The wind that shakes the Barley

The plan was, after a long search and discussion, to see the German/Danish movie Adams æbler (Adam’s Apples) but at the cinema we discovered that there were only french subtitles which wasn’t a problem for me, but for my partner of that evening it was... We had to decide in an eye blink for a different movie, but I wasn’t able to find one that was speaking to me & suggested to go have a drink instead as we were in the center anyway... the proposal was rejected and replaced for the movie The wind that shakes the Barley (Le vent se lève)... A film that gives a (non-objective) look at the Republicans in early 20th century in Ireland.

The movie started horribly. There were two thoughts constantly shooting through my mind:

I) Next time I select the movie!
II) How am I going to get out of this place?

I’m not the kind of lady that is easily frightened by shocking or bloody scenes. At a very young age I always succeeded to sneak underneath the dinning-table (when I should have been in bed) to watch secretly the scary movies that my big bro was watching. But with this movie I even had to turn my head away during the first scenes and even then my stomach was turning from the sounds that remained. After surviving this part, the movie started to get along and became less stirring and hope for a good film to come was there again.


However that hope was dissapointing. There was no actual match between the story that has been told & the images that were shown. In one scene they tell you a big national problem, the next scene they show you a group of local boys who fight against this in their own area, where the scene after that tells you that this has a big positive effect on the national problem, but they never show what... only telling the problems, showing the fights & telling you the solution. And actually writing this it may sound like logic but the way they show it in the movie takes away the logic.

For me it made the film unreliable and not clear which message the writer wanted to bring and from which angle the director was working.The film left me more the impression that I saw a try out film with a draft script. This is a pity because the actors played very well & convincing, putting on strong characters. Also the makers of the film had some amazing shots. It’s sad that a movie with such great, strong material is not brought to its full value.

Inside the VRT studio's

- The control room & my favorite spot at the VRT studio's -


It was great to have the opportunity to be present at the VRT (one of Belgium's biggest station) Saw a lot of great things that you as viewer/listener have no idea about and being present in the live shows of Radio Donna & Studio Brussels brought back old feelings from the times that I worked as a presentor at our own local radio station in the Netherlands.

Was strange though as well to deal with people who are big presenters/celebs in Belgium and I had no idea who they were. It was nice as well too because on this way there was a possibility for neutral communication. It reminded me a bit of last summer when I was visiting a hanball tournament with Mr.B & Hervé and there was this (appearantly famous) french player Laurent Puigségur and under the people there was much excitement and it took me quite some time to figure out why --> Definitly a Liz moment!


- break down of the election stages -



- Radio 2 -

- "Ketnet's Studio" -

- Radio Donna (On Air) -


*Special Thanks to Neil van Craeynest*

Celebrity week-end @ Delft

- "Tarzan" -



- "Rubeus Hagrid & Mr. I. Potter" -

- Our own home version of "Garfield" -

- "Professor Severus Snape" -

Na regen komt zonnenschijn

Yesterday Janneke asked me to join her on sunday to go to the center of Bxl. She needed to do some research for the Uni and suggested to have a drink afterwards. I agreed and after spending a wonderful short night and a silent sunday morning (= without construction workers) we left to have a walk through Brussels.

Ten minutes after we left it started raining but we went on and eventually the sun was stronger and beated the rain! A beautiful rainbow smiled to us with all her grace. The picture reminds me a bit of the advertisement of the movie Mongolian Ping Pong.

I was especially touched by this little sculpture. Normally I don't find them very interesting, but the street sign which says "Alley of Gifts" gives it such a great touch.

Eventually we never did the research and dove straight into an Irish pub. I drink sometimes, but I never liked beer. It's quite impossible to integrate and become a legal Belgian if you don't drink beer, but to my amazing this place serves really GOOD beer! Finally there's a beer I like & with this there comes an end to the period of being an outsider at parties where people drink nothing but beer. The music & atmosphere were a bit less, but they have big screens showing sports... Finally a good beer & sports, what more could a girl wish for?