ZINE #618 Oct 2014
Internationally Focussed An education that provides both opportunity and challenge inside and outside the classroom. A school where talent and excellence is fostered and potential is fully realised.
www.britishschool.nl Page 2
Internationally British
The British Photographer in Amsterdam WEDDINGS PORTRAITS CHILDREN’S PORTRAITS EVENTS WALKABOUTS
Call 06 83 94 35 52
to make a booking and claim your exclusive Britsoc discount!
www.benjaminarthur.com
Contents
chair/ “chairman” Page 7 event/ “bonfire night” Page 8 article/ “interview” Page 10 article/ “BA CityFlyer” Page 1 article/ “field hockey in nl” feature/ “scots say no” Page 2 arts/ “beth’s books” Page 26 music/ “texel island discs” arts/ “poetry” Page 40 arts/ “Photo lesson” Page 4 article/ “nick’s nosh” Page 42 feature/ “cooking coach” P
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Colophon >
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ZINE
EDITORIAL
ISSUE #618
EDITOR IN CHIEF Alison Smith | editor@britsoc.nl EDITORIAL BOARD Ian Cherington | ifcherington@hetnet.nl John Richardson | webeditor@britsoc.nl Benjamin Arthur | benjaminarthur@gmail.com Andy Symmonds | asymmo@gmail.com
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING SALES Andy Symmonds | asymmo@gmail.com
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PUBLISHING
PUBLISHED BY John Richardson | JohnTheCopywriter.com FLIP MAGAZINE PUBLISHING PLATFORM www.issuu.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND FEEDBACK Alison Smith | editor@britsoc.nl www.britsoc.nl
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Small classes and personal attention. At the British School of Amsterdam we get to know each and every student. We provide an all-round education that develops the whole person and delivers academic success. From Early Years to Secondary School, we provide top-class British schooling for everyone from expats to locals seeking an international education. With pupils of more than 40 nationalities, the British School of Amsterdam offers a stimulating and inclusive learning environment for students aged 3 to 18. Non-native English speakers are welcome. Our curriculum leads to the respected British A-Level qualification accepted by universities worldwide. In addition to the formal academic subjects, we teach European languages including Spanish, French, German and Dutch, as well as English as a foreign language. Every day is an open day at the British School of Amsterdam. Why not come along and visit us? For more information, see www.britams.nl, or contact us at +31 (0) 20 67 97 840 or info@britams.nl.
“It’s a friendly, caring community”
TEACHING PEOPLE, NOT JUST TOPICS
Federico Age 14 Italian/Dutch
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chairman’s blog/ Oct 2014
Dear Readers, Before we head into our headily busy period of events, we held our yearly heads-up at the recent AGM. Thanks to those who attended – the usual suspects, really. This is a great opportunity to go over the last year and check where we are as a society. We became a little richer, which is always a good thing. This was mainly due to a very successful Burns Night at which the bar takings would have been enough to support Scotland independently for a good while. We also cashed in some promised sponsorship and were able to hold our end of pledges to charities in the last two Xmas ball collections. Our membership numbers dropped by 11 to 112, which is a continuation of a trend that I would like to see reversed. Plans to increase member advantages will hopefully remedy that in the near future. All of our events were successful and all of our activities achieved break even over the year. The list of people to thank for organising our programme and serving on our committees is too long to publish here, but they know who they are. THANK YOU all on behalf of The Society. One special mention of our gratitude goes to Alison, who has decided to step down as Editor of Zine after 10 years (!) of thinking up, chasing up, correcting and polishing the articles in our monthly blurb. Luckily she will still be involved with our publication in a lesser role, but I can safely say that we would not have this magazine at all were it not for her tireless efforts. In perfect time for Bonfire Night, I am happy to confirm Marks & Spencer are sponsoring of the event - we will be serving true British sausages and burgers and mulled wine to boot. With our friend, and Michelin star chef, Chris Naylor behind the BBQ, it promises to be a great feast. Tickets are on sale now, with major discount for members, and we do have a sell-out point, so please get yours now to avoid disappointment. I look forward to seeing you there.
Ian Cherington Chairman chair@britsoc.nl
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Britsoc Bonfire Night Sponsorship by
& Michelin star chef, Chris Naylor Dear members and friends, We are very pleased to announce that tickets have now gone on sale for our annual Guy Fawkes Bonfire Night. This year’s event will take place on Sunday November 9th at 4 p.m. at our usual location, Watersportcentrum Sloterplas. It promises to be a very special edition, with sponsorship by Marks & Spencer so we will be serving real British sausages and burgers. Our friend and Michelin star chef, Chris Naylor will be behind the BBQ so we expect top quality on all fronts again. This is a large event, but we do have a sell-out point, so please get your tickets now to avoid disappointment at
www.britsocshop.nl
We look forward to seeing you for authentic sparks and bangers! Page 9
interview of the month/
with Danielle de Groot Interview with “i am not a tourist� Expat Fair organiser Danielle de Groot
http://www.expatica.com/iamnotatourist/ Page 10
“
Our aim is to bring internationals together and help them feel at home. The ‘i am not a tourist’ Expat Fair is a great place to make new friends. By Dave Thomas
What’s your expat story?
My Dutch partner landed a job in Switzerland in the summer of 2001. As we were not married I could not join him straightaway because visas were only issued to married partners. I got my job and visa at the end of that year. On 30 December 2001 I arrived in a sleepy village near Zurich. And of course on New Years Eve we let off the fireworks I’d brought with me. Next morning we found the remains of our fireworks piled up beside our mail box and a note from one of our neighbours saying he did not appreciate our nocturnal attack on his property! After this blooper we settled in fine. We spent 4.5 years in Switzerland and our eldest child was born in Zurich. We made many Swiss friends and took every opportunity to enjoy Swiss life.
Was there an equivalent of the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair there’? No, but we had good colleagues who helped us find our feet. And as we spoke High German we encountered no language problems. Can you give any tips for settling back down in your home country? When I left the Netherlands for Switzerland I was not even married. We tied the knot out there and I came back with a toddler and heavily pregnant with our second child. My life had changed completely! And the same was true of my family and friends. I thought that coming back would be a piece of cake. But to be honest it was more like moving to a new country than coming back home. So my tip is don’t expect to hit the ground running.
>>
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interview of the month/
How has living abroad changed you? It has definitely broadened my view of the world and my outlook on life. I am more open to other cultures and realise that what I find normal, another person might find difficult or strange. How did Expatica start? There’s a lot of pastoral care. We often have As an information service for internationals in the Netherlands. Back in the early days of Internet, a Canadian in Amsterdam waited in vain for a tram because his lack of Dutch meant he had not heard there was a tram strike. He teamed up with some Dutch guys who were looking for a web project to demonstrate that Internet was an effective way of reaching people that traditional media, like newspapers and flyers, failed to reach. That was the birth of Expatica. And how did you end up working for it? Quite simply through my network. After the birth of our second child I met up with an old university friend who was one of the owners of Expatica. They had a vacancy and he invited me to come into their office for a chat. I did and I was offered the position the next day. I love the job because it combines my events management skills with my passion for English and my expat experience. Working here means I don’t just eat my cheese sandwich each day! Expatica is more than the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair. What else does it offer expats? Our aim is to bring internationals together and help them feel at home. So besides news and useful information for internationals in the relocation and settling down phase, our website now provides a range of online groups and forums plus job and lifestyle sections. We also run various events so that people can meet up with each other offline as well. For example, our speed dates are really popular with the Americans who have a very different dating culture from the one here in Holland. And this year we’ll be holding our third International Job Fair.
