Since Tante Rina was visiting today, I decided to leave work early so that I would be home in time to have dinner with her and my family.

The word 'Tante' is Dutch for 'Aunt', though this woman isn't really an official aunt of Thea in terms of being a blood relative.

She has always been a close friend of Thea's mother, which is good enough according to good old Dutch tradition to qualify one for aunthood.

You'd be amazed how people there are here who are called aunts and uncles but aren't really that.

Anyway, we had a good bite of dinner, stuffed ourselves with fine dessert that Thea had especially bought for the occasion, and then retired to the sitting room for a good old cup of coffee.