It was time to use another couple of of our hotel coupons. This time, in combination with a the picking up of seeds for ourselves and acquaintances, as well as attending a gardening exposition (trade fair?). It was too bad that it was too rainy to hike, but there were enough activities to fill the time, and of course my partner could not keep herself from writing a word or two for you this time. I believe that she suspects that I would not relate the story otherwise. Well, I did not take any piccies, but I can give an account. The first day, we drove off to Dordrecht to pick up seeds and seed potatos from a firm which we use every year. We checked into the hotel and then headed off to town to locate the seed dealer and window shop along the way. Tja--window shopping, that's innocent, isn't it? Well, we couldn't really dilly-dally too long though, as we had lots to sort out at the seed man's. 'twas a good thing that we didn't waste time on the way there, because the order which we sent in via the computer a couple of weeks beforehand was not ready. This was a disaster because we had to find the spuds in a tiny, dark claustrophobic catacomb...unfortunately there were others in there as well, which made looking, reading and turning about a difficult proposition. It was cool in there thus everyone still had their coats on--Tch! It was like a dark, labyrinthine crib full of Michelin men. Another irritant was that not only had they not processed our order, but some of the desired pieper sorts were not in stock, so I had to pull the substitute list out of my rucksack. We needed taters for ourselves as well as another gardener from the club. It was an unpleasant affair which caused everyone to eventually become over-heated and kribbig. Well, you know when starting this one has to have a system...an order of working the lists off. We chose the spuds first because we thought that it would be the most difficult and because the vendors always are a bit short of stock, plus that if others are also looking for potato's there is the chance the the chap right in front of you will get his hands on the last sack of International Kidneys or Purple Viking's right in front of your nose. So--better to get those in the basket first. There were a couple of sorts that had not yet "come in", and a couple that were simply "out". Fooey! Well, I was really glad to wind this 'tater-task up and get out into the main store. The main store wasn't that large with all the racks and shelves of seeds, but it was lit and at any rate wider than the catacombs. Right then-- once we climbed out, we began working off the two part list of my bee mentor. It was divided into veg and herbs. To appreciate why this wasn't a simple look and pluck proposal, you must know the cataloguing system that the seed man uses. It is a combination of numbers and alfabetization. Suffice to say that we had to ask the personnel several times for help. It got so bad that at one point, we were simply too embarrassed to ask for directions...we just plugged along like a couple of klungels in the film, "Hear No Evil, See No Evil". Do you know it? Our struggle would have been hilarious, had it not been so irritating. Finally, we had had enough and stopped, headed over to the free coffee 'n tea corner and took a break. My bride headed for the door to sneak a couple of puffs. Finally we were re-grouped and were in the mood to round this Tantalus Torment off. We worked our way through the list and managed to find everything on the wish lists except for two items...not bad actually. Now it was the moment that I had been waiting for--shopping for US (the bride would say, "for you"!). I just museum-walked up and down the isles working off the seed carousels and shelves-- looking and taking. It was heaven. So calm and so fulfilling...all those lovely flower seeds. All good things must come to an end however, and my stomach announced it all too loudly in the confines of that narrow shop space. We selected a Surinam restaurant and moseyed back to the hotel for a night of telly and iPadding. The frustrations and perspirations forgotten in that inexpensive room with a balcony. The hotel: The next day was the gardening exposition gig. I shan't say a lot about this thing. It was large and very commercial. A preponderance of garden furniture and knick-knacks, most of which was totally uninteresting to us. It wasn't a total loss though, we chatted with stand-holders and folks that we had seen at other expositions. The social aspect of the visit was fun, but we also managed to find a couple of other seed packs, roots and a new Clematis. The "Princess Kate". If the literature on this one can be believed, then this will be a good one for the new tunnel. We spent the whole day there and when we made our way back to the hotel we were good and knackered. This meant that we would have to look for a restaurant close by. The second hotel: The decision fell on a pancake house. Not really the same idea as what the north americans think of with a place like the "Pancake House". This place is more like a regular restaurant, but they offer our sort of pancakes as the main attraction. Having said that, they also have other types of meat and vegetarian meals. This is the part where my bride makes her entry to write about my most unfortunate encounter with an elk. Woman...Front and centre! "You are not going to believe the following story but it is true. Sjoerd got a small bump on his head from a run in with a deer, actually an elk with enormous antlers. They literary butted heads. Here is what happened. We had found a really good deal on the hotel auction site for a hotel on the Veluwe, the nature area in the centre of the country. We stayed there after we went to the garden trade fair. A lovely place-- a country mansion surrounded by woods that once belonged to the royal family. Oh, it was so nice, I expected to see Miss Marple in the lounge or in the hallways with the thick carpets. Our room had a wooden balcony and looked just like the old fashioned bedrooms from the 1920s with mirrored dresser and bedside tables with marble tops. You never guess what we paid............... 5 euro, plus auction costs of 9 euro. The hotel counts on you buying dinner and breakfast to make some profit of course; but their restaurant was very, very fancy with prices to match. Sad for them, they didn’t earn anything from us. We had brought sandwiches for breakfast and a water boiler for tea and for the evening meal we found a pannenkoekenhuis a short distance away. So, the story of Sjoerd’s mishap with the big deer: The pannenkoeken restaurant was decorated in ahunting style with stuffed animals, not our favorite theme. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I can’t believe I just found a picture of our actual table on Internet, the one in the corner: When Sjoerd got up from his chair to pay the bill at the end of the meal, he bonked his head hard against the nose of the beast. I gasped with laughter but the people at the table next to us were concerned and asked if he was o.k. It is a very bad picture. Do you see the elk head hanging on the wall between the two lights? Between hicks of laughter I told them what a wonderful story this makes of Sjoerd butting heads with a big deer and we all had a good laugh. I have to grin thinking of it again." A note from the wounded: Ja, ja...I can hear all the gales of laughter from here. I would wrinkle my forehead and do my mouth like this :-? , but my forehead still has a tender bump on it. Tch!
