English Blog Archieven - Pagina 2 van 21

WWI remembrance day 2018

10 november 201811 november 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

WWI 1914 – 1918. 100 years ago.

265248 Private Robert John Smith of the 9th Battalion, Norfolk Regiment, died in Flanders fields, 21/03/1918, Born in Mattishall, Norfolk. Enlisted in Norwich, Norfolk. Gerry Francis’ Granddad. Great Granddad of Annette and Chris and Malcolm. He and so many others gave their lives for us. We will never forget.

100 Reasons

100 Years ago there was no reason
For killing 100 Soldiers on a day or more
100 Years today
There are 100 reasons
That we’ve learned from 100 Years before
To live another 100 years again
Without a war

Hearing Aids

28 september 201828 september 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

You can hardly see them, these little things behind my ears. This week I got hearing aids. For years now I have been experiencing hearing loss and I kept asking others -mostly my wife- to repeat what they were saying to me as I couldn’t understand it straight away.

People have been trying to reach me in numerous ways over the last ten years, talking slowly, loud, slowly and loud, spelling it out, getting irritated with me or becoming angry with me because I could not confirm what was said.

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There is a first for everything

20 september 20181 september 2019 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

Yesterday I had to pick up my mother in my little red car to go to my little sister’s 43rd birthday. She is 78 and stubborn as a mule and very, very distrustful so I was warned that there was a possibility that she would refuse to get in my little Microcar and just wait for my dad who was already at the party to pick her up instead.

He had planned that morning to collect my Niece from elementary school as he said it was more fun to do and since he had no intention to pick up my mum himself. So I relieved him from his duty by volunteering for the job and drove off to my parents house.

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Go (Roller) Blind!

5 september 20185 september 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

Last night I wanted to close the roller blinds in our bed room a little bit more but it didn’t lock and went straight to the top where I could only just reach it on my tip toes. Butt naked.

Well, I had to decide in a split second wether to grab above or below and I chose the thingy on the blinds. And then I noticed a neighbour walking his dog in the street.

Going out

3 september 20183 september 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

I love this little car, my Microcar M.Go. It’s compact so whenever I go out, in this case for my photography hobby, I can just park it anywhere I like.

There’s always a little patch of grass next to the road big enough to put it on and grab my camera.

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The Railway Station

17 augustus 201818 augustus 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

This picture is taken from the platform at the Railway Station last night. I went to school here in Amersfoort, the place where I live now. When I was a boy those fences on the right in the picture weren’t there and neither weren’t there any buildings. Just flat grass land.

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Poor

3 augustus 20183 augustus 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

I am not a Roman Catholic myself but I do respect their ways of experiencing their belief and this is why I wear this medal of Saint Francis. On the back it says “Pray for us”, Saint Francis is the Patron Saint for the poor.

This little medal reminds me to pray for them every now and then. I was poor once and living on the streets. That was a long time ago but I have not forgotten the kindness received from people, a meal, a sandwich and occasionally a drink. Very rarely I was offered a bed and shower and once a few quit to spend on clothing at the Salvation Army shop.

Do not forget the poor, do not forget them in your prayers, God bless you.

Schön ist die Welt

8 juli 20188 juli 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

On a perfect early Sunday evening where earlier my family was gathered in the house for a meal now scattered over four floors and Doris Day is singing with the most wonderful angelic voice ever heard on earth in perfect German Schön ist die Welt I am now sinking back in my armchair to reminisce about that same feeling years ago in another time and place so far away and yet I am in another castle of my own but for me it doesn’t matter as I am perfectly content and the world ís a beautiful place and I can close my eyes.

Yawn

13 juni 201813 juni 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

I never recovered from that fire alarm that went off early this morning, I just can’t stop yawning all day long.

This morning we were all ‘alarmed’ so to speak when my beloved woman decided to use deodorant spray right underneath the fire and smoke detector. Not a wise idea as it appeared.

I tried to go to sleep again after that but when I lay in bed after I switched it off I just had to laugh. I mean, how many times in your life will it happen that you stand on a chair at 6 in the morning in front of the love of your life shouting, “it’s ok love don’t panic, I love you dear!”? Butt naked?

Time traveling

4 maart 20184 maart 2018 Leendert van Gemeren Reageer

Many years ago I lived in England for a few years, I am sure I have told you all about it on many occasions. Even though I love my life in The Netherlands, the love of my life my wife, and my four children and all the friends I have here, I do long to be there at times.

I think it has to do with all these great memories I have of those good time I had as a young man, being in England, having friends around me there (just as I have them around me here nowadays) and not in the least the British food. Yes, there are times I wish I could just pop over for a pint or a proper English meal.

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