Carneval in Cologne (2009)

Carneval in Cologne (2009), originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

They made me think that I might be put into Lady's Clothes, but seeing as I am not a Lady, I think this sailor's hat suits better...

The Jews of Antwerpen

The Jews of Antwerpen, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

Fred asking about the reasons for all the different types of hats which are worn by the Jews in Antwerpen. Apparently, the Jews of Antwerp are divided into different streams, following dofferent rabbis and often from different (mainly East European) backgrounds.

Happy 1st Birthday, Kosova!

Newborn, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

One year old today.

Good luck for the future.

Charles Darwin bicentennial - 12th February 2009

Charles Darwin bicentennial - 12th February 2009, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

This photo has been used for two independent blog articles as follows:

1 "Thanks for sharing this great photo under a Creative Commons license! I used the image as part of a slide deck for a presentation on the future of the net.

You can see the image in context here. If you'd like a change in attribution, please let me know."



" 2 "Happy Birthday Darwin! Only 39% of Americans Believe Your Theory"

- article found here

Blog for Darwin

This is an initiative started and maintained by my internet contact/friend Scott Isebrand.

This is what it is about:

BLOG FOR DARWIN IS IN PROGRESS! Participating bloggers around the world are celebrating the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth (February 12th, 1809) with a BLOG SWARM through February 15th. Participants' posts (submitted via BlogCarnival.com) are being aggregated here (in fits and starts) throughout this 4-day event. After the 15th, they will be categorized for easier reference, and BLOG FOR DARWIN will remain a resource for educators, students, and others.

Charles Darwin bicentennial - 12th February 2009

Charles Darwin bicentennial - 12th February 2009, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

Happy Birthday, Charles Darwin.

Dans le foret

Dans le foret, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

A very nice way to spend the lunch hour - in the forest above the village of Sassenage, near the office. I didn't have time to eat anything, but this made up for it.

Here we have an oak tree giving support to many other life forms... the continuous wonder of nature...

On my way to my meeting in Grenoble

On my way to my meeting in Grenoble, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

I was hoping to keep this a snow-free zone, as we have not had any snow in Amsterdam this winter, about the only place in Europe to have escaped it so far.

I went to Grenoble for three days this week, flying as Transavia have tgheir cheap winter season flights out from Rotterdam. The strong wind in Rotterdam came from the wrong direction and caused the flight to be delayed three hours.

However, when I arrived at the airport, the sun was shining and the surroundsing countryside, full of rolling hills and walnut orchards, woods, copses, farmhouses and fields looked so attractive, that I decided I wuld have to sticjk arund to take some photos. Higher up were traces of snow, like here and snow only really looks nice when the sun shines on it, like in the mountains.

I arrived at the meeting two-and-a-half hours late, but not only because I was taking photos... actually it didn't matter too much because by the time I did arrive, our advisors had worked out what the possible problems were and now we have a few days to solve them...

Iceberg

Iceberg, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

After a couple of milder days the ice finally melted but on Saturday night, we had clear skies and a frost and there the ice was back again, looking wonderful in the sunshine of Sunday morning.


These are reeds which have been cut down near the roots, robably to encourage stronger growth this year. Anyway, they looked to me like icebergs or pictures I have seen of the Giant's Causeway.

New life

New life, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

And then, although I have been looking for natural colour this winter, I was very surprised to come across these winter aconites sprouting up from the leaf mass in the woods of our local Park Frankendael. It is not spring, it is still winter, but it geos to show how little rest there is in the natural world.

Our new council house opened its doors today

Our new council house opened its doors today, originally uploaded by CharlesFred.

Stadsdeel Oost-Watergraafsmeer - the new council offices, which opened today - 2nd February 2009. I got a free coffee and cake when I went and visited earlier this afternoon. No pictures today as it was cold, grey and damp. Here we see the reflections off the ice from a week ago.