Yesterday, the Japanese movie 'Nobody knows' was on Belgian television. A heart-wrenching movie about four children abandoned by their mother and living on their own in an apartment in Tokyo. Yuga Yagira, who played the eldest brother, rightly won an award for Best Actor in Cannes 2004 for his outstanding performance.
The movie is based on a true story and, as one can imagine, is not exactly a 'feel good-movie'. However, there are moments of happiness, even in the lives of these kids. Watching the movie, one easily 'becomes' the oldest brother, desperately trying to cope, trying to stay afloat. The responsibility he feels, the struggle, but also moment os fun with other children, the relief when there is a bit of money or some other stroke of luck.
The movie shows one thing extremely clearly: 'making' children is one thing, taking care of them quite another.
maandag 7 april 2008
dinsdag 1 april 2008
Book tip of the week
Although admittedly books are not the answer to every question in life, I believe great comfort can be found in them. Whether one is looking for escapism or learning, for thrills or handy hints, for beautiful pictures or beautiful turns of phrase.
My advice this week is:
Take a look at : What Would Budha Do at Work? By Franz Metcalf and BJ Gallagher Hateley, a book full of practical wisdom and inspiring quotes.
We all need new inspiration from time to time, and inspiration comes from many places. From other human beings and from nature, notably. But also, quite simply, from books.
My advice this week is:
Take a look at : What Would Budha Do at Work? By Franz Metcalf and BJ Gallagher Hateley, a book full of practical wisdom and inspiring quotes.
We all need new inspiration from time to time, and inspiration comes from many places. From other human beings and from nature, notably. But also, quite simply, from books.
dinsdag 25 maart 2008
Mess is more
In the weekend I read a funny article in the Dutch magazine 'VIVA' about how being untidy is not as bad as one thinks and how being tidy is vastly overrated. The title of the piece was "MESS IS MORE".
Well, I'm not so sure. At the moment, all of my house qualifies as 'mess is more'. I am painting items of furniture and doing this in my bedroom (bad for my health, apart from anything else), my son Thomas is re-arranging his room in his own way, I am in the process of moving stuff to the attic, the stuff is in transit on the staircase and the disorder in my study and my living-room is utterly depressing.
I'm constantly on edge, constantly looking for thins. I think a little bit of a mess (think: pile of magazines on the floor next to the sofa) can be relaxing, but a lot of it is definitely not something I would recommend. Less is more, more or less.
Well, I'm not so sure. At the moment, all of my house qualifies as 'mess is more'. I am painting items of furniture and doing this in my bedroom (bad for my health, apart from anything else), my son Thomas is re-arranging his room in his own way, I am in the process of moving stuff to the attic, the stuff is in transit on the staircase and the disorder in my study and my living-room is utterly depressing.
I'm constantly on edge, constantly looking for thins. I think a little bit of a mess (think: pile of magazines on the floor next to the sofa) can be relaxing, but a lot of it is definitely not something I would recommend. Less is more, more or less.
donderdag 6 maart 2008
Truth & Fiction
I am writing this story about a homeless man and his friendship with a young boy. Well, in fact, 'writing' is overstating things. I have begun writing it, my friend, the artist Gurli Feilberg (www.feilberg.nl)
has already made a beautiful drawing about it, but the story has been on the shelf for quite some time now, due to my busy professional and private lives.
Funny thing is that the main character of this story, the homeless man, keeps popping up. In real life, that is. This is hardly surprising, as I got the idea from real life in the first place.
It nonetheless feels strange, every time I see somebody who reminds me of my main character, Anton. A few days ago I was walking past Florenzia (a place in the Hague, where you can get great ice-cream, not that you'd care, but still...) and I saw a bike parked outside, with large plastic bags hanging from the bike handles. Anton's bike. Anton's belongings.
Well, even though I am finding it difficult to carve in time for writing, my characters find time to remind me they are still there.
has already made a beautiful drawing about it, but the story has been on the shelf for quite some time now, due to my busy professional and private lives.
Funny thing is that the main character of this story, the homeless man, keeps popping up. In real life, that is. This is hardly surprising, as I got the idea from real life in the first place.
It nonetheless feels strange, every time I see somebody who reminds me of my main character, Anton. A few days ago I was walking past Florenzia (a place in the Hague, where you can get great ice-cream, not that you'd care, but still...) and I saw a bike parked outside, with large plastic bags hanging from the bike handles. Anton's bike. Anton's belongings.
Well, even though I am finding it difficult to carve in time for writing, my characters find time to remind me they are still there.
vrijdag 29 februari 2008
New site
My new site about working from home and being a parent is online!
Part of it is under construction but I believe it's already worth a visit.
Check it out at http://www.businessanddiapers.com
and let me know what you think, what's missing, what you like or dislike about it...
Part of it is under construction but I believe it's already worth a visit.
Check it out at http://www.businessanddiapers.com
and let me know what you think, what's missing, what you like or dislike about it...
woensdag 27 februari 2008
Life
To-day I went to the museum with a new friend/acqaintance/colleague of mine, her daughter and my son. It was great to leave the deadlines behind and to enjoy a day off, chatting away, enjoying ourselves. She's a remarkable woman.
All too often working from home means being home-bound. Being there mainly means being there for the computer. It's a tough job for my new friend and I to remind ourselves that the well-known saying "nobody says on their deathbed 'I wish I had spent more time at the office'" is also applicable to the home office.
The nice thing about getting older is that I am finding it a lot less difficult than I used to.
"I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me." (Herman Hesse)
All too often working from home means being home-bound. Being there mainly means being there for the computer. It's a tough job for my new friend and I to remind ourselves that the well-known saying "nobody says on their deathbed 'I wish I had spent more time at the office'" is also applicable to the home office.
The nice thing about getting older is that I am finding it a lot less difficult than I used to.
"I have ceased to question stars and books; I have begun to listen to the teaching my blood whispers to me." (Herman Hesse)
maandag 25 februari 2008
I don't know how she does it
Sometimes I wonder how we mums manage. To take care of our kids and our finances. Of our partners and friends. Of the housekeeping and the gardening. How we keep fit and in touch.
Fact is...many of us don't manage. I, for one, am always running behind in several departments. Sometimes business is good, but I don't pay Thomas enough attention. Sometimes I spend a lot of time keeping house, but have no time to socialize, at other times I see a lot of friends, but the house looks like it has been bombed. Reading about other mums who are not quite able to cope helps put things into perspective. That's why I recommend Allison Pearson's book 'I don't know how she does it' to any mum who has her moments of doubt and pain.
Fact is...many of us don't manage. I, for one, am always running behind in several departments. Sometimes business is good, but I don't pay Thomas enough attention. Sometimes I spend a lot of time keeping house, but have no time to socialize, at other times I see a lot of friends, but the house looks like it has been bombed. Reading about other mums who are not quite able to cope helps put things into perspective. That's why I recommend Allison Pearson's book 'I don't know how she does it' to any mum who has her moments of doubt and pain.
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