All over for another year

Well, we've arrived at our last full day.  Sadly, there is no more to report on "Parrotwatch" so we can only assume that the missing African Grey has been found safely.  Today was meant to be another "Phew what a Scorcher!" day which actually didn't turn out to be as hot as yesterday - thank goodness - so maybe we can sleep tonight.  It was so hot and sticky last night everyone was crotchety and had trouble dropping off. 

Dawn and I have had a lovely rest, she is comfortably beating me in the book stakes, having read 4 books (two over 600 pages) plus the Sunday Observer, cover to cover including magazines, whilst I have just managed 2 and a half, the last one finished today and called "The End of the Wasp Season" by Denise Mina, a gripping Crime novel.  I wish it was, as today we have been particularly plagued by the bloody things, buzzing round our ears and food as we tried to devour the contents of the fridge.  We even got pestered by some stray ducks... God knows where they came from as we hadn't seen any so far this week.

Her vice this week has been coffee and mine has been BEER, especially this one, which I have taken a real liking to.  It's essentially lemon flavoured lager and much better than the new lime ones we get in the UK - I'm keeping a look out for it.

As for the girls, young Madeline decided not to go with the others to the theme park today and instead remained in and around the caravan, drawing, stretching and exercising.  When the others got back there was a lack of the usual bickering and arguing as they seemed to be getting along better than at any other time.  Typical to leave it until the end of the holiday for the good behaviour to kick in!  Anna has been the quietest and unfortunately is sporting a cut under her left eye that makes her look as though she has gone a round with Frank Bruno.  However, it was accidental and is looking worse as it heals up.  She has spent most of her time listening to music on her iPod touch, blocking out the sounds of the others arguing no doubt! However, I think they have all generally had a good time and are talking about coming back next and every year, so I guess we've done something right.  Izzy even bought a "Duinrell Park" t-shirt, so when she DOES come back, she can wear it and show that she's "been here before, like, I so know my way around 'cos we come here EVERY YEAR."

Well, mission accomplished then I guess.  This was their holiday.  We get our time next week when we go up to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival... after 3 days back at work of course, when I try and deal with everything that has happened whilst I've been away.

I enjoy writing as I find it therapeutic and relaxing.  I know from the stats that there are approximately 75 page hits every day so if you are one of those regulars, I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

And now for something completely different...

Today has had shades of a Monty Python episode.  At first, I guess you could say the girls had everything they could have wanted on holiday; a theme park, water park, hundreds of playmates, no trips to make to please the parents and clear, unbroken skies with temperatures approaching 30 degrees. 

Pray tell me then why it is that once they EVENTUALLY surfaced all I heard was constant moaning and negativity?  One of them felt ill, another wanted to borrow this, that one said they couldn't, there wasn't the right stuff for breakfast, why didn't we have any nice food, why didn't the internet hotspot work properly, and did I know it was meant to be 31 degrees at home?  One of them positioned herself in the doorway so no-one could get in or out because "That's the only place I can get a signal", despite the fact that most of the time I have been on the 'Net has been sat outside by the table.  She absolutely refused to move and the look she gave anyone who wanted to get past was similar to that if you had just asked her to clean the decking with a toothbrush.

It is just incessant and wearing.  Is this what girls do?  I'm not in it for the gratitude but this is their holiday and just once it would be nice if they got up and had something nice to say!  Moan, Moan, Moan (first Python reference - The Dead Bishop Sketch for anyone who remembers it).

Anyway, Dawn and I went for a walk to escape the misery and ventured into the Pancake House (Pannenkoeken Huis) for some brunch, and saw the advert on the board outside for a new vacancy... anyone fancy being a fulltime KOK?  

Refreshed and ready to do battle again with the moaning brood, we wandered back to the site and we encountered a chap who was riding around on his bike asking if people had seen his missing African Grey Parrot.  It was clipped so couldn't get far, but why would you bring a Parrot to a caravan and camp site?  It wasn't a Norwegian Blue (2nd Python reference) so probably wasn't "Pining for the Fjords" but it did imitate a human whistle, particularly "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (reference 3). It also responded to humans whistling that song.

We didn't find it, but we did hear a lot of people whistling that tune and you can picture people all over the site rushing to see if it was the parrot, only to be greeted by other people doing exactly the same thing.

We did come back to only 3 of the 4 girls, one having gone off on their own (a strict no-no as we told them they should all stay together) and their rooms were in an absolute state.  I know they are small rooms in a caravan, but come on - 

                      

What you didn't see is the numerous used make up wipes stuffed down the side of the bed and sofas, the make up smears all over the door and wall and lumps of mascara smudged into the sheets.  Will this shame them into being a little tidier?  I doubt it.  At least we don't run as much risk of being burgled; any would be thief woul;d take one look and think it had already been done!

There were no more Python-esque moments although we did have a BBQ in the absolutely scorching weather which had the usual burgers, sausages, chicken and these tasty kebabs...

... and this is the last picture I managed to get out of my camera before it broke. I am unlucky with cameras.  The last time I was in Holland I lost my camera, a Kodak V610 with an immense zoom and it really is idiot and bloody idiot proof. This is the replacement. 

My camera clearly doesn't like Holland. Oh well, never mind.

"Always look on the bright side of life, dee do, dee do dee do dee do..."

Note - just as I have finished this, the man on the bike has come round again with "Wanted" notes for the Parrot, which he still hasn't found but has been seen around the site. More on "Parrotwatch" tomorrow...