The last quarter of 2024 is special and active. Special because we both stop working as of November 1 and also get on a plane to Australia right away that day 🦘🇦🇺🌏😊. There we will stay for 7.5 weeks. A perfect start to our "early retired life. We feel very privileged to visit this unique and beautiful country and enjoy the beautiful nature with many beautiful and active walks. See the report on polarsteps.

The weeks before our departure for Australia are also special and active. Toine has already been able to let go of the work quite a bit but I am still busy with handover until the last day, concluding with a very nice and cozy farewell drink with words of praise where Toine and the daughters are also present 😃😊.

Regarding preparation for the sailing trip .... We take an incredibly valuable first aid course for offshore sailors with Rob Sijbers and buy a comprehensive offshore first aid kit from him. With two Zoom meetings and one 5-hour practical lesson, we learn an awful lot 👍🤒🧰💉 . We can this course heartily recommend for departures.

We also drive one Wednesday afternoon to Dorhout Mees in Biddinghuizen for a short large-caliber "shooting course" that will give us a certificate we need to rent a rifle in Svalbard (mandatory because of the polar bears 🐻‍❄️).

One Saturday afternoon, we went to a lecture by the Tour Sailors about sailing to the far north and deep south. There we heard many useful tips that immediately led to ordering some gear 👍😃.

As for family gatherings .... We are having a nice dinner for Grandpa Wim's 88th birthday and going to London for a weekend for Marinthe's birthday 🎉🥂🍾. We will also see my sister the weekend before we go to Australia. Family gatherings we cherish now that the time has come when we can't always be there due to our travel plans 🥰.

As for sailing, we are on the boat for two weekends. The first weekend we sail on Saturday to Burghsluis where Mieke and John visit us. They stay the night and on Sunday Mieke and I run the walking marathon of Zeeland in beautiful weather 😊🚶‍♀️🏅. On Monday we sail back to Bru.

The following weekend we go with 4 friends boats to Yerseke. Very cozy ☺️. With on the way back to Bru a beautiful action photo taken by Madeleine (see above right here and large photo below)👌.

On a quiet day in late October, we take the sails off the boat. How incredibly tiring and actually not doable with just the two of us 🥲. Especially because the new sails are still so stiff. Eventually it works out. Hopefully this was the last time for the next few years 😅.

The two weeks after returning from Australia have been active, super fun and very valuable ☺️🥰. Christmas Eve we have a simple and cozy dinner with the daughters in the apartment. They have already done the shopping for Christmas and decorated the living room beautifully. On Christmas Day we have a Christmas lunch at Pieter and Eline's with Grandpa Wim there. And on Boxing Day at my sister's with delicious food and lots of fun. Valuable family moments🥰.

Concluding with a week of skiing in Konigsleiten with the daughters and their friends. Super cozy with lots of activity, lots of laughter and great conversations. It doesn't happen that often that the six of us can be together. Certainly not this long. Very special 😊. Together we usher in the new year.

May 2025 bring many wonderful (sailing) adventures 🥂🍾✨✨.