AT THE MAD TEA PARTY

3 New friends

2009-09-24T20:45:00.006+02:00

These new friends are designs from the Dutch artist Hella Jongerius. She made them for the IKEA PS Collection and was inspired by creatures from Swedish fairy tales. Click here for the full story.

Pelle

Mikkel

Gullspira

Welcome to ye all three, the March Hare said.

Hare's musical discovery of the year

2009-08-26T21:37:00.004+02:00

It's true - I always wanted love to be hurtful, the March Hare said.

New friend

2009-06-21T18:58:00.007+02:00

This Friday, the newly established foundation for our Animal Art Collection was able to purchase the very much wanted Art Deco Longwy polar bear!

Welcome to you, polar bear! the March Hare said.

Surprise festivities

2009-06-19T21:27:00.011+02:00

There were some sky-high-way-surprise festivities to celebrate the event of me entering The Club. Here they are in random order:

Goin' up to the spirit in the sky, that's where I'm gonna go when I die, when I die and they lay me to rest, I’m gonna go to the place that's the best! The March Hare sang.

This is Forty, goodnight.

2009-06-16T04:20:00.000+02:00

Oops, welcome to the club! the March Hare exclaimed.

New friends

2009-03-27T11:20:00.005+01:00

From the stable of the oldest Dutch company Royal Tichelaar Makkum here are:

Here, doggy doggy! the March Hare shouted.

Do's and Don'ts in public transport, or in life - in general, actually

2009-03-25T17:36:00.004+01:00

(click on the image for a larger image)

DON'T, the March Hare said.

The Hare at the Hurricane Tour

2009-03-22T18:45:00.009+01:00

Last Thursday I visited the concert Grace Jones gave in Paradiso, Amsterdam (so I updated this.) It was definitely one of the most awesome gigs I ever visited. I never experienced such a hot steaming show, which lasted more that 2 hours. The crowd was constantly over-the-top-excited and didn't get enough. As words can't describe the thing this 60 years-old-mum did, here are 7 truly wonderful and magnificent pics, made by top photographer Caroline van Oosten de Boer:

And here are two YouTube clips as proof of the musical qualities of the show. The first is the spectacular opening of the evening. It only took about 30 seconds to realise the come back of the fenomenon (read the review in the Dutch newspaper De Volkskrant on 03/21/09.) The second is an almost complete compilation of the show, on which al her costumes can be admired:

As there can be only ONE pop queen, so... Madonna: eat your heart out, the March Hare said.

The Hare at the International Film Festival Rotterdam

2009-01-31T18:06:00.018+01:00

This week I visited the International Film Festival Rotterdam. I was present during 6 days and visited a total of 23 screenings. The quality of the films was OK for me, but I nearly got depressed from al the agony I was exposed to. The Rotterdam Film Festival is well known for presenting the newest among the newest and the experimental, but certainly not for the mainstream (Hollywood) films. Although alt this agony is beautifully framed, I had - face to face - an over dosis of poverty, anger, pain, lonelyness, grief, hunger, dead, ghosts, people repressing other people, adultery, child murderers and post-natal depressions. Und so weiter. The world is really a cruel and messed up place, I must conclude. It was almost too much.

So here's my list, not in any random order:

(*5 = really good, *4 = good, *3 = OK, *2 = bad, *1= awfull)

1. Birdwatchers*****
Film about the repressed situation of the Indians in South-America. Film striking like an air blow. At least: I ended up crying.

2. Last conversation******
Intriguing Roadmovie (made in one take in a car with 24 camera attached to it!) about a woman who has her last telephone conversation with her lover, during her way to him.

3. The sound of insects - record of a mummy*****
Experimental diary-film about a man who decides to commit suicide by starvation. Wow - unbelievable!

4. Frozen river*****
Exciting thriller about a white woman who gets involved in smuggling of illegal people on the border of Canada and the USA. Got me on the tip of my seat.

5. Slumdog millionaire*****
The visitors favorite of the festival. About a young man from the slums in Mumbai, who wins the jackpot in a quiz. Did he cheat, was he a genius, or was it written? A true Carnival of Light!

6. Troubled water*****
Norwegian film about a child murderer who gets another chance in life as the organ player of a church. Very moving.

7. The blessing****
Danish film about a young mother suffering from a post natal depression. Very suffocating.

8. Wendy and Lucy****
A young woman loses her dog while traveling through a small town. Not very funny if you're a dog lover.

9. Rachel getting married****
About a girl who gets released from mental hospital for a few days as her sister is getting married. With her, all the old family ghosts get released too. A laugh and a tear, and certainly Oscar material for Anne Hathaway who plays the messed-up kid.

10. The hungry ghosts****
Mosaic film about several people in New York trying to life their life. After a few slow films without any narrative and without any conversation it was a delight to hear people talk and communicatie with eachother...!

11. Snow****
About a small village in Bosnia where the women own a small curry factory and one day outsiders visit them because they want to buy the land. With a sympathetic touch of magic realism.

12. Unmade beds****
Second feature film from Alexis Dos Santos. Funny and colourfull, about two young people who have to deal with the lonelyness in their lives.

13. A country teacher****
Sympathetic film about a homosexual teacher who moves to the countryside to teach on a small town school.

14. Tokyo OnlyPic***
Very funny animation. Satire on the Olympic Games with made-up sports, rituals and participants. Hilarious!

15. Jay***
Funny film about the murder of a young homosexual teacher, and the efforts a TV show take to let his family tell 'the true story on TV.

16. Bollywood hero***
Not bad for a Dutch movie. About an actor who gets a role in a Bollywood movie and along the way wants to do some good work in the slums of Mumbai. (Speaking of Bollywood: I think that since Bombay is renamed as Mumbai, we ought to speak about Mollywood instead, shouldn't we?)

17. Eléve libre***
Interesting film about a young man and his private teacher. What's the boundary between teaching and forcing?

18. Delta***
Very slow film about the incestuous relationship between a young man and his sister he meets for the first time. Shocking ending!

19. Liverpool***
Very slow, but not boring film about a sailor who visits his home town Ushuaia (in the south of Argentina) after 20 years of absence. Stay in your seat until the very end, for only then you;ll know why the film is called 'Liverpool'!

20. My magic ***
Nice film about a drunkard father who regains his old job as a fakir-magician, to regain the trust of his only son.

21. Puisque nous sommes nés***
Not my cup of tea, but nevertheless a beautiful shot portrait of two street kids in Brazil.

22. Rule #1***
Asian horror movie about the question: do there are any ghosts in thos world or aren't there any? Afterwards you're not pretty sure...

23. The shout ***
Bit dated film from the late seventies about a stranger who's into Aboriginal sorcery and who gets between a man and a woman.

I was sooo ready to go home, the March Hare said.

The Hare learned some exiting German words

2009-01-11T20:40:00.012+01:00

During our lovely ski-stay, last week in Bettmeralp in La Bonny Suisse, I learned a lot of die Deutsche Sprache from the German television. Here are some terrific-terrifying words, in random order:

Kronegebrate

Totesopfer

Travestite Künstler

Reinheitsgebot

Damenbart

Und zum nie mehr zu vergessen: Danny Kiste, der rettende Engel von das Piste, die Marschhasen sagte.

In memoriam: Katwijk

2009-01-11T20:22:00.009+01:00

Op dinsdag 30 december jl. is onze lieve poes Katwijk overleden.

