The counting off can (almost) start

With a good ten weeks to go until the start of the summer break, my sister can finally begin her count-off. At the end of summer she'll officially make her application for her pension (in Belgium you can do that yourself, online with MyPension). When the new schoolyear begins, it will be her last. A schoolyear last 10 months, minus twice a fortnight off for Christmas and Easter breaks, and twice a week off for autumn and spring breaks. Plus a couple of long weekends in May-June. Means you'll only have about 8 months left. 

I'll be ever so glad when Chris can finally stop working. It will mean total freedom for us. For starters, we won't anymore have to get up at 7 am every week day. We can stay up somewhat longer and sleep at least until 8 am. And we don't have to travel when there are school holidays. You can save up quite a bit when you travel outside these periods. We also intend of selling the flat at the coast, which will enable us to bring our old - nearly 100-year-old - house up to date with the new measures for isolation and such. And there will be enough to make some nice trips to parts of the world we haven't seen yet, like the South Pole, Australia and parts of South America. 

These last years we've been travelling more than before (even with corona). Chris also has this need to do as much as we can, given my condition. You never can predict how long you've still got. Now my cancer is more or less a chronic disease, but this might change in a wink. We've already lined up couple of nice trips for 2023. Two luxury cruises - one leaving from Egypt and going to Saoudi-Arabia and Jordan, and the other in the Mediterranean, leaving from Venice and doing the Greek isles, Montenegro and Croatia. And in winter we'll also go to Iceland. 

Yes, we have nice prospects... I hope to see as much of the world as I can before my time comes. Right now, we're up to 40 different countries visited, but this total may go up!

Alternate plans

 For the past two years, we did nothing else but making plans and having to cancel them afterwards, because of corona. Now that we thought this was finally past history, there comes the war between Russia and Ukraine. 

The situation being rather volatile, we deemed it safer to cancel our upcoming summer trip through the Baltic states (starting in Lithuania, then going to Letland, and from there to Estland) and Finland. These countries are a bit too near Russia and if the conflict escalates, we might be in the danger zone. 

We were able to cancel everything - plane tickets, bus tickets,  ferry ticket, hotels, excursions - at practically no cost. One learns by doing! 

Instead of making this roadtrip, we plan a trip to Malta in July and one to Bratislava in August. The last one will be cheap because we could exchange Hilton honors points to have a 5-night hotel stay for free. This is already the second time we could do that this year. We also are going to stay in the palace of Versailles without cost, early in June. 

We are now Diamond Hilton member, which means you get a lot of perks for free. Being a diamond member allows you to enter the executie lounge without having to book a room which gives access to it. You also get a free breakfast. Most of the time, the hotel offers specials like a bottle of wine and chocolates. And also pretty often you get an upgrade to a better room or suite. Best thing is that you save up a lot of points which you can then use to spend free nights 

All in all, it's nice being able to travel again. We saved up quite a bit during those two years. Normally we spent a nice sum per year - I suppose when you'd make the total, we'd end up having spent the price of a big villa with surrounding park, just on travel. But for us a big house means nothing. Neither do we need expensive stuff to wear and we even don't have a car anymore. Experiences count for far more than possessions. Besides, we have house and a flat at the coast. That's more than enough. In my situation, I like to do as much as possible, because I don't know how long I still have to live. What you've done and experienced, they can't take away from you. That's my philosophy now. 

City trip to London

After more than 2 years, we finally managed to get back to England for a city trip. All corona measures have disappeared there (just like in Norway) and we already had an international passport. This won't stop us of going to the UK. 

As soon as we learned that all the corona measures were to disappear, we booked a trip to London. The last time we were there was just before the first lockdown, from March 6th to March 8th. A weekend to see Ball&Boe in the O2 Arena  with 20,000 spectators - and still didn't get Covid19.  Never got it in those two years, unlike so many others.

We stayed at a hotel in Islington, which is not far away from St. Pancras, where the Eurostar arrives. We rode first class on it, as we do these last years. A person can get used to some luxury! Comfortable seats, cleaner toilets and something to eat and drink. When we went to London we got a nice breakfast, and when we returned yesterday we got a tasty lunch with wine.

Islington is quite charming in itself, and has become a lot busier than the last time we were there. We spent our days by seeing old sights, and spent the evenings by going to see musicals. We saw Moulin Rouge, &Juliet and Pretty Woman.

And we were lucky with the weather! As cold as it was the first week of the Easter break, so nice it is the second. Sunshine and some light clouds, mild temperatures, ... what more can you want?

Week at the coast

We spent the past week in Knokke-Heist. The weather wasn't splendid - it was way too cold for April, it just felt like winter!

Now it looks as if the weather is changing. The sun is out and the weather forecast predicts higher temperatures for the coming days. Hurray! I really feel that the weather should cooperate once spring begins. Cold in winter, moderate in spring and autumn, and warm in summer. Right???

As always, things have changed in Heist. The town council is very busy creating new projects, and you can see the advance in these each time you come to the town. Where our flat is situated, there will be a broad walking boulevard and less traffic. Good for the view, and also for the worth of the flat. Somewhat further come three high towers with units for living, shops, etc. Two of the three are already towering over the square with seaview. And where the old city hall used to be will come a sort of container tower also with flats and shops. All these projects should be finished by 2025. The walking boulevard even should be ready by this summer. 

We ended our stay in Heist by having a wonderful meal in restaurant @Sea. Smoked salmon, asparagus Flemish style, good wine, a sweet desert and coffee. Life can be simple but good. 

One less fortunate thing happened, though. My old pc I had there in Heist broke down for good (I'd been having problems with it a year before already) and I need a new one. Will get myselft something portable by summer. A combination of laptop and tablet I can easily bring along in my handbag. Luckily they do exist now!

Easter break

 The school Easter holidays began on Friday afternoon. Two weeks (+ a day, second Easter Day on Monday) of total freedom! 

The only unfortunate thing is, the weather isn't cooperating. It's cold, there already has been snow on Friday, plus it was the coldest April 1st ever since they began measuring temperatures in 1835. For the coming week, they predict autumn weather... And the month of March was so beautiful.

Well, nothing can be done about the weather. We began the holiday in a good way, having dinner at our favorite restaurant here in Dendermonde, Barley's. They always have new creations on the menu and it's worth trying them out. 

The coming week we're going to spend at the coast, hoping for some moments when it won't rain, and the following week we're heading to London. It's been over 2 years since we last were there, thanks to corona. Btw, now with the war in Ukraine, nobody talks about corona anymore. It's still there, but less people get into intensive care. And there is flu going around too, which hasn't happened in two years. 

This is the start of an interesting period, with lots of trips coming up. London, Utrecht, Barcelona, Paris, Antwerp, the Baltic states (Estland, Letland, Lithuania) and Finland, Milan and finally Scuol in Switzerland. Now that we can travel as usual, there is no reason for staying home! We don't have kids or grandkids, so we needn't save up for them. And you can't take your money with you to your grave. So better enjoy when and as good as you can!