Adrian finally finished adapting the panelling over the new tanks. It took ages as each support strut had to be adapted individually. The air turned a little blue a few times – particularly when he had just finished and discovered the torch was left inside!!!!
We decided to stay in Bruges until after my birthday and to do a little sightseeing whilst there were few tourists because of Covid. It got gradually busier and busier and the tourist sightseeing boats & horse drawn carriages started plying their trade again by the time we left.
We enjoyed wandering through the streets, visiting San Salvator’s Cathedral….
walking through the peaceful grounds of the Begijnhof …..
and generally ambling through the almost empty streets & squares.
Weekend 10 to 13th July
This was to have been a big family celebratory weekend for us in Norfolk. Adrian & I planned to get married on Sat 11th July and then to celebrate my 70th birthday on the 12th. We had rented a large converted barn for us all for the weekend. Covid put a stop to that!
Rather than downsize our plans we decided to postpone our wedding until Christmas time when we hope we can get the family together again. But we couldn’t stop my birthday so we planned a weekend of alternative fun in Bruges! It became quite a gastronomic feast!!
On Friday we walked around Bruges in the sunshine and had lunch in Den Gouden Karpel fish bar. I had been a couple of times but Adrian hadn’t and we’d promised ourselves we would do it at some point. Lovely! And we bought a range of salads from the delicatessen for supper!
On Saturday we took ourselves off to the seaside at De Haan and walked along the golden sand & watched the kite surfers speeding along. So lovely to breathe the sea air, stretch our legs & paddle.
We returned to Bruges for dinner at the Gouden Harynck (Michelin 1 star restaurant) to celebrate our non-wedding.
On Sunday morning we had a family zoom meeting with balloons & banners (their end) & cards and flowers decorating the boat at our end! Patrick, the harbormeester had been kept busy delivering post and parcels all weekend.
Then back into the centre of Bruges to the Hotel Orangerie for afternoon tea courtesy of my niece Rachel. Excellent.
And finally in the evening Graine, Andy, Chris, Janette & Ian joined us for champagne on the poop deck followed by dinner in the clubhouse. Janette made me a birthday cake and the young waitresses, Lindy & Maite, led the singing of Happy Birthday.
A thoroughly indulgent and superb weekend! With lots of cards, pressies, flowers, phone calls and messages from family and friends all over the world.
I feel very loved and chuffed!
Thank you all xxx
Piedaleau 
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Jenny. And also congratulations for your non-wedding…here’s hoping December will be kind! I had hoped we might have managed a joint 70th, 80th together in June when I should have been in France with son Bill. Ah well! So glad you had a wonderful time and hugs to you and Adrian and that you enjoyed every bite of you feasts. Xxx Annie and Tony
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Thanks Anne – shame we couldn’t get together but just keep well the pair of you. xxxx
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Hi Jenny Many happy returns from Karin and me. Sounds a lovely birthday. You have certainly sold Bruges to us and we will add it to the list of places to go. What a shame that you and Adrian had to postpone the wedding – the wedding will happen one day! It is great to keep up with what you are doing. Our list of places to go is not getting any shorter due to Covid restrictions on travel. The Italian cruise on the Royal Clipper we had booked earlier this year was cancelled. We are now wondering whether the trip we have booked to Panama in November on the Royal Clipper will go ahead. Some American friends of ours who we were going with and had booked separately have already cancelled. Just by way of update, I am still working part time (remotely) for 2 or 3 days a week for Cornwall Council and the Isles of Scilly Council, and Karin has left the National Trust (retired/redundancy) and is doing work for the Jersey Govt and the Jersey NT, and is also helping out the Fiji NT having been out there earlier this year for a couple of months. We like islands! Hope your plans for the rest of the year go well and congratulations again on your birthday 🎁 🎂 . We do hope that one day we will again be in the same place at the same time! Best wishes Stephen and Karin
Sent from my iPad
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Thanks Stephen & Karin …. lovely to hear from you and to hear that you are both keeping well and busy. Sounds like Karin got the dream secondment she talked about on the Royal Clipper. Keep well xxx
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR JENNY, WE HOPE YOU WERE SPOILT ROTTEN AND HAD PLENTY OF GEEZERS MAKING PLENTY OF FUSS OF YOU. WISH WE COULD HAVE CELEBRATED WITH YOU.
LOVE AND BEST WISHES TO YOU.
🌺🌷🌸💖💕😍🍷🍷🍷🍷💖🥀☘️ XXXX
From John and Michele on Le Gannet in France.
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Thanks John & Michelle – hope all is well with yo both. Have you got to Le Gannet? Where are you cruising? xxx
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So glad to hear you two have decided to make it official. Too bad you couldn’t have done it on July 11; my birthday!, but December will be lovely.
Brugges must have been wonderful without all the tourists and sounds (and looks) like the meals were superb. And I’m sure your happy to get the water tank fiasco behind you.
We’re not going to make it to France this year. Our government has so botched things no one will let us in so we’re going to be spending a summer in Southern California for a change. Hopefully in the spring we’ll be able to get back over. Until, then, be safe!
Don (and Cathy Jo)
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Thanks Don & Cathy ….. happy birthday for the 11th Don ……. where is Old Timer holed up? Have you someone keeping an eye on her? Hope 2021 provides better options for you x
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Oldtimer is in Briare. It’s spent the last two winter there and it appears will spend another… Agreed on 2021. We have our fingers crossed that maybe things will have improved here in the US so we’ll no longer be international pariahs.
Make sure you send us a wedding announcement when you decided on a date. We will celebrate virtually. Everybody’s gotten pretty good at that lately 😉 .
D
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Definitely been celebrating in style.! Glad you had a fab time and fingers crossed your wedding can go ahead at Christmas. Bruges must be lovely when few tourists and looks like you made the most of it. Happy cruising. Stay well.
Sue xx
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Happy 70th Birthday – A bit different from 10 years ago. Gill and Mike (Carolyn) xx
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Hi Gill ….. thanks for tgis & yes thibgs are very different in all sorts of ways to 10 years ago! Hope all is well with you both x
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Hello Jenny, belated happy birthday wishes to you. Is it really 10 years since we met up in Paris for your birthday dinner at that wonderful Chinese restaurant? Time flies!
The photographs of the food at this birthday look delicious and I am sure you all enjoyed yourselves. Henk and I will really enjoy reading your barging adventures this season as we are stranded here in splendid isolation with both our State and Federal borders slammed shut. Fortunately La Bernadette is safely tucked up in the Decize marina and being well looked after by Capitaine Pauline. We hope that you and Adrian enjoy your time on the waterways of northern France and stay safe. Big virtual hugs to you both. Xx
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Hi both – thanks for this and I agree that it hardly seems possible that it is 10 years since my birthday in Paris! And 11 years since we met in 2009 with Nadine on board! Unbelievable!! I think there are a lot of boats ‘stuck’ around Europe because people cannot travel from their home countries. It was easy for us via the tunnel. I’m glad the Bernadette is safe in Decize.
We won’t be doing as much cruising as we would like in order to minimise risk but at least we are on board.
Will keep the blogs coming and hope you enjoy them
Lots of love to you both Jenny & Adrian xxx
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