KATWIJK
Katharina Annebjørk Truusje Wilhelmina IJsolde Koba

juni 1994 - 30 december 2008

Ondanks dat ze al weken ziek was en we dus op haar vertrek voorbereid waren, valt het ons erg zwaar haar te moeten missen na de ruim veertien jaar dat ze bij ons is geweest.

Katwijk is dezelfde dag nog gecremeerd in Stompwijk. We gaan haar op een mooie voorjaarsdag uitstrooien in de duinen van Meyendel.

Lay down, your sweet and weary head.

Night is falling, you have come to journey’s end.

Sleep now, and dream of the ones who came before.

They are calling, from across a distant shore.

Why do you weep, what are these tears upon your face?

Soon you will see, all of your fears will pass away.

Safe in my arms - you’re only sleeping.

What can you see, on the horizon?

Why do the white gulls call?

Across the sea, a pale moon rises,

the ships have come to carry you home.

And all will turn, to silver glass.

A light on the water, all souls pass - into the West.

(Annie Lennox - Into the West)

Katwijk zal altijd ons mooie kleine meisje zijn en we hopen dat ze nu bij haar poezenmama en onze Nilfisk is, en zonder de ballast van haar zieke lijfje vrij rond kan dartelen door de groene weiden van de poezenhemel.

Gedenk haar met Martini, pistachenootjes en muffins, want daar was ze stiekem dol op.

(... the March Hare said.)

The Hare has been called

2008-11-25T21:10:00.005+01:00

("I see the letter... H...")

Yes, I already thought I heard something, the March Hare said. But is it her or is the other side calling?

Hare's Roman Holiday

2008-11-23T22:19:00.005+01:00

These are the pictures Mommy Hare made:

Obscure and stunning colouring - sometimes a sixties revival, sometimes a bit Six Feet Under-like, the March Hare said.

The March Hare's choice of television

2008-11-23T21:28:00.000+01:00

In the range of most brilliant opening sequences this one just can't be absent:

Just wonderful, the March Hare said.

The March Hare's pop festival

2008-11-16T21:38:00.005+01:00

Last week I visited two sold out gigs at the venue Paard van Troje (So I also updated this entry.) On Monday November 3rd I saw the Norwegian MARIA MENA and on Sunday November 9th NOVASTAR. Both were in very very good shape.
Listening to the grown up sound of Maria Mena I had to remind myself several times to the fact that she's only 22 years old. Her voice sounded like a bell and although the songs were a bit according the book: well done, gal!

Novastar is an absolute star! Joost Zweegers rocks. He really added something extra to his music. The concert was raw and like fire it exploded again and again. I bow to you, sir!

Here are some good vids from both the gigs:

Let's swing and sway, the March Hare said.

Hare's indulging culture

2008-11-04T22:24:00.004+01:00

Last week the Hare indulged on high culture in The Eternal City:

You're a work of art, you're the Trevi Fountain, the March Hare said.

The March Hare Film Festival

2008-08-19T21:37:00.008+02:00

Recently I saw the new hit by Disney's PIXAR:

WALL-E

Here's the - marvellous - extended play - true HD trailer. Enjoy! And thus you have't seen the whole feature film yet, imagine!

As a teaser Pixar has made several funny clips, like these ones:

I never knew I could fall in love with a... ROBOT, the March Hare sighed

The Hare at La La La Gomera

2008-07-10T19:19:00.017+02:00

Here's lots of visual impression of Hare's holidays on this sunny Canarian Island...

I want to be where the sun warms the sky, the Madonna Hare said.

Hare on islands

2008-06-21T16:43:00.004+02:00

A list of all the islands I have visited ever, in random order:

Texel
Vlieland
Terschelling
Ameland
Schiermonnikoog
England
Ireland
Rømø
Mandø
Fur
Fyn
Mors
Langeland
Fehmarn
Falster
Sjælland
Møn
Lolland
Æro
Bogø
Siø
Tåsinge
Godøya
Valderøy
Giske
Vigra
Iceland
Isle of Skye
Achill Island
Malta
Gozo
Ile-de-Bréhat
La Palma
La Gomera
Tenerife
Lesvos
Vancouver Island
Alert Bay
Goeree-Overflakkee
Schouwen-Duiveland
Walcheren
Noord-Beveland
Zuid-Beveland
Neeltje-Jans
Voorne-Putten
Hoeksche Waard
Eiland van Dordrecht
Rozenburg
IJsselmonde

And my wish-islands are:
Tristan da Cunha
St. Kilda
The Skelligs
Aran Islands
The Hebrides
Orkneys
Shetland Islands
Faerøer
Lofoten
Bornholm
Rügen
Corsica
Elba
Menorca
New Zealand
Saba
Cuba
Newfoundland
Kodiak Island
Japan

Somewhere to sink a stone, the March Hare said.

The Hare in Hamburg

2008-06-06T16:26:00.008+02:00

After Yazoo we spend some glorious days in beautiful Hamburg. We rented bikes and cycled all around. Of course we visited the Reeperbahn, but at daytime that's quite a bore. We visited the Kunsthalle and the Deichtorhallen and saw some great art exhibitions over there. We did some shopping and went to the Elbe beach, at Oevelgonne, in the evening. We had a great hotel in the gay district, near the Lange Reihe. The Hamburgers (Hamburgerians? Hamburgerettes?) all were sooo excited about our visit, that they arranged some fireworks especially for us on our last evening. And they all visited us while we were having a lovely picknick in the park at the Alster lakeside.

Here's an impression of our trip.

Das macht viel spass! the March Hare said.

More of Hare's horrendous Dutch words

2008-06-06T16:04:00.004+02:00

Especially pour vous I've collected some current horrendous Dutch words. New for our collection:

Verenkleed (feathers)

Bloemenpracht (flower splendour)

Bakkerstrots (baker's pride)

Embryoselectie (embryo selection)

Embryodebat (embryo debate)

Clusterbom (cluster bomb)

Horrifying, the March Hare concluded.

Hare's trip through Memory Lane

2008-06-06T15:29:00.006+02:00

Here's some pics of the Yazoo Reconnected concert the Dormouse and I visited last week in the Hamburg Stadtpark, Germany. A bit weird experience to hear the music from your youth for the first time live after 26 years. It was breathtaking. It was charming and sweet and so it brought me to tears instantly, starting off with the song Nobody's Diary. I suddenly realized how much this music sits under my skin. The set up was just Alison singing and Vince at the computers. No band, no remixes, no extended versions, just the plain songs from their 2 albums. Brilliant! We were in the very first front row and saw Alison behind the scenes before the concert started. We waved at her and she waved back at us! (so I updated my entry Celebrities Smooches right away.)

The pictures are from Olaf Juerss and there's also two Youtube impressions, although the quality is a bit poor, made by people standing at more or less the same spot as we did. If you wish to get a better musical impression of the quality of the work Yazoo is touring with right now, visit Youtube user Lokeodense who made some good recordings of the concert in Copenhagen, the day before the Hamburg gig.

All I needed was the love you gave, all I needed for another day. And all I ever knew - only you, the March Hare sang.

Hare's granddad - a discovery!

