today is tomorrow's yesterday ...
bridge
what has 2021 brought to you?
have there been days at which you had no food? how many days were you in a hospital or with a therapist? how many hours did you travel to/from work? how many times have you fallen asleep without placing your phone on the charger? how often did someone show an interest in you? were you ready for a new car? how often did you pay attention to the people around you? have you had all your covid-19 vaccinations? have you met an old lover? did you receive a fatal message from your doctor? were you pleasantly surprised by nice messages from family or friends? have you made it clear to your partner how important he/she is to you? have you ever forgotten to wear your mouth/nose mask? did you deal with particularly dishonest people? did you or did your family have to deal with covid-19? was your fridge ever empty? how difficult are the covid-19 measures for you? fo you finally have some rest after a hectic year? was an unexpected bouquet of flowers delivered? when was the last time you ate a pizza?
do you have enough power to start the new year? or are you going to sleep for a few days first?
yes, we know that you can't always get what you want, what you need... but ...will you join us, across the bridge, to 2022 ? yes, we won’t give up, is it ?
2021-12-31
merrineum
merrineum ... the days in between christmas and new year ... it is kind of a vacuum ...
it's a stage with brain fog in the head ... with many questions too ... like who is going to hear a serious verdict from the doctors ? ... and, when can deferred med surgeries take place? ... and, will the children - at a great distance - manage this life? ... and, what will win, a wish for a meeting or covid-19 ?
anyway … reading books will help … books about meeting areas at a distance … what about “ a short history of tractors in ukranian “ ?
and next to that music offers relief, very much … music is a great deal of life … a o music from the seventees in the former age … like Moustaki …
still a lot of brain fog … and the weather doesn’t help …
moustaki / l'homme au cœur blessé
2021 12 29
xmas
despite world's serious worries ... despite the hard conditions you maybe have to meet ...
we do wish you to have very fine lights at christmas ... with meeting your relatives and friends ...
there always will be a New Light ...
2021 12 25
yule
was it because of the winter solstice that thoughts and feelings were in a minor key today? was it because we don't know what life with a likely permanent corona virus will bring us? was it because this day only briefly provided us with bright sunlight?
the evening and long night crept in, in stocking feet. we are entering an uncertain time. the christmas lights in the garden make a desperate attempt to bring the mood to a positive balance. but for today that is unsuccessful.
then better make kale according to the recipe from 21-12-1966 ? a recipe from the achterhoek, but can be found everywhere on the WWW.
does it provide comfort ? does it give you any courage ? maybe any comforting music ?
anyway ... today it's a moment to enlight and revive your inner fire and to transform the negative into a very positive energy ! let go the old burdens and habits, and prepare yourself for spiritual rebirth ...
winter solstice / music meditation
2021-12-21
gossip
In the past everyone knew each other in this village. This is fading due to the arrival of people from the big city and the settlement of migrants. But the old core still knows each other. And that comes with a lot of gossip. The gossip is often based on not knowing each other, or on exploring what reality can be and what unreality is not. That gossip is often not even negative. That gossip can also generate initiatives, such as caring for each other, such as looking after each other.
Taking care of each other was a characteristic of the population here fifty years ago. Like in many places in the Netherlands. But gradually this concern was regarded as meddling. The curtains closed around 6pm. The strings disappeared from the doors. The conversations often turned into actual gossip.
From a nice article in the weekend edition of newspaper Trouw ( 2021 11 27 ) we learned that we can deal more appropriately with the lives of our neighboring people. But the primary concern only is: “All you need to know about others is whether they have enough to eat.” ( Emine Uğur ).
Yes, today, there was just a large portion of pea soup in the garden. From neighbours. Thanks ! It was an inspiration to continue this ourselves.
2021 12 10
mutti
we really appreciated it ! her direction of the german government for a long time, as well as the direction of the policies of the european union. dr angela merkel provided a peace of mind at the most dangerous moments in post-war europe, not least through direct contact with the russian 'chef d'équipe' and her knowledge and use of the russian language.
this lady ensured peace in europe, this lady - albeit a bit overconfident - took care of the reception of thousands of asylum seekers where other countries in eastern europe renounced. her statement "wir schaffen das" has turned out to be more than just three words.
she kept her back straight during high-level conversations, and even though she didn't appreciate our russian friend letting a labrador into the conference room as part of the diplomatic game, she remained alert and determined.
dr angela merkel once said she wanted to leave politics before she became a “half-dead wreck”. she did.
and now: her choice of music at her farewell! see the links ...
this chancellor was and is our favorite 'mutti' ... danke schön !
