Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.10, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # Fracas Noir - Susanne Waldau ~ the dark side of truth...I swear to tell the truth....and other stories ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://fracasnoir.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Stoic Meditation](https://fracasnoir.com/stoic-meditation/) - As a result of my quest for peace - and here I'm talking about constant, inner peace - an even mind so to speak, or equanimity, I have made quite some changes to my life. I have described them here before but I shall repeat for those who are perhaps reading this blog for the - [The one legged man and a small lesson in history](https://fracasnoir.com/the-one-legged-man-and-a-lesson-in-history/) - I have to admit, I lost the plot. For a brief moment I forgot about the years of contemplations and studies of philosophy and how to live in harmony with myself and the rest on the world no matter the obstacles. Stoicism became in many parts my lifeline. I had books at hand, ready to - [Closet highlights](https://fracasnoir.com/closet-highlights/) - I'm having some pictures taken for a new header of my blog in a few weeks and was rummaging through the closet for the photographer and stylist to get some ideas. Tough job actually (I don't envy the models....oh so not ;). Well here are some vintage samples... Black LBD - [Wilted Roses](https://fracasnoir.com/wilted-roses/) - People are creatures of habit. You are no stranger to such. Incessant, maddening, tormenting.....You go all-in, wagering every chip that you have on black. You repeat, replay, rewind....it's never the same. Fortuna ensures variety is on offer. Every day....until even you start seeing the patterns in a seemingly Brownian motion transmitting from an analogue TV - [Encore un moment, monsieur le bourreau, un petit moment](https://fracasnoir.com/encore-un-moment-monsieur-le-bourreau-un-petit-moment/) - As you may or may not know, I have a wide and eclectic taste in subject matters. I can easily transport myself to long lost era's and although I probably wouldn't make an even mediocre actress, I do have a taste and perhaps an inclination for putting myself in a role for either fun or - [the scent of tabu](https://fracasnoir.com/the-scent-of-tabu/) - I have written endless perfume posts, some venturing into that of the carnal, esoteric and forbidden. Because perfumes are all of those and so much more. A quality fragrance will smell like sun drenched skin, the peculiar scent of ozone, with deep notes of civet, amber and musk. And a good perfume will age with - [Time](https://fracasnoir.com/time/) - Time is infinite, yet lost time is never found again. So taking 30 minutes to start a book about time, feels like the possible beginning of a philosophical journey, I would very much welcome. 10 minutes 38 seconds in this strange world by Elif Shafak - [Ending the football fall season](https://fracasnoir.com/ending-the-football-fall-season/) - Albeit a cold and windy day, Sebastian's team ended the football season winning in a friendly. Great finale to a super year! taking aim - [It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas](https://fracasnoir.com/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like-christmas/) - It's been a busy week here concluding Sinterklaas and decorating the Christmas tree. It's a special tradition as our decoration goes back to the 1940's - most noteworthy an angel from my mum's, and Christmas bells and balls from my own childhood. We continue to buy a few new pieces every season with our latest - [Weekend at the Efteling](https://fracasnoir.com/weekend-at-the-efteling/) - It's always an amazing experience when one gets to visit the Efteling. The weather was fantastic and staying until closing time we also got to see the spectacular light show. A must see and feast for the young at heart! Enchanted tree treasure hunt glorious weather took the tour with the Efteling train - [weekend walks in the woods](https://fracasnoir.com/weekend-walks-in-the-woods/) - It's one of those weekends which is much needed! I started it off yesterday late afternoon with a stroll in the woods followed by dinner at restaurant Groenendaal. All was so peaceful and quiet and it provided