Page 47 - Phonebox Magazine November 2014

Fancy a city break?
Try our close neighbour, Amsterdam
It might not be the first place you think of when you’re going on a family holiday, but Amsterdam is packed full of things to do for a mid-winter holiday.
There are markets galore, including the beautiful flower market that is packed with Dutch tulips if you go in the spring, and a scattering of culturally significant
museums, including the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum.
One thing not to miss while on a trip to the city is the Anne Frank House, which is based on the site of the secret Annexe, where Anne and her family and friends hid from the Nazi regime for an astonishing two years.
It describes itself as a museum that tells a story, and it certainly does that, letting the visitor clamber through a labyrinth of rooms, hallways and stairs, complete with original posters on the walls. There are even pencil marks where they recorded the childrens’ heights over the years.
And England may be known for its beautiful national parks and London for its Victorian streets, but Amsterdam’s 400-year-old waterways are something to behold, with more bridges than Venice. And some years, when the temperature drops below -4 in winter for four consecutive nights, the canals freeze over enough to skate on.
There are even trips available to traditional villages outside the nation’s capital, with Edam (who doesn’t love cheese?) just a half an hour drive away.
But one thing that stood out is the warmth of the residents. Some Dutch shop owners and locals speak English with an American twang, and if you see anywhere selling traditional stroopwafels, be sure to try them.
The Anne Frank House in the heart of Amsterdam.
Mrs & Mrs Crabb
Wedding Congratulations
Congratulations on the wedding of Sarah Hall, from Olney, and Matt
Crabb, of Newport Pagnell, on October 6th 2014. Ron Hall, editor of the Phonebox Magazine was proud to give away his eldest daughter in the idyllic location of St Lucia. The wedding was attended by Sarah and Matt’s closest family and friends.
Olney - Newton Link
Ebola
Rachel Lintern
We have received news from the Newton Committee that the dreaded virus has reached Newton and they are asking for our help. At the time of writing we know that at least 20 families
are now quarantined, another one being added overnight. Anne and I, and possibly some of you too, are keeping a close watch on things via the Internet and Facebook and we are in the loop with two organisations battling with huge problems in the neighbouring community of Waterloo.
We are aware that the World Food Program is working very hard in Sierra Leone but is limited in the sort of food they can provide. To keep people alive and healthy more protein, fruit and vegetables needs to be provided, somehow. Our secretary in Newton, Abu Bakarr Fofanah, and the committee are happy to help with this and Bakarr is also asking for more disinfectant and buckets etc. We have therefore sent £500 immediately but may well be asked for more. On a lighter note, the UN are being more upbeat about the problem saying that there will be further increases in cases for another 4-6 weeks and then the numbers should begin to drop. Lets hope they’re right but it seems a long way to go yet. Response needs to be on two fronts:
1. Help for the isolated families, especially food supplies.
2. Preventative measures for everyone else, with disinfectants, protective clothing and clean water.
Help them now by making a donation through Virgin Money Giving – go to their website and look for the Olney-Newton Link. Rachel Lintern, 21 Austen Avenue, Olney
Liz Brewster, 11 Orchard Rise, Olney. Tel: 07850 216494. Please make cheques payable to Olney Newton Link.
Phonebox Magazine 47