The Sentinel Amsterdam vol. 6 #3 by Consultancy Market Media

vol. 6 #3 – 04 December 2012

The Sentinel Amsterdam

Integrity, heart, humour

feature

health & well-being

(MÜNSTER) GLÜHWEIN GALORE

WAKE FOR IT

in this issue

culture - p.16

travel - p. 32

Glühwein Galore

Valencia:

Pakistan-plus

‘The jewel of Westphalia’

‘This wonderful journey into the pure heart of Valencia province’

‘Meet new people, eat new food, learn new things’

health & well-being - p. 60

sport - p. 76

sport - p. 80

Wake for it

White out

The Gold Room

‘Ageing, alcohol and other addictive substance abuse’

‘Don’t we all crash sometimes in life?’

feature - p.04

more star beer guidel - p. 48

amsterdam city life- p. 51

spotted- p. 54

Okocim Porter

Bring back

Where is this in Amsterdam?

film review - p. 55

trends - p. 56

sport - p. 62

Room 2c

Peace on earth

On the Volley

sport - p. 66

classifieds

Ice Road Runner

The Sentinel Amsterdam

E-mail: sentinelpost@gmail.com Website: www.thesentinel.eu Contributors: Sam van Dam, Leonie Hoijtink, David King, Dirkje BakkerPierre, Evelina Kvartunaite, Simon Joseph, Anna Cullo and Ananda Welij

Editors: Gary Rudland & Denson Pierre Design, realisation and form: Andrei Barburas & No-Office.nl Webmaster: www.sio-bytes.tumblr.com Webhost: Amsterjammin.com

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photos/illustrations that are subject to copyright. If you consider your copyright to have been infringed, please contact us at sentinelpost@gmail.com.

feature

– ‘Five charming Christmas markets are spread out evenly across the inner city’ –

By Sam van Dam

Every year, at around the time that Christmas lights go up all around the planet, a considerable number of Dutch people hop on trains, buses or bikes and travel eastward to the wonderful, nearby city of Münster, in north-western Germany. Once they hit the cobbled streets of this picturesque place, they spend some inspired hours, or even days, enjoying the unique and romantic atmosphere created by this, the jewel of Westphalia. Each yuletide season they navigate a large area of the city centre, which hosts not one, not two, but five Christmas markets! Some 300 different stalls, shops and eateries offer much more than just traditional gifts, bratwurst and the world-famous glühwein.

Glühwein Galore

feature

– ‘Many people from the Netherlands are drawn there each year and not only during the festive season’ –

The five charming Christmas markets are spread out evenly across the inner city and capture visitors’ attention by displaying a seemingly endless array of local, traditional craftsmanship, food, fashion, toys and millions of colourful knick-knacks that you just can’t pass without buying at least ten of which for your friends and family, depending on the volume of glühwein already circulating through your bloodstream.

that is much appreciated by locals and visitors alike, as it allows for relaxed sightseeing trips around the historical centre without the dangers presented by cars and other motorised traffic. But it doesn’t stop there; every available space is abundant with greenery, giving the impression of a village in the countryside, rather than an actual city.

These are, of course, all good and delicious reasons to travel to this beautiful part of Germany. But why is it that so many people from the Netherlands are drawn there each year and not only during the festive season? It could be because the locals are also just as madly in love with their bikes as we are in Amsterdam. According to official statistics, they each own and average of 1.48, accounting for the roughly 400,000 bikes on Münster’s streets, maintained and serviced by 106 registered bicycle repair shops. One other obvious element that springs to mind in making this city such a desirable place to visit is the presence of so many trees, bushes, flowers and shrubs growing everywhere, starting on the old fortification ring called the Promenade. These days, it is a cycle path

– ‘Every available space is abundant with greenery, giving the impression of a village in the countryside’ –

Another historical reason could be that Münster town hall is the place where, in 1648, the Peace of Westphalia was negotiated and proclaimed, so ending The Thirty Years War and the 80-year struggle of the Dutch Republic against Spain, resulting in independence and the founding of the Netherlands. This is a very valid argument for loving this beautiful city with its pretty historical centre and breathtaking skyline, featuring classic facades and many church towers watching over a population whooshing by on their bikes. Speaking of churches, there are twelve of them in the centre alone, which is a blessing for any religious person; and there are many of these in Münster. It is a traditionally Roman Catholic city that clings to the old ways fervently and the locals live their beliefs, while tolerating and supporting other religions. It can be rather irritating on any given Sunday morning, however, to wake up to the notorious bell-ringing

feature

– ‘You want to enjoy the pleasures it offers to the maximum’ –

crescendo that seems to go on for hours while you are trying to sleep off your glühwein hangover, which is as guaranteed as the ‘amen’ in those various church services. Let’s face it, if you come all the way to the ‘Most liveable city worldwide’, a Gold LivCom Award bestowed on Münster in 2004 (category 200,000 to 750,000 inhabitants), you want to enjoy the pleasures it offers to the maximum.

with the city as I did. The overall vibe of a friendly, green city that skilfully mixes tradition with modern influences is simply irresistible, especially at this time of the year. I’d go as far to say that it is impossible to visit Münster and not fall in love with it. The people are very welcoming and always open for a conversation. In superb English, they are more than happy to tell you about their city and its history, and may even take you on a tour of the Christmas markets to show you where to get the best roasted nuts, the most delicious drinks, the best bratwurst and the most colourful toys and trinkets to take home with you as gifts for those not fortunate enough to be there with you.

