One of the things we did was debate – at length whether it was OK to call it Holland. Boy One, insisted it was The Netherlands despite maps showing him we were in South Holland. We learned the joys of Lycra-free cycling! And encountered the remarkable phenomena of patient motorists who give way to bikes. […]
A ferry good way to travel… Newcastle to Amsterdam
Theoretically being trapped in a tin box with hundreds of strangers for hours on end is exactly the kind of thing to fill me with horror. No escape, no alternative and no chance of doing my own thing. And I’ll admit as we boarded the gigantic Princess Seaways in Newcastle I was somewhat apprehensive. We […]
Who’s the daddy?
It’s Father’s Day. In our house there were hand-made cards and a breakfast picnic hastily reconvened at the kitchen range because of the downpour. On social media, dads were bragging, families posting about gatherings and long-gone fathers fondly remembered. What can I add about dads, today? I miss my dad, he inspired my first ever […]
Other people’s kids
“Hell is other people,” according to Sartre. Though what he really meant is “hell is other people’s kids”. Probably. I don’t mean the kids themselves – most of them as lovely – in fact, all of Boy Three’s wee pals are super. What’s hell is being responsible for other people’s kids. Boy Three has his […]
A late summer walk too beautiful for photos
Sun was sinking slowly and lighting the fluffy floating seeds as it went. Boy Three and I were walking home through the still, mild evening. This’ll make a lovely photo. But then, Boy Three’s hot sticky fingers squeezed mine. “Mum do you promise to hold my hand all the way home?” “Of course I do. […]