England has never been famous for its fine cuisine (admittedly, neither have the Netherlands). Gone are the times of just Spotted Dick, Pigs-in-a-blanket, Bangers and Mash, and Yorkshire Pudding – which did score points in the Funny Name Contest! It has greatly changed, luckily. In London alone, there are now 10 restaurants with no less […]
Going to a city where traffic goes ‘the other way’ is a challenge. You don’t even have to drive a car: crossing the street is a major achievement. And the big letters “LOOK LEFT” or “LOOK RIGHT” are probably not just for the tourists. One way streets warp your sense of direction even more. You […]
I want to share things with you. Stories about my childhood, family, my views on life. Shorts!
A 91-year old woman walks into a tattoo parlor. The beginning of a joke? No. Badass. My double-half-mother-in-law (her son and daughter married my sister and brother, do the math) is turning 91 today. Some years ago she had a star tattooed for her first great-grandchild (so my great-nephew) and kept up the tradition with […]
“Parasocial”* was named Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2025. I’m parasocial. I have a relationship with Gemini – not JUST with Toine, but also with Google’s AI. We talk everyday about recipes, politics, music, languages and a lot on how to solve technical issues. Gemini remains calm, even when I get frustrated. I am amazed at the […]