Anitra and Rens came over for a couple of days and had the bad luck of a hellofalotof rain...
They braved the storms and still managed to see a lot of places.


In the evenings Anitra would take over the kitchen (which I didn't mind at all!) and cooked up another storm. This time it was green curry chicken. Yumyum!

Rens, relaxed, reading in the livingroom.

Luckily the last day the famous Spanish sun came out in full force again so they didn't think we were completely MAD do live out here...

Great having you! XXX

We've been given a full grown palm tree by Oystein and Birgit who didnt want it anymore in their garden. It was really hard work (by Chris and Oystein) digging it out and bringing it up the mountain but it is absolutely worth it. It looks so beautiful here and is perfectly situated on the corner of our terrace. Happy, happy!!!

We're being interviewed for a Dutch magazine in Spain "Temperament"
The story will be about how, when, why etc we moved to Spain and what happened.
Looking forward to seeing the result.


The photographer being photographed.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!

Back in Spain, celebrating Chris's birthday and our 5th wedding anniversary.
First a lunch outside in the sun with Martin, Petra, Herman and Sacha.


Martin and Herman go way back.


Caroline and Jacques came later for drinks.


As did Oystein and Birgit...


And even Marije made it up the mountain on her Vespa!
Brave girl...

The Birthday Boy himself listening intently to some wise words from...?

He's probably wondering if he should take anyone serious anymore at this time of day...

Our last night in town and we joined up with Remy and Anoushka. Had a drink at The Chocolate Bar in my old neighbourhood "De Pijp" and afterwards went for dinner at "The French Café"

The food was very classic French but with a modern touch and very very good! Anoushka's desert had it's own little "schnaps" on the side. As for the company; like usual had a great time and laughed a lot!

I had a lovely (and sunny) day with friends, again in the Vondelpark but this time at the terrace of Vertigo. The perfect place to meet up with Anitra, Gisèle and Lotte. Anitra started off with mint tea but soon joined us in our choice of chilled white wine. Lotte is showing off the new shoes that I gave her.

Friends for almost 20 years...

Dinner at the Brandsmaatjes. We bought them a palleta: the well known Spanish Jamon Serrano but then unsliced. Sharpen your knives!

Lunch at "Het Blauwe Theehuis" in the Vondelpark with Anneke. The sun is shining and everone is happy. This is Amsterdam at it's best!

Not a good photo, but the rest were even worse. Had a very lovely evening at Murray and Rafa's home with delicious food and a very nice wine...

A discovery for us: the "Gaba do Xil" from the Rias Baixas in Galicia, where Rafa comes from.
A description which I found on the internet: Valdeorras is a couple of hours inland from Rias Baixas and it where the Godello grapes for this wine are grown. Its not a particularly well known region outside of Spain, and Godello isn't exactly a mainstream grape either. Generally they're well textured, great aromatics and flavour profile with just the right level of acidity to drink with food. Very pale in colour with aromas of roasted pineapple, peach, melon, honey and small white flowers. Beautiful texture in the mouth, oily and silky with plenty of acid. It feels and tastes like it should be sweet, but its quite savory. Pineapple, apricot, peach and melons, even a bit of watermelon, in the mouth.
My description: YUMMY!!

At the Vondelstraat, having drinks with Anitra and Rens. Feels like we've never left!

Amsterdam

We're in Amsterdam for a couple of days just to see friends and have fun.
We traded homes with Martin and Petra who are now looking after our house and enjoying the pool and the sun while we stay in their apartment on the Van Baerlestraat / P.C.Hoofdstraat; not a bad location either!
We get back into the city vibe pretty quickly, taking trams to move a round and a lot of walking...