hi everyone, We have been gone a month today! This is a big update since we left holland. infact some of you may not even have caught up on the holland news, as we didn't get to update everything - we spent three nights in holland with my friends anneleies and wim whom, i had met in asia about twenty years ago. they didn't have kids then and i didn't have a family, so it was quite neat that we got together and managed to live in their house in Bergambacht, nr Gouda, They lived in a group of three terraced houses, wim had built an extra story in the attic, so there was maximum use of space. We enjoyed visiting Rotterdam with them, touring on a boat around the port, (the port is one of the largest in the world), visited the maritime museum and had a walk around the city, ending up having dinner on a canal area with old barges. it was very picturesque, even if our meal was nearly an hour wait. Even the adults were tired of waiting ! However the food was worth the wait.We also did a bike ride around their local village area and visited a dairy farm (70cows) and a cheese farm, very interesting, and the cheese was made from raw milk. Farmers are not allowed to make cheese from pasturised milk! bit of a turnaround. it was yummy.We left germany on Thursday and have packed in a lot in that time, visiting two families. We drove from holland to Luneburg in one day and it was almost too long, but we did get to see the big dyke in the north of holland, that cut off a harbour and this is now a fresh water lake. The dyke was several kilometres long. In luneburg, we stayed with a friend of a friend, german, with a young family. They were very hospitable, offering us a beer and dinner on our arrival. Unfortunately, Isabel had picked up an earache , and wasn't very well that night, but the next morning, the host mum was off to the doctor, so we piggy-backed a visit in, and just as well, because it turned out she had streptococcas, and needed antibiotics. By the nxt day, Isabel was starting to be her old self, although still looking pale and tired. We drove to Lehre just south of hanover the next day to stay with one of our former trainees, Weibke. She stayed with us for six months last year. It was great to see her and although herparents couldn't speak much english, by the end of the weekend, we were getting on pretty well. We got thoroughly spoilt there and had a whole floor of their house to ourselves, we probably had the best sleeps for a long time - even though the beds were quite firm! The kids slept like logs and we had late breakfasts, altogether it was quite formal, and the breakfast consisted of bread, cheese, processed meats, like salami, luncheon and in one case raw mince, stu & I avoided that one., and tea or coffee. By the end of the weekend, i was looking forward to ceral and yoghurt or just a piece of fruit. What made it more stoggy, wasthat you ate the same for lunch! and made your sandwich out of whats on the table. very practical!The house was huge, three stories, four toilets, three bathrooms and a large entrance, that was once a stable for horses. proably built in the 18 century. While we were threre, we visited a nearby castle, some gardens, Wiebke's workplace, and saw her father's farm, he grows wheat, barley, oats, rape and rye in conjunction with four other farmers. They owned a huge tractor and sprayer. A very traditional farmer, and Wiebke's mother had a lovely vegetable garden, they also kept rabbits and sheep, which both ended up on the dinner table at some point. While we were there though, we ate mostly bread, pasta, and barbecued pork.We also watched the soccer with them, although Isabel was too tired to stay till the end. We went down to a local pub and watched it on a big screen, it was just like a rugby match in nz, lots of groans, and moans in anticipation.....germany actually lost against spain in the end. it was the european cup for those of you not up with the soccer.the next day we were up early and drove here to Luneburg health...or heidi as it is called, its a native erica, and we have walked and biked through it, while being here. The camping ground is lovely, although a little different. We are in a caravan, right next to an articifal lake which has no cholorine, but which is filtered daily and probably fresh water pumped in. quite natural looking, even swans swimming in it. The day is hot, even got sunscreen on. Isabel kept up with the biking this morning, we hired bikes for 15 euro for three hours, pretty good. Some foods here are cheaper than at home, and beer is very cheap! just paid 3.89 euro for six bottles , 500mls each! meat in general is poorer quality and pricey, but sauauges and pork are reasonable. A lot of families we have stayed with have been vegetarian, only weibke's parents weren"t , we can see why,. thats all for now ,.