Like a treasure hunt...pieces all over the world

2008

2008-02-06T08:51:00.000+01:00

So far? January was basically a total waste of time, and in the latter months of 2007 I've practically only been working and putting back together an interesting social life in Copenhagen. That's the short version...

Now, a time to catch my breath! My contract ran out last Thursday, and with every day that went along, I was and am more and more relieved. I started that job basically from one day to the other, and with all the changes in late summer I hardly had time to look around really.

Oh well, no complaining, but it is nice to have some quiet days to myself now! When I heard my new project was postponed by 8 days, I immediately looked for trips to do, but in the end I'm just sticking around here... Not bad! Am catching up with a lot of things I've been putting off, like a visit to a chiropractor.
Luck has it some opened office about 100 m from my home, so as I'm free now, the guy is adjusting my spine, and damn, it is already feeling better! It also gives some ideas on the fact how much I dislike sitting behind a laptop...

Good times... *sigh*

Can't wait until the sunshine comes out again for real, so for now I'm just enjoying the renovated flat. Slowly we're getting into a 'rhythm', and things are finding their place... It's great to have so much space!
And it's still great to have an evening alone too. Last night, I sat with a Cuban cigar, a glass of rum, a stack of interesting reading that had been piling up over the last months, and some magnificent 40s and 50s jazz playing... and just enjoyed myself! Just what the doctor ordered, hahah!

On a completely different note: am watching the 80s series Miami Vice again... just couldn't resist! Even though I have, I can't remember having watched them before, as I was quite young then, but my main amazement is how good most of the episodes still hold up to today's standards. They actually carry a strong message, and have a good story. Of course, the pastel colours of the interiors and the terrible tacky clothing are a comedic element now, but funny enough that adds to the strength of the show now. It's definitely a time-piece, but very much worth a new watch!

Since this story has crossed that puddle of water once again, I might as well share the most interesting and hopeful text I've read in a long time.
Because, as I write this story, the last results of the so-called 'Super Tuesday' in the elections in the US, are trickling in, and it's fascinating to see. I wasn't really interested - the only thing I hope for is a radical change from the current government and all its bile - but last week I read this speech by Barack Obama. Neither I wasn't all that up-to-date to what everyone was up to, but mr. Obama definitely earned my respect with this text.
I know I know, he's got good speech writers, but the sentiment is there. Well, good luck to him then!

And I promise I will do some more blogging, 2008 is looking very much more full of life and hope than 2007 was, and I wish to have that reflected here!

I’m having an affair...

2007-11-16T15:33:00.000+01:00

Sorry, blog, but I am spending most my time with Facebook now, an even more fragmented way of communicating, “shouting out” my occupations, my daily life and invitations for social events...

I’m having an affair... This brilliant opening is inspired by this blogpost, that explains exactly why there has been such a long hiatus in the search for pieces all over the world, for the treasure hunt of friends..

“I was doing my usual daily blog reading last week when I came across one of those posts, “I’m sorry I haven’t posted in a while…”. We all know the posts and typically I just skim right through them and move on. This post got me thinking though. The author explained his absence was due to him spending too much time on other projects. All of the sudden, I knew what was happening; I knew the signs. This guy was cheating on his website, and so was I.”

Well, another post today then. A bit more serious than the opening… Actually, I am having a bit the same feeling as around 10 years ago in the Netherlands.

Why? The Danish election results. They underline and confirm once again something that was worrying me for quite a while: that the suffocating, vile and poisonous way of working of the Danisg People’s Party is rubbing off on too many here.
They just got too many votes, and that worries me deeply.

We had the discussion at work: the challenge lies in communicating and through that making clear what the consequences are of such political statements as their nauseating party is throwing around.

Why does it remind me of the Netherlands? Well, 10 years ago a feeling was growing in me that the general tendency of the country was one of cynicism, negativity and biting & frustrated sarcasm. I felt less and less at home in a country that didn’t seem to be able to grasp and grapple the issues of the day, and the downward spiral I could see around me helped in confirming my choice of moving to Denmark.
…How little did I know that it would descend into a paranoid, xenophobic, and antagonistic society that was scared of anything out of the ordinary, after the murder of a politician and a film maker, culminating in being led by some backward closed-minded fundamentalist Christians, who stick their head in the sand and think back of the good old days of the 50s, were they perceive there were no threats (“when a nuclear bomb hits, hide under the table and turn on your radio!”), no societal changes and were there were a lot less communication channels through which those damn citizens could vent their unhappiness…

Aaaaaaaanyway…

Right now, with the current state of affairs on Denmark I almost feel like moving again… what was voted for was a status-quo, pretending no changes have happened in the Danish society in the last 5 years, as if everything will run along merrily without taking in consideration any of the world-wide developments (notice how I avoid the word ‘globalisation’ here).

Still, there is a huge difference in the situation between the Netherlands back then, and Denmark right now. There seems a great movement going on, both online and offline, and a significant portion of the Danish society seems troubled by the results, even those that voted for the current government have that gut feeling that there is ‘something rotten in the state of Denmark’ (I just had to use that cliché).

So, will we manage to clearly explain to ourselves and to those who voted for that People’s Party what the consequences are of their vote, of their vote for that suffocating, wet-blanket feeling of ‘tryghed’ (security is half-assed translation of that word)? Will we be able to drag their heads out of the sand and show that there is more outside the safe borders of their precious little fairytale-induced Denmark than they think?
It’s interesting to notice how the internal and external branding of the country has created a distorted image of reality, of the self-perception of Denmark and the Danes. Everyone believes in their traditional foods, sunny summerdays at the family summerhouse, flags waving, kids playing at the beach, etc etc… (you know all the tourist images).
There are huge local differences to take into consideration however: my grandmothers’ village in Vendsyssel or Nørrebrogade, it is several worlds apart, and yet both very much part of the same country…

I am wondering about the next months, but no matter what it will be interesting!

