This must going to be a loving day.

Why so many people in de train :S

Saturday morning

8am, what a time to be on a train station waiting for.. of course the train. And there where almost 50 people waiting. Strange… I got my train and the next one in Zutphen (didn’t see Alex LOL) and arrived on time in Arnhem to meet Gejah and Mandy. I could take the train straight to Leiden, but I wanted to travel with Gejah and Mandy but I did not find them yet. I was at track 7 and later I found out they where there too! So we took the next train to Leiden, but this one was travelling by Amsterdam and Schiphol. Amsterdam was because of the ‘huishoudbeurs’ at the RAI. Aha, that was the reason so many people were waiting. The trip was long but we had so much fun on the train, and before we knew we where at Schiphol. We had a serious conversation about a backpack. Ask Mandy and Gejah! Hint: we discovered a way for a backpack to travel on his own  :).

My charter (in dutch: oorkonde)

We arrived at the station and after saying hello to all the others I dropped my backpack in Anna-Isabel’s car and we all were together again on the bridge to take the famous group picture. We just walked a little bit and did some sightseeing and then we arrived at “het koetshuis” They had prepared a beautiful setting for the high tea. Everybody had a red rose with a travbuddy card. Great job! I got a chair next to Keiko. We still had to talk to each other and now we could and did. On my other side was Carla and we talked also a lot! Suddenly Dennis started a speech and oh oh, it was for me. Because the next day it was my birthday. Then Anna-Isabel gave me a lot presents, all from the TB-group. The  presents were about India, the Rajasthan area, where we want to go this year. Of course I expected something this day, but thought they would wait till midnight.

The windmill.

We stayed there much longer that supposed to, but it was so nice talking to everybody that we forgot the time. When we left we had to say goodbye to a lot of TB’s and with a smaller group we are headed to the Belgian beer café. We did not have that much time there but there was time for 2 rounds of beer (or other drinks) and again there was room to talk to each other. I ‘learned’ everything about the “old Greek” languageJ, thanks for the conversations, and you are a great BHV’er.

We left there at 6:30 to go to the last pub for this meet-up.

Anouk and Anita.

Here we had more fun and the cameras were snapping more and more pictures. Then we started to get hungry, and Annoeska got a napkin and wrote on it ”FEED ME” It helped because not much later there came the tapas. We behave like TB-animals and in no time we were hungry again. But more and more came, and than I had enough. But maybe the reason was the beers.

Because of Valentine’s Day they handed all the girls a gift like a little round electronic ball. All the boys got an electronic stick. If you could find your match then just the girl can get a free drink at the bar. We found out that Anita and I were a Valentine’s match. Then it was midnight and again they sang Happy Birthday for me.

A special award for me

The next morning I had to get up early, because family and friend are coming to my house to celebrate my birthday. So we send Keiko a message that she should bring my gifts to the central station so I could take them home. But no Keiko appearing… My gifts are still in Leiden and I think they take good care of it. In a few weeks I’ll pick them up.

I was just an hour at home and my family came. Again celebrating my birthday. It was a Sunday so luckily the last people left at 23:30 or so. Maybe they have seen that I need some sleep.

On Monday I was at work, and even there they had decorated my desk to celebrate my birthday AGAIN.

Looking at there pictures.

Just a few things more:

I loved the whole day in Leiden, thanks to Keiko, Anna-Isabel and Dennis. GREAT surprises.

I love it that TB-virgins really have enjoyed there first meet-up. We ARE a big family.

I hope to see you all soon.

This was a weekend I will NEVER forget.