as it is in heaven

Yesterday I watched the DVD of "As it is in Heaven". A wonderful moving Swedish film.
The absolute highlight of the story is Gabriella's song. It goes right to your heart.

winterflowers

christmastree

After years of irritation at Christmas

Amsterdam has a tree to be proud of.

Emma

streetcar

In tram number 10, on my way distributing the Worldagenda of Amsterdam, I enjoyed Amsterdam-views other then my own neighbourhood. On this first day of december the weather was ok. Specially the light on and around the Java and KNSM Island was really bright and beautiful.On this Photo, taken from bus number 42, you see NEMO. The science Museum built like a ship.

magical colour

In loving memory

G E J A

May 4th 1958 - November 17th 2006

Almost a year went by since my dearest friend Geja died of cancer.

I miss her every day.

A little monument for her on my blog.

music in your lunchbox

"Amsterdam has got it" is our slogan but now and then urban surprises from other cities pop up. Like "muziek in ontwikkeling" in Haarlem.

Once upon a time (about three weeks ago) there was a female violinist who, after visiting a friend, walked through an empty building where people were working at that moment. She noticed that the acoustics in the room were excellent so she took her violin and started playing. It felt like magic and together with her friend Ziggy Klazes, who took the initiativ and a webbuilder they started "music in development" . Free, short lunchconcerts at large building locations. This initiative is now a fact and the website is in the air. For locations, dates, time and a preview go to

www.muziekinontwikkeling.nl

Dauphine

This afternoon we had a goodbye lunch for my friend Liz who will be in Buenos Aires the next month. The location was a fairly new restaurant named Dauphine, after this charming car made by Renault. It was also the first car that my father bought in the fifties. Sweet memories.

it's in the air!

It's in the air! After publishing a few jumping photo's myself, I came across this one when I checked my mail this morning. It was send to me by "All the Best".

maths

If only these two girls had been there when I went to school. I hated maths but maybe I would have overcome my fear of numbers, figures and difficult formulas by reading their blog.

jump

Inspired by the last picture of jumping children,

this one from the archives.

livingstones

Absolutely beautiful. These natural looking livingstones.

Papermoon

I have a soft spot for paper. And for little shops that sell it. Papermoon is one of those shops that I simply have to visit every time I'm passing by. Packed with cards, wrapping paper and other paper wanahaves. The owner always has a surprising collection. Today he showed me a paperdoll of Sinterklaas. A typically Dutch winterfeast on the fifth of december when we celebrate the birthday of Sint Nicolaas. A family evening with hot chocolate, pepernoten, presents and funny rhymes.

Alles is Liefde part II

Yesterday we went to see

the movie "Alles is Liefde". It was as good as they told it would be. Great script, wonderful cast and beautiful Amsterdam as the perfect set.

alles is liefde

Four years ago, in 2003, I left the cinema incredibly lighthearted after watching the movie "Love Actually". After this event I bought the DVD as a medicine to overcome any kind of dip. This week I look forward to see the Dutch version of a lovestory- collage. The previews are promissing.

Noorderkerkstraat

12.54 pm

Cinekid

Tonight is the opening of the Cinekidfestival. A great filmfestival for children.
This time the location will be The Westergasterrein in Amsterdam West.

Thursday trails

summerlight

Les Choristes in concert. I don't know why, but today I had to think back of seeing the great French film "Les choristes" .About a teacher with a passion for music that makes difficult pupils of a boys school sing like angels. Every now and then I have to listen to the soundtrack CD with lots of moving songs. This song, "lueur d'ete"means summerlight.

saturdaymorning trails

Brouwersgracht - Haarlemmerstraat
+
Coffee Company - Lindengrachtmarkt

around my corner

There are moments when I fall in love with my neighbourhood all over again. This afternoon, in the autumnsunshine, with just the right temperature outside, I had one of those moments that I captured in this picture.

