Time flies when…
After Gert’s last post, it’s my turn to update you on what else we’ve been up to lately.
Queensday, 30th of April
We were invited by the Dutch Embassy to celebrate our Queen’s birthday with other Dutch immigrants. Out of curiosity (and craving for `haring’ and `bitterballen’), we went to the reception in the concert hall. The ambassador welcomed us and approximately 250 other guests that consisted of mainly first generation immigrants in their eighties and their children and grandchildren, the second and third generation Dutchies. It was weird and hilarious to see all these people enjoying the sounds of a Dutch street organ, eating from huge bowls with traditional blocks of cheese (at least half a kilo per person), drinking a glass of `jenever’ or (and) Heineken. After the ambassador’s speech, we sang the original 1568 version of the Dutch anthem. A very interesting evening.
Wilhelmus van Nassouwe
Ben ick van Duytschen bloet,
Den Vaderlant getrouwe
Blyf ick tot in den doot:
Renate’s visit
Later that week, Renate came to visit us. She was traveling around the North Island with a friend. The weather was terrible, cold Southerlies and rain, rain , rain. So we decided to spend our time well by eating at a Turkish restaurant, shopping, driving around the bays, having lunch at the Chocolate Fish cafe (going out for brunch is a favourite pastime for New Zealanders). To avoid the cold, we spent the rest of the afternoon chatting in the sauna at the swimming pool to prepare Renate for the warmth of Fiji. And to end our relaxing day, we went to an excellent concert by the Phoenix Foundation after drinking a few cocktails (caipirinha!!) at Mighty Mighty.
Tramping in the Orongorongo valley
Finally, two weeks ago, it was my turn for a kiwi tramping experience. I joined Kate’s friends to stay at a hut in the Orongorongo valley, the same valley where Gert went a couple of months ago (reread his story). Our backpacks were stuffed with food. Not the dried, easy to cook tramping food, but fresh veggies and fruit, rice, lots of snacks, eggs for pancakes in the morning and wine. We could easily survive for a week.
The weather was great for late autumn, blue sky and up to 20 degrees. After one and a half hours through native bush, we reached the river. And as a real kiwi, I waded through the river with my boots on. As you have to cross a few times, leaving your boots on saves a lot of time. It was a wonderful weekend with lots of singing, eating, talking, sleeping, and a bit of walking. Clambering along a stream early Sunday morning with Mike, Sean and Nicky was one of the highlights of my first kiwi tramping experience.
The past two weekends, we did nothing! Just some gardening in my newly discovered secret reserve. I’ll write about that in a next post.
