We had met Martijn, Monique, Dylan and Jazz in 2015 during our first trip to Holland. We had arrived at their home port, Goes, after sailing to The Netherlands via Ramsgate and Oostende. We had overnighted in Middleburg but found it not so great for kids so Goes was the first place we stopped for any period of time. Martijn and Monique were borrowing Martijn's dad's boat "Lynan" and having spotted they had kids we quickly made friends. After a couple of days both families were ready to leave and so we said our goodbyes. The kids were devastated! When we arrived at our next destination AJ and Esme were still saying how much they missed Dylan and Jazz so we took them to the playground and bought them an ice cream to try to take their minds of it. Anyway 1/2 hour later who should turn up but Dylan and Jazz with their parents. They had been similarly upset about saying goodbye so we decided to spend the next week together.
The following year we had 2 lovely weeks sailing in company and again the kids were mortified to say goodbye, particularly as this time it would be at least 3 or 4 years before we would be back in The Netherlands. So we had no hesitation in offering them accommodation when we heard they were coming to the UK. We spent the first 2 days of their visit squashed on Laurin, testing out our new berths in the cockpit.
It was a bit cosy but doable, which was all we expected. The kids went dinghy sailing at the sailing club Friday night, crabbing and rowing Saturday morning, and we went to the Parlour Café for cream scones and milkshakes at lunchtime. Down to the playground in the afternoon followed by English Fish and Chips for tea. Sunday was a more restful day but still plenty of rowing and crabbing, then back to our house for pulled pork sandwiches.
The next day we headed into London and, eager to do something a little different we decided to visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition. Spent a lovely hour or so there, walking across the high walkway with the glass floor, and visiting the old engine rooms. This was followed by a picnic lunch, river bus up the Thames to Westminster and then back to Tate Modern which the kids were pretty underwhelmed by. A short walk to the Southbank centre then Pizza and tube to North Greenwich for the cable car across the Thames before heading home. Tuesday the kids were at school and the Dutch contingent went out for the day before we said sad goodbyes on Wednesday morning.
