This time two weeks ago

I was in Holland. And having a marvellous time.

Mr B and I fit a lot into our 5 days there. We took in Leiden, Amsterdam and Haarlem. We saw friends, made new ones, saw family, went to 2 parties, walked a lot, drank beer and coffee, {Dutch coffee is the nicest in all the world} ate our favourite Dutch treats we can't get in the UK, spent an obscene amount of money on clothes {Dutch clothes are the nicest in all the world, well for my figure they are!}, Mr B got beaten in a game of chess by my father and

of course

I took lots of photos.

Would you like to take a look?

Leiden our home for the week


Orange tiles. I love the orange tiles.

My Oma's house had orange tiles.


Steep steps down from de Burcht.


On our way to eat pancakes!
We had to sprinkle our days outside with frequent stops in cafe and restaurants.
Not just for the hunger and thirst

But to regain the feeling in our fingers and toes.
Man it was cold.


One day I'll live in a house with big windows and steep stairs.


I should have learned to skate using a chair... instead I grab onto Mr B and hope he stifles his urge to let me go and watch me fall. I am terrible at skating.

Amsterdam not surprisingly one of my favourite cities in all the world


Every time we visit Amsterdam I plead and beg Mr B if we can go here
To Lanskroon
The most fantastic bakery in all the world.
This time they were making the Dutch New Year delicacy of oliebollen

{literally translated as oil balls}
Did you know that the reason the Dutch cycle everywhere is to stay slim after eating oliebollen?
It's true...


A tiny side street, somewhere near the Waag


Another of our most frequented places in the city is Cafe de Dokter.
I think this might be my favourite pub in all the world!
It's tiny, old fashioned, dark, jazzy and super.

Haarlem home of my super family, a super shop where I buy a year's worth of clothes each time I visit and a rather super church


The Sint Bavokerk
As seen from the warmth of the cafe next door.

NYE Helena, my little cousin, was woken up at 11:55pm in time for the fireworks.



No need to be in a big city or to pay to attend a professional firework display just go outside your house and you'll see the most fantastic fireworks in all the world!

They lasted for an hour! Everyone just let fireworks of on the pavements & in the street.

Safe, probably not, but wow it was awesome!

My mum loves sparklers. Who doesn't?

On the day we flew home there was a big party...

Not to celebrate our leaving but for two very special girls' birthdays...

Jacomijn turned 4

and Helena turned 9.

Mr B, please can we book our flights to go back again soon, really soon?