Vrahounek

Back in my teen years a dear friend of mine used to call me Vrahounek (a little killer) because of my aggressive skiing style. Well...

Maarten is about ending up the same way!
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, yes indeedy!

And the mornings spended with his favorite Zeno boosted his confidence even more.

Already last year it was difficult to keep him away from the big jumps in the snowboard area but then he wasn't heavy enough to 'fly'. Well, this year he succeeded in the latter!


I didn't see 'his landing' for myself because of the steep slope. I simply couldn’t keep up with him!

But considering his tracks he definitely 'flew' for some meters!

Luckily, he ended up 'only' with a bitten lip, some minor bruising on his arm and an egg sized bump just beneath the helmet.

Spring mud

Who would believe that even here in such an overcivilised place one can experience a challenging and muddy biking adventure?
Well, apparently not everyone was happy with that...

Rainbows (Krokusvakantie day 4)

"Happiness is in a rainbow
Painted across the sky
Colors sparkling and shining
As the clouds go drifting by

Red is for the roses growing in the garden
Orange is for the leaves in autumn
Yellow is for the sun shining upon the trees
Green is for the grasses growing in the meadow
Blue is for the sky up above
Purple is for the violets hiding in the shadows

Follow your rainbows
And maybe you will find
A pot of gold
With all your dreams inside"

~ W.L. Navarre

Spring in our backyard

"You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should."
~ Max Ehrmann

Oude Buisse Heide

Kleine paden slingeren over de heide
en komen aan de hutten der armen:
zij zijn de eenigen die zich erbarmen
over ’t verlatene van wie hier lijden.
Op de heide zwerven de maagre schapen
zij zoeken blatend naar een nieuwe streek
van milder kruid en waterrijke beek,
honden en herders zijn vermoeid en slapen...

by Henriette Roland Holst “De nieuwe Geboort” (1903)


The Oude Buisse Heide in North Brabant was of great significance in life of the Dutch poet and politician, Henriette Roland Holst. Most of her poetry, biographies and political books were written here. The peaceful, natural surroundings inspired her to write many poems describing the wondrous nature in such a beautiful way.


In 1945 Henriette Roland Holst donated her ancient estate to the Society for preservation of nature monuments in the Netherlands.

Therefore even today we can still see for ourselves what she was then writing about.


This beautiful morning the sun was shining and the frost was beginning to melt away and... because we were travelling “with bears” there was no reason to hurry.

The knight of my heart

Op een groot kasteel, op een groot kasteel,
woont een stoere ridder hij heet Jan Fideel.
En je ziet het al, en je ziet het al,
dit is z’n zwaard en dit is z’n schild,
dit is z’n paard dat is een beetje wild!



Dus Jan zegt hu! En Jan zegt ho!
En toe nou, steiger steiger steiger toch niet zo….
En Jan zegt ho! Doe niet zo dom,
en nu stopt het paard en ridder Jan valt om. Rom-Bom.