First of all my favorite travel agent, Judy, has made the arrangements for me and I am off (space available) to Seattle on November 10. Then on the 29th of December I’ll go standby to Saigon and return to Seattle the end of March and then back to Amsterdam by April 28.

It’s been a busy week with visits and re-unions. Saturday evening I re-invited myself for another cooking sessions for my sister and brother in law. She is still crutching around after her hip replacement, but making bigger strides.   Sunday morning to 10.30 mass, then coffee around the corner with Evelyn. Early afternoon I had coffee with Anneke Hooijer the widow of our longtime friend Dick. Last time I saw them was in 1991 on my mother’s 90th birthday. Then a visit to Ellen, Evelyn’s daughter for her birthday celebration and I finished the Sunday schedule with a terrific dinner and memor-ies/able visit at Joke Brancart’s home.  

Yesterday evening 9 of us, all from the old neighborhood, of which 6 from the same, Alblasstraat, street, got together at “Bella Vista” an Italian restaurant not far from here. We all agree that we had a unique era and neighborhood where we grew up. On the edge of the city, with room to roam into the fields and streams, swimming ,ice skating. The one lasting memory is the liberation at the end of the 2nd World War when we were just old enough to understand the significance. We could have sat and remenisced for a few more hours.

To-morrow I give the circumnavigation slide show to the Schinkelers here and the same show for the friends/family on October 31.

For more of the pictures of the “Bella Vista” Social Club go to : www.cometosea.us/albums/BellaVista