A week with our family in Houten, Netherlands

Finally we left Britain, twelve days later than we initially planned to leave.  We gave our house one final check, packed the caravan again, said goodbye to Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel and drove to Dover.    A lovely sunny day too, perfect travelling weather.

It was great to see Aaron, Kylie, Mia, Abi and Raphy.   It seemed ages since we visited them briefly at Christmas, and so much has happened in our lives in Britain.

We felt very exhausted when we arrived but soon settled into life in the Netherlands, and we both started to relax after our stressful few months in Britain.  

We stayed at Camping De Vliert, which is a ten minute cycling ride from Aaron and Kylie's house.   Abi and Raphy love spending time at the campsite as it has go karts (skelters in Dutch), plus a games room with table tennis, a football table and a billards table.   Plenty to do.    We also had lunch or afternoon tea together in the caravan, and plenty of chats.  

Houten has sprung into spring life, with green growth everywhere plus flowers and blossoms in abundance.    Great allergy time.    But it is all very beautiful.

Houten has been thoughtfully planned with bicycle paths everywhere, limited access by vehicles, and with parks, woodland, canals and open playing areas interspersed with housing.   As well as being a beautiful place for adults it is a child's ideal place to have space and the freedom to play safely.

Abi and Raphy love the zip wire. 

The area of woodland behind Aaron and Kylie's house, with its tall trees covered in new leaves, and the paths lined with sweet smelling cow parsley.

It was Mother's Day on the first Sunday and Aaron gave me these delicious and colourful chocolates.   They did not last very long.   Yummy.

Walter and I went into Utrecht for the day.    The main railway station has been getting redeveloped for the past seven years.   The latest change has been the open area between the railway station and the renovated shopping centre behind it.    Once there was a walkway between the two, which has been knocked down.    The new look is so much better.    And no need to get wet as there is a roof above the open plaza.

Quite an unusual roof design too.

Another sunny day, with the Dutch dining outside the cafes, soaking up the sunshine, as usual.   A very picturesque area, with a canal and old Dutch buildings behind it.

My favourite tea and coffee shop.   I always stock up on packets of leaf tea here.    Not so much this year as I cannot take it to Australia with me.

We also visited our favourite kitchen shop too, but forgot to take photos here.

There was work being done on the sides of the canal.   It was amazing to see this work carried out from the barges, and also to see all the materials being carried by the barges.

The Dom tower is no longer leaning.   It is straight in this photograph.   No longer the leaning tower of Utrecht.   However the building on the left has now developed a lean.   I can never get these photographs correct.   Adds interest, I suppose.

Now for the good news, for us anyway.   We have finally exchanged contracts on our house.   At long last, and we complete the sale when we arrive back in Britain.   That is after we have the removal firm in to pack and move our furniture and belongings out of the house.    The relief that this has finally happened is amazing, and for the first time in weeks, we can finally start to make plans.

And now we are in Camping Manjastre.    Our perfect holiday destination.