Drifting in Houten

After the first dismal day in Holland the weather improved and the sun came out, briefly. So it was time to get out and enjoy ourselves. Houten was very quiet, due to the exodus of citizens. The Dutch are very keen on holidaying elsewhere.

First stop the ice cream shop!

Raphy eating his ice cream in the trailer, amongst all the bicycles!
Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel came to visit. They brought their bicycles of course, so that they could tour around the area. I have heard they got lost in Houten, but I could be wrong. Just rumours!

At the skateboard park. Jackson, Mia, Abi and Isabel lined up ready to go! Jackson was very keen to test his skills on his BMX bike.
Are these unusual birds in the tree? No, just an assortment of broken skateboards, shoes and other objects.
On Friday we drove through back to Dunkerque. Emma and Steve told us about another more indirect route, which was much better than sitting in traffic jams on the motorway. Home again!

A day out in London

We went to London for the day with the intention of helping Donna sort out her passport, which was unsuccessful due to misinformation and misunderstanding, on our part I must admit. So what to do with the day, seeing that we had left home at the crack of dawn and spent a fortune on train travel into London. As pensioners we are not eligible for free train travel as we live outside the London border (by about 20 metres).

We first had a much needed cup of coffee from an organic food shop on Kensington High Street, which tasted wonderful. Then some retail therapy with some purchases being made by me, from Monsoon.

Then Donna went back to work and we took Lucy to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Still free, although there were signs encouraging you to make a £3 donation.

The building is fascinating, and you could see that the building project during was not constrained by a tight budget. I love the light fitting.

And beautifully decorated ceilings!

We had a good look around the exhibits, with not too many spoils on show from the plundering of foreign lands. The exhibit of plaster casts of towers, church surrounds, tombstones etc was particularly impressive, especially as the originals have often deteriorated due to acid rain and pollution. The photo below is part of the European display.

By the time we went upstairs we were becoming a bit jaded, so did not do justice to the displays of art, tapestries, silver and jewellery.
Lucy looking particularly jaded. Even the beautifully decorated staircase did not impress her at this point.

Back in Houten

The day after we returned to Holland it rained, and rained, and rained. The wind blew, and blew and blew. Typical! So we sat around inside the house and wondered what to do! No swimming pool, no sitting in the shade, no sunshine, no hot weather! Raphy went to sleep on the floor!
Kylie, Mia and Abi played Uno!
Aaron forced a smile!
Walter drank coffee and read his book!
I drank coffee and wrote my last camping blog!
Then Kylie braved the elements and took the bakfiets out, in order to buy us some food for lunch!
So we ate toasted sandwiches and felt a lot better. Food always helps!

Holiday nearly over!

Only a few days left of our holiday down south, and already we were hearing reports of the miserable weather in Holland and the UK. So we made the most of the few days of brilliant sunshine and 35 degree temperatures.

We visited Collobrieres, a small town that focuses on chestnuts. They make and export ice cream, jam, preserves etc. We first travelled over the halls behind the camp site. This is a precarious route as it is a narrow road that is popular with mad French cyclists (usually over the age of 60) who free wheel down in the middle of the road.

Aaron and I decided to try the local ice cream. Chestnut ice cream is very sweet and contains small pieces of chestnut. We managed one scoop each, not like some customers who ate three scoops of the stuff and topped it with cream. Ugh! Raphy enjoyed his first full ice cream cone, a vanilla flavour, as we did not think that he would appreciate the local speciality.

A very peaceful town square, with preparations under way for the evening celebrations. It was Bastille Day so the flags were up and a huge stage and sound system were being set up in front of the town hall.
I loved the plane trees.
This scene never changes!
The trip home was better than expected, seeing that it was Black Saturday, i.e. roads clogged by traffic going south (starting holidays) or going north (finishing holidays). We experienced constant traffic jams until Avignon. After that the roads were very busy but no hold ups. Mind you we had to watch the mad French and Belgium drivers as they tended to cut in front of you without indicating! Black Saturday turned into Black Sunday for people travelling south from Holland, Belgium and Germany. On the other side of the highway the road was clogged with motor homes, caravans and cars between Nancy and Dijon. They were barely moving!

