The sun has finally come out and everyone has been basking in the warmth. It’s a different world in Haarlem when the sun shines. Café tables appear as if by magic in the Grote Markt, families take to the canals on their boats, pensioners pull up chairs outside their front door while the more mobile head off on their bikes to Bloemendaal where a whole town of ‘pop-up’ bars and restaurants has appeared on the beach.
Even if we never get another hot day, at least I’ve finally been on a Dutch beach in short sleeves (although I couldn’t help but thinking the people who still had their fleeces on probably had the right idea….).
There is nothing better than a cycle ride in the sunshine, until you turn a corner into the wind, and suddenly what was a pleasant freewheel becomes a strenuous work-out. No wonder these people are so fit!
Sometimes I find it hard to put the sights and sounds of this small corner of Europe into words. In many ways it is so similar to the UK, yet in many ways, so very different.
Want to catch a few evening rays and don't have a balcony? No problem, just open your first-floor window super-wide and sit on the sill.
(Mr T complete with fleece )
There is nothing better than a cycle ride in the sunshine, until you turn a corner into the wind, and suddenly what was a pleasant freewheel becomes a strenuous work-out. No wonder these people are so fit!
Sometimes I find it hard to put the sights and sounds of this small corner of Europe into words. In many ways it is so similar to the UK, yet in many ways, so very different.
Want to catch a few evening rays and don't have a balcony? No problem, just open your first-floor window super-wide and sit on the sill.
200 people completing an en masse roller blade around the town at 9.30 pm on weekday evening? That definitely wouldn't happen back home.
Stuck for a hen night/bachelorette party idea? Hire tandems for the bride-to-be and all her friends and go for a cycle ride to the beach. Yes, really.
The Dutch have always battled against the elements and, believe it or not, there is a downside to all this sunshine. Our estate agent blamed the hot weather for our malfunctioning toilet cistern suggesting the plastic rod expanded in the heat, and a rogue cat took shelter under our settee all night after wandering into the living room through our open patio doors.
And then on Sunday, as Mr T and I strolled over the bridge by our house on our return from a trip to Amsterdam we witnessed what we thought at first glance was an over-enthuiastic attempt at an on-board barbeque but in fact turned out to be a boat engine fire. Mr T dashed on ahead to help with the rescue attempt as the passengers jumped ship. By the time I reached the scene Mr T seemed in dire danger of being pulled into the canal by the rather large Dutch lady he was struggling to help out, but with the assistance of some other passers-by fortunately everyone made it safely to the shore unscathed. Within minutes the whole boat went up in flames sending plumes of black smoke into the Haarlem skyline.
This whole incident has put a dampener on the plans to take the water ourselves when daughter No 1 and boyfriend arrive next weekend, although Mr T assures me the hire boats run on electricity (water + electricity, how safe is that?). Still if the fine weather persists, we will give it a whirl. I have now memorised the Dutch for Fire Brigade - it's Brandweer, and the emergency service number is 112. Let's just hope this is something I never need to use.
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