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!
When we got back home, Martha and Laci where home, we talked a bit, it took always a bit longer because of the translations. We laughed in stages, which is funny! Our last night in Samorin, it was a pleasant evening. So on Friday morning at breakfast, we where talking about Vienna, the thought was offered that they should come, and take the boat back. Phone calls where made, arrangemants switched and our car was full to drive to Vienna. That was a great thought, the girls enjoyed the princesses, ice cream, and we loved the company. At 4 we put them on the boat, we heared after that it was a great trip for them!
We went for diner at the fanciest restaurant in the next village, in that town live Martha's father and sister and her husband (Willy, who we met during diner) and children. Lovely diner, the kids got a ride in a golf cart, nice. When the kids where put to bed again, we went looking for the Donau and waauw what lovely pictures we took there, Tim's are even better!
A drink on a terras afterwards, then home and we played again this time Lacie joined us which was great fun!
Gyor, Hungary! After a good nights sleep and a nice breakfast time to load the cars and hit the road. Acomplete different view from when we drive from Westmalle for 50 minutes. Wide open spaces, BIG fields, 5 towns and the Donau! Lovely to see. We crossed the border, and the first town is Gyor, it was market day, the sun was out it was a very pleasant morning! A little walk, good company, coffee and cake in the sun, what more does anybody need!
After a nice breakfast, time to pick up Tim, we leave at 9.30, for 800 kms to Samorin. Again a good drive, we saw only one accident that was a big truc, folded double in the side, odd sight. Johan told me you'll see Vienna in front of you and whow! we did, another 80 kms to go! We had a little missing in Samorin we where in the wrong street, but we soon found Zsofi, long life the mobile phone! We could hug the girls, Maren, Esther,Martha and Zsofi! It took the last 2 3 days to believe we where actually there! Even now Zsofi is still gobsmacked, I'll say it like that. We where very welcomed in Martha's home, in no time diner was on the table, yummy. After the diner and the girls where put to bed, Zsofi Tim and I went for a little walk in Zsofi's habitat. We met up with Laci, who was doing fencing on Tuesday evening, we where just to late to see him do it, but we now know all about it. Time to go back home to Martha and for a game of rummicub and rainworms.
I left Westmalle at 9.30, ready for the big trip! Jan and Marijke led me and later us all the way. Let me explain myself, Jan and Marijke spoke the gps voice in, I can tell you that is great fun. If you can do that in your car Tom I can definately reccomend it! I was in Tubingen at 4p.m. after a great, drive Easter monday and so no traffic, great! LOVELY to see my eldest boy again! We had diner together played a game of rainworms and then I dropped him of at his friends.
Thursday morning sleeping in ... a bit. Taking it easy, waiting for our lunch to arrive. Martha ordered food from where Laci works, something typical Hungarian. Steamed bread and white cabbage and pork, nice, sort of a stew. After that we took the car and drove to Bratislava. Lovely city, we saw it from high above first, from the top of the bridge, nice!
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