Life in the time of Corona Captain’s log: Day 458

Today on my walk with Rufus we came across the most interesting looking dog: something that’s clearly part terrier and part husky and a whole lot of soft! Just look at the blue eyes!

It’s definitely summer season! All the geese have offspring they are aggressively protecting (Rufus keeps a wide berth) and the flowers are just magnificent!

Be kind. Stay safe

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 450

I had a Dutch lesson today and Marinus had a work thing in the evening, so after my lesson I went for a walk with Rufus.

Usually in the afternoon around 5, 6ish, he comes to my desk looking for attention and getting really playful.

When we got to Meer & Bos, the nearby park, I realised that I want to continue walking and Rufus is always up for a longer walk.

So we walked on to the beach.

Getting there I asked a guy with a dog for directions to the dog beach and he helpfully explained that it is at the end, past all the beach restaurants, and that it is allowed to walk dogs on the path next to said restaurants. So on we walked down the ramp, past the restaurants and on some more.

By the time we got to the dog beach, Rufus was a bit tired of the walk and when I took him off the leash he just had a lay down on the sand. I had to give him a little chance to rest, so I sat at the closest restaurant and got a drink.

Be kind. Stay safe.

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 443 – Dinner at an actual restaurant

After a long day at work, I talked Marinus into going out for a meal at an actual restaurant in Den Haag. He suggested a lonely Iranian restaurant, Setare, on Bierkade and I now know why. Not only was the food amazing, but it was served by the owner with pride and a happy smile.

Be kind. Stay safe.

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log log: Juliana dorp and Den Helder (433 days)

We decided to break away for the long weekend and head up north to Julianadorp and Den Helder.

On our way we had the customary stop at KuierKos for coffee, cake and a taste of home. Filled up on biltong and other goodies, and made our way up north.

On arrival we took Rufus for a long beach walk, and we were blown away by the wind. Luckily it was a weekend affair, so we could go back the next day

No horsing around

The We even giggled at the sign and wondered if that means horses without riders are allowed or if no horsing around is allowed whatsoever.

The beaches really go on forever and on the beach the next day it was, as always, a pleasure to see Rufus playing with the other dogs and running for the pure joy.

After the long walk it was around lunch anyway, and what better way to enjoy it than with a coffee and appelgebak?

After recovering our strength, we ventured to nearby Den Helder and had a walk around the old harbour. The area feels like a working living museum where the old buildings are still in use and some beautiful ships are visible up close.

One of the old buildings is now an ice cream shop, and although Marinus ordered a coffee, he got a mini ice-cream too!

Be kind. Stay safe.

Life in the time of Corona – Captain’s log: Another lockdown birthday

Last year I posted about traveling on my birthday but never shared the pics, so here’s a selection of some pictures of past birthdays:

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This year was the second Corona birthday and I was again in the Netherlands, however I still had an amazing time. The authorities are testing the opportunity of opening attractions for a limited number of persons with a negative covid tests, and as such, I managed to get tickets for a once in a lifetime experience: seeing Keukenhof with a limit to the amount of visitors. It was incredible to see the amazing gardens without busloads of tourists and just take in the beauty of it all. We could even take Rufus with us, and the weather was gorgeous for a fun day out!

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The festivities didn’t end there, however, as the weather continued to be beautiful for an afternoon braai with some amazing people. And of course, no birthday is complete without tea and cake, like we had on Sunday with Marinus’s sweet family.

To top it all off, I was given the most amazing present by Marinus; a hand restored sewing table with a steam punk dynamo light!

Be kind. Stay safe.

Life in the times of Corona – Captain’s log: Day 366

A year in and it still hasn’t ended. We are still in various forms of lockdowns around the world.

In the Netherlands you can now barely shop by appointment, still only eat at a restaurant and we have a curfew in place. We are still working from home and wondering when vaccinations will get underway…

Life will continue, in one way or another and so will this blog, but this captain will stop counting days, as it’s just making me sad.

Be kind. Stay safe.