Travels with Forty Roses: February 2018

These last 2 weeks have been eventful ones for us. First our drive to Netherlands, through the first snow we have seen here this winter, was a beautiful trip. We awoke early on the morning of departure to the trees beside the boat frosted with white and a few scatterings of snow on the ground. But when we drove east and north we discovered a winter wonderland. As the secondary roads to meet the first A road access are twisting and turning and very narrow it was my job to urge caution. Rounding one corner we came upon a small car standing directly on its nose, a seemingly impossible result of non-caution. I renewed my cautionary messages to the driver who naturally preferred to drive alone in these conditions. We maneuvered through the Ardennes in Belgium and the city of Liège on the Meuse River. Liège is a major Walloon city and municipality and the capital of the Belgian province of Liège. The city is situated in the valley of the Meuse River, in the east of Belgium, not far from borders with the Netherlands; Maastricht is about 33 km to the north and with German, Aachen is about 53 km north-east. The drive through was spectacular as the river dominates and we will come back to take in

Once through Maastricht we met sunshine, the snow disappeared and we were met with Dutch spring, as closer to the sea and away from the mountains the temperate sea prevails this time of year. It was good to see Hans and Joke again in Macharen and meet enter the Oude Pastorie with a bittersweet feeling as they have sold their historic and beautiful house and plan to build a brand-new home in the coming year.

Good friend Hans accompanied us to Dutch Court on Friday. It was so comforting to know he was sitting directly behind us in the public gallery while we joined Joris at the table beside our opponent and in front of the Judge and court recorder. So, as we have explained in past all proceedings are naturally in Dutch so we are pretty much in the dark unless Joris is able to quickly translate during a pause. He listens intently and is our strong advocate who we sincerely trust. We all adjourned to see if a settlement on one aspect, ballasting was possible however that meant that we would need to return to the yard of Euroship and we simply will not. Even his other victims were adamant with us that we should not and some of them will not even take excursions on his portion of the Maas. So, no settlement on that aspect and we await the verdict by the Judge late March. As for the rest of the Euroship charge we understand that is going in our favour. But we want to see that this confirmed in writing before celebrating.

It was good to be back in Netherlands and to spend time with those we have met and care about including Ramon and Uge who were so helpful to us. Departing Macharen we knew we are unlikely to be back but will see Hans and joke in their new place where there is a canal near their back yard. We are trying to convince them to come to Canada this summer to ease the pain of a building project and the long wait for the result.

Back to Auxerre to prepare for a whirlwind visit from our dear friends Julian and Loraine from Salt Spring Island. If we only could have had them for a few more days. But despite the necessary brevity of their visit we could catch up on news and enjoy time together and they could see the life we are living. . .the boulangerie a few metres down the street and the old cathedral and Abbaye our view.

To top a wonderful week, we enjoyed dinner with friends Virginie, Jean François and daughter Élisa. And what a wonderful meal it was in a comfortable and cozy home just down the canal with the same wonderful view we enjoy. Virginie and Jean François have a boat in this Port de Plaisance and are working on it to be ready for April weekends on the Nivernais. We are so fortunate to have met them and we enjoy their company very much. It is certainly helping me in my language, although it is difficult to tell, for those who are French fluent. The more we are swept into only French the sooner we learn. Today Virginie and Élisa walked with me and we maintained a conversation despite the barriers. Although we were uncertain of exactly what each of us said we got the general idea. Oh, how patient they are with me! Virginie is such a gifted woman I am delighted to share her blog and show off her wonderful paintings on wood and tiles and porcelain. They are beautiful and exceptional and it is such a delight to know her. Please have a look by clicking on this site and scroll through Virginie's work: http://fouinc.blogspot.com/2012/01/peinture-sur-tole-emaillee.html