I’ll give Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte the benefit of the doubt. Here is a man under pressure because his entire liberal, easy-going vision of the world is being deep-frozen by a virus that’s even smaller than the smallest of viruses. In answer to a question on whether dentists could open their practices, Rutte patronizingly […]
Month: April 2020
Mark Rutte Bevoogdt Tandartsen

Ik geef Mark Rutte het voordeel van de twijfel. Hier staat een politicus onder druk. Zijn hele liberale, gemoedelijke kijk op de wereld wordt bevroren door een virus dat zelfs kleiner is dan de kleinste virussen. In antwoord op een vraag of tandartsen hun praktijk konden openen, antwoordde Rutte neerbuigend dat tandartspraktijken altijd open mochten […]
Reflections (3) The Nightingale

Looking through the veiled window, Which way will the nightingale go? Will it be up, will it be down? Do not fret, do not drown. Rest on the oak tree’s branch, and sing Your beautiful song, for the delicate spring, And whilst we pant and fight, Desperately trying to save our plight, I sit and listen, […]
Our Biggest Weakness Is To Think We Are Invincible

Weakness, is thinking of oneself as invincible. – Roberto Saviano Exactly one month ago, I started cancelling appointments at my dental practice, following advice from the Dutch dental association to only treat acute emergencies, and avoid patients who have been tested positive for the coronavirus or who present symptoms, like the plague. We are […]
Why A Writer Should Be Locked Up

As a writer, you’ve got no excuse not to write – unless you have four toddlers crawling around your living room, creating havoc. I suppose that I can be forgiven for not writing because it really is a hobby. I’m spending most of my time cancelling appointments and worrying about the rest of humanity. But […]
Reflections (2) – Lockdown

LOCKDOWN A particle so small, shaped like a crown. A disease threatening to bring us down. And yet, in the distance, I find hope, a brilliance. I will march on into the daylight, I will endure and fight. Togetherness from you, is what I need, And on your love and compassion, I feed. The […]
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Outside World

Little did we know that being enclosed within the confines of our kitchens and living rooms, we would miss a wonderful world out there. Don’t you just? My thoughts go out to those in complete lockdown. As for the rest of us who still manage to get out and about, beware – our time could […]