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Why is the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair always held at the Beurs van Berlage? It’s in the heart of Amsterdam near Central Station. So it’s easy for people to get to and they can combine a visit to the fair with a day out in Amsterdam. The Beurs van Berlage is also such a fantastic historic building. If you stand outside and look up at the roof you can see gables and a church tower. It looks like a miniature city. Do you start planning the next “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair as soon as the current one has finished? Not quite. After a big post-event clear up we spend a few weeks evaluating. The marketing for the next fair starts in April and things start getting really hectic in late August. The entire thing revolves around relationships. We run the fair for and with internationals. What’s new at the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair this year? The biggest change is that we’re combining the International Job Fair with the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair. As always, entrance to the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair is free if you order tickets online in advance. For the Job Fair we’re charging a small entrance fee. Job Fair visitors complete an online profile in advance and receive a special badge on the day. As they go round the Job Fair interested companies can scan their badge to get their specific details and follow them up. At the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair we have more healthcare and lifestyle stands this year and a special one-hour presentation on housing.
Is it just for newcomers or for seasoned internationals as well? The biggest change is that we’re combining the International Job Fair with the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair. As always, entrance to the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair is free if you order tickets online in advance. For the Job Fair we’re charging a small entrance fee. Job Fair visitors complete an online profile in advance and receive a special badge on the day. As they go round the Job Fair interested companies can scan their badge to get their specific details and follow them up. At the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair we have more healthcare and lifestyle stands this year and a special one-hour presentation on housing.
Can people roll up their sleeves and help at the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair?
Yes please come and join the Expatica family. We always have fun together. You can help on Saturday 1 November preparing the welcome bags or helping the exhibitors set up. And on the day you can act as a host to our visitors. Volunteers get a free Expatica t-shirt and enjoy a free lunch with us. So if you’d like to give us a hand, mail events@ expatica.nl.
Has the profile of “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair visitors changed over the years?
Yes very much so. These days very few companies send people abroad. Now most internationals move to another country to broaden their horizons, seek new opportunities or continue a relationship: the ‘lovepats’. So they come to the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair with eyes wide open looking for whatever help and contacts they need.
Do you have a golden tip for feeling at home in the Netherlands?
Manage your expectations. Embrace the cultural differences and give yourself time to adjust. Adapt yourself without losing yourself. Find uniquely Dutch experiences and enjoy them. And remember the Dutch might have a loud bark, but they don’t bite!
What is your finest expat memory?
Other than our beautiful wedding in Switzerland it was my colleagues coming round and cooking lunch in my home after our daughter was born. They embraced me as one of them.
Would you like to be an expat again?
I’m open to the idea. I’d like my children to experience that there is more to life than our world here in the Netherlands and to learn to respect other cultures. If the opportunity comes our way we’ll grab it and one day we might even seek it.
It’s 9 p.m. on Sunday 2 November and the “i am not a tourist” Expat Fair has finished. What will you be doing?
Probably eating pizza or ‘patat’ with my colleagues. That gives us a chance to wind down as a team and share our stories from the day. Then I’ll drive our van back to our office in Haarlem with a colleague. I won’t be home much before 11 p.m.
FAVOURITES
Food: Italian (simple risotto or pasta) and Thai. TV: Wie is de Mol (Who’s the mole) because of the game but also the locations around the world they use. Author: I’m a bookworm. In English Charles Dickens and Penelope Lively and in Dutch Arthur Japin and Ferdinand Bordewijk. Sport: Skiing, but I’d love to race a car around the track at Zandvoort. Place: I’m a mountain girl. Give me somewhere in Canada or Switzerland.
DETAILS
‘i am not a tourist’ Expat Fair and International Job Fair
Date: Sunday 2 November 2014 Time: 10.00 to 17.00 hours Where: Beurs van Berlage, Damrak 243, 1012 ZJ Amsterdam. Details and tickets www.expatica.com/iamnotatourist/ www. jobfair.expatica.com
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A special invitation from BA By John Richardson
Page 15
BA CityFlyer invites us on board their new 76-seat Embraer 170 jet.
“M
onday 22, 2014, ‘Rotterdam The Hague Airport’—I’m drinking coffee at Rotterdam Airport with Stephen Huyton (Britsoc ex-chairman) and Ian Cherington (current chair). Stephen thinks this friendly regional airport feels like a big Starbucks. I agree. At any moment, I expect them to announce a flight to Cappuccino Island with my name on it.
The new Brazilian built, 76-seat Embraer 170 jet
We’ve been invited here by BA CityFlyer to take a look at BA’s new Embraer 170 jet. With comfortable 2 x 2 seating for 76 people, it flies BA’s new London City to Rotterdam route. BA’s new London City to Rotterdam route.
Win-win for business travellers
Before our quick tour of the Embraer 170, I spoke with Elke Spiegel, who is Head of Sales for Continental Europe. She thought the new service between Rotterdam and London City was a win-win for business people. Especially if you want to spend as little time as possible travelling between the two destinations. She thought the service would be of more interest to business people in the Hague and Rotterdam area, rather than those from the Amsterdam area. I beg to differ. • • •
The service started on March 31, 2014, with the SAAB 2000 Turboprop jet. But from today, the Brazilian-built Embraer 170 takes over. Flying five times a day between the two airports, the journey takes about 40 minutes.
•
Rotterdam The Hague Airport
•
Rotterdam Airport is located three miles north northwest of Rotterdam, and is the third largest airport in the Netherlands. It serves the city of Rotterdam as well as The Hague and surroundings. Time to check in
After coffee, the BA ground crew invited us to experience the speed and efficiency of the check in and security process. Naturally, they picked out Ian for a bit of a security pat down. We were then escorted to a private waiting room decorated with balloons, bunting and BA CityFlyer promotional material. Jolly BA Jelly Beans
We were greeted at the door by various members of the BA CityFlyer team and presented with a goody bag each. I received a handy BA notebook and jolly BA Jelly Beans. But no model of the jet, which I thought was a missed opportunity. But standing in front of us was the real thing: the Embraer 170 BA CityFlyer. Clutching our boarding cards, we looked forward to our brief tour of the aircraft at 14:20 sharp. Embraer 170
The aircraft is a low wing design with engines mounted below the wings, which are fitted with winglets to reduce drag and provide increased lift and improved efficiency. Its powerful engines take the Embraer 170 from 0 to 30,000 feet in 17 minutes. I’m told the high-performance, high-efficiency engines are very quiet.
