Rhubarb Jam

It is rhubarb season here so yesterday we made rhubarb and orange jam. We actually worked together to make the jam, and only disagreed a few times about the technicalities of jam making. Unfortunately as we were discussing as to whether the jam had set or not the jam burnt so now we have caramelised rhubarb and orange jam. Luckily it is still delicious but we must remember in future that with this particular jam you do not keep testing it to see if the jam has set as it will burn before it looks like it setting. It took some time to clean the pot.

The rhubarb came from Emma and Steve's house. A wonderful patch of rhubarb that I really envy.

This is quite unlike my poor offerings at home.

I also made a rhubarb upside down cake for dinner last Saturday. The recipe was from Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook. Absolutely delicious but not part of my new diet of course. A slight aberration!

I also heard that if you place a stalk of rhubarb in each mole hill it will cause the mole to disappear. This will make our front lawn look interesting!

Out and about

My laptop has finally been returned to Dell to have the web cam fixed but I am lost without it. However I am using the time to think about a serious diet and fitness. All that lovely food during the past six months plus too many milky coffees have token their toll. It is mostly all around my stomach!

The weather is absolutely beautiful with clear skies and brilliant sunshine. It almost feels like it will last forever! An inspiration to get out and start exercising seriously rather than just cruising around on our bicycles like we did in Holland.

Some of the spring flowers in the garden but sitting looking at them can be a distraction.
The woods are showing lots of green, an invitation to do lots of serious walking.
We actually got out on our bicycles and rode up some hills although Donna ran as fast as us!
Looking fit but this an illusion. I must lose the spare tyre!
Today we walked down to Bexley Village, which was impressive because we had to walk back up the hill again. However we ruined it all by calling into an Italian cafe for coffee and cake.

The church in Bexley Village.
This afternoon I started on the weights, perhaps I can shift the extra fat to my shoulders!

Spring has arrived in Holland

The sunshine during this past weekend was brilliant and everyone was outside ensuring that the sun hit their faces. We did the same of course. And it was an amazing feeling to sit, close your eyes and feel the warmth on your face. In between all our jobs on Saturday we sat on the seat at the front door, with our faces turned towards the sun, like jaded sunflowers. A very Dutch pose! It was so lovely outside I forgot to take a photograph.

The trees around Houten are greening up very fast. This is the path behind Aaron and Kylie's house, which was so gloomy 9 weeks ago.

On Sunday we went into Utrecht to a Chinese restaurant to have lunch. We went with Aaron and Kylie and a group of their friends, one of whom is from a Chinese background, so due to her recommendations we ate a very tasty meal. Afterwards we went for a leisurely walk around Utrecht and soaked up the sun at the same time.

Walter is in a jovial mood and decides to make funny hand signs behind my back. Too much sun maybe!

The citizens of Utrecht soaking up the sun. Notice that no one is sitting on the shady side of the street.

A very sheltered sun spot!

This was not a warm day but Raphy is wearing his first pair of 'proper' shoes. We reluctantly left Houten yesterday in brilliant sunshine and this was the view as we drove off. I must add that Walter and I are the champion Canasta players, as we easily beat Aaron and Kylie each night. However, I will quietly and ashamedly say that our Uno playing was a complete disaster, as always! I really cannot come to grips with the game.

Utrecht

Today we went to Utrecht, which is two stops by train, half an hour by car and about 40 minutes by bike. We chose to take the train, which seemed the easiest option on an overcast and chilly day. We looked at shops, organised passport photos, bought Mia's birthday presents and a very large block of chocolate for her class, drank lovely coffee and ate some traditional Dutch food, such as uitsmijters, krokets and bitterballen.
The breaking up of the huge block of chocolate! I wonder if Mia will have to take a hammer to school to break up her piece of chocolate but I know the children will love it!

More chocolates but we resisted the tempation to purchase any of this yummy stuff.
Then we went back home to Houten, with its cycling roads, woods and friendly people.

At meubel land today

My bike went to the cycle shop today to have an expensive fitting of gadgets so Walter and I went out in the car, which was quite a novelty for me! No tip run either! We went to Ikea for free coffee and appelgebak. Walter has spent so much time in Ikea lately that he has become a valued customer.
Me looking very happy with my coffee and cake. I am not sure how happy Walter is but even the Ikea cafeteria is gezellig! See the low slung lighting! Then we visited the Meubel (furniture) Boulevard where there was an amazing amount of designer furniture, at a price of course.
Some of it was quite over the top! A slinky bedroom!
This couch was extremely large and it rocked! Interesting concept!Transformation. I have become a designer hen!

