Racing in Rotterdam

Well, Mr B did it! He completed the marathon in 3hr 21min 54 sec. And looked fresh as a daisy. Rotterdam welcomed the marathon runners and the weather was perfect. We stayed at the NH Atlanta hotel situated on Coolsingel at the start/finish line. Great location, average hotel, but a very comfy bed.

We shopped, ate, ran and slept, then shopped and ate some more. I will put my restaurant reviews on TripAdvisor.

We got a fix of Boxer dog.

We got photos of Erasmus Bridge from every angle. Top tip: take the tram over the bridge.

Rotterdam is Europe's busiest port, a constant stream of container traffic parading by the city centre. It also has excellent shops, imagine my delight at discovering a huge Desigual shop near to the hotel.

We loved the quirky artwork.

We loved the colour of Rotterdam.

The Dutch people were very friendly and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble, to make our stay more enjoyable. From the hotel reception staff, to the airport cafe, everyone had a smile on their face. And so did we.

* Our thoughts are with those caught up in the Boston marathon bombings, and we pray for a happy, safe London marathon for all runners and spectators.

Don't forget to register for the Godalming Run on 19 May.

Photography by Lesley Beeton.

Coming up for air

It's not that things have been bad, just busy.

Mr B is running a marathon on Sunday. It's a fast, flat course so he has trained hard. Which hasn't been much fun for me. Especially with a puppy in the house, a little bundle of energy who needs constant attention.

Add to that Dad's recurring chest infection, the tax year end for the practice, and a new invoicing system, and well, you can see how blogging took a back seat.

I've been twiddling my thumbs this afternoon. The weather is mild and the garden jobs are done. The practice work is up to date. Dad is well this week. The puppy hasn't poo'ed or wee'ed in the house for a few days and apart from wrestling on the bed with big dog, she is being quite good. We start obedience classes next week.

It seems that my outburst at the builders has resulted in them being fired. I can't be sure about that but they mysteriously disappeared before the Easter weekend, and haven't been back. The driveway is unfinished, so I suspect another company has been asked to complete the work. Of course, their parting shot was to inadvertently knock down the neighbour's wall.

Anyway, I can see life in the garden from my perch on the picnic table. Bumble bees abound, birds having a feeding frenzy, the pieris is in flower. The bulbs are quite cheerful. Mr B hasn't had to mow the lawn yet, but it won't be long. The rain was very warm this morning.

Talking of rain, January was wet, February was cold, March was cold and wet. But April is the cruellest month (TS Eliot, The Waste Land, 1922).

So I'm looking forward to a weekend away. The weather looks perfect in Rotterdam. I may even get my beloved camera out and snap away.