Beautiful Amsterdam. After a tough week at work, I was so happy to go out and play on Saturday! Blue sky, not too cold, and a beautiful walk on the canals. First time I could do so since I moved to the Dam in '98. Loved how so many Dammers decided to sell mulled wine and hot choc in their stalls on the canal. One of those perfect days when everybody seems happy.

Cold

My cunning plan didn't quite come together.... Rather than skipping the winter, I skipped some weird extended autumn. The past week it's been minus something, with a max of minus 18 one night last week.

And I love it! It's white everywhere, it's properly cold and it's been sunny most days. People are ice skating on the Amsterdam canals, which I don't recall having seen before in the 10 years I've lived there. In Leiden some cafe had even put some tables and chairs on a frozen canal: al fresco hot chocolate! Now all I can wish is for it to be sunny until Saturday so I can take my camera and capture the wonderful sights.