Back on the Ferry
It’s now 9:15 UK Time and I’m back on the Norfolk Line ferry to Dover.
This time I had the cricket all the way from Holland until I went past Antwerp. But this time it wasn’t so good. England contrived to go from 196 for no wicket to 364 for 6, by means of some sloppy batting. You can never trust an Aussie cricket team until they’re beaten.
We just gave them too many breaks.
But it was quicker to take the route through Bergen op Zoom and the tunnels at Antwerp and then down the parallel motorway almost to Bruges. I didn’t see much traffic and the lights on the latter part of the journey weren’t too unkind.
I made the ferry with firty-five minutes to spare, despite taking nearly an hour to get round Rotterdam. We may complain about the M25, but it seems everyone has the same problem.
On the down side, the Maerske Dover has a rather bad vibration.
Roaming the Netherlands
In July, I wandered around the Netherlands.
I learned a little bit about the Water Line and some of the fortifications are shown in the pictures. There are also pictures of the famous installations at Kinderdijk-Elshout.
Both are Dutch World Heritage Sites, although the Water Line is only on the tentative list.
Dutch Water Line
The Water Line is a series of defensive forts, towns, castles and dikes, that was built to protect the Dutch heartland from invasion in the 17th century. It was upgraded for many years, but proved inadequate in the Second World War as it was just by-passed by the Nazis.
This is one of the impressive castles, Slot Loevestein.
Slot Loevestein
The castle, and in fact the whole Water Line, is definitely worth a visit.
740 Euros to Remove a Tick in Holland
This was sent to me by a Dutch friend.
Ziekenhuis rekent 740 euro voor weghalen teek door Cees Jansen
Breda – Een simpele medische ingreep bij de spoedeisende hulp bezorgde een 34-jarige man in Breda een woedeaanval.
Translated this becomes.
Hospital charges 740 euro to take away a tick by Cees Jansen
Breda – a simple medical intervention at the hospital provided to a 34 year-old man in Breda provoked a lot of anger.
As you have to have compulsory medical insurance in Holland, he was probably OK. But if you’re going to Holland make sure you take your European Health Insurance Card.
The Anonymous Widower 