2021 12 06
faces
no one can escape the consequences of the spread of COVID-19 and all possible variants. our free life is over. many free options are over. we can no longer travel in an airplane without good decency. international business relations take place via the digital highway. international personal relations have to endure because digital contacts are not enough.
we can no longer freely embrace the loved ones. we only see each other through a screen of a telephone. and then we recognize and acknowledge each other.
but what about the relationship between parents and young children, parents who go shopping with mouth-nose masks on, young children who are not yet wearing a mouth-nose mask … how can children see the mimicry of an adult's face ? are their eyes able to understand the correct expressions ? have you seen how dazed some children in a store react too ?
2021 12 04
trek
for now these words will do ...
i look for your face in the morning light
a warm glow dances on your cheeks and eyes
i can't forget all those times that we spent
finding each piece of ourselves
couldn't stop our ascent
across a new sky
making old friends
paths lead to places we'll find
here's where we begin
take every day, make it something new
with eye wide watching everything we do
2021 11 20
road
be honest …
aren't we all a little damaged, or maybe a little more? aren't we all damaged by our parents and other educators?
if I knew what
safety looked like
i would have spent
less time falling into
arms that were not
( rupi kaur / page 13 / milk&honey )
how sure are we then of the road ahead?
is there a way?
is it an empty road?
or is it an illusion?
take life as it comes ...
2021 11 19
severe
one of our best friends from a former work situation ... a person who lived healthy, and always provided creative solutions, and always was working with a good heart for the people around him ... always cheerful, always new music, always very beautiful photos ...
now he was unexpectedly struck by the most terrible disease imaginable, with after a month still no prospect of a possible cure … with another weekend waiting for a solution …
compared to this suffering, my worries are meaningless! my worries pale in comparison to the face of his life-and-death struggle. yes, i'm going to be ashamed of what i thought was important.
hold on, my friend ! we are here for YOU !
2021 11 17
greed
it’s personally … an ultimate peaceful funeral by only those people as desired by mom/grandma …
and only then it did begin ... the great grabbing by the people who are not entitled to it, the claiming of what is not there, the denial of what was there ... the discarding of the tiniest family ties ...
the well-meaning persons signed in favor of all …
w'll return to this, at an unexpected place and time, with unexpected texts from the archive, with unexpected images and diaries including … be prepared … or better not ...
oh yes, we are tougher than the rest ...
2021 11 16
village
that has been my credo for decades -the credo of this website too cos everything and everyone is close - thanks to globalization and internationalization -
but is it still correct?
transport by containers has become incredibly expensive, our Christmas goodies are stuck on their route -migrants run aground on visible and invisible borders, and on the unwillingness of recipient countries -covid-19 has closed borders, the boundaries for many beloved ones have become unbridgeable - seasonal workers can no longer go to the UK so urkeys there will not appear on the Christmas table - air travel has a huge impact on our climate and let us think about the need for it ...
we will return to a life in our villages, so
after covid-19 / to the village
2021 11 02
28
you are so far away
and you are so far away too
you twins are so far away ...
for me it is incomprehensible
for me it is hardly bearable ...
i do not know -
what evil forces hide behind this distance,
which people pushed you in a non-family direction,
what are your daily thoughts,
if I'm ever in your thoughts ...
what i do know -
I would have loved to share the present day with you,
I would like to contribute to your life,
my daily thoughts are of a caring nature,
you are in my thoughts and prayers daily ...
for now –
enjoy your birthday
I’m not going anywhere, I’ll be here ...
Look at the stars
Look how they shine for you
And all the things that you do
fatherly love / by my greek friend
2021-10-30
quand
il semble lié à la vieillesse,
aux conditions de travail,
au covid-19,
à la pollution de l'air,
à la perte d'un partenaire,
au manque de sommeil,
à une immunité défaillante,
à trop de soucis,
aux gènes,
à une mauvaise alimentation,
au manque de prévoyance,
à malchance
il y a beaucoup de gens qui disent
"je suis malade"
quand est-ce mon tour?
2021 10 29
waste
a day with a golden edge ...
because of
the calm of the sea,
the nice people,
the finds on this beach,
waste included.
someone will have had fun
with the contents of this waste.
the owner of the bottle
left a few gulps for the finder
thank you ...
so today's time wasted at the beach was time spent well ...
2021 10 28
gem
a special gem was discovered ... the object was stored too well ...
it is a miracle that the object has remained in good condition for almost 100 years, and in the place where the real stakeholders can access it...
the route of this yr 1922 object has been established and communicated a long time ago ... right now there is a safe place for this special gem ...
