Amsterdam perhaps

Life is getting back to normal. We have yet to do any food shopping. Today it’s a Chicken & Vegetable Pie, the veg being frozen broccoli. I’m just waiting for the filling to cool before I top it off with some puff pastry. This evening we’re off for our flu jab to see us through the coming winter. As the rain comes slashing down & the winds gust away winter suddenly seems very close. We even had to put some heating on the other night!

We’ve been distracted by one of the e-mails that arrived while we were away. It’s from an accessible travel company we sometimes use. They are making a special promotion of a short trip to Amsterdam for the Christmas fair & festival of lights.

We have been thinking this year we need a holiday to break up the long dark winter days. We had been contemplating a Nile cruise in Jan/Feb. However, neither of us are that certain that we really want to see the Pyramids. They’re low down on our things to do & it’s a long way to go, not to mention our anxiety over the political situation & the religious extremism there. Amsterdam does, though, have appeal.

The reason is that it ties in with our recent holiday. One of the most memorable paintings we saw on our trip was by Rembrandt, “Flight into Egypt”. It came as a surprise as we weren’t expecting to come across it in the Musée de Beaux Arts at Tours.

The painting still haunts us, with its side lighting.  I can still see the weariness of ass as it plods on, the anxiety in Mary’s face, the tired alertness of Joseph as he walks beside the ass encouraging them all on to safety. I find it quite amazing so much came through from such a small picture. It encourages us both to fancy the idea of going to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam to see further works by this artist. That could be a treat indeed.

We’re certainly thinking about it.