Dear, dear Jenny, after almost half a year I'm finally sitting down to write you a letter. In a bare master bedroom, on a wobbly stool behind my desk. I'm trying to start a blog that you alone can read. I have been thinking about it quite a lot. Mailing and adding pictures isn't always a friendly way in my view. The 'storytelling' of a blog is much more fun to read, I think. When I'm totally wrong, please let me know. Anyway, I tried to get it done like this and noticed you will receive an invitation to this new blog. And I haven't finished my first letter yet! Typing like hell right now. Well, just wait a second, I'm taking this laptop out. We (it's a miracle!!!) have a nice day and I'm desperate for some sunshine. Hold on. Well, have your laugh: I couldn't see one bit on my screen outside and was even sitting in my kitchen for awhile. Talking about our kitchen: here is a picture of the same view a few weeks ago.
First of all: I hope you, Scott, Emily and Andrew are doing well. How are your parents doing, are they recovering well? I hope so! I am very, very sorry I didn't write you earlier. I feel like an 'E.T. being thing' when thinking of communication to family and friends. I stayed 'awake' a little by Facebook for André's family etc. We had some visitors the last few months in our new house, mostly from Amersfoort. I couldn't keep up with it all, to be honest. All the things together was simply too much to do. We are both working and trying to get the house a little renovated (badly needed) and comfortable and my ... this was and is quite a job! Last week we tried to tackle André's room (a little study where he can work in quiet if needed) and it's even not done yet. Old houses ... I bet you know what I'm talking about. I had a week off from work and André could manage to free himself a little from the parish work. I feel like a little wreck now and keep quiet today, because my fellow-female-colleague is going to Bali tomorrow and guess who'll be working many hours the coming week ...
When I'm traveling by train I will at least see the mill of Zevenaar. I will be thinking of you then, grins ... I do drive by car to my work a lot, actually. Saves me 2 hours/day and when the working hours are favourable, I can often take the car. Dou you want a close-up picture of the mill? Here it comes (taken much earlier in the year, as you can see):
I discovered the mill isn't used nowadays, such a pity. The mill of Babberich, a small village nearby is working though. You can buy flour etc. there. Must go there soon and take some pictures for you. There is so much to catch up with and I hope you're not mad at me due to my long, long absence. I'm so, so sorry and I promised myself to 'let things go a bit more' to keep in touch again, FINALLY, with my good friends. It's really time to do so and I missed it a lot. I hope you did too.
I'm off now to help André with his study: I painted his ugly (yukkie-ugly) dark gray drawer-thing of steel and we have to move it. It's so heavy ... but not that ugly anymore, giggle. Oh my, to have your own house renovated is quite something, sigh.
Anyway, take care, dear Jenny, have a great day and many Dutch hugs and waves from over the big pond. (I hope everything went all right and that you read the message for this blog soon!)
With lots of love, Carolien
