How are we getting along...?

Frans wrote:

8 Nov '09: We travelled from our Chalet in Terwolde to Brugge with just a single coffee, tea and pee stop and I must say that my fellow travellers are doing well. I had some fears that they would be slow getting in the car in the mornings, had to stop every 50 km for a pee or winge about the weather which is not too go at this time of year anyway but I must admit that none of that business is happening and they are quite good company.

Having said that, it is impossible for 4 people of such different characters to get along for 100% of the time and no doubt we'll have some discussions amongst ourselves in the coming weeks but so far so good..... well, just to show how different we really are, here a few stories from my perspective.....

a) I can't work Evonka out, it doesn't help that I'm an arch typical Virgo and like to call things what they are, organize my days in advance and if at all possible plan the rest of my present, after and future life but having a discussion with Evonka leaves me sometimes totally bewilderd. Try this conversation whilst having a coffee at the Hema in Kampen....

I've just bought this thing for 5 dollar, Evie says, I wonder how much that is in Dollars? I'm a bit confused about this particular statement so to clarify I query: 'Yvonne, don't you mean 5 Euro instead of Dollar?' O. well, she replies, I just call them all Dollars because that is what I'm used to, Euros Dollars, all the same ?!?'.

....and just you think this is an isolated case.....

'How are we going for petrol Frans?', asks Evie, to which I answer for the umpteenth time, 'This car takes DIESEL Evonka, not petrol!', 'O well', comes back the reply, 'Petrol, diesel, all the same to me'.... Yeah well you'll notice the difference when you've got to push the bloody thing...

...and just to make my point...

We are approaching Brugge and Evonka lets go of another gem, 'We must be pretty close to the ocean here'....and I just can't help myself..... 'No Evonka, there is no ocean here, just a sea'.... to which comes now the standard reply: 'O well, Ocean or sea, doesn't make any difference they're all the same to me'.... *Groan* Captain cook must be rolling in his bloody grave by now....

b) and then there was the running discussion Karen had with me about 'Dreams'.

In my previous blog I've made it pretty clear I don't like talking about my dreams because I think they are a private thing and I think Karen is trying to pshyco-analyze me. Karen has by now read my blog entry and has another go on the way to Brugge: 'Did anybody dream something last night', she asks cheerfully whilst trying to catch my eye from the back seat. '..Here we go again...', I think. When noone can recall anything sensible she hones into me: 'What about you Frans? or have you got your mute button pressed'....you're bloody right, I have'......'O come on Frans', she wheedles...'Get nicked, Karen, it ain't happening'....

So I thought that would finally be the end of that particular discussion but alas I've got to give her credit for persisitance at least because the following day at breakfast....

'What did you dream last night, Frans?' she fired one directly between my eyes,
....'hey, what happened to the general enquiry'..., I wondered, ...'she's moved straight into attack Frans mode'.....
'Come on Frans', she tries again
.....'don't go there Karen'.....
'You can tell me!'
.......'leave it alone Karen'....
'Have you got your mute button on again?'

By now I realize there is no point in staying mute so to stop this psycho-analyzing caper which I absolutely loath with a passion I decided to let go with a volley of my own:
'Karen, do you really want me to tell you how I dreamed you and I slept together last night?'
Karen's face screwed up into absolute horror, her mouth moved into a perfect 'O' shape and she raised both her hands to her face whilst still clasping a piece of toast with vegemite in her left hand: 'Frans!', she exclaimed. Maxine next to me echoed her sentiments: 'Frans, you can't say that!' whilst I keep looking straight at Karen waiting for the surrender: 'I'm never going to ask you again!' she says vehemently, '.....thank you Karen, game, set and match...'.

By now you wonder how am I getting along with Maxine? absolutely wonderfull, what do you think, I'm stupid? The car is absolutely packed with luggage, there is not an ounce of space left for a large size snorkel.....

These are just a few embellished stories out of many discussions we have and by en large we're doing 'ok' with each other. We're enjoying our trip and so far we haven't had any real arguments, we are actually doing very well....