I grew up in The Netherlands and then, just weeks after my 12th birthday, my life was changed irrevocably when my brothers and I were unexpectedly whisked away by our mother to live in Ireland with our new stepdad (an Irishman).

It is fair to say my childhood and young adulthood was dysfunctional and chaotic and I realise I’ve been searching for a calm simple life ever since!

Despite this, and with a father and other family members still in The Netherlands, we are all still in Ireland. The call to go ‘home’ has never gone away for me in particular though, and it is my hope to live in The Netherlands more or less full-time again in the not too distant future.

With this in mind I spent 3 months this spring summer (of 2023)living and bicycle touring in The Netherlands! To see how Dutch I still really am, after more than 35 years in Ireland. I’m in the process of writing a book about this experience.

I’m a recovering parent, having raised three fantastic, sassy daughters. Because of that, I now also have the added richness and fabulousness in my life of being 'Oma' to two gorgeous little boys and one lovely little girl. so far!

I’m a nomadically inclined writer who loves to travel and be outdoors. I’ve been embracing minimalism, slow travel and simple living with renewed emphasis as I navigate this second half of my life.

Aside from my writing here on this blog and other writings, travel and practicing simple, mindful living, I also do some freelance translation work.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

I’ve been blogging for the past 15 years or so, but I’ve been writing all my life. I’ve always kept a diary, wrote my first ‘book’ aged 10 ( in a lined school copy, complete with drawings - it still exists, in a box in an attic) and eventually gained degrees in English literature and in Writing.

Although I almost exclusively write in English now, my first language is actually Dutch.