i am now going to console myself with a glass of red wine.
beer and lemonade is not good enough.
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Frustration!
i first i had no internet, then i couldn' t upload the photos and now i have lost the one and only key to the security lock on my computer. well i have another key but it is attached to our caravan keys in the south of france! what a pain! how can you lose a key in a motor home. easily. i lost my glasses for 6 months. they were eventually found under the pump when it was replaced. amazing! we have looked everywhere so have given up and am trying to blog by using my blackberry. no capital letters at the moment. in the meantime the computer is attached by its security cable to the front passenger seat. i have suggested to walter that he should take the seat apart so i can get my computer out. he just laughed so i take it he is not interested in this idea!
Saturday, 14 May 2011
Blauer See, Garsen, Germany
Sunday was Mother’s Day in Holland and Germany, (and I believe in South Africa and Australia also) so there were lots of family gatherings and an abundance of flowers around!
We are currently camping, well at least we are in a camping ground even if we are not roughing it in a tent, by a manmade lake called Blauer See. This lake, as well as the large one in Hannover, which is about 18 kms away, was made when the motorway to Berlin was constructed during the 1930’s. It was the idea of the engineers of the time to dig huge holes, which could be made into lakes, and use the earth to built motorways. Very good!
We are lucky enough to get a site beside the lake, with a great view of a very interesting water skiing format. There is a high wire running around the centre of the lake, with long cables attached. The skiers, who are on ski boards, hold onto the cable and ski along at a reasonable pace, and do amazing twists and turns on the ski jumps. I feel sorry for the water skiers who fall off as they have to swim to the edge and walk back to the start again. That would be me, over and over again!
We did have a little mishap when we arrived! After we went through the usual ‘Is the van facing the right way?’ and ‘Perhaps we should turn the van around and face another way’, Walter reversed the van out and hit the grey container in front of the light post. Luckily the bike rack took the full impact. We now have a dented bike rack, which is preferable to a dented motor home. We then decided that the best position for the van was the initial position. Typical! 
This is our first visit to northern Germany and I do hope the people cheer up a bit! So far we have only encountered very dour people, who look at you gloomily when you smile or say ‘hello’! Or even worse, glower at you! This is very off putting!
We have been for three bike rides, including one which required some skill in negotiating tree roots and low branches. Thankfully we are now very fit, due to all the fast rides up and down hills around Joydon’s Wood and Swanley.
We have also spent time sitting in the sun reading. Walter is making good use of his binoculars! I am not sure what he is looking at as there did not appear to be much life around this morning.
It is fresh asparagus, fresh witlof (chicory) and fresh strawberry time. Last night we ate white asparagus with beenham (leg ham), new potatoes and boiled eggs and topped it with a béchamel sauce. Tonight we ate witlof with beenham and cheese. We followed both meals with fresh strawberries. I have learnt to take the bitter centre out of the witlof and to peel the white asparagus. Gourmet meals!
We have been here two days now and will reluctantly leave tomorrow morning, destination Berlin. Luckily we realised we needed a special sticker to say that our van meets the emission regulations for cities in Germany and organised it today. Otherwise we will be fined €40.
We are currently camping, well at least we are in a camping ground even if we are not roughing it in a tent, by a manmade lake called Blauer See. This lake, as well as the large one in Hannover, which is about 18 kms away, was made when the motorway to Berlin was constructed during the 1930’s. It was the idea of the engineers of the time to dig huge holes, which could be made into lakes, and use the earth to built motorways. Very good!
We are lucky enough to get a site beside the lake, with a great view of a very interesting water skiing format. There is a high wire running around the centre of the lake, with long cables attached. The skiers, who are on ski boards, hold onto the cable and ski along at a reasonable pace, and do amazing twists and turns on the ski jumps. I feel sorry for the water skiers who fall off as they have to swim to the edge and walk back to the start again. That would be me, over and over again! We did have a little mishap when we arrived! After we went through the usual ‘Is the van facing the right way?’ and ‘Perhaps we should turn the van around and face another way’, Walter reversed the van out and hit the grey container in front of the light post. Luckily the bike rack took the full impact. We now have a dented bike rack, which is preferable to a dented motor home. We then decided that the best position for the van was the initial position. Typical! This is our first visit to northern Germany and I do hope the people cheer up a bit! So far we have only encountered very dour people, who look at you gloomily when you smile or say ‘hello’! Or even worse, glower at you! This is very off putting! We have been for three bike rides, including one which required some skill in negotiating tree roots and low branches. Thankfully we are now very fit, due to all the fast rides up and down hills around Joydon’s Wood and Swanley.