2008-05-17T19:34:00.011+02:00

From 1964 until 1971 Gerard Reve, one of the best and well known Dutch writers from the 20th century, lived in the little village of Greonterp in Friesland. There he bought the small house where my Pake (that's the Friesian word for granddad) was born in 1889:

In Greonterp Gerard Reve was converted to Catholism. My Pake did visit him once in a while to talk about the Catholic belief, as he was a very critical Catholic himself and loved to discuss the belief. Most probably he must have tried to held Reve back from Catholism, but failed to do so, as Reve became a very pious Catholic.) Nevertheless my Pake thought Reve was a very odd and peculiar man.

But he also must have told Reve about his grandchilds, because my parents recently re-found a postcard that Reve has sent them somewhere during the late sixties, addressed to my brother who was only a baby at that time:

The light blue writing on the left side is my granddad's. It says: "G. Yedema (that was his name) born November 11th 1889 in this Greonterp - home". Then follows his addres where he lived in the sixties, the date '29th December' and a year that can't be read properly. The postmark also isn't very good readable.

The dark blue writing is Reve's. It's a bit old-fashioned phrase, which is very much Reve-like. Freely translated it says: "Dear Maarten (actually my brother is called 'Martijn', but my Pake always called him 'Maarten') Always honour your parents. the moralist."

The card was sent to the address where we lived back then, which was the house where I was born in June 1969. My parents forgot all about the card. On the front of the card there's a line drawing of the old village of Greonterp, by Gerben Rypma, a painter and poet from Greonterp:

Very exclusive, probably worth a fortune, the March Hare drooled.

The March Hare film festival

2008-05-07T22:25:00.003+02:00

I hereby kindly recommend ye all Lars and the real girl with Ryan Gosling, which I have seen this evening:

It's about a lonesome guy who starts a 'relationship' with a lifesize love doll, Bianca. The people around him in the tiny village where he lives, decide to go along with his delusion... A very funny, tragical, charming and warm film. An absolute must-see! And I bet you're in love with Lars after seeing it. Or with his hunky brother Gus...

Don't we all love Bianca, the March Hare said.

The March Hare filmfestival

2008-05-07T10:48:00.006+02:00

Yesterday evening I was guest programmer at the monthly gay film programme Beefcake at the Rotterdam independent cinema theatre Lantaren/Venster. I chose to screen the film My beautiful Laundrette by Stephen Frears (1985).

I was announced at their website as guest programmer and so I was also asked to introduce the film. Here's my 'speech', for all of you who didn't made it to the screening and sadly missed the unique opportunity to see this great film.

"Toen Lantaren/Venster mij vroeg een gay film te programmeren voor de Beefcake serie, hoefde ik niet te twijfelen. Het stond vast dat dit de film moest worden die jullie straks gaan zien: My beautiful laundrette van Stephen Frears uit 1985. Het was de allereerste gayfilm die ik in mijn leven zag en meteen ook een van de eerste filmhuis-films die ik zag.

Het was in het najaar van 1986 dat deze film op TV was en ik keek ernaar met mijn ouders, die nog maar een paar maanden wisten dat ik op jongens viel. Ik was 17 jaar. Ik weet niet of we van te voren wisten dat er een gay-thema in deze film zit, of dat het ons verraste. De eerste zoen van de hoofdrolspelers sloeg in als een bom. Het was zoals ik het voor mezelf ook voorstelde: een knappe jongen zoals Daniel Day-Lewis tegenkomen, waarvan het niet meteen duidelijk is of hij jongens ook leuk vindt en dan opeens met hem gaan zoenen. Ik was erg onder de indruk en verzuchtte na afloop: 'romantisch hè'. Er volgde een hele lange stilte, waarna mijn vader zei: 'begrijp je Hildert, dat wij dit helemaal niet romantisch vinden?' Achteraf weet ik niet of hij in zijn oordeel de setting van het verhaal óók meewoog.

Want de film speelt zich af in het grauwe Engeland van Thatcher, midden jaren 80, waarin de economische malaise op z'n hoogtepunt is en racisme en werkeloosheid hoogtij vieren. De homoseksualiteit van de 2 hoofdpersonen is slechts een zijdelings gegeven in de film. Regisseur Stephen Frears maakte nog een aantal vergelijkbare films: Sammy and Rosie get laid en Prick up your ears. Ook nogal duistere, ontluisterende portretten van mensen aan de zelfkant van de maatschappij.
Groot is dan ook het contrast met later werk van Frears, zoals Dangerous Liaisons, die hoewel het geen gay film is, natuurlijk toch tot de handbagage van iedere rechtgeaarde nicht dient te horen vanwege de uiterst fijne vileine rol van Glenn Close en de tong van John Malkovich: degenen die de film hebben gezien, weten over welke scène ik het heb.
Ik heb sindsdien een boel gayfilms gezien, maar geen een sprak zo tot de verbeelding als mijn eerste: My beautiful landrette. Ik ben dan ook benieuwd of de film zijn cultstatus vanavond waar gaat maken, want ik moet bekennen dat ik de film sindsdien nooit meer gezien heb.

Dat juist My beautiful laundrette mij zo aansprak is niet verwonderlijk. Ik houd iets minder van gay films waarin alles om de homoseksualiteit draait, waarin dát het hoofdthema is. Waarin alle mannen overduidelijk gay zijn en de wereld daarom draait. Na één coming-of-age-film heb je ze eigenlijk allemaal wel gezien en hoewel de meeste vaak charmant, romantisch en vol goede bedoelingen gemaakt, verloopt de verhaallijn vrijwel altijd volgens vaste - ons zo bekende – clichées en valt er op het acteerwerk helaas nogal wel eens wat aan te merken. Geef mij maar de films waarin gays slechts om de hoek van de deur komen kijken of waarin homoseksualiteit een vanzelfsprekendheid is waaraan verder geen woorden vuil gemaakt hoeven worden. Zo sta ik namelijk zelf ook in het leven: ik hang meer naar de suggestie dan naar full frontal nudity, als het ware. Vergelijk het met naar het strand gaan: het geklede strand is eigenlijk leuker en spannender dan het naaktstrand.
Zo sta ik zelf in het leven. Ik was vroeger wel actief in het COC, maar dan alleen als Diskjockey. Ik nam niet deel aan praatgroepen en werd daar wel eens op aangesproken: 'hoe weet je dat je geen problemen met je homoskesualiteit hebt, als je er nooit over praat? Jij conformeert je teveel aan de heteronorm!' werd mij verweten. Ik knikte geestdriftig, ook uit pure dwarsheid, al moet ik nu achteraf constateren dat ik de betekenis van het woord 'conformeren' helemaal niet kende.

Helaas bewandelde Stephen Frears daarna een andere, hoewel veelzijdige, maar minder controversiële weg in filmland en waren zijn latere films lang niet altijd de moeite waard te bekijken. Pas recentelijk keerde hij weer een beetje terug op het lichtende gaypad, met de film The Queen, over een ander gay-stijlicoon: de queen of England. Maar dat is een controverse op een heel ander niveau.