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By John Richardson
• •
It’s only a one-hour drive from Amsterdam. One hour and twenty minutes by public transport. Parking is easy and a short walk of two minutes to the terminal. You can check in 15 minutes before departure. There are five flights a day. Rotterdam airport is small, regional and extremely friendly. London City Airport is on the doorstep of the financial district and central London. We were each given our boarding cards, and at 16:20 we boarded the aircraft
My father used to be a pilot, so I was delighted to be invited to sit in the cockpit of the Embraer 170. They told me that despite having the flight manual on an iPad, they still use the printed version. Both pilots have a copy each, and the combined weight is equal to one passenger. This doubling up is due to regulations, until they feel the digital version is reliable enough. Don’t press that red button
While sitting at the controls, I was shown a small green video screen with an image of Stephen Huyton on it, who was standing on the other side of the cabin door. I was told that this is a post 9/11 precautionary measure to check who is standing there before they let anyone into the cabin. I observed that even though Stephen is an upright and trustworthy citizen, seeing him on this green screen made him look oddly suspicious. This is probably done on purpose to make the pilot think twice before letting anyone in.
Business end of the plane
We were then invited to sit in the blue leather business seats, and I was pleasantly surprised at the level of comfort. The cabin is very stylish, and with good head and leg room. I particularly liked the 2 x 2 leather seating arrangement. This makes it feel wider than other jets from the competition. Don’t rush your food
An example of food served to business class passengers was on display. I fly to the UK often, and I suspected many people would not have the time to finish such a generous meal on a 40 minute flight. I stand corrected, however. They had tested the meal service on the flight over to Rotterdam last night, and concluded that there was more than enough time to enjoy it.
a charming and helpful Mancunian Marketing Executive (BA CityFlyer headquarters are based in Manchester). She told me that this year British Airways will serve 26 destinations from London City airport, of which 24 are operated by BA CityFlyer. Perfect options for both business and leisure travel. They also fly to JFK. If time-saving is important
She also added that choosing London City airport is a great timesaving travel option. Especially when you consider that London City is centrally located, with transport links to the City of London, Docklands business district and London’s West End. And with check-in closing only 15 minutes before departure for passengers with hand baggage. BA CityFlyer
BA CityFlyer is a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways, and transports over one million passengers each year to destinations across the United Kingdom and Europe from its base at London City Airport. About BA CityFlyer
BA CityFlyer’s operations are primarily based at London City Airport, although the airline’s headquarters is found in Didsbury, South Manchester. Destinations
BA CityFlyer operates the Embraer 170 and 190 aircraft from London City airport to UK domestic and European routes. The airline links London City Airport with 24 destinations in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Classes of Service
“Five flights a day, short check in time, the BA policy of allowing two pieces of hand luggage…this makes a lot of business sense.” John Richardson, The Zine Magazine. Photo opportunity followed by afternoon tea
We were then invited out through the rear of the cabin for a photo session on the departure steps, before heading back to the waiting room for afternoon coffee, tea, snacks and light refreshments.
BA CityFlyer caters mostly to business travellers and offers a two-class cabin service to all European destinations. The airline’s economy class, Euro Traveller, offers free snacks and drinks are provided on flights, as well as complimentary newspapers and leather seating. Business class travellers on Club Europe have access to dedicated airport lounges, complimentary food and drink on board, larger bag allowances, greater seat space, and priority boarding.
An airline ticket to London City Airport is available from 59 euros one way, including taxes.
www.britishairways.com
Mancunian Headquarters
Standing under the BA bunting with a glass of prosecco in hand I was introduced to Helen Jones,
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Field Hockey in the The term field hockey differentiates the sport from the more raucous ice based version
T
want to go for a look, you can research three clubs without the need to travel
very far. If you’re looking for a club that
is not based in the Bos then there is the Hockeyclub VVV in Amstelveen or the
more recently established Athena hockey club in a more easterly direction.
Athena has only been running for 10
years but it has recently opened a new
clubhouse and was in full swing when we
popped down to see the facilities. It was a lovely family atmosphere at Athena when
we visited and there was everything along the spectrum from kids learning the ropes to a veterans game, with a competitive
ladies game as the highlight. Children can start to learn from the age of six with a
his month’s sport is arguably
A couple of introductory points should
version of hockey known as Benjamins,
stage than some of the sports
knowledge of hockey. The term field
popularity of the game, there is already a
slightly less popular on the global that we have covered, but remains
as a default choice for many and is still growing in popularity. The success of
the Dutch national teams, especially the
ladies, can only encourage this, but field
hockey appears to be vibrantly alive from
the club we visited as part of the research process.
be made here for anyone with zero
and possibly reflecting the current
hockey has been carefully used to
waiting list.
differentiate the sport from the more raucous ice based version. On the
international stage, the Dutch hockey
teams are world class. The ladies team are currently the Olympic and World
champions, whilst the men’s team won silver medals at the 2012 Olympics
and came second in the 2014 Hockey
World Cup. With this level of success at international level, it’s hardly surprising
that there is a strong level of interest in the sport in The Netherlands from the grassroots upwards.
The oldest field hockey club in the
Netherlands (established in 1892) is the Amsterdamsche Hockey & Bandy Club, based in the Amsterdamse Bos (for the
curious, bandy was a game very similar to
modern ice hockey). Right next door is the Hurley hockey club, and in a remarkably
similar location is the Pinoké hockey club,
so if you’re considering joining a club and
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As ever with sports in the Netherlands, if you want to participate or enjoy a
more passive, observing approach, there are many options available. Amsterdam appears to be well served with field
hockey clubs, and the situation outside the city looks to be pretty similar.
e Netherlands
sports/
By Andy Symmonds
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Summer Photo Contest
WINNER
of our Summer Memories Photo Contest !!! Fiona Lake wins a dinner for two at Amsterdam’s
Hard Rock Cafe
Many many congratulations to Fiona Lake for her winning entry to our Summer Photo Contest. The energy and sheer joy in her picture captured a lot of what summer means … innocence, sun, sea, play.
Fiona wins a fab dinner for two at the Hard Rock Café! Very many thanks to Hard Rock for their generous sponsorship of this contest. We hope to be able to make it a regular feature.
