Going Dutch
   
John Dutchman-Smith the Provincial Treasurer is a member of a unique UGLE craft lodge called Internet Lodges which has almost 400 members living in over 30 different countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe and representing nearly 90 Grand Lodges. (Geoff Lee the Provincial Secretary is also a member)
Almiras
John was recently part of a small group of members of the lodge who visited Maastricht in Holland to meet with some of their members from Holland and to see the concert in the town square presented by Andre Rieu.
John and Joyce
John writes :-
“Joyce and I have just returned from a fabulous weekend in Maastricht with a small group of Internet Lodge members. Six couples made the trip. With the exception of Joyce and I everyone drove to Maastricht. Our journey was an adventure, (more later).
Sunday Lunch
We went of course to attend the open air concert in the square of Andre Rieu and his orchestra. We saw this on Friday evening and again on Saturday on the big screen as we dined in one of the pavement cafés round the square. The concert was way beyond all expectation and the apart from Andre of course the star of the show was the recent winner of “Hollands Got Talent”.  Almira Willighagen is a nine years old girl who opened the second half with a magnificent performance of the well known aria “O Mio Babbino Caro” (O My Beloved Father) which brought tears to many eyes including my own. (Check her out on YouTube)
Part of the Group attending the Show
On Sunday we lunched together with our Dutch colleagues and we had an excellent and convivial time with them.
 
Joyce and I had decided that in view of the distance we would fly to Amsterdam and proceed by train changing at Utrecht.
 
Despite having a pictorial guide through the airport (Schipol) we managed to get on the wrong train. We were helped by a Dutch student and got off at the first stop and our correct train arrived there five minutes later. The change of trains was fine and so we got to Maastricht on time and vowed to do better on the return. It was not to be. We had an uneventful journey on time to Utrecht and an easy change of train. We then proceeded on time and started to slow down two minutes before our arrival at Schipol. We got up and took the luggage to the door ready to get off. The train stopped just short of Schipol and didn't move for ten minutes. There were various announcements all of course in Dutch. Eventually we learned that there was a fire in a tunnel leading to the airport and we could not proceed. The train then reversed about ten miles to its previous stop, Amsterdam South. There we were told to get off and find our own way to the airport. No taxis, not even a taxi rank but there would be a service bus at some point. We eventually elbowed our way on to the bus when it came. We were the last two sardines in the can and lots were left behind. We stood almost unable to breathe for the half hour journey. There was no chance of falling as everyone was crushed together. We got to the airport almost an hour and a half late but in time for the flight. An experience that we would not wish to repeat and I was surprised that we were just abandoned by the Dutch Railway.
'The Show'
Nevertheless a great time had by all.”
 
Further details about Internet Lodge can be found on their website at http://internet.lodge.org.uk or by emailing info@internet.lodge.org.uk.