We were on vacation in the Netherlands most of the first two weeks of August.
Weather, while mostly grey and drizzley, was not outright hostile, and more importantly, wasn’t scorchingly hot, as European summers sometimes become.
First two nights were spent in Rotterdam – which isn’t that interesting but has a few good sights (and is about a 20 minutes drive from the Hague.)
Then we house-sat for some friends in the Hague, from which we visited Delft and Leiden as well. They were happy to have someone to keep an eye on their house (and walk their dogs!) – we were very happy with the free accomodations!
Finally, we spent 4 nights on mattresses in another friends flat in Amsterdam. Including showing all the kids what the Red Lights district really looks like, close up. I think (hope) it killed any romanticism they felt about that particular Meat Market.
I remember Amsterdam circa 1978–my camera got stolen. And there were a lot of canals. That’s all I remember (well, I was “dating” a cute guy from a different HS who was on our tour with us). Don’t give me that look–I used to have FUN. Anyhoo, that is my memory of the Netherlands. It was nice (except the camera). I missed the hookers in the windows, though… It sounds like you had a nice getaway. Good for you!
Glad the Dope is back. I’ve been busy today. First off, if you like dry British humor AND happy endings, you must read Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson. It’s fantastic and I had a great time with it. 1930s London. Go for it.
Also, I ended up cleaning out the old preschool toys from the basement. I threw most of them away (they had long been cannibalized). And I washed the bathroom rugs, because I’m one who knows how to live!
TH is at the Air and Water Show today with #2 son. #1 son is downtown with friends (but not at the A&W show). Daughter is working out. I’m alone…bring on the hookers and blow!
Nice photos! Looks like lots of fun was had by all, and that there was much pretty scenery all around. Colour me jealous.
I have not yet been to The Netherlands, but I hope to get there someday… eventually… there are lots and lots of beautiful places in this world, and I seem to be lacking the money and time to visit them all in the next couple of years (or perhaps even in this lifetime, sadly). I guess the universe just doesn’t agree with my conviction that I am destined for a life of luxury and indolence. Sigh.
Cake is finished and looks rather pretty (if I do say so myself), but I’m too full to eat any of it. I nibbled on so much ganache and icing and genoise, and am now stuffed to the gills. In fact, I’m not even sure if there’s room in my belly for dinner.
I’ve just returned from my workout session at the Y. Hoo boy, I didn’t feel well and didn’t want to go, but I’m glad I did. I feel surprisingly better. I must have sweated out the toxins.
It’s another hot day here, but they say it’s supposed to start cooling down.
Thanks, SpecialOne - you certainly do have vacations to great places!! I’d love to see the Netherlands some time but in the mean time I can do so vicariously through your pics. And it looks like the kids had fun too! Hah, though, did you go to any of the coffeehouses in Amsterdam? wink nudge
It’s been an uneventful weekend for me - except for the Dope crashing yet again. Bah, hope that can be fixed permanently - I mean, so that it doesn’t happen again! I’m glad too that it’s not quite Monday yet here. LOL It will be soon enough!
Wow, your kids are getting big, SO. Sounds like a fun vacation. I’ve never been to the Netherlands, either, but I wanna go!!!
Sounds like a good book, rigs.
Brother and kids are gone. I’ve finished watering everything (why does it refuse to rain???0 and need to get to the grocery for a few veggies and fruit. And maybe some beer.
Nice pics, Nooner, looks like you all had fun. I wanna go to the Netherlands some time, I like places where you can get around easily by bike. It’s been much too long since I’ve been out of the US, of course while the whole DHS/Patriot Act shit is still in place I’m highly unlikely to travel, just on general principles. Well, general principles and the fact that having my rights abridged makes me stabby, and Gitmo is not a vacation destination I especially aspire to!
Things have been crazy busy around here, and I’m so not caught up with the MMP last weeks or even this weeks. I’ve been spending quite a bit of time away from online (except when I’m working and staffing the computer lab). I’m not anticipating being caught up on the MMP’s anytime soon. I do want to keep the **recipe blog ** up to date.