Werkzaam in Filmhuis Den Haag wordt mij door Haagse homo's wel eens gevraagd waarom wij geen gay filmreeks hebben zoals Beefcake in Lantaren/Venster. Welnu, de moeite die het mijn collega Daniëlle Commandeur gekost heeft om My beautiful laundrette vanavond te kunnen vertonen, illustreert het waarom. Van veel films zijn namelijk of geen kopieën (dat is de film zelf, de rol celluloid die door de projector gaat) in Nederland beschikbaar, óf de theaterale vertoningsrechten zijn verlopen. Achterhalen wie in de wereld dan wel de rechten heeft, diegene aanschrijven en onderhandelen over de prijs is dermate tijdrovend en kostbaar dat dit veelal niet haalbaar is. Ik ben daarom Daniëlle erg dankbaar voor haar niet aflatende energie in het spammen en stalken van Channel4 in Engeland om de éénmalige vertoningsrechten voor vanavond geregeld te krijgen. Dit was mede mogelijk dankzij een speciale subsidie die Lantaren/Venster voor deze reeks heeft. Het is pas vorige week definitief gelukt de rechten binnen te halen, dus jullie weten niet half hoe'n unieke gebeurtenis het is dat jullie vanavond deze film hier te zien krijgen. Dank aan alle betrokken partijen voor de inzet en het goede intitiatief. En mijn dank is ook zo groot omdat ik van te voren heus wel wist dat ik het Danielle met deze filmkeuze erg moeilijk zou maken: ze is glansrijk geslaagd voor deze 'vuurproef'! En aangezien mijn 2e t/m 5e keus ook niet direct beschikbaar waren, terwijl dat toch ook geen onbekende filmtitels zijn, ben ik des te blijer.

Ik wens jullie heel veel plezier bij My beautiful laundrette."

Aah, still very romantic, after all these years, the March Hare sighed.

iPod lottery

2008-05-03T14:27:00.004+02:00

I've got over 1.000 songs on my 1st generation iPod Nano, but in the shuffle mode it always plays the same couple of songs. Not in the exact same order, but nevertheless always the same songs. Just like Sky Radio. I wish my iPod was the lottery because then I would be a millionaire by far.

But now I work all night, I work all day, to pay the bills I have to pay - ain't it sad, the March Hare sang.

Introducing a new guest - vol. 2

2008-04-20T21:39:00.007+02:00

This is our new guest Deer. She's an art nouveau wood carving from the artist J.G. Veldheer (1866-1954) made in 1919 for the magazine Wendingen. She'll be safe on our wall in our gracious drawing room.

Go deer, go go go! The March Hare said.

Introducing a new guest

2008-04-18T18:36:00.003+02:00

This is Diva. She's our new guest at the Mad Tea Party. She's made by the fabulous IBRIDE. Please do check their wonderfull website! Diva is a wall console, and will be at our service in our hall, for ever and ever and ever and ever. Ain't she a pretty? Like a fairy tale!

Say hello Diva, the March Hare said.

Hare's ewil scootah - vol. 2

2008-04-13T23:15:00.001+02:00

Hot stufff! the March Hare said.

Wallpaper sneak preview

2008-04-13T23:07:00.003+02:00

Here's a preview of the wall paper we've ordered for our staircase.

Psychedelic, the March Hare exclaimed.

Heavenly La Pat

2008-04-11T17:37:00.006+02:00

My old friend La Pat has a new cd: Erinnerung. She has put poems of Rainer Maria Rilke to music. Very beautiful. Please do listen to Susses Lied on her MySpace website.

O süßes Lied.

Alles, was uns anrührt, dich und mich,

O süßes Lied.

nimmt uns zusammen wie ein Bogenstrich,

Auf welches Instrument sind wir gespannt?

Und welcher Geiger hat uns in der Hand?

O süßes Lied.

der aus zwei Saiten eine Stimme zieht.

And check this too:

"Nur wenn sie ihre Flügel breiten, sind sie die Wecker eines Winds", quoted the March Hare.

Hare's ewil scootah

2008-04-05T21:25:00.005+02:00

Hot stufff! the March Hare said.

Angels in America

2008-04-04T14:18:00.005+02:00

The past two evenings the Dormouse and I visited the Royal Theatre in The Hague for the marathon play Angels in America by Tony Kushner, in the verion by Toneelgroep Amsterdam, directed by Ivo van Hove. It was interesting to see the play (well known as the film by HBO and also check this Tea Party) in this Dutch setting. Besides it's a very great play and the mise en scène was done very subtile, there was very impressive acting by some great well known young Dutch actors as Hans Kesting. Here's the trailer for the play:

Although the applause was masssive afterwards, it was sad to see that we two were almost the youngest people in the hall and the rest was again (as well known for the Royal Theatre) very old, grey, upper class society people. The people you don't understand why they picked this play to attend in the first place. Afterwards I even heard elderly people whisper to eachother that they didn't understood the play and that it wasn't their cup of tea. A bad case of wrong people at the wrong time. That's such shame. For example: the major gay scene of The Hague was totally absent, which surprised me a lot.

Attending such impressive events make me always sob it's such a pity friends and family did't joined me, so we could share the beautiful moments a bit more afterwards.

"I hate America, Louis. I hate this country. Nothing but a bunch of big ideas and stories and people dying, and then people like you. The white cracker who wrote the National Anthem knew what he was doing. He set the word free to a note so high nobody could reach it. That was deliberate." the March Hare quoted.

Hare's stats: celebrity smooches

2008-03-21T21:08:00.013+01:00

* = seen from very nearby in an informal setting
** = shook hands
*** = shook hands, introduced to, talked shortly
4* = talked a bit more
5* = been hugged/kissed by
6* = received letter(s)/e-mail from
7* = represented shortly
8* = keeps spamming and stalking me

*0 = could have seen, might have seen in the street
*B = been stared at by
*W= worked shortly together
*A = received autograph
*Z = waved at me
*I = interviewed him/her
*D = had diner/lunch/tea with (amongst others)

In random and non-chronological order:

Hans de Booij ***
Frank Rigter ***
Nelleke Burg ***
Olle Romo **
Teun Kuilboer 4*
Johnny de Mol 4*
Katja Schuurman 5* (kissed)
Rick Engelkens 5* (kissed)
Youp van 't Hek 4*
Brigitte Kaandorp 6*
Isabelle Huppert 7*, *D
Fay Lovsky 4*
Lois Lane ***
Arjan Ederveen **
Mabel van Oranje **
Loes Luca 6*
Yvonne van der Hurk 6*
Hanneke Groenteman ***
Rik van de Westelaken *
Barbra Streisand *0
Annie Lennox *0, *A
Dave Stewart *A
Marco Borsato *A
Frank Boeijen *I, *A
Paul van Vliet ***
Robert Long **
Paul de Leeuw ***
Thomas Acda & Paul de Munnik 4*
De Vliegende Panters 4*
Plien & Bianca ****
Anneli Drecker *
Dagur Kari 4*
Monica Hoel ***
Sophie B. Hawkins *
Xaviera Hollander *
Marc-Marie Huijbregts 4*
Marijke Boon *A
David Lammers *W
Raymond Thiry 4*
Raymonde de Kuijper **
Johanna ter Steege ***, *D
Carice van Houten ***, *D
Kim van Kooten 4*, *D
Anton Corbijn **, *D
Victor & Rolf *B, *D
Lenette van Dongen ***
The Ashton Brothers ***
Queen Beatrix *Z
Ids van der Krieke **
Aus Greidanus jr. **
Marjolein Meijers (De Berini's) **
Jochem Kroon (Het Groot Niet te Vermijden) 5* (kissed)
Kader Abdolah **
Danny de Munck 4*
Bassie & Adriaan 4*
Herman den Blijker **
Sander de Buisonjé 5* (hugged)
Carla del Ponte *
Gerti Bierenbroodspot *I
Fong Leng ***
Nilgun Yerli ***
Erik van Muiswinkel 4*
Diederik van Vleuten 4*
Nouschka van Brakel *D
Erik de Bruyn *D
John Buijsman 5* (kissed)
John Kraaijkamp sr. 3*
Alison Moyet*Z
Kristel Zweers***
Sara Kroos***
Jetta Klijnsma***
Ben Affleck 8*

All celebrities who don't see their name listed and think they should so, please do be so kind to give a call..., the March Hare said.

