In Holland again

I arrived on Wednesday January 28 at the same place where I stayed the last three visits in Holland: at the guest suite of the apartment building where my sister Han lives. The next morning I woke up to a bit of a white world, so I guess I brought a bit of the snow from Canada. No comparison with what we have at the moment in Niagara though. The main reason to come this time of the year is Han turns 80 coming Sunday (Feb 1). Just a short visit of one week, but still room to catch up with others as well...

Tonight 8 of the group of 15 university friends came to Soest for a meal together. We spent a lot of time together during the 1974 - 1981 period, so good laughs about old silliness together, but also good to catch up on current affairs. A few of the others live in other countries and one was on vacation this week plus one had a bad cold these days. Two of these lifelong old friends were best men during the wedding of Mary and me in 1990 + organized a fun party week later in Amsterdam for Dutch friends & family.

Lunch today was fresh fish purchased of the street vendor who visits my sister's building once a week. Opa Vandenboom would have loved this kind of a meal...

In the meantime back in Niagara, Mary visited Fiona who started her new job in early January. She works as a volunteer coordinator for a regional organization assisting new immigrants.

Winter 2026 updates

Hilary is a few weeks in Ontario to visit friends (who all have young babies) and show us the growing baby in her belly. Three more months.... Winter hits again after a few mild spring kind of days...

The puppy dog of Mark & Carly, who is part huskie, is having a riot in the snow. Poncho, who visits us again with Hilary, does not like the snow at all. Can't blame him with his short legs....

Back in Holland my sister Ger and her husband Bert try to stay fit throughout the winter under the instructions of their oldest daughter Monique. Bert had bronchitis, so no fun. I will visit them in early February when my other sister Han celebrates her 80th on Feb 1. Just a short visit this time.

Joe & Marcy are visiting Ecuador while their two older sons Spencer and Parker are still roaming around in South East Asia, leaving their youngest Wil "home alone' in Sarnia. Wil is back at school on his way to get another diploma. Marcy and Joe send us a few pics from Quito in the Andes mountains and the giant turtles at the Galapagos Islands.