Expat Holidays: Home or Away?

Summer sun in paradise or family feuding back home?
Photo: Coffy (Motion design)

This week has seen many schools in Zuid-Holland return, but for others around the world the summer vacation is in full swing. Expats and vacations is an interesting topic. Where do expats go on holiday?

Many people living abroad choose to go back to their birth or 'home' country for a 'vacation' because that's when they have the time off work to go visit friends and family. But is this really a vacation?

If you go back 'home' for your summer break do you come back feeling refreshed, recharged and ready for your return to normal life? Or does it feel like you had no break at all?

Some of you have already let your views be known on Twitter:

"Hell no! We love our family/friends but it's hard work, stressful (all the family feuds) and utterly exhausting!!!


"That's the only holiday I got! :-)"

Vote in the poll on the right hand side and share know your comments on the subject. I would love to hear your thoughts and how you spend your summer break.

Oven Gloves - One Hand or Two?

Photo: Michal Zacharzewski

It strikes me as odd that British shops offer a selection of oven gloves that comprise of two square gloves joined together, whereas Dutch shops only offer one glove. I've wondered why for many years but to this day I have no definitive explanation so I'm throwing it open in the hope that someone can enlighten me.

Is it because Dutch ovens are in general so small one hand is sufficient to hold the small tray that actually fits? Many Dutch kitchens only have a small dual function oven and microwave so huge roasting dishes are nowhere to be seen which causes Americans problems at Thanksgiving and Brits untold stress at Christmas when turkeys need to be cooked......

Are Dutch people born with one hand made of asbestos and therefore an inbuilt heat resistance that us Brits just don't have?

Is it a cost saving thing? One glove cheaper than two?

I have an extra wide oven in my kitchen which was already fitted (by a Dutch family I hasten to add) when we moved in and my roasting trays are heavy - using only one hand to remove hot trays or dishes from the oven is asking for a hospital visit. That's why I import my oven gloves from England.......

Am I alone? Do one handed oven gloves work for everyone else? Answers on a postcard......