After a couple of much needed showers on Wednesday night, the 2011 Spring feast that started when I arrived here in mid March, continues to spoil us with bright sunny days. I had a busy day. Maria Boonzaaijer of s/v “Yo Soy” drove me from Barneveld to Kleve in Germany to visit mutual cruising friends Sjef en Ermi Keizers of s/v “Vierde Dimensie” in Kleve in Germany. We had met in the South Pacific in 2005. We had lots of good memories to share, catch up on our recent endeavors and plans. Both Maria and Ermi have published books and they are helping me with my writing project.
Afterwards I drove from Barneveld to Friesland to meet another distant relative and his family. We have in common my great-great-great-grandfather  born in 1769. His 2nd oldest son started a mast and block making business in de Lemmer, the branch I sprouted forth from and the 4th oldest son, Okke S., started a mast and blockmaking shop in IJlst. The IJlst business grew into a thriving wood importing yard in the 20th century. My new found nephew showed me pictures of his great grandfather and there is a definite likeness with my grandfather of the same generation. I have written before that we  became aware of each other through my “log” that I posted on the web site about the Napoleon connection with Sybolt Ottes when I visited St.Helena in 2007.

Today is the Queen’s Birthday holiday. Get ready for the Color Orange in the next edition…