Showing posts with label within reach. Show all posts

47. DVD of the BBC-series: Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart





I'm very impressed by the BBC series: Great Rift: Africa's Wild Heart
I love every moment of it.
The way nature is filmed is amazing. The effort the crew took to give us an insight in animal behaviour was huge. But it certainly paid off.
It's one of the few series that keeps me focused from the first second to the last. And makes me dream long after the episodes have finished.

The series is narrated by Hugh Quarshie, one of my favorite players of Holby City.
His voice calms me, and draws me in the film even more.

I think I can see this series over and over again, seeing each time new things, and never ever be bored.

So I think it's wise to have a DVD, so I can watch it when I'm in the hospital or very ill at home.

.

46. Each time they sound a smile of a friend enters my heart.



Yesterday I was talking with one of my daughters about the new friends online that are such a huge support, just as my offline friends.

Some offered to go with me to hospital appointments, which is very kind.
Right now I don't need a person to go with me to talk to the doc, because going by myself makes me more focused and more critical.

But I don't know what I need in the near future.

I said: 'Sometimes internet is not as good as writing letters, otherwise I could put their letters of support in my bag'.

Don't know what happened, but suddenly I had to think about my charm-bracelet.
I always took it with me when I had to sing solo with the choir. I had a wonderful voice, but I was always third in line because two other girls were far more confident.

Maybe it's a good idea to start a new charm bracelet.
Charms need not to be expensive. I already have a bracelet to put them on.
And each time they sound a smile of a friend enters my heart.

What do you think?



.

45. Recite: 'We will remember them.'



Because this area was the front during WW2 we're got quite a few war cemetries in and around the city.

Several times a year special services are held, with veterans attending and sometimes I represent the parachute group of my son or I'm there as a photographer.

There's always one moment that is very emotional, because it entails a promise to my gram. I told her I would always remember those who gave their lives for our peace.

So I would love to recite the well-known passage of the poem by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), published in The Times newspaper on 21st September 1914.



For the Fallen


With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.


.

40. Be a cliniclown



Not many people know, but I would love to be a cliniclown.

A cliniclown is a lovely, funny, cheerfully dressed person who visits ill children and sometimes grown ups in hospital or old people's home.

I know it isn't easy, but I've always thought I could do it.

The first time I experienced a cliniclown myself was when a few of them visited the children's ward when I was there.
My son was in surgery and I was waiting for him.The surgery lasted far longer than expected.

Suddenly they were there, paying attention to the children, making them laugh, making them sing.
Then one of them turned to me. I never had expected I would be part of it all too. My mind was with my son, even though I was moved by the way one of the female clowns was dealing with a toddler.

All the children received a bear and then I got one too. I have to say, they gave me one for my son and one for me. To care for my heart, the clown gestured.
I vaguely recognized him, but it's 20 years ago and I still don't know who that clown was.
But importance of the feeling of being cared for, of getting some undivided attention during such a stressful time, has never left me. (Nor has the bear. :) )

It would be a privilege to visit wards with the team cliniclowns.
Or create my own team.

.

38. Singing jazz



It was such a privilege to live in the same city as one of the most famous singers of the world, a civil rights activist, a woman with so many thoughts and feelings that she could understand the young woman I was.

When I told my gram I'd discovered Nina Simone lived in our city, she smiled and told me to go and talk to her. 'Maybe she's lonely as the only black woman here.', she said. 'You're one of the few here who speaks her language fluently, and people always appreciate to be able to speak in their own language when they are abroad.'
I didn't understand what a white, very white student could do to end the loneliness of such an famous person, but maybe she wanted to drink a cup of coffee with me and talk a bit.

That evening I saw her at a concert, hidden in the shadow, listening to the band.
I didn't think, but just went to her and asked her if she liked to drink a cuppa with me the next day. To my surprise she said 'yes'.
It was the beginning of a short friendship.

She taught me a lot. About the human psyche, about racial differences, and about music.

