SCHOOLYARD PHALLUS

Hilarious....

Always knew kids are inventive...

Two years ago two pupils from Bellemoor School in Southampton (England) came up with a came up with a neat "project". We can all still enjoy the results!

Two pupils who drew a giant penis on a school lawn using weed killer two years ago can still admire their work from satellite photos now posted on the internet.

Despite the school re-seeding the area, the penis has turned up on satellite image search engines because a photo was taken before the new grass could conceal the appendage.

The unnamed pair of year 11 pupils from Bellemoor school for boys in Southampton, burned the 6-metre (20ft) phallus into the grass as an end of term joke.

Staff, parents and pupils who log on can now see the image in all its glory.
A spokeswoman for the school said: "It was just one of those high school jinks. "This was an act of vandalism that took place during the summer of 2005. Southampton city council re-seeded the area and the grass was re-grown by the beginning of the new school term."

Enjoy,

HK

BORING PARTY

Last Sunday was NOT GOOD! The performance was fine, but the (Cyclaam Festival) party was boring as hell!

When I arrived at about 5:45 PM some guests were already putting thier coats on to get ready to go home. That didn't look too promising! The party had only started at 5PM...

The Sybold bar/restaurant area was pretty packed, but then I realized that was the only place in the building one was allowed to smoke. No wonder!

The other hall where bands performed was quite deserted. Only a handful of fans enjoyed the music.

The Spieren voor Spieren charity foundation received a cheque of € 4,500. Not bad!

I didn't stay all the way through the end. We finished our performance, then the drinks we were offered,... listened to one or two songs (which weren't my cup of tea AT ALL!!) from a local singer.

Brought a whole tray full of the ugliest plant ever home...

Enjoy,

HK

SCORES RAMSPOED

Unfortunately our band's website is down. Server problems. This really sucks, for lots of people are checking out the site to read more about the results of our RAMSPOED Festival.
For those fans who can't wait... I will post them here.

Overall placements:
1. Bar Gebeure - 458,3 (M5, C3, T2, A2)
2. Koorenbouters - 457,2 (M11, C1, T1, A6)
3. The Bloopers - 373,6 (M6, C9, T4, A3)
4. Altijd Wat - 371,2 (M13, C2, T3, A8)
5. Blazerus - 357,2 (M12, C7, T5, A4)
6. ZWO De Makrele - 335,5 (M1, C6, T10, A1)
7. Stumpers - 334,7 (M8, C5, T6, A10)
8. Black Woow's - 333,7 (M2, C8, T7, A9)
9. She's - 327,1 (M3, C4, T11, A5)
10. Bend Bekend - 295,8 (M7, C10, T8, A13)
11. Blaoskaffers - 286,2 (M4, C12, T13, A7)
12. Gèf Hard - 258 (M10, C13, T12, A12)
13 Bolblaozers - 253,4 (M9, C11, T14, A11)
14. Zullie - 231,5 (M14, C14, T9, A14)
(Between brackets the placements in the captions: Music - Carnaval - Theme and Applause.
Note: FINAL Overall scores based on 40% of Music score + 40% of Carnaval score + 50% of Theme score + 20% of Applause score)

Enjoy,

HK

GIG IN REEUWIJK

Went to Reeuwijk (near Gouda) last night for the annual Kakofonie Festival. Our friends of "'t Kapelleke Band" run this well-organized festival and yesterday evening we were there for the fifth time I guess. Always a fun party. Some really good bands on stage too!!
Especially enjoyed Knaoiers and Boure Soul Stampers.
Surprisingly the trophy - a creation made up with parts of different instruments - went to a band from Den Helder.
Our band once again drew a lot of attention wih our costumes and with the fast pace in the musical repertoire. We're kind of the odd man out as far as tempo is concerned!

Met quite a few very interesting people too. We're already talking about taking the band to the island of Terschelling for our anniversary.... Nice Pirate!

This afternoon another performance on our schedule. This time we can stay "home" for the gig is at the Cyclaam Festival in our city theater Kunstmin. Profits will go to the "Spieren voor Spieren" Foundation.

