Horse riding at Christmas

It was a very mild Christmas this year, and this provided the opportunity to ride Beau outside. On Boxing Day he went riding on the beach with 5 friends from the Madurodam stable, and the next day Dorien did some jumps with him. As always he enjoys the attention and a bit physical exercise. Beau is with us 4 years already, and like always time is flying!

 Dorien is leading the Madurodam horses

In the dunes

Beau is leading on the beach

Paula and Beau

Riding towards Scheveningen

Dorien and Beau jumping high

Instructions from the coaches

Rowing

Paula has been training hard at her rowing club Proteus, and has been selected for the ladies-8 boat. This means 6 training sessions a week, no alcohol from January onwards and a regular sports biorhythm (in bed before midnight!). The racing season culminates in June, and Paula's boat had their first start at an informal race on the Schie, the canal running from Delft to Rotterdam.

Piet and Mary went to watch, and cycled along the Schie with many other students. The weather was quite good for mid-December, and the race ended in chaos as the slowest boats started first and there was not enough room to overtake. But that was on purpose apparently....

This was followed by Christmas dinner at Proteus, Paula and her team had to cook for 150 hungry students till late. Now she has 2 weeks to recover, and give moral support to Dorien, who has to study for her moc-exams early January.

View of the Schie towards Rotterdam

Mary is watching the start of the race

Paula's boat racing towards Delft

Cycling along the Schie to support your boat

At the end of the race all the boats are returning to Proteus

Paula is happy after her race

Cape Town and Windhoek

Piet made another trip to southern Africa, for a number of meetings with several government bodies in South Africa and Namibia. He flew with his boss to Cape Town for several external engagements, and to meet up with Shell colleagues in the office. In the evening they went to Camps Bay to enjoy the beautiful weather and a nice meal. 

Punishment was handed out next morning with a 4 AM alarm and an early flight to Windhoek. There the routine continued with 3 days of meetings. There were also opportunities to visit the Geoscience department at the University and a Child Development Centre in Katatura, the poorest part of town. This is all part of Shell's social investment programme in Namibia, and one of the fun parts of Piet's job.  

On the way back to the airport they saw many baboons and some warthogs along the road, getting a taste of African wildlife for free. This was followed by a short flight to Cape Town, a 4 hour transfer and an overnight flight back to Amsterdam, ready to start the weekend.

Camps Bay beach

Camps Bay

Sunset at Camps Bay

Windhoek, Christus Kirche

Windhoek, view from the hotel

Katatura, the large township in Windhoek

Katatura