D ecember in the Netherlands means ferrying the children to school in near-darkness and evenings that draw in early. The temperatures take a...

'T is the season of giving. It's a great time to think about what we can give. What have we already given? What have we got left to ...

I n the Netherlands as soon as pakjesavond is celebrated and Sinterklaas is on his way back to Spain everything related to the 5th of Decem...

L ooking for a festive gift that doesn't clutter? A gift that lasts forever? A gift that any family would cherish? Then I have just the ...

E very year around this time I get ready to start a Christmas journal, more specifically a 'Tis the Season  Gadanke journal. I usually g...

T oday is St George's Day and to mark it here are 23 things that are wonderful about England and all those who live within her. ...

A s it's still the festive season I'm posting two photos this week - call it a late Christmas gift if you like....... Christmas jus...

I  wrote last week about how our Christmases have become a blend of Dutch and British ways of celebrating this festive period . Christmas Da...

T his time of year is oozing with nostalgia, with childhood memories and traditions. However, I am an expat and recreating my childhood Chri...

F or some reason this year I have seen lots of questions from expats in the Netherlands about how to get their children to wrap their heads ...

A s regular readers will know, I have long been an advocate of journaling, and in particular a fan of Gadanke journals . Now that December i...

L et's get one thing straight - fourteen years ago Sinterklaas was a non-entity in my life. For a few years after that I saw him coming ...

S ometimes you find a product you love so much you need to shout about it - and that's why I'm putting Gadanke journals in the spotl...

I t's that time of year when a gift buying frenzy descends on us all and minds go blank looking for something a little original but simp...

D uring December our family does a daily advent activity. This year we made envelopes from scratch and then decorated them with all things ...

Christmas, British style over on Smitten by Britain N o matter how long I live in the Netherlands I will always be a Brit. By that I don...

O n Wednesday,  we took a trip to Keukenhof Castle for the annual Christmas Fair  held there. The kerstmarkt is a treat for the ears becau...