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Winning Entry by Fiona Lake “The energy and sheer joy in her picture captured a lot of what summer means … innocence, sun, sea, play.” Page 21
NO
SCOTLAND says
Reflections on the Scottish Referendum of 2014
by Benjamin Arthur Page 22
britain/
>
Scotland. www.benjaminarthur.com
Page 23
S
o the people of Scotland, finally, have spoken. On September 19th Britons all over the United Kingdom, as well as millions living abroad, woke up relieved and thankful that they hadn’t seen their country beheaded overnight by Scottish nationalist agitators. In answer to the simple question; “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Scots said NO by 55.3% to 44.7%. A comfortable enough margin in the end and certainly a great relief to David Cameron & Ed Miliband as well as the Queen who was, in the PM’s own words, “purring” down the telephone to him when he told her the news at Balmoral before breakfast. One can easily imagine Her Majesty had an extra spring in her step as she headed downstairs for her bowl of Special K that morning. It was the most extraordinary political campaign in recent British history. Emotions ran high – particularly on the YES side. The energy of the YESsers was infectious. Yet ultimately and somewhat unspectacularly, a plurality of sensible Scots ventured into their polling stations and determinedly voted to stay British and remain united with the English, the Welsh and the Northern Irish. This was a classic Silent Majority election. Here are my top 9 personal reflections both on the campaign and its aftermath. 1) Unsurprisingly the campaign was dominated by YES. It is such a positive word. The youth, the dreams, the hope was all on the YES side. It was depressing how poor the Better Together camp were in articulating how perfectly wonderful it is to belong to these Isles and just to be able to call oneself British. Britishness is certainly under attack both from within and without. 2) From afar – Amsterdam - it was easy to believe that YES was winning even when they weren’t. All
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the social media sites were much more active for YES. The dominant media narrative was on the side of the YESsers. My YES voting friends tended to only support and reinforce each other’s points on the blogs, news forums and facebook. They came down like a ton of bricks on anyone offering sceptical or dissenting views… like myself. This was ultimately self-defeating for them. NO voters learned quickly not to raise their heads above the parapets on the streets, in bars or online. They didn’t display posters or signs in great numbers. This gave the impression of a tidal wave for YES. Fear and intimidation were present throughout the campaign and yet people refused to be cowed. Then, in the privacy of the voting booth, they simply said “No Thanks”. That silent majority again. 3) Nationalism is just as ugly in Scotland as it is anywhere else. Once the nationalist genie is let out of the bottle all sorts of ugly, unforeseen consequences arise. Hatred is the flip side of passion. Let’s hope it can be stuffed back in quickly. 4) The way in which Alex Salmond gerrymandered his electorate might have made even Saddam Hussein blush. The scandal of allowing 17 year old Lithuanian baristas working a Kilmarnock coffee bar vote on the future of Scotland and disqualifying lifelong Scots who happen to be living elsewhere in the UK, or abroad for a period, was never fully acknowledged. The Telegraph ran one article about Scots Guardsmen based in Catterick in North Yorkshire being disenfranchised, but otherwise the media quietly ignored this issue. 5) So-called “Project Fear” was in fact Project Fact. There were overwhelmingly good reasons to reject Salmond’s dodgy prospectus and yet the NO camp did a poor job of articulating them. 6) Still have doubts that it was Gordon Brown who saved the Union? Watch his eve of vote speech here; http://bit.ly/1mehMxC. Then don’t be surprised if the Queen’s favourite PM of recent times is given a peerage imminently. 7) Alex Salmond is an agitator who needs to get back in his box. His resignation will do nothing but good for the country. His Scotcentricity is extraordinarily tedious. It’s all about “me, me, me” in his case. Or rather “Scotland, Scotland, Scotland”. He never seems to stop and consider what might be good for the other 58.000.000 other souls who he sullenly shares these gorgeous islands with. The selfish small mindedness of his every word is infuriating. In a different age he’d have
been sent to the Tower for Sedition. 8) Re-designing Britain’s unwritten constitution so that the West Lothian question is addressed once and for all will take time but it still needs to happen. As my YES voting friend, James Mackenzie, wrote in his blog; “There’s only one democratic answer to “should Scottish MPs with no remit on policy areas devolved to Holyrood be allowed to make decisions on those same policy areas for England and Wales?”, and that’s a no”. It shouldn’t be beyond the wit of man to design a system that is more federal in nature and yet retains a set of strong, important powers at its heart; the defence of the realm, foreign affairs, treaty oversight etc. We might even end up with a situation where being an MP based in Westminster becomes, once again, a part time job to be done in between a ‘proper, real world’ job. After all, the rise of what Peter Oborne dubbed the “political class” is surely to blame as much as anything with discontent at those in the so-called Westminster elite. Politics should only ever be a passion and NOT a profession. It should be something you “fall into” rather than “go into”. 9) Finally, a list of the winners & losers from this dramatic two years in Scottish – and British – history. The Winners The canny Scots… they remain proudly Scottish AND British. They get the best of both worlds and they remain part of something bigger than just themselves. More than 70% of NO voters made up their minds over a year ago. The British people… we’d have ended up a much diminished country had we lost Scotland. We can stand tall in the world again and be proud of our British values once more. We’ve narrowly avoided a national catastrophe. ALL British expats… millions of us around the world can still hold fast to our original identities. Britsoc lives. Her Majesty the Queen… she’d have been appalled to have seen her Kingdom fall apart in the twilight of her reign. It might have finished off dear Prince Philip. David Cameron… he gambled and won. Just. Lucky boy. Gordon Brown… he gave the speech of his life on the eve of the vote. See above.
Alistair Darling… the quiet man of British politics leaves the campaign with his reputation slightly enhanced. A peerage will surely be the result. Lord Darling of Heart of Midlothian perhaps? Ruth Alexander… the Scottish Conservative leader found her voice and refused to be shouted down. A highly effective performer. Nicola Sturgeon… love or loathe the SNP, Ms Sturgeon must be favourite to take on the leadership of the party. Andrew Neil… his documentary – viewable on YouTube – was brilliantly put together and laid out the dangers of voting YES with precision. The Losers Alex Salmond… the sorest loser in politics has spent years telling us how much he resents the English and despises the monstrous “Westminster elite” that he is in danger of being unwelcome south of Berwick-upon-Tweed. A pipe, slippers & ignominy beckon. Ed Miliband… if it was unlikely to think of him as Prime Minister material before he ventured North, it is even more unthinkable a notion now. The way he faffed around aimlessly on the streets of Glasgow while out campaigning was just embarrassing. Truly he was a fish out of water in Scotland. “The Westminster elite”… Salmond’s favourite trope. In truth they don’t appear terribly popular but then I’ve lived abroad too long and am probably out of touch. I won’t try to defend them on these pages at this moment. Barnett & his formula… Salmond spent two years telling us how rich Scotland already is. One rather suspects it is time for us to look once again at Mr Barnett’s formula – which determines the weight of subsidy sent winging up to Scotland - and take a hefty scythe to it. Facebook… it has become like Fox News but mainly for lefties. You can spread and share any old rubbish on here and always a certain number of people will read it, believe it, like it and end up with their own prejudices reinforced. Andy Murray… his 11th hour tweet in favour of YES won’t have won him many friends in the Centre Court crowd at next year’s Wimbledon.
by Benjamin Arthur Page 25
Beth’s Book Review | Oct 2014 By Beth Johnson
R
ichard Flanagan, acclaimed Australian author, has written a masterful novel about the Australian second world war.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North ranges from love story to painful depiction of the prisoner of war camps where soldiers laboured on the Burma Railroad. Now on the Man Booker Prize short list, the story drags the reader directly into the scenes . Flanagan gives us the sense that he can read and empathize with the floundering, craving individual soul. He explores our survival strategies under extreme situations, how we may variously adhere to our own personal code of unchallenging loyalty to the Japanese emperor, a memory of a wife idealized beyond recognition, or an unwavering readiness to stand by our army “cobbers” – those mates who survived (or not) the Burmese POW railroad gangs. Or again, that sudden understanding that life
is all a farce and that we walk alone. This is a powerful, disturbing and wise book. I was privileged to hear Amy Tan speak in September in the Hague, where she explained that her latest novel, The Valley of Amazement, is based on her presumption that her grandmother was a courtesan in the turbulent period before and after World War I in Shanghai. Drawing on extensive research and her vivid imagination, Tan has produced a detailed portrait of life in China, and particularly of the lot of women at this time. A great read! Boekhandel van Rossum has hosted David Mitchell for two events in Amsterdam, so the publication of his latest book, The Bone Clocks, is a reason to celebrate! This is Mitchell at his quirkiest and most esoteric as he takes us on a rollicking rollercoaster ride through time and space. Like nothing you have ever read or he has written ever written. Just pick it up and let yourself be drawn into the many storylines running through this brilliant book! Mitchell is a multitalent with an immense grasp of history, philosophy and literature and he never fails to amaze – and occasionally confuse! Hang in there!
