Chapter 53 Arnhem, Betuwe and a warm welcome in Wourkem
The following morning, Martin woke up early, as he always did. He tried not to disturb Louisa, whose soft snores told him that she was still fast asleep. Lying on his back, he stared at the ceiling and reviewed the events of the previous day.
During their lunch, he had asked Louisa if she really agreed with his plans.
"Why wouldn't I agree with it, Martin? It will be good for our relationship. We'd be able to spend more time together and more time with James. And how fond I am of our fellow villagers, I also understand that quite a lot of the communication problems were caused by the well-meaning villagers, who think they can always knock at the Doctor's door, or even worse, enter without even knocking… in most of the cases with a so called emergency. Which might often only be a young mother that couldn't read a thermometer in a correct way or Bert complaining about his back. Really, I am glad you took action. Also, of course, for the sake of the people in Delabole, who also deserve proper medical attention."
Louisa had looked at him quizzically, trying to find out what were the reasons of his doubts. His ear tips had reddened, but then he shily said: "I was afraid that you'd be cross with me."
Immensely curious about what would follow, with a brief nod, Louisa had encouraged him to continue. He added "because I didn't share the plans with you first…"
"Hmm, yes, that would have been preferable, Martin, but in this specific situation, I can imagine that you wouldn't want to offer me a candy before being sure that it wasn't a sour lemon, so to speak".
When she saw Martin's frustrated frown, she understood that she had to be more specific. She covered his hand with hers and continued.
"I can understand that you needed to investigate the feasibility of you plans before telling me, Martin. And you did well, because it would have been so disappointing for all of us if no one would have adhered to it. I am so glad for you.. for us… that it worked out well and that you can develop your plans more in detail".
"No!", he said.
"What was that Martin?"
"It's not me who is going to work it out.. It has to be something that we need to do together and with Morwenna, Chris, the GMC, Alex, Ruth and maybe even Al.. It can only work if we all find a way of working together".
Louisa gave his hand a little squeeze and she rewarded him with her brightest smile.
Now lying in his bed thinking it over, he concluded that it had been good to take action right away. Otherwise the GMC might have struck out the bad functioning doctor too late and accidents might have happened. Louisa had made a remark about that too, but she had added that he had to stop worrying about it right now and enjoy the rest of his holidays.
"You've put the pots on the stove, Martin, let it simmer for a while… If Chris or Alex Brown, or anyone else needs your advice, they know where and how to find you! You know what? Maybe have some discussions about it with Martinus.. Talk with him about how such a thing would be handled here in the Netherlands".
"Hmm yes, good idea" Martin had replied, but he had realized that he was talking to her back, because she had stood up, picked up her son who was already half asleep and she had left the living room.
He had stood up as well to put the dishes in the dishwasher, to clean up the kitchen and to peek through open door of James' room. When Louisa had turned around to quietly leave the room, she had looked straight into the softened loving eyes of her husband, she had taken his hand in hers and pulled him to their own room.
"Let's test who is the most insatiable of the two of us, Martin", she had whispered huskily after which she had pulled down his head for a romantic kiss. Martin had sighed "Oh Louisa..", closed the door and taken her into his arms. She had wanted quality time during James' nap and happily he had done everything he could to meet her desires, because he knew she would return the favours.
He interrupted his reverie and turned towards his beautiful wife, who now began to stir, which meant that she was about to wake up. He moved closer and sighed happily, when he felt her warm body against his. His most recent memories had had their obvious physical effect and he longed for her again already.
"Good morning, Martin" Louisa said, while she stretched out and yawned. As an answer, Martin took her in his arms and brushed his lips against her forehead, whispering her name. His dextrous ministrations had immediate effect and soon, Louisa longed for him as much as he longed for her. With a twink in her eyes, she asked jokingly "Again, Dr. Ellingham?". His ear tips became nearly purple, since he still found it difficult to discuss their intimate privacy, but then he uttered "you know, we have no clue about the way we will be lodged in Wourkem.. I thought…" "Shush Martin, don't talk…", she answered and pulled him closer to her, for another of their mutually much appreciated passionate moments.
Afterwards, they relaxed in each other's arms until James needed their attention. They agreed on splitting the tasks again. Louisa would attend to their son and Martin started to pack their luggage in his usual efficient way.
After a healthy breakfast, Martin packed the car, while Louisa entertained James and shortly after, they were about to leave for Arnhem. The gentle farmer's wife Klaartje came to the cottage for the check-out and brought them a paper bag with all kind of ingredients for a health lunch. Louisa had asked her some information about the Open Air museum in Arnhem the previous day, so Klaartje was aware of their plans for the day.
"I thought this would be better for you than to have to take your lunch at the mediocre museum restaurant:, she said. "Just buy some fresh bread at the baker's shop in the part of the museum with the Zaanse houses. They sell exquisite home made bread. I know a family that sometimes goes to the museum just for the bakery shop."
