FINAL EXAMS FINALLY OVER

The kids are done! Today was their LAST final exam (at least the levels I teach,… others still have Latin tomorrow, Frisian, some English, Maths, Physics, and Friday the higher levels will do their Music, Spanish, Philosophy, Turkish or Arabic language).

Today’s exams of English didn’t look too difficult. I just hope they did OK. Some will most likely have made a mess of it (as they have done all year), but I’m pretty sure there will be some high grades too.
Time for me to correct all 79 exams tonight and tomorrow. Want to have everything done before the weekend, so the results can be sent in.

THE HUMAN MIND

I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdaniegThe phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid! Aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer inwaht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? Yaeh, and I awlyas thought slpeling was ipmorantt.

DAMAGE

At the first contest of this season in our home town we (JUBAL) were on second to last. After some heavy rainfall during the day and evening the grass field had turned into soggy MUD.

Right after the opening hit in the show I made a pretty serious fall in the fast-paced drill and cracked the bell of my trumpet. Only needed a few seconds to get up and get back in line. Fortunately the valves never touched the mud, so I could continue playing the entire show.

Jubal won last night's show with an almost 7 point lead. A clean sweep (except for one subcaption)!

BREDA JAZZ

JAZZ CONNECTION, my favourite jazz band here in the Netherlands performed at the Breda Jazz Festival this weekend. Saw three gigs yesterday. Can almost memorize the repertoire!

Was invited to shoot some photographs for them on stage from behind, which resulted in some neat shots. Light was absolutely perfect!

SLAMPAMPERS,... HILARIOUS!

At the Jazz Breda Festival yesterday I got to see the Slampampers again. A musically talented comedy quartet that performs an extremely well-coordinated and cleverly choreographed hilarious musical entertainment performance.
This is a real treat for the crowd.
Arrangements are absolutely stunning!
Unfortunately some of the humor elements and musical jokes are a bit too clever for some in the crowd at times .

Loved it! Bought the DVD. Worth seeing! What a show!

ANY IDEA ?

Got any idea what this is?

Leave your answer(s) as a comment & check next week for the correct answer.

JAZZ !

I'm off to Breda to enjoy some fine jazz at the annual BREDA JAZZ FESTIVAL !
Hope the weather will be OK. Most of the festival is held outdoors....

TSUNAMI

Tsunami at Hilo (Hawaii) breaking through the pier. (Note the man on the left)

When the tsunami hit countries on the Indian Ocean in 2004, most people had probably never heard of the word "tsunami".

On this day (May 23) in 1960, however a tsunami caused by an earthquake off the coast of Chile travelled across the Pacific Ocean and killed 61 people in Hilo, Hawaii. The massive 8.5-magnitude quake had killed thousands in Chile the previous day.

The earthquake, involving a severe plate shift, caused a large displacement of water off the coast of southern Chile at 3:11 p.m. Travelling at speeds in excess of 400 miles per hour, the tsunami moved west and north. On the west coast of the United States, the waves caused an estimated $1 million in damages, but were not deadly.

Arriving only a minute after predicted, the tsunami destroyed Hilo Bay on the island of Hawaii. Thirty-five-foot waves bent parking meters to the ground and wiped away most buildings. A 10-ton tractor was swept out to sea. Reports indicate that the 20-ton boulders making up the sea wall were moved 500 feet. Sixty-one people died in Hilo, the worst-hit area of the island chain.

STEAMY PICTURES

Some pictures of "Dordt in Stoom 2006". Same faces as in 2004, same machines, same trains, same reflections, different background...

STEAM EVENT

Our city is host to Europe's largest steam power event, this year held for the twelfth time in Dordrecht (the Netherlands). Every year about 200,000 - 250,000 visitors come and see this steam celebration. Admission to 'Dordt in Steam' is free. Unfortunately this year the weather is not as great as in some previous years. Rain and hail probably causes a lower number of visitors.

Last night there was a spectacular naval parade on the river. In the picturesque harbour area next to the Groothoofd, Kuipershaven, Wolwevershaven and the Merwekade, dozens of steam-powered ships, machines and vehicles will be on view the entire weekend. Steamboats will be making round trips on the river. For children, miniature steam trains will be operating. Various seagoing steamships will be open for visitors. Sidewalk cafes and live music will provide a sparkling atmosphere.

