#We're all going on a...Summer holiday...#

Summer holiday is definitely over, yes, but as Bregt said above (well, on the last page), I'll be having 2 1/2 days at our summer house in Denmark this coming weekend, with two of my friends, plus Bregt and his girlfriend.

Like Stavi above (hope you get better soon!), I've had some health issues these last couple of days (my pancreas is acting up again!), but hopefully it will be manageable before departure on Thursday.

I'm sure both Bregt and I will report back when we return.

For me, one of the most crucial things in life is to book or plan another trip or something else to look forward to once the dreary everyday life begins. One should always have one such thing.

So we came back from our brief holiday yesterday -- my family's summer house at the island of Fur in Denmark. With our very own God and Moderator as one of the guests.

Brief synopsis:

Arrived Thursday evening, just in time for sunsets, barbecue, a short walking tour and a nice (not too late!) evening of drinks. Bregt and Kaat had already been on the island for 3 hours before I arrived with my two friends, having driven all the way up from Belgium.

On Friday was the long bicycling trip. Bregt, Kaat and me. Cycled all around the island (almost 30 km) through various forms of landscape -- moors, fields, cliffs etc. And lots of off-road "shrubbery" which donated ticks to both me and Kaat -- removed with surgical precision later. Investigated the special geology of the Northern coast, with various ash layers embedded in the cliffsides.

Pitstop at a camping with three delicious sandwiches, a big beer and a schnaps. Then on through a forest area to the local brewery for some sampling, and then onwards on bike for the last leg along the beach.

Back home, we prepared wonderful pizzas for dinner, and then the "party evening" began -- loads of wine, beer (both local and Belgian types that Bregt had brought) and licor to the wee hours of the morning. Also included film music quizzes, obscure Flemish children's games ("Schipper mag ik overvaren...") and dancing. At 4:30, Bregt and I had a night swim -- a fantastic experience with phosphorescence in the sea and a dark heaven full of bright stars above. Only downside is that both he and I cut ourselves (somehow), which we realized when we saw our bloody legs back home.

On Saturday, we got up very late for obvious reasons (I had to be awoken at 13:00), but we still had time for some stuff. After breakfast and a few hours of recuperation -- I had another swim -- we drove to the local pancake house with a spectacular view and a museum for "men". Then to another panorama point and a photo shoot with some hey balls(!). Off to play an 18-hole minigolf session for a few hours (I had a hole in one!) before we went off to see one of the best sunsets I've seen on Fur. Back to the house for another barbecue, and then a very calm evening due to an early departure the next day.

All in all, I think this was one of the better Fur trips I've had with buddies, and I hope Bregt was equally happy. Too short, yes, but we managed to jam a lot in there. I didn't take any pictures, but hopefully Bregt will put some out there soon.

Now to book something else to look forward to!

I dunno...I feel exhausted just READING about it!

It was a fantastic weekend fur sure! I cannot add much more to what Thor already said, and can only wish it was a day or so longer. It's a I took part in the beer drinking (not the wiskey, that was for the others), quizzing, discussing differences and common ideas, music and movies, ... The night swimming was amazing, also because I've rarely seen so many stars!

Fur itself was a secluded place in an already not so busy region of Denmark. Beautiful landscapes, quite varied as well, on such a small surface. I loved the sunsets and colours around, the moors part, and defenitely some of the beers of the local brewery.

Kaat and I made a small road trip for this weekend because the island is quite up North in Denmark. We spent a night at Enschede where Kaat's sister lives for a year, and in the return trip we had a sleepover in Antwerp to split up the long drive.

Thanks a lot Thor!!!

Back from a 7 day theme park trip in America. We decided after many years of visiting Disney Paris to explore and conquer the one and only Magic Kingdom of Orlando (including Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Epcot) whilst taking the Orlando Universal Studios and Island of Adventure with it on our adventure.

No time for sightseeing on this trip, it was all about the attractions, shows and magic of the theme parks. Quite exhaustive but definitely worth it for us. The weather was a bit lesser (during several days we had just about 14 degrees and rain) while the week before and after it was all sunshine and 25 degrees. Still we did so much, experienced so much, ate so much and spend so much it was worth it.

I don't know how many people like theme parks here, but for us this was a blast. Epoct (with the glorious attraction Soarin' (music by Jerry Goldsmith), Hollywood Studious with the Star Wars mania, and Universal Studios with my kick ass attractions Transformers 4D and Harry Potter, in the wonderful and busy Diagon alley. It was a blast. Quite strange to discover the day before I visited the wand shop of Olivander I discovered John Hurt had passed away

Still recovering a little bit from the jetlag, and lots of photo's to come on facebook soon. It will be a trip I will remember for the rest of my days.

PS, the citizens of Orlando were so warm and friendly, it was amazing how kind they treated us.
Ps ps, I still do not understand the way they add tax and service in their bills.

I swear that has something to do with why taxes are so reviled in the States. Having to constantly do mental math to add it to your bill keeps the whole concept at the forefront of your mind as an annoyance and money drain.

In any case, that sounds like a fantastic - if no doubt rather expensive - trip!

I’ve been spending some time in antique shops recently. I’ve seen some REALLY NICE JUGS.

We took a drive from our home in Utah to the Oregon coast. It was about 750 miles/1200 kms one way. We split the drive up and did it in two days for the sake of three-year old. We went to visit my wife's biological mother. My wife, Krista, was adopted as an infant and only met her biological mom for the first time in December. So we went out to spend a week with her and her fiance. She never had any other children after Krista and never got married until now, so she went from knowing she had a daughter out there somewhere to suddenly finding out she was a grandmother of four! It was a really great trip, despite the length of the drive. We'll be heading back in September for the wedding, but we'll be flying this time

Still looking forward to 2 weeks off later in August. We probably won't go anywhere - all the restrictions and uncertainties are something that would affect the enjoyment of any holiday away.

I haven't, no. We have limited access to US shows like that over here. But thanks for the tip!

So far no plans, except playing padel on a weekly basis. My vacation is mid september to begin october, but so far it's not that I have plans. I'm alone and can always adapt when things change, or opportunities arise.

Nope, the new hype

Padel
Padel

Tennis on a Squash terrain, I actually like it a lot, in this good weather a perfect way to lose a couple of hours (playing and drinking afterwards) ;-)

you don't say :p