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.

The Netherlands - Thursday to Tuesday (home, den Bosch, Maaike & Steve, José, home)

Thursday, 7 December 2017

And this is where I am staying now.  As I mentioned before, I have been here three years ago. It was the first exchange I did after Frank's passing.  Then it was kind of soothing, to be in the Netherlands and so close to brother Wim and his family.  Now it is just another exciting exchange. :-)

I was writing my blog at the time, but concentrated only on caching, so I did not mention much about my stay here, nor did I post pictures besides those of the caches I'd found.

Well, nothing much can be said about Thursday, other then that I spent the day relaxing and settling in my new surroundings.

Friday, 8 December 2017

Friday was much of the same, with the difference that Erna and I went to den Bosch in the afternoon.  Erna had to do some shopping, so we drove to Vught and took the train from there.  It's much like at home, where we generally don't take the car into the city because it is so difficult to find parking.

It was raining and not just a little bit, so we didn't hang around too long.  Erna got her things and when we walked into a big clothing store I bought myself some decent winter pj's, because the last few weeks it had become far too cold for my summer nightie....

Next we walk to the Parade, (a big square near the cathedral) where they have erected a Winterland.  It's a mixture of a fair, Christmas market and what not.  There is a huge Christmas tree, of course, and there is an ice skating rink.  I might just..... one day..... ;-)

(Pictures pinched from facebook as I didn't have a camera)

It wasn't until Friday night that it started to snow tentatively:

Saturday, 9 December 2017

We had some more snow:

View from my upstairs bedroom window

Saturday was a busy day as Erna and Hans had to go to a birthday party at night; Erna had to do her washing and cleaning; and Maaike and Steve were visiting in the morning.

Maaike and Steve are from New Zealand and Australia resp. and have lived in the Netherlands for a few years now.  Steve picked me up at the airport three years ago and got me settled in the house, as Erna and Hans were already in Australia at the time.

It was nice to see them again, in particular Steve as I had had more contact with him than with Maaike, and I will see a lot more of him while I am staying here.  For private reasons Steve will be staying in the house every other week or more.

In the afternoon we went out to visit Hans' son who is in external care.  We sat with him and his house mates in the living room with a few of the carers.  A nice group of people.  Later the four of us went for a walk and had coffee and delicious apple cake at the local restaurant.  An afternoon well spent.

Sunday, 10 December 2017

Sunday morning started a bit stressful for Erna and Hans, as they were leaving later in the day to stay at a hotel near the airport.  Mid morning it started to snow and it was serious snowfall, which meant that only half the trains would be going and it could get worse.

Still, we had no choice and by 12 noon we set off towards the railway station in den Bosch.  There I had to get yet again into a different car that I didn't know and drive.  In the snow!  It was pretty darn slippery on the roads, as it was too early for even the main roads to have been cleared, but luckily I didn't have far to go.  My best friend, José, had asked me to come around and she lives just behind the railway station, so I didn't have far to go.

On the way to den Bosch

We spent a lovely afternoon together and as usual it was just like I had never been away.  We've been keeping this up for 37 years now and we were friends way before we left for Australia.

And more snow pictures (personally I can't get enough of the snow. Magic!):

By the time we have had dinner and watched TV, Mama Mia was on, the snow on the main roads had all been cleared and the drive home wasn't as stressful as it would have been had I returned early in the afternoon.

Monday, 11 December 2017

On Monday I stayed home and enjoyed watching the snow from behind the windows.  Most of the time.  I did have to go out to get some groceries, but driving or riding a bike were out of the question, so it was a 10 minute walk to the shop.  Not that I did mind, it was wonderful, albeit cold when I had a head wind and the snow was blown into my face. ;-)

It snowed in all earnest, as you can see in the pictures, and it stuck to my boots, so I felt like I was wearing moon boots... It would have been the right kind of snow to make a snow man had I felt so inclined...

Walking back from the shop

At the end of the afternoon, when I was reading and relaxing on the couch I suddenly heard the front door and in came Steve.  I hadn't expected him before the end of the week, but he is staying for a whole fortnight now.

I quickly moved my stuff from the upstairs bedroom to downstairs, where I have my own bedroom and bathroom.  No en suite or walk-in wardrobe, but still, a place to myself.

I had an invitation to join him and his children for a movie, but I declined as I didn't feel like going out through the cold and the snow in the dark, so I had a quiet evening and an early night.

By the way, Erna and Hans got away alright.  They flew out early in the morning.  Just as well, because airport Eindhoven was closed.  Many schools as well, as it was too dangerous to be on the roads.  Schiphol cancelled all European flights.  We weren't the only country to be effected by the snow.  Sweden, Germany, France, Ireland and England all got hit by light to heavy snowfalls.

Tuesday, 12 December 2017

Another day, mainly indoors, because I had a few things to do.  The snow is slowly melting with the rising temperature.  It's only 1 degree C, but that's already a melting point, so the roads will clear quickly now and then I can go out.

Today I paid a quick visit to the neighbours across the street, who I had met three years ago as well.  At least Jack, but not his wife Wilma.  We had a chat and a cuppa and then I went home to finish off what I had been doing.

Steve came home and together we went to the shop to top up on the groceries and next I spent the night working on my blog which needed updating desperately.