My Daily Life In The Netherlands 009

I have been wanting to put up a daily life replace in the Netherlands some time lower back but I simply didn't have the time to collate all of the photographs I took. So, the idea was to do an each 2-month replace (preferably monthly) and now I am 6 months too late! Goodness gracious, haha.

I took such a lot of food images that I do no longer recognize how I am capable of post them all of them right here? I should make choices. This is one in every of our weekend breakfasts.

Driving on the Lekdijk (Lek dike) in Utrecht.

The struggle is, I actually have LOADS of pix and they are throughout in my albums (downloaded from my camera) and my telephones. My journey albums are organised in line with the locations I even have visited per year, so the times and dates on occasion do no longer constantly correspond especially for neighborhood travels where I have a couple of visits. I must check out every album to check which photograph's are for a selected month. This is going into the info kind of paintings, ugh.

So for this each day existence update post now, I am doing a three-month timeline: August, September, and October. I will do my first-rate to put up the remaining months in a few days. This is important to me because these kinds of posts I need on this magazine after I look again three, five and 10 years from now.

So I bet what my New Year's Resolution may be. Do a each day life replace each 2 months or month-to-month!

[To read the rest of the post and see more pictures, click the READ MORE link below]

AUGUST 2019

The month of August is the height of summer and commercial enterprise is slow at paintings. On the private facet, Dutchman and I were canvassing neighborhood dealers and shops for the interior materials of our residence. I actually have also been busy inside the kitchen, in order always, every unmarried day. Preparing for food and cooking is like therapy for me.

Two of my favorite veggies right here: Green peas and cauliflower. I love roasting cauliflowers however this one is sauteed with onions.

Beginning of August I went to Braintree in Essex, England for work. I stayed there for a few days touring our workplace and facility, as nicely a client in Ipswich, that's an hour similarly away.

I rented a car and it changed into the second one time of the year that I drove on the other aspect of the road. The first one this year turned into closing May in New Zealand. Driving on the opposite aspect of the street with a stickshift vehicle in the course of travels is a war, because, by the point you are used to it, you're leaving.

My lodge room in Braintree.

A caution note out of doors Tesco supermarket. I find this quite ironic however evidently these signs and symptoms are usually English or a neighborhood practice to save you smash-ins.

Braintree metropolis in Essex, England (UK).

When I got lower back at domestic in Utrecht, Netherlands, I became also lower back within the kitchen, a favorite region in my domestic. We consume maximum of the instances at domestic, possibly 90% of our dinners. We only consume dinners out of doors whilst we are on holiday and some special activities. Nevertheless, I like to cook and the Dutchman prefers to consume in privacy. Win-win.

One of our many dinners.

Fresh and plump blueberries on top of the biscuit and sprinkling of powdered sugar. We had this to go along with our afternoon tea.

We went to IJsselstein to visit a stone floor tile supplier. We already realize what type of ground tile we desired for the residence, so that it will be a ceramic stone in timber fashion, however moreover, we have also decided which version of the ceramic tile. This selection, in fact, took us months to determine. So we have additionally shortlisted the dealers and we're simply doing the rounds for the final choice.

We take our spending severely, in particular after they pass within the hundreds of Euros, they're thoroughly thought of and calculated.

This is IJsselstein metropolis, not too a ways faraway from Utrecht city center.

Then we visited the Dutch mother-in-law and her (2) adorable cats, Lucy and Puka. The cats have grown on us now and we break them to bits. When we visit, we constantly give them a hug and petting consultation.

This is Puka, the more youthful cat.

The Dutch mom constantly serves us tea with some thing, and she organized a biscuit smeared with butter, topped with sparkling strawberries and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

So on the weekends, Dutchman and I are busy strolling around canvassing many stores. For this weekend, we have surveyed a number of hardware and garden shops for the trees that we can plant in our garden. I have an idea what form of tree it'll be but there are so many sorts.

This tree which looks like an outsized bonsai isn't always cheap.

Driving on the dike and passing this farmhouse promoting their personal produce: cheese, butter, apple juice, jam, and syrup. I would love to be in part self-sufficient.

We controlled to capture a glimpse of a flock of birds above the dikes as well.

