Intro - Arnoud Storm

Hello, my name is Arnoud Storm. I am a Dutch history teacher. Was. I was a history teacher. And I must say, not a very good one. I know a lot about history, but I don't know enough about children to motivate them and to keep order in de classroom. Between you and me, I hated my job. Last summer it was such a relief that it was vacation. I went on a bike tour in the north of my country, with the ferry I arrived on a small island that I liked so much. It is called De Kraaienplaat. Which means something like The Crows Shallow. It's a small island with lovely villages, there are lots of birds, there is a beach, where it is always quiet, even in summer.



When I was there, I dreamed about living in the country and never go back to my job at the school again. Grow my own vegetables, live of the land and be friends with the villagers. And then, suddenly, I saw this nice little house, it was for sale and the price was not very high. It's a bit old, but there is enough land to have my own vegetable garden and a pond to catch some fish.
When I came home again I made a decision. I sold my apartment in the city, quit my job and bought the little house on the island.
It took some time to make arrangements, but here I am, at my own house.

Maybe it's a bit old and small, and it needs some paint, but look at the view! I can't believe I am really going to live here.

This meadow is next to my garden. How lovely! It belongs to my neighbor who lives on a farm.
Here is the house of my neighbor on the other side. Once I have saved some money I can rebuild my house and make it just as nice as my neighbor's.

I have not met my neighbors yet, but I am sure that they are nice people.

The former owners of my house left some furniture. It's a bit old and everything is dirty, but I don't have much money, so for now this is sufficient for me.

I only have bought a new bed, because what they left was too old to my taste. They were old people and I guess they slept in that bed their whole life. That was the only luxury, for the rest, I am going to live a simple life without school and teenagers.

So today I arrived at my new home. It was a bit different from when I saw it in summer, because it was raining. But I decided to try and catch some fish, for my evening meal.

I smelled the fresh air and felt very happy.