Love is in the air

So it turns out my cousin Jan de Graaf is getting married while I am in Europe, to the lovely Yvette. I'm stoked for both of them. Only small complication: They're not getting married in Holland but in Rwanda. Cue several late nights poring over the interweb looking for affordable flights and another visit to my friend Aimee the travel agent, and I am now the happy owner of a return ticket to Kigali for a traditional two-day African wedding in mid-August. It's going to be a mission - the flights are Prague-Istanbul-Entebbe-Kigali - but it's going to be awesome.

The last photo

This is the last photo my mum took - a windmill in a snow-covered landscape on the way to Schipol airport - when she left the Netherlands more than 50 years ago. I hope it's a bit warmer when I get there.

Back to school

Here's some more ancient history ... my first farewell party at Česko-anglické gymnasium (Anglo-Czech High School) in the Czech Republic. I'm guessing this is about 1995. Embarrassingly, this was only the first of many going-away parties because I kept going back. Also leaving for adventures overseas were Jarda (seated, left), Klára and Lenka. Note how the darlings spelt out a message using my favourite kind of slice. 

I'm still in touch with some of these students; hopefully I'll be able to catch up with them soon. 

  

Kde domov můj?

Here's another place I'm looking forward to seeing again - České Budějovice, a city about three hours south of Prague, where I lived from 1992-99. I still have lots of friends here and the school where I used to teach is expecting a visit...

* Kde domov můj? is the name of the Czech national anthem. It translates as: Where is my home?

Bert, Marie-Louise and co.

I also hope to catch up with this lot - my mum's oldest brother Bert, his wife Marie-Louise, their lovely daughters Jelke and Sanne, plus their husbands and kids. And a dachshund. Mum and dad each have six brothers and sisters so I'll have my work cut out visiting them all.

Hipster cousins

While I'm in Holland I also hope to catch up with this lot. As you can see, fashion in the Netherlands is almost as up to date as in New Zealand. No, wait ... this photo was taken in the early 1970s.
These are the children of my late Uncle Frans and Auntie Gien plus a few hangers-on. Believe it or not, they include a doctor of tropical medicine, a judge and a museum director. And my namesake, Peter de Graaf, which caused me no end of confusion when I was a child.

Sophie the singer

Another person I'm keen to catch up with is my talented cousin Sophie de Graaf, who will graduate from Arnhem Conservatory on June 20. I hope I can make it to her graduation concert! This is her singing You don't know what love is with her boyfriend on piano.

Trivia about Arnhem...
- This Dutch city was the location of the World War II battle which inspired the movie A Bridge Too Far.
- The Dutch/British actress Audrey Hepburn studied at Arnhem Conservatory in 1939-45. I'm sure Sophie will be way more famous.

Family flashback

This is my Auntie Do around 1930, before my dad was on the scene. That's her seated in the middle. She hasn't changed much. Slightly older, possibly. I think I'll still recognise her.

Welcome aboard

This year my Aunt Dorothea (Do for short) turns 93 and my Great-Aunt Octavie (Occa) turns 96. I haven't seen Do since 2008 and Occa since ... let's just say it was a very long time ago. It's high time I went back to Holland and saw them again.

If I'm going to head to the other side of the planet to see my aunties, it would be silly not to try catching up with a whole bunch of cousins, friends, ex-workmates and students. They've managed to spread themselves out a bit since I was last in Europe, so I'll have my work cut out.

Hence the 2016 Favourite Aunties and Old Comrades Reunion Tour. Welcome aboard.