Enjoy,

HK

LOTS OF KIDS

The Open House at school was a great success.

Especially Friday night we had a lot more people visiting the school than in previous years.

It's always hard to say how many kids will now actually register. They might all seem very enthusiastic, but that doesn't mean we will see them back after the summer holiday.

Obviously they will also visit other schools these weeks.

The school got the traditional face-lift in the days before the Open House.

Everything to make the place look clean, nice, well-organized,...

I don't really like that. I think people should see the place as it really is!

Oh well,.. Monday everything is back to normal!

Enjoy,

HK

MY WORK USED ON ITALIAN POSTER

I got a request from the president of the Italian Marching Show Bands Association, Mr Felice Cattaneo, if they could use a photo I took of a contraplayer (tuba, sorry...) of the Boston Crusaders on their official 2007 Championships publications, which include posters, flyers, programme books, tickets and other promotional items.

I obviously didn't have to think long about this request!

The posters have already been printed.

The championships will be held in Busto Arsizio.

Unfortunately DCI 2006 champions, the Cavaliers from Rosemont IL, have recently cancelled their scheduled trip to Europe. They would have performed at the 2007 Open Campionato Italianpo in Busto Arsizio.

Enjoy,

HK

PUB CRAWL

Well,... yes,... a pub crawl...

that's the official name... but some also call it bar-hopping.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term "PUB CRAWL" (including variations like "gin crawl" and "beer crawl") has been in use since the late 19th century. It's purportedly called a "crawl" because the participants are literally crawling from pub to pub after getting drunk at the first few pubs.

I am co-organizing an evening out with 9 bands in some bars downtown Dordrecht and two on the outskirts, so it won't just be an evening out drinking, but all bands will actually perform at the different bars they visit.

This is the opening night of the Carnaval weekend. Should be a fun evening!

All bands will conclude the partying in a joint-event at the Dordrecht Theater KUNSTMIN, where the Carnaval Foundation of our city "Merwekrabbers" will host its annual Kleintje Carnaval, the kick-off of their weekend.

So if you want to have some fun, enjoy the music and have a few drinks,... and perhaps even crawl home afterwards... come and join us on February 16!!!

Enjoy,

HK

OPEN HOUSE

It's the time of year... All schools have their Open House days at the end of the month of January every year.

Same goes for my school. This upcoming weekend we're on!

Last week a joint presentation was held by all secondary schools in our town. Despite the bad weather it turned out to be a successful aftrenoon and evening after all.

At our school preparations are made for the Open House. Of course a school want to make a good impression, but I don't like the fact that all of a sudden - shortly before the big days - the entire building is turned inside out,.... last minute paint jobs,... classrooms are given an extra cleaning job or makeover,... plants and flower appear at places we never see them,...

Oh well,... gotta do something to win the kids' (or their parents') hearts...

Enjoy,

HK

ITALY HERE WE COME

I'm really looking forward to going to Italy for a week soon.

This trip is to prepare for an international (CLINT1) project with another vocational school in the beautiful picturesque town of Sarnico at the Lake Iseo.

Sarnico is set in a pretty valley right at the lake.

My colleague and friend Jurrie and I are flying from Eindhoven to Bergamo, which is only about 22 miles from Sarnico.

Beside the numerous discussions with the local teachers' team for setting up our international contact and project for the upcoming years, there will obviously also be a cultural aspect to this trip. It looks like we will also pay a visit to Milaan with them and make a trip on the lake.

Can't wait !!!

This will be the first of the many trips abroad I will be taking throughout this year, including two trips to Paris, another one to Italy and a long summer trip to the USA.

Enjoy,

HK

BAR GEBEURE WIN AGAIN

That's two in a row for this year's winners of Ramspoed.
Pretty neat act they performed on stage! Completely transformed the stage into the real thing, with bar and saloon-doors and everything...
Last year Bar Gebeure came out stunningly and surprised everyone with their Mardi Gras parade, and last night they defended their 2006 title with pride and success.
Great band, great musicians, crazy people, creative too!

