We meet a lot of people from all nationalities but what with reviving my French and learning Bahasa Indonesian it hasn't left much space in my aging brain to get a handle on Dutch. Especially guessing what gender people are likely to be from their names. Lesson learned - have no expectation and try not to look too surprised when you meet them!
Teaching kept Adrian busy while I got more & more frustrated trying to make sure I'd got all the flights sorted & some internet shopping done to be waiting for us in England. I am sure the money laundering laws are very good but you have no idea of the pain when EVERY transaction is blocked while you have to prove who you are (again) because they noticed the transaction came from Indonesia. It leads to phone calls at 1 am while you explain a) do you know what time it is? b) yes I am in Indonesia and c) no I still can't provide you with a current copy of a utility bill.
But that is all in that past now. We have "popped back home" to collect a few things. Bit of a whirlwind tour but it's amazing what you can achieve given just 7 days.
Round one of Supermarket Sweep at Daddy's (where all our possessions are stashed) revealed we'd only grabbed 50% of our luggage allowance. Deep joy so rounds two and three quickly follow. Surely we'll get away with 3kg over...
On the culinary front we've managed to quench nearly all the cravings: freshly baked crusty bread (salivating) three kinds of vintage chedder, (oops, I dribbled) and home made chutney (gasp!!), several innings of lamb shanks, pigeon, game pie, black pudding, oh and not forgetting courgettes.
It was brilliant to see our families and friends and for those of you we didn't catch up with, you have to come on over because I think it will be a very long time before we do this again, much as we love you all. Besides, it's COLD.
So we have our final pint in the local pub and wend our way bed-ward, safe in the knowledge that the cases are packed, locked and the alarm clock is set for the early start to the airport...
