Just to clarify....the ants were only part of the artwork on the walls not real, I kind of warmed to them after a while. Another unusual touch....from mid-morning there was a huge casserole of soup simmering on a hob by reception so you could help yourself when you came in; that was very welcome on a chilly day. Also tea and coffee and snacks in the lounge area all day.
We were staying in Maastricht in the Netherlands which turned out to be a charming small city with lots of interesting historical buildings, a bit like Winchester or Canterbury, but also a good base as you could easily get by train to both Aachen (Germany) and Liege (Belgium) so 3 countries in as many days. Certainly made me appreciate the advantages of the euro and why excessive mobile phone roaming charges are are an issue; lots of people go back and forth every day for work etc.
On the more important topic of chocolate, Liege was a bit of a letdown compared to Bruges where we had been a few years ago
but had some other good shops and cute Christmas market stalls. Gluhwein on offer everywhere and is always what I go for, mulled wine taste with cinnamon; OH prefers a milky style drink which could be the Eierpunsch you mention (like eggnog) also with alcohol added.
All highly recommended.
Back home now after slight technical hitch on return rail journey involving a rail replacement bus which added more than an hour to planned journey time and meant we were only just in time for the overnight ferry back to Harwich. If you like travelling by boat, this is the nicest ferry we've found with overnight cabins,complete with proper bathroom and free minibar drinks.
OH now fired with enthusiasm for more complicated trips and is talking about the overnight sleeper from Amsterdam to Warsaw next time....but not in the winter!!
Feel a bit more ready now to face the solicitor on Monday and once that is over will write to all mum's friends who came to the funeral as we weren't able to speak to them all on the day. It's going to be a very different Christmas this year, but mum will be with us in spirit. She was always the Christmas baker, so I will definitely find the time to make my own mince pies at least.