No one could wish for any better

We're getting excited now! Having spent the day getting clothes and bits ready to take away with us, and potting-on loads of "baby" plants so they don't dry out if the predicted tropical weather this weekend does actually hit, we're definitely in the holiday spirit...

...so let's start the countdown to Amsterdam this Thursday with a most beloved paean to the most gorgeous old city in the world:

Wim Sonneveld - Aan de Amsterdamse grachten

Indeed, the lyrics roughly translate as

On the canals of Amsterdam
I have pledged my whole heart forever
Amsterdam fills my thoughts
As the most beautiful city in our country
All the people of Amsterdam
All the lights in the evening late on the square
No one could wish for any better
Than to be someone from Amsterdam!

And you couldn't ask for a more appropriate sentiment than that.

De Mooiste Stad

The tabloids are in a tizz over the impending return of The Great British Bake-Off

We are on a bit of a countdown to London's Gay Pride March (two weekends away!) - with last-minute shopping and adding a few trims to our outfits - and we have also booked our annual pilgrimage to Amsterdam for my birthday in August!

How appropriate (among a slew of famous birthdays including actress Kathy Bates, journalism guru Harold Evans, the faboo and sadly missed John Inman, composer Richard Rodgers, the lovely Gilda Radner and the living legend that is Mel Brooks) that we have a rather appropriate centenarian to celebrate today - one of Holland's most-lauded popular singers (and gay man), Wim Sonneveld!

Here he is with one of our favourite songs about one of our most beloved cities - Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten:

Wim Sonneveld - Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten

Aan de Amsterdamse grachten
heb ik heel mijn hart voor altijd verpand.
Amsterdam vult mijn gedachten,
als de mooiste stad in ons land.
Al die Amsterdamse mensen,
al die lichtjes 's avonds laat op het plein.
Niemand kan zich beter wensen
dan een Amsterdammer te zijn.

Couldn't agree more.

Willem "Wim" Sonneveld (28th June 1917 – 8th March 1974)

Kleine jodeljongen

And so, dear reader, by the time you read this we should be well on our way for a well-deserved weekend - for my 50th birthday tomorrow - in the city of all cities, Amsterdam! I really cannot believe it has been three years since we were last there (I used to go at least once, if not more times, every year).

To celebrate, I have chosen some examples of the type of music we go there for!

We love an old-time pub sing-a-long. Over here, it is in in the tradition of Music Hall tunes (Roll Out The Barrel, Oh What A Beauty, Down At The Old Bull And Bush, Let's All Go Down The Strand, that sort of thing).

In Holland, this tradition is called "Levenslied" ("Songs about Life").

And here are some of our beloved masters of that genre...

Manke Nelis - Kleine jodeljongen

Wim Sonnenveld - Aan de Amsterdamse Grachten

Tante Leen - Mijn Ouwe Amstelstad

Johnny Jordaan - Geef mij maar Amsterdam

Ik houd van Nederlandse muziek!

"Normal" service will be resumed on Tuesday...