I went to Amersfoort to go to an critical consumer together with a colleague. After the meeting, we had a few lunch on the IKEA nearby. IKEA is really accessible, now not just for the house, but for commercial enterprise as well. They have low-cost, fast and healthful food =)

My IKEA lunch in Amersfoort.

I additionally had dinner with a traveling colleague from the UK. Sometimes it's far obligatory or out of courtesy to take them out to dinner.

Loft 88 located outdoor Utrecht city middle on Biltsestraatweg became a terrific vicinity because it has a pleasant outside terrace and there may be free parking. And due to the fact I even have a hybrid automobile, I continually get an to be had parking space. Most parking lots have specials spots for electric powered and hybrid cars.

We both ordered the Fish and Chips. Yum!

Again, because of our house (in construction), weekends are spent finding out hardware and garden shops, home decor stores and interior material sellers. This one became in Leerdam I trust.

Oh, we have signed the purchase of our ceramic stone floor with a supplier in Leerdam, so it is like one venture down amongst a mountain of others, haha. But certainly, it turned into a comfort after months of searching, evaluating and travelling save dealers.

I have this concept of creating my personal lamp for the eating region. I want 3 big lamps putting above the dining desk with a view to be a table length of two to 2.5 meters. I nonetheless have to buy the brand new eating table, however at the least I recognize what size I need it to be.

Karwei is a home decor shop and this in Leerdam. We have simply signed the purchase of our ceramic stone ground tiles from the supplier throughout this save. So earlier than leaving, we determined to prevent right here to have a look in the store.

On the way domestic, we passed by using this herd of cows.

Weekends are also time for non-public errands and I favor to try this in Utrecht city center. The metropolis center remains going thru the facelift protection but there are already foremost changes in place. I can not wait to peer the final makeover.

The Singel canal is now returned! This is the view from the new Hoog Catharijne shopping center to the Singel and Tivoli.

We invite the Dutch mother occasionally, at some stage in weekends, to have dinner with us at domestic. When she is around I would typically whip up a 3-route menu. It is the ideal chance for me to experiment inside the kitchen. We had some pasta for this night as our 2nd direction.

These candle holders I offered in Cebu, the Philippines many moons ago.

Dutchman and I love to stroll and when we aren't inside the wooded area flexing our leg muscle tissue, we would make time to go out for a walk in the nearby neighbourhoods. Here we went out for a walk to our newly beneath creation residence and we took the course through Papendorp, that is a commercial enterprise district in Utrecht.

Papendorp was a large subject with very little development. 15 years in the past I motorbike here from Utrecht to Nieuwegein Skipiste for my snowboarding instructions. The vicinity was so bald, there were just a few homes standing. Now it is a actual commercial enterprise park.

Crossing the Prins Clausbrug (Prince Claus Bridge) connecting Papendorp and Kanaleneiland neighbourhoods.

Here at Papendorp, a short prevent to take pics.

Passing the A2 highway which I power on throughout the weekdays.

And seeing some sheep in between as nicely.

This is another dinner meal at home. Noodles with veggies are the bomb. I love them with masses of cabbage. I also adore it when the noodles are al dente.

Noodles are my preferred consolation food, whether dry or in soup model.

Towards the give up of August, I went to London to visit a purchaser. This particular patron has an office in one of the prime workplace towers inside the City.

Well, I had a serious journey blooper. I forgot to p.C. My black high heels! Luckily, I realised this error whilst I became nevertheless in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and quick went in look for something. I observed H&M selling black pumps for just EUR 19.99! *whew*

I was also so glad I brought an umbrella with me as it rained cats and puppies at the day of my meeting. Uh properly, what is new in London? But severely, I forgot my heels however not the umbrella, haha.

I stayed on this funky lodge which become only a few minutes walk to my assembly.

H&M in Schiphol Airport selling those very snug (that become a surprise) velvety black pumps for just EUR 19.ninety nine! What a life saver, haha.

While in London, I managed to go to the Sky Garden inside the City throughout lunch. You need to e-book in advance to get get right of entry to and a journeying slot. It is loose even though.

Back domestic in the Netherlands, Dutchman and I had been invited to a summer time nighttime dinner on the sister in law. It's heat so we devour out of doors within the lawn. Isn't this inexperienced comfortable corner simply adorable?

