2008 will be a very good year!

On the streets of Amsterdam the Champagne flows as 2008 comes in with a bang as usual. Manon turned up for our end of year dinner which was fantastic. It was very Italian. Peppers stuffed with goat’s cheese and olives stuffed with peppers as antipasti followed by Bruschetta and onion soup and spaghetti pesto genovese [...]

Edgar Malroy’s metaphysical betting shop…

…is the subject of the book Scepticism, Inc. by Bo Fowler. Thanks to Rigmor for putting me on to this wicked idea. Of late I have been through my own crisis of scepticism so I can empathise with the concept of the folly of placing metaphysical bets. The book is reviewed as a sort of [...]

Out of the Tunnel…

…Today I found a copy of Rachel’s book in Waterstone’s in Amsterdam. Even if you already know the story this book is still remarkable. Once you start you can’t put it down. Rachel likes to say dammit just like Manon. The style is fast and dramatic and makes you feel as if you are there [...]

Montelbaanstoren, Amsterdam by Bettie Klomp…

Montelbaanstoren, Amsterdam by Bettie Klomp…, originally uploaded by Leighton Cooke.
…as, once again, I spend a lovely Friday afternoon in Bettie’s Atelier Galilea in the heart of the Jordaan, on the Eerste Leliedwaarstraat. I’m going to take a picture of this tower to see how it looks now. Bettie is a classic Dutch landscape artist with [...]

Very new, very big…and no internet…

…on day one of the new Amsterdam public library. It must be the largest public space with a roof in the city. Its modernity will take some getting used to but the view from the OBA 7th floor terrace is spectacular. The location near the Centraal Station is a bold move but the surrounding area [...]

Dirty washing…two weeks later…

…after Kristin Steele was killed on the corner of the Overtoom another woman was knocked over on the same spot and is in a critical condition. Amsterdam’s streets are a dangerous place. Yesterday I washed the red fleece that I wear on my bicycle. I washed it by hand Three changes of water and the [...]

Soma’s veggie barbie…

…for Queen’s Day…

…was the perfect refuge from the hectic on the streets. Bean salad, veggie burgers and country potatoes were washed down with a 1996 Rioja Gran Reserva. Indeara turned up and charmed both Jip and Soma’s ball python. The evening is beautiful and the party is mellow. Apart from finding my way into town, [...]

Palbu…Tibet in Amsterdam…

…Some pictures from the Palbu Tibet store. They have a mission to spread knowledge of Tibetan culture and all of their crafts and jewellery are hand made and fairly traded.

…I’m looking forward to my next visit to take more pics of their jewellery.

Two of life’s necessities!

Two of life’s necessities!
Originally uploaded by Leighton Cooke.
…as Tara replaces the raw chocolate as the main picture I had to save the old page for posterity. Indulging my passion for photography while meeting lots of nice people at the same time is very enjoyable. Today I went to see Lila at [...]

Amsterdam weekend in the sun…

…as I slowly believe we no longer need to fly away on holiday when the weather is this good. Saturday I went to the organic farmer’s market at the Noordermarkt to get some goodies for our Sunday picnic in the Vondelpark. On the menu was hummus, vegan pate with seaweed, country style bread, couscous, old [...]