Our last weekend was spent in Oss, Elke and I decorated the Christmas tree.
After forcing the lights into submission Lindsay lay under the tree.
He lay there taking awesome photos while Elke and I had a lovely time decorating the tree.
Yvonne has some of the most beautiful Christmas decorations.
Stunning!
The next day was Castle day. After 1 false start a few months earlier we finally managed to get to Castle Denneweg with Oma, Opa and Elke.
They were holding an open day, and we were able to walk around the castle. It was set up how the last family to live in the castle would have lived. It was luxurious yet cosy.
Oma was great and asked some of the guides to talk to Lindsay and I in English about some details in the rooms. Such as the full service laid out on the table. It was so beautiful and in such good condition the lady said the family probably never used it!
Oma was taught dinner party etiquette from the 1700s by a man in a wig who put a feather boa on her. She doesn’t normally wear a pink feather boa.
After seeing the castle and looking at the markets we went into the cafe for Hot Chocomelk met Slagroom (hot chocolate with whipped cream) and apple crumble. Opa was hilarious, every few minutes he would threaten to play his flute in front of everyone. This would make Elke and I freak out and he would laugh… a lot. Rinse and repeat 6-10 times.
We got home to Maarten and Yvonne’s house where Yvonne had prepared an afternoon tea feast. Jur, Marleen, Vince and Mick, Oma and Opa, Michiel, Maarten, Yvonne and Elke were there to have a little farewell party for Lindsay and I.
Mick spent ages decorating squares for Quilt Pauline is making for Lindsay and I.
they have Pikachus on them and funny in house jokes. They are probably my favourite squares for the quilt.
Then came the worst part of our entire trip. Worst that ending up in Croatia with no money, worse than walking in the pouring rain in Madrid, worse than being really sick in Vienna…. Saying goodbye.
Jur, Marleen, Vince and Mick. got up to say goodbye. I fell apart. I held onto each of the. Begging them to move to Australia. I cried. A lot. Mick, the sweetie, said he was sorry for making me cry, causing me to cry and laugh at the same time and squeeze even more air out of him.
We walked them to their car, while I tried to stop crying. We waved goodbye.
It was time for dinner after that. We had Chinese/Indonesian food. It was very yummy.
After dinner it was time to say goodbye to Oma and Opa. I fell apart again. Crying, hugging and crying.
I was just catching my breath after waving off Oma and Opa when Elke announced that she too was leaving. I said “not you too” and burst into tears… again. My own victory was that she started to cry as well, not just tears in her eyes like the others.
After that I collapsed into bed. We had an early start the next day.