opportunity to pause and breath in the autumn air. This weekend is reserved for work at the fireplace, - [daughter raiding the closet](https://fracasnoir.com/daughter-raiding-the-closet/) - I'm not sure where she got the piracy tendencies from, but it looks great (especially since it's from my own collection ;). hun you look gorgeous....but please bring back the trousers and the bag x - [Almost weekend](https://fracasnoir.com/almost-weekend/) - In my lunch break, having the last gazpacho soup I could find in the supermarket before winter sets in. It's been such a hectic week and it's not a secret I'm counting down the days and weeks until Christmas and New Year. But work has plenty of gems too. Last night saw an interesting reading - [Sinterklaas is in town](https://fracasnoir.com/sinterklaas-is-in-town-2/) - We might have a hectic schedule, rendering precious little family time, but luckily Sinterklaas and his helpers haven't forgotten us. A few more weeks and it starts looking like Christmas. Can't wait! kids were happy :) - [Gifts and Advent Calendars](https://fracasnoir.com/gifts-and-advent-calendars/) - It feels tremendously good to be home after a hectic week and a conference in Helsinki. Although extremely cold when I arrived home, I found beautiful gift from the kids in the shape of an Advent Calendar by Rituals. Very thoughtful and I am already using the hand cream :). As I was away they - [Sinterklaas celebrations](https://fracasnoir.com/sinterklaas-celebrations/) - A late but wonderful Sinterklaas celebration. And he had prezzies for everyone. On that note I can't wait until it's Christmas! ❤️ Sibling love ❤️ who is the boss of the prezzies? ...and more Lego. We have quite some building to do this weekend - [A quiet but memorable weekend](https://fracasnoir.com/a-quiet-but-memorable-weekend/) - I'm in bed with the snowflakes dancing outside of my window. It's so peaceful, which is what I need after one of the most hectic months and years I can remember. Perhaps not surprising I feel fluish and decided against having another working Sunday. Instead I will put on the Crown which has just premiered - [All but gone...](https://fracasnoir.com/all-but-gone/) - ...so luckily we took the opportunity yesterday to enjoy the snow bonanza hitting the Low Countries for the last couple of days. Sadly the snowman and our igloo lantern have turned into grey slush by now, but memories and pictures remain :). recipe from a Swedish childhood - [Almost Christmas](https://fracasnoir.com/almost-christmas/) - I love waking up in the mornings to an albeit small but tasteful decorated Christmas tree.....all credits to the kids who discovered the best pieces, discarded some and fought over the tree top decorum - Star or Peak. It became a star in the end. Keeping in line with family tradition, we put up the - [Merry Christmas!](https://fracasnoir.com/merry-christmas-2/) - Wishing everyone of my readers a Merry Christmas and to those of you from far-flung corners of the world Happy Holidays! We have celebrated it yesterday as is customary in Sweden with traditional ginger bread baking followed by a Christmas smörgåsbord including obligatory delicacies such as meatballs, gravad lax, foie gras, wild boar pâté and - [New Year Break in Maastricht](https://fracasnoir.com/new-year-break-in-maastricht/) - I escaped the Haarlem just before the weekend for a few days of rest and peace in the area of Maastricht, Valkenburg and surroundings. It's been a lot of walking, some shopping, sightseeing and exploring great restaurants. A special recommendation goes to Restaurant Le Baroque in Valkenburg. Even if it's the last thing you do, - [Happy New Year!](https://fracasnoir.com/happy-new-year-2/) - I hope you had a better one than I did after a particularly rank case of food poisoning. Looking at the whole episode from a philosophical angle (which I'm generally inclined to do) I literally purged the last year. Thus very few pictures exist from what was going to be a dinner at restaurant Chateau - [In loving memory](https://fracasnoir.com/in-loving-memory-2/) - Those we love don't go away, They walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, Still loved, still missed and forever dear. - [When the truth finds a voice](https://fracasnoir.com/when-the-truth-finds-a-voice/) - After