Page 14 of A New Life in Amsterdam

By the next morning, I am much less emotional and convince myself there is no time to be lonely as I start to plan the restoration work.

At Hannah’s suggestion, I take some ‘before’ photos.

The green Formica kitchen worktops will be one of the first things I rip out since they’re practically hanging off already.

For a moment, I consider starting some kind of blog, like the woman I read about in Brecon, although nowadays people would perhaps prefer Instagram or TikTok for the renovation updates.

I then decide that it would be like inviting the whole world into my bedroom.

Since I have always valued my privacy, I take photos of the progress to share only with Hannah and Debbie.

It will be wonderful to look back at them when it’s all done.

Had I bought something shiny and new there would be no fun in it.

What sense of achievement would it bring if this place was already perfect and ready to move into?

Gerrit has been most helpful and called to say that he is on his way to take me to the hardware store as well as a carpet store to check out some rugs. For someone who earned his commission so easily, his after-sales service is astonishing.

I hear the beep from his little black car and rush outside as he waits for me.

‘Hi, I can’t stay too long. I have to take my son to football practice. So, I’ll take you to the carpet place first and then the hardware store.’

‘Thank you. I’m so sorry for taking up your morning. This is so kind of you.’

‘It’s fine. I moved to London for a year when I was a student. I know how it feels to move somewhere and not know anyone.’

‘Well, I really appreciate it.’

Gerrit knows the guy at the carpet store and is a regular customer. They chat in Dutch, and I wish I could understand them. What if he’s telling him to rip me off? But Gerrit seems genuine enough so hopefully it’s okay.

The sales assistant shows me some hard-wearing rugs that he says are ideal for a houseboat, but I am drawn to the most gorgeous red nomadic Shiraz rug with flecks of grey and black.

It might be more Persian than Dutch, but it is so nomadic that it feels in keeping with my new life.

This rug was made for me. I snap it up, paying for it with the car boot sale money, and the guy tells me it will be around two weeks for delivery since we won’t be able to fit it in Gerrit’s little car.

Now the mission is on to paint and get the floors ready before my rug arrives.

This is going to be the busiest few weeks of my life.

Next, we head to a hardware store where I find a great offer on power tools and, while I am there, I choose the wood that is needed for the flooring.

Unbelievably, they have it in stock and they advise me that they can send a carpenter tomorrow morning to fit it.

I can’t quite believe my luck, and it almost feels as though the god of houseboats is looking down on me.

I’d have had to wait months to find a carpenter who could fit me in back home.

They tell me that he can also sort out my kitchen worktops.

Thank goodness for carpenters who want to make a few extra euros on the weekend!

Perhaps it isn’t as difficult as I thought to renovate the houseboat – if you have a good team around you.

Armed with the equipment I need for the jobs I plan on doing, I arrive back home with power tools and some paint pots and brushes.

I’m ready to give this houseboat the makeover it needs, but first it’s time for a coffee.

Since I haven’t had time to stock up the fridge or the food cupboards yet, I put all the DIY stuff to one side in the kitchen and decide to treat myself to a hot drink along the canal and pick up a snack before I start.

I cross a bridge over the canal where a bicycle is decorated in pretty pink flowers.

I look at the buildings around me wondering where the stork building is.

I’ll have to keep an eye out for it on my travels.

It will always remind me of my first day on the houseboat and meeting Abe.

I must try and meet Beatrix next. It would be nice to have some female friends here.

I walk past some coffee shops and look for somewhere I’d feel at home. A lot of the cafes have youngsters enjoying all sorts of things. But one place looks a little more grown up, with its Georgian windows and neutral-coloured squishy sofas.

The smell of pancakes as I open the door is simply gorgeous and I go to the counter where a huge blackboard advertises hot chocolates and lattes.

Knowing the afternoon of hard work that I have ahead of me, I order their speciality hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows along with a Dutch pancake.

The young girl at the counter tells me to sit down and that it will be with me shortly.

I can tell this is going to be one of my favourite places.

With its Eighties music and black-and-white memorabilia decorating the walls, it has the coolest vibe.

Customers quietly read and I spot a little library in the corner where people are encouraged to swap books.

When my pancake comes out with whipped cream, Nutella and a Dutch flag, I know I’ll be back.

My hot chocolate is loaded up with cream and I am spooning a marshmallow into my mouth when I spot Abe walking in.

I guess this is where most of the neighbourhood comes since it is so close to us.

I am tucked away in a corner and he doesn’t notice me as he walks to the counter. To my surprise, he then lifts the counter flap up and walks straight into the kitchen area at the back. I wonder if he works here.

I carry on eating my pancake when I see Beatrix walk in with Ted.

We haven’t met yet and so she wouldn’t know who I was if I tried to get her attention.

The staff all seem to know her as they chat in Dutch and make a fuss of Ted.

He seems to love everyone and equally, everyone loves him.

Beatrix goes into the kitchen while Ted stays with one of the staff out front.

Customers start making a fuss of him and then he wanders about until he sniffs around and spots me.

‘Hello, Ted.’

He seems to want to jump up on my lap and so I help him up.

