Day in Dokkum

In the center of Dokkum

Two Shopping Ladies

Hamster for Sale

I did some shopping with my friend G when I was in Dokkum. Did I buy the sleepy little hamster? No, I didn't, but he was very sweet! I took some photo's in the town center. On the first photo above you can see the place where the famous 'eleven cities skating tour' of Friesland is held, this is the turning point of the 200 km tour.

Traveling

Central Station Groningen

I was away for the weekend. I traveled to Friesland. Starting in Groningen Central Station I liked to make some photographs of the rails first. Very stripey images!

Joan as an Indian

Joan as an Indian

Dutch singer Joan Franka wins the National Song Contest on Sunday evening.
Joan was dressed as an Indian squaw and she wrote the winning song "You and Me' herself. In May she has to compete with all the other European artists to win the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaidzjan town of Baku.

Personal and Worldnews

Crownprincess Victoria from Sweden and her husband Daniel Westling have a babygirl named Estelle. I saw the Happy Papa on TV. He was beautifully emotional when he told the good news to the press. I like him!


Very sad news for Prince Friso and the Royal Family came today. The prince has severe braindamage after his ski-accident and it's not sure whether he will recover or not.


My personal news of this week is good! I was expecting to get fired at the end of this year. The good news is that I and my colleagues have still a chance to stay. I keep my fingers crossed and hope for the best!

As the World Turns...... no more

Holden and Lily

The World has stopped turning! Well, at least on TV! 
The Mother of all soaps 'As The World Turns' ended today on Dutch TV. The last episode was full of happy scenes. Goodbye to handsome Holden Snyder and his Lily. What I need now is a new addictive daily soap!
  

Ann wins ANTM

The very tall and skinny Ann wins the title of America's Next Top Model in the fifteenth season. Maybe we will see her on European runways.

My Voice

You can hear my voice on the link below. I did some backing vocals in 2011 on a song of reggae artist Johnny Baby. Some years ago I sang in his band. Later on I will post some more songs from that time.

Here is the newest song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm4qUkUqgu4

Enjoy!

And here is John:

Johnny Baby

Beautiful Goodbye

Alicia Keys

Last night I watched the funeral service of Whitney Houston on CNN. A lot of artists took part in the 4 hour ceremony by singing beautiful songs. I was really impressed and moved. I loved the choir that sang 'Grateful' and the song 'Don't Cry for Me' by CeCe Winans. I also (as always) loved the voices of Alicia Keys and R. Kelly. The whole ceremony was held in a sweet and loving atmosphere. What a Beautiful Goodbye for Whitney!

This Week's Sad News

Anil Ramdas

Prince Johan Friso

Unexpected sad news this week about well-respected journalist and writer Anil Ramdas who died on Thursday at the age of fifty-four. I always admired his views on the multicultural society and the programs he made for Dutch TV.
A day later came the news that Prince Johan Friso is fighting for his life in an Austrian Hospital after surviving a ski-accident.

Changing Street

Builders Office

The White House

Suddenly there's a new building at the end of my street. It's a big 'White House'. I think it's meant for the builders that are going to renovate the houses in the street. My house is going to be renovated at the end of this year. I can't say I'm really happy about this plan, but it has to happen.
Maybe I am happier when it's all done!

Blue Jacket

Blue Jacket

Every now and then I'll show you my new Vintage-finds. Today it is my 'new' blue jacket (that I love)! I used it already at my last photoshoot on Sunday with Chantal.

Chantal wearing the Blue Jacket

 

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine everybody!
I found this beautiful lovesong on youtube: 'First Time Ever I saw Your Face', written by Ewan McColl in 1957, made famous by Roberta Flack and now sung by the Glee-girls! Enjoy! XXX

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twrLXRFDQ6w

Model Chantal

Chantal

Last Skating Day?

Starbucks Cafe

This weekend Chantal and I did the photoshoot for the March-issue of

www.modelsandfriendsgroningen.nl. It was quite cold and we had some snowfall. But everything went well and afterwards we tried to get warm in the Starbucks Cafe at the Central Station. We had hot cocoa and lemoncake. When I walked home I took pictures of (probably) the last skating day.

Rest in Peace, Whitney!

Young Whitney

Older Whitney

American singer Whitney Houston died at the age of fourthy-eight.
I was rather shocked when I heard the news this morning. She is the third legendary singer that passed away in the last couple of months. Amy Winehouse, Etta James and now Whitney.

My First Quilt

First Quilt

Hanging above the Kitchen Closet

Detail

Maybe ten years ago I made my first quilt. I made it from yellow, blue and floral fabric. The quilt's title is "The Endless Summers of my Childhood". When I remember the summer holidays of my childhood they seem to be everlasting and the colours yellow and blue come up in my mind. Yellow like the sun and the grain and blue like the sky. I also remember the garden flowers and the crops on the fields of the farm where I lived.

Sentimental Journey

The Farm

The Townhall

The Church

When I spend a day with my parents on Monday I also visited the old places where I had lived and worked. I was born on a beautiful big farm where I lived for twenty years. My father announced my birth in the townhall where I later had my first job when I was eightteen years. I was baptized in the church on the last photo.

Work in Progress

There goes the Neigbourhood

Tearing down the Old Tourist Information Center

Martini by Night

The city is changing. New buildings are going te be build in the center. Therefore the old ones have to go. I took some pictures when I passed by today when walking to the pub for an after-work-drink with colleague A.

New Club

I went to see a new club today. I was invited to a photoclub nearby. It was really interesting. The first part of the evening was all about the technical side of photography and the second part was about enjoying the photo's that were taken by the members of the club. Nice atmosphere, friendly people, funny moments, etcetera. I think I will join the club!

A Cool Trip

Today I visited my mom to see how she recoveres from her broken hip. All is going well. She can walk again, has no pain anymore and wants to cook her own meals again. The weather was extremely cool, but also very sunny. When I left my house this morning the temperature was minus 10 degrees and when I came home it was minus 9 degrees, so it was really a cool trip! When I walked home from the trainstation I saw the full moon against a nightblue sky. Cool!

Ice Ice Baby

The night temperatures have been 22 degrees below zero in Holland so the ice is very strong now. Young and old are skating on the frozen pond in the park near me. There are also a lot of photographers on the ice for that one special winterphoto!

The Weather today

A pictural impression of the weather today in my neighbourhood. Winter has finally set in. 

The Voice Kids

Brett

Amy

The Voice Kids is also worth watching! I'm amazed how beautiful the young people of Holland can sing and how charming they are!

Vitamins

Vitamin C

In need of a little warmth

Warmer Clothes

Ooooooooh!!!! Temperatures have dropped below zero! I'm a little surprised how cold it is now, I was forgotten how normal winters feel like. I've searched for warmer clothes in my wardrobe and I found this colourful and woolly cardigan. It seems to get even colder in the next days!