Dutchessa

My love for books borders on the obsessive. I have many kinds of books in my study, such as 'An Irishman's difficulties with the Dutch language', a book from 1908 that describes an Irishman's struggles with the Dutch vernacular.

"Have you? Well; that is not so simple as it looks. I consulted the Grammar, and was appalled to see the amazing variety of choice afforded to any one in Holland who contemplated asking this innocent question."

Dutch is still a difficult language to learn. Fortunately, we now have professional trainers who can lend a hand and help out with grammar, jargon, idiom and culture.Professionals who understand that language and culture are intertwined.
Dutchessa is a case in point, providing courses in small groups for beginners, intermediate and advanced students. To find out more about the formats available have a look at www.dutchessa.com.
And find out that learning Dutch is not only difficult but also fun.

Failing to plan is....planning to fail.

Failing to plan is planning to fail.
Most of us have heard or read that sentence more than once. I find it irritating but true.

If you plan on becoming a work-at-home-mom, planning is as crucial as it would be for any other venture. You need to work out (to some extent at least) what line of business you'd like to operate, how much it will cost to get started and keep running, what skills you can use to your advantage and how all of this will affect your family time and household.

As a wahm's business plan can be quite different from a conventional business plan (aimed at getting a loan from the bank, something many wahm's do not need) I made a business plan for wahm's on the business and diapers site.

Have a look at www.businessanddiapers.com (at the homepage and at the free downloads section) to see if it can be of use to you. Good luck!

Any comments, feedback or suggestions are welcome at vertaalslag@planet.nl

House for sale in The Hague, the Netherlands

What new media entail these days is almost unbelievable. I am referring to the role the Internet played in movements in Tunisia and Egypt for example.

At a more personal than political level I can also say that they changed my life. As I can send my translations to customers by email, I was able to spend a lot of time with my son when he was small.

Technology and humanity sometimes make good bedfellows.

Anyhow, enough bla bla about me...on the off change that someone who reads my English blog is looking for a house in The Hague,the Netherlands I´d like to recommend viewing this apartment

http://www2.funda.nl/koop/s-gravenhage/appartement-47921912-groenewegje-90/

The address is Groenewegje 90. It´s a canal, located in the centre of the city. The property is 90 square metres, has 2 bedrooms and a huge shared garden as a wonderful extra. The price is 249,500 euros. It is an apartment suitable for being happy,raising kids and working from home. In that order, if you ask me. But why not take a look for yourself...

oproep aan alleenstaande moeders

Een journalist benaderde me met de vraag of ik alleenstaande moeders ken die zouden willen meewerken aan een artikel over rondkomen als alleenstaande moeder. Hoe doe je dat? Welke tips zijn er? Hebben bezuinigingen van de overheid een invloed?

Wie wil meewerken kan mij een mailtje sturen (vertaalslag@planet.nl).

The remains of ....my kitchen

At the moment, cooking is more of a challenge than it usually is. My bathroom has been converted in a kitchenette, with only the bare necessities. My son and I have dinner in my home office and breakfast in my bedroom.
This is because our kitchen is currently being renovated. Renovations have two sides to them. True, there is the hassle, the dust, the noise and the general inconvenience. But on the upside there is the excitement about something new being achieved, about improvement, about new steps being taken. I quite enjoy having to be resourceful, doing things differently for once and using only the basics.
Moreover, my kitchen really needed work. I was stale, worse for wear and tear, dark, depressing, oppressive. Now...all that is left are debris (see picture).

Out with the old, in with the new.

merry christmas to all the drunks

To be brutally frank about it: my sister Florine is a tough cookie. However, she definitely has her soft spots, her moments of tenderness and her mellow moods. She is, above all, a creative person. Recently she came back from a walk through the woods (Haagse Bos) with a determined look in her eye and ....old cans in her hands. She made a Christmas tree for all the drunks, the lost souls and the homeless who wander through these woods.

My son