Amsterdam Diary: Thieves, Rain, and a Steam Yacht in R. Vecht

from Guido Goluke, translator & intrepid cyclist, in Amsterdam:

"Beste Peter, fr

Today I wheeled out a last empty book case out of my work room, with a blue washing-up bowl with brush and liquid on an empty shelf. I dumped the case on the sidewalk, to be picked up by the garbage squad, and took the washing-up basin home. So now I am a pensionado for real. 

This morning I took the road bike out for a spin through cold rain and lashing winds – Dutch winter weather – and it felt different. Because I was riding out without work awaiting.

    The first week after my return [from the US] has been hectic. Burglars cleared out two storage boxes downstairs, not mine, so extra locks and burglar proof steel had to be put on our doors. Then K. caught flu, needed antibiotics and sailed closely past pneumonia. Then I cleared out my work room and started reinventing our flat as a comfortable space for two. And it is looking good! Then a thief grabbed my bicycle case which I had put ready to take to a recycling shop. The thief was spotted by security cameras. Lying didn’t help and the bastard had to retrieve the stolen case from the harbour way out west, where it was already waiting for shipment in a container to West Africa – filled with cameras, bottles of vegetable oil? Upon securing the stolen case I took it to the recycling shop anyway.

    I hear you are still gripped by frost and snows. Here icy cold rain and low hanging clouds remind us that winter is not over yet. During the wet ride today I have felt colder than in Maine or New York. Except for that day I took a walk along the ocean when a wind was blowing.    

    Warm are my feelings though of my days with you in Maine. And every evening I don my green shirt from LL Bean’s and feel good about my time in the US.

    Best to you all, 

                        Guido.

p.s The yacht in the River Vecht, as a non-plussed old timer in a modern habitat.