Oh, I cannot watch for us to have our personal lawn quickly too within the new house!

Dinner al fresco with the own family.

SEPTEMBER 2019

The days of September went speedy for us. Weekends are still spent doing the rounds at the house boulevards and checking out hardware and garden shops. We had been not shopping for something, we have been just canvassing and getting notion.

I am eyeing a comparable mini-daybed for my walk-in closet. Not sure yet with the color.

This Poffertjes (similar to blinis) stand is a regular inside the weekend on the Home Boulevard in Utrecht.

We went to IKEA and in a while, we had some early dinner right here.

Fish and Chips for moi at the same time as Dutchman settled for the indispensable Swedish meatballs with cranberry compote and gravy sauce. Not terrible. Yup, a date in IKEA.

IKEA Utrecht is the biggest IKEA inside the Netherlands. On top of the store and the big parking garage, is a soccer area. It also has a big eating place.

We noticed this someplace near Leerdam. We to begin with thought -- What the heck is Bruce Springsteen doing in this village of nowhere? So we stopped the auto to have a very good study of the poster. "The Boss" is not coming to town, it is a local tribute concert.

Mornings all through the weekends are full breakfasts for Dutchman and moi. We commonly have pancakes on a Saturday, so whilst Sunday comes round, I make some thing else like eggs. Sometimes I make the sunny side up version with bacon and cheese much like the Dutch "Uitsmijter".

Burrata with avocado and Roma tomatoes and a 1/2 omelet. Fruits for breakfast are a staple.

Did I say earlier that Dutchman and I love to hike? Hiking enables clear the strain in our heads. It also keeps us suit. When you get older, you want to transport regularly.

For a trade of surroundings, we went to Rhenen within the jap a part of Utrecht province. We hiked thru plantation fields, the rugged terrain wooded area, and passing by means of the Grebbeberg Military War Cemetery, the War Memorial and the Grebbeberg Museum. We didn't expect the latter however very satisfied we discovered it.

Moi leading the way =)

We handed via the Grebbeberg Military War Cemetery, the Memorial and the Museum about the Second World War. We stopped here for a piece.

The War Museum at the Grebbeberg in Rhenen.

When I even have the time in the weekend, I cook and bake quickie objects such as these puff pastry with apple bits in it.

When we move into the new residence, I will for positive be cooking and baking extra. My new kitchen island is greater than 3 meters lengthy! 3.20 meters long by means of 1.30 meters deep to be precise. It is massive and could be the stellar of the residence. I cannot wait to apply it. #iamexcited

Having afternoon tea at home with my homemade puff apple pastry.

This is one in all our weekend metropolis walks in which we took the Oog in Al - Lombok path. Ah, it turned into pleasant that allows you to get out and clutch some fresh air. During the walk, we encountered this ginger cat.

The Munt Museum (Money Museum) in Utrecht. This is wherein the Dutch Guilder was revealed inside the past (earlier than the Euro).

Ooops, excuse me. Dutchman on the paparazzi mode here, haha.

I cannot consider why I changed into sleeping at the sofa within the residing room. I think I awakened very early and determined to move returned to sleep, however rather than going lower back to the bedroom, I ended up taking the couch. You have those days from time to time.

Sleeping soundly in the dwelling room.

Then I made breakfast. One of my many variations of an Uitsmijter.

Dutchman and I looked at this seashore in Leidse Rijn known as the Haarijnseplas. I have been intrigued with the aid of this piece of water because its big. There is a resident cafe restaurant known as Key West. I am sure it'll be very busy right here within the summer time.

The beach on Haarijnseplas in Leidse Rijn, Utrecht. Unfortunately, September is not a seashore weather month. At our new house, we even have a seashore (a lake honestly) 100 meters away.

So we simply had tea rather at Key West.

In September, I went on commercial enterprise tour once more. I flew to Dublin, Ireland for a assembly with a patron. It's my 2d time in the metropolis so I realize my manner around. I would really like to come back lower back to Ireland for pride and do a country street trip. That might be outstanding.

Moi on foot along the River Liffey in Dublin.

The constantly lively in the night, the Temple Bar District. I controlled to head in here to catch a number of the singing and merrymaking.

Ireland is a country with a pressured beyond with clashes and uprising, be it in politics, u . S . A . Jurisdiction or religion.

