Vision this…

…and the winner is Anouk for the Netherlands with Great Britain (Bonnie Tyler ‘Believe in Me’) in 2nd place! Well in another universe maybe. Tonight is the first round of 2013′s Eurovision Song Contest and the brilliant musician Anouk will be standing up and pouring her heart out to the narrow minded voters and corrupt judges of the contest. But for the first time in years (1975 was the last time they won with ‘ding-a-dong’ by Teach-in Band) Holland can be proud of it’s entry and may make it through to the televised grand finale (18th May in Malmo). Anouk, go girl and if you don’t get through then kick some ass! so if you love it or hate it or maybe even both then get your feather boa ready to party.

One happy bird…

Like this very jolly Dutch pigeon I am euphoric! It’s Friday, it’s time to enjoy my new and hip chipboard bar that arrived yesterday and it’s time to get my endorphins pumping – so lets start the weekend with the music that is rocking my day; Play it loud!

 

Ode aan Jan Taminiau…

…the man behind the design and creation of the stunning dresses that Maxima wore during Willem-Alexander’s inauguration on 30th April 2013. In this interview he tell’s how he watched the whole event from his sofa with all his family around him! An exhilarating moment that has made him a part of Dutch history and one he will never forget – a true fairytale. de wereld draait door 1st May 2013

Talking of fairytales, during our stay in Holland we visited the Efteling Sprookjes Park(Fairytale Land); an old fashioned adventure park without all the Disney style commercialism. Lots of talking trees, singing toadstools and puppet gnomes! But it was not all slow paced. According to my daughter I am now the coolest mum in town, and that is because I took her 13 year old cousin on the Python roller coaster! Yesterday on the way to school I reminded her of all the fun things she could tell her friends she had got up to during the holiday – I omitted my thrill seeking moment – but somehow it must have made an overwhelming impact because it was the only thing she told everyone!

farewell Holland – fast forward to Warsaw…

Lang Leve de Lente…

Million things to do before our imminent car trip to Holland where we will witness the historic moment Queen Beatrix abdicates from the throne and hands the reign over to William Alexander and Maxima. But before I go, this tree just screamed ‘take my picture’ today. It is so far ahead of the rest and on this warm evening with the bright citrus-lime glow I feel a mojito moment coming on; one for the road as they say!

Hours to Sunset…

Not that I am one to boast BUT on behalf of my cousin, Ian Middleton, an Artisan tiler living in Perth, Australia, I feel the need to shout this one out from the roof tops! And if you ask me he deserves an oscar too (or what ever the Art world trophy equivalent would be?) This is him and oscar winning film director, Shaun Tan, in action. If you have time watch the 5 min video about the making of.

The Bird

I have a feeling this could be the first of many photos to come with a pigeon connection! Due to my daughters sudden dislike (to put it mildly) for the flying rat I have become rather fascinated by them. Hopefully it’s just a phase for us both?