Author Archives: maryjane678

A week in photos and videos

Hello and welcome to the latest blog from The Olivia Rose Diaries on 21st June 2024. The blog this week is a collage of photos and videos from the past few days, a summary of our last week heading north. We have reached the very tip of the Netherlands, after this we head south. WeContinue reading “A week in photos and videos”

Taking the Turf Route

Hello and welcome to the latest blog from The Olivia Rose Diaries on June 4th 2024. A bird of prey glides low over the marshes, hooked beak and sharp eyes scanning the ground below. Without warning it drops and stays down, hidden in the long grass. I wait, but it it doesn’t fly off againContinue reading “Taking the Turf Route”

Searching for a wilderness

Hello and welcome to the latest blog from The Olivia Rose Diaries on May 26th 2024. The Netherlands is a small, densely populated country and, unless you have escaped to an island in the middle of a lake, you are never far from a road, houses, people, planes and other boats. Much as I enjoyContinue reading “Searching for a wilderness”

Rivers, lakes and islands – the many faces of the Netherlands

Hello and welcome to the latest blog from The Olivia Rose Diaries on May 17th 2024. We cruised through two very different areas of the Netherlands this week, beginning with the lovely River Vecht, and then moving on to the Randmeren lakes. Each of them represents a different facet of this fascinating country, one thatContinue reading “Rivers, lakes and islands – the many faces of the Netherlands”

Seven million tulips – the wonder of Keukenhof, the Garden of Europe

Hello and welcome to the latest blog from The Olivia Rose Diaries on April 30th 2024. The tulips at Keukenhof have been on my ‘must see’ list for years. These world-renowned gardens are only open for a short period each year, March 21st to May 12th for 2024, and we had a window of opportunityContinue reading “Seven million tulips – the wonder of Keukenhof, the Garden of Europe”

Back to the Netherlands on the night sleeper

Hello and welcome to the latest blog from The Olivia Rose Diaries on April 22nd 2024. We are on the move once again, taking the night train to Paris and from there to the Netherlands. I can’t sleep. I’m guessing it’s the early hours of the morning and I can tell from the restless movementsContinue reading “Back to the Netherlands on the night sleeper”

The chilling world of AI – what does it mean for a writer?

Hello and welcome to the latest blog from The Olivia Rose Diaries on April 13th 2024. I have a rather different subject for this week, one that I write from the point of view of an author of travel books and memoirs. We all recognise that the world around us is changing incredibly quickly. SometimesContinue reading “The chilling world of AI – what does it mean for a writer?”