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Tulips from Noordwijk to Haarlem

26th February 202517th March 2025 funtime65

When it’s Spring again we’ll sing again tulips from Noordwijk to Haarlem.

Because while we rightly celebrate the awesome city of Amsterdam we should also get out and enjoy the rural bulb fields.

Which we first did 35 years ago at the riot of colour that is the flower market in the Dutch capital Den Haag.

Of course, the biggest market of all is the natural landscape of the Netherlands.

Hop on Le Boat

And what better way of savouring it than in a self-driven boat along the iconic Dutch canals?

Particularly when Le Boat is offering up £650 off any departure in 2025.

Valid on any boat except the new Liberty fleet, when booked between 26 February and 18 March 2025.

April marks the start of the boating season when the tulip comes into bloom with the centrepiece the Dutch Flower Parade.

Grand Classique

Gliding along the Dutch canals you’ll take in windmills and waterside villages.

With no experience needed, Le Boat’s self-drive cruisers can go at their own pace.

Le Boat encourages us to stop at traditional markets and soak up Dutch Easter traditions.

A seven-night self-catered stay in the Netherlands starts and finishes at Le Boat’s base in Vinkeeven.

On board a Grand Classique sleeping 10, arriving April 7, priced from £249pp/£2,049 per boat.

Which was £1,429, a saving of £2,699.

Countries

Sláinte World Whisky Day

15th May 202115th May 2021 funtime65

Scotland has cornered the market so much we even claim the name ‘whisky’ or ‘scotch’ but let’s share the love. Sláinte World Whisky Day everyone.

So onto a history story here.

Our preeminence in the biggest selling place in the world, America, is down to Prohibition days.

Yes, the Far East is a much sought-after market too where this northern bit of Britain is also widely acknowledged.

But while we all know, and laud, the major whisky (or whiskey if you like) countries what of the others who love the golden nectar?

Boks on the rocks

Bain’s: The only commercial whisky distillery in Africa

South Africa: For those who know, and love, the country they might be surprised to hear that SA has a global award-winning distillery.

But then Andy Watts, the Master Distiller at Bain’s Cape Mountain whisky, knows his uisge beatha.

I’d wager that a people who put ice in their wine have their whisky on the rocks.

Belgian blend

Belgium: Yes, you’ll not be surprised to see that the Belgians have only made their dab at whisky, Gouden Carolus, beer infused.

My old friend Tom, of the Hopperie in Ieper who proudly declared that he sold only beer, hundreds of labels, and could give you tasting notes, would not be amused.

Mind you he’d probably have a whisky-infused beer.

Probably the best

Denmark: It’s probably the best-preserved secret in the world.

We are reliably told that Stauning Whisky combines malted barley and malted rye.

And that fans of American whiskey will go for this. Probably!

Dams and drams

Netherlands: Back to the Low Countries for this one, That Boutique-y Whisky Company Millstone.

And the Zuidam distillery produces a six-year-old single malt which if you like your dram with a cinnamon tang will be right up your street.

Dutch barmen who instinctively use their wee plastic knives to scoop off frothy heads would need retraining.

Swigging in the valleys

Wales: It’s one of life’s mysteries (or whisky’s) that Wales is the odd man out of Celtic countries with no ‘water of life’ heritage.

Their water is surely just as God-given as the Scottish and Irish wet stuff.

And having spent a year in Cardiff I can vouch that Our Lord’s tears fall more plentifully there than anywhere else on Earth.

Brecon Beacons drop, Penderyn Welsh Gold, has vanilla infusions.

Sláinte World Whisky Day

And a whisky cocktail you say…. try this whisky sour.

Food, Food & Wine

Hungry and Thursday – Ginuary

2nd January 202016th January 2020 funtime65

Veganuary, ve-gone.

You’ve already got your day, November 2, and I flagged it up back then…But as I watched a vegan on the TV rally other ice cubes (there’s a cracking meme which explains that definition) it got me thinking.

About how you go about claiming a month with a clever pun… well, there doesn’t appear to be any regulation!

About how you go about claiming a month with a clever pun… well, there doesn’t appear to be any regulation

They do champion it as an antidote to Dry January though which is all right by me.I’ve learned to like, not love, gin as I’ve aged

Probably because, like Heinz, there are 57 varieties.

I sampled half a dozen on a weekend break in Monaghan… Monaghan’s country roads

In the hands of a ‘ginoisseur’… nobody’s taking that one off me!

The Scary One also learned to appreciate G&Ts.

Mine-sweeping the sample board of drinks set up for me!

I also learned about the gin-making talents of the good folk of Fermanagh in the North of Ireland.

When they took the short jaunt down here to Dublin… www.fermanaghlakelands.com.

Here in Ireland it crosses social barriers but in England it’s a yuppie drink and a favourite of the plummy set.

But it actually has more humble origins.

You can learn more in the National Genever Museum in Schiedam, ten minutes from Rotterdam… https://www.jenevermuseum.nl.

The Museum boasts exhibitions, obvs.

But where it really gets good is when you get to the distillery Old Schiedam.

Which is distilled in 100% malt wine as it was 300 years ago.

Before you follow one of the gin and genever tours through the city centre with a visit to one of the producers.

Should you be there in June for the National Gin and Jenever Festival you’ll get to enjoy…

Tastings, workshops, tours and music too.

The Scary One will be there, feigning lack of interest.

All major airlines fly to the Netherlands.

But the Dutch national airline carrier KLM www.klm.com always looks after me.

When I visit.

It won’t go down well in Rotterdam but the last time was Amsterdam… Pictures of Amsterdam and George Clooney and Amal’s Amsterdam hotel.

But before that was Rotterdam when I treated the-then Miss F on our first foreign holiday.

To watch the Netherlands v Greece football match.

Now she needed a gin or two after that!

For more information on the Netherlands, visit www.visitholland.com.

And for Amsterdam it’s www.iamsterdam.com and Rotterdam https://en.rotterdam.info.

MEET YOU IN THE BAR