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ANTWERP BRITISH COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION vzw Maandelijkse
Newsletter – januari 2014
Verschijnt niet in juli Verantwoordelijk uitgever:
Mary Ann Marinus, Oude Beurs 33, 2000 Antwerpen Afgiftekantoor
2000 Antwerpen 1
POO8284
CONTENTS
Dates for your diary ................................ 2
From our Chairman ................................ 3
Thought for the month :.......................... 3
Membership matters ............................... 4
Subscriptions reminder .......................... 4
Subscriptions received ............................ 4
2nd
visit to the Red Star Line Museum . 5
New Year Brunch at “d’Aa Toert” ...... 5
Elixir d’Anvers ......................................... 6
January Traditions and Superstitions . 7
History of Pantomime ............................. 8
Jewels in the Cinema .............................. 9
Dust if You Must .................................... 10
Brussels Ice Magic ................................ 11
Cooks’ Corner ........................................ 12
SuDoku ....................................................
13
January Quiz .......................................... 14
January Crossword ............................... 15
Useful Information ................................ 16
Belgie-Belgique
P.B.
2000 Antwerpen 1
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Dates for your diary
ABCA events in BOLD type
1st January New Year’s day
5th
January ABCA : 2nd visit with guide : Red Star Line museum
12th
January ABCA New Year brunch at d’Aa Toert
25-27 January BATS pantomime “Babes in the Wood” Arenberg
theatre
29th
January ABCA New Year drinks at the open evening in the
Highlander
Advance Notice:
20th
February ABCA : visit to Elixir d’Anvers
16th
March ABCA : visit to the Kazerne Dossin in Mechelen
ABCA Antwerp British Community Association: For payments, call
Margaret du Maine on 03 651 32 24 (day and evening) For membership
matters, call Nadine Hechtermans on 03 480 34 77 (evenings) Open
Evenings: The Highlander, Pieter van Hobokenstraat 2, 2000
Antwerpen (03 226 91 80)
ABIW Antwerp British & International Women: contact Valerie
Carroll on 03 254 03 73 MtS Missions to Seafarers: contact Rev.
Brian Millson on 03 605 41 88 RBL Royal British Legion: contact Bob
Chambers on 0474hotmailh 282 843 St.Boniface St Boniface Anglican
Church: contact Fr Wagstaff SSC on 03 239 33 39 BATS British
American Theatrical Society: contact Tom De Beckker:
email: [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]
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From our Chairman
Dear Members, A year has 365 days; this is the same for
everyone, but how different it seems to a child or a young person,
to an adult or elderly person. And the older we get the quicker
time seems to pass; it feels as if summer has just ended and yet
New Year’s Eve is here! However, regardless of age, a new year will
always be a year of opportunities. The Committee wishes you and
your loved ones a happy and prosperous 2014 and looks forward to
seeing you at the brunch and later on in the month at the open
evening. All best wishes, Mary Ann Marinus Chairman
Thought for the month :
“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once
in a while you
could miss it.”
Matthew Broderick as Ferris Buller
http://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-website/daily-thought/02-17-10-daily-thought-00000000029818/index.htmlhttp://www.realsimple.com/magazine-more/inside-website/daily-thought/02-17-10-daily-thought-00000000029818/index.html
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Membership matters
Subscriptions reminder
The subscription for 2014 is due from the 1st of January. If you
have already paid, you may ignore this message, otherwise:
Single subscription: €20 Double (2 at same address): €34 Please
transfer to the ABCA bank account BE11 2200 3243 8048
Subscriptions received to 13 December
David & Diane Baddaley Jill Barnard Marcel Brems Bill Burgum
Jackie Cools-Braem Henry J. Dashwood Mary Deloz-Schits Yvette
Dumoulin Gerry & Rita Gallagher-Daems John Gardner Raphael
Kloeck Alastair & Claire Mackay-Celen Freddy & Patricia
Meulenbrouck Jacques Meys Brian Millson Zoë Moller-Atkinson Alice
Perrett-Matheve Diane Reiners Laura Schyvens-Hanratty Anthony V.
