Week 53 Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

Not much this week. I've been laid low with flu... again! The TV news mentioned a "griep epidemie" (flu epidemic) and suggested that "going to bed is probably the best remedy" - so I did!

Finally had to go to the doctor by Friday - as much to report that Janny's Dad was also suffering but less inclined to go to a doctor than me. But, seeing he is 84 we thought we should at least mention it. My point was that it was knocking me about so much, then what must it be doing to him?

Now I mention it here just to make note of the general philosophy in the Netherlands of NOT handing out prescription drugs unnecessarily. A good thing. So we came away with something for Janny's Dad and a bit of sympathy for me.

A short trip to Amsterdam

Ben came to stay with us on Christmas Eve - so we had a roast with Janny's parents. A full on roast with all the extras is not a "normal" thing - at least with people I know - so it always goes down well if I get an appreciative audience.

On Christmas Day we took Ben back to Amsterdam and stayed in his hotel room again - ah, what a life - at his age!

We did the Public Transport and Shanks' Pony thing to get around - it's starting to feel quite familiar - Ben certainly knows his way around.

We had Chinese food at a restaurant full of Chinese people - a good sign, surely?

Many of the streets were lit up for Christmas, but it felt as though there were fewer people than normal - it is always so busy with tourists!

Boxing Day (known here as the 2nd Christmas Day - tweede kerstdag) saw us back in Amsterdam finding places for coffee and food - again!. 

Our highlight was The Hoxton - very cosy and reeking of luxury. We saw students working away on their laptops - apparently OK so long as they keep buying something during the course of the day. Ben added it to his list of "places to go" to study - he might need it again if he chooses to do another Bachelor of Something or Other.

Who knows? I might even dare one day to check out the accommodation prices if our cheap rooms are no longer available.

Ha, the website even has a photo of where we sat - and the table behind where the students were working...

Ben went off to see some friends and we headed back to...

Wijnjewoude.

With the Old Man tucked into bed Janny set about cleaning out one of the Dark Cupboards.

The rear of the house, which used to house animals, has a steep roof. I couldn't think how to describe it but the lower corners have been made into cupboards - quite a lot of storage space, actually. And what happens if there is a lot of space and a lot of "stuff"? The Hoarder in Chief has somewhere for everything.

(It has also been handy for the DIY computer systems manager to hardwire the whole house for computer and television cables).

The point of this little aside is to say that Janny found lots of "stuff" (what else?) including some old photos and "knuffels" (soft toys) of Ben's. (and only three more dark cupboards to go!).

Ben, black top, centre

On that note, having done my early Sunday morning thing, I'm off to bed again!

From last week...

I found out what WAJONG means - 

De Wet Arbeidsongeschiktheidsvoorziening JONgGehandicapten

My translation: The Law "work unsuitable provision for young handicapped". Obviously much easier to say WAJONG - but it does help if your audience has a bit of a clue.

Wishing you all the best for next year!