2013-12-22 Season Greetings to Andrew Bonar met foto v.d.besneeuwde Oude Pastorie in sHHK.
Transcription
Van: A D Dirkzwager <[email protected]>
Onderwerp: Hollday Greetings
Datum: 22 december 2013 16:29:04 CET
Aan: "Mr Bonar Andrew J."<[email protected]>
Dear Andrew,
Sending our best wishes for Christmas and for the upcoming new year through internet is more environment friendly, than by a proper Christmas-card. It could well be that I am lazy or may be that my mind is preoccupied with other chores. Anyhow Vera and I do wish you and the family a merry Christmas and a healthy -and happy 2014.
By the way, as we wished you last december (2013) also a happy new year, that begs the question whether or not those wishes of us have been fulfilled?
After the 'Season Greeting' ritual I am pleased to have received a token of life from you. He is alive, but other than that, only sparse information on how you are doing in Atlanta.
Is Candy still around? Are you still generating your main income by trading on the stock market? Do you benefit from the robust economic recovery in the US? Queries, queries ?
Today, 22nd december, I report from Amsterdam a temperature today of 11 degrees Celsius above zero, rain and windy. Amazingly, this year to date we haven't had any temperature below zero. The mediterranean oleanders and agapanthus are still outside on the roof terrace. When the ice cap on the North Pole has been melted, the sea levels in the ocean will have increased by seven meters. We will be in our apartment in Amsterdam high and dry.
The Dirkzwager chronicle:
Reinoud (40) has presented his girlfriend Natasja (27) to his parents (Vera and myself). She lives in Zoetermeer (near the Hague) and Reinoud has moved to her address. May the 13 years difference in age become an obstacle over time ? It is their decision, they are happy together. Reinoud's job is with Microsoft with offices in the Schiphol area. The daily commute is limited.
Floris and his wife Else Marie are living at a 15 minute distance on bike. Now and then we are asked to standby in attending to the three granddaughters (8,7 & 5)
On Christmas-day the Christmas-lunch (or better the Christmas tsunami) is in our apartment. Bоxing will be our 'relaxez-vous' day.
September/october Vera got for the first time in her live an itch over her whole body. The dermatologist, she consulted, diagnosed the itch as psoriasis. The advice given is swimming in the sea and sunbathing. Thus we have booked for 3,5 weeks a house on the island of Curacao in January. Let's hope that it will not become a chronicle problem.
Next to be dealt with is my 96 year old mother. In August she left her home, where she had lived for 54 years, to a carehome at a distance of 16 km from her erstwhile domicile. Her house (pictured below) is put up for sale. The chestnut tree has been replaced by a squoia (redwood tree). The sellers do not guarantee the snow. "Où est le neige d'antan?" May be this is the last snow fallen in centuries to come. Any market conform bid wil be seriously entertained by the Dirkzwagers.
In Amsterdam we still suffer from the juridical aftermath of the renovation of the foundation of our canal house. Our neighbours at the left as well at the right side hold us liable for cracks in their walls.
Additionally the contractor has sought the assistance of a lawyer and pass on costs to us. Never a dull moment.
I have no information regarding Andrea. She is fading away.
I sit in the mansarde. Handel's *Messiah* is playing throughout the apartment, while Vera is in the kitchen doing the preparations for the invasion on coming Wednesday. I must go down and offer to lend a hand.
Andrew, my advice for you to adhere in 2014 are the words spoken by owl in the book Winnie the Pooh:
"In case of Sudden and Temporary immersion the important thing is to keep the Head Above Water."
Keep the faith, Adriaan
