Thank god it’s summer
May-Britt Mobach
I thought it would be so nice to create a new section where everyone shares how they are going to fill their summer (or actually the autumn formerly known as summer) this year. Because that is my standard question these months. Where are you going, where have you been, and should I go there next year? The summer, in short. To escape the autumn around us for a moment and talk about places where the weather behaves a bit more normally.
Summer, when does it start for you?
‘On Wednesday afternoon, all my children (it sounds like I have seventeen, but I have three and they are all suddenly in school) have their outing. Then there is a picnic in the square, the teachers receive gifts for their good care, there is always a father who opens a bottle of white, the children sing their summer vacation song, and I start crying. When they come home, I have set up a gift table (at least that's the plan, don't hold me to it if it doesn't work out), I throw those backpacks in the basement and pull all the school lists from the inside of my kitchen cupboard. Then the vacation really begins.‘
And is there still a bit of traveling?
‘Right from the first weekend of the summer vacation, we take the Thalys to Paris (by the way, you shouldn't do this in the Thalys). My daughters really want to travel just like I do, but normally it's much cheaper to go by car. Now I managed to snag Thalys tickets for twenty euros, so we're all going. Even my mother is coming along. First stop is Disneyland where we are even staying. I have arranged fast passes so we don't have to wait in line and I'm just as excited about Anna, Elsa, and Minnie as the girls are. After that, a quick visit to my amusement park Paris for some serious shopping (sales, remember?) and then back home.’
Is that all?
‘No way, are you kidding me? Then a few days of hard work and then we board the plane to Ibiza. It will probably be packed on the island, but we have a lovely house with a pool and outdoor kitchen, so you won't hear me complain. Pompiedom…’
And what do you read and listen to?
‘On vacation, I love a cheerful book that also teaches me something about this or that. You won't believe it, but I really love books like ‘Kieft’ or ‘I, Zlatan’. I always find Henk Spaan's books great in their simplicity, with ‘Les carottes sont cuit’ as my number one. I enjoy reading books that my loved one also likes, and the most romantic is reading the same book together. I don't mind at all if you think I'm bourgeois.’
What do you listen to during the vacation?
‘Well, in Ibiza, of course, a nice café del mar hit, but my ultimate summer favorite is Sandy Müller. Nobody knows her, but just listen and you'll never want anything else. Think Italy, think Brazil, and Sandy will do the rest.’
Are you active or do you mostly lie in a horizontal position?
‘Preferably the latter, although I like to start the day with an hour of exercise on the beach. Then I can check that off my list. The best is lying on an air mattress in the water with the only danger being that someone tips me over. But that might make it even more enjoyable, that threat.’
What do you eat?
‘It's a gift from God, but I always lose weight on vacation. Not much, but I definitely don't gain any. Maybe because I accidentally swim a few laps while floating on that air mattress or because I'm plagued by canker sores in my mouth during the summer that are so painful I can hardly eat, but I do eat everything that's put in front of me. Fried fish, smoked ham, bread and aioli, grilled vegetables, pasta alla vongole… Bring it on.’
What is your sweetest memory?
‘I become very happy when I have bought a good piece of clothing while traveling, so that it always reminds me of that vacation. And I am an avid photographer who also diligently makes photo books. Okay, sometimes I let seven vacations pile up, but then suddenly I find myself diligently making my photo books online at Hema.nl one evening and I have a lasting memory to carry me through that long winter.’
