Tuesday, September 23, 2008

this is it...

Well today is our last full day in Belgium.

I know that there are a few that will miss us (as we will also miss them)but that there is also those who cannot wait for us to get home.

Its kinda of a bittersweet feeling. I know Dave is so ready to go home (and has been for over a month) but i have just gotten into a grove with friends.

Tomorrow we are checking out of the hotel around 10 am. Dave will go to work for a short day. KC is picking me up and we are going to hang out until 4:30 when Dave will pick me up and we will head off to the airport in Brussels. The flight doesn't leave until 9:30 or something like that.

We are flying to Ireland and staying overnight there. Our flight to Philadelphia is at 2:30pm(8:30 am EST) and we will arrive (finally) in Buffalo at 9:45 pm. We are being picked up by Daves parents and taken to my parents house. This means that there will be social time and late to bed!

So these next few days are going to be very busy for us.

itinerary:

Wed sept 24 - fly from Belgium to ireland
Thursday 25 - fly from Ireland to Philly and then to Buffalo
where daves parents will pick us up and bring us to my mom and dads
Friday 26 - chilling, 2pm lunch with Andrea, Dinner with Fam
Saturday 27 - visiting with family
sunday 28 - to church at cross point then of to beeton to visit with Daves family
Monday 29 - dave to work, haircut for me in evening
Tuesday 30 - bank appointment, dave to work, me to shopping with mom?

Wed Oct 1 - cross to the states

and then our next adventure starts!!!
signing on friday. we dont know when our furniture will arrive

so sorry to all my friends that I am not able to visit this time around.
I will always remember the goodbye party that we had before we left.


Its such a short time and we have a lot to do.
Please pray for safe travels for us on our many adventures.



also- feel free to leave comments (I like to know that people are reading my blog- not just my mom :) )

Monday, September 22, 2008

.....Continued from Daves birthday blog

so this is the next part of our weekend.

Saturday morning we work up at the early hour of 7am and got ready to go. At 8:30 we were on our way to France to meet my sister Melissa. (family nickname- Missy.)

We discovered that France is VERY expensive to drive quickly across. All the main highways seem to be tolled (prices like the 407). It cost E44.70 to get down to Nantes.
We got to the hotel around 2:30 pm. It was a decent room, especially since it was the cheapest one we stayed at in all of Europe (apx $77 CAD- cheap!)

It was difficult driving through the city since there seemed to be many roads blocked for some kind of protest that had bag pipes playing and signs that said reunification now (in French of course). But we made it to Missys with not much problems. We found her and after she attacked us we went to the car to get the stuff we brought her ("Christmas presents" lol ). We walked up 5 flights of stairs to the 6th floor where Missys room was.
She was so excited to get all the things we brought. We had gone through our stuff and the things we didn't need or didn't want to take home we brought to here.

List of some things Missy got:
Google travel mug
extra towel
umbrellas
a coke cup from McDonalds
extra Canada things
some school supplies
Easy Mac
storage containers
soup
hot chocolate mix from hotel and many other random things.

After "unwrapping" her gifts we headed out for supper at an Italian place that was very good. Nantes was the first place that we went to that didn't get a lot of international visitors and were very interested in us being Canadian. The first time we saw the difference that Canadians and Americans can get when in Europe. This was Missy's "birthday dinner". We went over to a store that is like the Carrefour (which we found out from Missy means crossroads)- kinda a Wal-mart store.

We went back to her room and hung out til after 10 and then it was off to the Hotel. It was so hard to sleep since my cold (that started as a sore throat on Friday night) went to my head and out my nose. It also was a Saturday night in a university town and our window was open. It got a bit loud.

Saturday we got up at 7:30 am to head over to Normandy. We stopped at a McDonald's for breakfast. We got most of the items off the breakfast menu. Which wasn't much. They had pancakes, flattened toasted buns, and yogurt. They gave you syrup, strawberry jam, apricot spread, and chocolate spread to go on the items. Of course I got OJ for the Vitamin C.

We went to Pointe du Hoc where there was a great battle that took place in WW2. It was very interesting and humbling to see the pits made from bombs and the bunkers and all kinds of other war evidence.

From there we drove along the coast and saw some of the other beaches that were taken by the allies in WW2. We stopped at Omaha beach where the Americans have a large Cemetery. We walked down to the beach. It was very strange looking up and seeing what had to be taken with no cover. We also stopped at Juno beach (were the Canadians battled) We then headed back home. We paid E28.30 in tolls on the way home. We arrived at 9:30 pm and went right to bed. Again we didn't get much sleep as now Dave was getting my cold and I still had mine.

Its now Monday and Dave came home from work at 2:00 pm because he was getting nothing done at work and is now napping on the bed.