When we arrived back, we decided that a meal out in a Chinese restaurant was in order, especially as we had no fresh food. This was a weird experience as the floor revolved, enabling customers to have an ever changing view of McDonalds, the carpark and a variety of commercial buildings. We also felt very light headed, having travelled all day in a car! The food was delicious though, and a great way to end the holiday.

Out and About

Our time here is not just spent lying by the swimming pool, however tempting. We have been visiting a few of the places close by the camp site, often due to keeping Raphy amused during the afternoon.

First we went to Decathlon in Toulon to purchase some UV tops and new bikinis for Mia and Abi. Unfortunately we joined hundreds of other people at Decathlon, as it was the summer sale. It was very busy and hot but the girls are really pleased with their outfits and we no longer have to worry about them getting sunburnt.
Then Aaron and I took Raphy for a tour along the coast with a stop at a winery (Minuety). Aaron did some tasting and bought an expensive bottle of wine. Minuety produce delicious wines, especially Rose.

Raphy and I went for a walk through a grove of trees, which was very pleasant a

and cool.
Then to the beautiful old village of Hyers, where we walked through the old medieval streets - mostly on a step slope. The bougainvillia was in full bloom.Aaron, Mia and Abi climbed up to the top of the ruined castle,
while Raphy enjoyed his ice cream. The botanical gardens are very lush and provide a green approach to the castle ruins. We have always taken the long way through rough, meandering tracks which takes considerably longer. I did not know that this pleasant and shorter route existed until this trip!
The family went on a walk through the national park below Giens. I looked after Raphy in a shady cafe whilst drinking coffee and Perrier water!

More photos

A few more photos.

Out to lunch! Mussels and chips - delicious!
Mia swimming in the sea. There was actually some surf!
Abi building sandcastles.
Abi walking in a bubble! I think I would have a major panic attack if I tried it!
Where do I find a spot for my towel?
A sand rugby competition this weekend. The edges and goal posts are air blown, like a bouncy castle. Playing rugby in soft sand equals very hard work!

Camping Manjastre continued

Tonight as I write this blog I am sitting at a table overlooking the swimming pool. It is 9 pm and the night is warm. I am surrounded by other people using their computers and there is a sound of people talking in the background. They are the social people who are not so obsessed with technology. Back in our camp site all is calm and Raphy is asleep. I think they are waiting for me to return so that we can play cards.

Since Monday the sun has been relentless but then I am not complaining.

Today Aaron and I took the children to the soft play area, which is by the airport. It was quite expensive but we sat and read in the shade while the children played on the equipment.
Raphy was in his element amongst all the balls. He also could not escape!
Mia and Abi played lots of games, including hide and seek!
A deserted pool! The water is a superb 23 degrees. We are doing lots of swimming and I am swimming laps in the morning for 30 minutes, in an attempt to work off some of the food I have eaten. Some hope!
Kylie, Aaron and Raphy in the water. Raphy no longer screams, although he does not enter the water willingly!

Camping Manjastre

We are settling into camp life, which requires much sitting around eating and swimming in the pool. I feel especially pleased because I am no longer caught up in the hectic school life at the end of the school year. Bliss! It is also wonderful to go on holiday with the family outside of English school holidays. Mia and Abi finished school last Friday. The schools in Holland have staggered holidays and the girls' school have early holidays this year.

Our camp site this year is at the end of the row behind the bar and restaurant. Close to the toilet block too. We camped on this spot in 1997, when we visited here with the Cameron family.

Walter catching up on reading - comics. Kylie, Raphy, Mia and Abi sheltering from the sun, which had disappeared behind the clouds. It rained today!

Abi is prepared for some underwater swimming!
Mia and Abi enjoying themselves in the water.
Aaron trying to tempt Raphy into the water. Raphy was not impressed with the beautiful swimming pool - too much cold water!
Due to the overcast sky and the occasional shower, we mostly had the pool to ourselves.
Looking forward to tomorrow!