A special place

G'day Mates,

Finally I'm back and I immediately throw this special story to you, leastwise it is to us, you might think otherwise about it.

I must explain the names I'm using; "Het Gat" is a property of a hunter, its got a huge pond and a great wild life, "De Hut" is a little cottage built on one of the dikes which are situated around "Het Gat".
(Doesn't the introduction sound like a fairy tail??)

In this story I am using some old pictures which I will mark with; Flashback, (the first one is a flashback too)

When we are in Holland we always go one day to "het Gat" which is a unique spot! and every time we have a special feeling when we come there.

 (Flashback)

 This is the place where we spent many hours while hunting. This little cottage has been built by my father, the hunting mob and a lot of friends and family. And during hunting days we had lunch there.

Flashback of a hunting day...

 Picture this: it's snowing or raining , the normal winter weather from Holland is bloody cold, the dogs outside on the veranda and we are all inside enjoying a meal, mostly a typical Dutch dish like pea-soup or kale with smashed potatoes, we call these dishes: snert or stampot boerenkool and there also is " hutspot" which is smashed unions and carrots. All these meals are to be accompanied with "rookworst", most Australian know what that is!

Flashback of a lunch...

Warm and cosy inside near the stove...

Pea-soup...

These meals were always made by my father the day before the hunting day.

So many memories lie here. Unfortunately my father has died already 13 years ago and we all, also the whole hunting mob, misses him still. His picture and gun are still in that cottage and when they hunt and having lunch (which is now ordered through a catering service), they light a candle near his picture.

At this very special place we have scattered his ashes somewhere near the trees in the background so he is always here and that's why I always want to go there during our holidays in the Netherlands.

Most of the time we go together with one of the hunters and owner of this place and his wife and of course with my sister. This time my sister had also invited a friend which we hadn't seen for a long time and a brother of my father. He hadn't been there since my father died so that was a surprise too.

(left, the brother Ton, right, the old friend Jan)

(left, the Owner Evert, right, of course Fred)

(left, owners wife Louise, right, my sister Rosita)

In the past, when everyone was still alive (so many have passed away in the mean time), we went with whole the family to this spot and had a great day having some drinks, snacks, soup and sometimes even a barbecue together.

Even had a few rows when the boats were still reliable...

The owner of this spot could have sell it a million times but fortunately he also know and feel the emotional value of this special place so we hope we can go there in length of time!

Just look how it is in Autumn......

Flashback

When I sit there and think of all the beautiful, lucky days spent there I can only be grateful and think:

 "time flies" let's make the best of it!!

Cheers!