Here our our trip details:
Total Time: 16H 48min
Moving time: 15H 31min
stopped: 1H 17min
Moving avg: 92.8 km/h
Overall avg: 85.7 km/h
Max speed: 148 km/h

again I dont know what the KM was- but it was a lot!

Daves Birthday

The beginning of a busy weekend- and what a busy weekend it was!

It all started on Friday.
I was picked up by KC and did some errands that included picking up people, going for lunch, and getting groceries. This was all done in preparation to return to KCs house so we could help her go through clothes and cook Dave a birthday dinner.

We were unable to enter the base when we got there due to an exercise that closed it down. So we went for lunch first. This was a good idea that everyone else had too, they were out of over half of the items on the menu. Just before we were done lunch we could see that the line of cars was moving! We were able to get in and out of the grocery store in good time so we ended up going to the Zellar's type store that was there. We met the past youth intern-Matt- (as we were out with the new youth intern-Hannah) and he was also invited to the birthday dinner. KC found some pirate themed birthday plates and napkins, it is International Talk Like a Pirate Day on Dave's birthday.

We finally got back to KCs place around 4pm. This didn't give us much time to get things done- but you should have seen us go! Right away we started unloading the groceries while KC dealt with the kids and getting the clothes ready to sort. Hannah went to help KC with changing kids diapers and then sorting out the clothes while I tackled the kitchen duties. It started with the cake. Dave wanted a chocolate cake with no icing. I got the kids to help me with the cake and therefore had spilled oil and egg shells to deal with- but it worked out well and cooked beautifully in the Pampered Chef round pan!

Then it was on to the potatoes and carrots. KCs husband was going to take care of the fried chicken (soo yummy)
The Menu:
Srikant's Fried chicken
cheesy garlic mashed potatoes
sweet baby carrots
salad
Chocolate cake
mint chip ice cream and strawberry ice cream
and added in case we didn't have enough food:
fried rice
beans -the kids love em!

So this dinner went over very well!! everyone enjoyed it (and the kids who live with mostly rice- loved my potatoes!)

KC got a picture of the cake and Dave blowing out the cake and the lighter when I tried to relight the candles for a picture. I hope to get them from her at some point.

We watched a Christian comedian as the kids fell asleep.
We then took Hannah and Matt home and went to sleep right away as we were getting up early the next morning.

(read next blog for more weekend hi jinks)

Monday, September 15, 2008

Trip to the Alps

wow- look what i found in my unpublished drafts!
that was almost 2 summers ago!






Dave's co-workers were going to go to Switzerland but it is like herding cats ;) to get plans going.
Since Dave took a long a weekend already, we thought we should go somewhere. Dave wanted to stay in the EU.

Friday morning I woke up to Dave on the internet looking at what to do.
He suggested we drive to Munich and stay over and then go to Salzburg on Sat, retuning to Munich and then Drive home on Sunday.

So within in an hour after breakfast we were starting to pack. We left on an 8 hour drive to Munich. It was a bit of a rainy day and we were hoping it would get better.

After breakfast on Saturday we headed off on a 1.5 hour drive to Salzburg. It remained cloudy all day. It did start to clear a bit later in the day.






Final Stats:
Total Time: 22 hours 47 minutes (plus an hour we forgot to have the GPS on)
Moving Time: 21 hours 18 minutes
Stopped time: 1 hour 29 minutes (including gas but not eating)
Max Speed: 164 km/hour (in Germany)
Overall avgerage: 83.6 km/h
moving average: 89.5 km/h

Trip to the Alps

Dave's co-workers were going to go to Switzerland but it is like herding cats ;) to get plans going.
Since Dave took a long a weekend already, we thought we should go somewhere. Dave wanted to stay in the EU.

Friday morning I woke up to Dave on the internet looking at what to do.
He suggested we drive to Munich and stay over and then go to Salzburg on Sat, retuning to Munich and then Drive home on Sunday.

So within in an hour after breakfast we were starting to pack. We left on an 8 hour drive to Munich. It was a bit of a rainy day and we were hoping it would get better.

After breakfast on Saturday we headed off on a 1.5 hour drive to Salzburg. It remained cloudy all day. It did start to clear a bit later in the day.

When we got there it was time for lunch. We stopped at a little cafe that was close to the parking lot on the way to the river (we both had to use a bathroom- so we stopped at the first one we saw)

We walked along the river towards the town center with my need for a jacket in mind. We walked along the oldest street in Salzburg and found many places that we could have bought something at. But they all were quite expensive and then we found a tourist shop. They have the sweaters with Austria on them etc. But we did see they had a wind breaker (they said it was for the rain) that was less money and not as warm. It was perfect for what I needed. I was so happy to have found it!

We were noticing many bands in the area and then saw where they were all going. In the square by the Cathedral there was at least 6 different bands there that were playing together. They sounded really good. But we have no idea why they were there. (I saw a guy dressed up in the Austria outfit)

From there we went to the Cathedral - which was nice and bright in the main area as a bomb landed there in 1944. The rest of the Cathedral was a bit darker. Its neat to look at them but they all seem to blend together after a while.

