Choices, dilemas and Conundrums (guest entry by Nuala)

Well dear readers, a change in style here, 'tis Nuala here with a guest blog post.  My trusting Dad has allowed me to access to his PC and here I go.  As a member of the bloggorati I know that future editing is possible so there should be no need to be alarmed.

Great weather for ducks (and grebes)

Following a splendid meal last night and ample sleeping mixture (yes the house wine is good) we got up with no urgency, it did not take bionic hearing to determine that  a) it was raining and b) that it looked like the rain was going to persist all day.  None the less there were important decisions to be made:

- shall we open the Gewurtztraminer at lunch time or save it till the evening?

- should we have afternoon quiet time (aka snooze) at 2pm or later?
- where do you hold your phone to get best WiFi

Do we look downhearted?

Interspersing important decision making with a bit of reading, morning coffee and showers it was amazing how quickly lunch accelerated towards us.  Gill and Tom humoured me by talking about a few dry and dusty academic papers. Mid afternoon we decided on a stroll into Amsterdam, so donning waterproofs and a we-shall-not-be-defeated-by-a-bit-of-rain attitude we sauntered towards the ferry.  I though we must have been a fetching sight and blended in well with the locals who still seem to ride their bikes in the rain some with children under capes, others masterfully peddling whilst holding umbrellas.



Variations in waterproof style



Waterproofs are great but you have a choice: do I wear waterproof trousers and get water in my shoes (Dad) or do I not wear the waterproof trousers and get runoff above the knees (Nuala).  Dear reader the choice is always yours.

Following a little browsing in a rather chic department store ("the beehive" - the dutch name had slightly too many vowels to remember), then a coffee and a cake, we then had to move on to a beer in a local bar (note NOT coffee house).  This was a great place for people wattching, Gill wondered if a man being very silly (see prior post) was dressed as a bannana, 

Work this one out (clue: it's upside down)



 but I did point out the presence of two spheres at his feet and we were left considering what exactly he was doing climibing into a shopping trolley. 


The new drying shed extension

Back to the boat, (yes we did save the Gewurz for apperitif), the washing line is now constructed and decorated with dripping waterproofs; there are tantalising smells coming from the galley. I am sad to be leaving tomorrow, I feel my "being leisured" training is not yet complete.  Shall I come back for a resit?