2007 has mostly been crap for me, seriously crap, with some very close experiences of the results of the current government on the welfare system, and am constantly reminded of the ridiculous immigration policies here, that are so tight they basically only hurt the ones they shouldn’t be hurting…
I have been in Denmark for more than 8 years now, and I guess my housewarming said it all… 100 people, and you had to search out the Danes with a magnifying glass ☺

Oh well… things are a-changin', for me personally things have turned upside down for the better, and for Denmark... well, we're working on it (whoever we might be)!

"Management of change"

2007-08-17T12:37:00.000+02:00

The title of this post is one I have had in my head for a long time, and coincides with the fact that many things have changed for me over the last weeks/months (which is one of reason of my long silence here).

Anyway, yes yes yes, I know, I should write again!

And here it is!

Initially I wanted to write about things that have happened over the last months, but now, with a lot of new and very good things looming at the horizon, I feel I should just move on, and focus on that!

The flat is almost done, which is one of the great things ahead. At this very moment the painter is finishing the 2 last rooms and have the floorguys (finally!) started with laying a new floor in the living room and my old bedroom.

Yup, my old bedroom! With help from some friends all the furniture has been moved around once again, and fiiiiinally I am living in my new bedroom! It's a great change, no more traffic noise, and a bright and light room, high ceiling and just no old carpet and all that...

Everything good is just happening right now... the last weeks were of visits by old friends, lots of talks until "the wee hours of the morning", some great parties (3 in a row, nice to know I can still do it!) and yesterday a networking event that had me brimming with energy, as I felt like a fish in the water: talking with fascinating people from all over the world, with all kinds of background stories that can be used as a great inspiration!

And soon: 3 trips are planned, to various places in Europe, new flatmates moving in, the flat finally done, housewarming party, and some more things, that I won't talk about now... don't want to jinx it ;)

So, with a great amount of energy back, I am ready for anything... if only the summer not turn into autumn already!

"To everything there is a season"

2007-07-10T08:21:00.000+02:00

Where to start...?

The last few posts I've been dwelling a lot on basic things like life and death, but I want to move on.

It's been a week and a half since the cremation, and I feel the world has been upside down since. It both feels like forever and like only yesterday. In many ways the whole thing has been an amazing string of connected events, showing a great many circles coming to a full close and showing me how everything is related and connected.

Those days were good enough, and the whole processing has been fairly smooth, as we were cleaning out the flat more. The most fantastic treasures we found: family photo's dating back to around 1900 - putting faces to names I had heard through the years, many years letters of letters from my grand-grandmother to her daughter (I really want to read them all!), letters from my mother to her mother dating back to the late sixties...

And of course an unbelievable amount of crap: we really have to come up with a new definition for the word 'everything', as my dear granny - while complaining about my grandfather never throwing anything out - kept everything, and I really mean e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. We found 100s of buttons for shirts etc, 1000s of meters of ribbon for Xmas presents, Xmas cards dating back to the early sixties (with envelope and all), a mountain of wrapping paper, plastic bags, belts, shoes, clothes, stationary etc etc etc... unbelievable...!

All the cleaning up is behind me now, and some big decision are being made concerning the flat, and the outcome will very much decide how it will all look in the end... well, we'll see, but one thing I know for sure: the Law of Jante ain't dead yet... and my hate vs certain organisations is still well-founded, as things sometimes just don't change: anybody care to take any responsibility? "Naah, a decision? Oooh, scary, you should talk to someone else. I cannot take a decision." The scourge of the welfare state...

Well, life has moved on: it's a strange odd feeling, but now that the painter has finally started to do the renovation here I feel something is changing.

I guess it is really like the priest said at the ceremony, quoting a text from the Bible that is made famous in the Byrds-song "Turn Turn Turn": "To everything there is a season..."

Sweet dreams

2007-06-24T14:52:00.001+02:00

And so it happened. One of the infinite tragedies of life.

It's with great sadness to have to tell my dear and lovely grandmother has passed away last evening in the grand age of 94.

She was literally at the end of the line, and died gracefully, with a smile, and without any fear.

The last 6 months have been very tough as I have written about here before, as she simply 'faded' more and more quickly. The last 1,5 weeks hardly anything was left of her, but I know for sure her last days have been some very happy ones.
She had the closest family around: children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She passed away peacefully and with a smile, and the last words I have heard her say were:
"I just feel so happy".

Those words, and that is how I will remember her... always friendly, dignified and with a smile of love for her close ones.

(August 1949, with Vivi (my mother) and the eldest: Kjeld)

And, whether a coincidence or not, she passed away on the day that would have been her 67th wedding anniversary.
For all that it's worth -I am neither religious or really spiritual (I hate all that flaky & fake new-age-crap) - but I am actually sure she has re-found her place on the side of her beloved husband.
She knew that wedding day was approaching, since we told her and everything just 'fitted' perfectly.
We had been there all day yesterday, caring for her, and yet she waited, dignified as she is, with closing her eyes for the last time, until after we had gone.

...On the table lay a newspaper my uncle had brought, folded by coincidence (??) so only 2 words from the frontpage were visible: "Sand kærlighed" (true love). And that is what she had and showed for sure...

(2 parents, beaming with pride and happiness, at my parents' wedding, in august 1967)

Well, for me a very long, emotional and difficult period in my life has come to a close now, but can only say I am happy I could be there for her; taking care of her for 2 years. I will miss her dearly!

With sadness, but looking forward to a great summer and with great friends visiting over the next months... (and for some close friends: new little loved ones coming soon...!). I wish I could be there!! :)

The most unwanted of guests...

2007-06-20T17:13:00.000+02:00

I feel strange...