I'll go into town tomorrow and shoot a few photographs... will post them Sunday night.

Here's two from last year...

HAPPY ORGASM DAY IN BRAZIL YESTERDAY

Did you know that "Orgasm Day" is an official holiday?

It may not be marked on your calendar, but since last year when mayor Felipe Santolia of the small town in Brazil - Esperantina, 1,300 miles north of Rio de Janeiro - signed a city council bill, May 9 was proclaimed Orgasm Day with the goal of improving relationships between married couples. So yesterday must have been some celebration alright in Brazil !!

The first year this was a Municipal Holiday, they spent the day talking about orgasms from many points of view, even having panel discussions on premature ejaculation, a topic that's typically kept hush-hush. Clearly, sex is not the taboo subject in Brazil that it is in many other parts of the world.

Santolia said the idea of celebrating Orgasm Day at first created a scandal in this poor region, known for its religious fervor. But he said residents gradually warmed to the idea.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM !!!!

Today is my mom's birthday. And yes,... she's the best MOM in the world! (Pretty much everyone would say that about their moms I guess...)

She never knows what kind of presents she'd like.... I hate that. Would be so much easier if she'd tell us a certain brandname of fragrance or liquor or whatever...
However,... The good part about this is that we can always surprise her with something she's not expecting. Unfortunately this year I honestly have NO idea whatsover.

I will be fixing dinner for her and the family tonight. Will be something Chinese/Indonesian.
I love making that...
And even better,... Mom loves eating it. So cant go wrong there!

SPRING IS IN THE AIR... A BIT LATE THOUGH

Talking to people abroad about Holland, they automatically come up with windmills, wooden shoes, cheese, skating and... TULIPS !

Eventhough the beautiful flower does not originate here,... it certainly has become a symbol for our country.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the Netherlands is the so-called Keukenhof, right in the middle of hundreds of beautiful "bulb-fields".

Keukenhof has not always been the beautiful estate that we know today. In the 15th century, the 32 hectares of the present park were part of the enormous estate belonging to the castle of Slot Teylingen. This was ruled from 1401 to 1436 by the Countess of Holland, Jacoba van Beieren. She used part of her estate as a herb and vegetable garden. Here, every day, the countess personally gathered the fresh ingredients for her kitchen. It is to this that the present Keukenhof, which literally means Kitchen Garden, owes its name.

A design dating back to 1840In 1840, the celebrated garden and landscape architects 'Zocher & Son' were commissioned to develop the park. Both gentlemen had carried out a similar task earlier in Amsterdam: they designed the Vondelpark. If you visit the Keukenhof now, you can still see their handiwork in the area surrounding the Beukenlaan. The majestic trees and the pond date back to that time. In the years following, the Keukenhof Estate was further developed into the present 32-hectare park.

(photos: Gils Kloppert)

This year the park stays open for visitors longer than in previous years. Not without reason... Spring was put on hold this year as Winter lingered longer than usual.

KAREL BULS & CATWEAZLE

When in Brussels I saw a fountain at the Grasmarkt which immediately made me think of one of my favourite TV series from the early 70s. The fountain, near the station, shows former Brussels mayor Karel Buls.

When seeing the fountain I was wondering what CATWEAZLE was doing here in Brussels....

A striking resemblance!

HALLUCINATE OVER A BEER ?

This is where to go!
Found this great restaurant/bar in Brussels (Koningsstraat) on my way to a concert of Youngblood Brassband.
What's in a name?

"The ultimate Hallucination" is housed in a massive second half of the 19th century mansion.
In 1904 the house was restructured and redecorated into the comtemporary geometrical Art Nouveau style it still has today. The bar/restaurant opened its doors in 1981.

Once inside the guests are treated on some fine Art Nouveau decorations, from Greek motifs to French Art Nouveau in the dining area. Unusual seating on trainseats, designed by Henry Vandevelde for British Railways, and beautiful original Thonet chairs and tables.