Shaw Frank Tickle Anna Van de Wielle Brigitte & Denyse Van den
Bogaert Jack Van Sprang Christine Verbraeken-Perrett William
Westcott Claire Zwaenepoel-Blackford
Christmas cards
Please bear in mind that some elderly or infirm members may now
find it difficult to send their usual cards at this time of year,
but nevertheless send their very best wishes to all. The following
have specifically asked us to tell their friends this: George and
Joan Porter
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2nd visit to the Red Star Line Museum 5th January at 2pm
In September Antwerp gained a new museum: The Red Star Line
housed in the historic sheds of the legendary shipping company with
the red star in its flag. The museum tells the story of the
millions of Europeans who were courageous or desperate enough to
leave their old life behind and look for a better existence. The
former harbour sheds of the Red Star Line bring the aspirations and
disappointments of the passengers vividly to life. The Red Star
Line Museum is a journey into the past and an encounter with the
present. Migration
might have a different face these days, but the human side of
migration is timeless and universal.
ABCA will be visiting the museum with a guide again on 5th
January at 2pm. Receipt of payment confirms your booking. Places
are limited therefore it will be on a first come first
serve basis. Phone Margaret to check availability. Cost is €12
per person, bank account number: BE11 2200 3243 8048.
Venue: Montevideostraat 3, 2000 Antwerp
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New Year Brunch at “d’Aa Toert”
Sunday 12th January 2014
Once again the New Year’s brunch will be at d’Aa Toert.
Date: Sunday January 12th, 11.30 – 2.30; those of you who were
there last year will remember
it well. For those who didn’t make it, “d’Aa Toert” is located
on the Oude Beurs just
behind the Grote Markt and within easy reach of public
transport.
Cost is a very moderate €13 per person and we hope to see
absolutely everybody there for this first get-together of 2014.
Receipt of payment confirms your booking. And remember
to phone Mary Ann (0486646941 – pm only) to check availability
(if you haven’t already done so ). Bank account number: BE11 2200
3243 8048.
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Elixir d’Anvers
When the name "Elixir d'Anvers" is mentioned in Belgium most
people think of the good old days, when they were allowed during a
visit to their grandparents to sip a 'wee dram' of Elixir d'Anvers
or were given a few drops on a lump of sugar. To others the name of
Elixir d'Anvers evokes the perfect remedy against all sorts of
ailments such as stomachache or
abdominal pain and of course as the remedy par excellence
against colics in horses. This wholesome liqueur has been in
existence since 1863 . It is prepared from 32 plants and herbs from
the four corners of the world which impart it its unique taste.
ABCA will be organizing a visit to the liqueur distillery. The
guided tour led by a professional guide takes about two and a half
hours. After reception in the authentic 1894 neo-Flemish
Renaissance style office and the visit around the distillery – the
heart of the firm – there will be a liqueur tasting. Three types of
Elixir are on offer, Elixir d’Anvers,
Elixir de Spa and Advocaat Extra FX de Beukelaer.
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January Traditions and Superstitions
New Year Superstition The 1st January was a highly significant
day in medieval superstitions regarding prosperity, or lack of it,
for the year ahead. A flat cake was put on one of the horns of a
cow in every farmyard. The farmer and his workers would then sing a
song and dance around the cow until the cake was thrown to the
ground. If it fell in front of the cow that signified good luck; to
fall behind indicated the opposite.
St Hilary's feast day on 13th January has gained the reputation
of being the coldest day of the year due to past cold events
starting on or around this date. One of the most severe winters in
history began around 13 January in 1205, when the Thames in London
froze over and ale and wine turned to solid ice and were sold by
weight.
"So began a frost which continued till the two and twentieth day
of March, so that the ground could not be tilled; whereof it came
to pass that, in summer following a quarter of wheat was sold for a
mark of silver in many places of England, which for the more part
in the days of King Henry the Second was sold for twelve pence; a
quarter of beans or peas for half a mark; a quarter of oats for
thirty pence, that were wont to be sold for fourpence. Also the
money was so sore clipped that there was no remedy but to have it
renewed."—Stowe's Chronicle
In 1086, a great frost also started spreading over the country
on St Hilary's Day.
