Sermizelles 2005

As I was cleaning up some old picture-cds I came across one with a folder 'Sermizelles 2005'. I had this old, not very good camera, and I think its limitations are visible in some of the pictures below, but I still think there are some pretty good snapshots among them. A small selection...
First a map of France and Sermizelles located on it.

This was in the backyard of the mansion where we stayed the fortnight. It was this huge old townhallkind of a mansion, with acres and acres of garden... One of our friends was wheelchairbound, and she spent a lot of time in the garden.

A bit of our frontview and two of them cowboys waiting to jump into the car and drive somewhere frenchy...

Sunlight made the scenery an everchanging painting...

In some church we visited, although I can't remember where... a deer sniffing my lovely toes...

Is this France? Along the Loire on a daytrip, we visited the Pont Canal de Briare. This is a view of the Loire, seen from the pont.

We also visited the abbey of Fontenay. This picture of these two lovely ladies was taken in the cloister.

Another picture taken in the Abbey of Fontenay. I love this picture, everything about it ;-).

This one was taken on another roadtrip. In some small village we saw this pond, this pool, which was covered in the most verdant green.

A picture taken at the back of the Vézelay Abbey.

Aaah, sweet parting and all that jazz... the day we left and headed home.

Day After Tomorrow

Op Writers Are A Funny Breed is er een bespreking van 'Day After Tomorrow', de nieuwe cd van folklegende Joan Baez, terug te vinden.

Facebook...

Lately I have been dividing my time between Blogspot and Facebook, both being very much fun. Blogspot because it's just nice, and Facebook because there's an increasing contact with people one knows. Facebook has another fun part... GAMES! And you can compete with your friends, which makes it even more appealing.
One of the games that I have been playing a lot lately is WHO HAS THE BIGGEST BRAIN? It's a bit of braintraining, and in the end you get a score, apparently equal to your brainsize. When you win, you can annoy others with it. My surprise was huge when I received the message below...


As you can all see, my brain is 2150 something, which means I have a Spacebrain (HUGE!!!), while Mr. S's brain seems to be zero, nil, naught, which isn't true ofcourse. He had the brain of a cat, the test told him. But, and this must be the mystery of Facebook, why should Mr. S ask me (of all people) who my daddy is... He knows my daddy, so he should know! Anyway, my spacebrain says I'm smarter, therefor I am... or something like that... help! I'm going bananas...

Writers Are A Funny Breed

Ik ben een tweede blog gestart... een tweede blog die ik wel wat wil onderhouden.
Many moons ago I wrote reviews for an e-zine, maar dat eindigde dus. Bij deze start ik mijn eigen reviewblog: Writers Are A Funny Breed

Wanneer er daar iets nieuw verschijnt, wordt het meteen ook een item op deze blog...

De eerste cd is Dar Williams' Promised Land.

All I Intended To Be

Yesterday we went to Brussels. To Bozar, the Palace of Fine Arts. For a concert by Emmylou Harris.


It was great, amazing and that shebang. It was the second time I saw her live (previous in the Queen Elisabethhall in Antwerp), and this gig was just as thrilling as the first time I saw her. She sang once again like you'd expect her to sing, she made a nice switch between ballad and country-rock, and she wasn't the diva I saw in Antwerp. Anyway, when she comes around again... GO!
her official webspace

Free Free Free...

Yesterday we went to Kapellenbos for a free podium. Some of our friends were performing so we went in jolly good mood to check them out. And in hindsight... I don't know whether it is because they are our friends, but they were absolutely head and shoulders above the rest... A small review...
Below is a part of the group of listeners. They came to absorb the music and some more. One of them absorbed so much he went down, face first, on the staircase when we got home...


The first of our friends taking the spotlight was Brikke. He sang 'Softly As I Leave You', a song originally done by Frank Sinatra. This was, for me, the first highlight of the day. This was a voice one couldn't help but listen to. Finally a voice that had body and soul. He was accompanied on piano by his daughter Emily...


So then came the daughter... Emily sang 'Like A Star' (originally by Corinne Bailey Ray), followed by 'Love Is A Losing Game', a song we all know by Amy Winehouse. And that, that song, was not only a triumph for Emily, it was the highlight of the day. To sing a song which is made famous by such a defining artist, BUT making this song your very own, not imitating, not trying to copy, but singing your own song... well one has got be very talented to do so. And I think Emily is... She ended her set with a selfpenned song, not quite finished but definately going strong...


Mother and brother watching ever so attentively to the daughter/sister. Apart from the music made that moment I enjoyed the attention given and the wow's I heard at that moment.


Last of our friends to climb the stage were Jahfar. A jazzdubgroup showcasing their own songs in a way one wouldn't expect it in Kapellenbos. A pity they couldn't keep the attention of the audience because of the lack of a singer. The trumpet was the voice, that was obvious, but a lot of listeners went on to talk their own talk. Still they made thrilling music.


And yesterday was the day I finally could take home the painting I bought a few months ago. For now it has found a place upon the closet, away from the cat, until I paint the livingroom, and it will grace the wall there. The painter is a member of Jahfar and one hell of talented guy.

