The Netherlands - Tuesday to Thursday (dinner, geocaching, Ikea)

Like I mentioned in my last post I headed home on New Year's Day.  As Steve had 'borrowed' some of my food items I had to find a shop that was open.  Not an easy feat on a public holiday, but I did find one and so I did the necessary shopping and then was home.

The house was dark and cold when I arrived and I discovered that the central heating wasn't working.  I went upstairs to investigate and noticed that the pressure was low and the error code told me that the water needed to be topped up.  This I did, but the only result was a leaking connection.  I rang Steve, who couldn't come out, so left it for the following day and went to bed to warm up...

The next two days were busy and interesting.

I had joined a geocaching group on facebook a while back and asked if there were group members who would join me for a day out geocaching.  I had two positive responses.  So on Tuesday I left for Sint Oedenrode where I met Ingrid de Mol and together we went in search of some caches.  She hadn't found many in the area, so we were in for a productive day.

Tuesday, 2 January 2018

#1810 - Kanniewaarzijn 7 Mega bout cache (serie 2)! (cache)

#1811 - Nr. 48 (cache)

A clever puzzle

#1812 - Kanniewaarzijn 8 Spin petling* set (serie 2)! (cache)

*Petling for the Australian readers is the same as preform

#1813 - Het geheim van het Verborgen Rijk. (multi cache)

Here too was a cup of coffee ready for geocachers

#1814 - Kanniewaarzijn 11. Filmkoker!(serie 3) (cache)

#1815 - Kanniewaarzijn 12. Kakkerlak petling! (serie 3) (cache)

A wobbly little 'bridge' across the creek was
not my favourite crossing on a cold and wet day,
but we made it across safely

#1816- Kanniewaarzijn 13. Micro - Bout type 1!(serie 3) (cache)

#1817 - Kanniewaarzijn 14. Knotwilg! (serie 3) (cache)

At midday we had lunch at a lovely little restaurant in the centre of town and took our chance to warm up a little.  We stopped at about 3.30pm as I had a 'dinner-date' with my cousin Jos and wanted to be home in time. Ingrid and I said our goodbyes with the promise to keep in touch.  A great day!

The town is getting ready for carnival

The central heating was still not working of course.  Jos and Steve arrived almost simultaneously.  Both had a look at the boiler, but to no avail.  So, I decided to shout Jos dinner at a restaurant of his choice, which was De Likkepot at Rosmalen near Den Bosch.  We were early and started with a drink and a borrelgarnituur, the latter being a dish of miniature fried items like e.g. loempia's, croquettes, etc.  The main dish was carpaccio with a side dish of garlic bread.  We had a lovely meal.

As it was, Steve had been able to get the heater going (temporarily) during our absence, so the house was not too cold and Jos and I spent the rest of the evening chatting.

Wednesday, 3 January 2018

Wednesday shaped up as another great geocaching day.  That day I met Ria van Kuijk.  She lives in Sint Oedenrode and thus had found most of the caches in the area, but was prepared to take me to do the rounds and finish the day with a recently published series which she hadn't found yet.

It was a bitterly cold day and the weather bureau had issued code orange, meaning that everyone was advised that it was safer to stay indoors because of the storm.  It was indeed very windy, besides wet and cold, but hey, we're geocachers! We're a bit mad! ;-)  I could add the word muddy as well!

However, Ria and I set out to find a few caches and find them we did:

#1818 - De legende van het Kienehoef volk Extraatje (cache)

#1819 - The invisible cache (cache)

#1820 - Kanniewaarzijn 3, magnetische Electra plaat (cache)

#1821 - Kanniewaarzijn 2, geocaching Paal box 2.0 (cache)

#1822 - Kanniewaarzijn 6 Magneten (Serie 2) (cache)

#1823 - Eerbetoon aan Djpebe -Magic Boxen- (cache)

#1824 - Teek Away (cache)

#1825 - GSM Verbelst (cache)

#1826 - Kanniewaarzijn 16. Reflector! (serie 4) (cache)

#1827 - Kanniewaarzijn 17. Aansluitdoos-Hengelen (serie 4) (cache)

#1828 - Kanniewaarzijn 18. Kraai! (serie 4) (cache)

#1829 - Kanniewaarzijn 19. Slakkenhuis - leeg! (serie 4) (cache)

#1830 - Kanniewaarzijn 20. Paddestoel Bonus! (serie 4) (cache)

#1832 - Spiegelei (cache)

Another productive day.  For lunch we went to De Helden van Kien, a delightful restaurant with good service and great food.  We were very, very cold and wet and needed time to warm up and dry out, which I did with a bowl of an original Dutch dish of ham-and-pea soup with a side of roggebrood met katenspek (rye bread and a kind of speck).

I think the hardest part of the day was getting hoisted in our cold and wet jackets again! ;-)

When we had gathered enough caches, even one of Ria's, we said goodbye and I attempted to drive back to Liempde.  I said 'attempted' because somehow my data hadn't been topped-up automatically and my phone could not find the route without internet connection, so I had to try and make my way from memory and by using the road signs. Getting out of the built-up area was not easy, but once I hit the main road it was less complicated.