We have also spent time sitting in the sun reading. Walter is making good use of his binoculars! I am not sure what he is looking at as there did not appear to be much life around this morning. It is fresh asparagus, fresh witlof (chicory) and fresh strawberry time. Last night we ate white asparagus with beenham (leg ham), new potatoes and boiled eggs and topped it with a béchamel sauce. Tonight we ate witlof with beenham and cheese. We followed both meals with fresh strawberries. I have learnt to take the bitter centre out of the witlof and to peel the white asparagus. Gourmet meals! We have been here two days now and will reluctantly leave tomorrow morning, destination Berlin. Luckily we realised we needed a special sticker to say that our van meets the emission regulations for cities in Germany and organised it today. Otherwise we will be fined €40.
Friday, 6 May 2011
Holland Again
Last Sunday we arrived back in Houten, which was clothed in greenery. The woods at the back are a solid bank of green undergrowth and green leaves and the sunshine on the leaves gives off a shimmering effect. The hedges at the front are green and some of the trees are still in full bloom. Absolutely beautiful.
The children are really happy to be outside in the warmth.
Yesterday was Liberation Day. Obviously someone decided that a hot air balloon in the shape of a condom was an appropriate way to celebrate the day. There were people in the basket under the balloon. It can only happen in Holland! 
The children are really happy to be outside in the warmth.
Yesterday was Liberation Day. Obviously someone decided that a hot air balloon in the shape of a condom was an appropriate way to celebrate the day. There were people in the basket under the balloon. It can only happen in Holland!
Allure de Lucht
On Monday we took Mia and Abi to a campsite called Allure de Lucht. It is somewhere in the countryside, about 50 kms from Houten and on the way to Apeldoorn. The trouble is we left our Netherland maps in the UK so precise details are unknown. Thank goodness Ken (our SAT NAV) took us to the campsite and back to Houten successfully.
It was a holiday park, with the usual bar and fast food restaurant, swimming pool, activities, and on site caravans (lots of them). It used to be a farm so the countryside around was very rural. It was a lovely spot and we enjoyed the few days there.
Catching the sunshine on the terrace
The playground contained gym equipment for adults. Although they were metal, they were beautifully balanced and easy to use. No health and safety signs either. And children were allowed to use them too. I am trying out the step machine!
The children, with their Oma, making music shakers.
Mia and Abi with their finished products.
I have only one complaint about the site. The swimming pool, although undercover, is not heated. One needed plenty of stamina to get into it and swim a few lengths. All I wanted was a lovely warm pool to laze about in, instead of a bracing one, which required lots of action in order to stop the cold from getting through to your bones.
It was a holiday park, with the usual bar and fast food restaurant, swimming pool, activities, and on site caravans (lots of them). It used to be a farm so the countryside around was very rural. It was a lovely spot and we enjoyed the few days there.
Catching the sunshine on the terrace
The playground contained gym equipment for adults. Although they were metal, they were beautifully balanced and easy to use. No health and safety signs either. And children were allowed to use them too. I am trying out the step machine! The children, with their Oma, making music shakers.Mia and Abi with their finished products.
I have only one complaint about the site. The swimming pool, although undercover, is not heated. One needed plenty of stamina to get into it and swim a few lengths. All I wanted was a lovely warm pool to laze about in, instead of a bracing one, which required lots of action in order to stop the cold from getting through to your bones. So today Mia, Abi and I went to a lovely leisure pool in Utrecht, where the water was warm, there were lots of chairs to laze about on, with glass overhead so the air was warm and tropical, and coffee, fries and ice creams readily available. Bliss!