Customs of the Year's First New Moon It was said that if you
looked at the new moon through a silk handkerchief, which has never
been washed, the number of moons you would see would be the number
of years passed until you married. But it was unlucky to see the
new moon through a window. To dream of your future husband, it was
said that, at the first appearance of the first new moon of the
year, a maiden should go out and stand over the spars of a gate or
stile and look at the moon saying:
All hail to thee moon, all hail to thee, I prythee, good moon,
reveal to me,
This night who my husband shall be.
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History of Pantomime
Tis the season to shout “He’s behind you” at the stage. However
pantomime goes back to ancient times. The word comes from the Greek
pantomimos, meaning pantomimic actor. A "pantomime" in Ancient
Greece was originally a group who "imitates all" accompanied by
sung narrative and instrumental music, often played on the flute.
The word later came to be applied to the performance itself. The
pantomime was a popular form of entertainment in ancient Greece and
later, Rome. Like theatre, it encompassed the genres of comedy,
tragedy and sex. No ancient pantomime libretto has survived.
Nonetheless, notable ancient poets such as Lucan wrote for the
pantomime. In a speech of the late 1st century AD now lost, the
orator Aelius Aristides condemned the pantomime for its erotic
content and the effeminacy of its dancing.
In the Middle Ages, the Mummers Play was a traditional British
folk play performed during the festive gatherings. Gender role
reversal reflected the old festival of Twelfth Night, a combination
of Epiphany and midwinter feast, when it was customary for the
natural order of things to be reversed. The pantomime horse may
also be related to the Grey Mare of the early British cult of the
goddess Epona. Precursors of pantomime also included the masque,
which grew in pomp and spectacle from the 15th to the 17th
centuries. Italian masque performances in the 17th century
sometimes included the Harlequin character.
The development of English pantomime was strongly influenced by
the continental commedia dell'arte. This was a "comedy of
professional artists" travelling from around Italy then France, who
improvised and told comic stories that held lessons for the crowd.
Each story had the some of the same fixed clown characters. These
often included young lovers (Arlecchino and Colombina), her father
(Pantalone), and Pantalone's servants (Pulcinella and Pierrot, one
being crafty and the other stupid). In the 17th century,
adaptations of the commedia characters became familiar in English
entertainments. From 1716 pantomime was a regular feature at Drury
Lane. English pantomimes remained primarily visual for some decades
before dialogue was introduced and they gradually became more
topical and comic, often involving spectacular and elaborate
theatrical effects. Today January would be unthinkable without its
traditional pantomimes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greecehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flutehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tragedyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Librettohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcus_Annaeus_Lucanushttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aelius_Aristideshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Playhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_rolehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelfth_Night_(holiday)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_(feast)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midwinterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime_horsehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Lwydhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britons_(historical)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eponahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masquehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlequinhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell%27artehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlecchinohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombinahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantalonehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulcinellahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierrot
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Jewels in the Cinema
The ballet season streamed live from the Bolshoi theatre in
Moscow continues in January with the Balanchine classic Jewels.
Jewels is an award-winning ballet in three parts created for New
York City Ballet by co-founder and founding choreographer George
Balanchine. The work premièred on Thursday, April 13, 1967, at the
New York State Theater.
Jewels has been called the first full-length abstract ballet. It
can also be seen as three separate ballets, linked by their
jewel-colored costumes. Balanchine commented: "The ballet had
nothing to do with jewels. The dancers are just dressed like
jewels." Each of the three acts features the music of a different
composer:
Emeralds extracts from Gabriel Fauré's Pelléas et Mélisande
(1898) and Shylock (1889).
Rubies Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra (1929) by Igor
Stravinsky.
