Danish, Danish (and only Danish) Music Day!

Tomorrow, 27 October 2016, is the last Thursday of the month of October which means that it is - selvfølgelig! - “Spil Dansk” (Play Danish Music) Day! 🙂So don't be suprised if the only music you hear on Danish state radio is by Danish groups (some of which also sing in English), Danish songwriters, Danish… Continue reading Danish, Danish (and only Danish) Music Day!

Easter is coming…send a secret letter!

Fastelavn has been and gone. The snow has been and gone (with the occasional flurry to keep us guessing). So what's next on the Danish calendar? Easter beer and eggs!The kids will be on Easter break from next Friday - woo hoo – no more pesky packed lunches until they restart on Tuesday 29 March :-)… Continue reading Easter is coming…send a secret letter!

My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 14 December (Et barn er født)

Welcome to My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar!  Join me every day in opening a new door.  Once again, I’ve got a host of goodies to share with you – traditional Danish Christmas recipes, traditions, songs, games, decorations, crafts and landscapes…  So sit back, relax and enjoy!14 DECEMBERToday is Sunday, the third in Advent, so this morning… Continue reading My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 14 December (Et barn er født)

Halloween! And the Marsh Woman is brewing…

Woop, woop!  It's Friday and - for the kids and the young at heart - also Halloween!  The weather in Copenhagen is perfect for a spooky night: our clocks went back on Sunday so it's twilight by 5pm, there's a real chill in the air and it's not really raining but just damp. Yesterday morning… Continue reading Halloween! And the Marsh Woman is brewing…

Granny, your Mum's Mum and your uncle Bob!

Hello, hello  - yes, I'm still here!  I haven't been away on holiday, honest.  I've actually been unable to post since the end of last week (the Denmark website was moved to a new server and some gremlins apparently went along for the ride).  But, hey ho, the editors here tell me that we're all good, so… Continue reading Granny, your Mum's Mum and your uncle Bob!

Spunk?! Well, it doesn't mean vacuum cleaner…

Today's post will make you think I have a childish sense of humour (if you're British), or that I have an indepth knowledge of Danish sweets (rest of the world).  Here goes!  Have you seen Danish spunk?It comes in small, cellophane wrapped packets.  Available as wine gums or [blech!] salty liquorice flavour.  You will remember… Continue reading Spunk?! Well, it doesn't mean vacuum cleaner…

That smell? Must be the priest…

A word of warning about today's post: genteel ladies should stop reading now.  Or at least go and fetch their smelling salts...'Tis currently the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness here in Denmark.  Misty - well, very damp and dewey - in the mornings, so remember to keep a cloth handy for wiping down your… Continue reading That smell? Must be the priest…

Donald Duck, a Swede and a blonde walk into a bar…

I've never quite understood the Danish mania for Anders And - Donald Duck.  But my DDH (dear Danish husband), DS14 (dear son, 14) and DD12 (dear daughter, 12) are real nerds and never tire of reading (and re-reading for the umpteenth time...) the comics. I've lost count of the number of Jumbobøger ("Jumbo" books - comics… Continue reading Donald Duck, a Swede and a blonde walk into a bar…

Gæk, gæk, gæk? Guess your way to an Easter egg!

My kids will be on Easter break from Friday.  Woo hoo - no more pesky packed lunches for the next week!  (For them, school restarts Tuesday 22 April.)And that - selvfølgelig - means it's time for a traditional Danish Easter craft: making a gækkebrev - a secret snowdrop letter!  For which we'll need a vintergæk (snowdrop).  Though -… Continue reading Gæk, gæk, gæk? Guess your way to an Easter egg!

I swear I heart Denmark!

If you're a regular reader, you'll know that my blog (hey, make that my general outlook on life) is a "No Whining!" zone.  Positive!  Upbeat!  Optimistic!  Sunny!  As the Flylady says, "Enjoy what you do.  And do what you enjoy!"  Which, in my case, selvfølgelig involves the words "skinny dipping" and "cold water"...:)I mean, come on, really... … Continue reading I swear I heart Denmark!

The Danish Prime Minister (almost) got a nose. A small one!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Update to my original post from Thursday 23 January: Helle didn’t get “a nose” in the end. Today, 24 January, it was announced that, yes, the opposition parties wanted to give her “a nose”. But that they couldn’t agree on… Continue reading The Danish Prime Minister (almost) got a nose. A small one!

My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 4 December

Welcome back to My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar!  Join me every day in opening a new door.  Just like last year, I’ve got a host of goodies to share with you – traditional Danish Christmas recipes, traditions, songs, games, decorations, crafts and landscapes… So sit back, relax and enjoy!4 DECEMBERBrag alert!!!  I have all my Christmas… Continue reading My Danish Christmas Advent Calendar – 4 December

You know you're in Denmark when… (Slut!)

You know you're in Denmark when your daughter finishes off every single story she writes with the word..."Slut"!Before you go calling in the child psychologists, you should know that "slut" is Danish for "The End".  And in Denmark you'll see the word emblazoned on everything from power-point presentations to TV screens... Have a terrific Tuesday!  The End!Diane ;)PS:  A reader… Continue reading You know you're in Denmark when… (Slut!)

God sommer!

My kids had their last day of school today which - selvfølgelig - means that this is also my last blogpost until the start of the new term in mid-August...Summer is here in Copenhagen!  More and more koldskål!  (Don't know what that is?  Read http://blogs.denmark.dk/diane/2013/04/17/forarskriller/) Take a trip to the beach...Baywatch, go home! ;)Don't forget your… Continue reading God sommer!

What did you just call me?

The Danes are a pretty reserved bunch – they don’t raise their voices in public or wave their hands about when they’re speaking. A very well-mannered bunch. The exception to the rule being certain gymnasieelever (high school kids) who love to binge drink, fight amongst themselves and smash hotels – whether they are on winter… Continue reading What did you just call me?