My voice was light and clear at the time. I tried to sing some jazz, but it sounded strange with such an innocent voice. We had a good laugh about it. She liked my timing, the improvisations, and she said I should be older before I could really sing it properly.
So I've always said: 'When I'm 50, I'll sing jazz.'

I did, in the silence of my home, as a tribute to Nina.
But I would love to have some good lessons.

.

37. B&B with an amazing garden

I so crave for a vacation that I nibble days and distances from my wishes.
No 10 days in Nepal, or in New Zealand in a posh hotel, but a few nights in a B&B, not too far from home to save travelcosts.
Just to get some relaxation, a different environment, and a few hours of undisturbed writing.

I pushed the idea away. Why bother and spend so much money.

Until I saw a B&B that completely blew me away.

The rooms are very nice, and I think the stay will be great.
But with the B&B comes a huge fantasy garden. It's so very beautiful, one wants to live there all year. The care with which it's kept is motivated by pure love for gardening.

Wouldn't it be nice to spend some time there?

Click here to see the garden.







.

36. Learn to play the Bodhran



The bodhran is an Irish frame drum. The size varies from smaller than a normal drum to larger, that is 25 cm to 65 cm in diameter.
The side or rim is small, and at one side a goatskin is fixed in such a way that the drum can be tuned.
The other side is open. Some have a rope grip, like on the photo, others have a wooden cross or nothing at all.

It is played with a tipper/cipin, but those who don't know how to use a tipper, use a soft headed drum stick. The use of the cipin requires quite some practice as the movement is very tiring, and as the bodhran is used as a rhythm instrument one needs to keep a regular rhythm.

Buying a bodhran should be done with experience and knowledge, otherwise one ends up with a decoration item, instead of a good instrument that can be used in different ways.

A friend of mine played in an Irish band and she had a bodhran. I had the opportunity to practice a bit and I enjoyed it very much.
Especially I could sing while playing, and it was possible to play with different cipins, resulting in different sounds, and playing with bare hands.

.

35. I want a job at the dance academy



The past years it's regularly been a topic of discussion: teaching at the ballet academy.

So many lines of my life converge there, over so many years, and I've come up with so many ideas for improvement and changes...

In the past I've had the opportunity to realize some of them, working together with the boss of the academy. And it was fun to see they were still used when I entered the building with one of my other children.

During the years I've learned a lot, done a lot, and I think I'm ready to work there.

There are a few aspects missing in dance education.
They have to do with inspiration, understanding the public and ethics.

I also think there needs to be some new blood in the hall.
Too much routine is not good in such a creative environment. And there are so many teachers that are very experienced and good, but who can offer the students more. I'm sure that with the right discussions and ideas they will even be better.

Other subjects that have grown on me the past years have been dance as a way of cardiac revalidation, and dance for the elderly.
I started dance for the older age group in my country (I was the first in my country to teach them.), and it will be interesting to research the subject with dance academy students, meaning that research won't be a small subject on the side table, but a main subject at the academy.
With my experience in teaching research at the university, my knowledge of dance and my personal experience with an aging body, It would be a beautiful end of my working and dancing life.

It's such a pity that many only look at age, not at enthusiasm and motivational qualities.
I know I'll fit in, both with the team and the students.

So yes... this is something for my bucketlist.
This is something that is a part of me... a precious part, that I want to share, and I hope someone will take this serious enough to make it work, to give me this job.

.

34. Watch seals near Texel



Spotting seals on or near Texel can be as easy as you wish.

On Texel they care for seals in a seal hospital.
For children it's a very interesting place, as they can see how the seals are cared for, and they can even watch feeding them.

And when you're lucky you'll see them when you're on the ferry to Texel. I haven't been that lucky.

You can also go to those beaches where they visit regularly or from where you can see them on a sandbank with your binoculars. Mind the time: two hours before low tide until an hour after.

