A life in pattern with Orla Kiely
If you think of fashion, prints and patterns, you’ll soon come to Orla Kiely (1963), one of England’s greatest designers. Her graphic patterns can be found all over the world, from mugs to dresses and from cars to even a London busses. The Fashion & Textile Museum is currently presenting a retrospective exhibition with work…
The Line: a modern art walk in East London
Meanwhile, after a year we have seen quite a bit of London. Well-known neighborhoods such as Shoreditch, South Kensington and Camden Town and districts that are in a transitional phase to become just as popular, like Peckham and Tooting. But there are still places in London that are lesser known, for example the more industrial area in East…
A year in London, on to the next
A summer ago we walked through Italy, Ralf with the phone to his ear. A negotiation for work. Was this the moment when we would get more clarity? After all speculations whether or not we would move abroad. England, America? Secretly we had already talked about it a lot, because within his work there would…
Catching fish at the French trout farm
When you think about trout, you probably think immediately of a group of anglers around a pond in the Ardennes. But when we talk about farmed trout, you have to be mainly in France where you can find trout farms in almost every French province. Mostly located in a quiet natural environment. In addition to a…
Le Crotoy, a small fishing village in the Bay of the Somme
If you want to stay a weekend in the north of France and you love nature, food and the smell of salty sea, then a visit to the Bay of Somme is highly recommended. This beautiful piece of untouched nature is located in the Pas de Calais region in the department of Picardy and is…
A walk through the picturesque streets of Amiens
When you stay in Northern France for a few days, it is very nice to alternate the countryside and the coast with a visit to a big city. For example, you can go to Arras, where you can go to a beautiful museum such as Cité Nature, the medieval town of Montreuil-sur-Mer with its gourmet…
A family day out at Theme Park Bagatelle
As a child, I always experienced a visit to a theme park as a big party. It was something that we certainly didn’t do regularly. It had to stay special and a surprise. And that’s how it felt when my parents drove two rounds at the roundabout before they turned off towards the park with…
Spending a day in medieval town Montreuil-sur-Mer
Nord-Pas-De-Calais always seems a little undervalued, many people have heard of it, or have driven through it, but have never often spent holidays there. Although this area has beautiful gems to visit and is very easy to reach from the Netherlands or England. And because I am regularly in Northern France, it is nice to…
Exploring the world of nature, health and food at Cité Nature
We are regularly in France, especially in the north, where my parents have a summer house. A place where I spend a lot of time during my childhood and where I still like to come. And because I visit this beautiful place now with my own daughter, I have to explore the area from a…
A visit to National Trust: Osterley Park & House
What a lovely summer we have, and according to the locals with unprecedented high temperatures. We enjoy the beautiful days outside as much as possible, before the wet, unpleasant months re-emerge. During these terms I mainly choose indoor activities. But like those sunny days we have now we prefer to do as much as possible…