Beth Johnson is the owner of Boekhandel Van Rossum (Beethovenstraat 32 in Amsterdam) which sells a wide range of Dutch and English books. Page 26
Simon Sebag Montefiore
One Night in Winter Simon Sebag Montefiore is perhaps best known for his biography of Jerusalem, but this esteemed author also pens accessible fiction, particularly about events in 20th century Russia. One Night in Winter, based on true events during the regime of Stalin, mixes romance – young love, adulterous passion – within a society where secrets must be buried deep, far from the eyes of the ever-present Russian security services. The tale begins during the celebration of Russia’s victory over Hitler – but shots ring out on a bridge leaving the bodies of two children of the Moscow political elite. This is a page turner of gripping drama and endless conspiracy theories.
Alan Bradley
Flavia de Luce series For those of you who do not know the wonderful Flavia de Luce series by Canadian author Alan Bradley, take note of our shop’s favourite form of “Cozy Murder.” Our heroine is a precocious, eleven-year-old mixer of poisons, renowned for getting in the way of the local police as they try to solve the many complex murders in this peaceful, post –World War II English village. Don’t laugh – these are absolutely wonderful stories.
Alan Bradley
The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches I have just finished The Dead in Their Vaulted Arches and have been mourning the presumed end of the series. But don’t despair, I have learned that a seventh book is in the works for 2015.
www.boekhandelvanrossum.nl Page 27
“
Ruben’s Old Woman and Boy with Candle (1616-1617).
Up the sumptuous staircase a feast awaited me”
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp (Rembrandt 1632)
Written by Dave Thomas Photo credits The Mauritshuis Rembrandt self portrait 1663
Meandering through
the Mauritshuis
The Mauritshuis reopened its doors on 27 June following a 22 million euro refurbishment. Located just behind the Binnenhof (home to the Dutch Parliament) in The Hague it houses the Royal Cabinet of Paintings, most of which are works from the Golden Age. Top pieces include the Girl with the Pearl Earring (Vermeer, 1665-1667) and The Anatomical Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp (Rembrandt, 1631).
H
ow do you visit an art museum?
Are you an audio guide fanatic who studiously stops by each marked painting acquiring a certain knowledge of art history? Or someone who uses a smartphone app to get interesting bits of info on the paintings you like and take the odd photo while you’re at it? Do you just wander around and take it as it comes or do you allow previous experiences to influence what you see? And what in fact do you see?
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Me? I’m a wanderer. I like to be surprised and inspired by a collection of paintings and to acquire my own story as I meander through it. Even, if like the Mauritshuis, I have been there many times before. As the names suggests, the Mauritshuis is an old grand house (former residence of count John Maurice of Nassau). The art is displayed on two floors. I found my first gem downstairs on a wall facing the Binnenhof. Ruben’s Old Woman and Boy with Candle (1616-1617). The young lad’s
animated and expectant face contrasts beautifully with the old woman’s steadfast assurance born of a lifetime’s experience. I wonder if the powers in the building behind could learn something from these two? Up the sumptuous staircase a feast awaited me. The expansive hall at the top of the stairs is full of works vying for attention. But one near a doorway grabbed my eye: Shepherd with Flute (Jacob Adriaensz Backer, 1634). He returned my look without guile.
“
In the adjacent room a boy with golden locks laughs merrily in the corner.
Laughing Boy (Frans Hals, 1625).
Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665-1667)
arts & culture I randomly entered my first room: At last she’s back again after a period of splendid isolation in her own room at the Frick Collection in New York. Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665-1667) now hangs between two paintings from Gerard te Borsch: Mother Combing her Child’s Hair (c. 1652-1653) and Woman Writing a Letter (c. 1655). Her contemporaries resolutely perform the task at hand resigned to their respective positions in life. This merely enhances the unfettered beauty of the Girl with a Pearl Earring. Yet somehow she seems less at ease than the shepherd in the hall. And as I sat and watched her I detected a certain forlornness in her gaze. Who was she? In the adjacent room a boy with golden locks laughs merrily in the corner. Yet to my surprise many of the visitors failed to notice he was there. In his childhood innocence he carries on laughing nevertheless as he has so done for almost 400 years: Laughing Boy (Frans Hals, 1625). More people are drawn to Arent de Gelder’s Simeon’s Song of Praise (1700). The richness of the brush stokes bear homage to de Gelder’s tutor Rembrandt and, appropriately, his work flanks de Gelder’s: Homer (Rembrandt self portrait 1663) to the left and the Two Moors (Rembrandt, 1661) to the right. Both Homer and the Moors are under the yoke of dejection and melancholy, whereas Simeon joyfully embraces his Lord after a lifetime of expectant waiting. Rembrandt himself (self portrait, 1669) views this ‘tryptich’ from across the room. Unlike the old lady downstairs his eyes do not flicker but his aging features retain a certain dignity
despite the string of tragedies life has bestowed upon him. Rembrandt’s life had been far happier a few decades earlier. At the end of my visit I ‘bumped’ into his Laughing Man (1633) in a doorway. Like the boy a few rooms away, few visitors noticed him. He did not seem to mind though as his warm laugh now reached across the room to the Woman Playing the Violin (Gerrit van Honthorst, 1626). She mirthfully plays in ‘gypsy style’ with a hint of sensuality but her soul is not in it. Her smile is aimed at no-one in particular and besides, the laughing man is not the only suitor in the room. Just a few paintings away, however, this gaiety comes to an abrupt end. The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp (Rembrandt 1632) conveys a mixture of fascination, ghoulishness and luridness. Tulp exposes the inner workings of a soulless criminal’s forearm to his notable onlookers. Unbeknown to them, Democrates (Democrates the Laughing Philosopher, Johannes Moreelse c. 1630) is mischievously surveying their learned enterprise from his vantage point above a door. His gaze, however, takes in more than just this scene!
The Mauritshuis, Den Haag
Visiting the Mauritshuis Opening times: Tues to Sun 10-18.00 (to 20.00 on a Thursday) Location:
Plein 29 , 2511 CS Den Haag
Admission: Adults 14 euros, children (0 to 18) free, Museum Card, Rembrandt Card and ICOM free
http://www.mauritshuis.nl/nl-nl/pers/beeldmateriaal-pers/
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O Page 30
ur friend, Paul Ratigan, gave us this
For me, if you look at the picture, you initially notice
picture as a wedding present. Paul is an
what appears to be haphazard straight lines and it all
architectural photographer in London, but
feels very modern. Then you start to pick out some
a few years ago he started to branch out
stonework here, and some ironwork there and realise
from his normal architectural business into doing
that this isn’t just a modern piece at all. There is an
urban photo-montages, and with some success. We
overall structure and depth to the piece. It pulls you
already admired his work, so when he offered to do
into studying the detail. Familiar shapes start to jump
us a commission as a wedding present, we jumped at
out at you and you want to re-arrange the pieces to
the chance.
put it back together to find out what it is.
HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS By Duncan Peacock
Where is this building? It must be Victorian. Is it a station? In fact these are the great Victorian glass houses at Kew gardens in London. What I like is the combination of the modern feel of the picture alongside the solidity and timelessness of the old ironwork. A photo usually gives an accurate portrayal of reality, but in this case it’s more of a puzzle. It also gives me
Paul´s most recent commission has been to create a photo
great pleasure as a very special momento of our wedding and for the
collage of the “Gherkin” in London. It´s currently sitting in
memories it brings of Paul taking the pictures for some of his other pieces. In particular “Rotterdam”, where several photos were taken out of the
the Gherkin restaurant! To see more of his work, see Paul´s website: http://www.paulratiganphotography.co.uk/ and for the Gherkin launch:http://bit.ly/1rFEBv8
back of our car as we drove through Europoort!
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The Inca Trail During a recent visit to Peru we took the opportunity to spend a few days walking the Inca Trail, with Machu Picchu as the final destination. This was not exactly a spur of the moment decision, as to gain access to the trail you need register many months ahead, but at least this gave us several months to ponder the joys of trekking (or hiking if you prefer) at altitude and the sort of pre-trip training that may be required.
way to prepare for the afternoon ahead. This brought the joys of flower shaped ruins below us, additional ruins to walk around and views of snow-capped mountains above, all combining to generate some serious feel good factor. This kept us all smiling throughout the critical stage between lunch and arriving at our evening campsite so everyone was pretty happy at the close of the day.
So, one not so bright morning (it’s still very dark at 05:30) in August we left our warm, comfortable hotel in Cuzco to head out for the head of the trail. This was the moment to ponder on the pre-trip training that we should have done and whether walking at altitude would still be a challenge. Between Cuzco and the starting point we picked up the rest of the intrepid crew, comprising mainly of Americans with another token European from Sweden. The basic deal is that trekkers carry their belongings (clothes, sleeping bags, emergency snacks etc.) and the guide company employ porters to carry the tents, food and (hopefully) more emergency snacks. The smart travellers then employ one of the porters to carry some of their weight to offset the lack of preparation.
Post lunch trekking (very sedate) also introduced us to the phenomenon of watching our porters overtaking us on their way to set up the evening camp, carrying the tents, seats etc. with them at a scarcely believable pace. The porters are deservedly given the right of way, and managed to get to our campsite in time to put all the tents up and start preparing dinner before we straggled in. Upon arrival my eye was immediately drawn to the bucket of cold beers, but a proffered cup of tea was just enough to overcome the temptation. The only blot was the local festival that then kicked off in close proximity to our camp site; this was some sort of religious celebration that involved fireworks and music until 01:00 the next morning. There was a collective sigh of relief when the music finally screeched to a halt, lasting what seemed like about three minutes of sleep until the local cockerel decided dawn was close enough and let rip.
The departure point was a chance to meet everyone from the group, receive a full briefing about the brave journey ahead and some last minute retail therapy (in case you needed more hats, neck warmers, water or extra snacks). In the modern, selfie obsessed world, this was also a chance for photos of the group and sub groups at the departure point. After passing through the strict check point (passports required) we apprehensively set off into the mountains, ears ringing with warnings about a steady pace, drinking water regularly and treating the environment with respect. Day one was relatively easy, and threw up some bonus surprises. The Inca Trail is not just a route march to Machu Picchu but passes several other Inca sites on the way, some of which provided a fascinating diversion from the joys of trekking in thinner air than is usually found anywhere in the Netherlands. Lunch was a lovely stop (tent, seats, food and water – perfect) and a nice
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The second day had been billed as the challenging day as we had to climb Dead Woman’s Pass, the highest point of the trail at 4,215m. The instructions were clear – take it easy, rest regularly, drink a lot of water and eat snacks if required. Everyone adapted to this regime with alacrity, and I crossed the cockerel related crimes from my list as a gesture of good grace. At least I had been up in time to see some colour on the morning clouds above the snow. Ascending took us into a different vegetation zone (sub-tropical Andean) where we were surrounded by trees covered in lichen and hanging plants called sky grass making everything look soft and comfortable – maybe this was just the coca leaves that pretty much everyone was chewing on a precautionary basis. The trail was pretty well constructed and we were able to
By Andy Symmonds
make use of the many steps that led us onwards and upwards, making progress relatively easy apart from the continuing thinning of the air. Several tactical breaks (including water and snacks) later, we made it to the top of the pass and had a slightly longer break with many photos and chocolate. Our group was now bonding nicely as the concept of shared effort insinuated itself, and everyone became increasingly supportive of each other. The nature continued to change around us, and for the group members with younger and still relatively elastic knees, the downhill section for the rest of the day promised some reduced effort. The wiser members of the party maintained the approach of taking it easy and we all arrived at our second campsite in one piece. It has to be said at this point that the hygiene facilities on the trail can only be considered to be basic at best. Everyone was pretty much resigned to not having a shower for four days, but the toilets were also a challenging experience. This is to be expected when you are out in the middle of nature, but as 500 people pass this way most days there must be some scope for upgrades. Dinner at the end of day two was again in the communal tent, with stories told in the warm glow of having defeated the highest point of the trail. The downside came later when we returned to our tent and the zip, with perfect timing, decided to fail. A combination of
safety pins and duct tape came to the rescue until the call of nature at 02:00 destroyed the intricate web – after that the temperature dropped but not to life threatening levels. Morning three was most welcome when it arrived, and another day on the trail beckoned. The final full day on the trail again brought some colour to the early morning clouds and smiling faces out of the tents. We saw more Inca ruins with some fascinating (yet not entirely understood) design details, as well as some local deer, hummingbirds of wildly diverse proportions and the ever changing nature around us as we walked up and down the trail. Our guide advised us to split up and just enjoy the natural noises around us; this proved to be excellent advice and the lack of unnatural noises was surprisingly loud. Knowing that we were getting closer to our destination helped, although occasional rain showers were not ideal. We were lucky enough to see a rainbow on one of the mountain sections during a brief shower, then the rain faded only to return in style for the last hour of the day when it rained continually. The dinner tent for the final evening could only be called a collective huddle as everyone hid from the rain and tried to dry out damp clothes. Knowing that we would start at 03:30 the next morning also meant that it was a short evening before everyone retired. The final morning started out half awake but dry, a welcome change after the
evening before. Our first assignment was to walk about 150m to join the queue for the final checkpoint, then sit and wait until it opened at 05:30. It was dark and cold in the queue, the wait only enlivened by the singing and dancing of a group of young Americans who may have been chewing the coca leaves with a shade too much enthusiasm and an incredible view of the stars above. Finally we were off on the final leg to Machu Picchu, to discover some very steep flights of steps as a late challenge. The day was clear and as the sun rose, spirits rose accordingly. We were ahead of the herd and got to the sun gate in time to get a view of the sun rising and slowly illuminating the buildings of Machu Picchu below us. Many photographs were taken, and then we were embarking upon our final descent. When we got close our guide asked us to walk along with heads down until told otherwise. We all complied and had the final reward of looking up to see the famous view of Machu Picchu with the mountain behind. This was a truly unforgettable moment, and the start to a wonderful day of exploring the ruins and climbing Huayna Picchu.
