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Blog: wordgeyser Topics:expat, netherlands, family and life expatsblogs
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Author Archives: wordgeyser
Grand Theft Auto : The Bureaucracy Begins
. . . a continuation from previously, when I entered our secure garage to find my car gone . . . There was an awful blank moment when the enormity of the empty space hit me like a train. Where … Continue reading
Grand Theft Auto : And Not The Computer Game
I know many of you will be wondering where I’ve been, why there have been no entertaining posts to read and absorb over morning coffee for most of the past week. My apologies; I take my coffee duties seriously and … Continue reading
Creativity and Talent: Don’t Dismiss The X factor
One thing I rarely admit to, certainly not publicly, is that I love what many people regard as scraping-the-barrel TV; American Idol and now the USA version of the X-factor. Recording the programme I fast forward through the dross, which … Continue reading
Dutch News Round Up : Are They Serious?
It’s a fabulous Friday, the sun is shining, I’m in a frivolous mood and feeling flippant. And no, I haven’t been enjoying a liquid lunch. For a change I thought it might be fun to comment on a few snippets … Continue reading
Pylons and Pianos Unrelated?: Not as Much as You’d Think
Sometimes you read an article or catch something on TV that stops you in your tracks and makes you wonder about life. I had two experiences like that yesterday which (on a small scale) blew me away. The first was … Continue reading
Posted in Dutch Culture, England and Things English, Inspiration and Reflection, The Netherlands
Tagged Department of Energy and Climate, design and tecnology, electrical pylons, Energy, incubate festival, luke jerram, Netherlands, nurturing the spirit, play me I'm yours in Tilberg netherlands, Pylon Design Competition, Royal Institute of British Architects, Technology, Tilburg
10 Comments
Expat Tax: What the Dutch Really Think
Catching up on the Dutch news today I was stopped in my tracks by an item headed ‘Minister to stop 30% tax ruling . . .’ and didn’t read any further. For those who don’t know (and why would you?) … Continue reading
Posted in Advice for New Arrivals in the Netherlands, Dutch Culture, Dutch Laws, Taxes and Bureaucracy, Expat Experiences
Tagged 30% rule, 30% tax rule in the Netherlands, dutch tax, exats and foreign tax, expat taxes in the netherlands, Frans Weekers, how much tax do the dutch pay?, tax breaks for foreigners in the Netherlands
9 Comments
S.A.D or Just Sad?: The Legacy of the Dutch Summer
I have bemoaned the non-arrival of the Dutch summer for well, the whole of the summer. Much was promised in the warm, soft days of spring when we could venture outdoors sans sweaters and coats, absorb the warming sunlight through our … Continue reading
After the Storm: Phoenix Rising 2005
This is the fifth of a short series recounting what happened to our family over the weekend before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of America on Monday 29 August 2009, and the immediate aftermath. At that time our home was south of Slidell, Louisiana, on … Continue reading
The Days Before the Storm: Friday 26 August 2005
This is the first of a short series of posts recounting what happened to our family over the weekend before Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of America on Monday 29 August 2009, and the immediate aftermath. At that time … Continue reading
And the Dog Came Too: Travelling with Expat Pets
The often forgotten passengers in a life of global gallivanting are the unsung heroes who are dragged hither and thither, without discussion or consideration of climate; our family pets. Now I know there are people who have cats and idolize … Continue reading
Brothels Closed at 10pm and No Magic Mushrooms? In AMSTERDAM?
One thing with living in the Netherlands, visitors are always asking about the drug culture and sex industry. It’s a source of great fascination to many people that the Dutch are tolerant and open about these less than respectable, by the … Continue reading
Britain the Best Country in the World Mr. Cameron? Not this week.
I’ve tried for the past few days not to comment on the rioting in Britain. Although the Scots and Welsh, quite rightly, will be pointing out the rioting is technically in England, not Britain. The television footage as shown by … Continue reading
Posted in England and Things English, Politics and Social Comment
Tagged britain greatest country in the world, britain no longer great, britain the greatest nation in the world?, british politics, david cameron, disaffected youth in britain, london riots, nick clegg, social problems in britain, underclass in britain
9 Comments
Expat Arrivals: Newbies in Town part 1
It’s that time of year again; after weeks of frenetic activity in June and early July with people packing up and moving out, the tide has turned. The first container trucks are appearing on the narrow leafy streets of Wassenaar … Continue reading
A Century of Posts: A Bit of a Milestone
Tah – dah!! Drumroll, cheerleaders and ignition sequence for fireworks . . . It’s with surprise and a bit of a shock I realised today that this is the 100th post I’ve written. One hundred posts, published, read and commented on; … Continue reading
Dutch Navy 1: Somali Pirates 0
It’s been brought to my attention today that Somalian pirates are in the news again. In the Netherlands. “Five Somalis are appearing in court in Rotterdam today charged with piracy. They are accused of attempting to capture a South African yacht … Continue reading
Mont Blanc: In Memorium
In memory of James Stephen Brownhill 30 September 1988, Sheffield, UK – 1 July 2011, Frendo Spur,Chamonix, France I have written about James, his family and his life elsewhere, this page is to quietly acknowledge their loss, and … Continue reading
Vices or Virtues?: No, the 7 Links Project
Like many people I start the day by checking my emails, social networking sites and online global newspapers, at the same time rehydrating with a large cup of hot, steaming tea. Part of this ‘starting the day’ process involves reading … Continue reading
Posted in Inspiration and Reflection, Writing
Tagged 7 links project, adventuresinexpatland, Blog, blog challengs, count only sunny hours, expat friends, expatcalidocious, finding my new normal, learning a new languge, learning Dutch, perking the pansies, the singing warrior, trailing spouses, Tripbase, Writers Resources
6 Comments
Repatriation of the Deceased: If You Die Overseas Die in The Netherlands
I did have a mental debate as to whether I should write about today’s topic. After listening to both sides for several days I’ve decided we’re all adults and can deal with grown up things. Ever given a thought to what … Continue reading
Posted in Dutch Culture, Expat Experiences, The Netherlands
Tagged airport mortuaries, amsterdam's schiphol airport, death overseas, death overseas. death while travelling oversea, funerals, getting the body home, holland, mortuary at Amsterdam airport, Theo de Haardt, when an expat dies, when an expat dies overseas
8 Comments
USA Consulate in Amsterdam: A Little Taste of Home
I had cause this week to head up to the US Consulate in Amsterdam. We had received a phone call from Harry whilst we were on vacation that his US passport had expired 3 months ago. Why he was even checking … Continue reading
How much personal living/working space does a Dutch person have?