A perfect and very typical day in Münster looks something like this: you wake up, either to church bells or of your own free will, grab your bicycle and meet up with friends at the weekly market on Domplatz (Dome square), outside the impressive looking St. Paulus Dom; have a healthy, wholesome breakfast of local fresh bread, ham and vegetables, sold by proud stall owners who know their farm animals by name; and finish off with a freshly brewed coffee in one of the area’s many cafés. Then go for a ride around the city and conclude with some shopping in the many diverse and fashionable stores.

So, if you don’t yet have any plans for the period between 26 November and 23 December – the Christmas market season – I’d strongly recommend that you take a trip to Münster. I’m sure you’ll be just as enchanted and overwhelmed as I am by the beauty and loveliness of this awesome city. There’s a good chance you’ll bump into me there and, if not, don’t forget to have a glühwein for me. It’s good stuff! Enjoy, Prost!

Over the years, I have invited many friends from various parts of the world, including Germans, to join me on a visit to Münster, my favourite place in Germany, and each and every one of them fell in love

muenster.de/stadt/tourismus/pdf/Adventsflyer_GB.pdf

– ‘In superb English, they are more than happy to tell you about their city and its history‘ –

feature

classifieds

culture

Of food and love

By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

and relaxed atmosphere during meals makes it feel like a warm bath in which you just want to soak for hours. The pureness and wholesomeness of the products, together with the simple, The great thing about tasting, eating and straightforward manner of preparation, drinking in this captivating area is to experience how close food is to the heart of allowing the food to speak for itself by elevating its authentic flavours, is both its people. So much consideration and heart-warming and elating. passion is put into their products. A cosy During our press trip through the Valencia region and the city itself, we were treated to local delicacies and wines made with genuine love and real heritage in mind, an enthralling way to absorb the country and its people.

culture

– Recipes are of sound providence and have been passed down from generation to generation’

–

The province of Valencia produces its own wine, grows its own rice and oranges, makes its own olive oil and grows its own sweet, red tomatoes. Most if not all of the food that you get to taste is grown locally and cooked and presented with great pride, and this is reflected in the flavours. Recipes are of sound providence and have been passed down from generation to generation. It is pure, real and a delight to experience the way Valencians enjoy food and life. The art of foraging

what a lot of the top-rated restaurants in the world are now doing, as it is the new trend in high-end cooking. In Bocairent they have been doing this all along; a wonderfully natural way to create unique and original tastes. Needless to say, I couldn’t get enough of it and brought my own unique bottle home with me. A dream of bio-dynamic wine and Roman cellars

Alongside the great tradition of using local products with care and pride, we were also introduced to the Bodega Los Frailes, in Fontanars dels Aforins, which specialises in organic winemaking. The bodega has been in the Velázquez family since 1771 but 15 years ago the youngest generation of the family decided to take over and, in their own words, “started producing quality instead of quantity”. They chose an organic approach to winemaking in the belief that this only improves the taste but is the logical thing to do. They even plan to make a part of their production completely bio-dynamic in the future, in search for the ultimate taste and quality experience.

Upon our arrival in the alluring village of Bocairent, we were treated to a great and festive meal at the Hotel L’Estacio. The village’s former train station, situated in a beautiful park, has been transformed into a modern and elegant hotel/restaurant. What captured my attention right from the start was the way in which the starters were presented; the custom is to share large plates of mouth-watering delicacies which are served over several rounds. In my opinion, this is the most brilliant system ever invented when it comes to food, as you get to share and taste a bit of everything. It was a relaxing and atmospheric evening and we felt like we Inside a grand farmhouse surrounded by an astounding had truly arrived in Spain and its warm, Mediterranean landscape, the passion with which they speak of their way of life. beautiful products is contagious and it is inspiring to see the love they have for them and the attention with After dinner we were introduced to the most which they create their excellent wines. We were lucky fascinating drink I have tasted in a long time: Herbero, enough to sample some of their wines while sat in their a local delicacy unique to this particular village. This fantastic glass-encased wine tasting room, right in the strong liqueur contains a selection of herbs foraged middle of the gorgeous landscape and the vineyards from the surrounding area, infusing it with all the where the grapes are grown. They are especially proud flavours contained in the most delightfully designed of the local Monastrell grape, which is grown alongside bottle. Every family in the village has their own secret the more common types you find around Spain. Having recipe and a specific area to pick the herbs that make tasted the Monastrell wine myself, I can only concur. their own version of this enticing drink. Foraging is

culture

– ‘The custom is to share large plates of mouth-watering delicacies which are served over several rounds’ –

Underground lunch

Tiger nuts and paella

Back in the city of Valencia, we visited the hustling and bustling local market, held in the alluring, original, old market hall in the centre of town. Mountains of fresh produce, herbs, vegetables, locally made hams and cheeses surrounded us. The lively and colourful mood, with aromas and sounds all around, made it a sensational feast for the senses. We tasted the local drink; Horchata, which is made from chufa or tiger nuts, a locally grown product plucked from the roots of the chufa sedge, also known as tiger nut sedge, or ground almond. A refreshingly nutty drink with a silky-smooth texture.