Unfortunately there was no warm house waiting for me, nor a nice hot shower, so all I could do was dry off and put on some dry clothes...  Not nice, but sometimes one doesn't have much choice.

Thursday, 4 Juanuary 2018

On  Thursday my bestie, Jose, came to visit.  Together we enjoyed a cuppa and a chat, after which we went to the nearest Ikea, where we had lunch first and then had a good look around.  As you do! :-)

Jose had a shopping list. I didn't, because my suitcase is full enough as it is, although I did fall for a couple of runners for my new table.

Once home again we had dinner and had to say goodbye after a pleasant evening together.  Luckily we didn't have to sit in the cold, because Steve had arranged for a cv repairman to come out earlier in the day and the central heating was working again. And I could have a hot shower again. Yay!

The Netherlands - Festive Season

I am getting behind more and more and don't really have a lot of spare time to write, but will do my best to get at least through a few days.

On Christmas Eve I travelled to Houten to my niece Heidi, daughter of Wim, where I would stay for a few days, or rather, till after New Year's Eve.  Together we spent the evening with Wim and Gerrie watching 'All you need is Love'. I was warned to bring a box of tissues, but I managed alright.  We finished the night with a very late supper.  When we were young we would go to the midnight Service and then have breakfast before going to bed.  The Service is a thing of the past, but the traditional meal is great.

That night I didn't have to sleep on an air mattress, as I was told before, but Heidi had bought a great bed for the spare bedroom, which looked grand and I slept well the whole week long.

Christmas Day was a quiet but pleasant affair.  I talked to Adele, Kevin and the kids on Skype early in the morning and later in the day Wim & Gerrie, and Tom, Su & Julia arrived.  Together we had dinner to which everyone had contributed something.  

On Boxing Day Pim arrived with Guido and Nils who I hadn't seen for over a year and boy, they had grown.  Delightful, if not noisy at times, to have around....  Pim stayed for lunch so we had time to catch up as well.

The next day we went for a walk with the children and on Thursday Heidi and Gerrie took Guido to Disney on Ice: Cars. Wim wanted to take little Nils for a trip on the train and the bus to Utrecht and I joined them.  We had a great morning.  Nils behaved very well when Wim and I had a cup of coffee at a little restaurant in the city.  He loved the pieces of apple cake with cream that he got from Wim and me. ;-)  Later the others returned from also a great day.  The boys had been given a car each which kept them occupied for a while.

Friday was a day at home again.  I walked to the shops and bought Heidi a small gift for her hospitality and watched the fun on the ice rink.  I would have loved to join in, but felt a bit self-conscious on my own.

And then on Saturday I met with Nicole again for a day geocachen.  I met her at her new home in Houten and then she had a surprise for me: she took me to her new house she was in the process of buying!

After that we went to Goudriaan.  We had planned to find a cache there which was quite a marvellous one and had been 'cache of the month' a while ago.  I heard of it when I was in France and made sure we would go and find this one. 

#1804 - BIJ DE BIJ

 The actual cache was hidden in somewhere in this delightful little Gypsy waggon.  I made the find, we signed the log and sat down for a chat.  There were all sorts of things, from a coffee machine to a tin with Christmas biscuits.  We didn't make coffee, because it was too cold, but ate a few biscuits, took pictures and were on our way again  This really was a cache to never forget.

On the way back to Houten we found a few of a series, but it was too windy and too cold to do much more than that.

 #1805 - Hoogblokland

 #1806 - Vijfheerenlanden 2-8

After this cache we looked for a warmer sport and went to a little café where we had a meal of hot chips and a lovely cup of hot chocolate. Then a few more caches...

#1807 - Vijfheerenlanden 2-7

#1808 - Vijfheerenlanden 2-6

#1809 - Plein

This was the last one, in the Oude Dorp Houten.  Like all the other ones an easy find, and then it was time to go home.  Later we found a great restaurant in Houten where we had dinner together: .....

And then Sunday came around again.  We walked to the shops, but they were closed, contrary to the hours stated on the Internet.  I had already been wondering why all the bins in every town were closed off at the top and had big white plastic bags hanging on the sides. Heidi told me that this was done by the councils to prevent the youngsters from blowing up the bins with fireworks.  They had already been going off all week long, which was quite annoying and actually not legal, but....  We all know about that story....

In the afternoon we went to Heidi's friend Carolien's parents' house where we met a large number of the family and had oliebollen, the traditional Dutch treat on New Year's Eve.  

Later that night Wim & Gerrie, Tom, Su & Julia came around again as well as Carolien & Frank.  At midnight we watched the fireworks which were all around us.  Unlike other countries, in the Netherlands it's still legal to launch fireworks at New Year's Eve.  Although I am generally no longer in favour of it, it's annoying during the days ahead of the actual night and it's dangerous as well, it sure is exciting and a sight to behold.

Eighteen month old Nils was awake and watched the fireworks in awe with us.  Guido was wearing headphones in bed to protect him from the noise and he slept right through it all.