But I want to go on a special seal boat trip.
The captain knows what he does, and certainly won't come too near mothers with their young.
When a boat comes too close the mother will get afraid and will save herself. She won't care for her young and when it isn't able to follow here she won't go back. The baby will be lost without her, and will die when none of the seal hospital finds it.

There are lots of seals around Texel and Terschelling. There's lots of food, and the tide frees the sandbanks, offering them large areas for sunbathing.
Two kinds can be seen. The regular one, which is the smallest. Mature men can be up to two meters long. They can be distinguished from the other ones by their V-shaped nostrils.
The other kind is the grey seal. They have straight noses with separated nostrils. The mature men can grow up to three meters long.

Texel is a wonderful island to stay a while. During the summer all is done to give the tourists a wonderful stay.
I don't mind whenever we go there. I don't care for sunbathing, I want to walk on the beach and have a good time. Even when a storm is raging I feel fine.

So......

28. A couple of days in London



It's long ago that Dad and I went to London.
We had been with the family where he stayed during part of WW2, in Wolverhampton, and before going back to The Netherlands he wanted to show London, some places he had been during the war and get a good feel of the city.

We went....almost everywhere. It seemed.

I remember many great moments, places and events.
We went to see the Koh-i-Noor, the largest diamond in the world, had to wait in line for over 3 hours, but it was well worth the wait. I loved to see the crown jewels, and of course the bright diamond.

I can write about the experiences in London for hours and maybe even days.
I was impressed by Westminster Cathedral, but St. Paul was more my style.
And we were lucky to find the Houses of Parliament open to the public and because almost no one knew that, we had the opportunity to talk with one of the members, making a comparison between The Netherlands and the UK. I still enjoy the special ceremonies on TV and the kids have often heard: 'I've been there, and there too!'

Since I was in London in 1968 a lot has been changed. I'd love to see it.

We can go by car, using the tunnel, (even though I love to go by boat), but hotel costs are far too high, so we have to find a solution for that.

27. Bee keeping



That so many bee populations have died worries me.
I love remembering the fields of grass or grain, with lots of flowers at the borders, covering the sides of the country roads.
Summer was not as much the sun; the symbol for me were the flowers.
And to keep them we need bees.

In the city where I live the council first wanted to have bees at the top of the council house. A kind of ridiculous plan, as the bees would live far away from flowers and have more dirty air than fresh air.
Luckily we have a very active organisation of beekeepers and the result of protests was that a new bee home was opened in the largest park of the city, on march the 27th, 2015. 150.000 bees are kept since then at the place where beekeepers worked for a 100 years.
Of course the plan to have a population at the roof of the council house was realized too.

In april this year some nuts destroyed the beehouse in the park, so the population were moved elsewhere.

I don't understand why people do this.

Socalled 'primitive' people take good care of their bees. They know exactly when they can take the honey, and they try not to disturb the bees, so they have not only honey the next year, but also a good fertilization processes of their plants and flowers.
The effort they take, can't be compared with the way the beekeepers here work.

I want to be a beekeeper for a day.
I think I'll be a bit afraid some of those animals might find their way to my skin. It's possible I might get an allergic reaction. I had one in the past. But being so close to this interesting part of nature... These little creature make honey! Wow!!

..


.

24. Make hats



Most little girls love hats.
I was lucky to grow up in a time that older women had to wear hats. So there was always one laying on a hall table, hanging from the corner of a bed or a chair, or given to me.
I was not going for the look, but for the feeling.
It made me feel rich and nice.

Then one day my aunt or gram gave me a basket.
I used it as a lady's bag, until I suddenly popped it on my head. I remember my aunt laughing.

I was allowed to keep the basket. And I started to pin things on it, like flowers and nice buttons, a little piece of lace and ribbons.
It was the first hat I made, and it wouldn't be the last.

A few years later I got a black french beret. I was very happy with it and soon I was wearing it all day and the years to come people didn't know me anymore without a beret. I had all colours, and when people didn't know my name I was called: the singing girl with the beret.
By that time I had learned to crochet hats, and friends and unknown people asked me to make crochet hats for them.

