Whilst we are in Holland, I return to Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel. This is the suburb where I lived with my family 23 years ago. We surprise Family, friends and old neighbours. I am enjoying the sight of their faces, when they realise who is at their door. It's great to catch up and exchange stories of days gone by and our todays. I show Gary around my old neighbourhood. We go to the shopping centre ( De Reigerhof). This is where I had my very first job. Like many 
other teenagers I worked as a check-out operator in the local supermarket (Albert Heijn ). Here I discover the shopping centre has expanded and is no longer recognisable to me. The swimming pool is also a wonderful memory. It is in this pool, where I get to swim, whilst it is still being build. I can truly say, I was the first to swim here. The park with obstacle course has completely disappeared. We go past my aunt and uncle's old house, this is still there but everything has been changed. On the i
nside there are no longer timber floors and everything is white. I have never really liked this style, it looks too sterile to me. I am keen to show Gary where we kept our horses and just want to return to the place where we had so many good times. I set of in that direction but soon discover it is impossible to find. Where once were paddocks with cows, sheep and horses, I now find an industrial area. I am unable to find anything to guide me to this old beloved place. I feel sad, I know the horses weren't there anymore, but I was told the farm was still there. In the suburb Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel is also the lowest point in Holland. A large part of Holland is below sea level. People used to ask me, what is it like to live below sea level. I never gave it much thought, as so 
much has been done to protect the dutch from any disasters. In 1953, however Holland was struck by disaster. In a terrible storm, most of Zeeland flooded and many lives were lost. The dutch have since found a way to keep the water out of Holland and keep the people who live there safe. Gary is interested to know how it is done. We visit the Maassluis tekering and are the only ones there at the time of the presentation and this makes it possible to have it in English.
other teenagers I worked as a check-out operator in the local supermarket (Albert Heijn ). Here I discover the shopping centre has expanded and is no longer recognisable to me. The swimming pool is also a wonderful memory. It is in this pool, where I get to swim, whilst it is still being build. I can truly say, I was the first to swim here. The park with obstacle course has completely disappeared. We go past my aunt and uncle's old house, this is still there but everything has been changed. On the i
nside there are no longer timber floors and everything is white. I have never really liked this style, it looks too sterile to me. I am keen to show Gary where we kept our horses and just want to return to the place where we had so many good times. I set of in that direction but soon discover it is impossible to find. Where once were paddocks with cows, sheep and horses, I now find an industrial area. I am unable to find anything to guide me to this old beloved place. I feel sad, I know the horses weren't there anymore, but I was told the farm was still there. In the suburb Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel is also the lowest point in Holland. A large part of Holland is below sea level. People used to ask me, what is it like to live below sea level. I never gave it much thought, as so 
much has been done to protect the dutch from any disasters. In 1953, however Holland was struck by disaster. In a terrible storm, most of Zeeland flooded and many lives were lost. The dutch have since found a way to keep the water out of Holland and keep the people who live there safe. Gary is interested to know how it is done. We visit the Maassluis tekering and are the only ones there at the time of the presentation and this makes it possible to have it in English.
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