Well, Jen came down with some kind of cold/stomach bug. Spent all day in bed wondering what was going on outside. We spoke with Florence in Dole, France and Morzine is still on, eventhough not much snow. The damn online train ticket sales are all weird, so I had to walk to the train station and buy our reservations. I set us up. I figured if we are going to travel overnight, the first time we do this, why not go in style, so first class baby! YAH!
I walked through the red light district. A bit un-nerving at moments. LOTS of people on the canal. Most curtains closed, so business booming if you know what I mean. And lots of junkies hangin around waiting for an opportunity to bother you. It was very remiscent of San Francisco, walking down the Haight, but with hookers on display.
Back to Itinerary... We leave the second, at 8:30pm and arrive in Basel around 6 am. We change trains, then off to Geneve, then walk to another station, then another train to another city, then another, then the bus to Morzine.
It is supposed to snow there for days. Jet stream looks a bit high on the radar maps, so probably not going to get much before we get there, unfortunately. We'll see. We will be leaving Morzine on the 6th, might go back to Dole for a couple of days or head back to Amsterdam. That is still quite open.
The apartment here is terrific. Minimal, but perfectly comfortable. Overlooking a canal with the city center, Newmarkt, just two blocks away. pics to come.
30 December 2006
29 December 2006
Arriving in Amsterdam
Thursday:
Jen got up, moaning and groaning, I packed before bed. Philip arrived at 10am promptly to take us on the 1.5hr drive to Stansted for our flight to Amsterdam. It was the most difficult drive yet as both Jen and I were doing our best not to puke and after 4 glasses of water, 2 juice boxes and a cup of earl grey, I was peeing every 30 minutes.
Arriving at the airport, all announcements made in like 5 different languages, we finally figured out the system and made it through security. Laying down on the benches at the gate, we took a breather, drank some lucozade and waited to our short 40 minute flight to Amsterdam.
We arrived only to find that after 3 hours of sleep, no food, and a splitting headache, we had to walk a mile to get to baggage claim. We finally made it to collect our bags and head thru customs. Sophia and Tigo were waiting on the other side with big smiles and they drove us deep into the old city. Tigo went ballistic on the way and I had to switch to driver. After a week in England, I could hardly drive correctly back on the right side of the road. We parked and walked to get some soup with our bags in hand. We then headed back to the apartment on Oudeschans to climb six flights of stairs with my pack strapped to my back and Jen's bag in my arms, to the top floor apt with beam piqued roof views of the city that won't quit.
Friday:
I have internet access, a stereo, and next... who knows!
Jen got up, moaning and groaning, I packed before bed. Philip arrived at 10am promptly to take us on the 1.5hr drive to Stansted for our flight to Amsterdam. It was the most difficult drive yet as both Jen and I were doing our best not to puke and after 4 glasses of water, 2 juice boxes and a cup of earl grey, I was peeing every 30 minutes.
Arriving at the airport, all announcements made in like 5 different languages, we finally figured out the system and made it through security. Laying down on the benches at the gate, we took a breather, drank some lucozade and waited to our short 40 minute flight to Amsterdam.
We arrived only to find that after 3 hours of sleep, no food, and a splitting headache, we had to walk a mile to get to baggage claim. We finally made it to collect our bags and head thru customs. Sophia and Tigo were waiting on the other side with big smiles and they drove us deep into the old city. Tigo went ballistic on the way and I had to switch to driver. After a week in England, I could hardly drive correctly back on the right side of the road. We parked and walked to get some soup with our bags in hand. We then headed back to the apartment on Oudeschans to climb six flights of stairs with my pack strapped to my back and Jen's bag in my arms, to the top floor apt with beam piqued roof views of the city that won't quit.
Friday:
I have internet access, a stereo, and next... who knows!
27 December 2006
Slowing Down then Speeding Up
Tuesday - Boxing Day:
I woke up, definetely worse for wear! Scott was off to America and it was 7:30 am. about 4 hours of sleep and I was happy to only be up for about 20 min saying goodbye.
Back to bed.
Then a loud and boisterous James, "Do you know what time it is?"
