Saturday 16 March 2013

Picturesque Enkhuizen and Luxurious Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg

This week Bronwen and Justin both managed to get out of Rotterdam for a few days. Justin was off to Amsterdam, Enkhuizen and Amersfoort while Bronwen headed out to Santpoort (not too far from Amsterdam). 

Justin was taking part in an international training program. The program kicked off this week with four days of workshops, presentations and various activities. The program is spread out over 18 months and includes 21 participants from the Netherlands, the UK and South Africa. We started in Amsterdam, spent a few days living on a boat, got to visit the beautiful little town of Enkhuizen and wrapped up the program at our company head office in Amersfoort. 

Some pictures taken in Enkhuizen...



Our boat covered in ice...


The mast and winches of the 'Skutje' covered in ice...



The town of Enkhuizen...






The group of 21 has been split into 3 groups of 7. Over the next 18 months we will be competing against the other teams in various challenges. The awesome team that will of course be in number 1 position at the end of 18 months, is Team Ignite (Ben, Sophie, Greg, Suzan, Jana, Guido and Justin).


Inside one of the boats that we were staying on...


A rare chance to just sit down and enjoy the surroundings...


Leaving the boats and heading to our next destination: Amersfoort.


The view from my hotel window in Amersfoort...


This week Bronwen was also out and about, but in slightly more luxurious surroundings. For two days she was attending a symposium at Landgoed Duin & Kruidberg.

Four or five years ago a grant was given to study 'The Physics of the Genome'. The end of the programme has been reached and this symposium was arranged to present the work conducted over the past few years. Some of the projects will still carry on with other funding. This was a great opportunity for Bron to get  to know the other biophysics groups in the Netherlands and what they do. Later in the year she will probably attend another local meeting and learn more about biophysics.

It was a lovely 2 days away filled with science, good food, snow and a walk in the nature reserve behind the venue. We even saw two deer! Justin and Bron may be back in the Summer for High Tea on the terrace =)



The old house with snow grounds


View of the house from across the pond


View over the pond from the house


In other news, there was some snow again this week. It is really late in the year for it to be snowing! Apparently it only snows in March once in ten years. Not sure if we should feel lucky or bleak. Hoping for more appropriate Spring weather soon! 

We look forward to the wedding of Dan and Sam next weekend. Dan is a colleague of Bron's at the TU Delft. And the following week Easter and the start of Daylight Saving Time!! 

Hope you are all well! 

x

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