At lunchtime we were treated to traditional paella, something that you have to experience if you ever visit this area, at the legendary local restaurant La Riua. It is said that there are 100 recipes for paella and this must certainly be one of the best. The owner’s daughter presented the dish to us and we relished the full, deep taste of this great local specialty, made with the famous, locally grown, bomba rice.This utterly charming and authentic place, with walls full of Valencian plates and ceramics and an entire family, young and old, working side-by-side, was a great way to end this wonderful journey into the pure heart of Valencia province. Bodega Los Frailes: bodegaslosfrailes.com Some of the wines mentioned are imported into the Netherlands by Pieksman, a wine dealer specialising in organic and bio-dynamic wines, which has opened a shop and tasting room in Amsterdam (Watergraafsmeer) for those of you curious to try them. The restaurants: Hotel Estacio: hotelestacio.com Los Cubillos: loscubillos.com La Riua: lariua.com

While we visited many great restaurants on our trip, Los Cubillos, situated in the historic town of Requena, made a lasting impression. What started out as a normal lunch turned into a feast of luscious dishes and wines, to which there didn’t seem to be any end. Our hospitable host and owner of this fascinating restaurant proudly presented us with its house specialities. The dining area is actually situated in underground caves where we completely lost our sense of time and space while enjoying the wonderfully warm and welcoming atmosphere. The owner had also created an intriguing wine cellar in a smaller cave, which he uses to store bottles for special occasions. At the annual Requena festival, for instance, a boy and a girl are chosen as king and queen, and he makes a commemorative bottle of wine for each of them. Other occasions, such as Valencia winning the Spanish football league, also merit a commemorative bottle, although in such cases it is, of course, champagne.

culture

–

‘Every family in the village has their own secret recipe’ –

culture

– ‘Sample some of their wines while sat in their fantastic glass-encased wine tasting room’ –

culture

– ‘A normal lunch turned into a feast of luscious dishes and wines’ –

culture travel

– ‘Mountains of fresh produce, herbs, vegetables, locally made hams and cheeses surrounded us’ –

culture

–

‘There are 100 recipes for paella and this must certainly be one of the best’ –

culture

classifieds

travel

Pakistanplus By Leonie Hoijtink

travel

‘No trouble is too great when it comes to pleasing guests’

Travelling is a great way to expand your horizons, meet new people, eat new food, learn new things and open your mind to different ways of life. However, a lot of people tend to travel along paths well beaten. About nine months ago I decided to take the road less travelled and head for adventure. Saying goodbye to friends and family at Schiphol, I took a plane headed for Islamabad, Pakistan. After nine months, the adventure is coming to an end and I am packing my bags. Here is just a taste of what I’ve learned.

travel

‘Dutch culture, where people ignore each other on the street and you have to call ahead if you are bringing a friend’

Everyone is always welcome for chai or dinner

One of the greatest things about Pakistan and Pakistani people is their boundless hospitality. Even in the poorest households, guests are showered with chai (tea), cookies, eggs, cake, crisps or whatever is available in the house or can be borrowed from the neighbours. No trouble is too great when it comes to pleasing guests. And contact with strangers is so easily made. In the beginning I felt quite bad for our driver, leaving him waiting at different places while we drank coffee or had dinner with friends. However, I soon came to realise that this was not a problem at all. He would go out, find the first guard on duty and start chatting with him over a chai or some dates. Every time we went somewhere, our driver would finish the evening with a new best friend. How different from Dutch culture, where people ignore each other on the street and you have to call ahead if you are bringing a friend for dinner. Another amazing aspect is how you can just go to a food stall and take a piece of whatever is on sale to taste it (or just eat it), without the vendor screaming and shouting at you. The road rules

Yes, there are traffic rules in Pakistan and, yes, there is an abundance of traffic police to ensure these rules are followed. If only they would take their job seriously. No matter how much the Development Authorities urge people that it’s “better to be late than sorry” or

warn them that “speeding kills”, “tiredness causes fatal accidents” and that they are “striving for friendly highways”, the road has a way of its own. A two-lane road is at least a three- and sometimes even a four-lane road, if you ignore oncoming traffic. A motorbike can and will transport an entire family of six, including the baby being held by the mother with one arm while she clings to her husband with the other (this has also proven to me once more that babies can sleep anywhere, anytime). Traffic lights are merely suggestions that you might like to stop and roads are shared with cars, motorbikes, bicycles, donkey carts, oxen and horses, among others. Overtaking can be done to the left or right and, if necessary, through the middle. If you accidently come across a traffic police officer that actually does his job, you can still drive around town while your licence is kept at the police station for more than twelve months. At least, that’s our driver’s current situation. Taking adventurous roads in the more remote areas of Pakistan is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Although local drivers are experienced and can smoke, chat and drive along a narrow dirt road stuck between a mountain and a kilometre-deep ravine, they don’t seem to understand that foreigners might feel less comfortable sat in the back seat. Backing up into a bend along the far edges of the road to let a truck pass may cause anxiety but not even a panic attack with tears can stop them from smiling at your silliness.

travel

‘Traffic lights are merely suggestions that you might like to stop’

It is good to be a young white female

Being young, white and female ensures that you do not have to queue at airports, bus stations, post offices and other public places. You are guaranteed a seat and the quickest possible service. A definite time saver and, best of all, you can enjoy it guilt-free, because people tend to be offended if you turn down hospitality. It’s not so good being a young white female Being young, white and female ensures long stares, giggles as you walk by and countless unsolicited photos and videos taken of you on mobile phones. The latter, in particular, is highly annoying, as it is predominantly men who take the photos. Some do have the decency to approach your male companion (if present) to ask for a picture, but they usually take one secretively even if the request is denied. Pakistani men are highly protective of their women and would be insulted if another man made a similar request of them. So, just going around taking pictures and videos of Western women without their consent seems rude, if not disrespectful. It kind of makes you feel like you’re in the zoo, but on the wrong side of the glass. The Netherlands is best known for…

Refreshingly, in Pakistan the Netherlands (or Nèderlààànd as the Pakistani’s pronounce it) is mostly known for two things: hockey and flowers. People here love hockey, although not nearly as much as cricket.