another sleepless night which I spend mostly catching up on the emails I didn't get around to last weekend, I finally drag myself to the cross trainer with my laptop tucked under the arm. It stands downstairs so the chill is unmistakable. The cold temperatures certainly awakes me, so much that instead of putting - [Note to Self...](https://fracasnoir.com/note-to-self-3/) - I use my blog invariably for self-serving purposes. These posts spring from out of pure boredom, to being a creative outlet, to noting down occasions worth remembering....and sometimes they are just....like this post....a note to self. That going for a Gillian Anderson's Stella Gibson hairstyle in the Fall works wonderfully if you are a blonde - [Shame is like the Pain - You only feel it once](https://fracasnoir.com/shame-is-like-the-pain-you-only-feel-it-once/) - Blogging hasn't been the highest of priority, as I unfortunately came down with the seasonal flu. On the upside this gave ample opportunity to dip into movies of the past such as Dangerous Liasons with Glenn Close. A cinematic feast both visually and intellectually, its script still remains unsurpassed in its genre. Such as this - [surprise, surprise](https://fracasnoir.com/surprise-surprise/) - I was unexpectedly treated with flowers, perfume and hugs from my daughter and her beau. ❤ ❤ ❤ rolling in love by kilian - [Last day of the holiday](https://fracasnoir.com/last-day-of-the-holidays/) - A short post on the last day of our lovely holiday. Thank you all for the kind FB birthday messages, calls and texts. To the few that were wondering where I've been hiding in all these months and in some cases years - all I can say it's just been a hectic period, but I - [It's a beautiful day](https://fracasnoir.com/its-a-beautiful-day/) - You reach over for your iphone, wondering for a brief moment if you should stop yourself in your tracks and go back to sleep. The summer nights have been playing havoc with your sleep and some mornings have been so early they can best be described as late at night. But to your surprise it - [Scents of Desire](https://fracasnoir.com/scents-of-desire/) - What makes up the woman? Her shoes, her dress, her way of walking? I say all, but above all and in a league of its own is her perfume. It says more than all those attributes that she may think is what people will note and remember her for. Perfumes, like music, has an almost - [The picture of Dorian Gray](https://fracasnoir.com/the-picture-of-dorian-gray/) - I am not quite sure how it happened....ceasing writing...and with that bursting the metaphorical bubble of existence. Discouragement led to a slow dwindle of posts and one day I turned off the tap altogether. In the beginning there was just silence. The voice that would incessantly tell stories fell quiet, and with that my soul - [Boat life](https://fracasnoir.com/boat-life/) - I don't think I have been sitting still since touching down on the melting tarmac in Malta (temperatures are hoovering around 30 degrees, which is a lot better than the furnace oven we left behind!). All well and said, we were lucky to get an offer simply too good to refuse, for a day on - [Birthday tradition](https://fracasnoir.com/birthday-tradition/) - Many thanks for the lovely birthday wishes and a fantastic celebration with the family who have gathered in Malta for the summer. Being a stickler for traditions, we ended the day with a sumptuous dinner at the Barracuda before heading back to for a last nightcap and yet more unpacking (we just arrived the other - [Life](https://fracasnoir.com/life/) - Some things are rushing into existence, others out of it. Some of what now exists is already gone. Change and flux constantly remake the world, just as the incessant progression of time remakes eternity. We find ourselves in a river. Which of the things around us should we value when none of them can offer ## Pages - [Consultancy](https://fracasnoir.com/consultancy/) - Susanne has been active for over 15 years as an international Project and Program Manager in the IT, Utilities, Gaming and Online industries. After years of broadening her skills to include management strategies and execution she set up her own consultancy company Mdina BV. Since, Susanne has held various senior and executive