Stadspark Strolls & Dutch Springtime Blues

No not the pottery. Things have been a little crazy in the Potter household over the last couple of months and are likely not to calm down for a couple of more. Unfortunately a lot of that stuff has little to do with being expats. Its just life stuff. Just a taste of what we’ve been up to:

• Printed & Started selling Walking the Lethe Issue One.
• Starting my business keeps dragging on as I struggle with BTW and what sort of receipts I need to be able to reclaim VAT.
• Convention. Which was fun and worthwhile, but took time away from work.
• Fallen Kitten web design business & blog
• Stressing out over taxes. US & Dutch. Too confusing and still not done. Hopefully the tax issue will be cleared up soon since we’ve got a short extension from the ol’ U.S. of A but it won’t last. And we’ve hired assistance for the Dutch side.
• Dutch class. Which is simply driving me nuts.
• Paid work. Which I’m always happy to do of course. Still I wonder how I’m going to pack more in around everything else to make this business actually work.

Of course all this leaves less time for writing Maastricht Minutiae and, sadly, no time for podcasting.

All this ‘life’ stuff just has me running in circles and frustrated with myself and my circumstances. Things are good, but the ‘not easy’ part of living has reared its ugly head. As everyone else is celebrating a renewal, I’m feeling buried with obligations. Frustrating. My choice and I’m doing what I enjoy but frustrating none the less.

Part of all this may simply be that one year is long enough to get comfortable with the physical place I’m living in. We’ve done so much exploring around Maastricht, and its been so cold all winter, that there hasn’t been as much incentive to get out and do things that are worth writing about. At the same time, we’re still in an in-between stage socially and culturally (and busy with work). We’ve met lots of great of people but no one we could invite over at the drop of a hat to play Settlers (if we even had time). That’s pretty normal for us, neither of us are social butterflies, but it never makes this stage of living in a new city easy.

On the upside, Dan & I went for a lovely Stadspark stroll Easter Day to clear our heads and get out of the house. Despite the gray skies and little sprinkles it was a fairly nice day. And we found a face in a tree, which was strange… (Today it’s actually sunny out but I don’t think I’ll be out to enjoy it.) It was good to just walk for a bit and then have a beer and tosti for lunch just like we did when we first moved here. I’m hoping to force us out for more adventures around Limburg as the spring warms and summer comes along. With that to do, I’m sure my mood will look up.

2 Responses to “Stadspark Strolls & Dutch Springtime Blues”

1. heodeza says:

   April 6, 2010 at 10:59 pm

   Dear Amanda,
   I just discovered your blog today. I’ve been living in Maastricht for a few years now, but it’s still great to read all your posts about the city and about being an expat here!
   I hope all your obligations will be gone soon, and that you’ll be able to enjoy the lovely weather which has (hopefully for good this time!) arrived this week!

   Reply
   • Amanda says:

     April 6, 2010 at 11:15 pm

     Hi there! Welcome to the site. I’m glad you’ve found me. I’m hoping to get out into the lovely weather soon. Love your crafty blog. Your projects look very neat.

     Reply