Saturday morning, we filled two cars and drove to Noorderwijk to the farm of Sus, he is the one in the green apron. We did get a lively, fun, inspiring talk about the aspargus and the live around the farm.
As you can see everybody is interested, and it is very hot!
His workers are guest workers from Poland or Romenia, our Zsofi could talk to them...
It is al done by hand, the picking, the washing, the sorting.
I'll pick you up at Antwerp station and then we go! We drive to our B&B, bacon and eggs, for 2 nights, somewhere on the flemish french border, Gingelom.
On Thursday we visit Hasselt, a nice city.
On Friday we go and buy sweet cherries, if they are ready, because it has been cold so long they might not be... We also have coffee at my Mexican friend, Fabiola, who has a coffee -chocolate shop. Then we drive back to Westmalle after a stop at Alden Biezen, an old castle. After dinner we take our bicicles and ride to Zoersel for ice cream.
On Saturday morning we drive to an asparagus farm, and have lunch somewhere nice. In the evening our famous neighbour barbecue.
On Sunday we pick Tom up from the airport, have breakfast in Brussels, and spent the day there.. and then your visit here is already over
We had our day out with the 'kliek' friends. It was Rita and Eric's turn to organise it and gues what they where married for 25 years last week! The led us to the Drunense hei in Holland, we took a bicicle ride, 30 kms, and at the end there was a restaurant, how conveniently! It was a great restaurant and they treated us to an aperitif, an asparagussoupe and asparagus a la Hollandaise + coffee. The restaurant is mentioned in the Michelin guide, can you imagine. It was a great meal, delicious. After that we returned our bicicles and drove to..... 's Hertogenbosch! We went for a walk and took only little streets, I mean realy small. It was lovely, had a drink and boarded on little boats that took us through the canals, very nice I found. Then we drove back to Westmalle, to pick up Jef. He had a bad fall several weeks ago, needed a knee operation, this way he could joins us at the Trappist cafe. We had another meal there,this time we had to pay ourselves! It was after 7 by then, we left at 8.30 in the morning. Maurice and I where home at 10.30 p.m. It was a great day and the weather worked with us so beautiful!!
Sunset over Keulen, that was the only time we saw the sun on Saturday. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Every to be bride and groom celebrated their batchelor night, I had great fun with it, and then there where the ice hockey fans!!!
On Sundaymorning she was there from the start, so we showed Hilde and Marijke a beautiful Keulen. A cosy city, nice cafes and terraces.
Let me start with this morning I decorated the house, made a card did some ironing and then kissed my birthday girl goodmorning. I left her a little present, pink earrings(remember Tim?) I went to work, from 9.30 till 3, hurried home, and started preparing bbq, Marijke was allready preparing the witlof salad. I made a pink cheesecake;-))), ordered another pink pie and Maurice made bread and butter pudding. At 5 the grandparents arrived, so time for a pink apperitif, cava and passoa, rather strong, but nice. Marijke noticed the pink clothes everybody was wearing, I sent everybody this question this morning, it was a nice touch...
Marijke was VERY happy with her present, our ticket to Australia!
Hans coming home from Kortrijk was also a nice surprise for Marijke, we'll take him back tomorrow and make a nice day out of it )) Tomorrow evening she will celebrate with her friends.
Big day today, communion of Gust, Cis, Romy (cousin and nr 31), Lotte nr 27. Also in nr 17 the grandchildren twin, Camila and Esteban, will have there party. I thought lets get the sunrise on camera so you'll know the weather started okay. The forecast says 18 and sunny, so we are all very happy. At 11 mass starts and at 1 the party starts. I'll be surrounded by babbling Hamels all afternoon, because Zsofi and I will be helping out with the party. It's been held at number 31 and 33.
Beautiful isn't it?
It may even be a bit more red because of the Iceland ashes;))))
Yesterday we made appetisers, sliced soup vegetables, pumpkin soup with meatballs, rolled up bread with salmon and cream cheese, with cream cheese, ham and rucola, with cream cheese, ham amd jam. we peeled over 200 shrimp. When you can do that all together it is fun. major course is barbecue, and that is all delivered. Dessert are rice pudding, vanilla and chocolate pudding, chocolate mousse, cake, chocolates and cookies. We'll be glad when it is evening!
And at last, after a good rest, at the youth hostel with the best view, a nice breakfast and a bus and u bahn ride we are ready to explore the palace! Wauw, what a load of cutlery, crockery, gold, silver, porcelain. I'll show you a few, Tim got a lot more, I only went for the blue, green and floral...
10 metres of napkin made this ! But only the finest fabric!
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