Sunday, February 15, 2009

Looking for your little corner

Don't we all want our own little corner, where we can relax and do what we want? Away from busy life and interaction with other people? As adults, that may become a bit difficult sometimes, but children have this property to easily find such spot.

Zoë likes a lot to read. When she has a book that can grasp and hold her attention, it is almost impossible to drag her out of this world. This weekend she went for a sleepover with a friend, and today she came back with a book she hasn't read yet. It's one of her favourite series: Harry Potter. She started reading them some years ago, age 7.

The fact that she didn't even notice me taking this picture, considering it took a flash to get enough light, shows how much she's living in Hogwarts now!

Labels: Family

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Seven years of renovation

About seven years ago we initiated a project that has taken all too long now. The concept of our house was what we call a bel-etage. In our case it meant the ground floor was just a garage and storage, while the living part was on the first floor. That contained the kitchen, living rooms and bedrooms.

That's all fine when it's just the two of you. But when the children came, we thought it would be nice to have access to the garden - at that time only concrete. So we looked around to see what we could do. Alternatives were to buy a new house, or to rebuild the one we were living in.

Finally we made the decision to have professionals redo the house, to get a living area with kitchen downstairs, and bedrooms on the first floor. An architect drafted the plans, and a renovation company started the work. Later stages included the terrace and the façades.

But one thing was done very badly. The floor on which we wanted to have the parquet done, was of very poor quality, as is evident from the picture.

It seemed the wrong materials were used. Unfortunately, the contractor did not want to continue and fix this, so we had to sue him, so at least we had financial compensation for that.

For some reasons, the other projects like the terrace and façade took priority. Probabaly also because it was easier to live with this floor than with a muddy space behind the back door. Another reason was that it is actually not easy to find somebody with the necessary skills. You don't need somebody that does floors only, nor do you need somebody that does parquet only. He has to do both.

But in November, we finally found somebody, and we had hopes the project would be finished by the end of last year. Unfortunately, the contractor got sick, so we had to wait. Then, when things finally were back on again, we went into some other trouble. The director of my bank seems to have the intelligent capabilities of an oyster. Whatever you ask him to do, even when it's written in plain Dutch, without using three-syllable words, he manages to screw up.

Now I'm not saying that it is symptomatic for that bank - although now I come to think of it, there must be a reason for their share being worth close to nothing - but I do seriously consider changing banks. At least I'm going to another branch, but it is a good time to change everything. We'll see.

Anyway, because of his latest screw-up, it means we have another week of delay. And that one week is rather crucial, since it means we can't use the holidays (Krokusvakantie) to clean up. To be honest, it is not only the bank who screwed up, our new contractors did too. But at least they were fair enough to recognise their mistake, and now we can finally start.

On Monday - if all goes well - the first stage kicks off. Then they'll be removing the sandy underground. After that, a new soil must be poured. And once that's dry, and according to schedule that should be next Monday, when the holiday starts, they can start putting the parquet.

Let's keep our fingers crossed! And of course, I'll keep you posted.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Amy, Amy, Amy

About two years ago, a colleague of mine let me hear a piece of music that opened a whole new musical world to me. It may sound strange that I didn't know her before, but that is because I don't listen much to radio. The reason for that is my iPod, which is great to listen to the music you already know.

Anyway, the song I heard then, and listened to over and over again, was You know I'm no good, of course from Amy Winehouse. The song had such a drive, and the woman had such a voice, that I had to listen to it as much as I could. Two years later, it still is one of my favorite Amy songs.

Later I of course got to know the rest of the CD (Back to Black) as well, but You know I'm no good still is the best song of the CD for me. Sure, Rehab is not too bad. It has a catchy rythm, and easy to remember parts to sing along (who can forget the No, no, no). Also Back to Black and Tears dry on their own are songs that are more than the average.

Since discovering the song and the CD, Amy mainly has been in the news because of the negative aspects. She was drunk all the time, was on drugs, and even when performing she could be so far out that it wasn't always easy to understand her. Even during the television interview after her performance in Werchter, she appeared very drunk. It was even so bad, that you could bet on the exact date of her death, which seemed to be coming soon. Luckily it is not that bad yet, and there are signs of her getting better.

