April showers

Not that there's much evidence of them yet! I love this time of year - it takes great self control to resist the urge to don gingham and skip around with a basket of flowers. I do resist, luckily, as otherwise I don't think my children would speak to me again.

Kids' clothes!

At this time of year the children grow like weeds, but thank goodness help is at hand! Desiree and Trees have set up a brilliant idea, which is a big kids' clothes sale. Just turn up at Schelpenkade 31 during the opening times with some cash and your children will have a whole new spring wardrobe! You can also bring them any good quality unwanted children's clothes (if you can't wait for the next clothes swop J ).

Kinderkledingbeurs

Dees & Trees

is here again!

Friday 4 april 17.00 - 21.00 uur
Saturday 5 april 11.00 - 17.00 uur
Sunday 6 april from 11.00 - 17.00 uur

Schelpenkade 31 Leiden
(sizes 50- 176)

Organic Farm visits!

Some friends of friends have set up the most lovely farm in Hoogmade (a good bike ride from Leiden or 5 minutes in the car). This weekend the public could come and see the yearly ritual of letting the cows out into the meadows for the first time. They are open on Saturdays from 11-5 and you can adopt a cow, buy organic meat products, pick your own heritage vegetables, milk cows, and all sorts of other activities. You can also book children's parties there. Visit the website www.boerderijbuitenverwachting.nl to see what's available!

Children's photography competition

Leiden-based children's charity ICDI is holding an international children's photography competition to celebrate their 20 th anniversary. Children between 6 and 12 are invited to take two photographs, one representing happiness and one representing sadness, to be submitted before 20 April. There will be an exhibition in the Kinderrechthuis in June. See www.icdi.nl for more details, and get snapping!

Akido school

• They say: Akido school Leiden will start with aikido lessons for children. All children between the age of 6 and 12 are welcome to join, Sundays at 9:30 am. If interested please send an e-mail to info@aikidoschoolleiden.nl or call Merel on 06 47796086
• Time: 9:30-10:30
• Location: the gym at the BSO de Vlieger, Ballonpad 2, Leiden (near central station)
• For more info go to our website: www.aikidoschoolleiden.nl

Visit the Keukenhof

Yes, I know it's a bit of a cliché, but it's just so wonderful to be surrounded by that quantity of flowers, it makes your heart sing. I adore the Keukenhof and go every year, never mind the crowds. Here are my top Keukenhof visiting tips:

• DO avoid peak times! It's open 08.00 to 19.30 every day including holidays until the 18 th May (but go earlier rather than later if you can or the flowers just aren't as good). If you are there on a Sunday afternoon it's horrendous. If you get there first thing on a weekday, it's lovely. Don't even think about going on a sunny Easter Monday, it'll be horrible and you will be distracted from the flowers by the desire to stab the irritating people in front of you. Or maybe that's just me. The traffic jams just to get there are awful too.
  
• DO buy a combined bus and entry ticket at Leiden station. The bus drops you off nearer than you can park unless you have a disabled badge and it's cheaper (although still horribly expensive) to do both at once, and you then don't have to queue for a ticket when you get there.
  
• IF there's a big queue for the bus at Leiden station it may be better to let everyone else get on and then be first in the queue for the next bus, rather than squish yourself onto the first one and be uncomfortable for what is rather a long bus journey.
  
• DO sit facing in the bus though as it's a winding route and there is travel-sickness potential. My daughter just has to look at any form of transport to start vomiting so I travel with a small bucket. TMI, possibly: I apologise.
  
• DO take a pushchair if you have small children - it's exhausting! They have a few available to borrow, but you can't reserve them so it's best to take your own.
  
• If you or one of your visitors has mobility problems, DO book a wheelchair or mobility scooter online in advance. Wheelchairs are free, scooters 10 euro per day. Visit the website www.keukenhof.nl for more information. The disabled access in the park is excellent and there are plenty of disabled loos.
  
• DO take a picnic if you can - the food there is less than inspiring and there are big queues in the cafés.
  
• DO take spare clothes for children as mine always get wet playing in the streams or on the it's-fun-to-get-your-feet-wet play area.
  
• If you take your dog, remember that they have to stay on the leash and that they aren't allowed inside any of the buildings.
  
• If you want to plan your visit to the park in advance, there's a map here http://www.keukenhof.nl/media/filer_public/6e/17/6e17398c-9c97-4ce7-92c2-6ce6c56da0ac/kh_plattegrond_a4.jpg