A DUTCH EASTER

A Dutch Easter
Having stayed at Linda’s family home Saturday night I had a relaxed morning when eventually led to a late breakfast with the family, Linda, her partner Mark and their four children (ages ranging 8-15). (Linda being an ex-student of Jim’s from 20-odd years ago) The table was full of food and chocolate ... So, first thing to do was to crack some boiled eggs Linda had prepared. The game involved saying “Click, Click, Click” and then clashing eggs with an opponent to see whose egg came off worse for wear, then the eggs became the contents for an egg-roll. Next, a roll with butter and chocolate sprinkles, a Dutch speciality. “Hundreds and thousands” and sprinkles are common place here, I also saw them while staying at Duco and Danielle’s. Next was a traditional Jewish Easter food, called Matzes, which has been adopted by the Dutch. They are essentially a large cracker which you cover with butter and sugar – very sweet and probably good thing to have once a year. The story of the Matzes goes that when the Jewish fled slavery in ancient Egypt they left with bread which hadn’t been given time to rise. Cups of tea and coffee, chocolate eggs for the kids, some little chocolates bunnies for everyone and a cake of butter in the form of a chicken were other elements of the banquet. It was a wonderful educational experience. Kids along the street outside were running up and down carrying out their egg hunts ... this led to a water fight later on, involving some of the local kids taking refuge in Linda’s cosy courtyard. All in all, a great Easter morning had by all.

Thanks Linda and family.