They always seem disappointed when I tell them we don’t play much cricket in the Netherlands. However, not all Pakistani’s are that innocent. At times, the occasional official has commented on the quality of Dutch weed and continued by asking if you would like to join him for a smoke in his car, since he just happens to have some good stuff on him. Pakistan is not what it seems

The most important thing I’ve learned is that there is much, much more to Pakistan than the protests, Taliban insurgency and threats of terrorist attacks that we learn of in our newspapers and on TV. The people are extremely hospitable, eager to show you real Pakistani life and I have to say they do a great job of pushing those Western headlines to the back of your mind. The landscape is beautiful: the Himalayas in the north provide breathtaking views, it has the lushest green valleys and great rivers run through it. The only thing not really worth writing home about is the food with the enormous amounts of oil and salt used in every meat-packed dish, where potatoes are considered vegetables and chicken is not meat. There is so much more to Pakistan than meets the eye and that is what this experience has taught me: don’t believe everything you read; sometimes it’s worth seeing and experiencing things for yourself.

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pakistani men are highly protective of their womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;People here love hockey, although not nearly as much as cricketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

travel

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Himalayas in the north provide breathtaking views, it has the lushest green valleys and great rivers run through itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

travel

classifieds

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star beer guide

The Sentinel Star beer guide By Denson Pierre

Okocim Porter

(8.1 % A.B.V.)

‘A mouthful of creamy, roasted goodness that goes down like cooled, liquid chocolate’ 49

With the full chill of winter again upon us, I suggest a mouthful of creamy, roasted goodness that goes down like cooled, liquid chocolate, with a kick. Okocim Porter pretty much blows many a more famous porter right out of the water. Its Baltic brewers have managed to pack all that iron and fullness into a drink of such pleasant (seasonal) flavour that it should come with a dosage warning, given its strength and ‘moreishness’. Have one chased by a measure of Metaxa (7 year) for one of the ultimate combinations during a short, fresh, evening session. Okocim Porter by Browar Okocim SA, Brzesko, Poland.

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amsterdam city life

: K C A B G BRIN QUALITY BUSKING

By Denson Pierre

As the cold winds in our wintry city make the faces of its already fiscally stressed residents even more taught, I have had pause to think of the things that make urbanites smile easily and, in so doing, release cherished ‘happiness endorphins’, if only for five minutes a day.

ance and turbo-horn music, before rather brusquely going literally cap-in-hand to anyone and everyone who could possibly have been considered within earshot.

That’s the downside but, with competent management of a busker vetting and licencing system (big city examples include London and Paris), surely we can filter out the riff-raff, pickpocket gangs and up-and-comers in need of more bedroom practice time, while still allowing In general, whenever we think of street music it conjures the pedestrian shopping precincts to be populated by up an image of some undiscovered talent courageous quality, hard-working musicians at roughly 250 metre enough to face an otherwise-engaged public and perintervals, playing at a volume that does not carry furform for his or her daily bread. This was already a hard ther than a 20-metre radius. enough road to tread in the Amsterdam of 20 years ago when, due to competitiveness, you had to be pretty The Sentinel says bring back higher numbers of qualgood to capture city folks’ attention and cash in this ity, legal buskers, and not just on Leidseplein, Spuiplein heavily ‘artsy’ city. But, these days, there is a paucity of and Rembrandtplein. There are fewer more pleasant that good, old, harmonious city sound, as musicians try experiences to enjoy while out shopping than to break to make you break step and crack a smile. your step, pause for a while, take stock of spending plans and smile to what always feels like a spontaneous Amsterdam authorities and the police strongly enforce concert directed solely at you. These borrowed videos the city’s anti-begging laws to the point that short-term show a small sample of the range of possibilities: visitors leave with the impression that begging is not practiced here. Buskers are not beggars, even if over youtube.com/watch?v=jB9s0_HkcSk the past 15 years a preponderance of mainly Central youtube.com/watch?v=vUO6kYLb6As European ‘musical entrepreneurs’ have misinterpreted or ignored the rules, resulting in many people becoming easily irritated at the mere sight of ‘musicians’. Some regularly set up to blast a busy terrace (especially in the summer months) with exactly eight minutes of discord-

recommended

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ended Recomm

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recommended

35 75To- Be Fax 033 - 454 35 79Connoisseurs Delight Seen and Tasted filmproef@eurogifts.nl te: www.eurogifts.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

ORDERNUMMER: 6 ARTIKELNUMMER: 6

Opera Prima Patisserie Bistro Traiteur The best place in town for lunch, exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering, both private and corporate!

Mulligans Irish Music Bar Amsterdam’s best address for live Irish music: Five (5) nights a week! Check our agenda for upcoming sessions.

