Slipping and sliding...

Today it is Second Christmas Day in the Netherlands, which is also an official holiday, so even if it weren't Sunday, all life would have still come to a halt. Luckily, it is Sunday, so I won't notice anything of it. That's the fortunate thing about having the holidays on the weekend. 

Still, it does give you a little bit of a festive feeling and that isn't half bad. It does put you in a special mood, you can't help yourself, and you do feel as if you've got something to celebrate. 

Besides, it's hard not to notice all the Christmas specials on television, although they do get awfully sentimental and people get so carried away by them. I suppose that some of the broadcasting networks feel the need to reassert that we're a Christian nation. It's just an observation I'm making. It's not a judgment. A whole theological and social debate could be held about that. It's not an idea to dismiss so easily. 

My sister and I made the town walk yesterday afternoon with the guide and a small group of people. It was cold outside and very slippery in the streets. I had to hold on tightly to my sister so as to not fall down. My boots were absolutely useless, they gave me no grip whatsoever. She prevented me from falling over quite a few times. She was wearing snow boots which worked quite a bit better.

The walk was interesting and we found out all sorts of little details that we had no idea of. We trekked all through downtown and had a break at a cafe halfway through, where I was even allowed to smoke, because they were officially closed to the public and only open to tour groups. I had a delicious cup of coffee there, that warmed my stomach and gave me the energy for the rest of the walk. There was also an opportunity to eat thick slices of raisin bread, filled with almond paste, with real butter on it, but I decided better not to try that. 

We visited the two oldest basilicas and the crypt of the oldest bishop, but we found out that it was empty, because all of his bones had been taken out to be used as relics. He was considered that holy. The stone threshold to this crypt had been completely worn down into a hollow over the centuries by pilgrims visiting it.

The terraces of the cafes were open, but they were all heated and on each chair there was a blanket to keep the customers warm. Unfortunately, we didn't sit down there. I would have enjoyed that very much. I'm a real terrace visitor. I do enjoy watching the people come by while sipping a beverage. 

My sister and I had taken the car downtown, although none of the streets had been cleaned. I think they're running out of salt. There were tracks in the snow to follow where enough traffic had passed. The car has front wheel drive, so there really was no problem. There was a true winter landscape all around us, though. It really was pretty if you didn't have to walk in it. On that slippery ice downtown. 

I had a nice time the rest of the day with the animals and took it easy. I talked to my daughter in the evening and it was good to hear her happy voice. I went to bed on time, tired as I was from my afternoon out, and I fell asleep quickly. Tyke greeted me this morning with much enthusiasm, but that was because he needed to go out, although it's possible that he loves me a little bit too. 

I don't have any plans for today. I'll just let it unwind and see where it goes. I have some chores to do, so those will keep me occupied for a while. I'm not worried about being bored. There will be enough to occupy me (I've got that book to read).

The first thing I'm going to do is go back to bed. I have more sleep in me. It will be quite cozy there. 

Have a good morning!

Ciao,

Nora

Something went pop...

A while ago, I heard something go pop in the kitchen and the refrigerator shut off. I also lost my Internet connection. I went to check things out and indeed, the refrigerator wasn't working and all the lights on the modem were out. Mmm...

I called the Exfactor and posed my problem to him. He told me to check the extension box that both the refrigerator and the modem were plugged into in the kitchen closet where the hot water boiler is also. I picked it up and water ran out of it. 

The Exfactor said that he had expected as much because of the water ballet he had had when he last had to fill the heating system. Water had sprayed all over the place. He told me to get a different extension box and plug the cords into it and it into the wall and then to check the fuses in the electric meter. 

I did all of that and made sure the buttons in the middle of the fuses were pushed in, but I still didn't get my power back on the refrigerator and the modem. Everything else seemed to be working. 

I called back the Exfactor and told him I was sorry, but that I was not smart enough to figure out the problem from that point forward because I was used to an American system and I didn't understand the fuses and the switches. He said not to worry, that he would be there as soon as he could. 

I took Tyke for a stroll to the mailbox to mail some letters and after that made a phone call to a friend and then the Exfactor was here. He looked at the electric meter and discovered that there was one old fashioned fuse in it that had popped and that needed to be replaced. Well, who ever heard of such a system? I've never had to deal with it. 

He went to the hardware store and came back with new fuses and I had him show me how to replace it just in case something like it happens again, though the Exfactor swore it wouldn't because he had improved the heating water filling system. Which is true, he has, I've seen it with my own eyes. Apparently it doesn't work quite as perfectly as we would like yet. 

The good part is that the modem and the refrigerator are working again, so the story has a happy ending and I asked the Exfactor if I could give him a big kiss for that and I could. All is well, that ends well. 

Ciao,
Nora