Gold

The Countess ... plus two extras.

A magnificent day.  They arrived at about 15.00.  We spent the afternoon talking about all kinds of things.  The Count had a lot of questions about life here.  Comparisons with France.  AW showed them the garden, but the weather was not good enough.  Coffee, cheesecake, chocolates.  We also talked about genealogy and I started looking for the Count's Dutch side as he is half Dutch.  At 17.40, we left for dinner in town.  We were given a table for 8 and were told we had to vacate it at 20.00 for another reservation, but no problem.  Fabulous dinner!  No heated political debates but they had a lot of questions about governmental policies here.  We were happy to oblige.  More genealogical queries.  At 20.00, we transferred to a clean table for dessert, which was absolutely divine.  Then back home for whiskey.  Had they not had to return home the next day, they would have stayed the night.  So much chatting but also serious discussion about current issues.  They left at 23.00.  After they left, I continued the genealogy research I started on the Count's maternal side, and found everything within two minutes.  All info has been duly communicated.  He was very appreciative.

Before coming to our place, they visited the Kinderdijk ('KinderDIKE') windmills, and then dropped by the park in the city centre so the Countess could do her daily qigong exercises.  Do they work?  Do I believe in them?  They make her feel secure and that is what counts.  She brought me some gifts, including some cheese from Kaag Island, which they had visited a couple of days before.

I hope she hangs on for many years yet.  We're thinking of her flying over another time, by herself, and then she and me driving down to the south of France at our own pace.  It is something to look forward to and I hope she will still be around long enough for us to do it.  Or otherwise that I will still be here.

Have a safe trip back home, dear friend!  (And don't fight too often with the Count, because he is a nice guy.)