LEUVEN

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After a day travelling on Thursday, and settling into our next hotel, we thought we might have a more relaxed day yesterday, Thursday. However it was not to be. We all had a relaxing breakfast, after which we boarded the team bus for a nearby town called Hoegaarden, south east of Leuven, and the place where the men were to train and play. It was a lovely trip there as all the countryside is so green and there is a lot of cultivation around here - vegetables, not sure of varieties, and wheat, as well as fruit groves. The whole area is known as the Flanders, which you would be familiar with because of areas fought in during the wars. This area is more the East Flanders. We arrived at the hockey fields and the men left us to go for two hours of hockey training, while the women were taken to a private residence in the centre of town for morning tea. The home belonged to Jean-Pierre and his wife Madelaine who are like Mr and Mrs Hockey in Hoegaarden. We were treated to strawberry and cream tart and a sweet dessert wine, no coffee or tea. We did not complain. We admired their beautiful manicured garden before heading off for a short town tour and a wander around the town's Central Park. In this park we especially admired the beautiful flowers in bloom, especially peonies and poppies. Then back to a cafe near the park entrance where the men had arrived back from training, and here we were all served lunch. After lunch, a tour guide arrived to take the group on a Pub Crawl, literally, giving us a quick history of the area which is famous for a large variety of beers. At the first pub we were all served a large glass of their beer, which Donald had to finish for Carol. This was served with a plate of beef stew and hot chips. Then a little further, and another pub where more beer came out for all, but Carol opted for water. More food as well!! Next, we went back to the cafe where we had lunch, and were served a special red coloured beer, which Carol liked, but Donald didn't have, and again served a small savoury bite to eat. Then to the fourth pub and more beer for all, but Carol had iced tea and Donald sampled two different varieties of beer. We were all served a full meal here, and by this time were all bursting at the seams. It was time to leave our tour guide and we all walked back to the fields, where, believe it or not, the men had a game to play against the local team, who were considerably younger. The others won, 4-3, which was not bad considering they were as young as 35. Then we were served another meal!! This time we were served pizza and pasta- we reckoned they thought we looked starved and needed fattening up!! So it was a late might, but today, we were able to sleep in for a while. We had a morning town tour organised for Leuven which was again very informative. It is quite an historic town, and also it suffered with a great deal of bombing in the war as well. Today there was a huge festival in the town with a parade, markets, singing and dancing in the cobblestone streets. The men then had another game this afternoon against the Belgium National 65 team which is going to The Hague to compete, but not in the same competition as Donald. So Donald's team won very easily, and were very happy with the result. Tomorrow it will be another big day, as the group is off to Brugges and Ypres, where the Mennin Gate is. Love Carol and Donald

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