2021 10 26
indian
In the eighties of the last century there were many trees in our street. It was a real avenue that lived up to its name. But progressive man has cut down many of these gems. Only a few of these trees have escaped the dance of chopping.
We consider ourselves lucky to have three beautiful birches in the garden. They provide a beneficial shade, absorb CO2, and produce oxygen. These birches are also a feast to the eyes in a world full of concrete / fences / walls / parked cars / monotonicity.
Our three trees in the village garden are still green and full of leaves. We can already see some discoloring, but it is minimal. Because there is no night frost, the leaf discoloration starts very slowly. We don't see the colors which are connected to an 'Indian Summer' yet due to lack of sun and cold nights.
2021 10 25
zu hause
es gibt viele schöne und weniger schöne Erinnerungen an das Elternhaus ...
es gibt nur wenige physische Erinnerungen an das Elternhause außer Fotos… unsere Mutter hat 2007 das Haus ausgeräumt, das Haus, in dem ich bis zu meinem 17 gewohnt habe ...
nur ein paar Artefakte konnten wir aus der Müllhalde oder dem Secondhand-Laden retten ...
das schönste objekt ist endlich zu Hause ... Anna ...
mey / lass nun ruhig los das Ruder ...
2021 10 23
sleep
without names ...
he was struck by heart failure
she sees her partner suffering from unwanted cancer cells
he unintentionally got involved in a conflict
she lost her father to impossible headaches
he unexpectedly got confronted with asbestos in the lungs
she lost her best friend
he suffered a stroke twice
she was hit by covid-19
life is not infinite ...
am i prepared ?
are you ?
the world is more beautiful while at sleep ...
2021 10 21
bloes
the weather is not cooperating today ... the drizzle takes all the color out of nature ... the music that fits best to this day is the blues ...
the blues in the link is a nod to the Dutch word 'bloes' (blouse) ... maybe a smile will appear on your face ...
tomorrow hopefully the weather will be better ...
2021 10 19
wietur
Today you would have turned 95 years young. Would you have wanted to experience it ? In my opinion you should be glad to have missed the COVID-19 times, the greed by the many, the insecure situations on peace and the lack of affordable energy sources.
Your grave has been visited / cleaned by me, some weeks ago. At Christmas a next visit is planned. Meanwhile the image of you is alive, and so are the memories on you. Your friend Frank Dell ( 94-yrs young ) was in touch today, by phone ! Tonight I will toast on you with your beloved beer, Palm!
"De muzeek geet wietur ! "
2021-10-17
yellow
Let's ...
resuming life … resuming life so far … the many fine moments, and the some bad moments as well ...
and the all in one credits … life has been a rollercoaster so far …many mistakes and mismatches … my apologizes for that ! …
let’s ...
go on for a while … go on with the few friends around … go on waiting for the new line still …
I drew a line
I drew a line for you
What a thing to do
And it was all yellow …
2021 10 16
dolores
Let's say 20 years ago ... my employer sent me to the UK to perfect my English language skills in geography classes ... I ended up in Bristol, with a lovely family . .. I was supposed to find my way independently ... how to find the University of Bristol ? … no clue, no help ( in purpose ) … I managed it by a friendly bus driver …
one night I was in a bar ... Bristol ... I sat next to a nice lady ... it was an animated conversation about life, the opportunities, the possibilities and also the impossibilities, but above all about music ...
in the end we exchanged names ... the nice young lady turned out to be Dolores O'riordan ...
what a great experience ! thank you !
2021 10 11
lost
Strolling the southernmost city of the country for less than half a day. The weather was fantastic, but actually it was way too hot in the fall. I certainly saw the beauty of the city. But there was no rest to further investigate items of interest to me. Yes, I was amazed at the large amount of people around me. Have I outgrown the cities maybe ?
But 'La Bonne Femme' graciously served me with her always delicious onion soup. And my company was safe and entertaining.
Back in my own safe town, the spicy chicken pieces caressed my tongue. It was a confirmation for me: my own village and the surrounding farm landscape suit me more.
tribute to Maastricht / neyman
2021 10 10
nr6
To me this lady is a genuine hero. I visited the Theresienstadt Camp without awareness of the story of this lady. And yes, nowadays my days always start with her music. She survived Terezin in Czech Republic.
" We had to play because the Red Cross came three times a year. The Germans wanted to show its representatives that the situation of the Jews in Theresienstadt was good. Whenever I knew that I had a concert, I was happy. Music is magic. We performed in the council hall before an audience of 150 old, hopeless, sick and hungry people. They lived for the music. It was like food to them. If they hadn't come [to hear us], they would have died long before. As we would have."