"Thank you so much, Klaartje! And thank you for the great service at your B & B. I will most vertainly give a good review and I will think of a suitable reward for the pupils that found the address!
On the way to Arnhem, Louisa read out loud some of the information she had found among the pile of brochures she had found at the cottage. She knew that Martin appreciated some background information as much as she did herself.
"The Open Air Museum was established thanks to the historian Frederic Adolph Hoefer, who in April 1912 proposed the construction of an open-air museum, following similar museums he had visited in Scandinavia. Industrialization and urbanization meant that regional differences disappeared and traditions and crafts were in danger of being lost. By relocating historically significant buildings to museum grounds, where knowledgeable people show visitors how people used to live and work, the past can be kept alive.
The "Vereniging voor Volkskunde Het Nederlands Openluchtmuseum" had been founded the same month, and the museum opened its doors on July 13, 1918, with six buildings that had been transferred from elsewhere. One of these first houses is the "los hoes" from Beuningen, which was built in the 17th century. A los hoes is a type of farm that was very common in the eastern part of the Netherlands, Twente and the Achterhoek. 'Los hoes' means open house. It basically meant that farmer and his family lived under the same roof, in the same space as their animals".
Luisa stopped reading and looked to her right. She saw the frown on her husband's face. She laughed and said,
"You must be glad that your aunt Joan didn't have a farm like that, aren't you?"
"Grmpf", he grunted, "not a surprise that the mortality of infants was sky high at the time!"
Louisa continued reading.
"At the start of World War II, the museum was hit by fire bombs, which burned down a house in the part of the museum called the Zaanse buurt". In 1941 the museum was renamed the National Museum of Folklore. During the battle of Arnhem, the museum was inhabited for some time by several hundred evacuees from the city. There were even children born in the museum in that period. On November 17, 1944, Franneke van der Kallen was born in one of the Zaanse houses. Nora Olga Marijke was also born there on November 15, 1944. Her initials stand for NOM - Nederlands Openlucht museum, Dutch Open Air Museum. In 1945, the collection of traditional costumes and painted furniture was lost during an attack by a V1 air missile.
In 1987 it seemed for a while that the museum had to close its doors due to the policy of the Minister of Welfare, Public Health and Culture, Elco Brinkman. After a demonstration by the public, subsidies from the national government, a major reorganization, in which not only rural life, but also industrial development received attention, the museum was still able to maintain its right to exist.
In 1991 it changed from a national museum to an independent organization in the form of a foundation. The buildings and objects remained the property of the State as part of the national collection. In May 2005, thanks to this new course, the Open Air Museum earned the title of European Museum of the Year.
In 1996 a tram line was constructed on the grounds of the museum. Thanks to this ring line, visitors with reduced mobility can also more easily visit parts of the museum further from the main entrance. A replica of part of the Arnhem tram depot, which was destroyed in 1944, was built for it. An Arnhem tram from 1929 was also reconstructed. This came into use in 1998. The service also uses equipment from the Rotterdam and The Hague tram."
"That sounds really interesting", said Martin, while he entered the small lane in the middle of the woods that lead to the entrance of the museum. They had to be careful not to take the parking belonging to Burgers Zoo, which is very close to the Open Air Museum. From the parking, it was a small walk to the entrance of the museum. Both of them found it quite a strange experience to enter a museum and to be outside again just a couple of meter further on.
The first thing they went to see was a small part of the Jordaan, an area of Amsterdam that they also had seen in the first week of their holidays. This part of the museum was brand new and only opened two weeks ago by Queen Beatrix. The buildings have been transferred from Amsterdam to Arnhem between 2002 and 2012. There were a café, a post office and a small boarding house originally used by immigrants.
They really enjoyed wandering through the museum, which is beautifully located in the middle of the woods North west from Arnhem. Louisa really liked the Zaanse neigbourhood and they found the bakery that Klaartje had recommended without any problem, mainly because the delicious smell of home baked bread showed them where to go. They bought a nice wholegrain loaf for their lunch and much to Louisa's surprise, Martin also bought two "krentenbollen", which are bread buns filled with raisins.
"Should be delicious with the nice farmers cheese Klaartje packed for us", he said. Across the street, there was an authentic sweets shop and Martin hoped that buying these buns would prevent Louisa to enter that shop and spoil her appetite and teeth with sweets and chocolate.
They continued their visit of the museum. Among other things there was a dairy factory where you could watch the making of cheese, all kinds of old farm houses, a mill and a small street with small workers' houses. Each of these little worker's houses represented a decade of the 20th century in a very clever way. Louisa recognized the decoration from the seventies, with the bright colours of the furniture in orange, purple and green, from the time she was very young. Martin recognized some of the pots and pans as being similar to the ones that auntie Joan had at the farm.
