To make it even better, I spent a few days in Spain last week. One of the upsides of living in Europe is the ease of access to other countries, so I took advantage of a week’s break in my courses, to hop on a flight to Alicante and a bus ride later, I was in rural Valencia with a fellow former South African friend. It was just lovely and the hills were sprouting young vines in great profusion. The geometry of the patterns they form really caught my eye and I took loads of photos.
There were also some fiestas going on (when aren’t there?) but these children we came across performing in the streets of Dénia were just captivating.
Then it was back to the Netherlands where the temperatures were even warmer than they were in Spain (true!), so yesterday we took the Hennie Ha for its first spuddle of the year. We always like to do this to make sure everything is working properly before we do any serious faring. It was the most glorious day for it and it has inspired us no end. We went as far as the shipyard just over the border to have a look as we want to have a quick lift out to clean the bottom and paint it to the waterline before we set off for the summer. The winter has been hard on the paint work!
Oh and we have a spell of holidays coming up starting with King’s day this coming week...have a good one alllemaal. Do you have any holidays coming up soon?
Oh sunshine! I’m with you in leaping out and turning my face the the skies. It feels as if we’ve been cold forever.
ReplyDeleteIt does, doesn’t it, Jo? I hope it’s lovely where you are too!
DeleteThe sun was lovely...and so much in the garden has now sprung into green life!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the spring has reached you too, CarolStar xx
DeleteAlways wonderful to escape to you and your fa blog. Tweeted and shared. x
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jane! So much! I need to find you on Twitter!
DeleteLovely post as always Val, thank you very much for sharing, beautiful photos and tthe children dancing look so joyful. We have two important festivities here, 25 th April the day to celebrate the liberation in the second world war and 1 st May - so lots of happy events organized, picnics, trips away etc. a beautiful time of year with all the summer in front of us, have a great time xxx
ReplyDeleteYou make the seasons sound so enticing, Angela! I hope you have a lovely liberation day. We celebrate that on 5th May. The 27th April is Kings Day...the king's birthday, so it is a holiday here.
DeleteHi Val - so glad you enjoyed Spain and being a South African friend ... special days. Then seeing Spring really has sprung - here too ... but I'm not sure when the Canadian holidays are ... being on a farm and 'retired' and caring - life sort of carries on - the winter floors me!! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteWinter floors me too, Hilary. I hope you are loving the Canadian or Vancouver spring!
DeleteA trip to Spain sounds just the ticket. I always like to escape there when the weather is bad. But it looks rather idyllic in the Netherlands as well. Just like here, it feels a bit "wrong" somehow at this time of year!!! and it has also cooled down no end. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jenny. It did me good to get away even if just for a few days. We've just had King's Day here (the King's birthday) and as usual, it was chilly, grey and drizzly...it always is, but it never stops Dutch people getting out their orange garb and celebrating in force :)
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