Expatriating Julia

Weeks 17 and a half was the week I decided to be more Dutch:  I booked myself on an intensive Dutch course, I got drunk and fell off my bike (twice) and I experienced my very first Queens Day. It was (now) a very long time ago and my memory isn’t so good, so that’ll have … Continue reading »

Mrs Frampton you’re coming to Amsterdam!  This is so exciting – it’s your first time and I haven’t seen you since I moved here so I can’t wait!  Never mind that, we have a day, just a day where I can show you around this beautiful city.  So where shall we go? Walk or cycle?! … Continue reading »

Week 10 starts with Mr & Mrs Expat Julia welcoming a new bicycle into the family, hip hip hoera!  It wasn’t that long ago that I was a car loving English gal looking curiously at these pedal driven contraptions, and smiling politely at the mention of getting my own.  Now I am positively looking for anywhere … Continue reading »

Week 5 started with a heavy frost and a trip to a sugar-coated Beatrixpark, sausage soup at La Place and a beautifully shot silent movie at Pathe Tuschinski. Having spent four whole months procrastinating, I finally visited the Amsterdam Museum proudly clutching my newly purchased Museumkaart.  With only 58 minutes until it shut a quick … Continue reading »

“Oh wow, you’re gonna have a ball – think of all the places you can explore, it’s gonna be so cool man – I’m so jealous for you!!” …  a friend said when I told her I was moving from the UK to Amsterdam. ‘Yeah!”  I replied ” It’s going to be brill!”… Only ‘brill’ … Continue reading »

Sure it’s not quite photojournalism. And for all its bells and whistles the iPhone lacks the charm of a Nikon F. But photographing these poor umbrellas has become something of a pastime for me. So sometimes, as I’m doing my best Rod Stewart shuffle struggling to get the picture I want, I can’t help but feel … Continue reading »

Wednesday’s word was going to be oliebollen (doughnut) as it is an oft used word in the house of Julia to signify the occurrence of a very daft thing indeed. However, and for reasons soon to be very, very apparent, I have changed it to afbreken and ‘nu betalen‘.  Don’t worry though, you’ll get an opportunity to cry … Continue reading »

  Aren’t these fabulous?  Alas they aren’t mine… This photograph was taken for submission to the Digital Photography School weekly assignment, which this week is “Colour: Blue”.  After much soul-searching, crossing of fingers in the hope that my eyes turned a vibrant shade of blue overnight and even a throw back to the eighties, nineties and now … Continue reading »

Amidst the annual popping, whizzing, crackling and banging of fireworks across Amsterdam this New Year’s Eve was the best fireworks display I have ever seen.  As I hung out of the balcony to peer a foot deeper into the horizon I became aware of three dark figures rummaging around in the square some 50 metres … Continue reading »