The Hare at gigs

2008-03-21T17:16:00.009+01:00

Here's the complete listing, for as far as I can remember things clearly...

Eurythmics – Groningen 1984
Frank Boeijen Groep – Lierderholthuis 1985
Laurie Anderson – Groningen 1986
Mathilde Santing – Zwolle 1987
Rock Torhout/Werchter 1987 (Julian Cope, The Triffids, The House Martins, Echo & the Bunnymen, Iggy Pop, The Pretenders, Eurythmics, Peter Gabriel)
Alison Moyet – Groningen 1987
Lois Lane – Zwolle 1989
Eurythmics – Rotterdam 1989
La Pat – Zwolle 1990
David Bowie – Nijmegen 1990
Kim Wilde - Nijmegen 1990
Laurie Anderson – Den Haag 1990
Dead Can Dance – Amsterdam 1990
Dave Stewart & The Spiritual Cowboys – Rotterdam 1990
Dave Stewart & The Spiritual Cowboys – Amsterdam 1991
La Pat – Utrecht 1991
Bel Canto – Den Haag 1992
Simply Red – Arnhem 1992
John Denver – Rotterdam 1992
Depeche Mode – Rotterdam 1993
Dead Can Dance – Brussel 1993
U2 – Rotterdam 1993
Utah Saints – Rotterdam 1993
Tori Amos – Den Haag 1994
Sophie B. Hawkins – Amsterdam 1994(?)
Laurie Anderson – Amsterdam 1995
Lisa Gerrard – Amsterdam 1995
Gavin Friday – Rotterdam 1995
Bel Canto – Amsterdam 1996
La Pat - Den Haag 1996(?)
Tori Amos – Den Haag 1996
Marco Borsato – Rotterdam 1997
Laurie Anderson – Amsterdam 1997
Blondie - Den Haag 1999
Eurythmics – Rotterdam 1999
Eurythmics – Gent 1999
Laurie Anderson – Utrecht 2001
A-ha – Amsterdam 2002
Dave Stewart and Da Univerzal Playaz – Amsterdam 2002
Luka Bloom – Den Haag 2001(?)
Annie Lennox – Amsterdam 2003
Kosheen – Amsterdam 2003
Acda & De Munnik – Rotterdam 2003
Lois Lane – Rotterdam 2004
Suzanne Vega – Rotterdam 2004
Fay Lovsky – Rotterdam 2004
The Waterboys – Rotterdam 2004
Dead Can Dance – Den Haag 2005
The Finn Brothers – Amsterdam 2005
Ozark Henry – Den Haag 2006
Chris Isaak – Amsterdam 2007
Lisa Gerrard – Den Haag 2007
Mika – Amsterdam 2007
Lisa Gerrard – Rotterdam 2007
La Pat – Amsterdam 2007
Yazoo – Hamburg 2008
Maria Mena - Den Haag 2008
Novastar - Den Haag 2008
Grace Jones - Amsterdam 2009

Quite impressive, the March Hare said.

Dreams come true - vol. 2

2008-03-21T15:52:00.006+01:00

(SPIDERMAN'S SINGLE AGAIN - To great fear of the fans, comic hero Spiderman is single again, after 21 years. In volume 545 (...) the marriage between hero Peter Parker and his Mary Jane will be undone (...) Publisher Marvel Comics: "We did regret the marriage from the beginning on, (...) a married hero is less interesting.")

Couldn't agree more, the March Hare cheered.

Yazoo Reconnected

2008-03-12T20:41:00.006+01:00

The most unthinkable thing has happened: the legendary YAZOO ('YAZ' for readers across the Atlantic) has announced their reunion tour! After almost 25 years Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke will perform live. The songs of their second album You And Me Both (1983) haven't played live ever! Back then during the two years YAZOO existed, they never played more than 24 gigs - world wide!

Because of this unique thing and of course because YAZOO was my very, very first love in pop music, I felt such a strong urge to see them... Unfortunately there are only announced gigs in Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, Denmark and the USA.

So... it will be HAMBURG the Dormouse and me are heading for on May 28th... Because we HAVE TICKETS!

Only You (1999 Mix)

YAHOOO YAZOOO, the March Hare howled!

A snow hare

2008-03-12T20:22:00.004+01:00

Last week we punished ourselves with time to whaste, loads of snow, lots of physical movement, exciting slopes, freezing cold, blazing winds and loads of hot bubbling Swiss cheese. It was horrible, never wanna go there again. Here are some glorious impressions.

It´s just a whiter shade of pale, the March Hare said.

Fast forward, Hare!

2008-02-10T12:03:00.000+01:00

Last week I visited the motor fair and tried some new bikes to see if they would fit me, as I'm having motor lessons right now and I will become a true motor mouse real soon.

Yamaha MT-3

Suzuki Bandit

Have you heared from that slow turtle, lately, the March Hare said.

Project bathroom - day fourteen

2008-02-07T19:41:00.001+01:00

Awaiting the Finishing Touch tomorrow, the March Hare said. Showering on Sunday!

Project Bathroom - day twelve and thirteen

2008-02-06T22:23:00.000+01:00

The shower gets it's glass panel tomorrow!

The toilet is ready. The walls and ceiling are plastered and only need some paint.

The two wash basins. Above them there will be a wall-to-wall mirror

The heating panel next to the door

Needs only just some fine tuning, the March Hare said. And some gorgeous decorating. I would suggest some wooden accessories!

Project Bathroom - day eleven

2008-02-04T22:48:00.000+01:00

It will be a darn pleasure to use, the March Hare said.

Project Bathroom - day nine and ten

2008-02-01T18:49:00.001+01:00

Gorgeous... Simply fabulous darling, the March Hare said.

The March Hare at the International Film Festival Rotterdam

2008-01-31T10:24:00.001+01:00

This week I get the ultimate escape from our Project Bathroom at home, by attending the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Up till now I've already seen 13 films and I visited a conference about media literacy, in which I learned about an interesting video blogging project, called Lumiere videos.

It seems to me that a lot of films nowadays are also about ordinary daily life, as in the first experiments the Lumiere brothers. I've sat out hours of films watching people doing nothing at all in Paris, Sweden, Poland, the US, Belgium etc. In feature films this is rather boring, but the Lumiere videos are very beatiful and very inpirating.

However I also saw some very good films, so here's my random list up till now, of films all ye mad hatters should see too:

Un baiser, s'il vous plait: romantic comedy, very funny! Really a pearl and a very to the point story amongst all dull films.

Capitaine Achab: the childhood and dead of the feared captain- of-all-captains, Achab, who chased Moby Dick. Stunning plot at the end with surprisingly beautiful music: Song to the siren from Tim Buckley (also known of the version from This Mortal Coil).

