Today it was really nice weather again.  I visited Henny Templeman this morning (I walked - maybe 15 minutes at the most - good excerise to make up for all the yummy food!) and it was really nice to see a familiar face again and be able to talk English! It was great to catch up and see how they are going in Holland (very well).  I hope to go back there for a visit at night during the week before I leave so I can also see Pieter and the kids.
So, I've been to a Dutch wedding this afternoon... not too different... they did have a collection (I presume it wasn't for their honeymoon!) and Peter (my Mum's youngest sister Aly's son) didn't kiss his bride (Gerrinde) - he probably did it at the Gemeente Huis (town hall?) beforehand - they basically have 2 weddings in Holland - one "government" with only close family and then a church wedding with everyone.  Weddings are usually on a Friday here (apparently) which is interesting, and all the elders and deacons sat at the front like a Sunday church service.  I presume that everyone had to take the day of work!

Bianca, Angus and Xavier came to the wedding, but I couldn't get a close up with the bride and groom at that stage, so this will have to do :

The church organ was huge!  The wedding was in the Kandelaar Kerk in Heemse.

Directly opposite the organ was another huge window, through which you could see the sky and a beautiful tree.

Tante Aly's oldest son, Arjen played the organ and piano beautifully during the service :

After we got home, I went for a walk (more shopping/window shopping!)  This is the windmill really close to Tante Bertha's house :



I walk a little way, go over a bridge, where this area is nearby, and then I'm already in the centre of Hardenberg!

I had to try this - it's called a Loempia Special.  It's actually a springroll and it's special because it was large.  Quite tasty though...

I'll tell a bit about the wedding feast at night in my next blog...