Over the years I have seen different types of death and all the pains involved in my direct surroundings: all kinds of horrible cancers, heroin overdose, fatal strokes, and others... Never will I forget the first time I saw a dead person, but these days it is different, very much closer to my skin, saddening, but oddly enough not scary, and yet somehow deeply fascinating.

For about 2 years I have been taking care of my Danish grandmother, as I have written about before. In the last 6 months things have been going really fast though: every day I have seen something else slip through her fingers and not see her be able to recover that skill or possibility. For 2 years I was afraid of waking up and see her lying on the floor, but thank God that didn't happen... and somehow we managed.

Last Wednesday however broke my heart. I have seen her in different conditions, but when visiting her in the elderly home the sight of that little, frail & old woman having deteriorated that far was just too much. I could hardly utter a word and basically just sat holding her hand as tears welled up in my eyes. I was just all choked up.
And yet, she was smiling, simply for the fact I was there, and words were hardly even necessary.

And again, the last week things have moved along fast... and it is now only a matter of days or hours even.

Why is all this fascinating? (not sure it is a good word in this case, but I'll stick to it)
From very close I am witnessing this proud human being slip away physically and mentally, and getting ready to knock on the Pearly Gates.
I don't know if I can explain well, but it's fascinating as it is following in some way a very 'predictable' path, as opposed to some quite sudden deaths previously.
Fascinating as I am sitting there holding her hand, and she tries to show her love through half-closed eyes, and gentle squeezes with her hand, hardly any energy left in them...
Fascinating as it is incredible how strong the human spirit is. There she is, skin over bone, not able to eat or drink, and still trying to keep some dignity. And at the same time making that (for me inpossible now to imagine) step of accepting that it will be over soon... Not just accepting it, but saying it as well.
It's hard to comprehend the courage, strength, and strongness of heart it requires to utter those words. It's not despair, but a long hard stare at a new reality.

And at the same time, for all the love I have for her, I hope she will find peace soon...

When travelling to France those few weeks ago I bought some new books to read (adding to the pile of half-read books I am working on already) and one of the books is a lovely collection of short stories by Paulo Coelho, called 'Like the flowing river'. One of the stories contains a part which I will quote here, as it bears the above in mind, and takes the sadness death brings and changes into a point of departure for learning and living:

"We are all walking towards death, but we never know when death will touch us and its our duty, therefore to look around us, to be graceful for every minute. But we should also be grateful to death, because it makes us think about the importance of each decision we take, or fail to take; it makes us stop doing anything that keeps us stuck in the category of the 'living dead' and instead, urges us to risk everything, to bet everything on those things we always dreamed of doing, because, whether we like it or not, the angel of death is waiting for us".

(21/6: little update & small additions)

Sorry, I just have to brag!

2007-06-07T23:17:00.000+02:00

Most of the party pictures are uploaded now to my Facebook account (here and here), but this one I just have to show here...

As I have travelled quite a bit over the years, I have been fortunate to have taken some great pictures of great places, of great moments, with great people...

But this one, well, I'll let it speak for itself!

It's a flower on a cactus that stands at the foot of Fort Carré in Antibes, in the south of France.

You know you're an international person, when...

2007-06-05T22:45:00.000+02:00

Ok, I 'stole' this from a Facebook group, but it is just brilliant and very recognisable, so I couldn't resist posting it.

(yes, I am back from an amazing trip to France and will post photo's soon! Oh, and have tasted some great French food, and I really like it, but just don't spread the rumour ok?)

You know you're an International person in Copenhagen when...

...you make a sport of laughing at fashion victims

...you're met with looks of sympathy when you tell your friends you have to go to Jutland to visit family

...going to the movies is a BIG DEAL since it's so expensive (besides, your sketchy friend already got you a bootleg copy you watched before the movie even came out)

...you see people drinking beer... any time, any place, any brand (go try Star pils..!), and any age

...you know that J-day ISN'T Judgement day, but the day that the Christmas edition beer (Julebryg) is unsleashed on the populace

...you realise that potatoes are not just a bland side-dish, but a way of life

...you don't understand why they even BOTHER with football

...you haven't gotten the hang of biking, so your buscard is your most prized posession (cos it cost an arm and a leg, and a tooth... and the other leg)

...when you bomb the tax offices

...when sometimes the satire goes waaaaay out there

...when you memorise someone else's name and address to give to the ticket checkers on the train to avoid a fine

...when you've been down the "Death Route": Studenterhuset, the Moose, LA Bar, Wall Street, the gutter

...you haven't quite mastered remoulade

...you actually prefer Swedes

...you hate H&M and Vero Moda/Jack and Jones cos every other bitch is wearing your outfit

...you know shades are essential summer clubbing gear- not to look cool in the club, but so you don't get blinded leaving it at 3 a.m.

...public nudity just doesn't shock you

...you learn the S-train and night bus schedules cos that's the only way you get around

...that cab you took all the way from town to Lyngby seemed like a good idea at 4 a.m., but not on Monday when you find your Dankort has been revoked

...you get wasted before you leave to go out partying cos it's soooo much cheaper, and you sober up just waiting to get to the bar

...you consider 15ºC to be "nice and toasty"

....the city comes to a standstill in winter cos everyone was caught unawares by the 1cm of snow

...you feel really bad for public school teachers

...you've mastered the art of Danglish

...your friends in other countries think you're insane for eating salty liquorice

...you get altitude sickness on the penthouse floor

...you DENY knowing any Nik & Jay lyrics

...you know what the "Roskilde" smell is

...you need a visa to get into Nørrebro (and feel you should have to get one to get into Jutland)

...you know it's pronounced EE-kea, NOT EYE-kea

...your living room looks like p. 25 of the IKEA catalogue

...you start eating rugbrød and like it

...you know the ONLY hotdogs are Danish. Don't argue

...you know "Danish" pastry is 1.) called weinerbrød and 2.) nothing like whatever pirated version you get outside DK