Juno: very funny film about a less funny subject: child pregnancy.

No country for old men: the new film from the Coen Brothers. Need I say more? Oscar material!

Paranoid Park: the new Gus van Sant. Very disturbing. A nightmare.

You, the living: about 50 great scetches of daily life in Sweden bij Roy Andersson. Cross over with Gregory Crewdson and Little Britain, with a touch of Gummbah. Hilarious.

Got to get back... no time to whaste, the March Hare said.

Project Bathroom - day six up to eight

2008-01-31T09:44:00.000+01:00

Day six: the concrete floor has to harden out. No further activities.

Day seven: the tiles!

Day eight: more tiles, ceiling and wall outside the bathroom:

When it's ever gonna stop? the March Hare murmured

Project Bathroom - day five

2008-01-25T23:11:00.001+01:00

Geeeet fresh for the weeeekend, the March Hare sang.

Project Bathroom - day four

2008-01-25T23:07:00.000+01:00

The question is: is it art, darling? the March Hare asked.

The March Hare Film Festival

2008-01-23T23:03:00.000+01:00

IN MEMORIAM HEATH LEDGER 1979 - 2008

Such a tragic loss, the March Hare wept.

Project Bathroom - day three

2008-01-23T22:41:00.001+01:00

After the breakdown we've got a doors again!

Designer ''Daryl van Wouw" Dormouse in action

Ghost writer Gerwin was here

First see - then believe, the March Hare said.

Project Bathroom - day two

2008-01-22T21:52:00.000+01:00

Keep on going, designerrrs, the March Hare said.

Project Bathroom - day one

2008-01-21T20:25:00.000+01:00

Designerrrs, you've only got thrrree weeks to finish your challenge..! the March Hare said.

The Explonsief files

2008-01-20T19:47:00.000+01:00

A couple of years ago I had a monthly column in the small magazine 'Explonsief' from my sweet swimming club. Back then I stopped writing because a yerning lack of time.

Lately I started writing again. The latest edition can be read below this serving (sorry for readers over sea: it's in Dutch of course...)

For everyone who missed all the former editions or who does want to read then once again: find them within a clicks!

Explonsief 1 - Haal meer uit je lidmaatschap

Explonsief 2 - Takke-Takke-Tom

Explonsief 3 - Hamelen

Explonsief 4 - Yoghurt

Explonsief 5 - ABC

Explonsief 6 - Heb het water lief

Explonsief 7 - Waarom Plons Plons heet

Explonsief 8 - Een kerstverrassing

Explonsief 9 - Geweldig zwemwater

Explonsief 10 - Topsport

Explonsief 11 -Vrouwen en techniek

Explonsief 12 - Plicht roept

Explonsief 13 - On line de winter door

Explonsief 14 - Een standaardwerk

Explonsief 15 - Een vraagstuk

Explonsief 16 -Ontboezemingen-uur

Explonsief 17 - Een minder mensvriendelijk onderwerp

Explonsief 18 - De enige echte waarachtige reden

My my, I feel Explonsive, the March Hare said.

Explonsief vol. 19

2008-01-20T18:39:00.001+01:00

KHHZV PLONS

Het is enige tijd geleden dat ik mij voor het laatst tot u richtte, Plonsgenoten, en ik wil van de gelegenheid gebruik maken een ieder te bedanken die in de tussentijd zich schreiend en wenend voor mijn voeten wierp, mij smekend het edele schrijfgerij weer ter hand te nemen.
Dat moment is nu gekomen. (Voor de nieuwe leden onder ons die mij nog niet kennen: op mijn gelijknamige website zijn alle eerdere edities van deze rubriek te vinden.) Ik heb niet stilgezeten het afgelopen lustrumjaar. Meerdere malen jeukten mijn vingers om de zinnenprikkelende perikelen binnen de vereniging te becommentariëren. Edoch, ik besloot mijn energie anders in te zetten en wel door mijn lobby-talenten te gebruiken dáár waar ik dacht dat Plons die het hardste nodig zou hebben: bij de Majesteit natuurlijk. Het resultaat zal niemand ontgaan zijn, want zoals u allen kon lezen in de voorlaatste Zwem-Spam, heeft het Hare Majesteit behaagd Plons vanaf 1 januari 2008 het predikaat Hofleverancier te verlenen. De nieuwe volledige naam van Plons luidt dan ook: Koninklijke Haagse Homo Zwemvereniging Plons! Voor wie de speciale feestelijke training op Nieuwjaarsdag gemist heeft, zal ik hier verslag doen van het bezoek dat de Majesteit toen aan ons nederige zwemuurtje bracht.
Van te voren belde Zij mij even voor wat kledingtips. 'Ooh Hildert,' jammerde Zij, 'jullie gays zijn altijd zó kritisch. Kunnen pofmouwtjes nog wel? Is fuchsiaroze inmiddels niet vréselijk november?' Ik kon Haar geruststellen: het interesseert ons-van-Plons geen ene mallemoer wat Zij aantrekt, zolang Zij Maxima maar zou meebrengen. Helaas ging dat niet, omdat het Kroonprinselijke paar in Argentinië verbleef, maar werkelijk: alle monden van de aanwezige Plonsers vielen open toen de Majesteit in mijn kielzog de zwemzaal betrad. Zij droeg een zacht blauwe zijden ochtendrobe en liep op appeltjesgroene flipflops. Een aantal van u herkende Haar eerst niet vanwege de vanillegeel gebloemde badmuts. Na een kort welkomstwoord van de voorzitter (via satellietverbinding met Tel Aviv) reikte de Majesteit het alom bekende Hofleverancier-schild uit aan de secretaris van de vereniging. Zij benadrukte daarbij dat het Haar enorm zou pleijzieren wanneer dit bij toekomstige drag (queen) races als wisselbokaal ingezet wordt. Onder luid applaus gleed toen Haar robe van Haar Koninklijke schouders, om een prachtig elegant fuchsiaroze badpak met pofmouwtjes prijs te geven dat Haar pronte Koninklijke status op alle doorslaggevende punten 100% positief accentueerde. En met een geoefende plons dook zij in baan 1, waarmee zij de eerste Koninklijke training officieel voor geopend verklaarde!
Welnu, als dat geen kroon op ons lustrumjaar is, wat dan wel? Ja, een sponsorship van über-gay zwembroekenmerk Aussiebum natuurlijk. Met bijbehorende hunkybum modellen die ons de nieuwe exclusieve Plons-Aussiebum-zwemlijn showen aan de rand van het bad en daarna met ons gaan eten bij de Italiaan en daarna met ons in de Landman doorzakken. Wordt het daar ook weer eens écht gezellig.

De volgende keer in Hildertschildert… Het antwoord op de vraag: is er eigenlijk nog wel leven ná de Pieter van den Hoogenband-Challenge? Vermoeiend, maar toch kijk ik er nu al naar uit!

> http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl

Go down baby - vol. 1

2008-01-15T21:16:00.001+01:00

(click)

Have you been hurt, lately, the March Hare implored.

Go down baby - vol 2

2008-01-15T21:08:00.001+01:00

(click)

We've only just begun, the March Hare said.

Season's greetings

2008-01-01T16:00:00.000+01:00

(click)

May your life be one great big apple, the March Hare said.

