Happy Bday Dikky Dick!

Today is a special day! Today it is the Bday of my hubby, Dirk. Congratulations Dikky D! Hartelijk Gefeliciteerd met je verjaardag!

He turned 41 this year! And as usual he got quite some presents, drawings and cards from the girls in bed this morning. But since it is a normal working day, he is off to work and the girls off to school. So later on this evening we will have a small family celebration. We always hang up streamers if somebody has a Bday in our family; tradition, so as you can see on the picture I did that today as well.

What is happening in the world today on Dirk's Bday?
It is Loy Krathong ลอยกระทง in Thailand, a beautiful festival, festival of lights; celebrated each year on the night of full moon in November. Loy Krathong is as old as Thai heritage and represents a close bond between Thai culture and water. The festival takes place on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month when the water level is high and the climate is cooler. Participants ask water spirits to sail away their troubles in their krathongs, which are containers traditionally made from banana leaves and carrying offerings of incense, lotus flowers and small money. The festival of Loy Krathong is a time to pay our respects to the Goddess of Water by floating candles and joss-sticks. (For more pictures and description see this website).
We LOVE this festival, when we used to live in Thailand we would go out on the streets and see all the people sitting on the side of the boardwalks next to the ocean in Jomtien and making the krathongs. You would choose the most beautiful one (in your eyes) and put some money and hair inside and float it on the waves, for good luck. Afterwards we would buy these huge balloons and let them loose and make a wish. The sky would be filled with these balloons, so pretty, so magical!! Pretty girls would be dressed up in traditional Thai dress and walk around with their boyfriends or girlfriends, people eating, drinking and laughing...it is such a great festival. If you are ever in Thailand in November, make sure you will be there around Loy Krathong!

Today is the Day of Respect in the Netherlands, the theme at school for 3rd and 4th graders (10+11 years old) will be respect. They will do games and activities to learn all about respect. Respect for each other, respect for yourself, nature, surroundings, people, animals, feelings, environment etc.. But also respect for people who think differently, believe differently or look different."

Other news for this day:
Bone marrow transplant potentially linked to cure of patient with AIDS. In what could be a major medical breakthrough, or a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence, a 42-year-old American man was cured of AIDS after receiving a bone marrow transplant in Berlin, Germany two years ago. The transplant was performed as part of a treatment for his leukemia.

Happy Bday, Dikky D! Enjoy your day ;-)
Love, M