There is continually time for tea lower back at home in Utrecht, the Netherlands. This one I believe is collectively with the Dutch mother-in-law who become traveling us for afternoon tea and dinner.

This porcelain set is the Royal Doulton, the Pacific series.

I baked the ones delicious bacon strips wrapped across the puff pastry, whilst the Dutch mom added those tacky crackers.

The 2nd-route dinner is a pork burger and a few potatoes. There was a heap of vegetables that went with this that is not on the image by using the way.

Dutchman became in the temper for shopping. He said he wished new garments and I can simplest say, "Yeah, about time!". So it really is new polo shirts, new pullovers, new socks, and new pants. So I went buying with him. To be clear here, I did not keep for myself, as a substitute, I became an insignificant corporation... And nicely, a style adviser, haha.

I do now not have an awful lot persistence with purchasing unless I am on holiday, or I am on a project and badly wished something.

The Utrecht tram that plies Utrecht to Nieuwegein and IJsselstein.

This is the new square referred to as Plein (while translated to English approach Square) out of doors the Utrecht Centraal Station and Hoog Catharijne Shopping Mall. Beautiful canopy design.

After buying, Dutchman and I went to Graaf Floris Cafe Restaurant for tea and appelbol (Apple Ball). Highly suggest this vicinity in particular their apple balls! So delicious.

The Graaf Floris cafe restaurant.

One night the Dutchman had a few paintings occasion and did not eat dinner at domestic. It was an opportunity, or shall I say, the risk, to eat a number of my comfort meals.

My consolation food is typically noodles, seafood, and veggies. I didn't have noodles and seafood in the kitchen but I have plenty of veggies and some rice paper! Oh, pungent tender vintage cheese is another consolation meals. Yum.

I changed into digging some tofu and lots of veggies. Those are lettuce, carrots, spring onions and fried tofu wrapped in rice paper. I had a few grilled sausage (in slices), Danish Blue cheese, and seedless grapes.

Another one of the dinner food at home. We love eating veggies.

OCTOBER 2019

October guarantees some of own family gatherings in the Netherlands, with more than one individuals inside the circle of relatives celebrating their birthdays. But within the meantime, I still have my tofu obsession...

Tofu snack, this one with uncooked white radish and spring onions. Delicious to consume with balsamic white vinegar, some chili, and Vietnamese spiced salt.

I went to Enschede, inside the German border of the Netherlands for a business assembly, after which I went to the city center to quickly grasp a few lunch. It turned into my first time in Enschede and I might have desired to stay a piece longer.

The Oude Markt (Old Market Square) in Enschede.

The Enschede Town Hall's layout is stated to be inspired by means of the City Hall in Stockholm, Sweden.

Dinner at domestic was a clean and mild meal which include pumpkin soup (no longer in picture), some bread, and this green salad (of Little Gem) with sauteed beef shawarma, onions, and garlic, and then topped with pomegranate seeds.

Fresh and light but filling.

The Dutch mom-in-regulation celebrated some other 12 months with us. She invited the family to have pancakes with her at our favorite pancake house, the Theehuijs Rhijnauwen Pannenkoekenhuis in Bunnik, Utrecht. Last 12 months, we had been here for her birthday as well.

We have been going to this pancake residence for years already. It's end up a local and own family lifestyle. Pancakes are normally Dutch.

The birthday woman =)

My pancake of preference for the nighttime with plenty of almonds and cinnamon.

I couldn't end this pancake all by myself.

The weekend thereafter I become yearning for seafood, that is what takes place when you watch all of the seafood boil Mukbangs on Youtube, haha. Yup, I am a fan and I critically watch it.

So I went to Utrecht and had a King Crab leg at the Seafood Bar. Expensive but worth it! I may want to pop in right here from time to time when my seafood craving receives wild. I love clean oysters, crab, lobster, prawns, squid, and all the shellfishes.

Moi right here at the Seafood Bar in Utrecht. That crab leg by myself costs EUR 32!

The steps on the Utrecht Centraal Station and City Hall (white building).

I normally walk from home to Utrecht metropolis middle.

Ah, it is weekend afternoon tea time once more at domestic with the Dutchman.

