Monday 31 August 2015

Refugees; No human is illegal


Everywhere you look; tv or social media, you read/see about the refugees and their fate. 
But what strikes me more and more is the way people are talking about other people. The way my country is handling this worldwide problem. Or not handling it to be honest. The way some are talking is shameful to say the least.

The Netherlands has always been known for its tolerance but over the years we have become the least tolerant country in Europe I think. 
It's shocking how some people are talking about the boat refugees. What they are saying I shall not repeat but it's horrible and inhumane. Yes, cruel even. You are not worth to be calling yourself part of the human race if you talk about other humans like that. Even animals treat each other better. 
 

 Syrian looking at where his home used to be


A lot of refugees don't run from their country because of economical reasons; sure there always will be some that do and the media is always putting it's focus on them, but most of them flee from their country because they simply have to. Because of Al Quada, ISIS or other extremist groups. They don't have a choice. If they would, they would simply stay. 
They would not leave their belongings and pick up only a few things and their entire family, if even that, and make the hard and often dangerous journey to freedom from persecution. Most people scream bloody murder that 'the Muslims are taking over' but it's just nonsense. A lot of them are fleeing because they are Christians and can't be who they want to be in their own country, or for their sexual orientation. Let's face it; who would dare take an overcrowded ship with the risk of sinking in the middle of the ocean with small children if they didn't have too?

A Syrian woman trying to hold her baby's head above water


The reactions are also often out of ignorance but even then; did they all really forget what happened in WOII? When lots of people were persecuted for being 'the wrong race' or being different?
We are all equal; we are all human.

Slogan from Germany


It is time we started to help each other instead of pointing fingers and blaming. Let's just make it a better world for everyone to live in, not only in your little corner of the world.
Better the world, start with yourself and the way you talk about other human beings. You can't judge unless you have walked in their shoes and I don't think you would want that...
For this blog I needed pics and saw the most horrid photos of cut off heads done by those extremists... I didn't put them on here but those pics might have made an impact on those hateful and spiteful commentors.

Helping the refugees is something all of the world should do, not only Greece and Italy where they first land. We all need to take our responsibility. I read that about 207.000 refugees have come to Europe so far; that's 8625 per member state; about 2156 families per country. That's not so much now is it? Can't we all just help those people, like we would want to be helped, like we were helped when we were at war so many years ago?

© KH

Sunday 30 August 2015

Music on Sunday; Weather


It has been a crazy summer weather wise. From extremely hot to very wet and hot again. Last night we woke up from a loud thunderstorm after a lovely warm Saturday. It's still rumbling in the distance as we speak, so I thought for today's Music on Sunday the topic would be; Weather conditions.. Enjoy;













I can't remember the times I danced to this;





© KH

Thursday 27 August 2015

Treasures of Britain; Peak District


There are so many things still to see on my UK bucket list, that I really don't know where to start. The Peak District is one of them;



The Peak District was the first national park to be established in Great Britain. As late as the early 20th century most British countryside lay in the hands of wealthy landowners who restricted or banned public access. But the 1932 Kinder Mass Trespass, held in what is now the park, was a milestone event in the campaign that led to increased public land access and the eventual establishment of national parks.
The park's size is 555 square miles (1,438 square kilometers).
Over 90% is privately owned land the National Trust owns 12%, and three water companies own another 11 percent. The Peak District National Park Authority owns only 5 percent. About 86% of the total is farmland, which is used mostly for grazing sheep or cattle.

About 38,000 people live inside the national park—an area about the size of Greater London. Some 16 million more people live within an hour’s drive of its boundaries. Peak District lies between Sheffield and Manchester, surrounded by industrial cities in the geographic heart of England.


 Resevoir Valley

Derwent resevoir

Abadoned Millstones

Peak District cave-the Devil's arse

Thor's cave

© KH

Wednesday 26 August 2015

Shopping in Utrecht

We're having our Summer holiday, but since we're not away on holiday but staying at home and having some daytrips there's time for some blogging now and again. Yesterday we had a lovely shopping spree in Utrecht. Oldest son needed new clothes and youngest wanted to buy a skateboard so off we went.
It always amazes me that the kids, 21 and 18, still tag along with pleasure with their 'old' mum. They even like it a lot and hug me in the street when they have gotten a new outfit.

We were very succesful even youngest son who is a bit difficult finding the things he has in mind did find it easily this time. And when I wanted to look for myself? Not a problem; they just went to sit down in front of the kiddies tv and watch the Disney cartoons. (I had to take a picture of that!)


We had a lovely day with lovely weather even, even though I need a day to recover, boy you get so tired and back aches from strolling around... 
But Utrecht is a beautiful city and always very welcoming I find. I love to shop there and it's very gorgeous with it's old buildings and the Dom tower and canals. A lot of history there, which I love. Hub and met there in fact for the first time many years ago, so it's always a trip down memory lane for us. :) 

Here's something about Utrecht's History
Reasons why Utrecht is awesome you can find here


 Dom tower

Canal

© KH

Sunday 23 August 2015

Music on Sunday; Summer Holiday



Finally! My holiday has begon! I'm not going on holiday but we stay at home and go make some day trips but still, some R&R is well needed!!! So here are some holiday songs to get started;







One of my personal favourites;



Oh I love Will Smith :)









© KH

Thursday 20 August 2015

Treasures of Britain; Tewkesbury, Cotswolds



There are a lot of UK sites on my long list of things to see and visit and the Cotswolds are part of it. The houses in Tudor style or the lovely hills I want to see it all. For now I just pick one small town; Tewkesbury.

Tewkesbury is an ancient settlement at the meeting of the rivers Severn and Avon. The surrounding rivers and flood plain have prevented the old town from expanding so that its long thin profile has hardly altered since the middle ages. Tewkesbury presents one of the best medieval townscapes in England with its fine half-timbered Tudor buildings, overhanging upperstoreys and ornately carved doorways.
Tewkesbury is renowned as having one of the best medieval black and white townscapes in the country and has much to delight the visitor. Discover the hidden charms along narrow alleyways where the eaves of crooked timber buildings nearly touch or take a leisurely cruise along the river.  
Tewkesbury is dominated by the 12th-century Abbey. Known to some as the ‘Westminster Abbey’ of the feudal barony, this beautiful building has the highest Norman tower in England as well as rich architecture and artistic heritage. Also here are the fascinating John Moore Countryside Museum, the Town Museum and the Old Baptist Chapel.


© KH

Sunday 16 August 2015

Music on Sunday; Robert Johnson



Yesterday I saw a documentary on Investigation Discovery about Blues singer Robert Johnson, who died age 27. It was about his will. My son who saw a part of it never even knew Robert Johnson was the founder of all Rock and Roll really. So here's the (sad) story of Robert Johnson and some of his wonderful music;














© KH

Thursday 13 August 2015

Treasures of Britain; Duncansby Head


The Northeastern tip of Scotland is worth visiting for its cliffs (213 feet/65ms) with their colonies of seabirds and the caves, ridges, arches and bridges sculpted by thousands of years of erosion.

In 2005 we made a 4 week round trip through Scotland and made it all the way to Duncansby head and John O'Groats, it was a wonderful trip, well worth it! Sutherland is gorgeous. However, further on to the west it's very isolated. The crofters all moved on and abandoned their homes. A sad sight but in a way also a pretty one as nature has taken over.

Most photos are my own; The day we went on a boat trip to look a the stacks the weather was horrible! But the day after the sun was shining and we went for a walk to the stacks and the birds.
(Quality isn't all that good, it's made with an old digital camera, one of the first ones)


















© KH