This is what hits me ... each day ... this power ...
Meanwhile yr 2014 this lady passed the rainbow. There is an interview created year 2009 at YouTube.
2021 10 07
autumn
Today it was raining ‘cats and dogs’. That suits the time of year. Comforting words by Cohen go by these moments:
So set your restless heart at ease
Take a lesson from these Autumn leaves
They waste no time waiting for the snow
from: smokey life / recent songs ( cohen )
Soon the tulip bulbs will go back into the soil. With some new bulbs as an extra. There is no doubt about it: despite climate change, Spring will come again on its own. With a lot of positive spirits around w’ll manage it.
ede staal / 't zel weer veujoar worden
2021 10 06
digital
I performed a rigid cleaning and let tune the piano by a professional … From the very past there were pots with rolled newspapers and water in the piano, in order to achieve a humidification the piano’s climate …
Volkskrant, July 4th 1994 showed an article on achieving intimacy in a time of social transition … “the digital loving has begun and it is the fastest growing kind of relationship of this age” …
To me it seemed an impossible move … But, nothing is impossible, till it’s done !
2021 10 01
dreams
Evacuations from rigid regimes - floods – victims of covid-19 - overcrowded hospitals - crop failures - unfair elections - lost children – unfair people around … severe diseases ... let’s sleep, let’s dream, let’s have calming dreams …
“ Those who have got nothing to wait - they are hitting the road
Those who are saved, those who are saved...
And to those who are going to sleep - have calm dreams, a calm night ...
To those who' are going to sleep - have calm dreams, a calm night ... “ (Tsoi)
Viktor Tsoi is regarded as one of the pioneers of Russian rock and is known as one of the most influential and popular people in the history of Russian music.
2021 08 31
libre
“Nous prendrons le temps de vivre, d’être libre. Nous ourrons rever notre vie, tout est possible, tout est permis".Moustaki
The Netherlands will carry out the last evacuation flights from Afghanistan later today. The United States has informed the Dutch that they must leave. The departure plan of the embassy team and the military has come into effect. They will leave with the last flights. Despite all the efforts of the past period, people who are eligible for evacuation to the Netherlands will remain behind. Small teams of soldiers from various countries remain in the region with rapidly deployable aircraft in case people can still be brought to safety.
"Many dreams of a life in freedom are over, not everything seems to be possible, a lot won’t be allowed".PD
2021 08 26
cygana
I was on a train to Moscow. Attended by my bike. I passed Berlin and took a picture of the remnants of the AGFA-Gevaert company. While looking for the Pzifer booster in Moscow I met my dad. He was on a bike there too. I found the person who I was searching for while she ate borch in a restaurant. There was a Polish version of Cohen’s Gipsy Wife to be heard in the streets.
At this very moment I woke up from my last night’s dream.
2021-08-23
load
The picture speaks for itself.
Before Boeing 747 had been introduced traveling by air over a long range was rather expensive. Maximum loads were at about 144 passengers, and by the Jumbojet is was possible to transport over 400 passengers in one haul.
This week 820+ Afghan men, women and children, crouch and cram against each other on the floor of a United States military plane as it leaves Kabul after the city was seized by the Taliban. A photograph showing the Afghan civilians – some clutching luggage, others bottle-feeding infants – on the C-17 Globemaster cargo aircraft on Sunday has gone viral on social media.
2021-08-19
imploding
The world is - in our opinion - in a moment of imploding. One terrible news follows the other in rapid tempo. Still a.o. many infections with COVID-19, with earthquakes and storms in Haiti, with an impossibly many people who want to flee from the city of Kabul, with previously unthinkable attacks on young people on the Dutch island of Schouwen-Duiveland, with 250+ families every week who depend on the food bank in our hometown, with impossibly long distances to medical help in one of the two villages/cities we live in, and with the loss of biodiversity. But we have courage! The Dutch neighbors brought a cartload of tomatoes. Tomorrow we will process that into pasta sauce for the winter to come.
2021-08-18
konik
As part of the former job there have been several meetings with students and teachers abroad, all of them contributing to an understanding of mutual cultures and enriching views on life. Today a story on Poland.
Torun, Bydgoszcz, Gdansk, but most of all the city of Naklo nad Notecia hit us by the ultimate friendly people and their hospitality. I remember the gift of Piotr at leaving: a box with freshly prepared bigos by his mom, to be consumed in the Netherlands. And what about a concert in Bydgoszcz where we learned the ‘white voices’ ?! But what about the enthusiasm by Polish students at singing / dancing on Konik na Biegunach ?! Oh yes, I could communicate with farmers south of Naklo, not by words, by hands and sign language only. In the eves: the meeting at Emilia, the piano to be remembered.
