HOT!!!

Wow; it may not last, but Holland has finally shown us that it really CAN do hot weather once in a while. I hope that you all managed to enjoy (some of) the sunshine this month.

School holidays are now upon us, and even if you don't have children of school age, general life seems to slow down slightly around Leiden. There are fewer cars on the road, fewer people in the trains, and the main school commuting routes are for a few short weeks safe to negotiate between 8am and 9am. So this is a short homepage to wish happy holidays to those going away, and to give some tips to the stayers to help you through the summer weeks.

We've reported before the generalities of summer, and this previous homepage still applies in all respects; free bus travel, Magic Children's Village, museums and all. One HomeinLeideinite is making it her mission to visit all of Leiden's wonderful speeltuinen this year, which sounds like an excellent summer project!

Is there any social life this summer?

Don't worry, there are groups still meeting up! Of course the Vogelwijk group on a Wednesday will be continuing all summer, and I hear that the Tuesday Voorschoten group is doing likewise, but that the Wassenaar one is stopping for the summer. The Oegstgeest Family Group is also taking a summer break, to return on Friday 5th September - more information below!

Oegstgeest Family Group 5th September - Pimp your [child's] lunch!

Having happy memories of English school lunches myself (I was not a fussy eater...), I do occasionally feel sorry for my children, condemned as they are to fourteen years of boterhammen at lunchtime. Which is why the First Friday theme for the OFG in September is LUNCHES - how on earth to come up with at least a tiny bit of variation in those wretched lunchboxes and snack packets, if possible for a reasonable price! We will be racking our brains and bringing along our own reliable staples and old favourites, so why not join us and share your ideas. There will be samples and idea/recipe-swapping, but don't feel you have to make/bring anything; we need tasters as well as cooks ...

NEW! Delicious handmade cupcakes delivered to your door

Having a party? Need something for a traktatie at school or work? Wouldn't you rather support a young entrepreneur than a supermarket? The youngest baker in town - whom you may have spotted selling cakes near de Burcht on sunny Saturdays - is now taking orders! Quentin is 9 years old and adores baking. He can make from 12 to 60 cupcakes, brownies etc. per order and will deliver them free within central Leiden. Take a look at his new webpage: www.homeinleiden.nl/qcakes, or contact him on quentin@homeinleiden.nl.

Quentin is HomeinLeiden Harriet's son - and his cakes are genuinely delicious! Those of you who came to HomeinLeiden's 6 th party got a taste of his mini lemon and earl grey cupcakes.

ENJOY THE SUMMER AND SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!