Ah – Hawksey has finally, after three years of long distance Blighty-based apprenticeship, been initiated as a full honarary Clog. Not only did he cycle on a proper sit-up-and-beg Dutchie bike alongside the Hollandia canals, but he also climbed up into the mysterious wooden workings of several proper Dutchtastic windmills, as it was 'come and see how they work' weekend where my sis lives in Holland.
All very exciting (hmm), discussing the workings of sails with ludicrously tall windmillmen and comparing the differences between a windmill's sails and a boat (if you like sails, that is). Ah, technical, windy, canvas fabric mechanical bliss.
And we took Mum & my rather ancient uncle Jan (celebrating his 85th birthday) off to some 'this is how life in Holland used to be' museum – more time spent trying to negotiate small lifts and not letting the wheelchairs fly off the 'haha, this'll test your puny English wrist strength' steep ramps, than looking at the very thrilling exhibitions..
Mum loved the whole wheelchair transfers in the airport, wheelchair at the museum thing so much that she conveniently forgot that she can actually walk perfectly well still, and laid it on thick any time she had to arise from her moveable throne… ah family weekends, don't you just love 'em.
Photos below – including us in giant clogs, just to cement the wooden shoe theme – but god they're uncomfortable, one of the many examples of the strange puritanical Dutch preference for all things hard, character-building and blister-enhancing… and that's why they put impenetrable rinds on their cheese too x