This weekend was my birthday weekend. The big 30. I went back to Amsterdam (my home away from home) to spend it with my nearest and dearest girl friends. Despite a rather shaky start (my best friend accidentally booking to come over the weekend er, after my birthday (have fun this weekend babe!) a vomiting child and my stolen mobile, waaaaah) we had a brilliant 48 hours in the city we used to call home… and what an amazing, vibrant city it is. I love Amsterdam. I started feeling rather homesick for the buzz, the activity, the cutting edge design, the inspiration, the choice of restaurants (check out Bo5 next time you are in Amsterdam – incredible food with a French / Arabic influence and lush cocktails), bars, museums.
We moved around a year ago to a sleepy village in rural England. It wasn’t a hard decision, I’d been wanting to move back to England for ages. Having a small child in a foreign country made me miss my family, my roots. I wanted her to know the childhood I had known too. I wanted her to be English! Not that the Dutch aren’t rather fabulous too :)
Moving from a capital city to the place we now call home was somewhat of a culture shock to say the least. There are a lot of differences, not being able to cycle everywhere being one, er have you seen the hills! But the main difference is that we live a very simple life here, almost as if in times gone by. The folk round these parts (of which I am of course one) like to preserve the historic; old fashioned houses and public houses, traditional styles, countryside and English heritage. We have castles, old churches and reams and reams of countryside, farmland and woodland on our doorstep. The life is quiet, laid back, peaceful. A country walk here, a pub lunch there, a cozy snuggle by the fire. And it is lovely.
It’s like comparing chalk and cheese. Of course some people will always like chalk, some cheese and there are pluses and minuses for both. (I’m not sure how good cheese is for drawing). Anyway I digress.
My thoughts led me on to what is best for a small child, or should I say my small child, growing up. It must be great to be surrounded by so much to do, all the people buzzing round, ice-skating on the square, giant libraries with every book you could ever imagine, cafe’s and playgrounds galore and a beach close by. But along with that comes a faster pace of life (and even then Amsterdam is more laid back that most capital cities I know!)… and I guess we kind of like our relaxed life here. We keep busy enough, lots of time outside, playgroups, doing craft and activities and visiting friends and family (who are of course irreplaceable). Whats more I think that for a child it’s the parents and the exposure, stimulation and influence they bring that matter.
Not living in a big city, surrounded by the awesome array of shops stocking all the latest clothes, technology, stuff and things does have another advantage. The calm and peace are good for the soul. And interestingly I also find that I am no longer triggered in the way I used to be to buy buy buy. “Ooooh I need this, Oooooh I want this.” I’m not engulfed by it. We are surrounded by trees who shout “come and climb me!” I read somewhere recently that your best memories of childhood are often spent outdoors in nature. Thinking back over my 30 years I realised just how true this statement is.
Perhaps this is a real benefit to living where we do. Wow I sound old ;) And when I do need my culture or shopping fix, thank god for the internet is all I can say.
Hey Lou,
Loving all the Lishness. Happy Birthday old girl, don’t know about you but with a big celebration and a lot of anticipation I am finding 30 very similar to 29! I am also finding your musings about where to live very interesting not least since I have moved twice now … once “home” when I started my family and after my husband nearly lost his mind in the London fog here we are in always sunny Miami and I find myself also always weighing up the pros and cons. I think there is definitely something to be said about the grass always being greener, but also about loving and owning the life you live, Miami is idyllic in so many ways for us, truthfully all that’s missing is family and friends back home, but after moving twice and marrying a foreigner I have kind of reconciled to the idea that that will always be the case to some degree wherever I am in the world and that my immediate family (hubby and kids) are the main thing right now.
Love all your crafty bits, SO up my alley, keep ’em coming and Mimi constantly asking who Darcy is on my computer screen, would be lovely to get them together one day, somewhere in the world!
Lots of love x
P.S A bit of me would adore your life in the English countryside – Always a secret dream of mine!
Hi honey, yeah 30 feels great! I think you are very right about loving and owning the life you live, that is totally my attitude. Although I am a real one for excitement too, I think I could move to a new place every 5 years – I love exploring!! But of course with a family you’ve got to keep in mind what is best for them. (Whereabouts is Yossi from originally?) I want to know what Miami life is like? Aaaah now that sounds exciting! Oh and just to live in the sunshine would be awesome! I visited a beautiful place in Florida called Sanibel many many years ago (that’s where I collected the shells that I made the shell hearts in my shop with) if you get a chance you should go. I am fully planning on visiting again once we get a bit more breathing space financially so maybe we will come and say hi to you guys! Mimi (and the boys) look totally adorable and I love the things I see of the school or group you run. Are you still blogging btw? x
Happy belated birthday! I found you via a tweet from Romanian Mum so thought I’d swing over and say hello! I’m now following you on Pinterest too – but not stalking you – honest!
Thanks Mammasaurus. I’m chuffed you are following me :) Pinterest is my absolute favourite, in fact I need my fix I haven’t been on much recently what with all the blogging! I checked out your blog earlier and I love it! So so funny and original :)
Happy 30th and glad you had a lovely trip away :) x