I used to greatly prefer réál books to eBooks.But then I discovered the perks of eBooks, and now I find myself using my eReader all the time. However, unlike paper books, eReaders have needs. They run on batteries. Modern day reading One day, while I was out in our garden basking  in the sunshine, while...

I'm trying to be frugal, so I'm using our woodburner to keep us warm instead of using the central heating. There's rat in our wood burner! This morning, shivering and feeling like Cinderella on a particularly bad day, I carefully opened the little door of the wood burner to put some logs inside, and create...

Ever since I read Sally Hinchcliffe's book The Year List, I've been interested in bird watching. I'm not saying I'm any good at it, but now, whenever I see a bird I find myself wondering: ' What kind of bird is that?' Birdwatching during the Covid 19 crisis Birdwatching is an activity  that's easy to...

Who needs a ladder when you've got a Chesterfield couch and a windowsill! Scary times: finding solace in domestic tasks These are scary times. The coronavirus is wreaking havoc in the world. Apart from keeping our distance from each other, and trying to stay healthy there's not all that much you can do. Some things...

Even though times are tough, they're also kind of interesting. It's like the world has come to a standstill. And even though that's worrying, I also feel it's a chance for all of us to stop and think. To reconsider the way we're doing things. And ask ourselves: Is there maybe another, a better way?...

Dutch prime minister Rutte is known for being down to earth and kind of laid back.  He still drives an old Saab, and lives in an ordinary upstairs apartment. Once a week he teaches social studies at a local high school. The way he addresses the corona crisis is down to earth too. And sometimes...

I was having lunch with my two younger sisters. I was sharing my efficient dinnertime routine with them. I told them how I put the food on everyone's plates, and then put all the pots and pans in the dishwasher. That way we can eat in a tidy kitchen. Not until everything is neatly tidied...