Clogs, Cheese and Lots of Green

This August I made a return trip to Holland for the first time in ten years. I have been visiting the country since the age of three and while I am very aware of its uniqueness, I feel like there is too much focus on Amsterdam in the media and other areas seem to be neglected. 

With this in mind, I was keen to be remind myself of the traditions that make the Netherlands so special which is why I visited the tourist town of Zaanse Schans. 

Located in North Holland, the picturesque town of Zaanse Schans is a perfect welcoming for all things Dutch.

 

 With sky lines of windmills, clog and cheese making demonstrations and ornate wooden houses, the town looks like it has come straight out of a Dutch fairytale.

This cheese factory was a right treat, especially as the shop was dishing out samples of every variey going. My favourite was the smoked cheese that comes in the shape of a sausage and is best accompanied with balsamic chutney.

 

If, like me, you like a good photo opportunity then Zaanse Schans does not disappoint. I had a ride in a giant clog while my mum opted to sampling a slightly smaller pair. 

One of the towns star attractions was the clog museum home to every style of clog imaginable. Clogs are the most famous of the traditional Dutch attire and were originally worn by workers for foot protection and for clogging which was a special kind of dance. 

 Brides even got their own personalised clogs made for their wedding day. As pretty as they look, I'm not sure how graceful I'd feel heading down the aisle in a clumpy pair of these.

A correspondent brogue, Minnie Mouse style slip-on heel and roller clog were amongst my favourite designs.  We were also treated to a live demonstration of how the clog was made which was rather satisfying. 

The winner for the best sign of the trip went to this notification placed in front of the fields of sheep and goats. I happen to be typing this whilst stuffing my face with the second sandwich of the day...

If you like the look of Zaanse Schans, it's also worth visiting Volendam just down the road. Unfortunately we didn't make it but this happens to be one of the few places where people still dress in the original Dutch clothing.

Toys Are Us

This Easter Sunday was one of the best Easter's I have had in years, and not because of amount of eggs I got. Instead of sitting down to a roast dinner, with little persuasion I managed to convince my parents and younger sister (aged 12) to travel one hour outside of my home town for a day in Stansted for a return trip to the House on the Hill Toy Museum located within the grounds of Mountfitchet Castle.

I had been to this very same place 10 years earlier when my mum came across their website and have been desperate to go back since as I kept having a recurring dream about the shop! Anyway, all I can say was I was not disappointed. Whether you're a toy fanatic or just want a good bit of nostalgia, the museum is truly authentic and an ideal day out for all ages. 

Home to the largest privately owned toy collection in the country, the museum is run by a father and son who have built up a solid collection since the sixties. 

Each room of the museum is filled with cabinets lined with toys from every decade. Amongst them are a selection of fairground coin machines like Madam Esmeralda the fortune teller above. 

I have always loved Mickey Mouse in his most traditional form so it is no wonder that this collection caught my eye. My mum even owns the mini Pinocchio puppet featured on the left which happens to be in my top three Disney films of all time, a slightly controversial choice some might say. 

E.T is one of my favourite films of all time so I almost died when I lay eyes on this life-like replica. My dad was also a fan as he happens to be an avid collector of E.T. memorabilia. 

What makes the House on the Hill Toy Museum particularly special is its interactivity. Every few minutes this stage of puppets would start dancing around flapping their legs and arms to the sound of music. It reminded me of the slot machines in Cyprus arcades, or that puppet stage they used to have in the toy store Daisy and Tom on Kings Road before it closed down. 

I have always had a soft spot for Choppers bikes, mainly because I am rather nostalgic and my older brother  used to ride around on one. So I was naturally interested to learn that our late Princess Diana used to cycle around on her very own Tracker bicycle. 

The rule for when you go to this museum is to never close your eyes as who knows what you might end up missing. It was the zoom of my camera that discovered this sad faced figurine of Sesame's Streets finest resident Bert. 

No matter what your age, House on the Hill is guaranteed to bring out the big kid in all of us especially with its array of fancy dress photo opportunities. LUKE I AM YOUR FATHER!

For an extra £1, you can visited the Haunted Manor House. I don't want to give away too much but let's just say if it wasn't for the flash of the camera, I probably wouldn't have lasted 5 seconds! Aaaahh! 

Admission to the museum is £9.50 for adults and £7.00 for children and the admission price includes access to the Mountfitchet Castle and Dinosaur Encounter. It is open from 10am-5pm daily until 6th November. There is a cafe but you're probably best bringing a packed lunch and sitting out on the picnic benches, providing the weather's up to scratch. 

You can find out more about the House on the Hill museum on their site at www.stanstedtoymuseum.com but believe me, you've got to see it to believe it. 

Oh and if you like windmills too, there is Stansted Mountifitchet Windmill just down the road that you can climb up for just £1 or 50p for children. Sadly we didn't have any change.

Come on Inside

On 1st January 2011 I set myself one new years resolution which was simply to do more. And that is exactly what I have done. 

Now that we're way into August I have decided to share with you just some of the things that have got me excited so far. 

So please join me in a journey of colour, kitsch, nostalgia, art, animals, food, faces and a whole lot more.

Oh and the guy above, that's my pet marching band robin, photo via What's in Your Bedroom.