Because of the fact that the only news was not related to her music, and also because usually people only get better, I assumed that Frank, her first album and predecessor of Back ..., was perhaps interesting at best, but not worth investiging. Boy, was I wrong! Some weeks ago, I bought the recently released Luxe edition of both albums. It is a hard cover booklet with room for 4 CDs. There are the two regular editions, Frank (named both after her example Sinatra and after the adjective) and Back in Black (yes, I admit I only had a digital copy), and for each of the CDs the Bonus CD.

Frank contains only great songs. The best known probably is F*ck me pumps, which has a very catchy, albeit perhaps a bit too simple, melody. Also In my bed, Stronger than me, Know you now are more than worth listening too, some also for their excellent lyrics.

As for the bonus CDs, they could have been a risk, as they are for a lot of artists, but these truely contain gems. The demo versions are usually easily as good as the final versions, and show that Amy is not only a good songwriter, but also plays the guitar well. It also shows of course that she knows to pick excellent musicians, since the final versions are musically developed very well. But furthermore you'll also find excellent live versions of her songs.

I know some people (you know who you are!) that already know and appreciate Amy. But I also know some others that think Amy doesn't write her own songs, and therefore don't like her. A strange way of thinking, but in this case it's even not true. She truely is a great singer/songwriter, and may her bluesy, jazzy voice keep on singing for a great while.

Labels: Music

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Villa Grazioli

Last January I made a trip to Italy. This was not the first time - and I hope it won't be the last time either. As you may have read already, I had the chance to get to know Bart, and in October, I could stay with him.

This time however he was out of the country himself, so I had to look for a hotel. One year ago we stayed in Hotel Flora in Frascati, a very nice and beautiful hotel. This time however, I decided to try the Villa Grazioli in Grottaferrata, a hotel recommended by a business partner.

It was built at the end of the 16th century by Cardinal Carafa, projected by architect Domenico Fontana. The villa was enlarged by the new property, the family Acquaviva of Aragon, of the House of Atri.

It is situated on a hill overlooking the ancient city of Rome, the sea and Tivoli.

In 1843 the Grazioli family bought the villa. In some rooms Agostino Ciampelli (1565-1630) pictured the villa with decoration works, the paintings show rural life and rustic scene. In the last years the new owners restored the building and turned it in an elegant hotel.

The Villa is a masterpiece of the 16th century art, history and culture, filled with magnificent works of art painted by Italian masters like Ciampelli, Carracci and Pannini.

And indeed it was a good tip! Even though traveling alone, I had a very nice trip. Not only because the business was successful, but also thanks to the hotel. It is very beautiful indeed. I did not stay in the main building, but in the guest house a bit further. But such hotel cannot afford guests to have to walk in the rain to the restaurant, therefore all buildings are connected via subterranean passages!

And even though the hotel is so beautiful, as well as the surroundings, the way the personal treats you makes it even better. From the lobby to the restaurant, service is excellent.

If ever you are in the neighbourhood - and you can spend the money - it absolutely is the place to go. Here are some views on the rooms in the main building.

Yes, I actually played this piano!

You of course can check out the website of the hotel for better pictures than these (but that is because I did not take my own gear, but a point-and-shoot digital camera).

This small movie shows most rooms in the main building. Of course these are the reception, lobby and others, not the guest rooms.

Labels: rome

Happy Birthday!

Today is the birthday of somebody special I admire. He was born exactly 100 years ago today. His father was a blacksmith. Daniel had three brothers and two sisters, and was to get one more younger brother later.

When he was five years old, the terrible tragedy, later named "The Great War" made his family have to leave all possessions behind, and flee to France. Being the youngest, he was lucky enough to go to school with his little brother Max. But not with the rest of the family, who was living near Paris. It was too dangerous, as the Germans bombed the environment with "Grosse Bertha"

After the war the family continued to live for a while near Paris, where Daniel practised his first trade; together with his parents, his sisters and some brothers he took care of the family business of herding the cows used for milking.

In 1923 his parents constructed two houses in Belgium, only to return to France in 1926. There his parents had a farm, where the reduced family (parents, Daniel and his brothers Max and Pol) lived untill 1931, when his father died. During that period, Daniel started working in the automobile sector. This was an emerging business, and he worked in different garages to learn the mechanics.

He took his mother back to Belgium, where in 1933 he erected together with his youngest brother Max his own garage on the premises of his oldest brother Gaston.

