Yes it’s been one of those months so far and it’s showing no signs of letting up.

Firstly was the trip back to Amsterdam. Was it everything i expected ? Was it really as good going back a second time ? It most certainly was. The flight out was one of the best we have had. We timed it perfectly so that when we arrived at Bristol we only had an hour to kill before boarding. We left at silly-o-clock in the morning (02:30 ?) and were in Holland by 07:00. The gate opened on time, the flight boarded properly and the actual flight itself was pretty straightforward. It was however very misty that day so it was a little bumpy up there. I quite like a little turbulance. Keeps everybody on their toes. After arriving in Schipol we grabbed our bags (well, i grabbed THE bag) and headed downstairs to the railway. Within five minutes we were headed back to Amsterdam. Unfortunately the weather was a little gloomy for the first couple days. Mist and drizzle everywhere. It seemed to put a little damper on everything but not enough to make me enjoy it any less. We were lucky enough to have a wicked little coffee-shop (barneys lounge) near our hotel that served the most amazing tea and hot-chocolates. A great little place to pop into on your way out or you way back.

This time we visited a few different places to the first time we went (less than 12 months ago !). Madame Tussords and the Amsterdam dungeon. Both REALLY creepy places. The wax-works at tussords were ‘ok’, some we better than others to be honest. The best part was the ‘horror’ section you have to walk through. Pitch black, cages with either skeletons or actors in (ready to grab you as you walk past). Loud bangs, jets of cold air blasted at you etc. It was very cool. The Amsterdam dungeon too was really good. You are taken in, in small groups and let through different themed rooms by actors dressed in period garb. They show you methods of ‘inquisition’, torture and other nasties. One of the best rooms was a childrens work-house theme, where mills were operated, in the near pitch black of course. There are other wax-work kids standing around with heads down on their chest wearing white nightdress. Of course one of these is an actor with bloody good ‘dead’ make-up. Once you lights go out she starts walking around and whispering in your ear. Very freaky. Also freaky is the part where the large window crashes open and the curtains start flapping. Next thing some kind of bloody corpse thing is flapping about in opening. I loved it but i really wouldnt recommend it for kids. One of the last rooms a man tells you a ghost story by lantern-light. Once finished he places the lantern on a wooden table and disappears telling you to beware the ghost. After a few minutes of wondering what is going on the lantern starts moving ‘by itself’ around the table in circles. Then the lights go out and the room is filled with smoke. A 3D projector then projects the image of a ghostly woman in the room. It’s really weird but looks amazing (especially if you have been in the coffee-shop before hand). For the finale you are herded into rollercoaster cars which then whizz around a massive, empty, black church. It’s definately one of those places that wouldnt be allowed in England. Sometimes you have to really remind yourself you are ‘on a ride’ and nobody is actually trying to kill you.

During our stay we also found an Austrailian bar that served the most amazing bacon & cheese bagettes and massive glasses of ‘wicke wiss’. A German (i’m guessing) white beer for 3 euro a glass.

All too soon we were back to mundane life in the UK. We are already talking of planning a third trip, fancy it ?

What else is going on this month then ? Well it was my mothers birthday last weekend so we took her to a rather nice hotel in Falmouth for a meal. The same hotel i am (apparently) getting married in next year. More on that another time. This weekend just gone the gup-grades at the club had a grading, also in Falmouth. I also spent the morning down at KGB digging trenches for the second upcoming Vietnam game. It was a beautiful morning. Between four or us we easily shifted a couple tonnes of dirt. Bloody hard work. Then there is a KGB game this weekend too. I have changed my arsenal around AGAIN so am looking forward to playing with my new toys. A VSR bolt-action rifle, a new AK (spetznaz) and also a colt hi-capa pistol. Can’t wait.

Then next weekend i’ll be going to a ‘troop’ up at the NEC in Birmingham for the MEM spring sci-fi expo. The UKG (UK garrison) will be there in force, myself included. I’ll be travelling up with a couple others from Cornwall and staying in a hotel for two days of Star-Wars themed madness.

All in all it’s proving to be a very busy March

(can’t spell-check, so apologies !)

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