House of Dreams

My last post was wretched and fraught with angst. Today, I write with happier sentiment, a sense of excitement and great relief.  We approached Summer in Europe with the intent of enjoying our last warm weather months. We travelled to the stunning Croatian and Montenegro coastlines to dip our toes in blue seas and feel the gentle Mediterranean sun on our limbs. We were content to hope for the best and believed that staying positive about our return to Australia would ensure a kinder experience. So we ate, drank, explored and sunned ourselves till we reached a state of blissful rest. It was only for ten days, but long enough to feel replenished. 

Fast forward, and on the eve of our departure from Croatia about three weeks ago, I found the nerve and rang Singapore Airlines direct to inquire about our flights home to Sydney. And with great relief, the Dutch representative confirmed our flights were all in order and booked to leave September 23 from Schiphol airport. Our joy and excitement was complete, I did a crazy dance in the hotel room and felt the first true confidence that we could return home and with flights that are likely to go through. Last week we received further follow up from the airline regarding travel declarations and PCR requirements etc. All of this was welcome news and felt like further evidence that our flights were miraculously holding up. 

Our apartment in Amsterdam is almost all packed, ten boxes full, 140 kgs to be air freighted door to door, back to Sydney. Two suitcases each for our return flight and then, no trace of us will be left here in this sweet house we've called home for over two years. Our memories though are golden moments, and an experience we'll never forget. As soon as flights resume in good order, perhaps a number of years down the track,  we are already looking forward to returning to this, our second home. Our heart will always be here, along the foreshore, the canals, the bright lights of Amsterdam city, and the lush, green fields outside the city borders.