...you've lived here for 10 years and you haven't been in the sea while sober, cos it's so damn cold

...you spy on people at night cos no-one closes their curtains

...Johnny Bravo just isn't the same in Danish

...watching stuff without subtitles is weird

...you give up explaining where you're from to Danes

...you laugh at all the red or whiiiiiite bodies on the beach

...your favourite pizza is kebab pizza

...you automatically become friends with other international people just because they're international

...a trip on the Oslo boat is an "exotic cruise"

...tall, blond and blue eyed just doesn't do it for you anymore

...summer's all about Nyhavn and Kgs. Have. And dodging tourists on Strøget

...random strangers smile at you on the street and make you suspicious

...1st of May has nothing to do with the International Workers' Day, but everything to do with Bunk Off and Go Drink Beer in Fælledparken Day

...you didn't care about HC Andersens's bicentennial either

...you don't get what the big deal is about handball. Or curling for that matter

...dodging people with clipboards at Kultorvet becomes an exact art (headphones on, acting like there's someone calling you on your phone, pretending to look through your bag... you know them all)

...none of your friends own a car...

Deeply fascinating...

2007-05-28T10:09:00.000+02:00

Came back last night from that birthday party in Skanderborg, Jutland and I have to say it was sooooo very Danish (a ridiculous amount of food... I don't need to eat until Christmas!) and all the obligatory (but fun!) speeches were there.

It's a fantastically beautiful area and we were very lucky with the good weather we had. (very important in Denmark: being lucky with the right weather!)

(the Skanderborg lakes, not a ripple on the water...)

However, even though I unfortunately didn't meet my grandcousin again (it has been 15 years already!) I ended up talking the whole day with a fascinating man from a small island in the south of Denmark. He started telling me things I don't think even his wife knows about, despite their 51 years of marriage!

He started telling me about the Battle of The Marne, where his father had been fighting as a German soldier (that Danish island was German until 1920, which explains his funny accent) in World War 1, and had actually survived from beginning to end... including being in an English POW labour camp from 1918 to 1919.

He told me about an attack during that battle... 14.000 Germans attacked, in the same way all attacks went back then: everyone being slaughtered in no time.

Only 7 soldiers made it back out of the 14.000 (!!) and his father, a sergeant of some sort, was one of them...

Arriving back at the command HQ - bloody, dirty, tired, exhausted and completely shattered - this German soldier went to report to his superiors.
He then walks right into some sort of orgy of alcohol and whores, and as his commanding officer looks at him in that state - coming straight from the trenches, the officer says:

"We had an encounter with death, but it sure was fun!"

At that very moment he decides he will never participate in those mindless, senseless battles anymore... and somehow manages to stay alive during the next 4 years, until he gets captured by the English and is sent off to a labour camp in England.

In the meantime his wife at home on the island of Als, doesn't know whether he is alive or dead, when hearing about all the insane destruction of human life that is going on.
She then meets a Russian POW that was sent with a whole group to the then German island for some labour (and as far away as possible from the frontlines). So when our German soldier returns home after the war, he finds his wife and daughter gone. (I can hardly begin to imagine the pain and suffering of that generation, and the horrors of war they had to go through).

Fortunately he manages to regain custody over his daugther again and as he finds a new wife the islanders have to decide whether they want to be Danish or remain German.

That was all that was to it, just signing their names on a piece of paper! That was that! (quite a difference from the xenophobic regulations and rules of today's Denmark, huh?)

The story from World War 1 was one of the many this man told me: he also told me about his time in Paris, when he went on a whim in the early fifties to learn French, and experience French women... ehhh, I mean 'culture'. Some stuff here definitely is not known to his wife... ;)

While he was telling me all this (we spoke until 2 am... and were the last ones to be kicked out!) his WW1 story reminded me immensely of a fantastic book I have read some years ago, which shook me to my very core. It's the book Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. This book basically deals about the same facts (seen from the perspective of an Englishman).
It's basically the same story about someone trying to survive the insanity of the war, through the love for his close ones. All he wants is to survive, very simple...
That book was so powerful to me, that while reading I had to lay down the book at times, for the strong emotions it evoked...

I am definitely going back to the book now, after hearing this real story. The resemblance was uncanny!

Thanks Rudolph, for sharing these stories with me!! It inspired me once again, and we had a great evening talking about 'life in general' and of all the beauties we have met in life... ;)

Random stuff... or is it?

2007-05-25T09:30:00.000+02:00

Wanted to be writing for weeks, about the great dinner we had last Saturday, where I cooked for 12 people. Basically the inaugural dinner for the flat being in my name, restarting an old family tradition of big dinners in that place..

Wanted to write more about Scott and Sel visiting, or Japie being here for one day, about the fact I am leaving in a few hours to a great family birthday party in Skanderborg, about visiting Guillaume in Antibes next weekend...

Just to make the tone of the posts reflect the increasing amounts of light in Denmark!

But... have this dark thing looming over me, over us all: as you can read in earlier posts granny is not well. And now we have reached the stage where there is nothing else to do anymore.

We've given up. There is now an agreement with doctors, hospital, the home and her, that she won't have to go back and forth between the hospital. It will just prolong the suffering needlessly.

And, she told me Tuesday she hopes it is over soon... In a way I am hoping with her, as it is terrible to see her like that, but it still hurts very much to hear. I hope her last days will be comfortable, with her chair and her things around her. With family visiting and seeing her children, grand- and greatgrandchildren once more...

It could be over today, it could be over in 2 weeks... It's an odd thought!

Still, have to start packing now, and get ready... still have lots of ironing to do! If anybody wants, please speak up!

Next post will be full of pictures again, as I'm off to one of the most beautiful areas in Denmark. I really want it to clear my mind a bit!

Ahhh, and I am using Facebook since Monday, damn, what a waste of time! But it got me reconnected to people I haven't seen or spoken to in years! And that is exactly what this blog is about: the treasure hunt for all those friends all around the world...

