The last few days

We pondered for some time about planning for a "stop" in Amsterdam. With the Dutch-Flyer, Amsterdam became a sensible option so we spent New Year's Eve there. Hotels were hard to book even back in November so we booked a Novotel a bit out of the centre. Thankfully, we have a good status with the Accor Hotel chain so scored a room with an exquisite view over the canals. Following a VERY long day, we bedded down early (8pm) but managed to be awake to welcome in the new year along with a firework spectacular; definitely worth the night in Amsterdam!

Anne Frank's secret annexe was my main pulling to Amsterdam. Advisors had told us to pre-book tickets into the house. Looking at the length of the line, I think we saved a good hour or more! As for taking a seven year old in to the museum; that was not a problem at all. The content and introduction to the holocaust was certainly not too much for her. Whilst there were a few photos with some challenging images, they were all explainable. I believe that Teagan is now well aware of the terrible times that our world has inflicted on itself and the importance of thinking about other people and the value of EVERYONE. Naturally, we had preprepared her with a picture book about Anne in the annexe. Now, along with Pompeii, Henry the VIII, 15th Century Belgian artists we can add Anne Frank to the "fixated" list.

Leaving Amsterdam was not smooth. Due to our late night we slept in pushing our ability to eat breakfast and make a leisurely low cost trip to the central train station. As a good breakfast came first, we caught a taxi to the station - a luxury for us! Then we discovered the "other side of DB train travel". As I had selected a direct trip to Berlin, the train was an IC (InterCity) as opposed to an ICE (InterCity Express). This meant that in spite of 1st class tickets we: (1) had no carriage, (2) no seats (3) no functional restaurant car and (4) no toilets in our section. Never mind, the conductor sorted us out into a closed cabin where we had some really pleasant traveling companions which helped pass the six hours . The madam's hungry tummy was fixed through the hoard of food that all mothers have in their shoulder bags (the sandwich that you make at breakfast, fold into a napkin, the apple that you pick up as you leave the restaurant, and the packet of crackers that are always available) and of course there is always plenty of drink available at vending machines along the way.

Now it is our last night in Berlin. We have spent the day shopping picking up the extensive list of necessities that we cannot get in Doha.

Another good trip is just about finished and one little girl is ready for her own bedroom!




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Location:Anhalter Straße,,Germany

The Dutch Flyer

Sometimes there are some tricks and interesting major city transfers available. But, the problem is; how to know about them. One of my key advisors is www.seat61.com and for this trip, which is a circuit, a trip called the Dutch Flyer was recommended. We travelled from the heart of London to the heart of Amsterdam via a rail-ship-rail connection that was so stream-lined that it shocked my over-prepared nature!

We literally caught the underground line (Hammersmith & City), connected via a very short platform hop at Liverpool St to a train departing at 7.02 pm for Ipswitch that dropped us at a station called Manningtree (aka: the middle of nowhere) where we changed platforms to a nice sprinter train that put us at the Harwich International Terminal. It was quick and streamlined - happily we travel with backpacks so it wasn't really an issue moving between all the trains.

Once we got onto the ship we were amazed. I had booked a Comfort Class cabin and it was better than most of our hotel rooms (including those of the Novotel). The mini-bar was free, however, we skipped the dinner as Teagan needed to sleep and only hit the restaurants for breakfast.

Disembarkation was trouble free and again we had to use connecting trains (sprinter plus intercity) as we entered Amsterdam Central at 10.00am.

All of this was for around GBP200 (2 adults and one child). If anyone is contemplating the route, I would recommend familiarising yourself with the route. Even though it all connects up and works seamlessly, it could be disconcerting at Manningtree if you are not sure what you are up to (as Teagan was surprised that we were "nowhere").





















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Location:Europaboulevard,Amsterdam,The Netherlands

Hell in a hamster's wheel

Oh joy, Ross has gone exploring in higher floors in London's Science Museum and I am sitting in what seems like a hamster wheel. The noise of spinning is incredible, speed of action frenetic, happiness of small creatures exceptional and the view for me from the sidelines somewhat challenged.

We have a full day left here before leaving for our overnight Ditch Flyer train/boat/train to Amsterdam. Teagan had free activity choice today do it was the Launchpad in the museum and it is my turn on duty!

It is amazing how travel dynamics change with a child on board.







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Location:United Kingdom

No, there is nothing wrong with her sight!