The past years I've made a few felt hats, and I enjoyed it so much, that I bought a few berets,
A couple of large summer hats, and in the sales two fedoras (one summer and one winter hat).
Of course after a few times wearing the hats plain, I started to decorate them.

I would love to be able to decorate hats in a more professional way. It's an art of using materials  to create a feeling of flow and beauty.

I see more women wear a hat, women of all ages.
So who knows... maybe in the future they'll wear a hat made by me.

.

22. Become a falconer



When I was 4, I saw a wild bird of prey in the woods. It was a large buzzard. Probably very hungry, because he didn't pay any attention to my father and me.

The intensity of the moment was so strong, that the memory lasted all those years.

When I was a bit older we went to a falconer's place. He had many birds. The people who accompanied me were afraid of the birds, and stayed far away. I was so fascinated by the birds' curiosity that the falconer had to warn me to keep a safe distance.

He didn't give a show, because there were too many people that afternoon.
And the next opportunity to see a show we missed it, because of the traffic.

Maybe I won't like a bird of prey as close anymore. I don't know.
Maybe it's too heavy on my hand.
But right now I think I would love the experience of becoming a falconer.


.

21. A garden house



One of my oldest wishes is a garden house.
A mini-place of my own, to sit quietly, write, think, create.

Ofcourse an internet connection would be nice, and flowers in the window.

I've never managed to have such a place of my own. I didn't even have a room.

But I gave my children a small house to play, and maybe we can do something with it.

It's a very small wooden house. It can only contain a chair, and maybe a shelf in front of the little window. That's it.

When we make a basis of stones, and build a part if a stone wall which fits the size of the little house, it will become higher at the inside. We can place the wood on the stone. I hope.

The roof can be split into part roof, and part plexi glass, so there will be plenty of light, and at the same time shelter against the rain.

But, to be honest, I'd rather have a new, proper garden house.

.

20. A real vacation



I can't remember the last time I went on a true vacation.
It's more than 30 years ago.

The reason why we haven't gone during all those years was simple: 4 kids with special needs and two kids with normal needs was just too much. Too much luggage, as we didn't have a car, too much money, and too many problem to deal with.
Our children were autistic, and they didn't feel happy in another environment. They had enough to deal with when there was no need to go to school.

I've had some individual days that were a kind of vacation, but staying in a hotel, no cooking, no dishes to deal with...  being pampered, sleeping in, or not, emerging myself in a day long experience...I don't know that.

Now the children are grown up, they don't need me anymore as much. So I should be able to go...if only I had the money.

.Imagine me...lazy, not thinking of daily life for days on end......

.

19. Visit the Grossglockner again



I was about 15 when we went to Austria.
We stayed in a hotel in Wörgl, Tirol.
We had a great time.
My mom could stay at the hotel with my little sister, enjoying the sun. And my dad and I went with the busdriver to all kinds of places.

It was the busdriver's own holiday too and with a small company we went into the mountains.
I enjoyed the feeling of freedom, the height, and the enormous panorama.

We also went to the Grossglockner, the highest mountain in Austria. It's 3.798 meters high. (The second peak is at the same mountainridge, called Kleinglockner.)
We drove on the High Alpine Road and had a good look at the scenery, until the road ended at a place where tourist could have a good look at the mountain from a restaurant. So my mom and sister and many of our tourist bus went there. We went further up and had a better look at the glacier, where a few climbers where crossing the river of ice, intending to spend their next days to reach the summit.
We stood there watching in silence. Nature was so majestic, and I felt so small and yet part of it all. Like I belonged there.
Someone told about the cross at the summit, and when we went to a tourist shop later I bought a card with a painting of the cross loaded with snow and ice. The everlasting ice was formed in the wind, like it tried to hold unto the cross as a soul clings to live.

I would love to be there once again, preferably without many tourists, in deep wintery conditions, to feel the intense presence of this part of nature.

.

