Gezellig!

As you know, Orange-X and I left the office around 3pm last week Thursday to go to Holland. I just love that country! Sure, we got caught in a traffic jam - what else is new? - around Karlsruhe for over an hour! The rest of the ride went pretty well and we arrived in Nieuwegein (close to Utrecht) around 10 pm (including our must stop for a Whopper at the Burger King in Veenendaal). Our dear friends, Patricia and Jaap, greeted us at the door. Once inside, we were shown to our room, had a drink together, chatted the usual musts and went to bed around 2 am.

After a good nights sleep and a couple of coffees, I came down and saw this picture: Jaap and Orange both sitting on the couch working on their laptops.

Orange-X and I then made our way to Ede, where he (Orange) had to get some documents, stopped by his old office and dropped in to say hello to his old colleagues, then went off for other document requests. After that, we off to Amsterdam to get Orange's birth certificate – Ahhh! I see. You guys must be getting curious by now... ;-) We stopped at one of the brown cafe's for a typical Dutch lunch, close to one of the oldest markets in Amsterdam: the Albert Cuyp, named after the Dutch painter who was known for his paintings of landscapes. Doesn't that look yummy??

After getting his birth certificate (took about 15 minutes including waiting time), we drove to Orange’s Ex (I/she finally go t to meet her/me in person) to pick up some photos of their daughter (itchin’ to ask, already?? –Hehe.) Anyway, we left for Orange’s parents for dinner where we were also to meet my lovely sis and bro-in-laws. Here’s a picture of his little sister.

OrangeX is already 1.88 meters (6”2’) and Brenda is about 1.85 meters (6“). And Harry, her husband, is approx. 1.93 meters (6” and 3.3 inches). Now that’s what I call a BIG family and I adore them all. I’m the shortest by far with only 5”5 (165 cm). Ma cooked a wonderful dinner for us. I’m not used to anything else wither her. She’s just divine!

Pa wasn’t feeling very well, so he went to bed early. He’s been fighting with some kind of lung disease where that lung capacity shrinks and a cold to go with it. He was too “proud” to do his exercises to expand the lungs and get more volume in there, but a couple of weeks ago, he got a real scare, so he’s doing them for now. I just hope he continues. He’s a bit fragile at the moment and it makes me sad and helpless to see him like this, but I think it was only that evening.





Here are a couple of extra pictures. meet the family: Harry and Ma, and Ma and Pa.


We left around 9 pm and drove back to Patricia’s. It was a very ”gezellig”** evening and we decided to hit the sack a bit earlier to cope with the next day. I’ll let Orange finish that part in Den Bosch. So, more to come.

**Gezellig can be all of the following. There is no equivalent in any other language I know: Homey, intimate, good company, enjoying the time chatting & eating & drinking with friends, enjoying time on your own in the tub with a glass of wine, etc. Get my drift??