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It’s that time of the year again in The Netherlands, the results of the vote for The Word of the Year have just been announced. And the winner is: unfriend.
‘The true cause is not the increasing production of CO2, but the growth of the world’s population,’ I replied to the ‘Hydrogen Man’ as he asked my opinion about the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen when I met him in the street.
I looked at the street packed with people busy with doing their shopping and whispered: ‘The human race is a plague.’
From time to time you meet one when walking down the street: a typical character for a novel. Often my attention is caught by the looks of the would-be persona. For example, I think someone has the face of a gravedigger and a story is born there and then.
Other times you realise that a relative or acquaintance has just the right attributes you’re looking for in this case it is not their looks but rather their character that interests me. I cannot wait until I can begin writing from their perspective.
It all began with images of the Cumbria floods. They made me want to explain how the Dutch deal with their surplus of water. In other words: a brief guide to the Dutch system for foreigners.
At the first sign of high winds, the Dutch react swiftly and order ‘Limited Dyke Watch’.
Prince Harry announced that he had gained a sister, something he had always wanted. This was the best quote of the day. On top of this he had made his mother’s engagement ring available to the happy couple. Prince Charles quipped that they had been practising long enough. His remark was just a bit vulgar and reminded me of his engagement to Diana.
His face made the headlines on TV and it was the first time I became aware of him. At first I thought they were announcing a repeat of the children’s TV series Catweazle, about the 11th century wizard who travels through time. Well, the man I saw on television certainly looked as though he had only just made his first acquaintance with electric lighting. However I wasn’t looking at Catweazle but instead it was my first glimpse of the new European president, Herman Van Rompuy!
I tried to explain to Big Bird this week: ‘The two figures who walked through the Brandenburg Gate were not Bert and Ernie.’ ‘Really?’ said Big Bird surprised, ‘but they very much looked like that couple.’ I had to explain to him that he had seen Angela Merkel and Hillary Clinton. By coincidence they happened to be wearing the same type of clothes and hairdo.
I live in the small Dutch provincial town of A., about the same size as Reading. Nothing ever happens here. Late at night you will not find more than four cars waiting for the traffic lights on one of the main thoroughfares. Early on Sunday mornings the city centre is so deserted it resembles Chernobyl after the nuclear disaster.
Last week the Dutch Prime Minister made a surprise appearance on the BBC when they showed a picture of one of the non-official contenders for the new position of EU President with the caption: ‘The Danish Prime Minster’.
Last week the Dutch Prime Minister made a surprise appearance on the BBC when they showed a picture of one of the non-official contenders for the new position of EU President with the caption: ‘The Danish Prime Minster’.
Radovan Karadzic did try to kill me. Well, not personally, but the troops under his command certainly had a go at it.
He looks like Mozart but unfortunately he doesn’t write any music. There are cracks in the brain of Geerts Wilders; he is about to make another one of his offending statements.
What do Amy Winehouse and Eline Vere have in common? Amy is 26 whilst Eline celebrated her 120th birthday this year.
Watching Breakfast TV is one of my worst addictions. Not just any breakfast show but the one shown on BBC1. Whenever Kate Silverton presents it makes my day.
In our creative writing course The Road to Publication, you will be provided with background information on the writing process along with exercises that highlight and develop your ability. A preview of Lesson One – Introduction and Characters follows:
This competition is now closed. The winning poem will be announced on 28th of January.
In our creative writing course The Road to Publication, you will be provided with background information on the writing process along with exercises that highlight and develop your ability. A preview of Lesson One – Introduction and Characters follows:
We are running a poetry translation competition. Your chance to get published in our magazine and learn more about Slauerhoff‘s poems.
Bernadette, publisher at Holland Park Press in conversation with Yael Politis author of The Lonely Tree.
I can only remember one other commemoration of the Queen’s birthday that ….
To give your feedback join Arnold on our forum.
Only in my poems am I at home/ No other shelter did I ever find
28th of January is National Poetry Day in The Netherlands and Flanders, therefore it is a very appropriate occasion on which to announce the winner of our Translation Competition.
Last year Madonna experienced enormous problems in the process of adopting Chifundo ‘Mercy’ James.
Enjoy being introduced to one of the most famous heroines in classic Dutch Literature.
In our creative writing course The Road to Publication, you will be provided with background information on the writing process along with exercises that highlight and develop your ability. A preview of Lesson One – Introduction and Characters follows:
