London

Christmas has come and gone, 2011 has gone, a new year, another month.  And a visit to friends in London after all the carols, parties and too much unusual food.

   To escape from my Dutch birthday I avail myself of a cheap Eurostar offer. Why is a Dutch person celebrating a birthday  condemned to slave away providing friends and guests with coffee, cakes, drinks and all sorts of treats? In other countries birthdays are either ignored, or one is treated on one's birthday. Friends may prepare a surprise for you, may invite you to a meal or take you out to dinner. Not so in Holland.  If one has a partner who serves the guests and sees to their needs, it is OK. But being single, it is hard labour. It is very nice when guests taking leave tell you they have had a wonderful time, such interesting conversations, so marvellous to see old friends again. Wasn't it lovely? How often have I heard that and thought: Oh, was it? Good! But personally I haven't had a chance to talk to anybody, but have been too busy serving my guests. So I escaped!

   Avoiding the hassle of airports I take the train. It is a wonderful experience, a chance to meditate, enjoy the country, read, doze and generally relax. There is no escape, neither the need to think. And in my case far more convenient than taking a plane. There isn't a lot to see in Holland, as the train goes mainly through very urbanised areas. Once on the Eurostar, the fast train from Brussels to London, it is a different story. Belgium and the North of France seem rather empty. It is a dull day, the sky pewter with rose coloured slits where the sun tries to peep through. The land is wet, the furrows filled with water reflecting the sky. Rows of bare trees on the horizon are sharply drawn against the open skies, the structure and pattern of their branches beautiful and unique. Riding horses in a muddy paddock seem too elegant and proud for their dreary surroundings. Near Calais, nearing the sea, the skies are absolutely superb. Clouds like plucked cotton wool hang in shrouds from the sky, which is full of darker clouds, the sun desperately trying to find a place to escape through.

   We dive into the Chunnel, to escape some 25 minutes later to bright sunshine. It is pure joy after many days of dull and dark midwinter weather. England, here I come.