Monday, 25 April 2011
Painting the wall of the house
My fingernails are torn to shreds but I have completed the painting of our part of the south wall of the house. Thankfully Scott contributed a fair bit to the painting, especially the high parts as I am not keen on heights. He also did not mind sitting on the conservatory roof in the heat. Thank you Scott.
The beginning - The untidy and tacky wall of the courtyard.
For those people who live down under, this is a closeup of pebble dashing. 
Scott starting to paint, which required dabbing rather than brushing. Very painstaking and tedious.
I repaired all the holes in the wall. I ignored Scott's advice which was to push little pebbles into the plaster so that the finished job would have the same texture as the rest of the wall. I agree with Scott in theory on this one!
Scott developed a sun tan on top of the conservatory roof. The wood is the remains of a previous owner's attempt at building a pergola. Sadly we have many dodgy repair jobs on the bottom part of the house walls. We have ignored them for nineteen years.
I am also sitting down but in the shade!
The work is complete! Not much you might say, but the wall took two of us seven hours to paint. Dab, dab, dab. Tedious! Looks very good though.
Then I decided to wash the conservatory roof. Walter bought a new ladder which changes into a platform. Fantastic for jobs like this.
Finally we hung the wall art that Emma and Steve gave me for Christmas. Looks really good! Perhaps I should have painted the downpipe to match the wall.
Where was Walter while all this painting was taking place? He kept well out of the way! He did make some lovely rhubarb and orange jam which was successful because he did not have me giving unwanted advice.
The beginning - The untidy and tacky wall of the courtyard.
For those people who live down under, this is a closeup of pebble dashing. 
Scott starting to paint, which required dabbing rather than brushing. Very painstaking and tedious.
I repaired all the holes in the wall. I ignored Scott's advice which was to push little pebbles into the plaster so that the finished job would have the same texture as the rest of the wall. I agree with Scott in theory on this one!
Scott developed a sun tan on top of the conservatory roof. The wood is the remains of a previous owner's attempt at building a pergola. Sadly we have many dodgy repair jobs on the bottom part of the house walls. We have ignored them for nineteen years.
I am also sitting down but in the shade!
The work is complete! Not much you might say, but the wall took two of us seven hours to paint. Dab, dab, dab. Tedious! Looks very good though.
Then I decided to wash the conservatory roof. Walter bought a new ladder which changes into a platform. Fantastic for jobs like this.
Finally we hung the wall art that Emma and Steve gave me for Christmas. Looks really good! Perhaps I should have painted the downpipe to match the wall.
Where was Walter while all this painting was taking place? He kept well out of the way! He did make some lovely rhubarb and orange jam which was successful because he did not have me giving unwanted advice. And the other three walls of the house. I think we will get a quote to have them done by someone who can spray paint the walls.
Tuesday, 19 April 2011
Cleanup in the garden
The weather was glorious today so I knew that there was no putting off the very pressing jobs in the garden and the preparation for the small courtyard transformation. I have been tripping over the tin of paint and wall repairer stuff for more than two weeks. So I put together the tools of trade, mainly the electric hedge trimmer, as I knew that the clematis needed drastic measures.
Of course I was a little distracted by the back garden, which had been tidied previously. All the seeds are in the vegetable patch, fighting the moles, foxes and local cats. Everything looks fresh and green. Unfortunately the clothes line is most unattractive. It will not fold down and Walter assures me it was not cheap. I could have easily spent the day lying on the sun lounge soaking up the sunshine.
The cherry tree in full bloom. The cherries will be plentiful, although very sour, they are great for stewing and using with ice cream. The birds love them! 
The small courtyard will soon get a makeover! I hope it all goes well.
The arch covered in clematis and honeysuckle waiting to be tackled with the hedge trimmers.
After decimating the creepers the arch is very bare but hopefully my hard work will result in a wonderful show of white flowers next spring.
Off to the tip with the conifers which were cut down two months ago. The tip has been closed due to renovations (new tarmac). Walter made four trips today to make up for lost time.
This weekend has been allocated to the task of repairing and painting the wall in the courtyard. But how to camouflage downpipes, a water tap, a drain and a hose that is permanently attached to the tap. These very necessary items do not fit into my landscaping dream!
