A while ago I read an article about teenagers hanging around on the streets, the nuisance they might cause, and the so called street coaches, who are there to make sure things don’t get out of hand. There were three boys in the associated photo and all three of them were wearing hoodies. Next to them there was the street coach in his red jacket with a logo on it, to make it clear that he is ‘at home on the street,’ which is the name of the project.
A bunch of keys was visible from under his jacket, as well as a discount card from a well-known supermarket chain. That is when I understood.
It is not hoodies or the way people dress, what they may have in common. It is the supermarket for which everyone seems to have this tiny discount card. Continue reading →

Apparently it is the international Week of the Young Child as I hear on the radio. At the moment here in the Netherlands it is also Month of Philosophy and the theme of this year is: the soul.
For me all days are day of the soul, because I am stuck with myself (meaning: my physical body). Thankfully I am having a better view from the sofa, because of a new floor in our living room. Continue reading →

We have a lot of birds in our garden and sometimes when I sit outside and try not to move, a sparrow will drink from the water bowl on the table. I sit only ten feet away. Continue reading →

Today the Week of Books starts here in Holland. That means that if you spend at least E 12.50 on books within this period you get a novel that was especially written for this festive week for free. So hopefully this upcoming week I can go to a bookstore and buy some books. Exploring a bookstore for something new can feel like treasure hunting. Going through your stash of books at home can feel the same. Continue reading →

A long time ago I had a solo exhibition. Due to complaints by visitors it had to close weeks before it should have ended. The works of art were exhibited at a medical center and the distorted bodies that I had painted reminded too much of ill and disabled people.
There was no way I could have known that years later I would be part of that same group. Continue reading →

Looking back at 2011 I remember – among other things – the death of Steve Jobs, managing director and charismatic pioneer of Apple. Not because of his inventions but because of the indiscreet comments about his choice for alternative therapy for the pancreatic cancer of which he later died. Continue reading →

To get some distraction from my so called normal life, I decided to watch the movie Up. And all of a sudden I was in tears. It was like my dike broke.
Once in a while it happens. And as a Dutch girl I know what to do about floodings: let it flow into the emergency flood plains for the time being, put the kettle on and pull out the chocolate bars and tissues. Continue reading →