| Datum: | 7-05-2016 Our farewell party | | | | After a shower, we put the last of the dirty laundry into the washing machine and hang it out to dry.
With this weather everything is dry, folded and stowed away within a few hours. We prepare ourselves for the farewell drink and I feel a little itch in my stomach. Not because of the going away, but it is seeing the family and friend and relations (for the last time, for the time being), that gets to us.
We fill a bag with self-designed buttons to hand out to our guests. We also take the old EPIRB with us, which will be fun to get back to Florian, one of the previous owners. At the last moment I get the inspiration to bring along a guest book, where our friends can leave their ‘last messages’. I also won’t forget to bring along the box of tissues that I bought especially for today! I made a deal with myself to take everything as it comes today, including the emotions.
About 15:30 we see Jan & Thea, our neighbours from the City Marina Rotterdam, passing by on the quay and my girlfriend-since-kindergarten Ludmilla and hubby Ronald are also bright and early. At about 16:00 we arrive at restaurant Rootz, where the drink will be held. Unfortunately, they are nog quite ready for us, but in the meantime, we can welcome the first guests. We are immediately overwhelmed by a very special, original and handy first present, from Ingrid, Freek and the kids: A whole crate full of freshly tinned food for ‘on the road’, so that we can think back at all the dinner parties at their home! On a big map, with our route, they marked down where to open what tin. Fantastic idea, thank you so much! My girlfriend Ludmilla has, for her present, taken care of the liquid part of our stock and has written a few heartfelt lines to go with it. We’re getting more emotional by now…. Freek takes pictures at the party, so we will have a nice remembrance to take with us. Thank you, Freek, for the beautiful pictures!
As soon as we can get into the bar where the party should be, the other guests start to trickle in. It is very nice to see people again that I haven’t seen in a long time, but with whom I do have that special tie. In between I try to divide my attention. Some of the guests will stay on for the dinner later on, so then I will have more time for them. We are lavished with a wide range of presents, but what is very obvious, is that our alcoholic stock is nicely filled up…..And that shows how well they know us! Erik and Jeanette present us with a USB-stick with music and not just music but also a sort of quiz to keep us occupied in the near future. Thank you Erik, for all the work! They also give us two tubes with Zaanse mayonnaise, something I loooove! From Dennis and Christa there is a framed photo and a bright green cuddly toy, named “Fritz” accompanied with the mission to photograph him in every place we get to. Super original idea!
Our dentist Raf brings an ‘emergency kit’ for us: now we are prepared for everything! Odette and Rob present us with – of course! – liquor, what else could Odette give me, as we worked together in the beverage industry… Furthermore a whole box of Sheba cat food for Kit, great! Kit will have a treat en route. We get so many lovely, funny, practical and nice things: books, Dutch cookies and sweets, a bosun’s whistle, a tie with the Pegasus logo on it, a special waterbottle from “The Ocean Clean Up”, candles, chocolate, keyhangers, a diary, a business cards map, a bottle of bitters with matching glasses, money, many, many cards and so on.
After the drink we sit down to table with the family and some very good friends for a joint dinner in a separate part of the restaurant. Fred sits close to his son and girlfriend and I am in between my boys and granddaughter and best friends.
Up till now, I kept it ‘dry ’ and the box of tissues is, untouched, still in my bag. But now my children give me their present….. They have made a series of beautiful pictures of themselves, with their girlfriends and my lovely granddaughter Bobby. Sooo enchanting! I also get a book with pictures of Bobby, with which I am very, very pleased. By now the tears won’t stop and I really need my box of tissues! Because tomorrow is Mother’s Day, Steven and Vincent also give me two envelopes, that I can’t open till tomorrow. In short, what a wonderful presents!
It is very enjoyable and little Bobby is keeping up very well for her age (6 months). She sits across from me and we play “peek-a-boo”: she takes my hands off my face and smiles at me. I keep her close to me as much as I still can. After dinner, it is time to say goodbye and that is hard for a lot of people. Another last hug here and there and then we go back to the boat. Our children come back with us for a short stay on the boat, which we appreciate very much. Another extra moment together and then it is really goodbye and they walk down the pier. I swallow my tears…
So I say: it is not farewell, but see you all! 
Dear all,
This goodbye was really something for us; it is after all not something you do every day: saying goodbye for a long time to everybody who is dear to you. We want to thank you all very much for your presence and your presents, but most of all for the warmth of your friendship, which we felt during the farewell party. You made this an unforgettable send-off, of which we will think back with warm feelings.
Lots of love,
Fred and Caroline
It is not farewell, but see you
No adios, sino vemos pronto
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| | | 20-05-2016, reactie van Dennis & Christa | Mooi om te lezen dat de borrel zo geslaagd is geweest voor jullie! Inderdaad geen afscheid! Tot ziens!! xxx
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| | | | 20-05-2016, reactie van snik.... | ..ik mis je erg, maar ben zo blij dat ik 2 mensen meemaak, die hun droom kunnen laten uitkomen. Ik ben ontzettend blij voor je!
Dikke knuffel
Ludmilla
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| | | | 20-05-2016, reactie van Jereon en Karin | Zagen dat jullie al in Spanje liggen. In een keer door gevaren! Super gedaan met af en toe heel weinig wind, zo leek het ons. Wij scharrelen langzaam zuid langs de Franse kust. En ja, afscheid nemen voor langere tijd vonden wij ook moeilijk. Heel veel zeilplezier samen gewenst!
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