The cherry tree in full bloom. The cherries will be plentiful, although very sour, they are great for stewing and using with ice cream. The birds love them! The small courtyard will soon get a makeover! I hope it all goes well.The arch covered in clematis and honeysuckle waiting to be tackled with the hedge trimmers.After decimating the creepers the arch is very bare but hopefully my hard work will result in a wonderful show of white flowers next spring.Off to the tip with the conifers which were cut down two months ago. The tip has been closed due to renovations (new tarmac). Walter made four trips today to make up for lost time.This weekend has been allocated to the task of repairing and painting the wall in the courtyard. But how to camouflage downpipes, a water tap, a drain and a hose that is permanently attached to the tap. These very necessary items do not fit into my landscaping dream! Sunday, 17 April 2011
Warwick
On Thursday we travelled up to Warwickshire with Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel. The weather was coolish and mostly overcast. Except for the last day when we woke to brilliant sunshine. The camping ground, Doddwell Park, Stratford upon Avon. A lovely level site and close to the toilet block. 
We first walked around Stratford upon Avon, which is very picturesque and full of signs which mentioned Shakespeare. Jackson and Isabel tried to count them but gave up because there were so many.
We finally managed to find a park bench! 
On Friday we visited Warwick Castle, which has heaps of history and one of the best castles I have ever visited. The origins of the castle began in the Saxon era, and it has continued to be associated with the Earls of Warwick until it was sold in 1978. It also has connections with many kings over the centuries and the site of some horrible battles. Now it is owned by the Merlin Entertainments Group, who have set up some fantastic displays, such as The State Rooms, Kingmaker and A Royal Weekend Party. The characters in the rooms are very realistic and it was difficult sometimes to tell the wax dummies from the real life actors, who played their parts very well. There were also displays and we watched the trebuchet sending a ball of fire into the air, and a display of the birds of prey.
We first walked around Stratford upon Avon, which is very picturesque and full of signs which mentioned Shakespeare. Jackson and Isabel tried to count them but gave up because there were so many. 
We finally managed to find a park bench! 
On Friday we visited Warwick Castle, which has heaps of history and one of the best castles I have ever visited. The origins of the castle began in the Saxon era, and it has continued to be associated with the Earls of Warwick until it was sold in 1978. It also has connections with many kings over the centuries and the site of some horrible battles. Now it is owned by the Merlin Entertainments Group, who have set up some fantastic displays, such as The State Rooms, Kingmaker and A Royal Weekend Party. The characters in the rooms are very realistic and it was difficult sometimes to tell the wax dummies from the real life actors, who played their parts very well. There were also displays and we watched the trebuchet sending a ball of fire into the air, and a display of the birds of prey. The entrance to the castle.
We were subjected to the stocks before we even started the tour. Not good for my knees!
A view of the inner part of the castle.
I look happy and relaxed but inwardly I am terrified because we are high up in the tower. I hate heights!
We were subjected to the stocks before we even started the tour. Not good for my knees!
A view of the inner part of the castle. 
I look happy and relaxed but inwardly I am terrified because we are high up in the tower. I hate heights! 
A reassuring hand on a very young Winston Churchill's shoulder. But he is not interested. He probably feels inadequate due to the fact that I am taller than him! 
A view of the gardens (plus Steve and me) with the trebuchet on the left hand side of the picture.
A serious game of Uno! Although I did not win, at least I did not come last. It would appear that Emma and Steve's tactics are worse then mine!
Our pop up tent is fantastic until you try to fold it up. It has quite mysterious instructions which are not logical.
Altogether it was another lovely few days, and sad that it all came to an end. So it was back to Bexley and Walter's birthday tea.
A view of the gardens (plus Steve and me) with the trebuchet on the left hand side of the picture. 
A serious game of Uno! Although I did not win, at least I did not come last. It would appear that Emma and Steve's tactics are worse then mine!
Our pop up tent is fantastic until you try to fold it up. It has quite mysterious instructions which are not logical. 
Altogether it was another lovely few days, and sad that it all came to an end. So it was back to Bexley and Walter's birthday tea.
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