Lulls

Sometimes there's so much going on I don't know what to write because I can't say it all. It feels like a lull, but in fact it's quite the opposite.

I've posted so much about my leaky bottom of late, I'm sure everyone's sick of the photos of the same old view, so I'm a bit reluctant to put up any more now. The same is true of the Hennie H. However, we have been working very hard on our respective projects, and I'm pleased to say that today I finally got the bed back together and have made a good start on painting. Pictures will come when there's more to show.

I think quite enough has already been said about the World Cup, and I'm very glad it's now over. I'm a bit tired of all the lambasting the Dutch team have had about the way they played, though. I think much of it is unfair and way too harsh. Since I'm neither Dutch nor Spanish and have no vested interest either way, I think I can say that!

I always used to enjoy following Wimbledon, but I don't even know who was playing this year, because of the WC, and I've only just heard that Serena Williams won the women's title. Shame. Not that she won of course, but that I missed it all...

I've also missed following the cricket news...and was thrilled to hear England did so well against the Aussies in the one day series.

The weather. Now there's a good subject! It's been pretty good this summer so far, with near tropical temperatures. I've just left four of my favourite people having a drink on the terraces over the way to let Sin out of an oven-like ship. I was sorry to leave them, but would have been even sorrier to find my pooch shrivelled up with the heat.

The four concerned are marvellous Marion (whose marathon runs I've blogged about before), up for a quick visit from Spain; Miriam, another friend whose work conceiving, building and running a centre for vocational education in Ghana is amazing. I admire her so much. Then there's Jacq, a former much-loved colleague at one of the language centres. She lives here but I don't know why, I never see her except when others come to visit. My fault entirely. Too busy with these boats I suppose. Then finally, there's the incredible Eveline, another colleague, but with a great big difference. Just for starters, she is the only person I've ever met with a degree in rock music, and now she says she's off to France on Friday, but not in your normal way. She's cycling there via the Ardennes. Good luck Evie!! Really special friends, all of them.

Marion and Jacq

Jacq and Miriam

Evie and Miriam

Tomorrow is Jodie's birthday, so the family are descending on me here. Koos is actually extracting himself from Zeeland to join the fun. Another big event is that Mo and Craig have the most gorgeous cocker spaniel puppy called Charlie who we have to try and introduce to Sindy at some stage. Since she's not known for her sweetness and light with other dogs, we'll have to aim for a quick course in desensitization

There are lots of other things going on too, but the main aim in my life at the moment is to have the Vereeniging ready of Anne Marie and Austin's visit at the end of next week. I'm really looking forward to seeing them.

As I've sat here on the back deck typing, the temperature has cooled and I even have goose bumps on my arms. Perhaps this is the moment to stop rambling and go inside. Time for some chores, methinks!

The first goal

If you play this video clip I filmed just after the first goal, and turn the sound up to triple the volume, you'll have an inkling of the uproar in the harbour tonight. Yes, folks it's the semi final between NL and Uruguay and of course, I support our guys in their endeavours...of course I do...(pinches arm..yes, Val, you do),although I don't need to watch it or hear it quite like this to give my support. Even so, I have to say it don't I? Go Oranje Go!!!!

Wish me luck when it's over. It's going to be chaos whether they win or lose....

Progress and Piet

But before I tell you what that progress is, meet Piet. He is our harbour turtle, and if you look closely, you can see his small round shape on the brick of white polystyrene in the photo here. This is his house, which is hooked up to the bows of my neighbour's ship. After a hard day's swimming and entertaining the tourists, he returns here every afternoon for a rest. Every now and then people threaten to rescue him, and when one day, I told a group of boys that he lived there, they looked at me as if I were batty. We love him, and until the winter, when he will need to be rescued, we hope he'll be able to enjoy his freedom in Turtle heaven.



Now for the progress on the Vereeniging. As of this afternoon, the floor and walls in the water tank area have all been replaced, the water tanks themselves are clean, and tomorrow, Jodie and I hope to be able to put them back in their place with a few minor modifications.





Then I'll be able to tackle the last part of the bottom below the bed. I think that in another week, I should be ready to start painting and restoring the place to normal. Well at least I hope so!..Only three weeks now till Anne Marie and Austin arrive.....yippee!

A port in a storm

Normally that means somewhere peaceful and quiet doesn't it? Well, this is my twist on the phrase. This is our 'port'(Koningspoort) in a storm of football fever.

I don't own a TV, but even if I did, I wouldn't need one. From the back deck I can hear every gasp, groan and roar of excitement as the Netherlands team plays good and bad shots, misses the ball, brings on a new player...you name it, every moment is recorded in tumultuous sound.

The pics below are my view this evening as I sit on the Luxor and enjoy the evening air on our own terras. Eat your heart out Koosje! I must say I am enjoying the Luxor's privacy this year. I'm just sorry Koos isn't here to enjoy it too. Still, I haven't been without company and have had two very pleasant evenings with friends and neighbours who have come to enjoy the luxury of our watery amenities. Now all I need is for the World Cup to be over....after all, now SA is out......oh alright.... I will support Holland now...... Go, Oranje, go!!!!