St. Antoniebreestraat 142 Amsterdam www.tisfris.nl

Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdam www.operaprima.nl

Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdam www.mulligans.nl

To Be Seen and Tasted

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Cafe restaurant Edel Cafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch, dinner or to simply enjoy a drink. Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam.

Café Kostverloren Café Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon, an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room. During summer there is a large, sunny terrace and during winter, an open ﬁreplace!

Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdam www.edelamsterdam.nl

Incanto Incanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen. Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance. The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines. Amstel 2 Amsterdam www.restaurant-incanto.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Neighbourhood cosy

Café Oporto Café Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam ‘brown cafe’. Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike, they offer televised sports, wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits.

Planet Rose Planet Rose is the ﬁrst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands, which specializes in Jamaican cuisine. The menu features a daily changing selection of Jamaican/ Caribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole experience while dining with them!

Vibes Vibes is a relaxing cafe/cocktail bar / art gallery with a large selection of coffees, herbal teas, homemade cakes and an amazing card of cocktails, made with fresh fruit, by a professional cocktail bartender. Enjoy our Italian kitchen in a cosy and friendly atmosphere.

Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdam www.cafeoporto.net/home

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdam www.planetrose.info

Jan Pieter Heijestraat 137 Amsterdam www.wix.com/vibes137/vibes

2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdam www.cafekostverloren.nl

Cafe Tisfris Cafe Tisfris is recognisable for its landmarks, funky pillars and terrace. Tisfris offers a friendly service and is a great pit stop for “yummy” refreshments.

spotted

Where is this in Amsterdam?

Answer to: sentinelpost@gmail.com

room2c

Room 2c film Duel (1971)

By David King

This film was our first real introduction to the magic of Steven Spielberg and his ability to take a simple idea and make it spectacular. A car overtaking a truck sounds boring enough but if the truck driver is an anonymous psychopath who takes it upon himself to hunt down the car, thingsÂ become interesting. The tension is unbelievable as the antagonism develops into a life or death battle. 55

From Hell (2002) Take Johnny Depp at his quirky, drug-taking best and plonk him on the streets of Victorian London as the chief investigator into a series of gruesome murders. Add the comic book flavour from which the idea for the screenplay originated, overlay with echoes of Jack the Ripper and you end up with a highly entertaining movie with more than its fair share of gore. A pretty costume drama, nonetheless. Best viewed in HD or at the cinema to appreciate that other colours, apart from blood red, were used.

By dpmotions

trends

‘What glistening sports cars and a ‘hot’ young girlfriend do for men’

trends

Peace on earth, goodwill to everyone. It’s that time of the year again. December, the good, old, chilly month in which we all start contemplating life, wondering what we actually did over the last year and where the time went. More and more colourful lights are dangling and sparkling above the no longer as packed shopping streets, the police are out in packs, poised at every corner to catch people cycling along the Christmassy city streets without lights, and Amsterdam looks like it should feature as the picturesque backdrop to a Dickensian Christmas movie. A great, upcoming trend, which will boost the Christmas spirit and give it strength for the future is the steady decline of war and violence across our planet. Since 1945 there have been fewer and fewer wars between countries all over the world. Peace on earth and an everlasting Christmas time might actually be what the future holds for us. And it’s not just war that is in decline, no matter what the media tries to feed us (not naming names, but Fox News and CNN are big contributors). Homicide, too, has been and still is in decline, and domestic violence has become

By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

increasingly unacceptable. Yes, it used to be ‘part of life’... How perceptions change. Of course, the multi-dip recession is a great help in making the world a better place, since wars really are ridiculously expensive and, honestly, large forces are a luxury most countries don’t really need, these days. All they do is make a country appear bigger or richer to its friends and enemies. A bit like what diamonds and designer outfits are said to do for women, or what glistening sports cars and a ‘hot’ young girlfriend do for men (especially those in midlife crisis). “My army is bigger than yours,” is not so interesting anymore and that’s just great. Maybe evolution is moving along and we are getting better and better as a species. Now, if we add the two states of the US that have recently chosen to ‘legalise it’ then maybe the hippies will win in the end. Peace and love for everyone :).

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Authentic and full of surprises. That’s Mechelen. Hospitable and honourable. That’s the people of Mechelen. Come and experience the city’s urban charms for yourself.

Mechelen Mechelen

health & well-being

– ‘Consistency is important’ –

Wake for it 60

By Evelina Kvartunaite

Sometimes, the only visible effect and proof of how rapidly changing and fast-forwarded our lives are is when we stare into the darkness in the middle of the night, counting sheep and thinking back on how tired we were during the morning meeting. None of the numerous cups of coffee we consumed helped keep our heavy eyelids open but, now, even that beer or glass of wine didn’t help us get to sleep. There are a number of probable causes for a disturbed sleeping pattern, which include ageing, alcohol and other addictive substance abuse, anxiety, depression and a string of even more serious conditions. But what if, in spite of the fact that most probable causes don’t apply to you, you still suffer from sleepless nights and an overdose of sheep counting? Is the situation hopeless or you can do something to help yourself? Keep it regular – getting back in sync with your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle – your circadian rhythm – is one of the most important strategies for achieving good sleep. If you keep a regular sleep schedule, going to bed and getting up at the same time each day, you will feel much more refreshed and energised than if you sleep the same number of hours at different times. This holds true even if you alter your sleep schedule by only an hour or two. Consistency is important.

