Category Archives: lifestyle

How cool is Nijmegen? – Article from BBC Travel website

Posted on March 24, 2023 by susancarey

If you’re wondering where to spend a few days in the Netherlands then instead of the over touristy Amsterdam, why not choose my hometown Nijmegen? It has loads to offer in terms of culture and open countryside. I am not the author of this article but wanted to share it here with you. Hope to see you IRL in my neighbourhood soon! Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, lifestyle, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged BBC Travel, Day trip, De Nieuwe Winkel, European Green Capital, Food Forest, Nijmegen, River Rhine, Room for the rive, The Waal, Wildlife haven, Zonnetrein | 3 Comments

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Posted on December 21, 2022 by susancarey

Dear Readers, Thank you for your patience! I have let my blog posts slide a bit this year for reasons better known to themselves. But just to update you a little I am posting a list of shiny things in … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative writing, house-sitting, lifestyle, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged Arnhem, e-bike, house-sitting, List of new things in 2022, Little Free Library, Nijmegen, Pulpit Rock Cruise, Ultimate Novel Writing Course, WeColour | Leave a comment

She is most definitely worth many Tuppences…

Posted on March 6, 2022 by susancarey

Here it is then, the long-awaited news about our new family addition, puppy named Tuppence. She is six-months old now. Sire, pictured below, the fabled blue mini JRT, Louie, of Much Wenlock; dam the even-more-fabled patterjack, Faith, of Herefordshire. Late … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, lifestyle, Uncategorized | Tagged Canine chums, Doggy Dating app, Faith of Herefordshire, Feed the Birds, Four footed friends, Louie of Much Wenlock, Mary Poppins, mini Jack Russell, Nijmegen, Pet Owning the Netherlands, River Waal, Tuppence | 4 Comments

Friends who Never Judge You

Posted on April 22, 2021 by susancarey

Loving and losing four-legged friends. The unique gift that animals bestow. Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, lifestyle, Uncategorized | Tagged Amsterdam, British Childhood, dogs, Jack Russell, Oopoeh, pets, ponies, Rakker, Saying farewell, The Pony Club, Thelwell, Tim, Welsh Mountains | 8 Comments

Give us this Day our Daily Exercise

Posted on April 9, 2020 by susancarey

In these troubled times when the Corona virus is dominating our lives and restricting our freedom, it can be a challenge to find a secluded place to exercise if you live in a city like Amsterdam. Finding quiet places is … Continue reading →

Posted in health & diet, lifestyle, Uncategorized | Tagged Corona virus, daily exercise, heemtuin, Quiet Amsterdam, Quiet Places, Sloterpark, Sloterplas | 4 Comments

First House-sit of the Year

Posted on March 24, 2020 by susancarey

Unless you are a Buddha living under a tree you will have noticed we are in the grip of a pandemic which has severely restricted our freedom of movement. It now seems like some distant dream when we could move … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, lifestyle, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged buddhism, France, Hotel Le Stelsia, house-sitting, Jacques Bru, Lot et Garonne, penne d'agenais, Philippe Gestet, River Lot | 1 Comment

Central Library, Oosterdok – The Jewel in Amsterdam’s Crown

Posted on February 4, 2020 by susancarey

OBA which stands for Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam boasts in total 26 branch libraries, 177,000 members and has 1.3 million books, CDs and DVDs in its collection. Amsterdam Central Library, Oosterdok is one of my favourite places in the city. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Creative writing, lifestyle, poetry, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged Amsterdam, Amsterdam Central Library, Books, Learning, Libraries, library OBA, Literature, Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam, Sam and Julia, the Mouse House | 5 Comments

Balloon Flight over the Chateau

Posted on October 2, 2019 by susancarey

Frank and I celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary in September. On our ninth house-sit of this year we decided to book a balloon flight. Paying for our accommodation in kind (offering pet care) means we free up cash which can … Continue reading →

Posted in lifestyle, travel, Uncategorized | Tagged balloon flight, Beynac chateau, Beynac-et-Cazenac, day trip in Dordogne, experience, house-sitting, Montgolfiére Chateaux, Perigord, Perigord blanc, Tourism, travel | Leave a comment

All Good Things…

Posted on July 23, 2019 by susancarey

After two months of house-sitting it is sadly almost time to go home again. We’ve travelled through Hertfordshire, Nottinghamshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, Leicestershire and spent the last two weeks in the smallest county in England, Rutland. … Continue reading →