The moment all children in the Netherlands yearly are waiting for: the arrival of Saint Nicholas (Sinterklaas he is usually called here). Halfway November he arrives by steamer with his many helpers. While the youngest children think he is really existing, the elder children still shout “Sinterklaas” or “Piet” and are looking forward to all […]
Dear library
As long as I can remember -certainly 40 years or more – I have been a member of the public library, and for a while even of the library of the university. I started reading at the age of 5 and since books have been my life. Even when I moved from Sneek to Leek, […]
Waldburg & Rechberg – Marriage in times of Corona
All photos & copyright: Gabi P. Marrying despite of covid-19? Each country, or sometimes even area, has its own rules. While many people have postponed their weddings, others have decided to reduce the amount of guests and continue with the festivities. Also in the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, it is possible again to hold church […]
Updated! Royal News July 2020
1 July To stay fit at home. In this video Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden and their children Princess Estelle and Prince Oscar tell how. King Felipe VI of Spain and the portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa reopened the border between Spain and Portugal. It was announced on 30 June that […]
Cycling through the countryside
At the moment it seems I have little time to update the blog. Unlike many people I am working as usual. However in the past, nearly, three months the Covid-19 crisis has had its influence on my life. No fitness centre, no dancing, and if you’re still building up your physical condition after an illness, […]
No King’s Day 2020 – How to celebrate anyway?
King’s Day 2020 will be more different than ever. The last time the royal visit on that day (Queen’s Day at the time) was cancelled was in 2001, when because of foot-and-mouth disease the royals couldn’t visit Hoogeveen and Meppel. It was possible to celebrate in some other parts of the country, but the royals […]
Any good ideas? Making online life a bit more bearable
For my work I already have to write more than enough about the covid-19/corona virus. Wherever I go online – Facebook, Twitter, newspapers – or on my tv all I hear is the name of the virus. I’ve started to hear about people I know online being in self isolation. For all I wish everybody […]
These are depressing times for royalty watchers
Work at the moment is quite depressing. The royal year 2020 thus far wasn’t really much of a joy, with some announced divorces, deaths, royal splits and scandals everybody probably would like to forget as as soon as possible. There were a few things everybody really looked forward to, which brightened up the royalty watching, […]