I have additionally commenced doing a little sketches and floor plans for the house. I nonetheless have lots to do. I need so that you can have a few impact in keeping with room. Some of our furnitures will live and more than a few will move. We aren't dashing to grant the residence though, and we choose to do it one by one. I cross for satisfactory stuff that will final a long time and I hate clutter, so much less is extra. That's part of the concept.

This is croissant dough that I stretched to shape like like baguettes with sharp edges. We ate this with butter, fig jam and powdered sugar. Very easy but scrumptious.

The lawn floor plan caricature I made for the residence. It's a minimalist lawn with a play at the tiles and stones. There might be 2 components, a living room, and an consuming region. I will probably have four bushes on the returned to serve as a privacy display. The garden partitions could be fabricated from partly stone (gabions).

We had terrific warm weather in October so Dutchman and I went to check out the beach at Katwijk aan Zee for a stroll. It became quite busy there!

I was playing Pokemon here. Yup, I play it occasionally. Lots of Pokemon monsters on this seaside!

An orange sea of goodness. Sunset at Katwijk aan Zee.

Back at domestic on a Sunday morning.... Er brunch I mean.

I consume one (1) egg whilst the Dutchman eats two (2).

We had a boating excursion in Amsterdam!

The concept got here from the brother and sister-in-regulation. The Dutch sister became celebrating her birthday and needs some thing one of a kind this time. She would really like to spend it outside and with the notable climate so far, the boating in Amsterdam became the best idea. And we have been invited =)

The birthday girl on the boat.

Amsterdam houses, bridges and canals.

We enjoyed this boat excursion very plenty.

And another weekend with the Dutch mom having afternoon tea with us at home. I made this apple pastry myself and this was pretty yummy. The silver teapot I offered in Marrakesh, Morocco many years in the past.

This is every other China set I actually have, Maxwell & Williams. I in particular use this for dinner and I might also need to buy extra when we flow to the brand new residence.

I like the crunchy enchantment of this apple pastry.

When Dutchman and I aren't on foot, we take the motorbike and test out the neighbourhoods in Utrecht. We haven't been to the new Leidse Rijn centrum, so we installed our bikes and pedaled to this new area. We want to attempt some thing exclusive and new. Isn't it excellent when you can just go with your motorcycle everywhere inside the metropolis?

The concept of the Utrecht municipality is to create Leidse Rijn as the second biggest town after Utrecht in the Utrecht province.

The new Jumbo Foodmarkt is a new grocery store + grocery store concept of Jumbo that I in reality like.

At the principle purchasing rectangular of Leidse Rijn.

This is one of the many dinners we've at domestic with the Dutch mother-in-regulation as our visitor.

I made some pork stew Bourguignon fashion right here for our most important with fried potatoes as a aspect and a few salad component. The beef stew took me more than 2 hours to put together due to the fact the meat has to grow to be gentle and flaky.

A nicely-balanced weight loss program includes plenty of greens. I am just fortunate that I adore greens. It's my go-to meals.

We are lower back at the trekking path!

The circle of relatives went on a woodland stroll which have become a protracted-winded one. We parked our vehicles in Soest and took the teach to Amersfoort in which we began the hike. We were given misplaced by some means but controlled to be on target. While all this took place, I changed into playing Pokemon and became able to trap a number of Pokemon monsters inside the wooded area, hehe.

Regrouping to check out the map. We were given lost.

A desert in the Utrechtseheuvelrug in Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, I am nonetheless obsessed with tofu.

This is sparkling natural tofu and I cooked (fry) this myself. Those chillies are very warm! Delicious to eat with sparkling raw radish. Sprinkle a few vinegar and soy sauce and perhaps upload a bit of onion. A exquisite in-between mild snack!

The tofu is organic.

I visit Brussels, Belgium on a regular foundation for commercial enterprise conferences and this changed into one of the drives again to the Netherlands, and in reality, I was already inside the Netherlands when this traffic situation took place. There was an accident concerned. When its turtle transferring site visitors, what do you do? Nah, no selfie for me, however I took this photo of the street warning sign.

Nonetheless, I got home very past due.

The site visitors was because of an twist of fate.

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That's it for August, September, and October folks!

Don't Miss it!: San Marino Cesta And Montale Towers And Chilling At Bar Piadeneria La Capanna

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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)