I started writing more about the role of the Netherlands - but then I wandered too far off track.
So back to our own week...
Two times to Den Haag (the Hague) to sort out Ben's Australian Passport - they were happy to sight the required documents and then communicate the "all OK" to the Consulate in Shanghai. Ben's Primary School teacher signed the back of the photo - after Ben realised that it could be done this way instead of finding an "Australian Passport Holder" - not family - who could do it.
The hot weather meant that the beach at Scheveningen (Den Haag) was well-attended - but enjoyable nonetheless.
There is a new "Gulliver's Travels" sculpture show on the promenade...these are some of the "little people"
At the Embassy.
All very security conscious these days. I remember the first time we took Ben - aged about 2 - we sat around a table and went through all the paperwork. This time it was behind secure glass and passing stuff through a tray.
All the streets around the Ambassadors' residences had security cameras, sometimes 3 or 4 to a pole and on just about every pole as we walked through. At least the parking was free!
Coffee in Trompstraat (Ha! Just to feed my TDS - Trump Derangement Syndrome).
The kids had a day out on Wednesday afternoon - just shooting each other - at an outdoor centre in Bakkeveen
Getting nice and tidy!
Work on the Summer House continues. Janny is making a sport of searching for things on the internet - mostly Marktplaats (Market Place) - the latest being a complete toilet window for only €15,00.
Why is the standard size of sheets 1220x2440? I needed help from my boys to get these in...
Black Russians coming along nicely...
A visit to Harlingen...
we went to pick up something else from Marktplaats, and went into Harlingen for a walk around and a coffee... only to find ourselves in the middle of setting up for the Tall Ships Races 2018. All very busy and exciting. People coming in by the trainload...spectator boats moored 3 and 4 deep...roads being blocked as we left...all way too busy for me - and it hadn't even started!
The hot dry weather continues... probably some relief by the end of the week.
Some interesting things are being discovered due to the drying out. This aerial photo in Drenthe revealed some old fortifications - the ground dries differently - they think it was to protect a trade route from Groningen.
Ben In China...
Some boatie things...
How it used to be - this in our local "turf route"
Impromptu picnic with Robin and Joy. Happy to be at the boat without even taking it out.
Mucking around on boats...
New app for information from the new bowthruster batteries
Thinking of a new interior layout... we saw a sister ship which is still being used as a hire boat...
Gas bottles should be outside - ours were "approved" and inside - (2013) but I think they have changed the rules. Hard to do away with gas altogether - just has to be "right".
Leaking diesel tank to be repaired in the first week of September. Having worried about just how I was going to tackle this...I was immensely relieved to hear the chap say (the equivalent of) "no worries, mate, she'll be right" and I believe him! He'll probably get the job of changing the gas bottles, as well.
Tall ships race. Would have been great to get to go on one whilst racing!!
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