Page 33
Texel Island Discs
This month we asked our resident Poet and Zine contributor Dave Thomas to come up with his 10 unmissable tracks. He came up with an eclectic mix of jazz, acoustic covers and 80’s hits…oh and a strangely named Genesis track. I wonder what they rhymed with ‘photosynthesis”…
First a confession. Texel is actually one of my favourite places in the Netherlands. Beyond the party huts at Paal 17 and other tourist ‘trekpleisters’ Texel has several areas of outstanding natural beauty. So to break the tranquillity on a long weekend there, I’d take the following ten tracks.
Page 34
Dave’s discs: 1.
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra: Moonlight Serenade. Thanks to my father
Klein Orkest: 26.000 Dagen. A Dutch
6.
cabaret-pop band. Brilliant lyricists. This is a particularly amusing number and takes me
playing old 78’s like this I developed my
back to my PhD period in Wageningen.
passion for jazz.
2.
U2: Twilight. I grew up on U2 and I
particularly like the eeriness created in the
7.
The Corrs: Everybody Hurts. No offense
opening bars by the electric guitar with the
my hardest moments in life. Now it helps me
bass gradually building up in the background.
3.
mellow out and reflect.
Marillion: Garden Party. I remember
rushing out with my fellow sixth formers to
buy this at lunchtime (we were in the band’s
8.
Tears For Fears: Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Upbeat, care free, fun. This
9.
Genesis: The Return of the Giant Hogweed.
As far as I know the only pop song to mention photosynthesis. It reminds me of an idyllic
Candy Dulfer: Lily Was Here. I saw her
play this at the Vondelpark Open Air Theatre
in the summer of 2013 and felt immensely privileged. Good music is always best live.
was my early college years.
5.
crafted rollercoaster piece of music. I love the inspires and makes me want to write.
a wonderful poke at the double standards of
4.
Supertramp: School. This is a superbly
mixture of tension and release in it. Music that
home town of Aylesbury). Garden Party takes the establishment.
to R.E.M. but I prefer The Corrs’ unplugged
version. It has pulled me through some of
10.
Fleetwood Mac: Albatross. Needs no
explanation. I can already see the pure white sand on Texel.
summer working for ADAS in Wye, Kent. That student placement led me to the Netherlands.
Are you a member and would like to have a go at putting down your Texel Island Discs? Please contact editor@britsoc.nl Page 35
poets
corner Two Lives Side by side they stand in the rain the relentless, pouring rain cars, busses, lorries trundle past waiting waiting to be picked up to a better place any place out of the rain the relentless, pouring rain cars, busses, lorries trundle past mascara runs rucksack drips fishnets sag sneakers squelch in the rain the relentless, pouring rain cars, busses, lorries trundle past along the autostrada autostrada di Roma
Š Dave Thomas 2014
Dave Thomas & John Richardson Page 36
poetry
It’s just not cricket Pootie-Poot Putin in his baseball cap Throwing curveballs all over the map It’s not right, it’s not cricket! Vlad the Impaler is taking off his shirt To wrestle with the EU girls down in the dirt It’s not right, it’s not cricket! All we’re really saying is, it doesn’t really feel Like we’re all playing on a level playing field It’s not right, it’s just not cricket! Bend over bank-man, and take one for the team A billion dollar bonus and a handshake from the queen It’s not right, it’s not cricket! You’ve got the inside track thanks to that bent cop Then you lie, cheat and steal your way back to the top All we’re really saying is it doesn’t really feel Like we’re all playing on a level playing field It’s not right, it’s just not cricket! Hitting a six into Gaza in a tit for tat You simply can’t get away with that It’s just not cricket! All we’re really saying is, it doesn’t really feel Like we’re all playing on a level playing field It’s not right You know it’s just not cricket! Ebola, ebola Is this our final over…? My dear old thing…what… a sticky wicket! It’s… not… right… …it’s… just… not… cri-
© John Richardson 2014
Page 37
British Language Training Centre
bltc
English & Dutch Courses Teaching English (TEFL) www.bltc.nl Tel. 020 622 3634
Page 38
ISA campus, main entrance
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Setting the stage. At ISA, we believe that great facilities can set the stage for great learning. ISA is housed in a space specially designed for international education. And inspiration. Our facilities include a four-floor library/media center, a 400-seat theatre, science labs and specialist studios for music, art, and drama. More than 400 computers are joined in a school-wide, online network. Students work with laptops and iPads in the classroom. Two state-of-the-art gyms, discovery oriented playgrounds and adjacent playing fields are large, well equipped and secure. ISA’s campus is not a luxury. It’s where ideas are born.
Exciting and developing young minds Sportlaan 45 - 1185 TB Amstelveen - The Netherlands - Tel. +31 20 347 1111 - www.isa.nl
Taste Life!
Kingsalmarkt, the world-famous foodstore! We are known for our wide range of products from countries all over the world. ‘Taste life’ is what we call that. Visit us for your favourite American cornflakes, brownies and soups, British jams and honey, Mexican tortillas, Spanish tapas and ham, Italian coffee and pasta and French cheese. Of course you can pick up the rest of your groceries too.
Rembrandtweg 621, 1181 GV Amstelveen-noord, tel. 020 643 37 51 www.kingsalmarkt.nl info@kingsalmarkt.nl Easily reached by car (free parking) and public transport (5 or 51 tram to Kronenburg) Opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9 am – 6 pm Saturday: 9 am – 5 pm
Page 39
BritPhotShot of the Month
Bike Light Trail, Amsterdam
tails: Technical de
Nikon D700.
AF-S Nik
, f/5.6, ISO kor 17-35mm
nds
400 @ 6 seco
ngle!
t the a u o b a ll a ’s It : 5 son # itsoc Photo Les
Br
*With apologies to Joseph Roth
Page 40
14, September 20
Amsterdam
T
here’s no secret to this but so much of photography is the angle you choose to compose from.
So often when I see people taking pictures in the street, I wonder whether they have put any thought into their angles. This is a great example of being able to create a more striking image by changing the angle. Normally I’d have had my camera at eye (hand held) or chest (tripod) level for shooting this bridge. On this occasion I’ve just rested the camera on the ground and seen what transpired. Then I got this really interesting light trail from the bike through having the shutter open for a longer time. I hope you like the image and let me know if you are interested in purchasing it or spending some time shooting in Amsterdam with a one on one lesson to improve your photography skills.
Benjamin Arthur The British Photographer in Amsterdam.
If you are interested in having a street photography lesson or purchasing a framed or mounted fine art print of this photograph for your home, please send me an email to: benjaminarthur@gmail.com.
www.benjaminarthur.com Page 41
Page 42
NICK’S NOSH
Britsoc food correspondent Nick Nugent Reporting from the four corners of the Amsterdam kitchen iL Boom Page 43
Il Boom
O
n my way to the British Society AGM I decided to take some dinner nearby to the meeting venue and after looking around at the various review sites I chose Il Boom a supposed Roman speciality Italian. Having just been on holiday to Naples and the Amalfi coast I was really hoping to find another good italian to add to my “very” short list of go-to italians in Amsterdam. There were plenty of choices as there is a glut of italian restaurants in this area, but I eventually settled on this one as it was claiming a particular style of italian food and the reviews were pretty good.
