Dark Days

It’s only the middle of October and already the mornings are very dark here in Haarlem. It’s times like this, especially after two and a half weeks’ away, that I have to remind myself, continually, how lucky I am to be having this ex-pat experience.

It’s not that I don’t enjoy living in the Netherlands, I do.  I just hate the thought of at least six months now of the seven o’clock alarm going off in what feels like the middle of the night. My legs now won’t see the light of day for probably another nine months (some people might think is is a good thing). I came back from my holiday and packed my T-shirts away. It’ll  be jeans and jumpers until next May. I've already had to buy extra gloves, socks and hats. Surely even the most upbeat, happy-smiley people would find that  just a tad depressing.

So how to fight off the bleak, black thoughts? Get out and about. Last weekend the temperature might well have been down in single figures but the sun was out so we went to Muiderslot - a medieval castle just a thirty minute drive away.

It’s a hands-on type of place - an ideal outing if you have a family of young boys. Mr T enjoyed himself very much.  Perhaps we were still on a Dubrovnik/Games of Thrones  high (we’ve ordered the box-set). There were dungeons and turrets to explore, a jousting simulator (that’s a first) and inter-active canon ball games up on the ramparts. There were medieval costumes including a suit of armour to try on. You could waggle swords and handle a cross-bow. The Dutch know how to keep kids entertained. 

Of course the alternative to getting out and about and exploring, is shopping. We all know the suger-rush high from retail therapy is NOT A GOOD THING, but it certainly helps. There are lots of sales on here at the moment!

Or, I could just batten down the hatches, stay indoors and take selfies with the cat.