Saturday = Movieday, part 2

A movie that seems to thrill me over and over again, is, once again a musical, Nightmare Before Christmas, by Tim Burton.



I don't think the movie needs much of an introduction, but for those who aren't familiar with the story:
There's Jack Skellington


And he lives in Halloweentown. Every year he leads all citizens into a night of scaring little children, adults and everything scareable...
He kind of loves Sally, who adores him.


She's a housekeeper for the awful Mr. Hyde, a wheelchairing freak.
Anyway, one day Jack discovers Christmas Town and doesn't know what to think of all this splendour, joy, light and goodwill. He decides to cancel Halloween and highjack Christmas. In order to succeed he needs to kidnap their leader, known as Sandy Claws.
Eventually Sandy Claws ends up with the evil Oogie Boogie.


When push comes to shove, the whole operation is a complete disaster. Jack acknowledges that and he decides they should start right away with the preparations for next year's Halloween. He and Sally finally get together as an item.


The movie was the first major movie completely put together by stop-motion, and the final product is simply amazing. You totally go along with Jack, Sally and all the extras of which none is not loveable.
The music, once again by Danny Elfman, who does the soundtrack of most Burtonmovies, is nothing less than perfect.



And YouTube once again; the scene where Jack discovers Christmas Town (remember; this is stop-motion!)



And another one; Oogie Boogie's Song, take a look at that wonderful Santa Claus...

Wie op dit idee komt, heeft het waarschijnlijk meegemaakt

Plezante bewustmakingscampagne van Sensoa

SuperGirly

I know you're not supposed to laugh with Britney Spears... (sic)... but this is terribly funny, and well done. I love the big blonde girl... And it's swell to come up and sing both songs over eachtother... Listen to the lyrics!

Als Alle Anderen #4

I had no idea there was a tshirt...


The full story (in Dutch) can be read here

Saturday = Movieday, part 1

I don't know if I will succeed in this, but every saturday I'll try to post one of my favourite movies. Perhaps an idea for you folks to run to the dvd-store, or rental facility, and watch a good movie on Saturdaynight.
First in the series is probably my all time favourite: Hedwig and the Angry Inch!


The movie is from 2001 and is a musical, or a rock-opera. It tells the story of Hansel, an East-German boy wanting to escape East-Berlin and eventually does so through a sex-change (which isn't quite successful, hence the angry inch, Hedwig is from then on his chosen name, and that of his mother) and a marriage to an American officer. In America he/she gets divorced, has all kinds of odd jobs and is the star in her own popgroup...
It's also a movie about the search for one's other half... One of the finest lovesongs I ever heard comes from this movie:



It's a feelgood movie because of the music, and because even though it's a sad sad sad story, it ends uplifting and is full of humor. Hedwig is one hell of a stand up comedian. John Cameron Mitchell wrote, directed and headlined this movie, and he's utterly thrilling as Hedwwig.

On a lighter note: every New Year's Eve we get together with the family and we dress up. One year the theme was movies, so I went as Hedwig in one of the scenes...


Below is the song with the infamous carwash-scene...

Poeske Kom's new resting place

My little kitty... Since the accident, operation and revalidation, she changed a bit. She sleeps all night in bed, preferably between Mr. S and me. And she found a new resting place...



The papyrus is slightly going down the drain, don't know wether it's her fault or not, but if she likes to lay there, why should I forbid it?

Joan Baez - Day After Tomorrow

It was 1993. I met my -now- ex-boyfriend, and he wanted me to hear this woman, in some way connected to Dylan (whom I quite dislike). I heard 'Sweet Sir Galahad'... Up until this day, this is one of my favourite songs by that woman. (Check it out in the musicplayer below).
That woman is ofcourse Joan Baez, sixtieslegend and still recording to this day. This week she released her newest cd, nr. 51!!!


It's a stunning album once again showcasing her humanitary involvement. No self-written songs here, but she's one hell of an interpreter.
Those who thought she was dead and buried, those of you who think she's still singing in that high voice, those of you who like honest singer-songwriting, perhaps it's time to (re)discover her.
Her official website
Her Myspace
The player below gives a very small view on her career (which started in 1959). 'God Is God' is from the new album.

The Melancholy Death Of Oyster Boy & Other Stories

Ever since, I think, Edward Scissorhands, I've been a huge fan of Tim Burton. Ofcourse I came to know him through his movies (and -oh well- some will say it's because of Johnny Depp, and hey, there are worse things, not?), but later I got acquainted with his other work. His early homemade movies, his poetry and drawings and his passion about anything beyond the normal.
A really fine example is his book 'The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy & Other Stories':


It's a book containing 23 poems written by himself, and also illustrated by himself. Every poem is about one of the 20 characters featured in it. And it's truly great. Ofcourse the whole she-bang turned into merchandise, but it's so cute and adorable. I went out of my way to collect them all, but I finally did it.
Below: Oysterboy himself, Robot Boy and The Girl With Many Eyes


Stain Boy, Junk Girl and Roy the Toxic Boy


Match Girl, Jimmy the Hideous Penguin Boy and Stick Boy


The Pin Cushion Queen, Mummy Boy and Staring Girl


The Boy With Nails In His Eyes, Voodoo Girl and Brie Boy


All these figurines came as a trio in a fairly normal box, except for Voodoo Girl which came in a larger box accompanied by a hardcovered version of the book. And Stick Boy and Match Girl, who stupid as may be are in love, came as a pair in a huge matchbox.


