After a shower, I walked barefoot outside, and the hard ridges on the grey weathered timber deck dug into my feet and transmitted an instant message to my brain; it was cold.
The rest of my body soon caught on, so Im now sitting outside, wearing all the warm clothes that I brought, drinking coffee that has gone cold sooner than it normally would, and eating that old Netherlander breakfast favourite , muesli.
The cold off the lake has done a 180 degree turn, and is now at my side, creeping down the neck of my jacket. Im not freezing, but Im not cozy. Still, I will stay out here, because watching the shimmer of light on the lake, and looking out towards the fleet of wooden boats moored at the club about 40 metres away, is as peaceful and calming as it needs to be at this time of the day. Everyone else is still in bed.
The only movement I can see is the long narrow National flags fluttering on top of the boat masts, and
With the onset of winter approaching - so glad I wont be here for that - people, am I game enough to say husbands, predominantly - are hanging off hedges and snuggling into the banks of the canals, hedge trimmers in hand, cutting back the overhanging bushes, and pulling the remnants to the canal edge for recovery.
This is generally performed by men, because from my personal experience, women generally arent as careless with evaluating the safety of a job, before leaping in, and often, limping home. Just my experience, thats all.
All of these little machines scream like a chainsaw, and Id take a bet that hearing protection is nowhere to be found. Theyre just not in the macho guidelines.
The advice Ive usually ignored from my wife consists of that LOOK, and a disapproving shake of the head, as she turns to leave the danger zone.
been voted as the best place that most of us have stayed. Not the building itself, although it is modern and well appointed, but rather the setting. This would be a million dollar home in Melbourne, even though it is small. In this town, a canal view or direct access is almost a given. It is very warm, the back wall is entirely glass, to take advantage of the outlook, and the lawns and gardens are manicured to an inch of their lives. It looks like personal pride and a expectation that you keep your portion of waterfront groomed shows is on show wherever you look. Maybe they are culturally just orderly people.
Another factor to mind is the mess there is to clean up once autumn has passed and the trees and bushes are bare. I know in Spain the local municipalities prune the trees along the town roads and in the plazas, into tight little knuckles, in order to get ahead of the leaves falling. It makes sense, and would a Spaniard lie to me?
Dinner last night was at a popular restaurant, De Lichtfabriek, set up in a converted light manufacturing factory from the early 19th century. The dominant feature of its layout seems to be the lighting, but maybe thats just a coincidence. A large original gantry with cogs, chains and pulley wheels still spans the room, hanging high above the diners, but theres nothing 19th century about the food. The waiting staff were very attentive and efficient, with the menu being a mix of local dishes and asian food. We capped off a long but fulfilling day with an evening stroll along the nearby canals.
Sue, Tim, and I visited Delft today, a town in the country of Holland. Natalia had to stay behind and work.
Its a beautiful place to visit on a cold day. There are warm cafes everywhere, and cakes to match the coffee. The bike culture is the most noticeable form of transport. Families ride as groups, mothers pick up children from school and ride home together. I noticed a couple of mums leading a couple of
children home, while bending over, holding the handlebars of a toddler, not quite able to go it alone. They remind me of ducklings being led to safety by mother duck.