New inventions for succesfull living

2007-12-14T16:51:00.000+01:00

On the plane to New York the 'Sky Mall Magazine' was spread. It had 183 glorious pages full of clever inventions to enrich our dull, colourless lives. And indeed, some of them made me so intense happy, it almost brought me to tears. Since then I do not want anything else than to share them with you, all ye' Mad Hatters. See where I spend my money on. I made a top 10 selection of all time favorites, especially for you. Enjoy! (And click on the images for a larger view, so you can actually read the text too..! Got your glasses handy?)

How can I survive without these handy solutions for all my daily troubles, the March Hare puzzled.

Exqueeze me?!

2007-12-14T16:42:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago I visited some friends of mine who live in the rather small city where I studied, long, long time ago.

We had diner together and about 10 pm I left, heading for home. On the corner of the street where they live, is an evening shop located, I noticed.

It was closed for the day.

Things shouldn't go crazier than they're already, the March Hare said.

Investigations by the Hare!

2007-12-06T20:19:00.001+01:00

The house in the first seconds of this ad is number 67 in our street - sort of our neighbours!

And here's the very funny video clip of the music that accompanies the ad, the Holly Dolly Song:

And here's the original song, Leva's Polka by the Finnish band Loituma:

Verrrry funny-bunny, the March Hare said.

The March Hare Film Festival presents:

2007-11-02T18:00:00.000+01:00

In New York we were very anxious to see the Bethesda statue in Central Park:

That was because we knew it from the leader of the great (and also very l o n g ) film:

ANGELS IN AMERICA

If you're curious why we sat there for ages and why we waited and waited, take a look at the leader of the film. Be very sure you watch it until the end!

Creeeepy, the March Hare shivered.

Lovely Lisa Live

2007-11-02T16:44:00.000+01:00

Last Tuesday evening we had the glorious opportunity to see Lisa Gerrard live again. We already saw her three times with Dead Can Dance and two times solo, earlier. It's always a very pure, almost spiritual experience watching her perform, translucent creature as she is.

For those who aren't acquainted with her work, as a solo artist she composed many soundtracks for films, as The Gladiator, The Insider, Ali and Whale Rider. For an example of her recent solo work take a look at this:

I'm speechless, the March Hare said.

The Hare at Great Heights

2007-10-12T16:47:00.000+02:00

Last week the Dormouse and I visited the Big Apple, City of Cities, The Deep Core of the Modern Western World, Pride of Mankind, Itchy Spot of Osama:

N E W Y O R K

Here are some impressions:

At Greenwich Village: Babs - the lady on the right - wishes to stay anonymous.

At 5th Avenue, Trump Tower

At Ground Zero

With the Dormouse at the Rockefeller Centre, overlooking the South of Manhattan with the Empire State Building in between

At Brooklyn Bridge, overlooking the Financial District on Mahattan

At Greenwich Village, nearby Stonewall Inn and the Segal memorial

At the ferry to Staten Island, overlooking the Financial District on the south of Manhattan

At Times Square, where Bright Lights Shine Everywhere at Night...

Ooh, looking gorgeous - wish I was there again, the March Hare sighed.

Dreams come true in the Big Apple

2007-10-12T16:20:00.000+02:00

YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! YES!

I'm thrilled to let ye all know that finally one of my dreams came true. In the Big Apple, on Broadway, I actually met:

!! S P I D E R M A N !!

Hm... only too bad you had to pay this Spidey-whore for evidence, Hare! the March Hare mumbled...

More close encounters in the Big Apple

2007-10-12T16:12:00.001+02:00

Me Hare and me Dahlinkh Annie

Real Firemen and very closeby... Am I being saved..?
...Pleaaase?

A frolic at Central Park with al ye dear friends: the White Rabbit, Alice, the Chestershire Cat and the Mad Hatter..!

Aah - looks cosy, the March Hare said. But where was I when the last pic was taken?

The March Hare Animation Film Festival presents:

2007-09-21T19:14:00.001+02:00

The Luxor Theatre where I worked for over 3 years, hosts the International Film Festival Rotterdam. The first year I worked there, I was determined to visit as much fims as I could. Unfortunate I got ill and saw nothing at all. But I did get hold on a beautiful poster of a short animation film, which my colleagues very muched disliked, because it was a very cruel image of a man pointing with a gun in his mouth. In fact the poster turns out to be from this film:

And another stunning Pixar animation, just for fun!

Very very very very well done, the March Hare said.

My youthful transgression

2007-09-21T18:46:00.001+02:00

Most of you don't knew about this facet of me, but some of you knew and can still wake up in the middle of the night, press their hands to their ears, wildly shouting: 'PLEEAASE HILDERT!!! NO MORE SMURFS!!!"

I apologize for that. But, still. Try this one of my all time favorite Smurf band:

NASTY SMURF & HIS SWEET REVENGE

It's incredible funny, really. I can listen to it over and over. A thousand times. I never get tired of it and it never gets dull. Whenever you need a smile on your face, try this one.

So, uhm, AAH, PLEEAAASSE, ONE MORE TIME??

Has got definitely a kind of youthfull smell, the March Hare said.

Let's Hare around the world

2007-09-12T22:15:00.000+02:00

All you boys and girls, HARE! HARE! The March Hare sung.

She did it again!

2007-08-15T00:05:00.000+02:00

She did! She did! The March Hare cried.

Hare Slide Show

2007-06-03T18:43:00.001+02:00

Here's a slice of my life, the March Hare said.

Bonnie Scotty Poddy

2007-05-08T21:59:00.000+02:00

Are you always that greedy, the March Hare said.

Celebrity-to-smooch - score one (well not really, that is...)

2007-04-19T23:33:00.000+02:00

Wednesday April the 11th I finally got to see CHRIS ISAAK live at Paradiso, Amsterdam! JEE-HA! As Chris is one of my celebrities-to-smooch, you bet I was very exited!

My reaction when I understood that Chris is almost 51 years old was as following:

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

But I agreed on that he's still very good looking and his singing is even better! Alas - I did't get the opportunity to smooch him, but well, it still was the best rock-n-roll concert I have ever visited.

Is that your age or your jeans size, the March Hare asked.

Dishy anchormen

2007-04-19T23:24:00.000+02:00

The Netherlands are well known for the dishy anchormen at the national news bulletin NOS JOURNAAL. Here are my favorite toys - ehrm - I mean boys, of course..!

Herman

Jeroen
Another Jeroen

Rik

Hmm, the last one still is my favorite anchorman-to-smooch, the March Hare lisped.

Life amongst the stars

2007-04-19T22:29:00.000+02:00

Friday April 6th the well respected and most famous contemporary French actress Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher, 8 Femmes, L'ivresse Du Pouvoir, I Heart Huckabees) visited Filmhuis Den Haag to open our newest screening hall. It became a impressive weekend amongst the stars! At Friday evening it was my job was to arrange the press, like a photo shoot for some newspapers and the Dutch press agency. On saturday I had arranged some interviews for the press at the pretentious Hotel Des Indes. Afterwards I participated on lunch in the Gemeentemuseum. Then we drove to the beach for a quick stroll, together with her husband and her daughter. After that we went to the opening of the exhibition Isabelle Huppert, woman of many faces in the Museum of Photography The Hague. It was very crowded there and I had to act as a P.A./body guard to keep off al the fans and autograph hunters of Isabelle's back. In the evening I was invited fot diner at the Residence de France, togeter with the French Ambassador, Dutch actresses like Kim van Kooten, Carice van Houten, Johanna ter Steege, famous Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf, directors Nouschka van Brakel, Erik de Bruyn and top of the bill photographer Anton Corbijn. Do I forget someone?