Lows and Highs

Two important happenings to report in the smaller scheme of things, being my life: the first is the progress on my bottom....Yes, I know I've worn that joke a bit thin now, but the thing is it really is the bottom of my ship I'm talking about and not the floor, which is not the bottom. See?

Well, to put that behind me (there I go again), I have made a lot of progress, although not as much as I would have liked, I must confess. I was really hoping to have the floor completely back in by now and the water tanks fixed. Unfortunately, the whole length of the bottom of the hull has been affected by the leaky tank, so it's meant scraping, cleaning and oiling much more than I had anticipated. What it amounts to then is that with the help of Mo, Jodie and Koos at various times, I've done more than I thought I'd ever have to do but there's still more to be done....ok, enough of that now. The bottom line (:-))is that there's still a way to go before I can start painting and re-installing fittings and furnishings. Oh by the way, this was the low part as you might have guessed by now.

The high of the week was on Sunday night when I went to see Crowded House for the second time. They were playing at a large venue in Amsterdam, and thanks to the kindness of a friend of mine who organised the tickets (thanks Suze!!), we were in the front row. Mo came too and we had the great pleasure of watching Neil Finn and co at their very best. What a fantastic concert it was. Their interaction with the audience was so spontaneous and entertaining, it made for a huge amount of feelgood atmosphere. They even had a couple of kids from the audience up on stage with them, racing Mark Hart from one side of the stage to the other, and playing instruments with them too.

The funniest thing was that one of the little boys could actually play the piano and totally de-railed everything when he started playing Bohemian Rhapsody. Queen at a Crowded House concert? They took it as they should - with wry good humour and plenty of fun. All in all, really great stuff with lots of laughs,not to mention all those gorgeous Finn songs and a great performance by all concerned. That was a real high.




Set List
1. I Feel Possessed
2. Saturday Sun
3. Private Universe
4. Say That Again
5. Fall At Your Feet
6. Amsterdam
7. We Need a Prime Minister
8. Either Side of the World
9. Even a Child
10. Four Seasons in One Day (Snippet of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody at end)
11. Nails in My Feet
12. Isolation (with Sharon Finn)
13. Message To My Girl (Split Enz cover)
14. Chocolate Cake
15. Something So Strong
16. Locked Out
17. Don't Dream It's Over
18. Distant Sun
19. It's Only Natural
20. Encore:
20. Weather With You
21. She Called Up
22. Better Be Home Soon

Just to say I have now deleted my last post, as it was written for those who knew Gypsy and Neil but are not members of Facebook. I think it is now time to let our friend do her grieving in private. Thank you all for your kind comments. I know for sure that Gypsy really values the friendship and support shown by everyone who knew them both. It has meant the world to her.

Ferry, cross the mersey...

Well, not quite, but certainly across the water.

To put you in these pictures, so to speak, Koos and I were walking in a very rural part of Belgium on Saturday afternoon when we came across this tiny ferry. We didn't realise what it was at first, but as it started floating out into the waterway, we noticed the ropes that were attaching it to each side of the canal. Fascinated we decided to climb in and cross to the other side...

It was easy. All you had to do was pull on these

Weeheee, and over we went.....ferry, cross the water, cos this land's the place I love...lalalala..

Once out on the other side, we left it to float free till the next chance walker came along...pretty, no, lovely country, isn't it?

And then, on with our walk amongst the daisies and the new green growth.

I have to say we haven't been so charmed in ages. It was just so sweet, and someone obviously cares for it. It's clean, dry and very very blue. I love it that it's just there for any chance walker to come across. Belgium is the home of the surreal, and this is just another part of it, don't you think?

My Hoop

The roef where I lived. This was the only habitable part of the Hoop when I stayed on board



This is the Hoop. Well, that's not what it's called anymore but it is the Hoop, my Hoop, the beautiful Luxe Motor I so happily lived on for a year and a half between January 2001 and August 2002. To my mind, it is still the most elegant and lovely motor barge I have seen and known and when I look at it, I am filled with warm, nostalgic memories.

I dare not go inside now. The lovely roef where I lived, which was all so original, has been ripped out and replaced by a new version, re-modelled as a kitchen (so I believe). I can hardly bear to think of it. Apparently it has been very well done, but even so, it seems wrong to me to take out all the lovely old panelled cupboards and fittings, even it it has been replaced in the same style.

I know I'm being sentimental, but it is also about the history of the barge, not just my feelings. Nevertheless, seeing it on the slipway here is still good, and I know the people who bought it from Philip care for it very well. They haven't committed the sacrilege I have with the Vereeniging in replacing the old engine with a newer version, for the Hoop still has its original Kromhout. It sounds wonderful too.

The photos above show it as it is today with its new name, but to me it will always be my Hoop, the Hoop that gave me such hope.