Well, I’m recovering from my first ever Dutch Dally, a social gathering of Les Mills instructors and participants, first inspired by the original EUROMAD held in the UK in 2004, set up by forum goers in The Netherlands……..or rather, set up by John. . These events allow some people to meet for the first time and has developed many great friendships! People have attended these events from all over the world, including EU, Australia, UK and USA.
However, while it was a first for me, I had already been to a less formal BBQ at John’s last year where I met most of the people (as well as EUROMAD where I met the UK members). So the main difference this time round for me was the classes and the fundraising aspect.
There was one new member that we all hadn’t met before, so Bev it was the first event. Although Bev seems to have been quite affected by the fact her name is the translation for a very explicit sexual act that I think most British people would never want to admit to! 🙂
Despite the fact that we have totally different taste in music it seems, I have found another friend in the Netherlands (we are still coming to terms with the music clash but we are negotiating a compromise over this problem 🙂 ).
The weekend was a lot of fun, doing classes, drinking, talking, partying. Although was fitness is struggling quite a lot, I was very proud to be able to complete 2 combat’s and 1 balance. Sounds a very small amount of exercise compared to what I used to do, but this is more than I have done in a long time and a huge challenge for me (especially with both the combats having the esquiva from BC37 and 38, ugh)!
As for the drinking, it seems my ability to drink has seriously plummeted aswell………now I’ve finally stopped breastfeeding I found myself suffering a lot after only 2 beers and 2 advocat’s (I wish I could have drunk more of that Advocat John, but it just wasn’t happening, lol).
The weekend just went so fast though, TOO FAST. I missed Rien’s rubik’s cube in action (I’m looking forward to seeing the piccies you took too, I will get them off the laptop asap!). Lisa and Dean, you know it’s LOVELY to see you again, Vicki I didn’t initially know you were coming, but I’m glad you could make it…….fantastic to see you again 🙂
oh now that I’ve started writing names I run the risk of forgetting people. Janne and Sjouke (it was also Sjouke’s first time at a Dutch Dally), we mustn’t wait till an “event” to see each other again, considering you live in the same apartment block as us! I have to say thanks to all the shape team, Keyla for babysitting Connor while nearly EVERYONE did combat (no other program can boast that eh?), and all the other babysitters who helped out. And most of all, thanks to John and Monique for hosting us all.
For Sunday night dinner that was a different experience for me. I didn’t get a translation and all I knew was “thin slices of beef”. After I got the entree I was very jealous of Janne and wished I was vegetarian at that moment, lol! I had my first ever something-or-other with raw beef……..luckily the pine nuts and whatever else was in it was so strongly flavoured that I couldn’t taste the “meat”.
Anyway, I think now as I write, the UK people will be packing/driving and catching flights.
It was hard saying goodbye to everyone!