Relax – if you make a consistent effort to relax and unwind before bed, you will sleep easier and more deeply. A peaceful bedtime routine sends a powerful signal to your brain that it’s time to wind down and let go of the day’s stresses. Also, avoid heavy meals before bedtime. Another idea is to take a warm bath or a hot shower before climbing into your comfortable bed. Perhaps having your bed looked into is a good idea, too. Many people don’t realise how much the comfort of a bed is directly connected to sleep quality. All this is great but what if your problem is not falling asleep but getting back to sleep after you wake up during the night? It’s normal to wake briefly during the night. In fact, a good sleeper won’t even remember it. But if you’re having trouble getting back to sleep, the following tips may help. Stay out of your head – the key to getting back to sleep is continuing to cue your body for sleep, so remain in bed in a relaxed position. Hard as it may be, try not to stress over the fact that you’re awake or your inability to fall asleep again, because that very stress and anxiety encourages your body to stay awake. A good way to stay out of your head is to focus on the feelings and sensations in your body. Make relaxation your goal, not sleep – if you are finding it hard to get back to sleep, try a relaxation technique, such as visualisation, deep breathing, or meditation, which can be done without even getting

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– ‘It’s normal to wake briefly during the night’ –

out of bed. Remind yourself that, although they’re not replacements for sleep, rest and relaxation still help your body to rejuvenate. Do a quiet, non-stimulating activity – if you’ve been awake for more than 15 minutes, try getting out of bed and doing a quiet, non-stimulating activity, such as reading a book. Keep the lights dimmed, so as not to cue your body clock that it’s time to wake up. Also, avoid screens of any kind – computers, TV, smartphones, iPads – as the type of light they emit is stimulating to the brain. A light snack or herbal tea might help to relax you but be careful not to eat so much that your body begins to expect a meal at that time of the day. Postpone worrying and brainstorming – if you wake up during the night feeling anxious about something, make a brief note of it and postpone worrying about it until the next day, when you are fresh and it will be easier to resolve. Similarly, if a brainstorm or great idea is keeping you awake, make a note of it on paper and fall back to sleep knowing you’ll be much more productive and creative after a good night’s rest. If you have any other helpful tips you would like to share, please let me know at: evelina.kvartunaite@ consultancymarketmedia.com

– ‘Avoid screens of any kind – computers, TV, smartphones, iPads’

–

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On The Volley ‘Spurs became the first team ever to win the League and FA Cup double’

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‘Football in its latest guise perhaps doesn’t speak with the same accent’

A Point in History

By the early 1970s my dad had taken over the shop and his dad was taking us to nearly every home game. We won the League Cup in ’71 and ’73; the inaugural UEFA Cup in ’72 and were runners-up in ’74, and we won the Anglo-Italian League Cup in ’71. I was too young to appreciate the majority of those honours and by the time I was ten years old, I experienced my first major football-related let-down – relegation from the old first division. I remember the burden of disappointment I experienced when relegation became a reality, especially at that tender age. I also remember some of the pain and anxiety my family endured. What would happen to the supporters? Would they stop going to matches? Would they stop buying fish and chips? No chance. They kept on turning up in their droves: loyalty to the club and to chips was never really in doubt. If anything, the hunger for success grew even stronger, along with the hunger for deep-fried fare. There is one more significant feature about this point in history that should not be ignored: not just the fact that Tottenham bounced straight back up again the following season, but the fact that they did it with the same manager and almost the same team! Top-flight football managers come and go; at Spurs we know that better than most clubs. But times have changed; football has changed. Crowds are on the up again but they’ve dropped significantly since the

1970s. Football can also no longer be described as a working-class game. The people of Tottenham, who packed out our chip shop and the stadium, are not the same crowd that travels in from the Home Counties and surrounding suburbs today. The middle classes and their insatiable appetite for all things cultural, billionaire owners and their voracious hunger for capital – and the limelight – have changed the game, almost beyond recognition. The ‘match-day experience’ isn’t just measured in terms of points on the board; it’s about fulfilling a whole list of consumer ‘needs’. These include not only the inevitable replica shirt but also a lamb and mint burger at eight or nine pounds a pop, a pint of locally sourced, sustainable real ale or a skinny latte, an executive box, parking near the ground and many other middle-class, family-friendly policies. The local, working-class people, especially in Tottenham, have been all but priced out. The game of football in its latest guise perhaps doesn’t speak with the same accent as it used to years ago, but it hasn’t completely disenfranchised the working classes either. There are other ways to consume football these days – some of it for free. The big screen, in particular, has become the iron lung for those who can’t afford a match-day ticket or live too far away to travel. This divide is clearly reflected in the activities of our latest chairperson, Daniel Levy. He’s willing to lay out immense amounts of capital to improve the club’s facilities, but he’s also prepared to leave working-class N17 and rebuild in the leafy suburbs of Hertfordshire, or wherever else he believes to be commercially viable. My exile from this season’s football can be compared, in some ways, to that infamous relegation season of ’77– ’78. If one of the most successful teams in the history of the old first division was able to survive a season in exile, surely I can survive my own expatriation. Fortunately, the 1980s were prosperous for Tottenham the football club, even if the area went into further decline with the gulf between the classes becoming ever more evident. As luck would have it, the pain of relegation has only threatened and never returned to haunt us. No such fortunes for the chip shop, however, as it was sold when interest was on the wane in 1985, around the time of the first riots – one spectral point in history that did return to haunt.