I don't know how many times the little miss has convinced us that she is ailing in some way. Never, however, has she given us reason to doubt her seemingly perfect eyesight.
Several weeks ago a letter came home from the school nurse suggesting that we should get a professional eyesight assessment. Accordingly, but with no belief and no urgency, we did our parental duty. Finally we found a non hospital based optometrist (Qatar, Germany and Belgium will not test children under 12 years) in London. Following a full assessment I discovered that the kid actually does have a moderate problem and couldn't see a lot at a distance! Two hours later just before the first of two London shows, the child could see! Imagine her delight when she found that should could see the stage sets from her seat especially for Matilda which was in the Upper Circle!
She sports two pairs of glasses now - one is Mr Tickle and the other Little Miss Sunshine, her eyes have that slight bug eye look, and we as parents are so thankful for the school's health check systems.




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Superb Children's Theatre

Who can't love time in London? Ross and I have always loved short breaks here ever since we lived in Kuala Lumpur and found the beauty of a direct flight that wasn't the epic trip that it usually is from "down under". Sadly for us, this part of our Christmas holiday is far too short and has merely been jammed in between a trip from Belgium to the Netherlands (yes, a roundabout way, but fun nevertheless).

Following arriving into London via the Chunnel directly into a full underground strike (thank goodness we had prepared for it), we have enjoyed some full on time! The little madam has finally had her eyesight tested and confirmed that she has a moderate eyesight problem (I hadn't believed it!) so we scored a good optometrist in Oxford St but sadly due to her small head size she only had four frames to choose from! There was no way she was wearing the baby/preschooler frames. Thankfully all was sorted out so that she had optimal vision for the afternoon stage play: The Prince and the Pauper at the Unicorn Theatre.

What an absolute joy it is to be able to go to these productions as an adult. It is not easy to pop off to a specialist kids theatre without a kid in tow (hence I took the child!) and WOW! This production was superb. It was an accurate adaptation of Mark Twain's story of young Edward VI. Yes, madam Tudor specialist could identify all the key characters and it took some convincing her that it was not a true story!







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Location:Lillie Rd,London,United Kingdom

Christmas with a Fijit

Just before Santa was due to fly into Brussels we walked into the main square and were transfixed with the light concert. The sounds and lights were incredible; our last experience of this for the next 24 hours thanks to Teagan's copious letters to Santa.

Over the past few months, Teagan has been focused on a Mattel toy called a Fijit Friend - she found it via Amazon.com advertising and has frequently explored the Fijitfriends.com site and any YouTube video she could find. Naturally, this became her wish.

As I understand, Santa willingly provided one such creature for her, however, he did struggle to get it soundlessly into her Santa sock...you see, I saw Santa trying to muffle the sounds in a towel in the echoing bathroom. I also believe that this was the point in which Santa learned that a Fijit does not come with a volume control!

During the wee small hours, some feet pattered over to the door and found an overloaded sock (yes,Grandma it does travel every year) and in it was a Fijit: and wow what choice Santa has. I shall forever thank him for giving Teagan such joy and pleasure, it was delightful as a parent watching this. But I will caution Santa for the future that Ibis Hotel rooms and volume-control-less FIJITs are an interesting choice!













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Xmas Eve in Brussels

Gidday from wet Brussels where we have been strolling and wrapping the day away. The little madam has had a great day; starting with wrapping the gifts she bought alone and using her recently acquired (trained) skill for gift wrapping, then the bulk of the day has been spent in the Fish Market zone enjoying the more classic rides on offer.

Many discussions (as usual) have been had over a range of topics. The first one has involved the banning of the viewing of the movie called Drop Dead Fred. Teagan has watched it hundreds of times just as her Uncle Grant had, however, unlike her uncle she has started using quotes from the movie in her casual discussions with us: "the mega b***ch" was the final straw especially as our wee "treasure" did not know what the second word even meant! The second key topic has been the technicalities of fake versus real Santas and whether she is supported by the NZ Santa or the Qatar one - it is definitely not the Europe one as I have been led to understand. Finally, pick-pockets are of great interest. Brussels has an "epidemic" of the blighters so madam has been keeping us "safe"; needless to say, moving around with the child has become rather challenging.

Now we are off to enjoy the lights of the city whilst we wait for the big red man!

Happy Christmas and celebrations to you and yours, Kara please eat some raspberrries for me and then FB me with a photo so I can pretend I have had some also!















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Location:Rue du Marché aux Herbes,City of Brussels,Belgium