Have a nice weekend... and be safe!

Tiny update

2007-05-09T12:03:00.000+02:00

Very tiny actually...

Am at work, and wanted to figure out something, as a customer had an interesting question.

One thing led to the next, and now I have a nice little 'favicon' in my page. Just look at the address bar!

Anyway... quiet days again finally...

Last weekend a crazy Frenchie visiting, then from Monday on Michel was here with 150 crazy Dutch (Michel thanks btw, but I cannot post those photo's you sent ;) ) and then from Saturday Scott came from London and Selwyn came from Wales (from that small town with that extremely long name).

I am almost at work to be able to relax... hehhe...

(pictures will be posted soon!)

142 m2 in the center of Copenhagen!

2007-04-23T23:05:00.000+02:00

Isn't it beautiful?

Guess I can say it officially now, since everything suddenly seems to be come together somehow, and really fast.

Granny will move to a home this weekend already (I'll spare you another shot of venom at the Danish system...) and it actually coincides with the fact that the flat will be in my name as of the 1st of May (total coincidence, funny enough!).

You can imagine I am quite happy about both things. Finally my dear old granny will be taken care of properly and I will be the proud inhabitant of a flat in the center of Copenhagen: 5 rooms, 142 m2 and about 50 meters from the lovely lakes here.

It's probably for the better anyway she is moving straight from hospital to a home, as she cannot stay at home anymore anyway, plus: she wouldn't recognise it because of the total state of chaos.

The last week I have started to seriously clean out the flat, which also means that chaos needs to be created first... Man, there is a lot of crap to be thrown out!
First I need to have all the stuff gathered and packed that we will bring to the flat in the elderly home (in a crap area of CPH btw...) and then: step by step make it into MY place :)

Soooooo, if you feel like visiting: after 2 years I finally have the possibility to receive many again!

I'll always have a bed, matress, sofa, or a bathtub with a pillow for you! (and I know some of you have tried all these options already...)

The next weeks are booked already though, so make sure you give me good notice, heheh...

This coming weekend my parents, to help with the moving, then the weekend Scott from London, then the weekend after our favorite crazy Indian (the w...ehhh, banker from Bahrein) will be here again, after that Japie will drop by, one week of break, but then the weekend after that I will be in Jutland for a family birthday (another excuse for too much food and wine) and the followin weekend: visiting Guillaume in Antibes for his birthday (if it works out) and then we have started June already... and as I return from France Scotty Scott will have arrived from Los Angeles...

Life is good!

Buuuut, hmmmm, when on earth am I going to fix up this place?

Anyone know a good painter btw? I need to have a whole flat done! (yes, I am lazy...)

So, see you soon then?

This is why I love football...

2007-04-19T22:07:00.000+02:00

It's simply beautiful, no words... sit back and enjoy, and have a big grin on your face! It doesn't matter who you support, this is sheer beauty!

(I hope the video is still up, others disappeared too fast... )

Update (22.59 hrs):

Just a little additional comment... it's been a good day, actually. From early morning messages of concern and interest, old friends suddenly appearing out of the blue, basically making me happy with their messages that they will visit dear old Copenhagen again... thanks, you made my day!!

(Im)mortality?

2007-04-11T17:47:00.000+02:00

*deep sigh*

I don't want to get old... no way... not the way I have seen too much now in a hospital.

Many years ago a crazy Indian read my hand. He told me my life line was long and strong, which meant I would have a long life (my love line is a bit crooked apparently...).
Now considering my genes that isn't something special (the life line that is, the other one I won't discuss here, although there are some pretty cool family rumors from the 19th century...).
I have many family members who made it to very respectable and venerable ages. My granny of course first: she made it to 94 yesterday. Then there is my grandfathers' aunt who made to 106! She was actually complaining about those young kids of 80!

Heheh... it must have been quite a sight...

But for real, what I have seen just today for example, brought a vague thought to the front of my mind: this way I don't want to get old.

I saw my granny, who was hospitalised yesterday for the 2nd time in 1 month, in total state of confusion, trying to reach out to the world and understand what the hell was going on...
This other old lady lying in her bed with tubes all over and coming out of her. She was sleeping, but whenever she woke up she was crying her eyes out, deeply frustrated and saddened by her situation. She spilled a little bit of juice and she got totally scared and bewildered...
Next bed: a 80-something who had just lost her husband a few months ago, and now had gone through chemo therapy... But still going strong...

That is what I respect very very deeply about my granny: all the crap that happened in the last months and she still keeps her spirit up. It's amazing...

She can hardly walk, and everything else is failing for this tiny, frail, very old woman, and still she sits and makes jokes... my deepest respects!

Still, this day, and the way I see everything fail for her, I realise I don't want to get that old. Not that way. Even when she has been 'lucky' and made it this far without big problems.

It's so undignified and humiliating to see the ones we love literally crumble away, fade away into the shades...
(And the Danish health care system certainly doesn't help: In this country 'available all day' means between 9 and 11 am, and between 13 and 14 pm. If you call 1 minute too late: too bad... take an aspirin and call us again when you are dead...)

Naaahhh, you know what? Give me the quay at the Guadalquivir in Sevilla, with a view on Tirana, at that terrace where Alvaro, Jose Antonio, Magdita and I sat so brilliantly enjoying the warm winter sun on the 31st of December 2004.

Put me there, when I am 60 or so, give me a good glass of Cacique and Lemon, made the good way, and let me be... Let me think of all the great people I have met over the years and my loved ones. Don't make it fussy.
Let me just die of whatever, quick and easy.

Don't say: naaah, too young, still so many years. No way, I have seen the end of the line. And it's ugly.
So little respect, dignity and self-esteem left must be a terrible feeling to have: not to be able to feel and do what you are used to.

