Page 25 of A New Life in Amsterdam

By the time Debbie finds me, it is obvious from her face that she has finally made up with Nigel.

‘Oh, we are a pair. As bad as each other. We’re friends again now. Life’s just too short for all this nonsense, and I’ve told him we need to put things into perspective.’

‘Too right. I’m glad you’ve both finally seen sense.’

‘Yeah, sometimes you need a huge fight and a reality check to make things better. It was a long time brewing, and now I am actually looking forward to seeing him again. Never thought I’d find myself saying that!’

‘Well, that’s great. So now that you and Nigel are all sorted, do you want a quick snack? All this walking’s made me peckish, even though we had a humungous breakfast.’

‘Oh, yeah. Now you mention it, I could do with a little something.’

‘Right then, I’ll take you somewhere really special.’

I noticed that we passed a hole in the wall selling croquettes earlier and I can’t wait to introduce Debbie to one of my favourite snacks.

At first, she looks a little dubious as I put the euros into the vending machine.

‘Umm, I thought you said you were taking me somewhere special?’

‘I am. You haven’t tried it. Reserve judgement for after you’ve tasted it, please.’

‘Are you sure I won’t get food poisoning?’ she asks jokingly.

‘Nope. You won’t.’

I hand over her hot ham and cheese croquette and she bites into it nervously.

‘Oh my god, this is delicious.’

‘Told you, didn’t I? Looks can be deceiving!’

Debbie enjoys it so much that she finds a couple of coins in her pocket and buys another.

‘I knew you’d love it once you’d tried one,’ I tease.

‘Better than a lunchtime pasty any day.’

‘That’s the problem, the food is just too good here. You could eat everything. Which reminds me, where do you fancy going this evening?’

‘After being so greedy I’m not sure I’ll eat, but I wouldn’t mind trying somewhere authentic. I’ll be back on the pie and chips in a few days; I want to make the most of the experience.’

‘Okay, I’ll ask Abe. He was on about a restaurant he wanted to take me to that he said was authentic.’

‘Ah, I knew there was more to it than you’d let on. He asked you out for dinner?’

‘Well, kind of, but obviously I was busy with you arriving and… We’ll see. As you said, I don’t want my situation to change here. I’m happy as I am.’

‘Yeah, I know. Maybe you’re better off as friends. You really don’t want to fall out with any of the neighbours. You know what it’s like at home. It gets so awkward. I’m still not talking to Dilys at number nine, and every time I go to hang the washing out it’s uncomfortable.’

‘She still won’t forgive you for the car alarm going off then?’

‘Nope. I can’t help it there’s an electrical problem.

It’s an electric car, sometimes it goes a bit bonkers, it’s the way it is.

The manufacturer doesn’t know what to do with it, so it’s not my fault it has a mind of its own and goes off at three a.m. on the dot.

I’m mortified, and it disturbs us too. I just wish she’d move, but it doesn’t look likely.

She’s been there forty years and has been awkward since the day we moved in. ’

‘Well, at least Abe has been helpful since I moved in. He’s been a great friend that I wouldn’t want to fall out with.’

As we return home, I am more adamant than ever that I’m going to make it clear to Abe that nothing more can come of our friendship. Although as I see him throwing a ball for Ted from the roof of his barge when we get home, I realise it’s not going to be easy.

‘By the way, I was thinking of throwing a party while you’re here.

I decided to rename the boat. I’m calling it New Beginnings, so we could have a naming party.

Do you fancy meeting some of the neighbours?

They’re quite hospitable around here, and I should probably invite some people over to see the renovations I’ve done. They might like to see it.’

‘What a perfect name. Oh, that would be so much fun. I’d love that.’

‘Great stuff. I guess it would be a bit last-minute, but I could invite them. They can only say no. We could drop off the invites before we go for dinner.’

Talking of dinner reminds me that I still haven’t asked Abe about the restaurant for this evening, but perhaps I am better off googling it for myself and minimising our contact. I don’t want him thinking I’m looking for an excuse to speak to him.

‘Do you have invites we can use, Sandy?’

‘No, they’re pretty cool around here. Paper’s fine.’

