Just what is the Dutch siren every first Monday of the month? by Kay on 15 February 2026 Posted in Life abroad On hearing this somewhat strange noise for the first time, a couple of weeks after moving to the Netherlands, I was quite confused and totally petrified! Especially given the fact that no one, at any point, had mentioned it. Let alone what it was for or what it was about! I mean, you’d think my Read More
Embracing a healthier lifestyle and habits in Holland… by Kay on 3 February 2026 Posted in Life abroad A new job, a new country, a new start… One of the main aspects of moving to the Netherlands and making a fresh start, as well as a different experience, was to change some of my lifestyle habits. In fact, I was actually looking forward to embracing a healthier lifestyle and habits in Holland! Ok, Read More
Setting up utilities as a foreigner in a new country… by Kay on 19 December 2025 Posted in Life abroad Feeling contented… It’s been a little while now since I moved into my new apartment. Having a place to call home has really helped make me feel more settled and contented living here. Living in a hotel for the first few weeks was really starting to take its toll. Hotels are great, but they’re really Read More
Dutch dentist experience… by Kay on 25 October 2025 Posted in Life abroad Getting health insurance… Since moving to the Netherlands, I have taken the necessary steps to ensure I have the necessary health insurance. Something that I wanted to get done straight away! Mainly because it’s yet something else ticked off my long list of things to do here. I just want things like that out of Read More
Attempting to ride my bicycle! by Kay on 25 August 2025 Posted in Life abroad After weeks of saying I’m going to do it, I’ve finally gotten on my bike – with a little help from a colleague! I am finally attempting to ride my bicycle! So, one Friday afternoon at work, just as we’d seen the children off for the end of the week, one of my colleagues appears Read More
So far, so good! by Kay on 24 July 2025 Posted in Life abroad It’s been roughly a month now since I moved here to start my new job. And as anyone who’s moved to another country knows, it takes a while to find your feet. But I’m slowly getting there. I feel more comfortable and at ease than I did a month ago, at least! At the moment, Read More
The art of making friends when you’re a second-time expat! by Kay on 29 June 2025 Posted in Life abroad The art of making new friends when you’re a second-time expat is daunting and never going to be plane sailing! Being an introvert, making new friends hasn’t always been my strong point! Having said that, I do have some strong friendship groups from where I grew up, university and work. Although we don’t get to Read More
The washing line is where now? by Kay on 1 March 2025 Posted in Life abroad A new concept! The idea of how the Spanish wash their clothes, particularly in the cities, was quite a new concept to me. Yes, most apartments had washing machines as part of the furnishings when looking for a rental, some even had driers. This was a handy feature so that I didn’t have the faff Read More
Hour of need, or just another gormless ‘me’ moment? by Kay on 25 February 2025 Posted in Life abroad Homesick… Sadly, my time at home for the Christmas break had come to an end. My flight was at 7:15 pm. After the long 3-month term, I had no idea just how homesick I had been and how much I’d missed home. I guess the whole moving overseas and starting a new job had kept Read More
Spanish bank experience and why I can never return! by Kay on 7 February 2025 Posted in Life abroad Needing to transfer money home… On starting my new job, I needed to set up a Spanish bank account in order to receive my salary. Well, the school HR team set it up on my behalf! During the first week, a member of HR made the appointment at the local branch and then accompanied me Read More