2pm we made it downstairs. Yesterday, we had moved to the studio, next door, above the garage, so finally got some sleep.
Called to Ron Andrew and moved our visit to Ketton farm to wednesday.
A little lunch, turkey sandwich, a rush to get out the door, and off to go shooting. A Boxing Day tradition, we got out the guns, the clay pidgeon rig strapped to the back of the truck bed, the kids and the dog piled in and we went for the 4x4 drive across 2 fields to set-up and spend about 200 shells into the air. I wasnt hittin anything... well here and there, mostly with the 20 guage, but when I moved to the 12g I was missing them all. Jen picked up the gun too and blasted away. She had a great time.
Evening came on fast and we sat down to another meal. This time a little slower.
Wednesday:
Up early to get ready to go visit Ron and Pam in Ketton. Grandad's brother. He owns most of the family farm and lives in a barn conversion next to the main farm-house (which was sold to a corporate lawyer for CAT tractors). Other family live next door in conversion and one cousin runs a horse Livery in the barns in the back.
We got the run-down on the family rift and Emma was with us and learned of Granny and Grandad's shotgun wedding after learning of pregnancy with Mom and Grandad enlisted in RAF service and off to war. He was a pilot and after Battle of Briton, was sent to Canada to train CAF and USAF pilots. He was very close with Ron for years (10 yr age split) and it was after return to UK in 1946 that the family broke apart. Grandad was stubborn and felt snubbed. Family land given to eldest and Grandad headed to Wing as a tenant farmer. He never spoke to any of the male brothers on Andrew side for 55 years.
Too bad we never knew that side of the family, they were wonderful. I think Janet and Emma will mend the broken ties and we will see a new era of family unity. Wonderful to be a part of that!
Granny fell down the stairs at Janet's and we had to cut our visit short and headed off to Peterborough to see her in hospital -- Broken Hip! damn! Just when I thought I was done with sitting bedside!
Doesn't look good for Granny. Osteoporosis and broken femur mean less than stable recovery. Her independence will now surely be lost and she will have to move in with Janet or Emma for a bit. No certain prognosis, surgery in morning.
Back to Whissendine to prepare for the next party, Mexican Night - olé.
I cooked Pollo Norteno, tacos, and all the salsa trimmings. Whipped up a make-shift margarita mix and readied for 16 guests. My second cousins arrived with their husbands and wives and other friends showed too. 14 of us (two bowed out with baby woes) and we all started in. Only a few actually had margaritas, but rest got deep into Stella Artois. Then we sat to eat. As soon as all the tortillas and burritos were devoured, the team dug in deep to tequila shots. 5 bottles of tequila, one bottle of Sambucca, 5 limes later, Biffa was barfing in the downstairs bathroom, Jen and Katey were slurring, Margaret was lying down on the table bench, James was passed out sitting up at the end of the table, and Emma and I washed the floor and tidied up as there were limes everywhere. It was good fun.
Off to bed at 4am to pack to leave in just hours time.
I woke up, definetely worse for wear! Scott was off to America and it was 7:30 am. about 4 hours of sleep and I was happy to only be up for about 20 min saying goodbye.
Back to bed.
Then a loud and boisterous James, "Do you know what time it is?"
2pm we made it downstairs. Yesterday, we had moved to the studio, next door, above the garage, so finally got some sleep.
Called to Ron Andrew and moved our visit to Ketton farm to wednesday.
A little lunch, turkey sandwich, a rush to get out the door, and off to go shooting. A Boxing Day tradition, we got out the guns, the clay pidgeon rig strapped to the back of the truck bed, the kids and the dog piled in and we went for the 4x4 drive across 2 fields to set-up and spend about 200 shells into the air. I wasnt hittin anything... well here and there, mostly with the 20 guage, but when I moved to the 12g I was missing them all. Jen picked up the gun too and blasted away. She had a great time.
Evening came on fast and we sat down to another meal. This time a little slower.