‘Great, well, I’ll help you write them up.’

Between the two of us, we handwrite thirty notes and the first one I drop off is at Abe’s, where I see him from the window reading by a lamp.

I tiptoe quietly off the deck so I don’t disturb him, although I hear Ted barking as I leave.

As we make our way to a restaurant I’ve found on Trip Advisor, we post the rest of the invites through the various houseboat letterboxes. I wonder if many will want to come.

When we finally arrive at the restaurant it is small, cosy and like being in someone’s living room. It is so quaint, and has even more photos on the walls than at Abe’s.

As we sit down, the aroma of hearty Dutch food reminds me of the night Abe cooked. Why does everything have to make me think of him? When I look at the menu, I see a similar beef stew, so it is not surprising that he came to mind. I wonder if this is where he wanted to bring me?

I try to put Abe out of my mind and focus on the exhaustive and delicious menu.

Since we have eaten quite a lot today, we can’t manage any of the large dishes that we watch the waiters bringing out from the kitchen.

Instead, we share a dish between us of mashed potatoes with sausage, bacon and red cabbage, making sure we leave room for a Dutch beer to accompany it.

‘I’ve never eaten so much in one day,’ says Debbie.

‘No, me neither. Maybe it’s the cold weather and all the walking we’ve done.’

‘Or the delicious choices,’ says Debbie.

‘Yup, you definitely get spoilt for choice here.’

‘The silly thing is Nigel would love all this food, if only he were more worldly and would stop refusing to eat anything that isn’t egg and chips. Oh, and, of course, he does enjoy his fried spam too,’ says Debbie, tucking in.

‘Perhaps he’ll fancy a trip out here once he sees all the fabulous things you’ve done in Amsterdam.

In fact, he’ll probably be jealous when he finds out all that you’ve been up to.

Which reminds me. I know you’re staying on a houseboat, so you may not want to do this, but I thought a trip down the canal might be nice for you tomorrow.

Do some proper sightseeing from the water. ’

‘On your boat?’

‘No, it’s fixed. It doesn’t go anywhere, but I thought we could take one of the little boats down the canal – with a proper guide. I’ve seen lots of people going past on them, I wouldn’t mind trying it for myself.’

‘That sounds fabulous. I’d love to.’

‘Great, we’ll do that tomorrow. I can’t believe we only have all day tomorrow and then we’ll have to prepare for the party on your final night. Time’s going far too fast, and you’ve only just arrived.’

‘I know. It’ll be horrid saying goodbye to you, but I promise I’ll be back again soon.’

‘That’ll be something to look forward to. In the meantime, I shall read, knit and get on with my felting.’

‘Sounds bliss. How’s the felting going? Still making dogs?’

‘Yeah, the labradoodle club loved them, so I’ve joined a cockapoo group on Facebook. I may casually drop in a line about how I can make replicas of their little pooches. Although I am prioritising making one of Ted next.’

‘Ted?’

‘Abe’s dog. He used to live on my houseboat. His owner was the person who had the boat before me. He died, and Abe took Ted. He’s such a cutie. You’d love him.’

‘That’s kind of Abe.’

‘Yeah, he’s a lovely guy, or so he seems to be, as far as I know. Do we truly know anyone, though? Look at Adrian. He was a pillar of the community until he got caught, and everyone thought he was a good neighbour.’

‘You do have a point. I hope I can trust my Nigel. I wonder what he’s up to right now?’

‘Oh, I’m sure he’s sat there watching a shark documentary or something. You’ve nothing to worry about with Nigel.’

‘True. He doesn’t move from that blasted telly. Now you’ve really put me off going back,’ says Debbie, laughing at the thought.

As we laugh and joke and I enjoy Debbie’s company, it hits me how quiet it is going to be again when she leaves.

No matter how independent I am, I realise that I like being around people.

I enjoy the company of others but then I also don’t want to be committed to anyone.

Whenever you’re in a relationship, it seems there is usually one person who is more serious about it than the other.

Is it truly possible to find that balance between having company and not committing?

In the longer term, I don’t know that it is and so there really is no point starting a relationship with anyone, not even lovely Abe.