18. A medical emergency course

More than a first aid course
In the past I've assisted at accidents before the ambulance arrived.
I know I stay calm and  act medically appropriate, even when improvisation is needed.

After the terrorist attacks of last weeks civilians were of utmost importance in taking care of the victims before the ambulances arrived.

I live near a railway station, shopping center, and at walking distance of an important roundabout. At the other side of my house a couple of schools are situated.
So I'm available within minutes.

A simple first aid course doesn't seem to be enough anymore.
Gun wounds and stabbing injuries, shock and panic, need a different approach than taught in a first aid course.

I urged my son, who is a crisis journalist, to apply for a place at a medical emergency course especially created for journalists. He's often the first st the scene and he's got quite an ethical attitude, not to take photos of wounded people.So he can use his presence far better after the course.

I think a special course needs to be created to act well after terrorist attacks. It's important not to destroy evidence, but at the same time people need help, and maybe even adequate triage. To direct people who are able to help too and keep them calm requires a firm attitude. Etc etc.

I hope I'm able to motivate the new government to take action.

15. Ride a horse



My kids went horse riding at school! They absolutely loved it.

Before that I never thought I would be interested.

I grew up in a part of town that even now is called a village. We had the cloister garden right in front of our house, and the farm at the end of the street, opposite the school.
There was one horse. A working horse. It pulled the plow, and I'm sure it had decided to have a bad mood during the rest of it's life. Her life, I should say. She was called Sylvia, was considered nasty and dangerous, and none ever sat on her.
Riding horses was something that didn't even enter my mind, thanks to Sylvia, not even when I saw the jockeys perfectly dressed riding shining horses with cheering people waiting for them.

I remember thinking: I would love to do that, when I saw Kazachstan Nomads enjoying horse racing.
Everyone enjoyed the event and it was clear the horses enjoyed it too.

I'd never been afraid of Sylvia, was the only one, and I asked the farmer if there was any chance.... He said: 'no!'

I never had the opportunity....

14. Learn the Tango.



I've done a bit of ballroom dancing in the past.
Not much, the lessons were not very interesting and I'd rather spent my time in ballet-lessons.
We, ballet dancers, were supposed to dance everything that needed to be danced and I have to say that our ability to copy bodily movements came in handy.

Posture, attitude,, rhythm, no problem. And with  good leader not much could go wrong.
So I danced with my dad and adopted English uncles in the club in Birmingham as a young girl, danced in Germany, Austria and Italy during the holiday and got quite some compliments, and even danced with a winner of ballroom dancing contests, swirling over the floor among the best of the best.

But it didn't really matter. I wanted to dance the Tango.
I did, and I wanted to dance it well.

So I hope to be able to get a few very good lessons, or meet a man who can dance the tango and teach me.
I don't have the money to pay for lessons, but I'm a good ballroom dancing coach, so I can work with the dancers to bring their dancing to near perfection.


.

11. Sign language



Learning sign language has been on my bucketlist quite long.
I've been quite fluent with gestures. To be honest signing in English was quite OK, and I was able to communicate rather well, but signing in Dutch was... ahem... not as good. (to be friendly to myself). Ofcourse I was able to use the basic gestures, they're integrated in the spoken language, but I couldn't manage a normal conversation.

Beside gestures there's also the hand alphabet. The fingers and the position of the hand on the wrist create a letter or word. Signing like this takes more time than gestures, but it's a great help when gestures are lacking.

For people who can't see another alphabet is developed.
It's an alphabet that creates letters with fingers and fingertips on the hand or arm of the person who listens.
I would love to learn that, but I need someone who knows the system well to practice.

When I was chairman of the parent's board of some schools I tried to make people aware of the need for communication beside verbal communication. Now more people grow very old while loosing their eyesight and people with brainproblems have a better chance for survival, sign language becomes more used. it should be part of the school's curriculum.
Problem was that many schools were afraid the pupils might sign during exams.

But a few schools have adopted the idea and started to teach sign language.

For those who ant to learn the Dutch hand alphabet: click here. .
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...