And then it is quiet again ...

The end of a summer season always arrives with mixed feelings. One day the house is still full of voices, breakfast and dinner preparations, guests around the pool and questions about walks, markets and dinner. And then, almost suddenly, it is quiet again. We look back once again on a wonderful season at our chambres d'hôtes. We welcomed guests we already knew, which always feels like seeing old friends again. We also met new guests, who brought new stories and conversations and gave us the lovely feeling that the circle around our house keeps growing. We still really enjoy sharing our little paradise here with others.

The summer was hot and dry, with beautiful light and long evenings. The pool became a daily refuge, but the dry weather also brought challenges. Herman worked hard to keep the garden looking beautiful, and because of the fire risks, the sauna and hot tub were nog available during the last months of the season. Most people didn't actually miss the extra heat, and preferred the shade, cool drinks, and poolside relaxation.

Herman is always busy with different projects and he cannot always solve everything himself. And then it sometimes turns out that our guests have all kinds of skills. Someone knows how to repair, weld or build something and helps solve a problem that has been waiting for the right pair of hands for some time. This season, for example, Herman received help with the electricity for the outdoor lighting. He was also finally able to finish welding the new pellet patio heater, with the help of one of our guests. It was finished just as the evenings were beginning to get a little colder. Our guests come here to relax, but sometimes they even clear fallen trees from the road.

During the summer Johannetta was able to visit the Netherlands twice. Once at the beginning of July and again at the end of the season, in September. Those trips are important to her, as they meant that she could join birthday celebrations for both grandchildren and daughter. During a busy season at the chambres d'hôtes, it can sometimes be difficult to find room for family moments. When Johannetta was away in July, our dear friend Beatrijs helped Herman run the place. Such help cannot be taken for granted. It takes trust to step into the rhythm of a chambres d'hôtes. Beatrijs gave us that help, and we are very thankful for it.

The vegetable garden was one of the great joys of this season. It gave us food, colour and many small moments of satisfaction. We loved sharing its harvest with our guests. There is something very grounding about picking vegetables close to the house and bringing them straight to the table. It makes the meals feel connected to the place. It gives people a taste of the season in the simplest way. It has also made us think ahead. Herman is now developing plans to build a greenhouse. That feels like a natural next step.

The busy months are now behind us. We feel grateful, a little tired, and we are enjoying our days off in the place we usually share with everyone else. That is one of the strange and beautiful things about living in a place that is also a holiday destination. During the season, much of our energy goes into making sure other people can relax. After the season, we suddenly see our surroundings through their eyes again. The weather is still good, so we don't really feel the need to go somewhere else. Why would we? We live in our own holiday place. The garden is here, the view is here, and now there is time to sit down and enjoy it. We are also very happy to have the pool heating. It means we can still swim every day. There is something special about swimming in October, with the air a little fresher and the season behind us. It feels like a small reward.

There are already new bookings for next season which is always encouraging. It gives shape to the year ahead and reminds us that the story continues. For the moment, though, we are happy to enjoy the quiet. The coming months will not be empty. They will simply

have a different rhythm. Family coming to visit in October, we started brewing our winter beers and Johannetta has new education advice assignments planned for November.

We feel grateful again for the guests who came, for those who returned, and for those who found us for the first time. Grateful for the lovey conversations and for everyone's patience during a hot and dry summer. Grateful for the nature around us and for the vegetables from the garden. But above all, we are grateful that this place continues to be both our work and our home.

The house is quieter now, but it does not feel empty. It feels rested, warmed by the sun and ready to catch it breath for a few months before the next season begins. Hope to see you again in 2027!