roles, responsible for - [Fashion & Beauty](https://fracasnoir.com/fashioncoming-soon/) - [Photobook](https://fracasnoir.com/gallery/) - [Archive](https://fracasnoir.com/archive/) - [Home](https://fracasnoir.com/home/) ## Categories - [Uncategorized](https://fracasnoir.com/category/uncategorized/) - [books](https://fracasnoir.com/category/books/) - [pregnancy](https://fracasnoir.com/category/pregnancy/) - [shopping](https://fracasnoir.com/category/shopping/) - [inspiration](https://fracasnoir.com/category/inspiration/) - [Money](https://fracasnoir.com/category/money/) - [Men](https://fracasnoir.com/category/men/) - [Fracas](https://fracasnoir.com/category/fracas/) - [Reinout](https://fracasnoir.com/category/reinout/) - [Victoria](https://fracasnoir.com/category/victoria/) - [dark side](https://fracasnoir.com/category/dark-side/) - [family](https://fracasnoir.com/category/family/) - [blog](https://fracasnoir.com/category/blog/) - [debate](https://fracasnoir.com/category/debate/) - [work](https://fracasnoir.com/category/work/) - [make up](https://fracasnoir.com/category/make-up/) - [hair](https://fracasnoir.com/category/hair/) - [shoes](https://fracasnoir.com/category/shoes/) - [accessories](https://fracasnoir.com/category/accessories/) - [fashion](https://fracasnoir.com/category/fashion/) - [music](https://fracasnoir.com/category/music/) - [friends](https://fracasnoir.com/category/friends/) - [love](https://fracasnoir.com/category/love/) - [house](https://fracasnoir.com/category/house/) - [Special Offers](https://fracasnoir.com/category/special-offers/) - [art](https://fracasnoir.com/category/art/) - [perfumes](https://fracasnoir.com/category/perfumes/) - [lifestyle](https://fracasnoir.com/category/lifestyle/) - [Interior](https://fracasnoir.com/category/interior/) - [Film](https://fracasnoir.com/category/film/) - [Diet](https://fracasnoir.com/category/diet/) - [Excercise](https://fracasnoir.com/category/excercise/) - [onlinesalsa.com](https://fracasnoir.com/category/onlinesalsacom/) - [travel](https://fracasnoir.com/category/travel/) - [history](https://fracasnoir.com/category/history/) - [thoughts...](https://fracasnoir.com/category/thoughts/) - [dance](https://fracasnoir.com/category/dance/) - [Fun](https://fracasnoir.com/category/fun/) - [salsa](https://fracasnoir.com/category/salsa/) - [holidays](https://fracasnoir.com/category/holidays/) - [quotes and wisdom](https://fracasnoir.com/category/quotes-and-wisdom/) - [quotes](https://fracasnoir.com/category/quotes/) - [fiction](https://fracasnoir.com/category/fiction/) - [poetry](https://fracasnoir.com/category/poetry/) - [nano stories](https://fracasnoir.com/category/fiction/nano-stories/) - [fracasnoir - jour et nuit](https://fracasnoir.com/category/fracasnoir-jour-et-nuit/) - [Noir](https://fracasnoir.com/category/noir/) - [business](https://fracasnoir.com/category/business/) - [anechdotes](https://fracasnoir.com/category/anechdotes/) - [competition](https://fracasnoir.com/category/competition/) - [documentaries](https://fracasnoir.com/category/documentaries/) - [stoicism](https://fracasnoir.com/category/stoicism/) - [femme fatale](https://fracasnoir.com/category/femme-fatale/) - [food](https://fracasnoir.com/category/food/) - [restaurants](https://fracasnoir.com/category/restaurants/) - [haarlem](https://fracasnoir.com/category/haarlem/) - [Events](https://fracasnoir.com/category/events/) - [memories](https://fracasnoir.com/category/memories/) - [recipes](https://fracasnoir.com/category/recipes/) - [health](https://fracasnoir.com/category/health/) - [WTF](https://fracasnoir.com/category/wtf/) - [musings](https://fracasnoir.com/category/musings/) - [beauty](https://fracasnoir.com/category/beauty/) - [Erotic](https://fracasnoir.com/category/erotic/) - [life](https://fracasnoir.com/category/life/) - [philosophy](https://fracasnoir.com/category/philosophy/) - [fitness](https://fracasnoir.com/category/fitness/) - [#throwbackthursday](https://fracasnoir.com/category/throwbackthursday/) - [politics](https://fracasnoir.com/category/politics/) - [news](https://fracasnoir.com/category/news/) - [antiques](https://fracasnoir.com/category/antiques/) ## Tags - [nano-fiction](https://fracasnoir.com/tag/nano-fiction/) ## Picture tag - [Photo Booth](https://fracasnoir.com/ngg_tag/photo-booth/)