All in English, this time, as I do not need to tell my fellow countrymen about the past year: they have lived it.
Brielle market place
For all of you elsewhere in the world, some thoughts. My thoughts. I don't know how much you are told about my tiny country in the West of Europe, probably not a lot to nothing at all. Or you get told the tourist basics: the Netherlands, country of windmills, tulips, water management and the Amsterdam canals. Then again if you are into plants and gardening, like me, you'll perhaps know about our flower exports or Piet Oudolf, or Mien Ruys.
If you have read some of my blogposts, you'll know I tend to stay away from politics, not because they don't interest me, but because I have this weird and irrational urge to want to write a blog that makes people happy in a small way, that entertains. There is already far too much grief in this world.
This is my daughter's juvenile cat.
He is a very naughty, cuddly sweetheart.
So, no rants about those morons that are using heavy fireworks to blow up ordinary houses (more than 1.000 in 2024, with several deaths, last week 6 at one incident), but instead a photo of a cuddly cat and the heartfelt wish that I will be able to walk my terrified dog around Dec.31st.
Sometimes I am struggling to stay positive. But hey, here is my gorgeous Erigeron, first time ever I managed to grow one. It must be due to climate change that it wanted to grow for me this year.
Did you know our previous prime minister, Mark Rutte, is head of NATO now? This week he told the nation we should stop being such dimwitted optimists (I translate a bit here) who are totally out of touch with reality, and prepare for war. I mean...golly! How many flowers and cats can I throw against that?
Bam! In your face, Mark! My answer to your scary words is my own personal flower patch.
Seriously though. If you want to cause a panic you must tell people to go get cash. Cash??? Wasn't that the stuff most people's grandparents used to buy groceries with? (I immediately wonder what will happen to Bitcoin when internet banking collapses)
Oh dear. I'm afraid I've run out of flowers and cats.
So I'll finish with some lyrics by one of the best Dutch singer-songwriters from Groningen, the late Ede Staal:
" 't Het nog nooit, nog nooit zo donker west,
Of 't wer altied wel weer licht."
(It has never, never been that dark, that it would not get light again)
Have a lovely festive season. And try to keep looking on the bright side of life.
Love from the Dutch Delta,
Renée