Starting with the modest Renault and Fiat, but in the beginning even doing bikes, he slowly grows and buys the houses around his business, untill the place really becomes too small. During the war his garage was claimed by the Germans, so during one of this very cold winters, when he was supposed to take care of the German trucks, he "accidentally" forgot that water could freeze. The Germans were not pleased with their trucks having broken engines, but luckily he survived.

In 1936 Daniel got married to Ghisele, and in 1937 they had their first child. The couple would be blessed with 6 more children of which one died at 3 weeks, the latest being born in 1948.

In 1954, the people hadn't forgotten about the war yet, he took the gamble to start with a German car: Mercedes. And it seemed to be the correct choice, his business would flourish untill his death. It allowed him to start some other businesses, some of which had a longer life then others.

Finally in 1974, at the age of 65, he finished his major work. He had finished building a new garage outside the city on a large ground. It would establish his name as a big businessman in the wide region. During the odd 20 years of the rest of his life, we would employ lots of people, sell lots of cars and trucks, and acknowledged for his work.

A year after his death in 1992, his sons would sell the garage, although 2 of the 3 would keep working there for a short while. In 2002, when nodoby of the family worked there anymore, the business Daniel Vanbiervliet erected 68 years before, would finish to exist.

Happy birthday, grandfather!

Labels: History

Monday, February 2, 2009

Requirem for a chicken

On Saturday she was still alive. There was no sign of the imminent disaster. But on Sunday, when I came to clean the henhouse she was lying there, dead.

It of course came as a shock, because being a Malines (aka a Mechelse Koekoek or Mechels Hoen) it was such a big beast, not looking sick at all. The breed is also known for not being susceptible to disease. But perhaps it was a sign that next to her, there were 7 eggs, freshly laid. I can't imagine that this was the cause of her dead, but rather a last attempt to be productive.

Of course it would be unwise to eat those eggs - and the fact that it is freezing doesn't make it easier. When an egg is frozen, it's better to throw it away, because the shell is broken anyway (but doesn't leak (yet)).

But then of course the problem is: how to get rid of Obelixa (named by the children, not me!). A previous chicken was burried in the garden, in accordance to local law. That implies that you should dig at least half a meter, to avoid that animals dig the body up later. But since it is freezing, that's not an option either - apart from the fact that the cemetery now is used for breeding vegetables. So I wrapped her in a plastic bag, left it in the back of the garden, surrounded by some leftovers of wire-netting (very appropriate, as in Dutch that is kippengaas) to avoid that the cats, wild and domesticated alike, go play with her.

On Monday, I was able to check with the municipality to see what could be done. Finally, it seems I can have it picked up by a firm called Rendac. They come by and take the dead body away - for free. Alas, it takes a maximum of two working days, so yesterday evening I had to put her at the front of the house, hoping today they would come by. As you can guess, that wasn't the case yet, so let's hope they come tomorrow, and understand the use of the wire-netting!

Thanks Obelixa, for the eggs, for cleaning the garden, for keeping Asterixa company.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Rediscovering music

Perhaps it is the age. Or the quality of my car audio system. Or maybe it's just considering that somebody working for a year or more on a project needs a compensation for that. But most likely, it is the fact that I have acquired - finally - some good hifi components.

I still can't listen to it at home because I still need to buy the speakers (who can give me good advise?). But in the car, I enjoy both mp3's and CDs. And with a good system, you hear de difference between CD quality and compressed audio.

So since some time, I am actually buying (or getting) CDs again, rather than finding them in the local library and ripping them. Of course that's still a possibility to get to know music. Even downloading is something that you could do if you want to get to know the music. The only thing is that you'd have to buy it afterwards.

And it is too bad that not all the music is available anymore. This weekend, for example, I checked for Soley from DobaCaracol, great World/Indie music I learned to know via a colleague of mine. DobaCaracol are a Canadian band having two female lead singers. As they are from Quebec, most of their music is sung in French, while some other seems to be sung in a made-up language (perhaps it is a local Indian language?) Unfortunately, none of the CDs - they have three in total - are available now. They are in between record companies, so nobody is currently printing their CDs. Too bad, otherwise I might have bougth their other CDs too.

Nevertheless, I bought 7 CDs recently (although only 3 albums really), about which I will tell you in one of my future items.