I chose the Fritto Misto - mixed vegetables fried in batter. This was a nice portion size with some things I did not like so much, like red pepper. The rest was onion rings, aubergine strips, courgette strips and one solitary mushroom. The batter unfortunately was quite heavy and so it kept hold of a lot of the oil and meant when you bit into it, a lot of oil was released which made it quite greasy on the palette. Also there was a need for a good pinch of salt in or on top of the batter. The main course I chose was one of the specials; a Ragu with tagliatelle. It was supposed to be a Bolognese type Ragu. OK it was a Roman kitchen offering a bolognese sauce so I was sort of expecting something a bit different. Also after the starter I was really thinking about all those nice looking Italian
Page 44
** restaurants I had walked past to reach here. When the dish arrived it looked nice enough. However when I tucked in it was the most bland ragu I have tasted in a while. It was not even helped by scattering a liberal amount of Parmesan either. I ate it because I was hungry, but I really was very disappointed. When I asked for the check I wondered for a second whether to bother to tell him my actual opinion or to be British about it. I was British and chose to give my opinion here. I cannot comment on the service as I was the only one there on a Thursday early evening, so he did not have much to do. My presence (I was sat outside) prompted a few others to also sit down. I was using my best Jedi mind tricks to try to persuade especially the English pair to move on, but unfortunately they all sat down. Maybe their Pizza’s are better, but there are so many other Italians in the area to choose from it will be a long time before I can give them another chance. I am also becoming a bit fed up of eating rubbish in this city. If anyone has some great recommendations at around 30 euros per person (which this was) including starters, main and a glass of wine, then I would love to hear from you. Please contact me at nicksnosh@hotmail.com
Il Boom
Emmastraat 29 1071 JB Amsterdam t 020 753 17 06 Web: http://www.ilboom.nl/ Open every day 17:00—24:00 On line reservations via Seatme
Nick Nugent
http://www.ilboom.nl/ Page 45
Chicken Piri Piri with Spiced Rice
Page 46
food glorious/
Karen Vivers
Page 47
food glorious/ K
aren Vivers, originally from Scotland, has lived here in Amsterdam since 1997, and has set up the Cooking Coach to help inspire people to get back into the kitchen. The basis of the cooking lessons are easy, tasty, healthy recipes. Each course starts with a free introduction session, to make sure that you only cook what you like to eat. As well as cooking lessons, Karen offers Culinary Tours in Amsterdam, is a passionate Food Blogger and works freelance as a Culinary Consultant, specialising in small and medium businesses, helping them get started, grow and deal with commercial challenges.
Chicken Piri Piri with Spiced Rice
Sometimes I come up with a recipe that really seems to have that ‘X’ factor. I practice it, write it up, share it with my little community and for some reason some recipes just seem to hit the spot. When I shared this recipe I got so many great reactions from all over the world! My chicken piri piri recipe has been a long time in the making. It’s origins lie way back in 1994 when I spent a summer working in the Algarve. This was my introduction to frango (chicken) piri piri. After a summer of eating only piri piri and sardines, I went off both of these dishes - but time passes, you get older, and nostalgic. Hungry thoughts went back to that summer and of course its food. I found a couple of piri piri recipes from famous chefs, but it just wasn’t what I remembered. I put it on the back burner for a while (don’t worry, not literally). For some reason, the idea that I didn’t know how to make a good piri piri marinade really annoyed me. So, this time I went for it. I booked a flight to Portugal and spent a long weekend tasting various piri piri meals! Extreme? You be the judge...... tell me if you think it was worth it....
Preparation Time: 10 minutes, plus 1 hour marinating time
Time To Make the Piri Piri Marinade: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 35 to 45 minutes
Rice Preparation Time: 5 minutes Rice Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients for 4 servings The Chicken 1 x good quality chicken weighing about 1.5kg/3lb 5oz. 1 x lemon, quartered for serving The Piri Piri Marinade 3 x red chili peppers (more if you want it hotter – or less if you want it milder!) 4 x large garlic cloves 2 x tsp paprika powder 2 x tsp cumin powder I x red onion, quartered 2 x tbsp red wine vinegar 2 x tbsp honey 2 x tbsp olive oil Juice of one lemon ½ tsp salt For the Spicy Rice 300gr / 10.5 oz. basmati rice 2 x tsp Ras El Hanout (North African spice mix) ½ tsp cumin powder 1 x tsp cardamom powder 1 x tbsp butter A handful of flat leaved parsley chopped finely Salt to taste
Method
1. Firstly, this chicken needs to be spatchcocked. This allows a quicker cooking time and works really well if you want to barbeque the meat. 2. With the chicken’s back bone facing upwards, take a sturdy pair of poultry or game scissors and cut up each side of the back bone to remove it. Then turn the chicken over, lean on the breastbone with the heal of your hand and press hard enough to break it so that the chicken is flattened. 3. Make a couple of slashes in the thickest part of each of the legs of the chicken. This will allow the piri piri marinade to penetrate the flesh and also aid even cooking. Place the chicken skin side up in your roasting tray (if you are roasting in the oven) or on a dish ready to go to the barbeque. 4. Place the piri piri marinade ingredients into the food processor and blend until you get a smooth purée. 5. Smear the piri piri mix evenly over the chicken and place in the fridge to marinate. Leave for an hour, but longer if you can, overnight is great. 6. To cook in the oven: Pre-heat to 200°C/400°F/Gas 6 . Place the chicken in a roasting tray and cook for about 30 to 45 minutes. Check after 25 to see if the juices are running clear. If you want a more crispy
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food glorious/ finish, you can put the chicken under a hot grill for a few minutes. 7. To cook on the barbeque: Once the flames have died down on your barbeque fire, place the chicken skin side down on the centre area and cook for about 15 minutes until nice and crispy. Then flip the bird over for about another 10 to 15 minutes until cooked through. The cooking times will vary depending on your barbeque, so the best way is to check by piercing the thickest part of the bird around the area where the leg joins the body with a knife, press and if the juice that comes out runs clear then the chicken is ready. If the juices are pink or red, then you need to cook for longer. 8. To make the rice, add the spices to the water you will cook the rice in and stir. Cook as normal. When ready, fork through the parsley, butter and some salt to taste. 9. To serve, cut the bird with your poultry scissors into 4 pieces. Cut in half lengthways, then divide the 2 halves by cutting each one between the leg and wing. Serve with the lemon wedges and a little more fresh parsley leaves sprinkled over the top.
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There is no need to spatchcock your chicken if it is not going on the barbeque, but it is easier, as it holds the marinade better and cooks quicker. The marinade works well with chicken pieces too (thighs, legs, wings, breasts) The chicken will blacken a little on the outside, this is how it is supposed to look. If you don’t have time to let the meat marinade for an hour, just use whatever time you have. Serve with a simple green salad and some crisp, fresh Vinho Verde. I like to make extra marinade to keep in the fridge for the next time – it will keep easily for a good few weeks.
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The Cooking Coach Love Food, Live Healthy www.thecookingcoach.eu Mobile : 06 1424 0009 Email: karen@thecookingcoach.eu Page 49
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