Today we took our allotted numbers and headed out to our allocated bus – the yellow one, so that Cynthia, our Dutch host could take us on a trip out to Zaandam where we were to view a village with operating windmills. The city of Zaandam historically served as a large milling centre with thousands of windmill powered saws processing Scandinavian wood for the shipbuilding … Continue reading Surfing the canals

Today we board the cruise and head south east to Budapest. Given it was 2pm pick up from our hotel we had the morning to do some more wandering. After a stint in the gym – I did a Les Mills class which I had almost illegally copied by signing up for three days, then recording it from phone to ipad – we got out … Continue reading It’s boarding day!

I leaned over to MoD and said MoD, MoD! we are sitting in Amsterdam! In a coffee shop. It feels surreal. A little like my life right now. This morning we headed off to the Plantage District to take in The Resistance Museum. Today its each to his own (as a couple) – the group all going their own seperate ways. We will meet later … Continue reading Amsterdam…just another amazing day

It’s a busy life being a tourist, so much to see and do and really never enough time. So forgive me if my current writing is lacking, remembering of course I am writing this for my old age so I can remember my life. Some would say old age is just about now. I don’t. I refuse to get old. Today, after a rather substantial … Continue reading Amsterdam day two – it’s a tourist life

I feel a little on the vertically challenged side here. People are very tall including this bloke… Luckily I am in good company- with the girls anyway. None of us girls are tall. But as we all know, good things come in small packages. We arrived at our destination after taking a quick and very easy train ride from the airport. This city is pretty … Continue reading Amsterdam…..you are soooo interesting….

Apparently, if you stick your finger right up your nose and pick with gusto, whilst looking the other way, no one can see you. So thought the man in the international check-in queue at Christchurch Airport Saturday morning. MoD and I were heading off on our latest travel adventure. Melbourne to see the whanau, then a nice little 15 day cruise commencing in Amsterdam and … Continue reading Leaving on a jet plane…..yes again……

I only learnt to whistle when I was 61.5 years old. It’s not the first time I have been a fairly slow learner. And it was all thanks to the Princess. Who happened to have her face eye deep in some other dog’s poo. Yelling didn’t seem to cut it, so I managed to blow out of my mouth in disgust. And out came a … Continue reading Day 3……Stony Bay to Akaroa

MoD’s birthday ⭐️⭐️🎂🎉🎁 There were no presents, this was his present, along with an awesome July suitcase. My opinion on the awesome.  Today was going to be a relatively easy day. According to the map. Just as well. Now that some of us are 65, who act like 30 and have the fitness of a 25 year old, we need to take it easy. And … Continue reading Day Two. Stony Bay.

Given we were all sleeping in the same little house, ‘twas a fairly early and somewhat loud rise this morning for day one of our walk. And the beginning of MoD’s big birthday weekend. Did I mention that yesterday? Perhaps not. Turns out the weekend Cath had planned coincided with a certain Man of Dreams 65th birthday. What a treat for him 😜 I mean … Continue reading Day One. Banks Peninsula Walk.

Last May, whilst recovering from major knee surgery, our friend Cath decided it might be a nice idea to put out the call to all her FB friends to see if anyone wanted to do the Banks Peninsula 3 day walk. Nice goal Cath. Of course we said yes. At our age, seriously, we always say yes. Well mostly. You just never know if there … Continue reading Let’s go tramping, she said…….