On february 10 we will be at their annual party. Will be another late one that night! A week prior to this year's Carnaval weekend. It's a good thing I'm off from work that week!!
Always need a few days to get back into the real world again...

Enjoy,

HK

RAMSPOED A HIT !

Just got home from the Bonefatius Church...
No, no.... not from a service at this time of day, but we had our annual Ramspoed festival there.
Fifteen great bands performed on stage, some of which went all the way in an act in style of this year's theme "Wild Wild West".
Bar Gebeure managed to defend their 2006 title, and with success!

My personal favourite were "Zoetwaterorkest De Makrele" from Breda. They didn't do much with the theme of the night, but musically they were hard to match! Very hard to match...
Too bad we don't see these guys that often.
Only 9 musicians!!!! (6 horns and three drums)

It's little after 5 AM,... I'm off to bed. For a few hours, 'cause for I gotta be back there at 10, to move out all our stuff and props.

Enjoy,

HK

100 on Hyves

Didn't know things could go this fast.. Have only had a page on Hyves (http://www.kloppert.hyves.nl/) since Tuesday evening and have 100 contacts (friends) there already. From all over the place!

Obviously lots of drumcorps people, but quite a few former students as well.

Enjoy,

HK

SCHROBBELÉR WITH MY FRIEND JOOP

This afternoon I stopped at Circus Royal to give my good friend Joop Teuteberg a photcollage that I put together with about 50 photos taken at several performances of this season's Winter Circus Royal here in Dordrecht.

Joop was very happy with the collage and said he'd hang it in his office later that day.

Being in Joop's company traditionally means I won't leave before we had a drink together. Since he has more or less packed everything from his circus (awaiting a forced move to a new location), we stopped at the nearby café "Ondersteboven" (litterally translated "upside-down") and had some serious conversations about the recent circus show, Joop's future plans, the problems he has with the Dordrecht city government about a housing site, his plans for theater shows and lots of private stuff.

About two hours later we left the bar,... having finished some 16 Schrobbelèr each... ooops!
Great drink though (and small glasses...)!

Enjoy,

HK

ICE - In Case of Emergency

I stored a special phone number in my mobile phone today... under "ICE"

My brother is an ambulance driver in the Rotterdam area.

In case of a serious accident a phone call may have to be made to a relative of the accident victim. But then,... when a mobile phone is found in one of their pockets,... which number of the long list in the phone's memory should be called?? A tough choice!

Creating the name "ICE" (In Case of an Emergency) in one's phone, with the number against it of the closest relative you'd want to be called in an urgent situation. ICE2, ICE3, etcetera might be added for more contacts.

In an emergency situation, police, ambulance or hospital staff will then be able to quickly find out who your next of kin are and be able to contact them.

The system has already worked well for a number of years abroad. I hadn't really heard much about it before.

Enjoy,

HK

HYVES

Have been invited so many times over the last year and a half or so to create a page on Hyves... Never really got into it though.

Did make one on MYSPACE last year, but mainly friends in the States on that one.

So I finally took some time yesterday to fix a simple Hyves page... Will add some hotos one of these days.

Didn't take too long to fill a list of friends. They're adding from anywhere. Lots of people from Jubal there, but also quite a few from school. Fun!

Enjoy,

HK

MASSED BAND

Tonight's rehearsal

WOW !!!!!!!!! This will be COOL this coming Saturday night at our annual RAMSPOED Festival.

We had another rehearsal tonight, and it really looks like it's going to be a huge reunion band with so many former mebers of our band showing up.

Can't wait!!

Enjoy,

HK

MORE CHAMPAGNE

Today the last of a series of New Year's Receptions. Went to one last night of the local Carnaval's Foundation Merwekrabbers and then hit the town with a few friends... Another early morning...

Today I intended to attend a New Year's concert by a local band, but showed up two minutes after their last chords of the Finale piece. Miscalculated the performance times.

Then went to a neat reception of the Societé de Brebis et Béliers.

Might consider joining them. They need a few people with less grey hair!