I’m hoping everyone is up to a mental workout as I’ve come across some facts on the Netherlands which make for very interesting reading. This morning there was an article on the dutchnews.nl website, quoting information released yesterday by the … Continue reading
Somalia, Pirates and Ransom Money: Solving the Famine Problem
Watching the BBC news last night I felt my hackles starting to rise over an item relating to the imminent famine in Somalia : The refusal of the Kenyan government to open a nearly completed refugee facility close to Dadaad camp which … Continue reading
A Period of Solitude: Why We Sometimes Need One
I haven’t posted for a while as sometimes life necessitates taking a step back, pulling up the drawbridge and keeping yourself and family safe in the Ivory Tower. Protected, for a while, from the devastating whirlwinds of sadness, loss, fear, … Continue reading
Dutch Sending the Poles Home?
So the Dutch are considering sending Polish and other east Europeans home? I didn’t read the full story immediately as my brain went into complete melt down and shock at the thought of the Dutch economy grinding to a halt … Continue reading
Every Parent’s Worst Fear
If you’ve been anywhere near newspapers the past week or so you can’t have failed to have noticed the untimely deaths of many young people. I wrote only a few posts back about the sister of Missy’s best friend, killed as … Continue reading
Posted in Expat Experiences, Family Life, Inspiration and Reflection, Personal challenges
Tagged Chamonix, climbing deaths, death of a child, death of british climbers on Mont Blanc, deaths on mont blanc, French Alps, grief of parents, james brownhill climber, james brownhill sheffield, Mont Blanc
5 Comments
And I thought the Dutch Were Tolerant
Last night after a day driving down and around Victoria BC, we settled with our hosts to watch a movie. Nothing too challenging but with enough entertainment value to stop us drifting off to sleep. John Grisham’s The Rainmaker suited … Continue reading
When the Captain decided to check out the quality of Canadian Emergency Care
Wherever our family live or travel one of the first things we do is check out where to find the local hospital, or more importantly their Emergency Room. The first person I met on arriving in the Netherlands, Karen, admitted … Continue reading
From the Netherlands to British Columbia, Canada: A Treat for the Weary Spirit
All is well in British Columbia, this western bastion of Canada, where the looming mountains of Vancouver Island protect its eastern isles from the wrath and might of the vast Pacific Ocean. Nestling in its protective embrace the day dawns stealthily … Continue reading
Schiphol, Heathrow, Vancouver, Thetis Island: Traveling to the Edge of the World
When the Captain announced we would be traveling to Vancouver via London Heathrow‘s Terminal five I must admit to an involuntary shudder and a dampening of my usual high spirits. Why couldn’t we fly direct from Schiphol, our local airport in … Continue reading
My Father’s Greatest Gift
He’s never said, but I rather think my dad would have liked a son to share his macho interests, but being the man he is, decided to make the best of a bad job. From an early age I could … Continue reading
Kids Home Alone: Part II – The Installation of a Plastic Hot Tub
. . . continued from the previous post, in which we returned home from a weekend away to discover all was not quite as we had left it . . . I was still seething at the maltreatment of my … Continue reading
Kids Home Alone: Part I – What’s the Right Age?
OK we’re back, feeling a tad grouchy after having to deal with the cross Channel ferry . . . technically, according to the Captain, the trans North Sea ferry as we’re nowhere near the Channel travelling Hull to Rotterdam. I … Continue reading
Why writing sometimes has to take a backseat
A short post I’m afraid. Today is Sunday of a holiday weekend and the Captain and I are in England to celebrate a major birthday of our dear friend Michael. We are staying with him and wife Trish at the new home … Continue reading
Why Holland is the Worst Country for Drivers
Excuse me while I take a moment to swallow some heavy-duty Tylenol (to stop the pulsating banging in my head) washed down with something even stronger to subdue the need to kill anyone who comes into my field of vision. The … Continue reading
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Cultural Insensitivity 9/11: When Journalists should not have an Opinion
Monday morning, getting started on the week. Catching up on emails and media coverage getting a feel for what’s happening in the world. I subscribe to blogs sent automatically by email. It’s a professional interest if you will, seeing what fellow … Continue reading →