I’m stroking his head, telling him what a good boy he is when I hear Abe’s voice.

‘Hey, my new neighbour. Great to see you here.’

‘You too.’

I look at the chocolate feast I have on the table and feel like I have to explain myself.

‘I’m having a treat since I’ll be doing a lot of work on the houseboat later.’

‘I’m not one to judge – enjoy. And anyway, we always love the custom. Thank you.’

‘Oh. Do you and Beatrix own this place?’

Ted jumps down and brushes against Abe.

‘Yeah… and Ted, too.’

‘Ah, of course. Well, I’ll definitely be a regular. This hot chocolate is amazing!’

‘We aim to please. I only use the best Belgian hot chocolate. It’s my secret ingredient.’

‘Great decision. I don’t think I’ve ever tasted a hot chocolate like it.’

A group of cyclists walk in, and the coffee shop fills up.

‘I’d better go. I need to give them some help behind the counter,’ says Abe.

‘Yes, me too. I need to get cracking with the painting.’

‘Well, good luck. I’ll be seeing you.’

‘Thanks. Yeah. See you soon.’

I leave the cafe on a high, thanks to the sugar fix coupled with the happiness of making new friends already. What a lovely person Abe seems to be, and I hope I’ll make a friend of Beatrix soon too.

As I walk along the canal with a big smile, I wrap my scarf around me tightly to protect me from the cold air.

I’d love to think the houseboat will give me a warm welcome but it’s still a little cold in there.

The heating will be one of the next jobs in store.

For now, though I want to start the painting, which should keep me warm.

I change into an old tracksuit that I purposely kept as I knew it would come in handy for working on the houseboat, and start with a base coat in the master bedroom.

The previous owner must have already planned on painting this room since it is already sanded, which saves me a huge job.

The sooner I get my room sorted, the sooner I can sleep in there.

My new bed should also be arriving any day, so I need to get moving.

I am about to finish the first bright blue coat when I think there is a shadow blocking the natural light from the skylight window. At first, I think the stork might be back and obstructing the light, but then I realise it’s Abe, who is standing beside me and trying to get my attention.

‘Abe. Oh my god, you gave me a fright.’

‘I’m so sorry. It wasn’t my intention. Your front door was open. I did shout but I guess you couldn’t hear me from in here.’

‘Oh no, I can’t have closed it properly. I guess that door will have to be another priority to look at.’

‘It just needs filing down a little. Make sure you pull it tight after you. There’s a knack to it. Anyway, I just wanted to pop in with a broodje gezond I had left over. I knew you were going to be busy at work here so I thought perhaps you wouldn’t have time to eat tonight.’

‘Is it that time already?’

‘Yup. I already closed the shop.’

I look down at the baguette with lettuce, tomato, ham and egg. I didn’t think I would need any food after that pancake earlier, but I have worked up quite the appetite after a couple of hours of painting.

‘That’s so kind of you, thank you. It looks delicious.’

‘It’s not a problem. You’ll see that we all look after each other around here. It’s hard work, renovating one of these. I did mine a few years ago and the neighbours made sure I ate and drank. Sometimes you forget to look after yourself when you’ve been painting for five hours straight.’

‘I can see how that happens. That’s interesting. So, any tips on restoring these things?’

‘Nope, except be careful of your knees. You may want to wear some kneepads before you start on the floors,’ says Abe, gesturing to the pots of antique pine varnish that are stacked up in the corner ready for the next step of the renovations.

‘That sounds like great advice.’

‘Anyway, I don’t want to keep you. You’ve made a great start, by the way,’ says Abe, eyeing the bedroom walls.

‘Thanks, I appreciate it, and thanks again for the sandwich.’

‘Anytime.’

Abe heads back to his boat and I wash the brushes and tidy everything up.

I’m happy with the progress I’ve made. Not bad for my first day on the job.

I am so enthralled by my progress that I decide to get the power drill out and fix the kitchen cupboard door.

Looking at the results of my paint job, I convince myself I am capable of anything.

I unravel the lead and plug the drill into the wall.

But as soon as I place the drill onto the latch that needs fixing, my hand slips off and I look in horror at the perfectly round hole I have made in the kitchen cabinet.

Any bigger and I’d be able to poke my finger though it.

How on earth do they make it look so easy on those home makeover shows?

I might have known things were going too smoothly and quit before I do any further damage.

I’ll have to add it to the list of jobs for the carpenter.

I would have thought by bedtime that I would be so exhausted I’d have collapsed into a deep sleep.

Unfortunately, though, with the groaning of the pipes, the creaking of the wood and someone shouting something random outside, I find it hard to nod off.

When I eventually do, I have a dream that Abe is standing right over me.

But unlike what happened today, he doesn’t have a sandwich in his hand but a bunch of tulips.

He hands them to me and then kisses me on the lips.

He then moves down to kiss my neck, unbuttons my shirt and slips his hand down as he removes it from me.

Oh my god. I wake up with a start. He is only a kind neighbour. Why on earth am I having weird dreams about the Dutchman who lives next door? I am never going to be able to look him in the eye again, let alone poor Beatrix!