Mia partly dressed as St Nicholas with Connie's wedding finery on her head. Looking very swish!
Our bikes after their expensive refits. I know they look the same but I can assure you they are more comfortable to ride!
The work on the loft area is still taking shape. The study has walls and a light now. It also has a beautiful view over the woods.
And the laundry has a window, a small sink (to the left) and a bench to sort the clothes on.
The wardrobes are finished, but did not photograph well due to the lovely shiny white doors. But the rest of the bedroom is taking shape too.And I forgot to say that the sun has been shining for the past two days. Wonderful!

Work Continuing

We continue with the work!

The loft room (Aaron and Kylie's bedroom) is now receiving its second wardrobe fitting as I write this.

Walter and Aaron looking very happy as they have achieved success with the wardrobes at long last! The roof slopes which makes the job very difficult.
Aldert has finished moving the doorway and has put walls in to separate the laundry and study from the small hallway. I think Kylie must be getting sick of vacuming up all the dust each day.

I moved the barbeque, outside toy box, roofbox and other bits and pieces onto the old garden bed (covered in plastic) in readiness for the building of the back extension.

Mia and Abi discovering items from their outside toy box, not seen since leaving Norwich!

There will be a 2 1/2 metre extension on the back of the house, which will give so much extra room inside the house plus lots of light as it will have glass in the roof. Raphy now escapes everytime the door is left open. So much to discover!

There is now a garden seat at the front of the house, rather than lots of rubbish. A lovely place to sit in the sunshine, when there is time!
In between all of this we have been out on our bikes, exploring the local area. Walter now has an extension on the stalk holding his handlebars so he no longer has to bend over when riding his bike. He also has a lock fitted on his back wheel. I am going to get the same done to my bike on Wednesday. The Dutch tend to ride their bikes sitting up, which is much more comfortable than leaning forward.

Mia (on her green machine) and Abi enjoying playing in the sunshine. The weather is warm as well.

Busy

The sky is grey again! It is obvious that we will have to just get on with life and not be distracted by sunshine. The Dutch, being a hardy lot, are out riding their cycles as usual.

More trips to the tip/recycling area, which is very impressive and very well organised. You try not to leave any mess when you unload the car otherwise you might get into trouble. There are lots of people watching you.

The girls helped me cut down the small trees in the patch of garden at the back, then Walter very kindly finished off and dug out the roots.

The area before we started, it really was overgrown, although it does not look it!

Getting there!
All finished!
The new hob is installed, great to use and will not explode like the last hob.

The old hob, looking more smashed after Aldert got to work on it! The new hob, looking very new and shiny.
This evening we went to a fund raising event at de Brug school, where each class organised activities and items for sale. The proceeds (1200 Euros) will go to children in Nepal. The school has a web site http://www.obs-debrug.nl/ which is very informative, as long as you can read Dutch of course, but the website also has lots of photographs of the children and the activities they undertake. There is one of Mia practising her Dutch with three girls from Group 8 (Year 7) and a couple of photos 0f her taken at the recent Carnival celebrations.

We are getting ready for one of Mia's teachers, who came to lunch today. Very exciting!

All go here!

Today was sunny - such bliss! The last time I was here this scene was shrouded in mist.
Aldert has returnd to the job after a week away so it is all go again here. Today he put in a velux type window into the laundry upstairs plus altered the door into Aaron and Kylie's bedroom.
Walter and Kylie took away three loads of rubbish to the tip, while I cleared up the back patio area.
Looking happy!
Lots of cardboard!
Mia's bedroom is finished - very sunny and a great view of the street.All in order.
The bathroom is finished - such luxury. The bath is reflected in the mirror. The blue tiles look very Mediterranean! Tomorrow Walter and Kylie will be off to Ikea to buy wardrobes, doors, a hob (the last one exploded) and a new bed. I am going to tackle the self sown trees in the tiny patch of garden. I believe it is going to be sunny again.

Off to Holland

This morning we tied the bicycles onto our new cycle carrier and left home, in order to travel to Holland. The sun was shining! Fantastic. We caught the 10 am ferry (DFDS Seaways - once Norfolk Lines) from Dover to Dunkerque. It was still sunny, the sea was smooth, the coffee very good and the chairs extremely comfortable and we thought we were on a cruise for two hours. Well we were in a way. The ferry is very modern and is certainly better than P and O and Sea France. It is also much cheaper too.

The view from the side windows of the ferry. Looks like summer time! Walter looking happy and relaxed!
A view inside the ferry. I love the big windows!

When we got to Holland the sun was still shining and it is predicted to be so for the next few days. Too good to be true.