The aftermath of the adventure
The only problem with writing about our travels is that I become so immersed in re-living the experiences I forget completely what I'm supposed to be doing. Maybe it's a kind of post-adventure blues, but I realise I've spent the past couple of weeks faffing around and doing very little except my paid work. I have a list longer than both arms of jobs to be done on the boats and (I hate to say) at the crumbly cottage. But I seem to have developed a peculiar lassitude at the very thought of doing maintenance and have jumped at any excuse not to get out there and get on with it.
Fortunately for my lazy side, the weather has been supporting my inertia. Far from being a beautiful, sunny spring, this April has been wet, cold and more than a bit dismal. Even Zoe has baulked at going out to do her business, which has resulted in one or two unfortunate 'accidents' indoors. I should add that my little princess doesn't like getting her paws wet, although I can't say I blame her...neither do I. But needs must, so the pair of us have trudged around the muddy roads, with me urging her to perform at every blade of grass, until she at last squats and drops. I in turn scoop the poop and, much relieved, the pair of us beat a hasty path home.
In brief, then, while I should have plenty to report in terms of jobs completed and plans made, I can only admit to cutting the grass twice, doing a bit of paltry weeding, hosing down the boats and looking gloomily at all the paintwork that needs refreshing. Until now, that is.
Today, I'm happy to say, has been a good one. We intended to spend the weekend on Vereeniging, but in the end, the weather again kept us housebound until yesterday. When we arrived, it was grey and cool but lovely to be back on board for more than just the daytime visits. We've done lots of those and even entertained Koos's son one weekend, but we haven't stayed over since we returned from our trip.
The harbour is a lovely place to be and our view is better than a wide screen TV. Koos took the photo below this morning, and I should say this is a pretty usual scene on the Gent-Terneuzen Canal, but to be able to watch it from the boat is something pretty special.
And for a bit more of a closeup, I took this one below from our open hatch.
It can be quite distracting when ships of this scale come past twice an hour throughout the day, but for all that, I managed to clean and tidy the aft cabin, sand and oil its teak entrance and clean all the nooks and crannies on the engine room roof. I've also been busy cleaning the bilges, a lesson in love for oily bits!
Then this afternoon, we introduced Zoe to the Hennie H with its engine running. To my relief, she didn't seem bothered by it at all, and she spent a good half hour exploring the interior of the boat, probably in search of a stray snack. What the Hennie H lacked, however, I provided, figuring that if she associates running engines with nice goodies, she'll willingly get used to faring with us. I've bought her a lifejacket to wear on board when we're on the way. Doesn't she look smart in it?
Oh and one last mentionable event before I go: last Friday saw me back in Rotterdam for work. I arrived early in the morning, my absolute favourite time in the city, and I revelled in the tranquillity of my walk through the Oude Haven (my old home) and through the empty back streets along the river Rotte. Here are a few snaps I took just for the pleasure of the peaceful atmosphere in a city on the brink of waking.
So that's it for this time allemaal. Have a good one and I'll be back with more news and views from our world next week.
