Tuesday 22 December

A very dark and overcast day, with a stiff breeze. By local standards, it was a windy day. Went to get rid of some recycling (glass). Our walk took us through the woods, once more, with exactly the same distance covered as yesterday: 4 km. Went in a different direction though, but ended up on the Scoundrels' Road again.


This sign has grown into the tree!

Monday 21 December

A little brighter today, but also breezier. After lunch, we went out on our customary afternoon stroll, a little longer today - 4 km. The route took us through the woods, outside the Castle Country Park, to the Scoundrels' Road, and back into the village. We had to nip into the church on the way back.

Art Nouveau fireplace
Church Street
Outside the old school

Sunday 20 December

Quite a nice day, with a lot of mid-level cloud, but also plenty of mid-winter sunshine. Attended church this morning, and joined the choir for the period that I'm here (until the middle of January). After lunch, went for an amble into the Country Park around the Castle. Nobody else there but my dad and myself. Sunset 4.30pm, nearly the shortest day.

It's Sunday

Did you know? Nadir and zenith are Arabic words. Without the geniuses of Arab culture, the concept of the zero would never have been invented. Most of our named stars bear Arabic names. Yet is the Muslim religion, born in the Arabic peninsula, that is being used as a pretext for atrocities around the world.

Similarly. Some of the greatest composers of classical music were German. Some of the greatest writers and scientists were German. Did you know that it is thanks to Werner von Braun that rockets have flown to the Moon, the planets and beyond? Yet it was the same man who invented the V2 rockets that were fired at England at the end of the Second World War. It was the Germans who killed 6 million Jews on the pretext of religious discrimination.

I attended a church service today. I found the sermon uplifting and edifying, potentially of help to me and many others in the congregation. Religion is a force for good. It is also a force for great evil. We are all only human. There was only one true Christian in history. He was born a little over 2,000 years ago on what's now the West Bank, still a site of religious strife. He was killed by crucifixion a few decades later. Religion says it was to absolve us from our sins. That's fine. To me, he tried to set an example. You try following it. I'll never succeed. Doesn't make me a bad person. I'm just human and fallible. So is everybody else.

Saturday 19 December

Grey, overcast and mild today. An occasional spell of drizzle doesn't really bother anybody. Went into Velp, the next town, for a bit of shopping in the morning. It was quite busy there; shops are closed here on Sunday. After lunch, we went for a brief stroll around town (1.7 miles).

Friday 18 December

Flight delays meant that I didn't reach my father's place until this morning, rather than yesterday evening. I won't bore you with the details, I reached my destination, which is all that matters.

yes, that's a piano in the station hall at Arnhem!

Return

On Friday 18 December, I shall resume posting on the Shell Gallery following my return to Holland the previous day. I shall be joining family for Christmas and New Year celebrations into 2016, which I hope to record on this blog. In the New Year, I am considering merging this blog with Atlantic Lines into a new blog, but will confirm that nearer the time.