A family Christmas in Houten, Netherlands

Christmas is long past, and I must get this blog written, otherwise we will be onto the next event in our lives.

We had a lovely family Christmas in Houten, with Aaron, Kylie, Mia, Abi and Raphy.    Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel also came with us, and we were a merry little group, despite the ravages of flu which hit some members of the family.   Isabel was recovering from the flu, Jackson came down with it on the first day there, and Kylie started to show the first signs of flu at the end of the visit.   

Walter was still recovering from his knee replacement operation, having only had it eighteen days beforehand.    Although we were worried about how he would manage the long drive, it went very well, and he made quite rapid progress during the five days we were there.

We set off early on the Saturday morning, and arrived at the channel tunnel entrance in Folkestone in plenty of time.    This was just as well as the queues through the French and British border control areas were long and moved slowly.    

Finally we managed to drive the car onto the train.    For those people from Australia and New Zealand who have not travelled on this train, I need to explain how it works.    The trains, double height, are very long, with each carriage holding about four or five cars.   Safety barrier doors are closed between each carriage, in case of fire.   There are special carriages for coaches.   So basically you drove the car onto the train, and are directed either upstairs or downstairs, then when you are close to the car in front, you turn off the engine, put the handbrake on, and open the car windows.   When the train is loaded, the train leaves, travels through the tunnel under the sea, and at the end you drove off.    The trip takes about 35 minutes.

There are special trains for trucks.   These trains are open sided.    It is a very busy tunnel, as the Eurostar trains also travel through it, and I believe the company is aiming to have a train pass through every two minutes.   On each line.

The problem with the train we were on, was that it had problems with its communication system, and after a lengthy time we were all told to drive off and board another train.    So the 35 minute journey ended up in a delay of another hour.   We noticed that the trains, which have been running for more than twenty years, desperately need updating.   The trains we were on had faulty inner doors and toilets which did not work, and of course there was the one with a non working communication system.

Walter stretching his legs while waiting for the first train to leave, which it did not of course.

It was a very easy drive to the Netherlands, on a motorway that was noticeably quiet without trucks, motorhomes and caravans.

Walter and I stayed at the Valk Hotel, which was about a ten minute drive from Aaron and Kylie's house.   A very tall thin hotel which stands out amongst the low lying buildings and farmland.   It was extremely busy each day of the holiday period, with enormous family and friend gatherings.   Walter was told they were catering for 1200 people for each sitting, the afternoon one and then the evening one.    When we arrived back at about 10.30 on Christmas Day the hotel was heaving with people.   Party time!

Breakfast was always interesting, with plenty of sweet pastries, rolls and cakes plus the usual boiled eggs, cold meats and cheese laid out in a clean and orderly manner. They also cooked omelettes and fried eggs.   The dining room was beautifully lit, with mood lighting and candles and small decorations scattered around.    The Dutch really know how to make things very cosy and atmospheric.   Gezellig!

We were fascinated by the chocolate fountain, together with the accompanying strawberries and small biscuits.     And a soft serve ice cream machine, not shown in the photograph below.   It was amazing how many people were eating soft serve ice creams and chocolate covered desserts, at 8 a.m. in the morning.

 This cream and strawberry filled sponge cake looked absolutely delicious, but not for breakfast.   I think the sweet cakes and desserts were specially provided because it was Christmas.

It was fantastic getting together with Aaron and Kylie and the children and we had much fun together, eating plenty of chocolates and biscuits, talking and playing cards.

Plus singing carols on Christmas Eve.  A very musical time.

Christmas Day did not start early, thank goodness for older children, and Raphy, being the youngest child, was very patient.   There were lots of presents to open, with plenty for everyone, and we spent a very happy few hours admiring each other's presents.

We kept the curtains closed, as it was a very dark and dim morning which added to the Christmas Day magic.

Kylie cooked a delicious turkey dinner, with all the trimmings.    She had made a stuffing, which she gave to the butcher who then put it into the turkey breast, together with a bit of butcher made seasoning because he thought it needed a bit more!   It was extremely tasty and the vegetables were cooked to perfection.   It was all so delicious we were too full for the Christmas pudding, so ate it that evening.   I had made it a couple of months ago.  It was doused with plenty of burning brandy!

A great family day.

On Boxing Day we drove to Toverland, a theme park with many indoor rides and activities.   It was  mostly to celebrate Raphy's birthday which was on the 30th December, and partly to celebrate Abi's birthday, which was on the 5th December.

The park was very busy, but apparently Christmas Day was even busier.  Christmas is celebrated a little differently in the Netherlands.  I cannot imagine places being open here.

I think the climbing frames and connecting bridge were very creative. and challenging too.

There were plenty of places selling chips.   However I am also fascinated by the heated self service hatches which sell croquetten and the other Dutch favourite frikandellen.   I think Steve bought a croquette.   I forgot to ask him if it was okay, but he did not complain of indigestion afterwards.

A huge wooden roller coaster, and the ride just goes on forever, or so it seemed to me when I rode on it once.   Raphy was very proud of the fact that he was now tall enough to ride it.

I did go on the water ride, and managed to get very wet and cold.

I also went on the toboggan ride, which was not too fast, just perfect,

but the only problem was getting out of the toboggan at the end.   I can no longer get up from a sitting position, especially one that is still moving.   I had to be hauled out by Emma, Steve and Aaron.   And not very elegantly either.

It was a long drive there and back, about 1 1/2 hours each way, but the children loved it so much, that it was worth the long drive.

We stopped at a McDonald's restaurant on the way home.   A perfect way to finish a fun filled day. 

While we were away Walter spent a leisurely day at the hotel, observing the hundreds of guests enjoying themselves.   He also ate very well in the restaurant.

The next afternoon we said our reluctant goodbyes to Aaron, Kylie and Raphy and set off towards Calais.   Mia and Abi came with us, as they were going to Norwich for New Year.

It was a reasonable drive back until we came to Bruges where we hit atrocious weather, with vertical heavy rain and a high wind.   In the end I drove behind a truck, as it stood out clearly in the dark, wind and rain.

There were horrendously long queues at the Channel Tunnel entrance, due to the very slow checking of passports at the British Border Control.   So delays again.   Altogether a thirty five minute train trip certainly ends up taking a very long time.   However, on this occasion we were relieved not to be sitting in a ferry on very rough seas. 

And back home we continued our holiday celebrations, with New Years Eve at Emma and Steve's house. and a 70th birthday party at our neighbour's house.    The girls spent a week in Norwich and had a fantastic time with their friends.   They also managed travelling by themselves very well, with a train journey to Norwich and then a plane journey from Gatwick to Schiphol.  We were very proud of them.

They went shopping with Isabel in Bromley, and met up with Steve and Jackson for afternoon tea.   A very special time.

The only mishap, was when I caught my hand in the lift door at the Valk Hotel.   The lift door closed very promptly when people exited the lift, and there was no time to press the 'door open' button when the next person entered the lift.  I did not realise this.   My hand lost quite a bit of skin and was very sore.  The hotel staff gave me some plasters.   I knew I was in the Netherlands. 'Toughen up and get on with it'.