Exercise, exercise and more exercise

Today dawned bright and sunny.    Perfect weather, although a little nippy when riding the bike.   As I found out when wearing my elf dress to the swimming pool.   No coat and no scarf.    Unlike the other Dutch cyclists, who were still rugged up in coats.    Silly me.    

However the swimming pool was warm, so eventually my fingers thawed out.   Mia and Abi have made great progress in their swimming lessons and are managing breast stroke, front and back, very well.   This seems to be the main stroke used here for beginners.   Mainly due to the need to have all children able to swim competently.    So much water around.    Mia and Abi are aiming for the much needed diploma.   Without it swimmers have to wear arm bands.    Luckily Mia received two years of swimming instruction at her school in Norwich so can swim fairly well, and the life guards do not ask her if she has a diploma, but poor Abi can never escape, so has to wear arm bands.   She hates it.

Patat (chips) with mayonnaise for the girls.  Nothing for me.   Potatoes are a definitely out, especially deep fried ones.    They did look delicious.   I feel so envious.

And then this afternoon a two hour bike ride for us all, except Raphy who sat in comfort in a seat at the back of Aaron's bike.   He enjoyed this very much.

A consultation is required about which path to take.    I took photos.   I was not needed.  I have no sense of direction anyway.  They know this.

The countryside.   Everything neat and tidy.    We are in the Netherlands.

The very long barge, with the streamlined and comfortable living quarters at the end, travelling along the Amsterdam Rijn kanall which runs between the Rhine River and Amsterdam.   A very busy waterway.

The reflections in the water are superb at the moment.    Must be the light and the blue sky.

A silver birch, shining in the sunshine.

A stop to look at an old building, now an antique shop.    This area is very old, medieval I think.   Also a stop to rest the bottoms which were getting a little saddle sore.  I am posing in my elf dress.  

Mia and her Dutch bike.    Looking the part.

And tonight we ate meatball stroganoff, broccoli and cauliflower 'rice', which is actually grated cauliflower cooked in olive oil and chicken stock.   Yes it is possible to grate cauliflower.   A little messy until you get the hang of it.   And it tastes good.    Only a small container of cream in the stroganoff.   This recipe is from Neris and India's Idiot-Proof Diet Cookbook.   Very good too.  

Finally a lovely night view of the sky from the top of house.

And soon it will be off to bed.  A little stiff and sore but very happy.