First-half of February 2012

It’s been a whirlwind, but when is it not? Returning to Amsterdam coincided for me with a deep depression that lasted for several days even though I was happy to be here. Finally, once into February, that mood went, and we plunged into a deep freeze that last three weeks and almost coincided with our February vegan regime. The canals froze, and the city transformed into a Brueghel painting as hundreds of people poured onto the ice: mothers with baby carriages, walkers, skaters, concession stands, vendors, crèches, fires in raised metal barrels for warmth – all in all a truly festive times. The house kept warm with only a few blips for which I phoned the plumber who rectified the situation. We never suffered and instead enjoyed the adventures of the weather though restricted our outings for the most part. And with the cold, the snow that had arrived largely stayed and never turned into messy mush.

Fortunately, the cinema is only two blocks away, so we have seen My Week with Marilyn and The Artist – thoroughly enjoying both as well as, at the Muziek Theatre (four blocks away), Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Tale of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya. This last we found sumptuous – especially the music. The staging and choreography were often on an enormous scale and sprinkled with the inevitable Dutch accents and/or clichés. Still it was a fun operatic experience.

Jim braved the cold and came for dinner several times. The first of these with Fred as well. And just before the regime ended, we went to Fred and Vicky’s for a meal that Vicky insured stayed within our vegan bounds. Our first seven days of the dietary restrictions we coincided with one of William Bloom’s liver cleanses. All in all, we have felt good and reasonably healthy.

With the house, we have made slow but steady progress. We had a Czech electrician come who got the electricity in the living-dinning room to work once again. It had been out for most of the year; it was a fuse. We have ordered a new bed frame for the studio as one had been broken beyond repair. And we have moved the bed and piano in the sousterain back into place. Willian came on a Saturday and helped clean out the rubbish from the ceiling that had accumulated behind the closets (too heavy to move) in Warren’s old room. Much is still to be done, but much sorting, re-organising and getting rid of unnecessary things has already occurred. Along with this, I was able to read and review a book on Experiencing Globalization: Religion in Contemporary Contexts for Anthem Press. And Marco came by and got the television working and helped with the internet connections.

One dinner I mentioned at one point to Richard that I had been homeroom chairman for one year in high school. He then had a vague memory of being the class treasurer. I could not believe it, and we both roared with laughter, but Maggie checked and found out that it was true. As she put it, “I don't remember him being a math whiz, but in high school could have been a popularity Contest.  He was very well liked, he had a very kind heart and was nice person to everyone!” She sums him up perfectly.

And today is the Feast of Fools, and we are about shortly to begin our celebrations.