A few months ago I was asked to write a couple of articles for the magazine of the International ABBA Fan Club. A copy of the magazine arrived in the mail this week, and so I thought I'd share them here both for general interest, and as an online archive. Anita and Helga who run … Continue reading ABBA Magazine
Tag: netherlands
I wasn't entirely sure why the train trip from Amsterdam to Copenhagen would take fifteen hours. Leaving at 7.00pm on Sunday night and arriving at 10.00am Monday seemed like an awfully slow train. I booked it because it was the easiest, cheapest way for me to get from Amsterdam to Copenhagen. Yes, I know I … Continue reading From Amsterdam to Reykjavik
“Would you like to join us for karaoke?' the young woman standing nearby asked me. As I looked at the list of available songs (all of which were in Dutch) there was one which caught my eye, “Tulpen uit Amsterdam”. With a slight twinkle in my eye, I looked at her and said, “I'll give … Continue reading Five Hours in Amsterdam
“If you're in the ABBA Museum and you're standing near the Ring Ring exhibit, you should answer the phone, as it's probably going to be Frida” we were told by Ingmarie Halling from the ABBA Museum, soon to open in Stockholm. “And if you see the piano suddenly playing, it's gonna be Benny doing it … Continue reading International ABBA Day – The Main Day
I'll be the first to admit I can sometimes be a little bit socially awkward. In a group of four or five people I'm fine, but in a large room I am often the "wall flower" who finds it difficult to meet people and to make conversation. Thus, I've felt slightly apprehensive about my plans … Continue reading International ABBA Day – The First Night
The only two words of the Dutch language I know are "alstublieft" and "bedankt" (please and thankyou). So the following translation of the accompanying hand-written note is only a guestimation on my part. The bearer of this note is obviously a complete idiot. In 2008 he came to the Netherlands and got completely lost on … Continue reading The Dutch Train System – Part Two
I knew the woman at the train station information desk could see the heart-break in my eyes as I approached. I explained to her that, for whatever reason, I'd taken the wrong train, or had failed to get off the right train or something like that, and that's how I ended up in Leiden (thirty … Continue reading The Dutch Train System