Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Day Trips Out And About.


 
Antonio M. Ruiz'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_M._Ru%C3%ADzP

I am feeling really optimistic and happy today; this is because Richie had his first driving lesson yesterday.

He is hoping to do the driving test in three months, then we can get a van and get out for trips.

We can either lease or buy a van, I am all in favour of leasing, Richie wants to buy, he saw a black/red one, my favourite colours.

In this van I can sit next to the driver, which will be good, nice to see where we are going, lovely to get a good view.  

Prefer being able to see out of the van, I have been in some mobility buses where the only thing I could see were shop doorsteps and the back of the drivers head.

A frustrating journey, all the more as it was through a part of Amsterdam I had not seen for years and I was looking forward to seeing again.   

It would be nice to be able to get out of town when we feel like it, it will be pleasant to wake up and plan a day out.

I would like to start early one day and drive to Germany, be nice to visit Aachen, buy a packet of Aachen printer, a gingerbread biscuit which is a speciality there.

In 1963 I was at convent school in Eschweiler, next to Aachen where my’ mother, uncle and my grandfather lived



9 comments:

janis said...

Interesting to me that Richie has not been driving all along. In America, everyone drives..too much I suppose. WE get our licenses as early as 16 yrs old. In my household we each have a car. We do not carpool as much as we should and we drive when we can walk or ride a bike. When my niece went to Germany for a year of school (exchange student), she quickly learned traveling around was different than what she was use too. She had to re-learn riding a bike, as she hadnt in many years.
I do think Americans are trying to conserve & rethinking our love of driving everywhere. Hubby & I now think of moving where we could use bicycles more & drive less.
Love to you Girl~
Have a beautiful day♥

Richie said...

I had a mixture of reasons why I never learned- I did start in my teens then I got an alcohol habit and was never sober enough, I lived in cities with public transport and local shopping and have always been a keen cyclist. I never had the money or the inclination to run a car and friends who had them were either working on them, working to pay for them, getting fined for speeding or having them stolen. They could not drink when out for a night!
Later I developed views about the over use of cars and the unsustainable growth in traffic and all the environmental damage it causes- I turned down work on road building projects and even though I have been sober for twenty years but I have never felt inclined to drive until now.
I believe the benefit for Herrad is greater than my ethical doubts about the infernal combustion engine.

Herrad said...

Hi Janis,
Richie decided at an early age that he did not want to drive.
He preferred public transport and bicycles but realised that in our situation it maybe good.
I hope you can move to somewhere you can cycle and the dogs can run outside in the garden.
Love,
Herrad

KParthasarathi said...

Richie,this line of yours"I believe the benefit for Herrad is greater than my ethical doubts about the infernal combustion engine" is touching and shows the lovable aspect of your personality.May your soon to be acquired skill enable dear Herrad to have many outings with all their scenic trips,lots of sun shine,blue skies and verdant fields.

Herrad said...

Hi Richie,
I think it is brilliant you are taking driving lessons, you are my absolute darling.

Hi KP,
I am sure we will be able to enjoy some delightful scenic trips soon.

Thanks you 3 dear friends for coming by good to see your comments.
Love,
Herrad

Travelogue for the Universe said...

This is exciting! Have a great week! Love, Mary.

Herrad said...

Hi Mary,
You are right it is exciting, second lesson today.
Hope your week is pleasant.
Love,
Herrad

Karen said...

Wonderful news! It will be so great for you two to get out and about. Good luck Richie!

janis said...

Richie~ you are my HERO.
Thank you for taking such grand care of the Marvelous Herrad we love so much♥