Of course, I hope my granny will live to be 150, but to get old like this I cannot recommend.

I really don't want to be a cynic and a pessimist. I love life, and there are so many great things in store still, but please let us have that shred of decency when we get old.

So... there it is. My testament? Hahahah, no... just some gloomy thoughts after seeing someone get very old.
I hope you understand: everyone deserves to get old, but if we see them slip away and even one of the richest countries in the world isn't able to provide proper care to those we love (while claiming it is alll soooo woooonderful), I don't want to get that old.

Live is short, play hard then? Let's have a great summer!!!

And now, my dear friends, I need life, in every sense of the word... which is why I am considering visiting Dani & Sarah in summer when their baby boy will be born. It would be nice to be in a hospital when a new life is starting actually!!

Of Mice And Men...

2007-04-02T21:13:00.000+02:00

...or more: of what mice supposedly come out of their holes for and what any man will always come out of any hole for... ;)

The mice thing first: Cheeeeeeese!

Many years ago, back in Holland I was in a football team, with guys from my town. One the guys was at the time working at the sales department of a Dutch cheese producer (Vergeer Kaas) in Reeuwijk, a town not too far from mine.

After I moved to Denmark he contacted me at some point to ask me about some info about the Danish market etc etc, as they were considering expanding their export and were looking at Denmark in the process.
I helped him with some names, phone numbers and contact of the big supermarket chains here and thus gave him a first nudge into Denmark. Who knows what it could lead to, right? At the very least some better cheese...

Then last week I saw it! In Netto, of all places!! A beautiful young Gouda cheese, from Vergeer Kaas, Reeuwijk. And I immediately had to think of the above story...

So, this last week I have enjoyed some simple, but fantastic cheese sandwiches, and they taste marvellous! Ahhh, the pleasure of a good cheese!
And please leave me the little dream that I had a bit of a hand it getting that product to Denmark... ;) It's always a nice story to tell, isn't it?

Next one.. Of course let's not forget the men, or more the 'women'... Ohhh, sweet Denmark, with your spring finally here! It is a true pleasure to be walking through Copenhagen these last 2 weeks. Where do they suddenly all come from?
It's great to see everyone suddenly smiling more, being more active and most of all: be outside and enjoying themselves. No more sour winter faces (well, not too many anyway...), and a loooot less layers of clothes ;)
Danes seriously go nuts, as soon as the first sunray of Spring hits... I am still walking around with my winter coat, as the air is quite chilly, but I have seen people in shorts and a t-shirt!! It's 12 degrees for f....s sake!
They are crazy, they really are... :)

Anyway... as 'funny' as the above might be, these last weeks have been quite demanding. As great as the weather is and the fact that winter is over, it is very sad to see my granny in hospital. For 2 weeks already now... I wonder how much longer she will last. She is old, and worn out: next week is her 94th birthday. Let's see...
I'll spare you the details, but we are seriously considering a scathing comment on the utter lack of competence and total lack of proper care she has received and is receiving from that great Danish health care system... what total crap that is!

One thing I am sure of: don't get old here... I have rarely seen such complete waste of resources, absurd procedures and total lack of empathy, competence and basic interest in the subject as in these last 2 weeks...
I felt at times I was living in a Kafka book. Unbelievable!

Well, have had some days off work and although I am scheduled to do some work this Easter, I am mainly relaxing and gathering myself... It is terrible to see her in such pain. It's killing me every time I see her cringe of pain.

Still, it honestly does help on my mood to hear the chatter and tiny voices of all the children playing in the court yard behind the building I'm living in. These days all windows are open, and I love the sounds that are drifting in from outside. The world just gets brighter with them!

Call me a softie and a sucker for children, but having looked at the bitter side of mortality and old age for the last few months I cannot help but have a big smile on my face when I see 3 little girls argue over a toy: "no, you're baaaad, it's MYYY turn..." I wish those were still my only worries!

Welcome to spring... may it lead to a beautiful summer!

(and many more posts! Many changes in my life over the next months, so I'll try to keep you tuned...)

Mr Garrison exists!!

2007-03-14T18:35:00.000+01:00

Everyone who has ever watched South Park, that brilliant cartoon (I have to admit!), knows who Mr Garrison is...

That male teacher turned half-woman, half something...

Someone bald, running around in a dress, and pretending to be a women after some odd operation...

Too weird for real life, or so I thought!

So, today I was outside for the first time in several days: still recovering from a flu I wouldn't recommend my worst enemy (I'll spare you the gory details...)..

As I walked down to the supermarket this 1.90 m tall man passed me, and... I was simply dumbfounded.

Bald, just some hair on the sides, a pink jacket, with a low-cut top underneath, weird 70s earrings, a tweed skirt, and pink pumps: what the f...??? Is this true??

Mr Garrison!! You are alive! You are real!!

Unbelievable, there is actually someone so nutty that he actually looks like a cartoon character...

I doubt he is doing it intentionally, but... I really thought for a second I still had a fever. I've been delirious the last days, but this goes beyond even my weirdest fantasies!

What happened...?

2007-03-09T10:59:00.000+01:00

The last few weeks have been full of different events for me personally, but the last week I could only be sad...

What the hell happened to my city? I feel like I am in a friggin' warzone or at least in a bad B-movie...

Tuesday I came out of the train station at Nørreport and entered straight into the remnants of another demonstration, with several helicopters hovering above me and a weird sort of atmosphere in the air... I didn't know how fast I had to get home. And yet, the whole evening I could hardly hear myself think, for all the helicopters flying around and police cars with full siren on...

Don't get me wrong...

Demonstrate all you want. Be passionate about the things you believe in. Go for it. Try to have an influence on your little corner of the world. Everyone should try to improve things around them, we can all profit and get better from each others' efforts.

But... why all this violence? To me all it looks like is organised mob mentality. Based on the same principles the activists blames the mentality of 'society' at large for...

