2024 Middle Aged Wing Spreading

  Everyone felt a bit better today and certainly able to function. Chrissi and I demonstrated this in advance of the youngsters by going out for a run. I did a similar run to yesterday, a little bit longer at 4.5 miles and a little bit more comfortable.  The canal full of sights, rowers, wildlife, bridges, locks, and I did get out into the countryside a bit more than yesterday. Always a great way to explore, nodding to fellow runners en route and embracing the outdoors and breathing the continental air. To run, to travel, to live. Certainly felt at one with the river and the temptation of a river cruise to much to resist. Chrissi wanted to do one in Amsterdam, appreciated this may be a slightly lighter weight version but would be to her liking.  Sadly for her it began and ended on boarding as our mad captain managed to shut her fingers in the door as she joined us in the well covered vehicle. Too well covered.  Really sad and the pain clear. Tried to absorb some of t...

  So with our trusty hero Carys leaving the 3 invalids to struggle on through New Years Eve, she fell victim to the same bug and by the morning of New Years Day it had claimed a full house of Williams. Without going into detail it was not the most malevolent of viruses but we all felt very weak and certain parts of our digestive system not functioning as one would like. With some careful planning,timing and management we were able to achieve 3 outings during the day so it was not a dead loss. The first involved Chrissi and I getting some late morning fresh air and walking along the canal to the famous windmill of these parts, deadriaan, next to a boatyard (apparently) and rebuilt in modern times having succumbed to a fire in the 1930s.  We could see the remnants of last nights celebrations on the streets (fireworks, not the other kind) and on some generally empty streets was able to enjoy a pleasant enough stroll and taking in one or 2 landmarks of the backstreets of Haarlem, ...

  We began the day in a leisurely fashion, no real plans to rush about on this break anyway, and today was simply a little bit more Amsterdam exploration before seeing in New Year in Haarlem. We took a gentle stroll down towards the station, stopping off in coffee shops and street traders for more of that Ollibollen. Top tip, don't agree to the extra sugar, I was like an iced cake by the time I got them out to eat on the train. We caught the tram from Amsterdam Central Station down towards the Dam area, albeit this time we were on the 'right' side, and a little further away from the seedy bits.  Bryn not feeling great so he took a turn back to the hotel after getting a bit of a soaking as we wandered the streets.  Weather seems to be of more a hindrance in the mind I think, the torrential rain as we searched for shelter in the doorways allowed us to take a very street level view of the place and a different kind of appreciation. We had some time to kill and lunch to eat, ...