On New Year's Day I had the chance again to watch the New Year's concert from Vienna, which I always liked to watch from childhood onwards and have missed all those years in Australia.  Pim arrived later and we all had lunch together.  After that Pim took the boys home to spend time with him and I packed up and headed home to Liempde.  It was a great week altogether.

We're already a few days down the track now, but the rest will have to wait till I have a moment to do another write up.  Till then.

The Netherlands - a whole bunch of days.... (home, Riet, Vlaardingen)

I haven't updated my blog since Tuesday the 12th of December.  Not much is happening really and then it's easy to forget that a blog needs to be updated from time to time.

Most of the time though I am still in relaxation mode.  I read a lot and watch TV occasionally, or rather, make that every night.  Very unlike me, but the world news here is covered so much better than at home and there are a few interesting and different TV programs that I like watching here, but probably would not worry about at home.  It's just a different kind of life for a while.

Here is where I spend most of my time reading and watching TV

I do have a car, but when it's not raining I like to get on the bike and ride to Boxtel for groceries shopping.  Sometimes I ride a bit further just for pleasure.  It is very cold though and I can tell that I am no longer used to the cold weather.  Every time a walk or ride my bike I have tears in my eyes.  No, I am not emotional!  It's just the cold wind in my eyes! :-)

A Polish supermarket in Boxtel. 
Perhaps I will go one day and find out if the sell pierogi.

I have also been to the library, walked around the area and dropped in at the local snack bar for a real Dutch frietje met and a loempia.  The first one is hot chips with mayonnaise.  You would get the same strange look here if you asked for tomato sauce as you would get in Australia when you ask for mayonnaise with your hot chips. :-)

When I went to have my hair done the hairdresser told me that there is a Kribkes route if I like to go for a walk.  Liempde is lit up during the Christmas period, but not the American and Australian way.  Just as well, it's something of the times we live in, but to me it's so much 'into your face' and sometimes over the top.  Here the people can decorate their house with lights, but are only allowed to use standard lights and I must say, it's quite tasteful.

My camera has been playing up and the camera on my mobile phone doesn't do justice to the atmosphere in the streets.  The weather wasn't helpful either.....

But, returning to my story, besides all the lights a lot of people have a nativity scene in their front yards, 210 of them to be precise.  One can download the whole route, divided into a few sub-routes, on one's mobile phone and walk the streets to view all of them.  I managed to take pictures of a few of them, but better pictures can be viewed on line, although those pictures are last year's. Some are seen in the front yard, others behind the front window.  Five of the 210 are on a list and are nominated for an award.  Viewers can make make their choice known.

As I have mentioned before, I haven't been out a lot, but did visit one of Frank's sisters, Riet, who had been to visit us in Australia in 2001 with sister Jeanne who has passed away since.  Riet was with her daughters Hannie and Brigitte, so I saw a few more family members and it may very well be that I hadn't seen them since we left the Netherlands in 1980.  I had a real great time, learning a bit about various other family members and also meeting Brigitte's children.  We'll try and repeat a visit before I return to Australia.

Quite a funny thing happened.  We all know that since facebook there are not many secrets any more. Someone had asked me if I had already eaten a Bossche Bol. I told them 'no', but was sure it was going to happen sooner rather than later.  Well, what do you think Brigitte had ready to serve with the coffee???  Indeed!  She said that she had read the remarks on facebook! ;-)

I also managed to be present at a monthly get-together of the former dolls house email group.  So far I have managed to join them at their meetings most of the times during my regular visits to the Netherlands and it's quite enjoyable.  None of them really doing a lot about their miniatures anymore, at least not when they meet.  We all have different other hobbies nowadays.

For this meeting I had to drive to Vlaardingen in the western part of the province Zuid Holland and it gets more difficult every time.  I am just so glad that I drive here regularly, because I can tell you, if I didn't I would be too scared.  The roads are all like the (in)famous spaghetti roads that you now see around big cities and if you hesitate too long at a road sign you're in for a long detour to get back on the road you were on before!  I know, because it happened.  Twice.

I guess this is just about my update for the last week and a bit.  I will keep walking and riding my bike while I am here, just hoping that the rain will stay away.  The fog doesn't bother me, although it makes the world quite wet as well, because it's heavy fog, just a bit shy of drizzle.  The days are not real dark (between 9 and 5), but darkish enough for the need to have the lights on all day long.

This is what it looked like when I was on my bike earlier today.

I love to be outside though and ride through the polders like this.  Some animals are still outside in the paddocks and other paddocks are full of geese and swans who seem to be happy to rest there during the day.  When it's not raining the cold air is invigorating and I feel more energetic than in the muggy atmosphere during our summers at home.

Oh, and I went for another walk this afternoon and went in search for a cache.  It was about time!

#1803 - Liemtse voortuin cach!! (cache)

I generally don't like caches hidden in somebody's front yards, but this one was described very clearly and I didn't mind.  When the mention the house number I am at least sure that I am looking in the right one.

Well, that is it for the time being.  Christmas and New Year will be celebrated in Houten and I will probably stay there for the whole week.  An update may follow when I have time to do so.

For now, whomever reads this: I wish you a very merry Christmas.