestle with a drinking fountain. in vondelpark
lovely lovely houses.
Almost there - on the sunday afternoon when we arrived at amsterdam central station. P waiting for the grown ups to work out where the tram stop was. it felt like the longest part of the journey - so near and yet so far! hotel was only about ten minutes away
various shots that i can't make go in any particular order! the huge restaurant is way out of town, right at the north end of tram line 10, if you're ever in town and want great food, great service in an incredible atmosphere. it's called Cafe Restaurant Amsterdam and it used to be the city's pumping station. the goats and other animals were in Amstel park - another adventure to the outskirts of the city, this time by train and bus. click the link there - see the highest pyramid climbing frame with the scary sheer drop tube slide? the one that said no children under 6 on it in 14 different languages? need I say more?! Amstelpark is also the home of Midget Golf . . . .
Here's portrait of auntie M by P!
P and M outside and inside the poolAnother sculpture - headless man carrying violin ("where would he put his chin, mummy?") Lunch with favourite Uncle K who happened to be in town for the weekend.
Breakfast at the hotel - we only did this once. it was pretty expensive and not impressive despite big choice. P had fruit in one bowl and oats with chocolate sprinkles in the other.
And this unassuming looking building was pretty amazing too (picture has fallen to bottom of page!!)
posted by dodo @ 1:25 pm
5 Comments:
omigod x 10000. P is ABSOLUTE PERFECTION (but of course I don't expect you to tell her I said that - you can keep it to enjoy for yourself, just as I am certain you already do). I don't know which photo is better - the one where she's immersed in bubble, or the one where she's eating fruit, or the one where she's leaning on the headless statue, arm wrapped around bear, left foot turned impishly inward - GAWD. she's absolutely divine.
also? you? oh so happy I can almost not breathe to hear that your therapist has nailed it, nailed it so perfectly, and you - oh, man, R, life is just going to open up so much for you now and I am crying.
yay.
I love you sweetie and I'm so glad for you and please tell Maj that she's lovely and wonderful too because she's your good friend and I'm probably a little overexuberant but that's just too bad. I think this post has just officially made my week.
xoxoxo Debbie
Whoop whoop. what a cracking week. i particularly liked the swimming.
v glad about the rest too, super trooper and hello lildb.
here's to wondrous girlies!
xxx
i love that pirate cannon shot! too cute
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip and even the trip to the doctor went well.
Take care of yourself.
Wow, that is a lot in one post. I am feeling very happy that you have help, that you got to hear how well you were doing without the help, that you are doing well. And - such fun pictures, I want to go back there myself.
Thank you so much for posting so many pics. I feel as if I was visiting Amsterdam with you. Looks like it was a wonderful trip.
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