2021-08-09
pуслан
Recently we acquired a Dutch 1980 copy of Faithful Ruslan. Set in a remote Siberian depot immediately following the demolition of one of the gulag’s notorious camps and the emancipation of its prisoners, The novel circulated in samizdat for more than a decade, The author was one of the promising young writers seen as representing new hope for Russian literature in the de-Stalinisation thaw of the 1950s and early 1960s. A starving stray, tortured and abandoned by the godlike “Master” whom he has unconditionally loved, Ruslan and his cadre of fellow guard dogs stay dutiful. Cruelty all around, but a dog can’t be aware of that and Ruslan stays a faithful dog. A story by Vladimov which sticks to a certain period.
2021-08-04
stages
"It was not a scientific evaluation.
Just something that arose over a cup of coffee.
It went something like this:
You start off irresistible
And, then you become resistible
And then you become transparent
Not exactly invisible, but as if you are seen through old plastic
And then you actually do become invisible
And then, and this is the most amazing transformation you become repulsive
But that’s not, that’s not the end of the story
After repulsive, you become a cute
And that’s where I am."
2021-08-03
inspiration
Inspiration is a kind of energy. Inspiration often brings creativity and can spark the drive we’ll need to get through. W’ve been inspired by the courage of Dutch/Russian grandparents, the persistence of cosmonaut Gagarin, the many blessings in times of solitude by Cohen besides his friendship, the endurance of Dell besides his friendship, the walking around his garden a hundred times by Tom, the power and music of Herz-Sommer, the sunrays at opening the blinds and many more. W’re grateful for that.
2021-08-02
water
Water is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living organisms.. It is vital for all known forms of life.
In what is know as the 'Western world' the providing of clean water by tap is nothing to worry about. But in many many countries there is existing a war on water supplies due to lack of any source, or because of the contamination of water. Desalination of water from the sea is an opportunity, but expensive. Climate change with a progress in the number of dry periods in a lot of areas is a real challenge.
But did you know about the temporarilyshut off hot water service to residences for a week or two/three during the summer months in Russia ?
2021-08-01
doubt
The doubt about selling mom's dacha in Tver area ... the doubt on giving up her farmland ... the swimming in river Wolga ... the collecting herbs, berries and mushrooms ... the indepence ... Age demands an impossible answer ... But it is an impossible hard decision still ... The dacha will be sold to 'good' people with an intention of preserving this fabulous spot and house. Meanwhile our mom is a hero !
2021 07-30
village
In the meantime, we are almost five months further from an earlier report in April 2021. Health and other difficult developments caused a delay in reporting.
Yes, we hold on, according to the credo of PD-sr. But it was damn difficult in a world where contacts were reduced to the minimum. By now, COVID-19 could certainly be called COVID-21.
In a former periode of my life, as a teacher of Geography, the motto was "the world is a village" referring to the fact that everything and everyone is close by, that there are no borders anymore thanks to affordable flight connections and the Internet. But COVID-19 put an end to that: closed borders, 'red countries' on the map, quarantine measures, insufficient amount of vaccinated people. Only the Internet was an opportunity to be in touch, and WhatsApp and similar social media. Distrust between the nations. Distrust of vaccine yields. The world no longer is a real village. It seems to be a point of no return. The world mid 2021 no longer is a village.
2021-07-26
serious
The NEWS says that we:
never get rid of COVID-19 and related mutants again
are hardly able to change the climate in a positive way
will never be able to easily meet each other over long distances again
must continue to limit our physical contacts for a long time
The close EXPERIENCES teach us that:
indescribably cruel diseases strike in the immediate vicinity
many saw their future lost due to the financial consequences of COVID-19 and related mutants
relationships are put to the test due to a lack of opportunities for contact
the flowers remain growing as usual
Inner HOPE says that we:
must keep courage
must use our smartphones and computers to keep in touch
may learn from past generations which survived many disasters
may hope for LIGHT getting in again
2021-02-27
floppy
Do you remember your first use of a computer?
The computer arose from the need to solve a number of calculation problems. By 1880, it took in the US more than seven years to prepare election results, so a faster way was needed to get this job done. In the elections in 2020, the job was done in a few days, with the help of computers.
The first computer took up an entire room. Today we have smartphones with more computing power than the early computers. Your smartphone from 2021 contains more computing power than a computer from the year 2000.