Here are some impressions:

Together with my collegue Miriam Gilissen, director of Filmhuis Den Haag, Isabelle and Ronald Chammah

Lunch at Brasserie Berlage, at the Gemeentemuseum

Photo shoot at Filmhuis Den Haag

Together with Carice van Houten

Together with my collegue Leendert de Jong, programmer of Filmhuis Den Haag and Johanna ter Steege

Isabelle accompanied by Anton Corbijn (left) and the French Ambassador.

WHOAH, Hare!

New life in Suburbia

2007-04-19T22:21:00.000+02:00

Here are some impressions of our new still life at the edge of the city...

Looks fab to me, the March Hare cheered.

Quote of the year

2007-04-19T21:52:00.000+02:00

"I don't beleve in natural beauty,

and neither in flat heeled shoes."

Donatella Versace

Does my skin look brown enough? Or do I need more orange? Is my hair dead enough? the March Hare whined.

The March Hare Film Festival Presents:

2007-03-06T21:00:00.000+01:00

THE MATRIX RELOADED

Yes - avoid the meadow, the March Hare agreed.

The 100% solution for Spammers

2007-02-22T22:54:00.000+01:00

I think I have found the 100% solution for spammers, marketeers and everyone else in the communication bussines who feels he has trouble that he isn't listened to.

Try this emailaddress:

everyone@earth.universe

If this doesn't work, then what does? the March Hare mused upon.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-02T21:10:00.000+01:00

Happy New Year

I wish you lots of hail and blessing

In the year that only just appeared;

Generous prosperity on your ways

And continually joy around you

Can't wait till it's Easter, the March Hare said.

New home

2006-12-15T09:25:00.000+01:00

Wherever I lay my hat, that's my home, the March Hare said.

New fabulous Dutch products

2006-12-13T16:35:00.000+01:00

LUPINENGRANULAAT

ROGGEZUURDEEGPOEDER

Don't know what it is, but I want it now, the March Hare said.

The new rabbit hole

2006-12-12T19:24:00.000+01:00

On November 20th we got the keys of our new house. Here we drink to that!

After that date we've been rather occupied with painting and decorating and stuff. Things are coming up to its place a bit already. We're connected to the web since yesterday again, though the cable is still going right through the hallway and up the stairs to the attic, were the office is located. Later I will upload more pictures: from the dining area, the dormatory, the library, the cloak room, the walk-in closet, the spa, and last but not least: our new gorgeous drawing room...

Ooh, just can't wait to see al the new accessories and stuff,

the March Hare said.

Obscure & Notorious - vol. II

2006-11-04T19:05:00.000+01:00

LENNOX GOOD - STEWART BAD

1983 MTV PROMO

DAVE & EARL

Obscure indeed - and notorious as well, the March Hare said.

The Ultimate Mad Tea Party

2006-11-03T10:52:00.000+01:00

Talking about obscure and notorious: this is the first video Eurythmics ever made, in 1981. It was banned from television because one of the musicians who played in the vid wasn't a member of the musicians board in Great Britain. It was so rarely viewed that even Dave Stewart lost the original copy and he had to place an ad on various fan sites to get hold on a copy for himself...

Yes! Another Mad Tea party! Clearly! The March Hare shouted wildly.

Obscure & Notorious

2006-11-03T10:28:00.001+01:00

Eurythmics live in Los Angeles, summer 1984. One of the rarest tracks ever...

OOOH - I LIKE IT, the March Hare cried!

The March Hare Film Festival Presents:

2006-11-03T10:21:00.000+01:00

BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN

I nominate it for the Golden Hare, the March Hare said.

My celebrities look-alikes

2006-10-29T19:07:00.000+01:00

http://www.myheritage.com

I think mr. Pitt must be related somehow, the March Hare said.

V.U.P.

2006-10-29T18:44:00.000+01:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
0
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Verrry Unique Perrrson, the March Hare said.

Leidschenveen

2006-10-20T16:21:00.000+02:00

For all the non-believers, the March Hare said.

Automatic flatterer

2006-10-20T16:09:00.000+02:00

(click!)

You are soooo nice, the March Hare said.

More endangered spiecies from the new world

2006-10-20T15:56:00.000+02:00

Heading home so soon already?

It's not the teeth, it's the glasses wherein the truth lies beneath...

Canagal + containers.

Canagal and the March Hare walking.

Big bro', Canagal & The Hare.

You phook lovely toto's, the mother of the March Hare said.

War of the bitch mannequins

2006-10-20T15:42:00.000+02:00

Take cover! the March Hare screamed.

Hurricane strikes the Netherlands

2006-10-20T11:03:00.000+02:00

Last week Canagal and her good friend Tara did a quick visit to the Neterlands. Here are some impressions - in randome order:

Fairies and Mermaid

Canagal and my big bro' at the occasion of the visit: his b-day

Not just at any steps..!

Transporting divas

The odd couple at great heights

This is the family - having a party! the March Hare sang.

Sold

2006-09-29T16:08:00.000+02:00

...And this is what the new people are hopefully gonna sign for tomorrow...

I keep my fingers crossed, the March Hare said.

Three wishes

2006-09-29T15:59:00.000+02:00

We can quit the discussion whether we should have a cleaning lady in the new house, or do it ourselves. I think I'll go for this option:

Who's talking about a Truus when you can have Jason?! Click on the image to check it out and let me know which one of the hunks you think we should hire...

Won't mind staying at home while he's busy doing... the March Hare said.

Bought

2006-09-27T19:25:00.000+02:00

Look what the Dormouse and I signed for today:

Fun! A whole new rabbit hole to explore... the March Hare said.

The truth according to the bitch

2006-09-08T17:48:00.000+02:00

How true, the March Hare said.

Keep young and beautiful

2006-08-21T21:34:00.000+02:00

(Molkwerum 1987)

What's cute about little cutie? It's her beauty, not brains.

Old father time will never harm you, if your charm still remains.

After you grow old baby, you don't have to be a cold baby.

Keep young and beautiful, it's your duty to be beautiful.

Keep young and beautiful, if you want to be loved.

What she's doing to my hair, the March Hare said.

Musical discoveries

2006-08-18T14:37:00.000+02:00

Recently I discovered the following albums, the best of this year so far. I think.

Wonders never cease, the March Hare said.

Thunderbird and wolves

2006-08-18T14:06:00.000+02:00

At the Vancouver Art Gallery the Dormouse got me this print by the First Nations artist Maynard Johnny jr. (Coast Salish/Kwakwaka'wakw Nation) for my Birthday. I let it frame properly and now it's hanging in ***our gracious drawing room***

For more information about Pacific Northwest Coast Native and Inuit artwork, click here and here.

It looks just gorgeous, darling, the March Hare said.

Motherland

2006-08-18T13:48:00.001+02:00

Take one last look behind
Commit this to memory and mind

(Molkwerum 1981 - 2006)

Motherland cradle me

Close my eyes

Lullaby me to sleep

Keep me safe

Lie with me

Stay beside me

Don't go, don't you go

(Natalie Merchant)

The place will be sadly missed, the March Hare said.