Riding in the Heavenly Woods

Me and the Tarq, and Tarq’s half sister!

Every morning we went out to ride in the forest. I have already described how sweet they smelled, how fascinating this magical light green, such as you can only see in the first two weeks after the trees wake from their winter-slumber.
Another typical NVVR-photo: two ears and a landscape

The dogs were having a lovely time too: Zora, Stripe (the one with the spots) and Jacky

On the Saturday we went on a long ride, with a break half-way. i also had to be back in time to help cooking the Arab dinner we planned for Tarq’s birthday party. As my condition wasn’t too good, and neither was the Tarq’s I was a bit worried if we should do it, but we had a great ride! Temperature was not too hot, and of course glorious weather again! I got burned in the face a bit.

We had our break at the information centre, there is a tiny paddock where you can put your horse. This was a great opportunity for Tarq and Primavera to finally get to meet. Primavera is a young Lipizzaner stallion, and they had been trying to check each other out the day before.

Now Primavera has a great friend who was very aggressive to the Tarq and stuck into this small space, pressured by two horses, the Tarq got a bit uptight. And as the Tarq is after all a real hooligan, after a while I decided to take him out, because he wasn’t getting any rest in there, and I didn’t want to wait until he got irritated and decide he needed to start something.

Primavera and Buddy cornering the Tarq

The meeting

If it were just these two, they would have gotten on quite well

Tarq: ”get me out of here!”

so I decided to safe my darling from his ordeal. He rewarded me with leaving me biting the dust 10 minutes later, and scored another 10 points over me.

Of course he let himself be caught after teasing me for 15 minutes.
The Tarq enjoying the admiration of three girlfriends who thought I was pretty stupid.

As we returned we passed a very shallow lake, and had to go in of course!

We were back in perfect time, the horses were put into the meadow, and were clearly utterly exhausted!

A lot of the humans then started to prepare for Tareq’s birthday-party.
But that is a subject worthy of it’s own post!

Accommodations in Heaven

Accommodations in heaven are simple but adequate.
The bedroom I shared with my friends.

Upstairs there are also two showers, and one loo.
For 25 people!
Timing is essential.

Outside the rooms is a very small corridor, with windows through which you can look down to the stables.

Tarq’s stable was all right too, he doesn’t like a closed box, but I don’t always let him sleep in it. If the weather’s good enough I too prefer to have him outside. we keep our stuff in boxes outside the stables. When I’m busy near him, I just put a rope on the door, so Tarq can look outside. he really appreciates that.

Tarq checking if his neighbour has anything interesting to eat.
And if he can get at it!

Tarq is inspecting a food-container.
Leave it to the Tarq to sniff out the food!!!

From friday onwards the weather has been quite un-dutch in perfection. We even breakfasted outside!

Four days in heaven!

I have been away for a few days, and not to some stupid holiday or so, no, I went straight to heaven!
Not alone, I took Zora and The Tarq with me!
Otherwise it wouldn’t be heaven of course.

There are lots of trees in the forest! Me riding the Tarq.

The forest smelled so sweet, and the trees just waking up after the winter sleep showed the brightest green. Combine that with riding a lovely horse, floating in trot, surrounded by friends, and you are as close to heaven as is possible.

The typical shot: Two ears, friends seen from the back, and the landscape.

Me my horse and my dog!

Bicycle-swimming

For American Bedu’s amusement I’m now going to explain the concept of: ”bicycle-swimming”
This sport is mainly constricted to the Netherlands.
Not because we do a lot of cycling, but because, due to our sublime weather conditions. we are mostly excellent swimmers.
Not because we all learn to swim before we go to school, but because those who can’t will have drowned before reaching that age.
Not because we don’t care about children, but because it is natural selection.

So, to recap: in The Netherlands a lot of people get around on a bicycle. And because of our glorious climate we have to combine it with our skills in swimming.
I’ll illustrate it; to the left: Aafke going to the Tuesday market. To the right: Aafke returned from the Tuesday market.

What has happened in between?
Well This:

This is what happens when you go shopping in the Netherlands, and for this you need the combined skills of cycling, and swimming!
to show you the awful reality: A look out of my window, at noon!!!!!

It’s the queens birthday!

And I suppose you might think I mean Bea,

No,

A much more important Queen is celebrating her birthday the day after tomorrow, the first of May: Queen Shahrzad!
There is a party the first of May! check out her blog!
Queen Shahrzad has been depicted by one of my favorite illustrators of the early twentieth century, Edmund Dulac

Tarq grown up!

