Trip to the Netherlands - September 2011

It's been quiet, too quiet on this blog.

So, it's time to break the silence and publish a short story about a good time away from my Irish home - during a visit to my Dutch home (country).

Sophia and I took the plane with Fréderique and flew over for 10 days of late summer enjoyment in the Netherlands. We were spoilt in the first couple of days with lovely summer weather.

We did what you're supposed to do when visiting this lovely country - we cycled through meadows and the Gouda lakeside district; we visited Paul in Amsterdam and chilled out - as you do- in the Westerpark in Amsterdam.

I got to know the OV chip card and then I realised I've been away from home for the last 4 years - you practically cannot travel without this card and how I would've been aware of that had I still been living in the low countries!! And Sophia learned to walk for real... on her first real shoes!

We have just returned to Ireland but not without having been in the Netherlands when a real earthquake struck the east of the country (4.5 Richter scale!!! - we didn't even notice it!). Thank god it wasn't just Ireland experiencing a cold summer in 2011 - we got some windy and rainy weather, which announced the meteorological autumn! Thank you Irene... but at least we got to enjoy gorgeous coffee, beautiful strawberry cheescake, raspberry coconut and apple pies and pear coconut cake in great company!
And now it's back to our 'normal' routine - work, rest and play... and enjoy the beautiful autumn colours that are ever so inspiring...