Pigeon kill

In the back garden, on Thursday the 30th Oct 2008, a wood pigeon was killed and partly eaten. It happened when Viv was away walking with Joke. In all likelihood it was killed by a Goshawk, or a feamale sparrow hawk, according to Wim Calame, bird and nature expert who als works with Kerry. Picture shows some body feathers, the long tail feathers which have been plucked out and not bitten out by say a cat, dog or fox. Some guts are also visible, but these were scavanged quickly by some carrion eater.

Paris in the autumn holidays

4 of us went to Paris for Neil J, Vivienne, Jim, and Orlaith in particular.

We stayed in a hotel outside the city centre, in St. Brice, got the SNCF to Gare du Nord, then the metro / RER to the final city centre destination. We did all the usual touristy things, the E. Tower, the Arc, the Louvre, the gardens, Concord, Notre Dame, Champs, etc. The weather on Sunday and Mondaythe 19th & 20th of Oct was amazing, warm, dry, almost no wind, and we stayed for hours at the 2nd level of the E. Tower, and watched the sun set. Very romantic with Vivienne indeed.

Here are a few pictures.

Dancing again with the AJSO

This is the second time the Almere / Jarno dancers danced with the AJSO (Almeers jeugd symphonie orkest) and the occasion was the ending of "Kinderboeken week" in the country. This time the show was held in the "midden zaal" with the seating properly arranged, and it was a very nice concert indeed. The AJSO played several movie themes and some light pop numbers, finally finishing with the irish music part and of course the dancers, Eoghan Jaimie, Kevin, and Lisette. Below links to the U-tube videos.

Leo van der Weyden , father of Kevin,
http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=vhfzWg7x5kA

Neil J Bourke father of Eoghan,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcY9f005oTM


Maria ten Cate, mother of Lisette

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_sLF3UVi24

Start of the painting exhibition "Trasna na Dtonnta"

On Wednesday the 1st of Oct. the painting exhibition "Trasna na Dtonnta", officially began in the health centre of the housing estate "Filmwijk" in Almere the Netherlands. This is the first time that Vivienne I Bourke and Co Ommen have jointly exhibited their work. Attached is an announcement of this event. There is an air of excitment surrounding this event, and with each having 15 paintings hanging on the walls, the expectation is that several will be sold before the close of the exhibition at the end of the year (31/Dec/2008)

Hockey away at Hilversum mixed hockey club (HMHC) 20 Sept 2008

A glorious saturday morning broke with the sun streaming low through the trees, a good day for the painting jobs that had to wait till the skys cleared their raindrops and it took till mid Sept. for that to happen. What is it at all with the Summers the past few years? More rain that January. Well it was hockey morning again and away again, and at Hilversum, whom we have not played for some time. It brings back memories for me as I "coached" Jim's first ever team there at some small competition, when he played for the "Benjamins". A small club with grass fields, back then (must be 7 years ago) surrounded by a small pitch and putt course, old wodden clubhouse, and full of character. They still use the grass fields in fact. Jim was playing so well (his own words) when suddenly the ball comes at him with great speed, and he is conscious of impact, on his middle finger, left hand, and for a moment he thinks, oh it's OK, but seconds later the reality dawns and throwing the hockey stick away in treeible pain he is called by the coach to the sideline for attention. Ice packs and some encouragement have Jim back on the field for the last few minutes of the first half, but he does not re-appear for the second half. The pain is too much. With swollen fingers and hand we leave the HMHC hoping that it will go down, and that all will be well. The score, oh yes Almere win by 2 goals to nil, despite withstanding an onslaught of attacking play by the hosts, and a plethora of brilliant saves by Thom (the keeper). Unfortunately the x-ray the next day in the hospital reveals a break in the middle finger. This puts paid to Jim's involvement in the hockey team for a good spell.

Dancing with the AJSO

It was "cultuurnacht", or the "night of Culture" in Almere last night, Saturday the 13th of Sept. 2008. All the artists, sculptors, dancers, singers, musicians, and other arty people were brought together for a spectacular evening of entertainment. The "Esplanade plein" in front of the "Schouwberg" in Almere Stad was the main centre where all the action was. The AJSO or de Almeers Jeugd Symphonie Orkest was playing a short programme in the middenzaal (the middel sized theatre) and who do you think was dancing with them to their show stopping number "Lord of the dance" but the 4 toppers from the Jarno's Almere Irish dancing school, namely, Jaimie Calpin, Eoghan C Bourke, Lisette ten Cate, and Kevin van der Weyden. They brought the house down. Have a look at them via this U-Tube link made by Jim W Bourke on his mobile phone............................. http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=pj8jd9sFz-A

and this one made by Maria ten Cate on a proper video camera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3ywwu1YQ2Y

Hockey away to Schaerwijde in Zeist

Saturday the 13th of Sept, The B1's (Jim plays for the B1's) from de Almerese played their first away game of the 2008 - 2009 championship against Schaerwijde in Zeist in the province of Utrecht. They have a full water field, and very nice catering, like brie sandwiches, and a small golf course, and an indoor hockey field, and a fireplace, and soft seats, and two terraces overlooking the main field. And they beat us. 3: 1 was the score. Marco scored for the B1's, after a short corner, when Bram took the first shot, and after a rebound it came to Marco who placed it high in the right hand side of the net. They were better as well just in case you think we were hard done by.
Today it was mainly the "rijdend ouders" (those roostered in to drive) who were there. Cita ( the team mentor) Ruud & Joyce Cornelissen, Spike Plaat, Frits Veldhuis, Gijs's mother, and me. Tom the trainer also had his car with him and I think Pasha (the joint trainer) and he went together. The boys looked good altogether with their new training suits, black with silver text and markings, sponsored by Asito (Cita's company) Weather started a bit iffy, but it stayed dry for the most though a bit chilly, more so than we are used to especially last Thursday only when we sat out till late with Jarno and Rianne playing music. Benjamin was on the bench but did not play, is still injured with his broken toe. Jim and Stephan were substituted the most.