Yes dear visitors: the Tarq is almost 8 years old, and that means he is almost officially a ”grown-up” horse!

not only is his birthday coming up, we are also going on holiday!!!! Hurrraaayyy!!!

leaving Thursday returning on Sunday. We are going to the woods, and staying at a place where we can get right into the forests! I’m staying there with a group of friends, all nutters with horses. I’m só looking forward to it! And as it is also Tarq’s birthday I’m giving a birthday party. We’re going to have great Arab food, tea, qawa and music of course!

This is the card I made to celebrate and for the invitations!

Just to make things clear! Tarq is not being sweet here: he’s trying to tear the buttons of my coat!

On the back of the card I have a Haiku by Shiki Masaoka

The summer river:

although there is a bridge, my horse

goes through the water

see Trouble with Tarq!

Fouad is free!

Saudi blogger Fouad Al Farhan has finally been freed, according to his fellow blogger Saudi Jeans he’s in good spirits. Fouad was held without charges and virtually no contact to his family, for 137 days!

A hards days work

Have had a hard day! I have been to the doctor, and then to a laboratory for blood tests, and another leg examination. and I have to go back Monday. And do I hope I’ll get a clever nurse! Last time I had a dunce! she had to poke around for 10 minutes before she found the vein! And it is not as if you have to look for veins on my arms: they show up blue! All (other) nurses always comment: ”hey: that’s easy!” My arm was numb for half the day! Luckily it was my left! Always try to get them to do your left arm! (unless you’re left, then I’d go for the right)

It’s the one in the crook of my elbow they need: How can anybody miss it!!!

Anyway, I’m doing this really interesting but difficult project now: I have to illustrate a teaching program about Human Dynamics for children. In Sweden the whole school system is reorganised on the principles on Human Dynamics! But I have a lot to learn and read. Never mind: that fits in well with my ”Personal Dynamic” So I used the little time left to keep up with my reading.

It’s só hard having to work at home

Utterly Exhausting!!!

Update, Friday:

Wauw! My doctor stood on my doorstep this afternoon, with a letter and papers and he insisted I go to the hospital. So, after 4,5 hours they have set me free, it is now 22.17 and I’m really hungry. I’m going to live but I have to give myself injectiones over the weekend and come back on Monday, but now to this other part where I’ll have to wait!!! Bleh! At least they didn’t keep me there.

Not that anybody is ever going to keep me in a hospital again while I can still stand and give out a blow.

And they have taken gallons of blood today, I was clever enough to hand them my left arm, the nurse hit the vein first try, but really hurt me taking the needle out. It still hurts!!!!!

Rhysz’s suggestion

There is better stuff on you-tube than the wilders-crap I just spoke about. my LITTLE brother Rhysz gave me this link.

Enjoy!

And be as horrible as you like when commenting on this one.

The Dark Night of the Soul

Another song by Loreena mcKennitt, very sufi/zen/metaphysic/deep/whatever: Enjoy!!!

The clip is some weird Japanese Manga, but the quality of the sound is very good, and it is quite difficult to find original clips of this artist. It is actually a very beautiful manga, and does go with the song. Do read the lyric, and the bit Loreena McKennitt wrote in the CD-booklet. (she always has very beautiful booklets!)

Upon a darkened night
the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright
I fled my house while all in quiet rest
Shrouded by the night
and by the secret stair I quickly fled
The veil concealed my eyes
while all within lay quiet as the dead

Oh night thou was my guide
oh night more loving than the rising sun
Oh night that joined the lover
to the beloved one
transforming each of them into the other
Upon that misty night
in secrecy, beyond such mortal sight
Without a guide or light
than that which burned so deeply in my heart
That fire t’was led me on
and shone more bright than of the midday sun
To where he waited still
it was a place where no one else could come

Within my pounding heart
which kept itself entirely for him
He fell into his sleep
beneath the cedars all my love I gave
And by the fortress walls
the wind would brush his hair against his brow
And with its smoothest hand
caressed my every sense it would allow

I lost myself to him
and laid my face upon my lovers breast
And care and grief grew dim
as in the mornings mist became the light
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair

---

Loreena writes in the CD booklet about this song:

May, 1993 - Stratford … have been reading through the poetry of 15th century Spain, and I find myself drawn to one by the mystic writer and visionary St. John of the Cross; the untitled work is an exquisite, richly metaphoric love poem between himself and his god. It could pass as a love poem between any two at any time … His approach seems more akin to early Islamic or Judaic works in its more direct route to communication to his god … I have gone over three different translations of the poem, and am struck by how much a translation can alter our interpretation. Am reminded that most holy scriptures come to us in translation, resulting in a diversity of views.

Music by Loreena McKennitt