Martin was also very interested in the doctor's surgery of the early 1950's and Louisa was thrilled by the small 18th century school. James was most excited by the trams, especially when Martin took him inside the tram depot and explained him all about them. He didn't understand anything of it and he probably wouldn't remember it either, but perched on his daddy's arm, he enjoyed the moment very much.
Around noon, while Martin prepared their lunch on one of the picknick tables next to the old fashioned playground, Louisa tried out the swing and slide, with James. For the classic seesaw, they would need Martin, but Louisa decided against calling him and have a go. He most certainly wouldn't want to leave the food abandoned on the table and she didn't want to spoil the lovely day. She doubted if he ever had used a slide or a seesaw as a kid, given his awful upbringing, but sooner or later he would learn. Not today though, she decided and continued softly swaying on the swing, with her son in a firm embrace on her knees.
Martin sat down at the table and watched his lovely family for a moment. He even took his cell phone out of his pocket, to take a snapshot of the precious moment. A hint of a smile appeared on his face.
From a distance, an elderly woman, who clearly accompanied her grandchild, looked at this handsome man, oblivious of the world around him and entirely focussed on his wife and son. She had seldom seen such devotion and love in the eyes of a man visiting the museum with his family. She came here nearly every week and most of the time the husbands were either busy on their cell phones or yelling at their progeny. She had never seen a father coming to the museum dressed in a suit either, so she was much intrigued by what she saw.
"Louisa, lunch is ready!", Martin announced a couple of minutes later and the beautiful woman stood up from the swing and approached her husband with the nicest of smiles. The woman on the bench further away, happily concluded that the devotion and love was mutual and she smiled.
The father took the little boy from his wife and installed the baby on his knees. Then he took a couple of wipes from a box before handing it to his wife. He started to clean his son's face and hands and gestured to his wife that she should also clean her hands before lunch.
"Oh Martin, that looks all so delicious", Louisa said, "I could eat a horse!"
"Uhm… I don't think horse is on the menu, but there's salad, smoked ham, cheese, all kind of fruits and Carry even prepared a small pot of mashed fruit for James. Very satisfactory indeed", Martin acknowledged.
"Klaartje", Louisa corrected and when he raised an eyebrow, she added, "never mind Martin, it's lovely and so well prepared by my lovely husband!". After which she bent towards him and pecked him on his cheek. When he rewarded her with a deep scowl and a loud "Louisa, not in public!", the woman on the bench had difficulties not to laugh out loud. Martin's loud voice had startled her three year old granddaughter, who ran towards her to be comforted, a perfect moment for her to stand up from the bench and continue her walk through the park with the little girl. "Best to leave them without public now", she thought.
Louisa and Martin quietly finished their lunch and continued their visit of the museum. When James started to whine, they decided to take the museum tram to bring them back to the entrance. It was time for James' nap. They also had to head in the direction of Wourkem, because they wanted to arrive around five o'clock as agreed with Martinus.
Ten minutes later James was sound asleep in his car seat and Martin and Louisa could enjoy the lovely trip through the orchards of the Betuwe with the flowering apple trees and cherry trees.
As they drove the smaller roads through the countryside and with some stops on request of Louisa to take some pictures, it took them more than two hours to arrive at their destination.
The doctor's house couldn't be more different from the Portwenn surgery. It's a stately house with a typical balcony and a lower front door, which opens onto a gravel path. Presumably, the surgery would be in the lower part of the house, whereas the doctor and his family would live above it. In order to reach the house, Martin had to enter a dead end, but in front of the surgery there were a few parking places. He manoeuvred the Lexus in one of them and Martin stepped out of the car when a group of teenaged girls passed in front of the surgery. They started to whistle and comment on him, just like in Portwenn, but in Dutch, this time.
"Oh Gawd", he murmured and sighed deeply.
Then a young girl dressed as awkwardly as Pauline and Morwenna, pushed her orange coloured bike decorated with a garland of flowers from the garden of the surgery onto the road.
"He koekerd, daar mag je niet staan, dat is privé terrein van Tinus!" *) she yelled. But then the man himself came to their rescue and said
"Kim, laat mijn gasten met rust. Wie daar parkeert gaat jou niets aan. Vooruit ga naar huis en zorg dat je morgenochtend op tijd bent!" **)
Martin and Louisa looked around them and had a beautiful view on a restaurant called De Gijsbert on the left and a panoramic view on the dammed Maas in front of them. The doctor's house must be one of the best located houses of the village, another similarity with their own surgery in Portwenn.
Martinus greeted them and said, "Welcome in Wourkem, come through!
To be continued. Again a long wait, but also a long chapter. Enjoy!
*) "Hey tosser, you can't park there, it's private property of Dr. Tinus!"
**) "Kim, leave my guests alone. Who parks at that spot is none of your business. Come on, go home and don't be late tomorrow morning!"