Summer 2021 (I)

This summer started with a real highlight: Paula completed her studies and was lucky that she was able to host a small ceremony at the university, instead of an online meeting like many of her friends had to do in the past year. We we able to attend, with Mary's parents, Dorien and Lars, and several of Paula's friends. Paula presented her thesis in an excellent manner, and we were allowed to ask questions afterwards. This was followed by a more serious grilling of her exam committee, who then withdrew to discuss the final result. In the end they were very pleased with her work, and Paula received her MSc degree, with a cum laude distinction. After a tough year it's time for 2 months off, before worrying about finding a job, moving house, getting a car and other issues.

As it was difficult to plan holidays with the varying Covid restrictions in western Europe, the girls decided to set up camp in our house in France, and get friends over there for a wide range of outdoor activities. To get this all started we drove over with Pippin first, fully PCR-tested, for a quiet re-opening of the house, 10 months after we closed it down in September 2020. Thanks to our neighbours, who mowed part of the lawn, and after switching on the water and electricity it felt like we only left a few weeks earlier. We had a few relaxing days, then the first visitors arrived, and the house has been full ever since. It is great to see everybody enjoying the garden and surroundings, walking, cycling, climbing and cooking. The main advantage is the latter: we have one rule: we don't cook!

Pippin is thoroughly spoilt. Not only does he get unlimited attention, the area around the house is a paradise for a hunting dog, with forest, streams and swamps. He enjoys messing around when we are working in the garden, and at the end of each day he is exhausted and sleeps in his 'cupboard under the stairs'.

We enjoyed several real mountain hikes with Pippin (on a leash), bike rides and dog training sessions. After 2 weeks Piet worked for a week from the house, and then returned to The Hague to start his new job. He will come back soon to continue his holidays.

Lac de Buclet

Hiking towards Cabane du Chezeau

Paula and friends hiking towards Refuge Adele Planchard

Pippin's first real mountain hike

Pippin has to walk on a leash in most areas

Dorien and Mary near Glacier Blanc

Pippin in our garden, with the neighbour's horses

Piet is cycling to La Berarde

Pippin looking out over the Romanche

A marmotte during on of our hikes

Paula is presenting her thesis

Explaining the principals of the tidal inlet between Terschelling and Ameland

Paula is getting her diploma from professor Wang

Dog training

To keep Pippin mentally and physically fit he is going to dog training twice a week. He is learning to search and return fetches, that are hidden in fields or forests, and to follow trails of scent. Every Tuesday he has an individual lesson, and on Sundays a group lesson, with 7 other dogs. These are not all Vizsla's, but also other hunting dogs. Last weekend Piet went along, which caused some confusion with Pippin, as he had to concentrate on the fetches, and not on his adoptive dad. 

Pippin is returning a fetch

Concentrating on what's happening

Pippin also has to return fetches, swimming across water

A quiet winter and spring

It has been a quiet winter and spring, with limited activities besides working from home and walking with Pippin. As we couldn't go to France we had two more long weekends in The Netherlands, in Braamt (Achterhoek) and Aalden (Drenthe). We brought the bikes on our new carrier, and spend the weekends walking and cycling in an unknown area for us. We always try to find areas where Pippin can roam free, and there are many of these in the east of the country.

We also met two sisters of Pippin, Csilla and Mila, who are as energetic as he is. They are remarkably similar, both in behaviour and looks. A puppy reunion is planned for June, and we can image the chaos when 8 one year old pups and their mother get together...

Cycling near Aalden

On the beach near Monster

Returning a fetch

Typical Drenthe: a hunebed

Orvelte, a traditional village in Drenthe

Free roaming near De Meern

Mum and son

Pippin with his sister Csilla

Pippin and Csilla both like water

Holten

We remain in semi-lockdown with limited activities. During the week the walks with Pippin and regular visits to Mary's parents are the only breaks of our quiet routine. Luckily we are all in good health and spirits. As going to France will not be possible for some time we decided to have another long weekend in The Netherlands, and rented a dog-friendly bungalow in Holten. Paula and Jasper joined us as well, and we spend the days (dog)walking, cycling and relaxing in a beautiful part of our country.

Pippin scans a pond for birds to chase

There was even some sunshine in Holten

Paula and Jasper joined us for two days

In Ermelo

Its a hunting dog!

Inspecting a frozen pond

Male bonding or parental guidance?

Max and Marc taking a dive in January

An uneventful autumn

After returning from France we had an uneventful autumn, with limited social events. Work and study continued mostly from home, and our schedule was arranged around Pippin's activities. In the weekends we often hooked up with the girls outdoors for walks, in one of the many areas where dogs can roam freely.

Early December we booked a bungalow in the Veluwe to have a change of scenery for a few days, and Paula, Dorien and Lars turned up as well to join us for a bike ride and dog walks. This was an enjoyable alternative, as it is unclear when we can return to our house in France....

Pippin is reading a book

Walking in Delft

Pippin in Kijkduin

Paula was still allowed to row in a skiff

Dorien and Pippin are walking near Hoenderloo

Paula and Piet are mountainbiking near Radio Kootwijk

Sometimes Pippin acts as a greyhound

September in France

The last part of our holidays started when Peter, one of Piet's cycling mates, came to France for 4 days of riding in the mountains. Piet joined him, and together they did some of the cycling highlights in the region, and obviously also cycled up Alpe d'Huez. After Peter left Piet worked a few days from the house, and he used the last day of a long good weather period to get something off his bucket list: Col Agnel. This is one of the highest mountain passes in France, on the border with Italy. Mary and Pippin joined, and did some short walks in the area. Piet reached the top after a hard, 40 km+ cycle.

The last week the weather was variable, with regular rain and dropping temperatures. The days were spend walking and training with Pippin and some work in the garden and around the house. At the end of the week it snowed heavily in the mountains, and we could light the fireplace. Fall had started.

Unfortunately our departement (or province) of Isere was declared a red zone for Covid-19 during the last week. As a consequence we will not be allowed to return to the house until this restriction is lifted. We made the house ready for the winter as there is a reasonable chance that we will only return in the spring. We drove back with Pippin into a self-imposed quarantine, although we saw very few people in our village the last week, and the risk of infection was very low.

On return the adjustment was tough for Pippin. After a long period with nearly unlimited freedom around our house and village and hardly any dogs he got an overdose of stimulus in the busy parks of The Hague, with many, many dogs to choose from as temporary friend. Listening to his parents took secondary priority for a few days! He is slowly adjusting to the new reality; at least he doesn't mind the poor autumn weather. And he loves the beach.

Walking with Pippin in the village

Pippin likes to swim

Piet and Peter cycled up Alpe d'Huez

Lac Besson, above Alpe d'Huez

Pippin is waiting for Piet on Col Agnel

Col Agnel at 2744 m, on the France-Italy border

Pippin loves his mum

Pippin likes to train (if he is not distracted!)

Picking up an fetch, training to be a hunting dog

Pippin is sprinting towards us

Snow on the mountainsides, view from our garden