Twice an Opa

A new addition to the family.

Here he is...Master Ray Sharkey !

 He arrived on the scene at around 2am this morning Irish time.

9lbs 6 ounces....Big Dude, eh?

To sea or not to sea...

Editor: DENISE DOHERTY
Illustrations by: ANA STROMBERG
Published by: CAVERN DESIGN
Printed in IRELAND

The First King's Day in Haarlem

Walking the streets of Haarlem with Jose on the first King's day...
The former Queen's day (April 30) was moved to the new King's birthday (April 27)... but still keeping up with the tradition of a free market where people can set up free stalls on the street and sell anything.

The Stranger

My nephew, Derek found an old copy of Ireland's Own magazine with my short story “The Stranger” in it and sent me a photocopy of the pages with my story. 

It was a long time ago, sometime in the 1980’s when I wrote it! It is based on the legend that Bonnie Prince Charlie, the young Pretender to the throne of England, made a stop in Donegal as he fled Scotland and the English after his Jacobite army was defeated. 

I took the legend then and embroidered it a bit to come up with a story meant for children. Derek said he read it in bed one night and loved it so I thought I’d share it here as well.

Read the story here

Where have all the flowers gone?

Went for a walk in the park yesterday to clear my head...trees are naked. It could be January or December....very strange weather.

And the Flower parade - Bloemencorso will be next week...
The Flower Floats will be traveling from Noordwijk to Haarlem.
Will the flowers be there?

That Strange Guy

Got this from Cokkie...

Do you know that strange guy?

Kees Okx and His "Worlds of Abstraction"

My friends Kees Okx and Helene van Dongen together with 3 other artists will be part of the Exhibit Worlds of Abstraction to be held from March 23 to April 14, 2013 at the Castle "Le Paige" in Herentals, Belgium.

Kees has gracefully included my poem "The Painter" as part of his work and has given me a copy of the card that will go with the invitation.

front of card:

and at the back:

Kees Okx' message on the back page:

The photo in the front honors the harmonica panel where I painted the words of the poem "The Painter" that Aidan Sharkey, an Irishman friend from Haarlem, made for me after being inspired by my paintings. Singer Walkyri who also lives in Haarlem, composed the music for this poem and sings the text in a mysterious and fascinating way. This is part of the CD “The Painter” recorded in collaboration with Inner Voice.  I think it is great to be part of this creative collaboration. 

During the exhibition "Worlds of Abstraction" at the castle "Le Paige" in Herentals (near Antwerp), there is the opportunity to view and listen to "The Painter". You are cordially invited. 

The CD of Walkyri can be ordered through Inner Voice in www.myspace.com and in www.walkyri.com 

Helene and I are present during the opening and on March 23, 24 & 31 and April 6, 13 and 14 in the castle "Le Paige". At the closing party on 14 April, the poet ACG Vianen will give a fascinating lecture. 
www.keesokx.com and www.helenevandongen.com
Certainly looking forward to the Exhibit.

Juhi and the Frog

Went to V&D with Juhi today to get out of the rain and we found this frog sitting on a table and meditating.

And look at the storm clouds! It was not a nice day but enjoyed the waLK.

Mushrooms of Koningshof

Went walking and cycling with Nicolette in Koningshof and saw these huge mushrooms along the way.

Nice color.

Those are tall.

That's one huge mushroom.

Notice that Nicolette is in a circle of mushroom.

Irish Spring in Haarlem

Well there we were meself and Kim strolling around the Bolwerk and admiring the trees and bushes in their new green clothes when we saw this little cat out hunting.

Funny about trees, as the weather gets warmer they start to dress their naked bodies in their green overcoats while we dress for winter and shed our clothes in Spring and Summer. Roll on Summer so I can jump on Trigger and head for the Nudist strand at Parnassia!!

Flower Floats in Haarlem

Here from today in Haarlem... Nice weather to view the Flower Floats

The Bloemencorso 2012 (flower parade) was a bit wet on the way to Haarlem...

Hello Dolly

My friend Ruud Douma and his alter ego Dolly Bellefleur will be featured on National TV -- De Wandeling on March 23, 2012 at 7:55 pm with a replay on Sunday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 27.

Here is a preview of the broadcast



I love the concept of the duality as they talk not only with the well known DollyBellefleur but also with the man behind the "beauty with brains"

St. Patrick

Hij verdreef de slangen
van wijsheid
De heilige
Standvastige.
Het land werd arm
en stroomde leeg.
De visser verdronk
in zee;
de boer verzoop
in alcohol.
En heel even stonden ze er weer:
mijn druiden.
Ik zag hen
op de rotsen langs de kust,
in de heuvels
en in de schemering
van de bomen in het dal.
En door mij heen
stroomde het water van zee.
            ~Yvonne Koldewijn Sharkey


St. Patrick

He drove out the serpents
of wisdom
the steadfast
Saint.
The country became poor
and destitute.
The fisherman drowned
at sea;
the farmer drowned
in alcohol.
And for a moment they stood there:
My Druids.
I saw them
on the rocks along the coast,
in the hills
and in the darkness
of the trees in the valley.
And through me
the water flowed back from the sea.

Finally...

I am an opa!


Clara Frances' first picture...

The Old Man

A clip of Kees van Boxtel
with Jolanda Traarbach
at Mondiaal Centrum Haarlem (MCH)

End of Mini Ice Age

The ice is finally breaking up on the rivers, canals and lakes. The Polar Bears are now beginning their long swim back to the Arctic and the beavers can now start to repair their lodges and make their dams.

Great sorrow in Friesland that the Elfstedentocht did not happen but I, for one, am enjoying basking in warm temperatures of 8c.

 

But it did really look very beautiful and purified.