I know most people's reaction to the wind and chill is to dream shiveringly of some tropical beach, but I have to say that the cold weather sends me happily into the warm embrace of the kitchen. Or at least, that's where I long to be. Right now, I find myself, instead, in Amsterdam, that Venice of the North, which at -6 degrees Celsius has managed to be even icier than home. And if I don't have the warmth of my kitchen to shelter in, some generously inclined journalist has just presented me with some oliebollen, like doughnut balls dusted thickly with icing sugar.
Even without such inducements or rewards, I always love being in Amsterdam, though I'm not here for long - back in a couple of days for a period of carol services, Christmas shopping, gift-wrapping and other tasks I should have got started on a while ago. But that's another story......
