  This past week Wednesday evening (March 31st) turned out to be a scary evening. After I went out for dinner (Chinese) I arrived at my home at about 8:45pm. I changed clothes and slipped into my training suit and started to zap through the channels (nothing on as usual). Then at about 9:15pm my doorbell was ringing. I could here from the sound that someone was actually at my door and not downstairs (it rings differently and my camera turns on). So I went to see who it was.
There was my next-door neighbor from number 109 (I'm 111). She was standing in the hallway with her girlfriend who was holding her baby (about 9 months old or so I estimate) and she had this panicky look on her face when she gasped out of breath: "Fire! I have a fire in my kitchen, what do I do?". She was standing there holding her cell phone which still had the power plug attached to it, dialing 112 (the Dutch equivalent to 911). When I looked behind her into her hallway I could see and smell the smoke coming out of there, but there were no flames - yet. I didn't panic at all but asked her what it was that was burning.
She explained that they smelled something and then when they looked they saw the kitchen was filled with smoke and it came from a little pan she had left on with some oil in it. Anyway I told her that it was best to go outside and warn the other neighbors on her way out. I went back into my apartment, think up what I could do. Grab some belongings? Get my cats? Obviously if the fire would go big I could do nothing about it.
I also called 112 - just to be sure they got the call - and after that I just unplugged all my computers, my TV stereo and other stuff and got my shoes on, grabbed my mobile and my keys and went outside. On my way out I passed some cops (they patrol on bikes here) and told them they should go to 109. They also started to bang on the doors and evacuated everyone. Two minutes later I was outside with about half of the other people from my apartment (12 families live there). The firemen arrived and just rolled out there hoses and went in. From the street I could not see any flames at all so in had a feeling it wouldn't be to bad.
After all: we cook electrical here and she didn't have a vent above her stove. Usually those vents catch on fire and make things worse. A few minutes later I saw them open some windows and also the kitchen window. I could see the ceiling had turned all black from the fire. They had everything under control but I could not go back yet: they examined the air first and after another 20 minutes or so I could go back in again. Boy did it STINK there!
Luckily no harm done no casualties and I could start up everything again.... Off course I am going to install some smoke alarms and check on my insurance! Coffee Junkie Ok, I admit it: I'm a coffee junkie. I have been using a regular coffee machine for some time now, but if I just want 1 cup I have to use instant coffee which I dislike. So this week (thursday April 1st) I decided to treat myself and I bought the latest invention around. A urlLink Senseo Crema machine . Great coffee and you can get a cup within 3 minutes!
Downside is I do drink more coffee now and I suspect it's not so healthy. 