Simple, talk, discuss, go for it, but just keep your damn fingers of my city! Why is it necessary to walk around cloaked, hooded and masked if you feel you are doing something for a good cause? Why not face your 'opponents' open and above board? Looks like you are aware after all that you are just after some crap anyway, right?

Outside my place a poster had been set up on a scaffolding:

The text reads:
Youth House now!

"We have to get Copenhagen going more. Better possibilities to arrange concerts and cultural arrangements should enhance and strenghten life in Copenhagen". quote from the 'socialist' Mayor of CPH.

So, where is the connection between reminding politicians of their words (which I only can agree fully on) and through that point at their responsibilities, if you don't accept the same authorities anyway and go out and destroy half a city?

- What 'use' is destroying the inventory of a high school? Their library? Just because it is next door to Christiania? How fucking dumb can you be?

- What 'use' is it to burn the trucks of the transport agency, just because they had been hired to move some things from that house?

- What is the 'use' of destroying shops with molotov cocktails, just because they happen to be in the way? What about the owners? Ever gave 1 thought to the fact that their lives maybe be destroyed, as you take their livelyhood away?

- What 'use' is violence and destruction when (you say) all you want is a place to have concerts and other cultural manifestations?

I can only agree on creating a full and thriving cultural life in this city and not let in turn into a "Cafe-latte-city", as one report recently called it.

Already now I am missing too many concerts, expositions etc, but a greater choice and diversity is always welcome. Fortunately we don't all have the same likes and tastes, right?

Eva, Jochem's girl, had a good remark: "let's test 'their' solidarity principles, send them the bill that so far has reached 2 million euros and have them 'share' it".

Let's see if all these people that came so eagerly to fight from all over Europe will also take their responsibility and cough up for the shopkeepers in the area who had their livelyhood destroyed, because a bunch of spoiled brats can't control their hormones and get caught up in some mob mentality...

I have seen many of these kids... god, how perfectly groomed and dressed they look, and not one original thought in sight.
They have their clothes and dress down perfectly to the last detail... I feel like I am looking at some "tribute to the late 70s/early 80s alternative scene" fashion show.
Because, for all their so-called 'radical' mindsets, they are still kids that are trying to fit in with their peers and in Denmark, as everywhere else, that means dressing in the 'right' clothes. Other 'groups' only wear Gucci or Tommy Hilfiger, these kids wear their 'street wear'...
Pff... They honestly have no clue what they are on about and none have ever had to take any responsibility for anything ever... it's just too obvious...

Do I sound like an old cynical guy now? Maybe, perhaps... but I wonder how they would react if their parents would tell them to go find a job themselves, because of damages the parents are paying for what their spoiled brats have caused...

Basically we are seeing (minority) groups who demand 'rights' based on past grievances (if at all), rather than on present responsibilities...

You know, the worst thing of all this, is that I am afraid it will be the end of Christiania as well... whenever there is something with one of the 2, the other 'group' demonstrates for the other.

The problem however is that I am afraid 'people' can't distinguish and blame Christiania, just as a proper and constructive solution is on the table, to ensure it's survival and development.

I really love that place, in summer there are few better places to be in Copenhagen than in Christiania. For a stroll along the lake there, sitting in the sunset on the roof of Nemoland with a beer and friends, listening to some good jamsessions etc etc etc...

The diversity of the people there is heartening and it can truly be the cultural heart of Copenhagen, with the broad range of things it can offer: music, art in every form, theatre, architecture, discussion forums, and involvement in the political 'well-being' of the country in general.
Basically a cultural breathing space in lovely city....

I hope it is still possible... but the last weeks' events has done more damage than good to 'cultural development'... bwwweeehhhh... let life please return to normal soon, I feel miserable every time I look over and see police cars blocking off a whole area of a city :(

Guess how my mother is feeling right now? She grew up barely 100 m from where the center of all that crap happened? How do you think it feels to see your childhood go up in flames? (dammit, am I talking about Bagdad or sweet Copenhagen???)

UPDATE 17.50 hrs 9/3:

For f....s sake... I'd love to see some rational analysis of this... Activists taking over Magasin Du Nord, for 'fun'... waving their credit cards, shouting 'we have purchase power'... just how exactly does that last bit connect to the notion of rejecting the existing fabric of society? And who pays for the credit cards btw? They actually have their own purchase power or do mommy & daddy still cover their spolit little brats-in-black...? (and notice the difference, if you read Danish, between the way of reporting of different newspapers, quite interesting... but how laughable and pathetic this whole thing is becoming...!)

Danish 'service'

2007-02-17T10:36:00.000+01:00

Many times I have started a writing a post about the deplorable level of service in this country, on whatever level in whatever way. But ok... never got around to finishing, as I want to have my examples and facts straight... I have some quite good ones though ;)

This week again though... As I am working myself a lot with IT support I am always curious how other companies fare in that department.
After a few months of an unstable internet connection here, I decided after seeing some good offers, and Jochem speaking good of it, to apply for Fullrate, a fairly new Danish broadband provider.
I did some research, and it all seemed ok. The fact that it would probably take a month before anything would be set-up was fine with me.

Then it all started...

First they contacted me for never having received my papers... *sigh* I had sent it directly but ok... of course they couldn't find anything.

Then, once the finally received my new copy (or dug up the old ones), I got a letter that all would be done on the 30th of March...

WTF???

I have to wait almost 2 months for a bloody broadband connection? In South-Korea it takes 5 minutes...

So... with my usual pen soaked in venom I politely asked what was going on and why it couldn't go faster...

After 4 days (!!) I got an answer: "It takes 4-8 weeks, and it says so on our website".

My reply:

No, it doesn't. It says 4-6 weeks.

Anyway, my point is that I want it done quickly.

