Dear diary,

This is my first and given my attention Span likely only addition to our o/s trip blog.

It has been a fantastic start to the trip with nic only threatening to divorse me 3 times (details not to be discussed) although I can assure you none are due to time spent in the red light district.

We hit Amsterdam running, well strolling after a long 30hr commute and a touch of gastro just to keep me on my toes. We missed out on any chance of an upgrade as I slept through the 'is there a dr on the plane' request, when nic told the air hostess he was clearly not convinced looking at me in my hoody freshly shaven looking like a 12 yr old. Oh well maybe next time

Our hotel was futuristic with shower and toilet in the room with rotating glass coming around during business time, again not ideal given the gastro situation but a relationship consolidator none the less.

Amsterdam is a great city and a lot of fun. Famous for pot and prostitutes ( I can't imagine why it's so popular with backpackers and bucks trips) it really was a vibrant and exciting place to visit. We wandered the streets including a few trips into the red light district (always with nic chaperoning) to check out the bustling trade. Was amazing to see so many tourists mixed in with the working girls standing scantily clad behind glass. (I hated it as I'm sure you can imagine but I could hardly drag nic away.) Was a bit strange seeing so many kids with parents, not your routine stop post visiting Disneyland. I must admit though for all there lax laws and out there ideas it really does work for them, a very safe city with a vibrant atmosphere and plenty of culture. A great place to visit.

We then got our new wheels. With nic in charge we were away down to the south of netherlands and now into Belgium. We do a long days drive (about 45 minutes gets us to the next country) and we are off exploring. No major dramas and we are settling into reverse parking with the threat that if you overcook it the brand new car is at the bottom of a canal (have they not heard of fences). The Dutch are great very friendly and excellent English making it all very easy traveling.

We have settled into belgium for a few days and giving our waistlines a hammering. We have settled of concentrating on the major food groups of belgium ...fries, chocolate and beer. What an awesome food pyramid the kids would have learned school. Our diet yesterday consisted of skipping lunch instead opting for a huge serving of fries ( in cones of course) smothered with about half a liter of mayo. We then skipped dinner to go for choc brownie, hot choc, cold choc, choc fondant, pieces of choc and choc sauce. There was also a selection of beers mixed in there which resulted in nic needing to dig in to one on my many choices of anti nausea medications so she could get to sleep.

Off to Brugge tomorrow and then over to Germany for some bratwurst and beers.

Anyway best be off as nic needs to proofread this before I post it to take out any inappropriate comments about the red light district.

Until next time

Jimmy and the boss