Just when we thought it couldn't get any colder: tonight the temperature will drop to minus 17C!!! For years Holger has accused me of exaggerating how cold winter gets in the Netherlands, refuting my claims of the coldest day of my life being in Vorden, 1996, when the mercury plunged to -18C, with a wind chill factor of a further 10 degrees. Now today, finally, vengeance is mine. Fresh from his tropical cruise bringing the Aoka Mizu from Singapore to the Suez Canal, totally un-acclimatised and still sporting a tropical tan, Mr "it never gets that cold" is having to eat his words. With a hearty sprinkling of frost on top.
We threw open the curtains this morning to find that snow had fallen silently during the night, blanketing everything in a thick crisp layer of white. The kids of course were ecstatic, and because today was also the first day of school for them, they figured this was simply an extra special treat we'd arranged to make the occasion even more festive. Oh, the power we have when our kids are still young enough to believe their parents are all omnipotent and powerful, that we can do anything, even control the weather! It was still dark as we walked to school, throwing snowballs and scrunching through the pristine snow. By the time we got their all our faces were glowing pink from the chill but it was the most fun any of us have had going to school.
Then once school was finished, we headed into town to do some jobs, the kids perched on the sled. Holger was the designated workhorse, although he didn't seem to mind and the kids managed to resist the urge to whack the back of his neck with a snowball at every second step.
I'll let you know how we survive the Big Freeze.
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