Sjoerd and Elk butting heads...sounds like the Elk won. Sorry to snicker at your injury but the mental image is just too good. Oh, 'Bride' thanks for telling us that story, I have a feeling the ending would have been different with a different story teller. The hotels are lovely and a great price. We have stayed in some Bed and Breakfast places that looked similar but certainly not that inexpensive. Glad you two had a good time, can't wait to see the gardens with all those new flowers in bloom. Sjoerd, were you referring to the International House of Pancakes over here? They aren't anything like they used to be, pancakes are a very small part of the menu now and not very many at that....I miss the potato pancakes, the Lingonberry pancakes and the Swedish pancakes.
While reading your bride's story I actually pictured you two sitting their having your meal and it all looked so calm and peaceful. Then when you stood up Sjeord I couldn't hold back the laughter at the look on your face when that elk attacked you. I showed this post to Ian and he said it was just as well we weren't with you when you knocked heads together with the beast as we'd have been thrown out of the restaurant. Folks miles away would have wondered what the gales of laughter were all about. (I really wish we had been there with you both to share the experience though) I hope your head has recovered and that you can have a good laugh about it too now.
TONI-- Oh you!--Don't encourage her, she'll just get naughtier and naughtier. You could be right that if another person had penned this story that the ending would have been different...on the other hand, I'm entirely not sure that the story would have ever seen the light of day. Yes, I was referring to the International House Of Pancakes place there. Of course it has been donkey's years since I have been over there, so they may well look quite different than when I was working there. I do remember the little pancakes though. Our ones are more like crêpes. I like it when one can get pancakes with a choice of things in them. Heh heh heh EILEEN--What'r yew loik. Pity that you and Ian weren't with us, he would have given me support, I am sure. He's a good bloke, you see. Good thing that I was leaving anyway, for they might have given me a red card for giving that elk a head-butt. Thanks for the well-wishes. The knot has gone down now. DONNA--I shall tell her. I am sure that my face would have reflected a sort of gobsmacked look. I know that I hit the head so hard that it popped my jaws and teeth. My head sounded sort of hollow---(no comments from the peanut gallery please)....narrowing my eyes. chuckle
I really enjoyed the post but I'm sorry to hear that you tangled with that elk. It's best to stay away from them even if they are just watching you from above. Your bride should come and post more often so we could hear more of your tangles with wildlife. dooley
Thank you(and your Bride) for owning up to your encounter with the elk As I was reading it an episode of Fawlty Towers came to mind-I wonder if you are familiar with the programme and the episode with another moose head? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5035TY5RSpg
Thanks KK-- My partner will be delighted to hear that. You are too right, DOOLEY-- Try and have a nice, quiet and romantic supper in a cosy corner of a restaurant full of ambiance and then I pull an un-cool move like that. Dear, oh dear. I shall pass your comment along. Hahaha--you are welcome, KIA--Of course I know the Fawlty Towers series. I recall the moose-head skit as well. You know, I watch an episode every time I see it and I think that I have seen them all...countless times. Some of those episodes make me laugh so hard that me side aches. There are a couple of other old shows that are such fun to watch as well--like 'Állo 'Allo, the ones with Victor Meldrew and so forth. Thanks for sending the YouTube link. We get BBC 1,2,3,4,Entertainment and the News Channel over here in our cable package. Thanks for giving me a good laugh this morning.
Sounds like your seed hunt was a little nerve wracking. But happy you found most of the things you set out to get. Now... about that Elk story... too funny!
I had forgotten about the Moose head skit, thanks for the link. Our local PBS station has shown most of the British Sitcoms on weekends over the past 45 years. Fawlty is a very irritating person so I don't watch Fawlty Towers very much.
Hi Sjoerd,..oh boy what a trip,..i can just picture you head butting,.. plus you being tall you must have made a big impact,..i can well understand the shock as i did this myself while on holiday in Spain,.. though with an enameled light shade with dust and a very hot bulb,..i did forget i was in company of four people and exclaimed fairly loud one word which i can not repeat,..
Thanks for your comments, CHERYL--I'm beginning to see the humour in the elk story now...a little bit. Yeah PHILIP--it was a good conk alright. Sounds like you had a cranial experience of your own in Spain. Ceramic material---ouch! Was your expletive in spanish or english? .....Since when did dining-out become a contact sport. :?
Lovely story from beginning to end Sjoerd. Please thank your co-writer for sharing. I felt really sorry for you when you were looking for your taters and seeds, and I'm glad your shopping spree ended well. Too bad the exposition wasn't what you wanted, but I hope you had a nice day out anyway. Your Clematis looks interesting, I want to know how it does. Then I admired the nice hotels you stayed in, and then I felt sorry for the poor elk head. I do hope you didn't damage it.