I remember when I first used a computer, one of Apple's first machines with a floppy drive, to create schedules for teachers and students. There was no "cloud" yet. Consequently: a move of all equipment (heavy appliance + screen + keyboard) from / to home. Was there already the use of a "mouse"? Many "floppies" were present because the storage space was very limited.
Nowadays: Is there a life without a computer / laptop imaginable? How many days have you not used your laptop / smartphone in the past week? Are you addicted to the computing power of your smartphone? That's difficult, isn't it ?!
2021-02-27
direction
" Where you go there you are " (GB).
Men consider and decide. Every day we make a decision about the next steps in life. As long as you think you are independent, and not hindered by physical setbacks and / or negative socio-economic circumstances, it is wonderful to be able to make big and small decisions.
If, for whatever reason, things go against the grain, then “a few people living by the road mean more to the right direction than a compass” (Bauer).
Have you met those people living along your road ?
2021-02-24
spring
Is it spring already? A week ago we were able to skate at -5C still … but now it suddenly seems like spring at + 16C ! We already saw traffic jams from cars in the direction of the Zeeland beaches! Ho ho, do these visitors have respect for "our" Cherry Beach *?
But we are not over the corona period yet. Is the worst yet to come ? Will we continue to respect curfew restrictions ? Don't we all want to be able to meet our loved ones and friends in a normal way again? There are still hundreds of people in the ICU units of our hospitals, and some patients are still cared for in a friendly neighboring country. There are so many people in need, so many people who buried their loved ones. There are so may people living in between hope and fear dor other reasons. It suits us to continue to be careful, right?
But still, we long for a spring in our life, for unbridled enjoyment, for free travel, for a life as it was intended. This will certainly succeed with due and continued caution! Us against the world !
Us against the world / YouTube
* Cherry Beach = beach at Brouwersdam where long ago we ate one kilo of cherries
2021-02-20
route
Our dad's car is unconditionally bound to Route 66 … Why ? … From October 1992 on ( 66th birthday of dad ) our dad every of his birthdays has been provided with music on cassette tapes to be used while driving his majestic car. He preferred a.o. the Kelly Family / Paganini / Bruce Springsteen / Vivaldi … so we did … till October 17th 1997 … route 71 …
2021-02-19
first
I barely had recovered from leaving my first courtship to a place far away in the north of the country… there was a holiday job in Apeldoorn… I there met "big cousin with a solid dating"… these more experienced teenagers already had LPs! … I saw and heard Simon & Garfunkel… the Sound of Silence…
Yes, my father provided me with a pickup installation… why? … To bring me more into the world? He was a great fan of many kinds of music, about which more in any of the following blogs.
All guilders were raked together… and at Te Linde / Aalten (or was it Obbink, or maybe Rhebergen?) I got my first own LP… The Animals… House of the Rising Sun, of which 'For Miss Caulker' was the winner… fantastic… and we played many of the songs from this LP in a school band, maybe it was awful : =)
Wonderful memories, certainly!
2021-02-17
banapplecrisps
To whom it concerns. Sometimes words come through WhatsApp without the real intention, and therefore not understood or even misunderstood. A cheerful shipment of crisps with apples and bananas are telling. The evening menu is not that difficult to come up with now. Thank you !
2021-02-16
winter
King Winter ruled the Netherlands and that was the perfect time for ice skating enthusiasts. These skating enthusiasts in Ouddorp must have thought that too !
2021-02-15
valentinka
Despite the large amounts of snow in the streets, in the past week we have managed to create a mutual expression of Valentine's thought. Certainly in this special time, which is dominated by COVID-19 and related mutations, it is a particularly beautiful gesture with which attention for each other can be expressed. As if you can't do that every day, yet the opportunity was seized.
Valentine's Day coincides with the feast day of two Christian martyrs by the name of Valentinus. However, the customs associated with the day have nothing to do with the lives of these saints. Read more about the transition from the phrase "anonymous love" to "love" and its commercial exploitation here.
And yes, then there are some questions: "How many glasses of Chardonnay did this all cost?" and “do we still have money for Chardonnay, in summer? Can we still buy a kilo of cherries for our visit to Cherry Beach (Brouwersdam), in summer? “ No worries ! We are sparingly so that we can continue to taste the Chardonnay in next summers. And the motto “Never buy one kilo of cherries!” remains.
И сло́вно ма́ленькое чу́до,
Возни́кла ты в мое́й судьбе́.
С тобо́й себя́ я позабу́ду
И все, что есть, отда́м тебе́!
2021-02-14
message
Do you remember the waiting for the postman handing over your love’s letter ? Do you remember the time that personal news came to you by a telegram ? Do you remember those occasionally short maritime messages from your husband by a UK coastal radio station ? Do you remember using French francs in a call box along the road in order to update your relatives upon your holidays by an Interrail Card ?