We then went up to the fortress. This fortress had never been taken. But it was surrendered once with out a fight to Napoleon. It was built over 600 (?) years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festung_Hohensalzburg . It was really neat to go up. This is what Dave thinks of when he thinks castle. check out the photos :)

After we were done at the fortress we went for a horse drawn carriage ride. It was nice but short and expensive. 20 minutes 36E but it was nice. The horse only pooped once on the way- not bad at all- hehe.

We went back to the shopping street to walk a bit further (Dave found a hat shop but didnt buy anything) and had dinner at a pasta restaurant.

We drove back to Munich.

Sunday we got up at a decent time and had breakfast and got ready to go. We got bored and got off the high way and with the GPS help we found a castle that looked like that it was still lived in.

We timed how long it took to drive through Luxembourg. It was only 30 minutes! thats it! haha- takes longer to drive though Toronto! (mind you we crossed at a narrower sections I think.)

The entire trip was hampered by construction in every direction we went.

This is our final stats.... we would creep in construction other wise the stopped time would be higher.

Final Stats:
Total Time: 22 hours 47 minutes (plus an hour we forgot to have the GPS on)
Moving Time: 21 hours 18 minutes
Stopped time: 1 hour 29 minutes (including gas but not eating)
Max Speed: 164 km/hour (in Germany)
Overall avgerage: 83.6 km/h
moving average: 89.5 km/h

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

past week

Well, this past week I have been busy and not at the same time.
I have been hanging out with KC and Jamie a lot this past week.
We have been out for lunches and visiting each other. Yesterday KC even came to my hotel room and hung out here.

In my other spare time I have been drawing pictures for KCs kids. I get colouring pages off the internet and then draw them in my sketch book. I colour them in and then give them away. I did this with Dora and Winnie the Pooh. I just couldnt give away my Cinderella one (i liked ot too much!)

I had bought pencil crayons to do it but they are very pale (i guess the type of lead?) and so I just did one with my mini paint set that I brought with me. I think it turned out very well.

For my pencil drawings, I like my elephant better then my building ones. I havent done much with them after Ireland though. But I like KCs suggestion to hang them in a kids room some day.

I have gotten a lot further on my knitting (a blanket) but the drawing seems to have taken over that time. I usually knit when watching tv during the day (Diagnosis Murder and Murder She Wrote)but now BBC2 is not working so that cuts down on the shows I watch (a good thing i guess)

Now I should go for a bike ride and do my Bible study lesson for tomorrow.


:)

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

3 wars, 1 long weekend

Saturday we started off by heading to Ypres (Iepers). This was a main area for WWI because it stood in the path of Germany's planned sweep across the rest of Belgium and into France from the North.
When we arrived there was a big market in the square so we looked around it. After we went to the In Flanders Field Museum which was very interesting.
This is also where many military graveyards are. We bought a tour guide (2.50E) to do a drive. We stopped at a few memorials and graveyards. The first one we stopped at was where John McCrae worked as a medic and wrote "In Flanders Fields". He was a Canadian (for my American friends info). This poem has become important for remembrance ceremonies. We got tired of driving around and decided to head for the coast to the North Sea. I'm not totally sure about which town we ended up in but it was near Nieuwpoort. After a walk on the beach we headed home, stopping for supper at an Esso at the diner along the highway.

Sunday was what Dave called a "no adventure Sunday". We went to church and it turned out they were having a potluck to wish the interim pastor safe travels on his way back to the states. This was great because it was "normal" potluck food.... mmm- thinking of the pulled pork, pastas, salads, chicken and deserts is making me hungry (waiting for dinner til Dave gets home from a meeting). We then spent the rest of the day doing nothing. I got a long talk with mom on msn while Dave slept. We then read out side near the pool- too cold to go in! It was McDonald's for supper.

Monday was Labour Day. Dave wasn't going to get it off but since he worked the last Belgium holiday he took it off. We were off (2 hour drive) to Bastogne where the Battle of the bulge took place. We checked out the museum there and the memorial. After lunch we started heading hom and went to Waterloo on the way. We took a tour of the battle fields.

"The Battle of Waterloo, fought near the village of Waterloo on Sunday 18 June 1815,[5] was the decisive battle of the Waterloo Campaign, and Napoleon Bonaparte's last. Waterloo marked the end of the period known as the Hundred Days, which began in March 1815 after Napoleon's return from Elba, where he had been exiled after his defeat and abdication in the previous year. The defeat at Waterloo put a final end to Napoleon's rule as Emperor of the French." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Waterloo

When we got home we turned right around to go do laundry and get pizza from the place beside the laundromat.

I will post more links under my pictures later.




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