Wednesday:
Up early to get ready to go visit Ron and Pam in Ketton. Grandad's brother. He owns most of the family farm and lives in a barn conversion next to the main farm-house (which was sold to a corporate lawyer for CAT tractors). Other family live next door in conversion and one cousin runs a horse Livery in the barns in the back.
We got the run-down on the family rift and Emma was with us and learned of Granny and Grandad's shotgun wedding after learning of pregnancy with Mom and Grandad enlisted in RAF service and off to war. He was a pilot and after Battle of Briton, was sent to Canada to train CAF and USAF pilots. He was very close with Ron for years (10 yr age split) and it was after return to UK in 1946 that the family broke apart. Grandad was stubborn and felt snubbed. Family land given to eldest and Grandad headed to Wing as a tenant farmer. He never spoke to any of the male brothers on Andrew side for 55 years.
Too bad we never knew that side of the family, they were wonderful. I think Janet and Emma will mend the broken ties and we will see a new era of family unity. Wonderful to be a part of that!
Granny fell down the stairs at Janet's and we had to cut our visit short and headed off to Peterborough to see her in hospital -- Broken Hip! damn! Just when I thought I was done with sitting bedside!
Doesn't look good for Granny. Osteoporosis and broken femur mean less than stable recovery. Her independence will now surely be lost and she will have to move in with Janet or Emma for a bit. No certain prognosis, surgery in morning.
Back to Whissendine to prepare for the next party, Mexican Night - olé.
I cooked Pollo Norteno, tacos, and all the salsa trimmings. Whipped up a make-shift margarita mix and readied for 16 guests. My second cousins arrived with their husbands and wives and other friends showed too. 14 of us (two bowed out with baby woes) and we all started in. Only a few actually had margaritas, but rest got deep into Stella Artois. Then we sat to eat. As soon as all the tortillas and burritos were devoured, the team dug in deep to tequila shots. 5 bottles of tequila, one bottle of Sambucca, 5 limes later, Biffa was barfing in the downstairs bathroom, Jen and Katey were slurring, Margaret was lying down on the table bench, James was passed out sitting up at the end of the table, and Emma and I washed the floor and tidied up as there were limes everywhere. It was good fun.
Off to bed at 4am to pack to leave in just hours time.
25 December 2006
Christmas
Monday - Christmas Day:
Early arose the children, Ben and Amy, all ready for presents.
The kid's had a ball. A bike for Amy and a John Deer push tractor for Ben.
Scott, Jen, and I headed off to Oakham to gather Janet and Philip. Philip had out the 1941 Willy's GP and Scott Jen and I piled in with mom's ashes and we putted over to Wing to scatter Mom's ashes. We headed down Glaston Rd and out into the field where the other day we got stuck and off we went with Janet walking in the muddy grass to sing and grab a handful of ash and send her off. Granny was sitting in Janet's car watching as we ceremonially spread the rest of the ashes about the field. The sun began to come out and it was 11am, bells were ringing in the distance and we cried together. Up to the car we went and let Granny spread a bit of mom on the hedge-row. A quick drive round the burroughs, then back to Oakham to make sandwiches.
Philip, Jen, Scott, and I headed off to Whissendine to Warrick and Ann Moise's for a quick beer. Met their race horse "Little Rutland" a two year old, also called Morris, expected to come into his own in 2007.
Back to the house for a quick change of clothes.
Janet, Granny, and Philip arrived, then Kate and Megan. More gifts. Soon the Dodson family arrived for lunch, more gifts. And finally more champaign, about 7 bottles, then dinner. Roast turkey and all the trimmings. We all sat around, 19 of us, laughing and joking, drinking and eating. Dessert, sweet wine, cheese, port, it just continued and continued.
We finally left the table and most of the older men slept by the fire in their chairs while the children played and the others cleaned up the table.
Jen hit the wall and turned in. Not wanting to miss a beat, I powered on and into the beer. Finally, off to bed after all the guests left.