Can you **PLEASE ** either email me or PM me any recipes that are posted? OR if anyone uses blogger and is willing to post them with who submitted them, I can give you permission on the blog. If you are interested, please either email or PM me, so I don’t miss your post here!!
Thanks all!
Oh and **Lunch ** great pics!!! It sounds like you had a wonderful time. I’m jealous.
A new MMP and spaz snark. Did I just die and get into heaven?
Sounds like a good time was had by all Special1.
I’ve been doin’ yard work. I finished just before six o’ clock here. I came in and took a shower. I went on the back porch with a beerverage and it started to sprinkle rain a little bit. Five minutes later it was a deluge that’s still goin’. Come on down I say! I pulled a bunch of weeds and grass that tend to grow up around the river rock by the pool. I could just spray the area but I have actual plants I want to live planted there so pull weeds and grass I must from time to time.
Nice pics, Nooner - glad you had a nice vacation. I hope to vacation some day before I die…
We finished all the drywalling that required use of the lift. **FCD ** will take it back tomorrow. SIL had to go to work around noon, so sweetie, daughter, and I kept on working for about 3 more hours after he left before we pooped out. They we got cleaned up (a shower feels so good when you’re mega-grubby) and went to Famous Dave’s for supper, because **FCD ** was in the mood. Now we’re all in the chill mode, except I have a load of laundry in the dryer.
And tomorrow begins another week, and I move on to a new project. **FCD ** is taking his last 2 vacations days on Mon and Tues. Daughter is going to check out her classroom and try to meet her mentor teacher. SIL is going to the junior college to get registered for the fall semester.
I think I’m going to drug myself tonight - I need a good sleep. Last night, I don’t think I got more than 2 consecutive hours, and that came between 5:30 and 7:30AM. I’m exhausted. I need sleep. Melatonin and wine, ya think?
I am about to kill Daughter. She is pissing and moaning about the boxes needed for her move into the dorms. And yet, there are 3 empty boxes at the foot of the stairs. She’s been told.
I think this change may be huger (is so a word) for her than I realized at first, but I may strangle her before we’re done. These boxes are “big enough”. I reminded her that WE have to schlep them from the Cape house, to the car, to Boston, and to her dorm room. How big does she want them, pray?
Now she’s all bent because she says she doesn’t have enough clothes to pack her clothes and LIVE until next Wednesday. She is sorting through DVDs to take to college. (wtf?). :rolleyes: Yes, there may be a homicide yet.
Glad you enjoyed your trip, Lunch! I’ve never been to The Netherlands, but I visited Bavaria when I was 16. My uncle found a whorehouse in Salzburg, Austria, and we missed the Pope by two hours. I watch my friend DC play hockey with his other team. He only let in 1 goal. Beer at the Rec Zone is half the price of the RBC Center beer, too.
Aleq, great SpaceDawg story. Space lived an exciting life, the best Nelly has done is go tailgating at a hockey game.
Muppet, cake is made with eggs and wheat, so yes, it counts as dinner.
It sounds like you guys had a nice vacation, SpecialOne. Is that your wife in the first picture next to the kids? If so, it’s no surprise you have such cute kids, between the two of you.
Spaz snark! Yay!
I’ll read the happy SpaceDawg saga in a bit, Smartie. I have to ration myself with the reward-type stuff – finish another chunk of this godawful job, then take a reward. It’s a mind game. What can I say? It works. Even though I hate, hate, hat having to do it.
Moving into a college dorm. Ah, the sweet memories. Especially of my stuffy, strict, follow-the-rules-at-all-costs father. As we were moving my stuff in, he looked at the tiled stairwell in my dorm that was open from the 4th floor to the basement and said, “Oh, what I would give for a cherry bomb!” If you knew my father, you would understand why I nearly fainted dead away on the spot. First time I’d ever realized he knew how to have fun!
Anyway, back to the salt mines. Can someone PLEASE send the Work Fairy to my house? Pretty please? I’ll bribe it with Turkey Hill Junior Mint ice cream!!
I’d love to see the Netherlands some time but in the mean time I can do so vicariously through your pics. And it looks like the kids had fun too! Hah, though, did you go to any of the coffeehouses in Amsterdam? wink nudge
