Message from Holland (13)
And again I sat under the marquis of café d'Oude Stoep and again Muis sat across the street under the marquis of the smallest café in Vlaardingen. The difference with last time: it didn't rain, but the Netherlands experienced a summer day and I didn't smoke.
Mouse quoted the first lines of my Message from Holland (4). An acquaintance turned out to have made him aware of Thailandblog and my post, in which I introduced Muis as a poet. But I had made a mistake. I wrote that he had poem: 'When it rains in May, I cry inside.' But according to Muis he didn't mean the month of May, but himself: me with a long ij. Well, of course you can't hear that in Dutch.
Whether 'me' is better than 'may' is up for debate. Personally, I like the variant with 'May' better, because it says something about the poet's state of mind when it rains in the month of May. Anyway, I didn't write the poem, so if it's 'me' then it must be 'me'.
In response to Message from Holland (12), Willem wrote: I am disappointed that you Trouw is reading. He thinks I have a Telegraaf heart. Good read, Willem: I didn't write that I Trouw read, but I like to solve the puzzle in that newspaper to fight early dementia. And in my heart there is no room for a newspaper; that space is already filled by my girlfriend.
Indeed Dick, reading well is important. You must also like it that someone thinks you still have a heart somewhere. As you write yourself, it was filled by your girlfriend. My opinion is that you translate journalistic messages from a Thai newspaper
to Dutch and seldom added his own comments. I don't understand either
that someone even comes up with the idea of labeling you as a Telegraaf supporter.
Cor van Kampen.
When I read this message from Holland I got a warm feeling.
How difficult is the Dutch language, even a language virtuoso like Dick struggles with it.
And how proud am I of my Thai Soj who can express herself so well in that Dutch language that is so difficult for her.
Dick, I like that there is no room in your heart for a newspaper, because that space is filled by your girlfriend,….. I wish I could say the same but alas.
I have a girlfriend in Thailand but she doesn't really fill my heart... I struggle more with the feeling I have for and with her and filling that void with a newspaper doesn't seem to help either. I wish you a rich life with your girlfriend!! Johan
Dear Johan,
I appreciate your substantive piece about yourself..not easy.
A perfect relationship does not exist, no one has one.
Dick also regularly indicates what he encounters in his heart filled with girlfriend.
Everyone is only one part in life so try to find missing pieces with others (friends).
However, if the core (love) for each other is missing, it is time to start something new.
I wish you a rich life and strength for the right decisions in life.
Danny
Dear Dick, Just as I enjoy your columns and experiences in Thailand most of the time, I also really enjoyed your 'Messages from Holland'. I would like to wish you a successful journey home to the Thailand you love so much.
Sincerely, Peter Kee.