As you may see above, the whole set is covered under the name 'Tim Burton's Tragic Toys For Girls And Boys'...
The Pin Cushion Queen graces a journal, with pins that light up if you push a button.


I do not own everything merchandised, for example Mr. S owns the large version of Roy The Toxic Boy, which really looks toxic. On the www there is ofcourse much to be found about these tragic toys. Tim Burton's own site for example.
And on that very site you'll find 6 swell flashcartoons where Stain Boy headlines, and where most of the above characters play a supporting role. Check them out!
Stain Boy and Staring Girl ('Why?' one asks)
Stain Boy and Roy The Toxic Boy (my favourite, watch that little doggie at the end)
Stain Boy and the Giant Bowling Ball (not featured in the book)
Stain Boy and Robot Boy (Poor moussie)
Stain Boy and Match Girl (Eat this Jessica Rabbit!)
Stain Boy's Past (lots of characters!)

MadonnAnnie

Anyone who knows me, and perhaps not that very well, will know I have this heavy infatuation with Annie Lennox. Ever since the 80's I have been buying everything I can lay my hands on concerning Lennox. But more than buying, I have been listening over and over again, and I never get bored. Frankly, I have never met anyone more obsessive than me, they may say they are sooo deep into all things Lennox, but I always seem to manage to know something, to own something they don't... Nothing to be proud of, but a fact.
One of the funniest video's Lennox ever made is 'Do you want to break up', from the Savage album, when Eurythmics was still very much alive.. Here's the clip (though the sound isn't quite in place):



Madonna is a different kind of cookie. Never been much into her, don't know why, probably the music, and the far from interesting voice. But then she released 'Ray Of Light', and I think anyone should acknowledge she triumphed there. One of the best songs on that album was/is 'Don't tell me', a song also known as 'Stop', written by Joe Henry (yep yep, Madge's brother-in-law, a far more interesting version of the song is to be found on 'Dreaming Wide Awake' by Lizz Wright).



Last Year Lennox released 'Songs Of Mass Destruction'. The song that got the most attention was 'Sing'. An awareness-song, pointing out the hiv-problem in South-Africa, especially among women. Another reason why the song got so much attention was the fact Lennox recorded it with South-African group 'The Generics', and with 23 female superstars. Among them... yes, Madonna. In fact, Madonna gets the most attention because she gets so sing one verse solo.
Sing

But apparently the link continues. During her recent Sticky & Sweet Tour Madonna shows a CGI-movie (costume change!). The song starts out as 'Rain' by Madonna herself, when suddenly you hear the synthesizer from 'Here Comes The Rain Again'... Apart from the fact that Madonna uses Eurythmics in her show (which will be attended by a LOT of people), I also like the fact Madonna, though trying hopelessly to be hip and up-to-date, takes a 25-year-old-song to act as a soundtrack to a usually not so interesting intermission. I think Lennox and Stewart are laughing out loud inside...
Concert-excerpt

I like my dizzy dancer

Pretty Amazing Stuff...

A collegue of mine was whistling the 'Queen Of The Night'-aria while working, and she wondered what she was whistling. So I told her, and told her I would mail her a wonderful version of the song. Ofcourse I wanted her to hear Florence Foster Jenkins:



But while browsing YouTube, I came across this:
Robin Schlotz, a young Austrian boy doing his thing in the choir. Still pretty amazing stuff, even though now his voice dropped and he isn't able to sing this anymore (says the choir-site).

Als Alle Anderen #3

Another use of 'Als Alle Anderen', this time a school in Malle.

Next Year's Easter Holiday

Yesterday I got a textmessage from my mother which went as follows: "Holiday booked in France, house was still free". Though it slipped my mind, it happened to be she was supposed to call the agency the first of september, to book our family-holiday in 2009. This time it was actually quite exciting, because everyone in the family wanted to return to this mansion we went to in 2007. Below are some random pictures of that holiday.

So this is the mansion: Le Manoir Du Buvey. One hell of a mansion, where Hector Malot (the famous writer of 'Sans Famille') once lived.


Not so far from where we stayed, there is the village of Allouville-Bellefosse. Only famous for this old tree, where a hermit once lived in... This tree now needs to be supported by many iron bars and wooden poles.


Et voilà, Bosc-Bénard Commin flaunts the fact that Mr. Malot once lived in their petite commune.


Ofcourse we went on excursions. Probably one of the main reasons we all wanted to go back. We usually take the yearly holiday in the Belgian Ardennes, and well, even though there are lots of places to visit, we usually don't. Where as in France, we went to see as much as possible. Below is the church in Rouan, build on the very spot where Jeanne d' Arc was burned.


And ofcourse the ever so lovely town of Honfleur.