Diamonds Symphony No. 3 in D major (1875) by Pyotr Ilyich
Tchaikovsky
Jewels will be transmitted in the Metropolis Antwerp on January
19.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City_Ballethttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Balanchinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_H._Koch_Theaterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabriel_Faur%C3%A9http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pell%C3%A9as_et_M%C3%A9lisande_%28Faur%C3%A9%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capriccio_for_Piano_and_Orchestrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Igor_Stravinskyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony_No._3_%28Tchaikovsky%29http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyotr_Ilyich_Tchaikovsky
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Dust if You Must (Kindly submitted by Margaret du Maine)
Here’s a good excuse to break that New Year’s resolution to
clean the house:
Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better To paint a picture
or write a letter,
Bake a cake or plant a seed, Ponder the difference between want
and need?
Dust if you must, but there’s not much time With rivers to swim
and mountains to climb,
Music to hear and books to read, Friends to cherish and life to
lead.
Dust if you must, but the world’s out there,
With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, A flutter of
snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come around again.
Dust if you must, but bear in mind, Old age will come and it’s
not kind.
And when you go – and go you must – You yourself will make more
dust.
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Brussels Ice Magic
January and February are traditionally the coldest months of the
year. However snow and ice can be magical.
After the enormous success in Paris, the International Ice
Sculpture festival ‘Ice Magic’ comes to Brussels for the first time
and will be located at the prestigious location of the
Paleizenplein. The inspiration for the sculptures comes from the
world of cartoon characters. They will be housed in a giant
thermally insulated pavilion of one thousand square metres. During
the three weeks of the exhibition, ice sculpture artists from all
over the world will bring their own vision to the dozens of cartoon
characters and create cartoon scenes in a top Brussels setting.
Four hundred and twenty tons of ice will be transformed to take
visitors into the world of Kuifje, Kwik and Flupke, the Smurfs,
Guust Flater, Asterix, Billie and Bollie, Blake and Mortimer, Lucky
Luke and Thorgal – and many more. Not to mention the many buildings
and monuments in honour of Brussels. Certain sculptures and scenes
can reach up to six metres in height. With family and friends you
can discover your favourite cartoon characters recreated in
transparent and shimmering ice. Let yourself be enchanted by the
magic of snow and ice.
This event runs until February 9, 2014.
Venue Paleizenplein
1000 - Brussels Email : [email protected] Website :
http://www.BrusselsIce...
mailto:[email protected]://www.brusselsicemagic.be/
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Cooks’ Corner
The severe cold calls for a nice hot stew and Kiz, our intrepid
cook from Athens has passed me this recipe for Pork stew with
potatoes Boulangère Ingredients: 600g of pork cubed into bitesize
pieces 2 rashers of streaky bacon chopped 1 onion chopped 2 sticks
of celery chopped 300ml of chicken stock 300ml of cider half a cup
of single cream 4 tablespoons of olive oil Fry off the pork in the
oil over a moderate heat in small batches until brown all over.
Reserve. Once the pork is done fry off the bacon until crispy and
reserve with the pork. Turn heat down to low and add the onion and
celery to the pan. Cook for a few minutes till they start to soften
and give the pan a good stir to make sure they are deglazed. Then
add the pork and bacon, the stock and the cider. Bring to the boil;
put a lid on the pan turning the oven down to a low heat and
letting the dish simmer gently for two hours. After two hours, add
a little salt and pepper to taste and the cream. Reduce the sauce
until nice and thick. You can serve this with a nice creamy mash or
with potatoes Boulangère. Grease a gratin dish generously with
butter and then add a layer of thinly sliced potatoes (you can
leave the skin on if you like) and a layer of finely chopped onion
until the dish is full, with the last layer being potato only. Then
add a cup of stock and cup of milk and dot generously with butter
and bake in a medium hot oven for about an hour until the top later
is a golden crust and the under layers soft.
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SuDoku
January puzzles
December solutions
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January Quiz
1. Which famous architect was born in the Wiltshire village of
East Knoyle? 2. Which 1918 Act of Parliament gave the vote to women
aged over 30?? 3.How many stars feature on the flag of New Zealand?
4. Which part of the body is being dissected in Rembrandt's
painting of an anatomy lesson? 5. The Manneken Pis is a tourist
attraction in which city? 6. Michael Begon gave his name to what?
