Denmark 17th to 22nd November 2018.
17th November 2018 - Home to Stansted hotel.
We left home at 13:00 this afternoon and had a reasonable run to Stansted despite the A14 being closed whilst they demolish a bridge. We were staying at the Premier Inn and had a pretty good meal in their restaurant before having an early night as we had to be up at stupid o’clock.
18th November 2018 – Stansted to Arup, Denmark.
We were up at 03:30 and were parked and at the airport for 04:50 as we had to be there 2 hours ahead of our flight to get the special assistance. As it was we were given the opportunity to take a wheelchair through ourselves so that’s what we did. There were the usual minor delays at security whilst they checked Graham over but we were at the gate nice and early ready for our flight at 07:10. This was our first time flying Ryanair and, although the aircraft was basic with limited facilities, the service was very efficient and we took off on time.
We arrived at Aalborg airport to find a wheelchair waiting for us at the bottom of the aircraft stairs and we were through passport control etc. very quickly. Once we reached the foyer we were met by Leif who really didn’t look a day older even though it’s seven years since we’ve seen him.
We were driven the 70km to the “summerhouse” Leif & Lene had rented for the week and met up with Lene again (she doesn’t look any different either, hurrumph!). Also there were Lene’s children, Rasmuss and his wife Heidi, Jeanet and her husband Kim and Anders. Some of the grandchildren were also there i.e. Laerke, Adam, Yippe & Camilla.
Apparently renting this type of place is not unusual for the family and when they do they spend a week or so together taking it in turns to do the catering. Tonight was Anders turn and we were greeted by the sight of 4 whole ducks being cooked for the 14 or us who would be there for dinner and there was lunch to come before that. The Danes certainly do know how to eat!
We spent a very pleasant day catching up with Leif and Lene and getting to know their family before sitting down to gorge ourselves on Duck, potatoes and red cabbage. Oh, and by the way Heidi had decided to make cake during the afternoon so we had to have that too!
19th November 2018 – Arup, Denmark.
Breakfast is a very informal affair here with the goodies being left out for people to help themselves to whenever they’re ready. A hot lunch was also served and eaten together at the huge table in the dining area.
As tomorrow is Leif & Lene’s Silver Wedding anniversary there were preparations to be made during the day today. The traditional celebrations for a Silver Wedding are much more formal here than at home and they include the happy couple being woken by their family, neighbours and guests making loud noises and singing. A flower arch is also constructed to go around the couple’s front door so one of today’s tasks was to get the arch made.
Luckily the children had borrowed a metal arch from somewhere (I think from the summerhouse owners) so all we needed to do was decorate it with the foliage and flowers the children had brought along. It wasn’t too onerous a task once we got into it but it was really, really cold stood outside whilst we got stuck in so everyone was glad when the job was finished.
We also lent a hand getting the function room ready for tomorrow morning as, once the hosts have been woken, they traditionally invite all of those present in for breakfast. There was also to be a dinner for invited guests in the evening.
By now we had been joined by more of Leif & Lene’s relatives and friends so this evening there were around 28 for dinner. Tonight was Leif & Lene’s turn to cook and we were treated to traditional Danish meatballs (which are more like fat burgers) in a really lovely gravy plus all the trimmings, and yes, there had also been coffee and cake during the afternoon!
20th November 2018 – Arup, Denmark.
Although today was Leif & Lene’s anniversary and they were supposed to be woken by their guests they were up before we were. It seems that the old tradition is for them to be woken at sunrise but more recently families have agreed that 08:00 is a sensible time as in the summer sunrise is too early and in winter too late.
There was lots of activity when we got up with preparations for breakfast well underway; we did what we could to help but that wasn’t a lot really. As 08:00 approached we put on our coats and joined the ever growing numbers of people outside where the arch had been placed over the main staircase/entrance to the function suite.
It was fascinating to watch as Heidi & Adam started making a din with some handy saucepan lids before everyone started to sing (we were excused as the songs were all in Danish). Once Leif & Lene had appeared and the songs were finished we went inside for a really nice breakfast, there were 45 of us in total!
As the morning wore off people started to drift away (most don’t stay for the evening do) and it was back to more socialising and eating.
This evening there was a more formal dinner for family & invited friends and, once again, there were around 40 of us. The children & grandchildren did a great job and we were all served a starter before buffet style main course and dessert all of which was really good. There were also a few speeches and toasts throughout the evening which is, again, part of the Danish tradition.
Once dinner was over people dispersed throughout this enormous building and we sat happily chatting until quite late.
21st November 2018 – Arup, Denmark.
We had a slightly later start this morning and things were rather more relaxed as people who had stayed over started to drift away. All in all a very lazy relaxing day spent chatting to and being looked after by the family. Gradually throughout the day more and more people left as they had either work or school tomorrow and we were down five of us by the end of the evening. Dinner tonight was made up of the copious amounts of leftovers and very nice it was too.
22nd November 2018 – Arup, Denmark to Home.
We were up early again this morning as our flight was due to leave Aalborg at 09:55. After we said farewell to Lene & Anders, Leif very kindly ran us back to the airport and we were escorted to the aircraft by a very friendly young lady with a wheelchair (who had never heard of the very British word “faff”!). The flight was pleasantly uneventful and we arrived at Stansted a little ahead of schedule where we were met by a mini-bus which took us to the disabled persons entrance and then on to collect our luggage. It’s not often we get to say this but the service was so efficient we arrived before any of the other passengers and also the luggage.
From there it was a fairly quick if boring journey home broken only by a short stop for a bite to eat at Kate’s cabin and then Tesco to pick up a few bits of shopping. We arrived home by 14:50 after a really good few days feeling a little tired but really pleased to have been included in Leif & Lene’s celebrations.