Enjoy,

HK

AT THE FAIRGROUND

Not that I am a great fan of fairs, but whenever there's one in town or I pass one on one of my trips I do stop and see what's going on. Don't really do any of the attractions myself, though.

I liked the effect of this shot I took of the fair at Amsterdam's Dam Square last September.

RAMMEN REUNION ALUMNI BAND

Reunion held at the band's 25th anniversary

This year marks the 30th anniversary of our Mardi Gras Carnaval band Kakofonieband DE RAMMEN, formed July 7, 1977 (Yep,... 7-7-77 !)


Every year our band organizes a Festival RAMSPOED in the Bonefatius Church in our home town. Yes,.. a church! But it got an impressive makeover and has been used as a pop-podium for I quite some years now.

On the occasion of our anniversary we're composing a Reunion Alumni Band, with all former members that wish to take part in this unique venture on stage next week.

We had our first rehearsal last Monday, and will have another one next Monday. Pretty unbelievable seeing so many familiar faces back together. Will be quite a line-up!

Where we normally perform with a dozen of musicians nowadays,... RAMSPOED will most likely feature about 40 "artists" on the main stage.

Bibelot interior

Enjoy,

HK

NO IMAGES IN BLOG

I seem to be having some trouble with the weblog. Have been trying like crazy to get an image/photo with the last two posts, but for some reason without any luck.
Probably a server problem or something...

Will keep trying! Apologies!

Enjoy,

HK

COLOUR TROUBLE ??

Luxembourg & The Netherlands

Luxembourg's member of parliament, Mr Michel Wolter desperately wants to change the Luxembourg's natioal tricolour flag.

The flag is too much like that of The Netherlands.
Radio RTL Luxembourg recently held a poll among listeners and 90% agreed with and supports Wolter's opinion.

OK,.. Wolter is right....
The two flags are quite identical, but what a fuss....

According to "holy texts," the Netherlands' flag has a 2:3 ratio while the classical ratio of Luxembourg's is 3:5. The problem arises because Luxembourg's flag is also used with 1:2 ratio and (worse), a 2:3 one, the same of the Netherlands' flag! Moreover, the nuance of blue is defined as "cobalt blue" for both the flags, even if in Luxembourg's flag it is often lighter than in that of the Netherlands'.

Until 1890, the king of the Netherlands and the grand-duke of Letzeburg were one person. I'd guess that the flag colors come from the coat-of-arms of Letzeburg: barry argent and azure, a lion gules.

The flags are of the Netherlands and of Luxembourg (as they are known internationally) are similar, but not the same, and it's just a coincidence, nothing to do with having any common origin. As Anton Sherwood pointed out the colours of Luxembourg are derived from the coat of arms. Recently the blue has been defined as 299 in the Pantone Matching System, unlike the 286 blue in the flag of the Netherlands. It was laid down some time ago that the proportions of the flag would be 3:5 or 1:2, unlike the Dutch flag, which is always 2:3.However, because the flags still look similar at a distance, the Luxemburgers have a distinct flag for use on civil vessels on the Rhine and elsewhere. It is a banner of the arms.

There is no international system for avoiding flag similarities, and indeed at the United Nations itself there are two pairs of identical flags: Chad and Romania and Monaco and Indonesia. Chad and Romania are absolutely identical, and whilst Monaco and Indonesia have different proportions, this refinement is lost at the UN, where all flags are rendered equal. There have been several occasions in the past when different countries have had similar flags. Until the establishment of the World Vexillological Authority we have to put up with it!

Enjoy,

HK

MARYLIN MONROE

Marilyn Monroe impersonator Maggy at Koorenbouters Circus

This impersonator performed at the annual Koorenbouters circus event last Saturday. Of course our band members flirted with her, when she sang a song to/for us.

Some of us got a chance to have our picture taken with her...