‘I can survive my own expatriation’

My great grandparents opened a fish and chip shop, called Sam’s, on the High Road in Tottenham, about 500 yards from the football stadium. Their business was up and running at a time when the area was up and coming, and the football club climbed into the top division for the first time in its history. Spurs won the league in front of 80,000 home supporters in that first top-flight season. The fortunes of the family business went hand-inhand with those of the football club and, by the time my grandpa took over in the 1960s, Spurs became the first team ever to win the League and FA Cup double. Young Sam, my grandpa, drove a Bentley and took my brother and me to Harrods to buy clothes.

By Simon Joseph

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Ice Road Runner 66

‘This turned out to be an absurd and humorous comment’

By Anna Cullo

“It can only happen in certain countries,” said Guust with a resigned voice, before moving the curtain to the left so he could declare the marathon day open. Of course, I responded in a questioning and wolfish voice, “What kind of countries?” There was no animosity in my question but I was curious to hear what answer he would give. As with many situations in our lives together, this turned out to be an absurd and humorous comment. In our previous week in Croatia and Slovenia we had enjoyed a 20-24˚C Indian summer but now it was all of a sudden snowy winter! “I meant such fucked-up countries,” he laughed. He probably meant ex-communist countries, as it was always funny to joke on this subject. After so many years together, we could laugh about it. “Yeah, it is great when the weather is so predictable; especially from May to August in the Netherlands, when it feels like 10˚C and rains all the time.” I couldn’t resist fighting back cynically (I am originally from a neighbouring region). We continued on with bitter-sweet, cynical and ironic jokes as we started to prepare for the marathon.

“You WILL wear those long, lycra tights, won’t you?” “No, no, no... Well,” one more look through the window and it changed to, “I think I will”. This kind of outfit was under even more scrutiny, as the phenomenon has come to be known as Mamil (Middle-aged men in lycra). Guust was convinced that such tights would ruin his masculinity and, of course, he would happily swap them for some regular training bottoms, but there was no escape, no time to reconsider. He may have looked like a Mamil but, to me, he was my cute, chosen one. So, we were at the start. There were so many people at the starting point that Guust used his experience to explain why and where he would stand. He also put his plastic gauge onto his shoe, which would show his actual and target finishing time. Concerned about the unpredictable, I managed to persuade him to stuff €20 into his pouch, so he could jump into the nearest taxi if his legs got tired or he experienced a sudden pain; that’s what I would do. No pleasant surprises in this cold weather, my snotty nose knowingly confirmed. A few minutes before the start a loud voice said something in Slovenian and this was followed by music. The runners looked ready, eager even, to start running. Me? I was worshipping these people. Thousands of mainly male, fit people remain a mystery to me. Finally, I

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smeared lavender lip balm onto Guust’s lips, taken from my super-sack ever-ready for dry, cold and urgent situations. My man set-off running with smile.

fee and, in the evening, wine, while he tries to keep his body in good shape, his feet in running mode.

I approached the finish line and found a position from which I could take good photos of the times and runWhat makes all of these people explore their boundaners as they approached. All were exhausted but some ries in this way? The look on one man’s face was as if were more persistent in showing what they‘d learned he was killing his boss, the evil of the act surfacing in his expression. Running must be a detoxification for the about how to finish a race and some seemed liberated from the pressure of the long course. One man in soul, in a way, I think. Once, I ran a huge two kilometres his early seventies, slowly running towards the finish, and had a similar vision of slapping a stupid customer support woman in my bank. So, maybe some people do caught the public’s eye and they gave him impressive support. There was even a little dog, I don’t know how it for that reason. One girl looked like she was walking her dog with a very relaxed face, as if she was in a warm or what he was doing, but he looked so cute that he will be prominent in my Ljubljana marathon album. Provencal village. Another man looked about 65, but I couldn’t say exactly how old he was because his musAlmost four hours had passed and I was thinking cular body had only a few wrinkles and grey hairs. A group of guys were running together and one even had he must arrive soon. I try not to entertain negative thoughts. Then my Guust appears from around the final the strength to comment on something he saw. bend, in his steady, serene way, camouflaging all the inevitable pain with dignity... My hero. Finally, Guust reached me, my mission of providing energy gel and bottled water succeeded and I could go back to my warm and cosy place. He looked like his challenge was under control. That is very important indeed, so we can plan another marathon. We’d already received an invitation for the 2013 event, which I expect we’ll attend; at least one of us. Me, as a whingeing, provocative supporter, just eating cakes, drinking cof-

*Lubljana Marathon took place on 28 October 2012.

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‘Guust was convinced that such tights would ruin his masculinity’

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What makes all of these people explore their boundaries in this way?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Some seemed liberated from the pressure of the long courseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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white out

The passion, the pain By Ananda van Welij

Just another girl from a country without mountains, addicted to snow.