Children's books

Today the Dutch week for children's books started for the 53rd time. My favourite writer and illustrator, Joke van Leeuwen, did it again . She won a price for the illustrations in her book "did you see my little sister?" For dutch readers I can also recommend her book IEP , published in 1996.

This book brings joy to both children and parents while reading it to them.

pretty serendipities

I found this autumncoloured painting by David Kroll on a blog called pretty serendipities. Pages full of beautiful and interesting entries made by Elena Karo. I don't know who she is and her last entrie was in 2005. Wonder why she stopped blogging. Anyway it is worth to have a look .

forever

Tonight on Dutch television the documentary "Forever". A film made by Heddy Honigmann released in 2006. It is a story about the dead and the living at the cemetery Pere Lachaise in Paris. A beautiful story, a wonderful film. 95 interesting minutes at NED. 2, 10.50 pm

Starring.....

I had some fun with flickr toys using a photo of my two nephews, David and Milan to make a movie poster. Milan is having his sixth birthday this weekend.

Jeanne

On a French blog, le vestiaire de Jeanne, I stumbled upon this girl wearing very attractive clothing

carfree sunday

Today the centre of Amsterdam was carfree. The weather was great. With my friend Liz we made a boattrip on a historical ferry. A sundayafternoon well spent.

new soul

Nothing worth watching on TV, I visited other surprising blogs. On one of them I came across this music clip. Nice enough to share it with you. Name of the girl is Yael Naim and the album is called New Soul.

Emily Dickinson

It's all I have to bring today

This, and my heart beside

This, and my heart, and all the fields

And all the meadows wide

Be sure you count

should I forget Some one the sum could tell

This, and my heart, and all the Bees

Which in the Clover dwell.

l

Emily Dickinson (December 10, 1830 – May 15, 1886) was an American poet. Though virtually unknown in her lifetime, Dickinson has come to be regarded, along with Walt Whitman, as one of the two quintessential American poets of the 19th century.
Dickinson lived an introverted and hermetic life. Although she wrote, at the last count, 1,789 poems, only a handful of them were published during her lifetime. Some of these published anonymously and some may have been published without her knowledge.

Tonight I saw a play about Emily played by

Roos Blaauboer.

www.rosmarie.nl/Emily_Dickinson_voorstelling.

maison for sale

This gorgeous house in France is for sale. It is situated in the Cantal nearby the village of Salers.The landscape is mountainous with stunning views, the air is clean and the meadows are full of flowers in spring. The area is not yet discovered by tourists. If you are interested let me know by e-mail and i'll fill you in about the details.

portrait of a smart rabbit

Not just a rabbit

hotspot

View from the new penthouse appartement of a friend. In the middle of the harbour area of Amsterdam on top of an office building. Today almost all the members of our small coffeeclub came to celebrate this new and fantastic house with, ofcourse, coffee and dutch applepie.The view is like a film. The constant activity on the water and the ever changing famous Dutch skies.

Put on your favourite music,

stand on the balcony

and enjoy !!

bye bye

One of the most charming things in Amsterdam has disappeared. The small boat that brought people from central station Amsterdam to the Java-Island and back, for years, had to go because of economical reasons . I'm romantic and my choises are seldom made out of an economical point of view. So I totally don't understand this action. I will certainly miss the opportunity to enjoy the sun and the water and the different views on the city during the crossing. I truly hope that the people that made this decision come to their senses and put the Java-boat back into the water again.

IJ

Need I say more ?

Haarlemmer straat/dijk

Qua bruisend Amsterdam kun je met een gerust hart naar de Haarlemmerstraat en Haarlemmerdijk. Al jaren begin ik mijn zaterdagochtend daar met een heerlijke latte van de CoffeeCompany of van tramezzino .Je vindt er geweldig brood van het Vlaamsch Broodhuys of nieuwe aanwinsten in de Kookboekhandel. Na de renovatie ,is de lange straat/dijk er enorm op vooruitgegaan. Op een of andere manier zijn de culinaire winkels ruim vertegenwoordigd. Samen organiseren ze ook dit jaar weer de New Food Fair . Het evenement vindt plaats op zaterdag 1 september van 10 - 18 uur.