Could it have been more real than all the contact via WhatsApp and the like ?
Coastal radio stations / history
Coastal radio stations / YouTube
2021-02-12
reflection
The covid-19 train rumbles on ... near and far, the strongest people eventually pass away when hit by this virus ...
In the meantime we have had to deal with a little snow. It provided fantastic pictures. It made us think how beautiful the nature around us is. But also: how fragile are we ?!
Being trapped because of covid-19, the demise of the people who matter, and a load of snow also meant that you were thrown back on yourself even more than before. Reflection. Who are your true friends? Who cared about you? Who have you supported yourself? “Spiegel im Spiegel” ...
Now we move on. The snow will disappear. The birds can continue without giving them extra food. Can you continue ?
Spivakov 07:00 - 14:00 Spiegel im Spiegel
2021-02-11
relative
Is it a bit cold in the Netherlands? Are we suddenly caught by some snow?
Everything is relative. Certainly when compared to other real suffering around us.
More text in a few days.
But still, take courage in all your decisions! Make a tasty stew of everything in your house, and experience satisfaction.
2021-02-06
prepared
For a moment the corona troubles have faded into the background because the country is in turmoil, awaiting a load of snow and a little frost. Do we have enough food at home? Which trains and buses are still running? But in the meantime the sleds and snow shovels are also being prepared. And we look forward to beautiful snow-covered landscapes.
The thoughts go back to really cold and long winters, such as in the Netherlands in 1979. Were we prepared? Didn't we have newspapers under our clothes as insulation? Or extra - knitted - undergarments? In eastern Europe, the fur coat is still fully accepted because it is a necessity.
Meanwhile this week brave person was cycling home through the rain, with bad news only.
2021-02-05
brave
You have to be very brave to be above average in these times, especially in a country where being moderate is still the norm. "Just act normal, then you are crazy enough already".
About ten years ago, a prime minister said that we must leave the mentality of being moderate behind us and that we must once again get real toppers in education and in the economic sectors. But where are they? How else can the fumbling around the Dutch approach to the corona crisis be explained ? Where are the "great" initiatives?
The crocuses have guts, they are already showing their tops above ground level. With a frost period to come, that is quite brave.
2021-02-04
labkovskiy
You don't have to be a psychologist to be able to judge for yourself how you can organize your life. From education and experience you know for sure what is good for you and for your loved ones. Nevertheless, it is useful to check the principles of Labkovskiy from time to time. He wrote down six rules for a happier and healthier life:
- Do only what you want.
- Don't do what you don't want to do.
- Don't keep silent if you don't like something.
- Don't answer if you're not asked
- Answer only questions.
- Speak only about yourself while arguing.
2021-02-03
ziferblat
On one of our many long walks through Moscow we visited a homey cafe based on a concept we had not seen before in western Europe. You pay for the time you spend in this establishment.
Upon entering, there are dozens of numbered old alarm clocks on a buffet. You write the number of the alarm clock you have chosen and the time of entry into the guestbook. And then you can spend your time as you want, and you make your own coffee or tea, or you heat up a meal. There are always tasty cookies available. You pay a small amount per hour, up to 4 hours even if you spend the whole day there.
We have already experienced this soothingly. Complete silence in the middle of a city that is moving 24/24, traffic included. The young people present almost always speak English, and a conversation about interesting things is then easy to start. We had a pleasant chat with the manager, and with a friendly young man from Turkey too.
At the moment - February 2, 2021 - it is unthinkable in the Netherlands to visit a cafe or a restaurant as a result of the COVID-19 measures. But oh oh, how nice it would be to be able to go to Ziferblat in Moscow or St. Petersburg again !
2021-02-02
later
Later it gets better. But it is strange to know that many will not see the flowers bloom.
2021-01-31
courage
Christmas is long over. But there are still many Christmas trees covered by snow. Trees with surprises. These surprises will soon appear when the temperature (Moscow) goes from -20C to + 5C.
Do these surprises foreshadow the ultimate victory of a proven condition? Yes, you can count yourself lucky when you find yourself in the situation where you are apparently healthy. That is not the case for many.
In the meantime we keep courage.
2021-01-19 picture by ID / 2021-01-19 16:45 Moscow time
waiting
We will wait for it ...
There is an enormous hectic around us ... -20C around the house in Russia ... a little snow and tulips that want to go outside around the house in the Netherlands ... a far too slow start of the anti-covid vaccinations ... a slippery road towards the water sales point in Russia ... too many people together in a supermarket in Brielle ... a center of democracy that has turned into a fortress ... an ultra-modern metro with too many commuters packed together ...
