這個星期，Julian放暑假最後一個星期，就去了嫲嫲家玩一星期。這個星期，我和老公就可以自由活動。也好的，況且過多一個星期，現在幫開我的褓母要做手術，會起碼有三個月幫不到我手。到時，我和老公就要吃力些！幸好，我找到Julian的同班同學媽咪幫我湊，只是或許不能像我之前的褓母那樣有彈性和合拍。

This week, Julian was having his last week of vacation, and so he spent it at Grandma’s (Daddy’s mom). This week, my husband and I got to have some “me” time, which was quite nice. After all, in a week time, the nanny that has been helping us will be having an operation, and won’t be able to work for about 3 months or so. By then, we will have to work extra hard ourselves. Luckily I did find a mother whose daughter is Julian’s class, to help me out. Probably she won’t be as flexible as our own nanny though.

荷蘭最近的天氣很怪，可以大風大雨，又可以很好天，所以一天內，同一地方可以見到以下情況：雪靴 vs 涼鞋

The Dutch weather has been a bit strange lately. It can be windy, rainy, and sunny. So in one day, you can see the following situation: snow boots vs sandals.

最近一連有幾位朋友結婚，他們亦很幸運地在下雨天之間得到太陽伯伯的關照，令結婚當日氣氛更好，又可以拍到不少美麗相片。

Recently a few friends of mine are getting married. The two who just got married had been very lucky with the weather, which made the days even nicer and they could take plenty of nice photos too.

這幅就是我們參加其中一位同事兼朋友的婚禮。證婚人是荷蘭人，她竟然花了不少心機，去學了不少中文字句，去恭喜新郎新娘和他們的親人。

Here is a photo of me and with some friends attending a friend plus colleague’s wedding. The wedding city hall clerk is a Dutch lady and made the effort speaking quite some Dutch phrases to congratulate the newly weds, their families and friends.

這次參加的婚禮除了有西式結婚蛋糕和香檳外，還有當作嫁女餅的中式餅。

This wedding didn’t only serve the western wedding cake and champagne but also Chinese cakes.

由於酒會是在日本餐廳舉行，所以還多了Miso Soup 和壽司。壽司很新鮮，每人一份，很美味。

Since the reception was held in a Japanese restaurant, they also served miso soup and a plate of sushi per person. It was very yummy!

在此再次祝賀這對新人，甜甜蜜蜜，白頭偕老！

Hereby I wish the newly weds to share endless happiness together.

之後，我們幾位女仕就算是因穿高跟鞋站得長時間而腿痛，我們仍會走去行街買衫，哈哈！我甚少有機會可以這樣自由的呢？行到店鋪都關門了（這兒平日是下午六時關門的），才坐下來看看吃甚麼好。最後，決定吃海鮮：蒸帶子和蒸魚，再來一個炒通菜。吃飽後，還有綠豆西米露和鮮橙送。每人不用二十歐羅，吃得心滿意足！

A few of us wearing high heels were having a hard time in standing quite a long time but we took a walk before we headed for the dinner. We had some seafood, including steamed scallops and steamed fish, plus some stir-fry vegetables. They even gave us dessert and fruits.

星期六，是我和老公的自由活動日。老公自己約了朋友，我就跟他說中午後我會自己出去。我先到一位住得較遠的朋友家，見見她剛生下來的小男孩。我抱著他，有點不想放下他。我不會再生小朋友，但不代表我不懷念抱著小小嬰孩，看著他甜甜地睡在我懷中的感覺是很滿足！況且又不用我湊，哈哈！她還有一位兩歲多的男孩，一陣子沒見面，又長大了！

On Saturday, my hubby and I both had our own plans. He had a friend over, and so I left home at around noon time to visit a friend who lives quite a bit farther away from our place. She just had her 2nd baby boy. When I held him, I almost didn’t want to let go. I won’t have a second child, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss having a baby in my arms. Seeing how sweet he was in my arms dozing off to his dream land, I really enjoyed it. Besides, I won’t have to be the one taking care of him, hehe. My friend also has a boy of more than 2 years old. It had been a while since I last saw him, and he has grown quite a bit!

跟著很不好意思地又要趕著走了，因為還要去另一地方探另一位朋友。這位朋友正要幫手照顧她另一半的兩歲外孫，而我們還要急速地出去買東西，預備晚餐。幸好這位小孩不怕外人，都讓我抱他出出入入，連換片都沒所謂。我的朋友先來預備當晚的晚餐，我就煮了些免治肉豆豆軟飯給小朋友。跟著，我們還弄了自製雲吞。其實我與這位朋友已認識多年，所以就算一入門就站在㕑房內做個不停也沒所謂，這樣才開心呢！或許不是人人都可以明白明明一天自由身，為何那樣趕，那樣忙，做那樣多的事情，其實滿足感是很大的！

I then had to rush to leave, as I’d another appointment with another friend. She has her husband’s grandson over, and we had to rush to get some grocery shoppings still for preparing dinner. Fortunately, that child wasn’t shy at all, and let me hold him, taking him in and out of the car, or even changing his diapers. My friend prepared first the meal for everyone, while I made some Chinese minced meat with peas along with some rice for the little boy. We also made some homemade wantons too. I know this friend for quite a few years now, so I don’t really mind getting right into the kitchen once I arrived at her house. We had loads of fun. Probably not everyone would understand why I would go stressing myself out by running around on a day-off, but in fact, I really had a great time!

不過吃得多，自自然然都會有點兒內疚，所以就算星期天起來外面刮著大風，風速四至五級，我還是硬著頭皮在外邊踏了十七八公里單車。風大到有時我以為會被風吹走，或是在倒後退。

We did have quite some food, so I felt a bit guilty. So even though it was very windy on Sunday, like some wind force 4-5, I still went out for a bike ride of some 17-18 km. The wind was so strong that I thought I was being blown away, or was going reverse gear instead.

跟著，我們就去了接Julian回家，一個星期沒有見到他，很掛念他呢！原來他也很掛念我們，包括家中的貓貓！見到他，他就告訴我知他的百厭動作，包括晚上在房中偷偷地玩，和晚上在房內找到在褲袋內的糖，然後在偷吃糖糖。不過，起碼他都一五一十告訴我們知。

We ended the day by picking up Julian from Grandma’s. A whole week not seeing him, of course we missed him loads. And he also missed us a lot, including our cat at home. Once we saw him, he already was telling us his naughty things, e.g. his playing in his room while he was supposed to be sleeping, or he found some candies in the pocket of his pants, and went eating them in his room during bedtime. The good part was he did tell us what he did.

這幅相是我和他兩母子去行街街後，他揀了這件星球大戰T-shirt後拍下的。而下面那幅就是行街街時見到，拍下的。

This photo was taken after Julian went shopping with me. He picked this Darth Vader t-shirt from Star Wars. And the photo below was taken on the street when we saw the “podium”.