Then... wOw... I got an answer within the hour! Guess he was bored :p
Now, suddenly, with the additional payment of 49 kr, I can have it 'expedited within a short time' (around 2 weeks it should take (I had to ask for that time frame... *sigh*)

Alright, let's see then, right?

'Of course' I didn't hear anything else, so let's send another email (as I refuse to wait 30 minutes on the phone)... Reply: Yeah, everything is taken care of: you will have the connection the 21st of February.

Woooohooo! That's next week already! (well, let's see if it will work straight off anyway...)

What a bit of nagging can do, huh?

My question is just that... why it isn't possible to have it all sorted out quickly to begin with? It shouldn't be that hard, should it?

(oh, and I am still waiting for my package with the router etc... but that will lead to a rant about the pathetic parcel service PostDanmark provides... not now... :) )

UPDATE (23/2):

Fair is fair. After an annoying struggle (the router arrived in the nick of time/the phone number hadn't been activated of course), all is working fine now. I have a good and dedicated broadband connection and the phone connection is good, clear and stable. Great!!

UPDATE (23/4):
I have to say: the telephone connection is fine and the broadband speeds have consistently been good. Some glitches here and there, but it's nothing worth mentioning. 1 or 2 serious crashes at their end, but with great service (an sms every couple of minutes about the problem, what they are doing about and the time frame, and one to tell when all is done!), they fixed it all. My respects, I actually think this is a company who seem to have their shit together. Well done and I am a happy customer!

Testing, testing, one two...

2007-02-01T13:21:00.000+01:00

Just to see if all went well....

As of now I am publishing on my own webspace and domain (courtesy of One.com) :)

http://weblog.dutchviking.dk

So... need to see if it works and if the RSS feeds are updated accordingly.

And...

Let's see if pictures are saved properly as well!!

So, am I reaching for the stars, or just an orange?

Some read one thing, some another...

2007-01-19T11:35:00.000+01:00

"The notion that a unique all-powerful God, who created the whole universe including millions of stars and perhaps thousands of intelligent life-forms, should rely on getting His message to all those creatures through a series of disjointed, repetitive and sometimes contradictory messages confided to a minor merchant by an angel in a cave in the Arabian desert is just as absurd as the Christian theory that such a God would try to "save" the said universe and life-forms (from what?) by sending a mysterious "Spirit" that both was really Him and wasn't really Him to impregnate a Jewish woman in Palestine, thus producing a Son who was also not really Him but at the same time really Him, who would be executed in a very painful manner, thus saving everyone.

On any objective viewing, both claims are laughable.

(Editorial, Australian Rationalist #62)

Thanks to Jesper :)

I am 'one of them' now!!

2007-01-10T11:56:00.000+01:00

Yesterday as I went home from work, after my first day after my holidays, I received my Xmas present...

And quite a nice one at that!

the new Ipod Shuffle!

So, I can join the Cult of Apple now! ARRRRRRRRRHHHHHH...

Showing my individuality by using the same product as millions of others (great branding by Apple, granted...)... bwaaaaahhhh...

No thanks...

I get itchy when I think of these fanatics...

Still, I have to admit the Iphone is pretty cool ;)

Back...

2007-01-08T11:41:00.000+01:00

*deep sigh*

Easy trip back, with some amazing sights over Europe. Great lunch in the midday sun in Malaga. A Danish couple next to me arguing for 2,5 hours.
And walked in here at 1 am, more or less...

And now? 345576845257577 emails from work. Laundry (screw it, I'll just wash everything. Can't remember what was clean), grocery shopping, cleaning, etc etc etc... You know, the usual :)

Well... just one question: where the f... is the f.....g sun????

Why did I leave Sevilla with 22 degrees, as I was having coffee in a shirt with my sleeves rolled-up, on a nice little terrace?

So long, farewell?

2007-01-02T15:25:00.000+01:00

Just came across this:

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends...."

How true, how true...

I'll be going 'home' to DK on Sunday: I'll try to think of this!

Happy New Year!!

2007-01-01T12:55:00.000+01:00

hope everyone had a great party, I know mine can be ranked among some of the more surreal ones :)

No pictures, all is censored, but trust me... it was quite... ehhhhhh.... interesting ;)

Sitting here on the sofa of a bombed-out apartment, the kitchen looks like a nuclear bomb went off (the smell is even worse) and Japie is sitting next to me with a bag of chips & a bottle of cola, trying to appear awake and not hungover...

kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuddddddddddddddtttttttt...

What a night, what a night... :)

Happy New Year!!!!!

From Andalucía With Love

2006-12-29T12:21:00.001+01:00

Greetings to all, from a beautiful Granada and Andalucía in general.

I will for sure write more, but for some odd reason I have a headache today (something about not eating enough... and having wine for breakfast ), so you will have to wait ;)

Anyway, here are some photo's!

From Frankfurt to Malaga...

My first Bob Ross-picture of the trip. The Sierra Nevada awaits!!

Elena invited me to a dinner/party. 5 minutes before we had to be there :) Result? Lots of rum, wine and food...

And later I had to go and pick up Esther...

Result below... She has some really cool colleagues ;)

It's great weather here, so a tour through the Albaizin is always nice!

My future house...

Siempre, que bonita... :)

"We are cool"

Just how hard is it to conceal some wiring :)

Preparing for Xmas Eve :)

Almita with one of her presents. Very cute little 5-year old niece of Esther.

"Early morning" on Xmas day. The beach at Torre Del Mar.

I know, I know, it's early...

Playing pictionary. This was one of the more quiet moments :)

Up in the mountains. Snowcovered olive groves.

Up in the Sierra Nevada. Japie is taking a picture of me taking a picture...

Absolutely fantastic view...

Having lunch at 2000 m is quite something. And no, it's actually water I am drinking!

Another Bob Ross-photo!!

That's it so far... More photo's to come.

For now: Happy New Year!!