If you want to enjoy vibrant Amsterdam, visit Haarlemmerstraat/dijk. Since years I start my saturdaymorning here with a nice latte from the CoffeeCompany or tramezzino's. You'll find wonderful bread at the Vlaamsch Broodhuys or new titles at the kookboekhandel. After renovation of this long street it has improved a lot . One way or another there are many foodshops. Together they organize again this year the New Food Fair. The event takes place this saturday the first of september from 10 am till 6 pm.

Gavottes

Searching for the French producer of my favourite biscuits I found some photo's that where linked with my searchitem "Gavottes". On the photo in the middle you see Gavottes that are not at all eatable but I simply love the photograph. By the way the baker of these glorious, crispy crepes dentelles is Loc maria from the French city Dinan.

ratatouille preview

http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=NwrJjLDIj1w

ratatouille

Don't miss Ratatouille !!! A wonderful film, made like a perfect dish. All the right ingredients for 110 minutes of entertainment for everyone. The charming little chef steels your heart, puts a smile on your face and fills the room with laughter. Go and see it. Look for the Ratatouille recipe at :
"beschuit met aardbeien".

"Everyone can cook!"

enemies part two

This looks so good !

the enemies

For the fourth night in a row I woke up much to early in the morning by the itching of mosquito bites. They drive me crazy. It is always good to know your enemies and therefore I googled them on the internet. So far it doesn´t do me any good. They are still there. Sneaky, mean and invisible.

repas sur l'herbe

A few months ago I got an invitation for a double birthdayparty in Normandie France. On the 11th of August we sat down at long tables together with fifty other guests to enjoy the French dinner, wine, company and fireworks. Life can be great sometimes !

foodblog

For Dutch readers of this blog

I started a foodblog called
"beschuit met aardbeien".

french cuisine

I'm back !

Together with a few of my favourite things from the French Supermarche

En route !

I'm off

mutsje

for cyber babies

want one ? go to the google store

potted shrimps

Since it was my birthday yesterday, my friend Pieter invited me for lunch at Gartine. This tiny breakfast/lunch/tea-restaurant in the centre of Amsterdam is run by a friendly couple that cookes and bakes with love. Today I had toast with potted shrimps and a salad.

the recipe

Ingredients100g/4oz butter

2 blades of mace (foelie)

a good pinch of cayenne pepper

freshly grated nutmeg

570ml/1 pint peeled brown shrimps

6tbsp clarified butter

Method

1. Put the butter, mace, cayenne pepper and a little grated nutmeg into a medium-sized pan and leave to melt over a gentle heat.

2. Add the peeled shrimps and stir over the heat for a couple of minutes until they have heated through, but don't let the mixture boil.

3. Remove the mace and divide the shrimps and butter between 6 small ramekins. Level the tops and then leave them to set in the fridge.

4. Spoon over a thin layer of clarified butter and leave to set once more. Serve with plenty of brown toast or crusty brown bread.

by Rick Stein

from Seafood Odyssey

Serves 6

Xtreme makeover

before
after


Do you live in Amsterdam and

want something done in your home,

send me an email for information

about the right people to do the job .

Garanteed good value for money!

New York VS Amsterdam

At the end of May 2008, my daughter Emma and I wish to visit New York. We would like to swap houses with people from downtown New York. We ourselves live in the most attractive part of Amsterdam within the circle of the famous canals in a nice, small, monumental house full of history. Please let us know if you're interested or know someone who is.

wow

Combining light with the airyness of balloons is creating a real wow-factor.

These were designed by Luc Schouten from Haarlem.
For a lazy sunday afternoon go for a virtual stroll to designspotter .