Marilyn Monroe personified Hollywood glamour with an unparalleled glow and energy that enamored the world. Although she was an alluring beauty with voluptuous curves and a generous pout, Marilyn was more than a '50s sex goddess. Her apparent vulnerability and innocence, in combination with an innate sensuality, has endeared her to the global consciousness. She dominated the age of movie stars to become, without question, the most famous woman of the 20th Century.

She was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California, to Gladys Baker. As the identity of her father is undetermined, she was later baptized Norma Jeane Baker. Gladys had been a film cutter at RKO studios, but psychological problems prevented her from keeping the job and she was eventually committed to a mental institution.

Norma Jeane spent most of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages until 1937, when she moved in with family friend Grace McKee Goddard. Unfortunately, when Grace's husband was transferred to the East Coast in 1942, the couple couldn't afford to take 16-year-old Norma Jeane with them. Norma Jeane had two options: return to the orphanage or get married.

On June 19, 1942 she wed her 21-year-old neighbor Jimmy Dougherty, whom she had been dating for six months. "She was a sweet, generous and religious girl," Jimmy said. "She liked to be cuddled." By all accounts Norma Jeane loved Jimmy, and they were happy together until he joined the Merchant Marines and was sent to the South Pacific in 1944.

FABULOUS JAZZ

Jazz Connection (line-up: see below)

Posted about this band before, but went to see their New Year's concert in a cosy bar 't Ginneken in Breda yesterday: JAZZ CONNECTION

As always these talented performers know how to entertain the people in attendance with some great stuff. Old stuff, new stuff, Van Morisson, swing, ballads, up-tempo.... you name it,.. they've got it in their setlist.

Late March they're organizing BREDA BIG JAZZ NIGHT. Had a great time there last year, so will most probably go there again this edition. And I will take the camera with me of course!

Jazz Connection line-up:
Jurgen Feskens - trumpet/flugle horn, vocals
Peter van Steen - trombone
Rob Henneveld - tenor/altosaxophone, clarinet
Bart Wouters - bass, vocals
Frans Pietjouw - piano (organ)
Ad Hoendervangers - drums

Enjoy,

HK

RAMMY THE RAM

Rammen at Koorenbouterscircus 2007

(photo: Stijn Vanmaeckelberghe)

Last night was a hit! Eventhough we didn't get to play any music during our first set in the circus ring,... the projected RAMMY THE RAM story was a great success!

Lots of fun behind the big screen, where a total chaos of props moved from left to right.

The people in the seats at our side must have had the time of their lives seeing us trying to keep up with the spoken text and songs sounding from the CD through the tent.

The story itself was funny, working together with our band members was the best fun ever, the sound in the second half let us down a bit, but in general... it's been a long time we have been this creative!

The second set was a performance of 20 minutes in a packed beach-pavilion, which was used as the circus' artists foyer. We played rather well and controlled, eventhough our volume is always a bit too much for the average ear...

After the event we stayed at the bar a little longer. Took a taxi home. Good idea! Too much alcohol as usual... Switched the lights off at 6:45 AM!

Enjoy,

HK

BEST PARTY

Koorenbouters at Ramspoed 2002

One of the best parties every year is the first Saturday of January, when the Koorenbourters (a carnaval/mardi gras band from our hometown) turn the circus tent into a massive musical & entertainment night.

That's where HK will be tonight. With our own band De Rammen we'll perform twice. Once in the tent and once a little later that evening in the foyer.

Just like at our own festival Ramspoed - which will be January 20 - most bands add a little act to their performance when they play in the ring.

De Rammen are never that good at planning well ahead of time, so this morning we had our first rehearsal of the projection-play that we are to perform tonight. Didn't even turn out all that bad. On our way home we stopped by the circus to make preparations for hanging the big 12x7 meters white screen in the ring.

Will be another long evening (& night) tonight. Always a good reunion where we meet old friends and colleague musicians!

Enjoy,

HK

NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION

Dordrecht City Hall

Next Tuesday evening all inhabitants of our city are invited to join the city mayor at Dordrecht's beautiful city hall for this year's New Year's Reception, organized by the mayor and city government. So I'm booked for Tuesday nite.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend last year, for I always try to go there and greet other "Dordtenaren" (people from our town), and of course Mayor Ronald Bandell himself with his ever so friendly and charming wife.