Yesterday we were crazy about happiness. And today ? Yesterday we just got on a plane to and from Moscow. And today ? Yesterday we could make a future. And today ? Yesterday we were able to mingle with the visitors of a service in Sretenski. And today ? Yesterday only cancer was life-threatening. And today ? Yesterday there in hospital was still an opportunity for being scheduled for a relatively simple procedure. And now ? Yesterday we were still busy with work. And today ? Yesterday the tulips knew nothing about the present time. And today ?
We will wait for it … there is no any other option ..
2021-01-17
trees
I was there regularly ... even during heavy storms .. it was sometimes haunted ... In my imagination I saw the raging sea on the left side of this dike, I saw the farmers strengthen their joint dike with the limited resources available. I saw their grain drown in the salt water.
There is now no question of any threat from the side of the sea. The polder is protected by a sturdy sea dike all around and by the Haringvlietdam and Grevelingendam respectively. It is a dike mainly used by farmers. And by a lonely cyclist.
The trees are waiting patiently now, they are waiting for the coming higher temperatures. The green leaf automatically reappears in the spring, the leaves that consume our excess CO2, and return O2 to the environment in return.
Rows of trees on dikes are not only useful elements of the environment, they are - in my opinion - also beautiful designers of the cultural landscape. They determine my flat landscape. And when the time is right, they also yield wood. Wood for furniture, clogs, warmth. The value of trees.
It was nice to be here on 01 02 2021. The regularity of nature, the ever-present trees, it gives peace.
Stellendam NL / 2021 01 14
soldiers
Meanwhile ...
A retarded youngster received a free portion of fries with mayonnaise at a french-fries shop in Tholen ...
Also in the Russian winter, "company guard dogs" were fed every day at a company in Moscow ...
Was fresh pea soup distributed in Hellevoetsluis ...
Was a microwave oven moved to a person in need in South Holland …
Was there a powerful @ from the province of Groningen ...
In the village I live in, a tired nurse went on the night shift again on behalf of covid patients ...
In the village I saw a young miller in loneliness turning the mill around in order not to miss out on the subsidy for the building ...
I was pleasantly surprised with beautiful music from Oosterland ...
My eyes saw encouraging new creations from a tiny house in Brielle ...
I received a stunningly beautiful video from an 80+ lady from Tver ...
Was there a bag with groceries in front of someone who needs it ...
There were in a distant country many brave people who defended their democracy ...
I read encouraging messages from Germany ...
I again was invited for a brisk joint walk ...
There during the night was again a nice selection of breathtaking music from Sint-Philipsland ...
I saw all these people doing nice things…
remembrance
All moments once are a past. But all moments have a memory.
The best moments have a date, the worst memories also have a date.
Today we commemorate Victor from Tallinn / Estonia. In our memory a fantastic father, uncle and brother. The memory includes the hard fight against an approaching end, but also the night train journey to his city.
Today a little bit of the new Light could be seen above the Oosterschelde. The first anniversary a new life elsewhere.
Oosterschelde / NL 2021-01-06
promise
The numbers are terrifying. The suffering caused by COVID-19 cannot be described.
Are we going to hate fellow human beings who do not want to conform to the imposed measures ? Yes ! The impact in our own environment is undeniably great.
Are we going to accept that there are people who deny COVID-19 and its mutations ? No! We are going to make them responsible !
Are we going to accept the ignorance ? No! In 2021 there is fast internet, in 2021 stagecoaches and walking messengers are no longer present !
Promise… yes, there has been a promise for 2000+ years… the Light is coming back…
Or a new Flood after all ?
Haringvliet / NL 2021-01-03
road
Who can say where the road goes
Where the day flows, only time
And who can say if your love grows
As your heart chose, only time.
Who can say when the roads meet
That love might be in your heart,
Picture was rewarded by nothingisordinary_ / Instagram
Oude Dijk / Stellendam 2021-01-02
clock
The clock is ticking mercilessly. There is no more time for disputes and misunderstandings. Many people have a fear of what is to come, or of what is going to fail.
Are we all going to get an anti-covid-vaccination in the short term? Will we travel again in the coming year to Moscow / Normandy / Nieuwenhoorn / Paris / Sint-Philipsland / Tver / Oosterland / Kolomna / Schildwolde…? Are we going to stay healthy?
What is hidden for you in the balls in the Christmas tree? …. Time will tell ! "Only time" ...
We prefer the positive approach ... nothing is impossible !
2021-01-02