<snore>
Sunday - Christmas Eve:
We awoke to the screaming and yelling of Amy followed by the chorus of Megan singing the Loose Tooth song at our door. It was quickly followed by pounding at the door and the pounding in my head made the child antics untolerable. I kicked them out of our room and barricaded our door with my suitcase. That stopped nothing. It was followed shortly by SCREAMING at the door: "who's there, who's blocking the door," at the top of her lungs. I couldnt take it, even worse, Jen couldnt take it... haha. I went to the door and Amy finally realized that we werent up for playing when she said "your eyes are bloodshot," and I said, "that's because you are screaming at the door and I am trying to sleep." She went downstairs... finally!
Supporting my brain with an alcohol sea (aka blood), I stumbled downstairs for a cup of tea (only three days later to learn I had been drinking decaf tea bags all week... no wonder).
Get ready for christmas!
We had a day of recovery... sort of... before heading off to the evening Chris Tingle ceremony with Granny, Janet, Kate, Emma, Megan, and Amy at St. Andrew church. It was a special carolling service for the children in the area, telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Adults all received a candle and all children an orange with 4 toothpicks with candy on them and a candle in the middle. In the middle of the service, after baby jesus born (Amy was fortunate enought to carry the clay jesus figuring to the Nativity), all the candles are lit as all pews are emptied and everyone stood shoulder to shoulder in the aisle and clerestory singing silent night after the lights went out and the old 16th century church lit entirely with candles of over 250 people singing Silent Night. I cried. Thought of Mom and how she just loved christmas. No wonder. I can't believe this was my first christmas in england.
Back to the house for supper and more drinks. Then off to bed anticipating the morning of gifts and children.
Early arose the children, Ben and Amy, all ready for presents.
The kid's had a ball. A bike for Amy and a John Deer push tractor for Ben.
Scott, Jen, and I headed off to Oakham to gather Janet and Philip. Philip had out the 1941 Willy's GP and Scott Jen and I piled in with mom's ashes and we putted over to Wing to scatter Mom's ashes. We headed down Glaston Rd and out into the field where the other day we got stuck and off we went with Janet walking in the muddy grass to sing and grab a handful of ash and send her off. Granny was sitting in Janet's car watching as we ceremonially spread the rest of the ashes about the field. The sun began to come out and it was 11am, bells were ringing in the distance and we cried together. Up to the car we went and let Granny spread a bit of mom on the hedge-row. A quick drive round the burroughs, then back to Oakham to make sandwiches.
Philip, Jen, Scott, and I headed off to Whissendine to Warrick and Ann Moise's for a quick beer. Met their race horse "Little Rutland" a two year old, also called Morris, expected to come into his own in 2007.
Back to the house for a quick change of clothes.
Janet, Granny, and Philip arrived, then Kate and Megan. More gifts. Soon the Dodson family arrived for lunch, more gifts. And finally more champaign, about 7 bottles, then dinner. Roast turkey and all the trimmings. We all sat around, 19 of us, laughing and joking, drinking and eating. Dessert, sweet wine, cheese, port, it just continued and continued.
We finally left the table and most of the older men slept by the fire in their chairs while the children played and the others cleaned up the table.
Jen hit the wall and turned in. Not wanting to miss a beat, I powered on and into the beer. Finally, off to bed after all the guests left.
<
Sunday - Christmas Eve:
Supporting my brain with an alcohol sea (aka blood), I stumbled downstairs for a cup of tea (only three days later to learn I had been drinking decaf tea bags all week... no wonder).
Get ready for christmas!
We had a day of recovery... sort of... before heading off to the evening Chris Tingle ceremony with Granny, Janet, Kate, Emma, Megan, and Amy at St. Andrew church. It was a special carolling service for the children in the area, telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Adults all received a candle and all children an orange with 4 toothpicks with candy on them and a candle in the middle. In the middle of the service, after baby jesus born (Amy was fortunate enought to carry the clay jesus figuring to the Nativity), all the candles are lit as all pews are emptied and everyone stood shoulder to shoulder in the aisle and clerestory singing silent night after the lights went out and the old 16th century church lit entirely with candles of over 250 people singing Silent Night. I cried. Thought of Mom and how she just loved christmas. No wonder. I can't believe this was my first christmas in england.
Back to the house for supper and more drinks. Then off to bed anticipating the morning of gifts and children.
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