Always a pleasure to meet these people.... Always taking some time to inform how things are and what we're up to...

Recently our corps Jubal was invited to city hall where we were honoured for winning both the National and European Championships for drum & bugle corps.

Enjoy,

HK

WACKO

Seldom have I seen a circus act as hilarious as the stunts of Professor Wacko - a former medal-winning trampoline gymnast from Russia.
Laughter all around from beginning to finish!

His continuous clumsiness in his act have him fall off the trampoline several times, hit his head, lose some teeth, miss a step going up the ladder and landing on his "you know what".

Kids in the crowd just'can't stop laughing. And they're right. This is one of the funniest people around!

Professor Wacko was one of the highlights in this year's programme of Circus Royal in Dordrecht! During the final show of this season's circus Wacko played a drunk man during his act, which gave it an even sillier touch. Even ringmaster Tonie Teuteberg was given a tough time.

Enjoy,

HK

CIRCUS ROYAL

Tonight was the closing night of this season’s performances of our home-town family circus CIRCUS ROYAL in Dordrecht. The Teuteberg family runs this fine circus every year around the Holiday Season. This was the 18th edition of the circus, which has a very long history. The grandparents of today’s owner already started this circus back in 1896 !!

Every winter I try to attend a few performances. This season I offered the circus management to shoot a photo series of the entire season (also some behind the scenes and party shots), so I ended up seeing about 15 of the total of 20 shows.

Since the Gala Premiere show December 21, the programme grew tremendously. All acts were performed more and more confidently!
Circus Royal absolutely has all the ingredients a good night out to the circus needs. I don’t think there are that many circuses which can match Circus Royal’s atmosphere. One of the very best around.

The international line-up of artists is always one to be proud of as well. This year’s line-up included: a dog-act with Wolfgang Lauenburger from Germany, The Troupe Alinte from Rumania (schleuderbrett), Miss Diana in an antipode act, Jora Oganisyan from Russia with a soccer juggling act, Wolfgang Lauenburger is back with 4 horses and 4 ponies, Joop Teuteberg features on the trumpet in a beautiful rendition of “What a Wonderful World”, Professor Wacko from Russia is a fabulous and most entertaining trampoline artist.

After the intermission the show continued with exciting trapeze stunts by Air Valentino from Rumania/Hungary, the Scholl family from Germany brings three giant elephants into the arena, Los Ginos clowns trio perform a hilarious musical act with an incredible variety of instruments, with a leading role by father and son Joop & Tonie Teuteberg, Duo Marinhos from Colombia with their death defying high wire antics, and a closing ceremony with all artists in the arena.

WILD WEST NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

At the closing night of the year 2006 I threw a New Year’s Party at my place. A huge success!!!

I invited the members & partners of the band I play in.

Thought the party could use a theme,… WILD WEST!
So I gave the house an extreme makeover.

Should have seen everyone’s face when they walked into the room with a floor completely covered by hay.
Next confrontation was with a couple of chicken, a little deer, a saloon, some longhorn skulls and "Wanted" posters all over the place.

Plenty of food & drinks of course. All present at the party brought some excellent food!
Activities included: horseshoe pitching, milking cow, shooting gallery, hammering nails, pushing beer mugs across the “bar”….
Haven’t had this much fun in a looooooooooooooooooooooong time!

Enjoy,

HK

HALF A YEAR LATER

Well,... it's about damn time a new update appeared on this blogpage.
Jeeezz... just realized I haven't posted anything here for the last six months. Unbelievable!!!

Excuses? Not really.
I have been busy with lots of things over the last year,... but that's no excuse for not posting anything at all. Have just not taken time to put any effort in keeping the blog going...

Ashamed? well,... no... Apologies though to all those who kept checking the page regularly.

Today is the beginning of a new year. I'll do my best coming back here at haakaa.blogspot onmore frequently!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you!!!!
CHEERS !!!!!!!

Enjoy,

HK