“How is the speed today? Is it slower than yesterday?” I’m at the top of the in-run of the jump that I’ve been hitting almost every time over the past ten days. I feel perfectly comfortable and only feel happy butterflies of excitement about flying through the air again real soon. I’m still asking the question of the other skiers who are already jumping, though. Conditions change and past experiences do not provide any guarantee of future success. By asking the other skiers how they felt about the jump I was trying to minimise the psychological risk I was taking, as much as possible. After seeing the person ahead of me glide away from their jump, I know it’s safe for me to go, so I shoot down the in-run. When the in-run transitions into the takeoff and I shoot up into the air, I feel good and stable. But

‘Conditions change and past experiences do not provide any guarantee of future success’ then I see the first part of the landing area shooting by, while I’m still way too high up in the air to even get close. “Damn it! Stay stable, don’t wobble, land on your feet!” I think to myself. It’s incredible how much ‘time’ you have to think all of a sudden, when you find yourself in a critical situation. Then the shuddering blow comes. The pain shoots through my legs, a scream of terror escapes my lungs before the pressure of the impact makes me gasp for air. Once I’m in the banana (stretcher), I realise where I am and what had happened. I completely overshot the landing area and came to earth on the flat area beyond it. Falling from the sky like a brick crashing onto the floor, inflicting maximum impact on my legs. I may no longer ski in competitions but that doesn’t mean I can’t crash hard. Every now and then I get the question thrown at me: “What’s the deal this time?” This time? Why this time? I sustained three compression fractures to my spine from the crash described above and, yes, I’ve had my fair share of brushes with danger, scratches, cuts, a

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‘Flying through the fresh powder, pushing my limits and getting to know myself a little better’

slight concussion, a shin splint, a grade-two Medial Collateral Ligament tear and a dislocated shoulder, but is it really that strange that I get injured sometimes? I must have spent at least five months of each year since I was 16 in the mountains and at home on the indoor slopes, skiing and doing crazy things. I am 26 now, so I don’t think my injuries have been excessive. When people hear about the injuries I’ve had, they ask if I shouldn’t just quit skiing. Sorry, what? Of course I’m not going to quit! Injuries can give you sleepless nights but I would have many more sleepless nights if I was no longer able to play in the snow. From personal experience, I also know I can sustain similar injuries by simply falling down the stairs or tripping over something.

through the air, falling and getting up, documenting everything with my camera or flying through the fresh powder, pushing my limits and getting to know myself a little better when in rehab from an injury... It’s all part of skiing for me. As professional snowboarder Travis Rice said in his movie Art of Flight (recommended!): “You go down, you get back up. It’s that simple”.

Being outside in the atmosphere of the ski park, in the lift talking to others enjoying the same thing in their own way, whether I’m in Austria, New Zealand or on the indoor slope in Zoetermeer, the rush and passion for skiing is the same. The ability to leave the rest of the world behind for a moment, focus my body and mind on just one thing, the adrenaline when shooting

I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for the crashes I’ve had. Does it make me crazy? Like I told you last time, maybe just a bit, but aren’t we all a bit crazy when we have a passion for something? Don’t we all crash sometimes in life? I think having a passion for something and being able to push yourself to overcome trouble and pain will only make you stronger and your life all the richer. Pain and trouble come in many forms; from family trouble and workplace issues to injuries. But they are part of life and we overcome them… We love life and the things we do! I’ve just completed the rehabilitation of my knee from that MCL tear. Can I go ski now?

‘I must have spent at least five months of each year since I was 16 in the mountains’

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The Gold Room 80

By Denson Pierre

The longevity of competitors in The Sentinel Fantasy Football Gold Champions League seems to be mirroring that of the generation of real-life players in whom fantasy managers initially invested their budgets and time. The average career length for a very good Premier League professional is around ten years, give or take. Most players break into the TV money-rich league by their early twenties and a natural dissolution takes place in the number of players above the age of 32 left battling the young guns. Seemingly exceptional players tend to break into firstteam squads a few years earlier, while still in their teens, but many of these fizzle out into mediocrity by their mid-twenties. Within the top 5% of athletes who make up the playing staff at Premier League clubs there is another super 5%

who are better than the rest; not just in terms of style and effectiveness but in clearly genetically influenced powers of longevity. Last season, here in the FFG-CL, we said our farewell to the Welsh wizardry of Ryan Giggs as a regular feature in top football at Manchester United. This year we are set to bid farewell to his teammate Rio Ferdinand, as he prepares to depart the backline of one of world footballâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s truly great clubs. Rio still beguiles with the ease with which he carries out the task of marshalling the defensive unit, as well as carrying out his own personal interventions in preventing direct threats on goal. He is 34 years old, however, and has been troubled by chronic and niggling injuries for the best part of the past decade. No amount of yoga, magazine publishing, fashion accessory brand creating and tweeting about his happy family life can hold back the wheels of time and its effect on the pace, reaction and recovery time required to be a key player at a club constantly being challenged by super-motivated, lesser outfits and the dozen, or so, European clubs able to consistently rival Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claim to supremacy. Rio Ferdinand has been so good

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for so long that he has been taken for granted for most of that time, too. To have satisfied the objectivity of FIFA assessors and make it into their select World Cup squads at the three tournaments in which he played says it all. We will soon begin to miss him in the Premier League as, even if he does stay fit enough to go on for another year or two, his first-XI appearances will be so stuttered, they will not do justice to the living legend that he is. So far, the count is 16 years playing at the highest level of professional football; 10 of them at habitual trophy winners Manchester United. To the smooth man-machine of elegant poise and decisiveness in the tackle we say thanks for the memories of what great defending is all about. *The current FFG-CL competition includes just one outfield player selection above the age of 28. No prizes for guessing who.

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