Dagboek van Willem

My name is Willem. I am thirty-five years old, and I live in Oudewater, a small town in the province of Utrecht. Here the streets are quiet and the houses are old. I work in the village and I know many people. I use a diary to organize my day. I write down what I do, what I feel, and what I want to improve. This is my day.

At seven o'clock I wake up. I hear the church bell and the birds outside. It is still a little dark, and it is cool in the house. I stretch in bed and put my feet on the floor. I feel tired because I went to bed late last night. I drink some water and think: today I want to take it easy.

At eight o'clock I have breakfast in the kitchen. I put a cup down and turn on the light. Normally I am not very hungry, but I eat something because it is important. I eat a cookie, drink my coffee, and then I drink a glass of milk. I look out the window and see the sun rise. After breakfast I feel more awake.

At nine o'clock I get ready to leave. I shower quickly and put on a shirt, a warm coat, pants, and a pair of shoes. I look at my phone and grab my keys. I put my wallet and a notebook in my backpack. I leave the house and lock the door. In the square I greet my neighbor and a woman. I smile and walk to work.

At ten o'clock I arrive at my job. I work at a small tourist office in the village. I open the door, switch on the light, and start up the computer. I put the maps and papers on the counter and make everything neat. Two tourists come in and ask for an easy walk. I explain the route with simple words and point to the square and the street they have to go to.

At eleven o'clock I am still working, but there is a problem. I need to print one page, but the printer does not work. For a moment I feel nervous because I do not want to lose time. Then I take a deep breath and I do it step by step. I check the cable and the paper, turn the printer off, and turn it on again. Soon it works once more. I am relieved.

At twelve o'clock I take a quick break. I leave the office and walk to the café on the square. I drink coffee and water. I sit outside for a while and watch the people in the square. I see people chatting and a child playing. I write two lines in my diary. Now I feel calm. Then I go back to work.