7.Which King allowed himself to be publically flogged as penance fr
the death of Thomas A Beckett? 8. What is the theatrical equivalent
of an Oscar? 9. An Orange and Tangerine crossed fruit is known by
what name? 10. What did Joseph Gayetty develop in the 19th century?
11. In which capital City would you travel on Klongs and visit
wats? 12. Graham Green's novel 'the Comedians' was set in which
country? 13. Which 2 letters have a value of ten in a game of
scrabble? 14. What are oarweed, furbelows and dabberlocks? 15.
Originally founded in 1919 what was the organisation called which
later became known as the United Nations?
December Answers 1. July 4th; 2. Rene Descartes; 3. Italy; 4. PC
Plod; 5. Shoulder blade; 6. Crash; 7. Blue Peter; 8. Franz Hals; 9.
Noah; 10. Canada; 11. Kenya; 12. Mercury; 13. Onions; 14. Cob; 15.
An artist; 16. Menorah
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January Crossword
Across
2. Frenzied (7); 7. City in W Nevada (4); 8. State of USA (4);
9. Strictness (5) 10. Companionless (6); 11. Withdraw (6); 12. Wily
(3) ;14. Snip (5) ;16. Elected (5) 18. Plant (3); 21. Reunite (6);
23. Aromatic ointment (6) ;24. Squeeze (5)
25. Prefix for small (4) ;26. Inspires dread (4) ;27. Arid
(7)
Down 1. Situated in the west (7) ;2.Beat into shape (5);3.
Fishes (6) ; 4. Village near Tewkesbury (6) ; 5. Pertaining to
Cornwall (7) ;6. Young female horse (5) 13. The Lion (3) ;15. Marsh
marigold (7); 17. Having skill (7);18. Self-conscious smile
(6);
19. Twist suddenly (6) ;20. Violently intense (5); 22. Holy war
(5) December solution
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Useful Information Patron: HM Ambassador to Belgium Committee
for 2013/2014: Chairman Mary Ann Marinus Oude Beurs 33 2000
Antwerpen tel: 0486 646 941 (pm only)
[email protected]
Vice Chairman Penny Law Geestenspoor 113 2180 Ekeren tel: 03 542
20 71 [email protected]
Hon. Treasurer Margaret du Maine Miksebeekstraat 104 2930
Brasschaat tel: 03 651 32 24 [email protected]
Secretary Nadine Hechtermans Lispersteenweg 219 2500 Lier tel:
03 480 34 77 [email protected]
Committee Member Jill Barnard Helmstraat 68/5 2140 Borgerhout
tel: 0474 432191 [email protected]
Committee Member Stephanie Hughes Maarschalk Gerardstraat 2000
Antwerpen tel: 0484661331 [email protected]
Newsletter Editor Madeleine Richardson Prins Boudewijnlaan 84/3
2610 Wilrijk tel: 03 230 49 47 [email protected]
Benevolent Matters Dora Jolly Hollandstraat 38 2060 Antwerpen
tel: 03 232 71 15 [email protected]
Anglican Church St Boniface Church Grétrystraat 39 2018
Antwerpen tel: 03 239 33 39 [email protected]
Webmaster: [email protected] ABCA Website:
www.abca-antwerp.be e-mail address: [email protected]
ABCA recognizes the diversity of belief in contemporary British
society and accordingly directs members wanting to contact other
faith groups to the “Gids voor levensbeschouwelijk
Antwerpen/Multifaith Antwerp guide”, published by the Stad
Antwerpen. Information on www.antwerpen.be - tel 03 221 13 33.
ABCA Bank Account number is BE11 2200 3243 8048. Annual
subscription: Single: € 20, Double: € 34. Donations towards our
benevolent work are welcome. Please feel free to submit items for
inclusion in the newsletter, such as poems you particularly like,
anecdotes, stories about Antwerp, hints, suggestions. Items must be
submitted to the editor by the 20th of the month for inclusion in
the next edition. Take 12 months advertising and pay for only
10!
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16.50 per issue 1 page: € 30 per issue Contact the Newsletter
Editor for more information or to place an ad, however :
ABCA takes no responsibility for the consequences of reacting to
advertisements placed by third parties.
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