Blogs in English. I don’t write blogs every day but only when I feel like it.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
One of the jobs, in fact the first ever job I had -even though it was a long time ago- I remember so well.
In 1986 I got a job at the office of BGEA (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association) in Amsterdam working as an Office Assistant and later as a Steward at the RAI conference building. It was a job with great colleagues. Introduced by a dear friend (who is sadly long longer with us) I got a job high up in a tower block with offices (first time in an elevator). My job was to water plants at the office, amongst numerous other duties such as running errands, making coffee and cutting cake for guests, preparing mailings and much more. You can say I was the general dogsbody at the office, being able to stick my head around every corner to say hello to every colleague in the building and we had loads of fun too.
Yes I know it’s only January and it is way too early for Spring Cleaning but as some of you may have noticed I have cleaned up the Poems category at my website. I did it for a good reason which I will explain to you.
Christmas in our house is and has always been a tradition of being together remembering the birth of Christ, going to church for Carols, reading about His birth in the Holy Bible, a Christmas Tree and and yes, an abundance of food too.
And after years without them another family tradition is back: playing Christmas records on the old record player which is fully restore now. We don’t question all these things, they are there and we all accept that it is like that and we like it that way.
